A new methodology to assess the performance of AOPs in complex samples: Application to the degradation of phenolic compounds by O3 and O3/UV-A-Vis.

A methodology combining experimental design methodology, liquid chromatography, excitation emission matrixes (EEM) and bioassays has been applied to study the performance of O3 and O3/UVA-vis in the treatment of a mixture of eight phenolic pollutants. An experimental design methodology based on Doehlert matrixes was employed to determine the effect of pH (between 3 and 12), ozone dosage (02-1.0 g/h) and initial concentration of the pollutants (1-6 mg/L each). The following conclusions were obtained: a) acidic pH and low O3 dosage resulted in an inefficient process, b) increasing pH and O3 amount produced an enhancement of the reaction, and c) interaction of basic pH and high amounts of ozone decreased the efficiency of the process. The combination of O3/UVA-vis was able to enhance ozonation in those experimental regions were this reagent was less efficient, namely low pH and low ozone dosages. The application of EEM-PARAFAC showed four components, corresponding to the parent pollutants and three different groups of reaction product and its evolution with time. Bioassys indicated important detoxification (from 100% to less than 30% after 1 min of treatment with initial pollutant concentration of 6 mg/L, pH = 9 and ozone dosage of 0.8 g/h) according to the studied methods (D. magna and P. subcapitata). Also estrogenic activity and dioxin-like behavior were significantly decreased.

Treatment and reuse of textile wastewaters by mild solar photo-Fenton in the presence of humic-like substances.

In this paper, the possibility of reusing textile effluents for new dyeing baths has been investigated. For this purpose, different trichromies using Direct Red 80, Direct Blue 106, and Direct Yellow 98 on cotton have been used. Effluents have been treated by means of a photo-Fenton process at pH 5. Addition of humic-like substances isolated form urban wastes is necessary in order to prevent iron deactivation because of the formation of non-active iron hydroxides. Laboratory-scale experiments carried out with synthetic effluents show that comparable results were obtained when using as solvent water treated by photo-Fenton with SBO and fresh deionized water. Experiments were scaled up to pilot plant illuminated under sunlight, using in this case a real textile effluent. Decoloration of the effluent could be achieved after moderate irradiation and cotton dyed with this water presented similar characteristics as when deionized water was used.

[An evaluation of the SMAST questionnaire for the diagnosis of alcoholism in primary care. The Self-Administered Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test]. / Validación del cuestionario SMAST para el diagnóstico del alcoholismo en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To validate a self-administrable version of the SMAST questionnaire for diagnosing alcoholism at the primary care level. DESIGN: A descriptive study of a crossover type. SETTING: An urban health centre. PATIENTS AND OTHER PARTICIPANTS: 497 patients over 15, selected at random from the log-book of daily demand, answered the questionnaire. 46 patients with 2 or more positive replies concerning alcoholism (SMAST positive) were invited to a subsequent appointment, as were 40 with a lower score (SMAST negative). 30 from each group attended. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The presence of alcoholism was examined by looking at the compliance with the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-III-R and/or the existence of alcohol consumption equal to or above 30 grams a day in women and 60 in men, in those patients who attended the subsequent appointment. 20 SMAST++ positives and two negatives were diagnosed as alcoholics. There was good correlation between daily alcohol consumption in grams and SMAST scoring (r = 0.60; CI's 95%: 0.41-0.74). SMAST showed 50.48% sensitivity, 96.48% specificity and positive and negative predictive values of 66.67% and 93.33%, respectively. By means of a logistical regression analysis, it was clearly shown that the SMAST questions which best forecast the existence of alcoholism were the first two. CONCLUSIONS: The SMAST questionnaire is a very specific test for diagnosing alcoholism within primary care, although its only moderate sensitivity does not recommend it for screening purposes.

[Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus niger]. / Aspergilosis pulmonar necrosante crónica por Aspergillus niger.

Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA), also known as semi-invasive pulmonary aspergillosis , is a recently defined entity. CNPA is characterized by a pulmonary infiltration with cavitation of chronic evolution in patients with chronic pulmonary disease, slight immunodeficiency or healthy patients. Good evolution is obtained with antimicotic treatment. The isolation of Aspergillus niger as a cause of CNPA is infrequent and may bear worse prognosis. A patient who presented CNPA by Aspergillus niger is described. The patient had received radiotherapy for epidermal carcinoma of the esophagus. Three other cases have been reported in the literature. The diagnostic aspects, treatment and prognostic factors of CNPA are commented upon.