Imaging leachate runoff from a landfill using magnetotellurics: The Garraf karst case.

Electrical and active source electromagnetic geophysical methods have been traditionally employed to approach and tackle environmental problems, such as those caused by landfills. However, since these problems are more consequential and cover broader areas, it is necessary to use deeper penetration methods, such as magnetotellurics. In the Garraf Massif (Catalan Coastal Ranges, NE Spain), an urban waste disposal landfill had been in operation from 1974 to 2006, during which >26 million metric tons of garbage had been deposited. This landfill overlies karstic terrain, thus principally impacting groundwater circulation. Previous electrical resistivity tomography profiles had partially imaged the infill but were not able to penetrate below the base of the original landfill. During 2019 and 2020 we performed a magnetotelluric study over the landfill and its surrounding with the goals of characterizing the electrical resistivity of the infill and below it. The 2D and 3D resistivity models confirmed the highly conductive nature of the leachate and allowed us to identify its presence below the landfill base, which we quantified with maximum thicknesses of 90 m. This proved that landfill leachate had filtered through the original impermeable layer, enhanced by the karstic drainage structure.

Volcanic monitoring of the 2021 La Palma eruption using long-period magnetotelluric data.

Between September and December 2021, the first subaerial volcanic eruption in the Canary Islands in 50 years took place on the island of La Palma. Since November 2021, we have been conducting a long-period magnetotelluric (MT) monitoring experiment at a site located 2.4 km east of the volcanic cone. Having continuously recorded data since then, the obtained dataset shows significant changes in resistivity over the fourteen months following the eruption: more than ± 20% in apparent resistivity and ± 2 degrees in phase. These temporal variations in electrical resistivity, recorded continuously using long-period MT during both the syn- and post-eruptive stages, have not been reported to date, making this dataset unique. Four estimated impedances have been selected as representatives of the major temporal changes observed and inverted to generate new 3-D resistivity models. The results provide novel key information on the spatiotemporal evolution of the subsoil's electrical resistivity, enabling the characterization of a set of structures acting as preferred magmatic fluid pathways. Therefore, our study highlights the strong potential of MT as a volcanic monitoring tool and provides new insights about the evolution of the fluid pathways during the post-eruptive stage. These findings enhance our understanding of the magmatic system and may contribute to volcanic hazard mitigation in the future.

Activated microglia mediate synapse loss and short-term memory deficits in a mouse model of transthyretin-related oculoleptomeningeal amyloidosis.

Oculoleptomeningeal amyloidosis (OA) is a fatal and untreatable hereditary disease characterized by the accumulation of transthyretin (TTR) amyloid within the central nervous system. The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of OA, and in particular how amyloid triggers neuronal damage, are still unknown. Here, we show that amyloid fibrils formed by a mutant form of TTR, A25T, activate microglia, leading to the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nitric oxide. Further, we found that A25T amyloid fibrils induce the activation of Akt, culminating in the translocation of NFκB to the nucleus of microglia. While A25T fibrils were not directly toxic to neurons, the exposure of neuronal cultures to media conditioned by fibril-activated microglia caused synapse loss that culminated in extensive neuronal death via apoptosis. Finally, intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of A25T fibrils caused microgliosis, increased brain TNF-α and IL-6 levels and cognitive deficits in mice, which could be prevented by minocycline treatment. These results indicate that A25T fibrils act as pro-inflammatory agents in OA, activating microglia and causing neuronal damage.

[Laparoscopic adrenalectomy. Five-year experience]. / Suprarrenalectomía laparoscópica. Experiencia de 5 años.

OBJECTIVE: Adrenal conditions requiring surgery are uncommon and are usually seen in several surgical departments. Our experience in laparoscopic management of adrenal pathology after almost five years of use of laparoscopy for retroperitoneal conditions at our center is reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 37 laparoscopic adrenalectomies were performed over 53 months for benign and malignant conditions. The transperitoneal approach was used in most cases (97%) because of the greater surgeon experience with this route. Pregnancy and suspected periadrenal infiltration were considered as absolute contraindications. RESULTS: Mean operating time was 90 minutes, mean intraoperative bleeding 80 ml, and mean hospital stay was 2 days. The main complication was one death. A malignancy was found in 4 patients (10%), while all other patients (90%) had a benign condition, including 8 pheochromocytomas. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy is considered to be the gold standard for benign adrenal conditions. When the malignant mass is a single metastasis from a primary tumor, the laparoscopic approach appears to be reliable. When the malignant lesion is a primary adrenal tumor, laparoscopic management is more controversial, although the results reported by experienced surgeons in their series appear to be adequate.

[Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery. 5 years' experience]. / Cirugía conservadora de parénquima renal laparoscópica. Cinco años de experiencia.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery is among the most complex urological procedures currently performed. Open surgery continues to be the gold standard of care, but the laparoscopic approach is gaining ground slowly but surely. Our 5 years' experience is reported. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From September 2004 to March 2009, 38 laparoscopic nephron-sparing procedures were performed at our hospital. A transperitoneal laparoscopic approach was used in all cases, with en bloc clamping of renal hilum in most patients. RESULTS: Mean operating time was 141 min, mean intraoperative bleeding 130 mL, mean warm ischemia time 24 min, and mean hospital stay 3.3 days. Bleeding was the most common complication (requiring transfusion in 13.5% of patients). Positive surgical margins were found in 5.4% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Adequate selection of the patient (tumor size, location) and the procedure to be used, surgeon experience, and surgical skills are essential for achieving good oncological results and for minimizing the complications of this demanding procedure.

[Changes in respiratory and peripheral muscle function in asthmatic children: effects of inhaled corticoids]. / Cambios en la función muscular respiratoria y periférica en niños asmáticos: efectos de los corticoides inhalados.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children and adolescents. The intermittent mechanical overloads during crises can lead to functional changes in the respiratory muscles, which experience adaptation phenomena. This article attempts to evaluate the respiratory and peripheral muscle state in asthmatic children who receive inhaled corticoids, and to find out if there is an association between muscle function and respiratory function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 12 children over 7-years old with asthma and treated with inhaled corticoids for at least 2 years at intermediate doses (budesonide >or=400 microg, or fluticasone >or=200 microg) and 7 healthy control children paired by age. The following were determined: forced spirometry, static lung volumes, airway resistance, maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures, peripheral musculo-skeletal function, and body composition using bioimpedance measurements. RESULTS: The anthropometric, nutritional variables and peripheral muscle function were similar in both groups. The asthmatic children showed signs of air trapping, lung hyperinflation, and higher maximum inspiratory pressure values. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence was found that continuous high doses of inhaled steroids lead to a deterioration in respiratory or peripheral muscle function in asthmatic children. On the other hand, signs were found of respiratory muscle adaptation to the long-term overload of persistent asthma. The so-called "training effect" seems to be limited only to the inspiratory muscles.

A review of penile cancer.

UNLABELLED: Cancer of the penis is a rare tumour in Europe and mainly affects the elderly patient population. The aim of this paper was to analyse and study the characteristics of this tumour, in our patient population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on penile tumours diagnosed and treated in the Urology Department of the Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, in the last ten years. RESULTS: A total of 34 patients were diagnosed and treated. The mean age at presentation was 71.27 years. The mean time between symptoms and the first consultation was 12.54 months with a median of 6 months. The most common form of presentation was balanoposthitis (32%) and the most common site in our series was the glans. Partial penectomy was performed in 22 cases, total amputation in 8, and local excision in 3. DISCUSSION: Carcinoma of the penis is a pathology which mostly affects elderly patients; in our series, the highest incidence was observed in patients in the group aged 75-84 years. The most common histological type was epidermoid carcinoma in its various forms of presentation. We recorded a mortality of 23%. CONCLUSION: Penile carcinoma is a rare pathology which affects elderly persons and is diagnosed late.

[Laparoscopic urinary diversions]. / Derivaciones urinarias laparoscópicas.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of the invasive bladder cancer and the recurrent T1G3 is clearly established in radical cystectomy and pelvic linphadenectomy. One of the fields where the laparoscopic approach implies more doubts is the treatment of bladder cancer, because it requires experience enough in pelvic laparoscopic surgery and the urinary diversion implies great technical difficulties to the laparoscopic approach. OBJECTIVES: The main goal of this article is to report our results with the urinary diversion after laparoscopic radical cystectomy where the ureteral anastomosis has been performed by a laparoscopic approach. METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2007 we have performed 67 laparoscopic radical cistectomies. We conducted 28 laparoscopic urinary diversions with our technique: 7 neobladder with an average age of 54, 85 years and 21 ileal conduit with an average age of 69, 15 years. RESULTS: The averagesurgical time for enterocistoplasty with laparoscopic urethral and ureteral anastomosis is of 5 hours and 30 minutes. For the cutaneous ureteroileostomy with laparoscopic ureteral anastomosis the average surgical time has been of 4 hours and 30 minutes. We have had 1 case of urinary leakage in the laparoscopic neobladder and 3 cases in the laparoscopic ileal conduit (14%). We have not intestinal dehiscence nor ileal-ureteric stenosis. The average hospital stay for laparoscopic neobladder is for the 85% of cases of 13.6 days, and of 11.8 days for the 77.7% of ileal ureteric laparoscopies. DISCUSSION: The laparoscopic radical cystectomy is still a procedure reserved for groups with great experience in laparoscopic surgery. Nowadays, the most accepted procedure by most groups includes perform the cystectomy by a laparoscopic approach and the urinary diversion by an open approach. There is no evidence of the advantages of laparoscopic urinary diversion. It is necessary to perform comparative studies to clearly define the role of laparoscopic surgery in the urinary diversion.

[Retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery. Experience at the Hospital Universitario La Paz]. / Cirugía retroperitoneal laparoscópica. Experiencia del Hospital Universitario La Paz.

OBJECTIVES: With the popularisation of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, the above technique has once again taken on an important role in the work of urology departments. Our extensive experience in laparoscopy means that we are performing increasingly more interventions using this approach. In the context of minimally invasive surgical procedures, this is probably bringing clearer benefits to retroperitoneal surgery than to prostatic surgery. In this article, we describe our series over nearly 4 years. METHODS: The period analysed covers June 2004 to March 2008, during which time 288 retroperitoneal operations were performed (184 nephrectomies, 113 other procedures). In the majority of cases, the route of approach was transperitoneal. RESULTS: The mean hospital stay was 3.6 days for the nephrectomies and 3 days for the other procedures. The transfusion rate for the nephrectomies was 5% and there was a conversion rate of in 2%. In the other types of surgery, the transfusion rate was 6% and there were no conversions. CONCLUSIONS: The expansion of laparoscopy in Urology has to be accompanied good patient selection and the progressive acquiring of experience on the part of the surgeon. Certain interventions should only be tackled in cases where there is extensive experience.

[Experimental laparoscopic renal autograft as learning laparoscopic model]. / Autotrasplante renal laparoscópico experimental como modelo de aprendizaje de técnica laparoscópica.

INTRODUCTION: Laparoscopic surgery requires a long training period of time in which the complexity of the training is increased. GOALS: The technique presented in this paper has been developed in order to find an experimental model that allows us to improve the learning of the vascular suture. Our main goal was to evaluate this technique as an experimental model for the vacular anastomosis, not to obtain a functional autotransplant. In this regard, here we summarize our experience during the first two cases performed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Laparoscopic renal autotransplant was perfomed in female lab pigs weighing 15-20 kg. International Experimental Animal Care rules were accomplished. RESULTS: After sacrifizing the animals, only one case of vascular thrombosis was observed. The other cases showed normal arterial and venous flow. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental Renal Laparoscopic autotransplant constitutes a good surgical model. We are trying to implement the technique in the clinics in the next future.

[Laparoscopic nephron sparing surgery. Initial experience]. / Cirugía renal laparoscópica conservadora de parénquima. Experiencia inicial.

We present our initial experience in laparoscopic nephron sparing surgery. It's a technically advanced procedure requiring considerable minimally invasive expertise. This technique is particularly attractive compared to an open conventional procedure with its larger incision and associated morbidity.

[Development of a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy program in an university center]. / Implantación de un programa de prostatectomía radical laparoscópica.

The aim of this article is to report our experience in setting up a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy programme. We believe that knowledge of the difficulties we faced at the start will be useful for those who wish to implement a programme like ours. We hope that by explaining the steps we took as well as our conclusions and recommendations this difficult task can be made easier.

[Open and laparoscopic adrenalectomy. 10 years review]. / Suprarrenalectomía abierta y laparoscópica. Revisión de 10 años.

We present a 10 years open adrenalectomy review in our Service and the beginning of laparoscopic adrenalectomy in the last year as a part of the retroperitoneal laparoscopic program at the Hospital Universitario La Paz . The first laparoscopic adrenalectomy was done after 21 retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgeries. Our initial experience has been so good that we have reduced the contraindications for this technique and we have increased the number of laparoscopic surgery cases.

[Retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery; initial experience in the Hospital La Paz]. / Cirugía retroperitoneal laparoscópica; experiencia de los 6 primeros meses del Hospital La Paz.

We present the initial results of retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery in the Hospital Universitario La Paz from July 2004 to December 2004. The program started after 2 years of pelvic laparoscopy surgery practice. The initial experience has been so good that we have reduced the contraindications for this technique and we have increased the number of laparoscopic surgery cases.

[Experimental laparoscopic renal autograft]. / Autotransplante renal laparoscópico experimental.

Laparoscopic surgery requires a long training period of time in which the complexity of the training is increased. The technique presented in this paper has been developed in order to find an experimental model that allows us to improve the learning of the vascular suture. Our main goal was to evaluate this technique as an experimental model for the vascular anastomosis, not to obtain a functional autotransplant. In this regard, here we summarize our experience during the first two cases performed.

Detection of widespread fluids in the Tibetan crust by magnetotelluric studies.

Magnetotelluric exploration has shown that the middle and lower crust is anomalously conductive across most of the north-to-south width of the Tibetan plateau. The integrated conductivity (conductance) of the Tibetan crust ranges from 3000 to greater than 20,000 siemens. In contrast, stable continental regions typically exhibit conductances from 20 to 1000 siemens, averaging 100 siemens. Such pervasively high conductance suggests that partial melt and/or aqueous fluids are widespread within the Tibetan crust. In southern Tibet, the high-conductivity layer is at a depth of 15 to 20 kilometers and is probably due to partial melt and aqueous fluids in the crust. In northern Tibet, the conductive layer is at 30 to 40 kilometers and is due to partial melting. Zones of fluid may represent weaker areas that could accommodate deformation and lower crustal flow.

[Prognostic value of inverted papilloma of the lower urinary tract]. / Valor pronóstico del papiloma invertido del tracto urinario inferior.

OBJECTIVE: Inverted papilloma of the urothelium accounts for 2.2% of urothelial neoplasms. Its oncologic significance is unclear; its potential for recurrence and/or progression is not well-known. Our experience from 1976 to 1999 is reviewed. METHODS: From 1976 to 1999, 31 patients with urothelial inverted papilloma of the lower urinary tract have been treated in our service: 17 presented previous and/or synchronous association with urothelial carcinoma (group I) and 14 had primary inverted papilloma (group II). The recurrence and progression rates for each group were determined and compared. The overall recurrence and progression rates were also determined. Two patients (one from each group) were lost to follow-up. The remaining 29 patients had a mean follow-up of 51.3 months (range 3-125). RESULTS: 12 patients (41.4%) showed recurrence in the form of bladder carcinoma; 10 from group I (10/16; 62.3%) and 2 from group II (2/13; 15.4%) (p < 0.05). Mean time to recurrence was 17.9 months (range 3-58). Disease free interval was higher in group II (p < 0.05). Progression to infiltrating tumor was observed in three patients; all three had associated superficial bladder carcinoma (group I). The mean time to progression was 30.7 months (range 18-38). No statistically significant differences were found in the percentage of progression between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Inverted papilloma of the lower urinary tract showed a high incidence of association with urothelial carcinoma and a high recurrence rate, even in primary tumors. Therefore it should be considered a tumor of low grade malignancy that should be followed regularly.