Comprehensive Assessment and Potential Ecological Risk of Trace Element Pollution (As, Ni, Co and Cr) in Aquatic Environmental Samples from an Industrialized Area.

A global assessment of arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr) was performed in environmental samples from an important industrial bay. Different fractions of water, sediments and tissues from four species of fish were analysed. Samples were collected from selected sampling sites during four consecutive samplings in spring and autumn seasons, in order to evaluate concentrations and their possible correlations among the aquatic compartments. While a higher availability of Cr and Ni was found in water, Co and As were the most available elements in sediments. In fish, the liver was the tissue with the highest proportion of As and Co, and gills showed the highest concentrations of Ni and Cr. Significance differences were observed among sites showing the pollution sources. In sediments, high correlations were found between total Co content and the most available fractions. Total Ni content highly correlated with the oxidisable fraction, while Cr total content tightly correlated with the least available fractions. Quality guideline values for sediments were frequently exceeded. In sediments and biota, concentrations were slightly higher than in other ecosystems, indicating that maritime, industrial and urban activities are affecting this type of ecosystem with great anthropogenic influence.

Clinical and Epidemiological Study on Tubercular Uveitis in a Tertiary Eye Care Centre in Italy.

PURPOSE: To describe frequency, clinical characteristics, and visual prognosis of tubercular uveitis (TBU) in a nonendemic country. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 3743 charts of patients with endogenous uveitis visited from 2008 to 2018 at a tertiary referral centre in Rome, Italy. We included immunocompetent patients with diagnosis of TBU. Patients were divided in two groups: patients with history of uveitis without a previous diagnosis of TBU (group A) and patients at their first episode of TB uveitis (group B). RESULTS: TBU was diagnosed in 28 (0.75%) out of 3743 patients. Twelve (42.9%) patients came from tuberculosis endemic areas. All patients received specific antitubercular treatment (ATT) and were evaluated for a mean follow-up of 3.2 ± 2.9 years. Group A showed a greater number of ocular complications when compared with group B. ATT was effective in reducing the frequency of recurrences of uveitis in patients of group B. CONCLUSION: Intraocular inflammation can be the first manifestation of tuberculosis. Our data highlight that early diagnosis and specific treatment of TBU may allow to decrease recurrences and to improve visual outcomes.

Design and optimization of a single-use optical sensor based on a polymer inclusion membrane for zinc determination in drinks, food supplement and foot health care products.

A single-use optical sensor was designed for Zn(II) determination based on the immobilisation of the colorimetric reagent 2-acetylpyridine benzoylhydrazone (2-APBH) in a polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) adhered on the surface of an inert rectangular strip of polyester (Mylar). Different components for the membrane preparation were tested and those resulting in membrane with good appearance, proper physical and optical properties and ease of preparation were selected. Factorial design 23 with three replicates of the central point was applied for the optimisation of the membrane composition. The optimal composition consisted of 2.5 g of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), 4 mL of tributyl phosphate (TBP) and 0.04 g of 2-APBH. The optode showed a linear dynamic range from 0.03 (detection limit) to 1 mg L-1 of Zn(II) ions with a response time of 30 min in aqueous solution at pH 6 and a relative standard deviation of 3.90% for 0.4 mg L-1 of Zn(II). The sensor exhibited good selectivity to Zn(II) over other commonly ions. It was successfully applied to the determination of Zn(II) in a water certified reference material, spiked tap water, vitamin-mineral drink, food supplement and foot health care products, as contribution to the concern about this heavy metal due to its significant role in many biological and physiological processes although toxicant at high doses.

Disposable optical sensor for Al(III) ions determination by coupled colorimetric solid-phase extraction-reflectance spectroscopy in leachates from cookware, antacids and hygienic care products.

A disposable and miniaturised optical sensor based on colorimetric solid-phase extraction has been designed using poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) membrane disks modified with the colorimetric reagent pyridoxal salicyloylhydrazone to determine the aluminium concentration in aqueous solutions. The extraction of Al(III) ions by the reagent immobilised onto a disk allows the quantification directly on the adsorbent surface by a miniature portable reflectance spectrometer with an optical fibre at 434 nm. The optimisation of the sensing system was carried out by a fractional factorial design 33-1 considering the extraction pH, amount of ligand immobilised onto the disk and time of immobilisation as experimental factors. The linear dynamic range of the sensor response ranged from 0.18 to 2 mg L-1 Al(III) with a detection limit of 0.18 mg L-1 (n = 10), being the precision of 6.3% for 1 mg L-1 Al(III) (n = 10, confidence level of 95%). The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of aluminium in leachates from cookware, antacids and hygienic care products, as contribution to the concern about aluminium as a known systemic toxicant at high doses.

Coupling liquid membrane and flow-injection technique as an analytical strategy for copper analysis in saline water.

A tandem system based on the coupling of a bulk liquid membrane and a flow injection analysis for the separation, preconcentration and spectrophotometric determination of copper in saline water is presented. The ligand pyridine-2-acetaldehyde benzoylhydrazone has been used as a carrier in the liquid membrane as well as a spectrophotometric reagent for UV-VIS detection. Simultaneous and sequential experimental designs were used to optimise the chosen variables of each technique, respectively. The metal was separated and preconcentrated from the sample with an efficiency of 100.5 ±â€¯0.9% and a metal preconcentration factor of 16.1. The on-line FIA determination was accomplished after metal complexation by the reagent at pH 3. A linear response was obtained in a range from 6.9 to 984.5 µg L-1 Cu(II), providing a detection limit of 1.8 µg L-1. Saline matrix and other metal ions were not cause of interferences with relative errors below 4.6% for 50 µg L-1 of Cu(II) determination. The proposed tandem system was successfully tested using a TMDA-62 certified reference material providing a relative error of + 1.9%; it was also applied to the Cu(II) determination in coastal seawater samples with low relative errors ranging from - 3.8% to 0.0% (using DPASV as reference method).

Radiological-Pathological Correlation in Plasmablastic Lymphoma in an Immunocompromised Patient.

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a malignant, rare, and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with poor response to treatment that most commonly involves the oral mucosa of immunodeficient patients. The orbit might be primarily or secondarily involved; on the other hand other pathological conditions, i.e., fungal infections, may localize in the orbit in both immunocompromised patients and drug user, which might have similar radiological features. We describe the clinical, radiological, and pathological features of an orbital plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) in an immunocompromised HIV positive drug user patient.

Cytostatic and genotoxic effect of temephos in human lymphocytes and HepG2 cells.

Temephos is an organophosphorus pesticide that is used in control campaigns against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit dengue. In spite of the widespread use of temephos, few studies have examined its genotoxic potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic, cytostatic and genotoxic effects of temephos in human lymphocytes and hepatoma cells (HepG2). The cytotoxicity was evaluated with simultaneous staining (FDA/EtBr). The cytostatic and genotoxic effects were evaluated using comet assays and the micronucleus technique. We found that temephos was not cytotoxic in either lymphocytes or HepG2 cells. Regarding the cytostatic effect in human lymphocytes, temephos (10 µM) caused a significant decrease in the percentage of binucleated cells and in the nuclear division index as well as an increase in the apoptotic cell frequency, which was not the case for HepG2 cells. The comet assay showed that temephos increased the DNA damage levels in human lymphocytes, but it did not increase the MN frequency. In contrast, in HepG2 cells, temephos increased the tail length, tail moment and MN frequency in HepG2 cells compared to control cells. In conclusion, temephos causes stable DNA damage in HepG2 cells but not in human lymphocytes. These findings suggest the importance of temephos biotransformation in its genotoxic effect.

Late treatment of orbital fractures: a new analysis for surgical planning.

Surgical treatment of orbital fractures should be performed without delay; in some cases acute management is not possible due to general conditions and might be delayed for weeks or months. In the latter case, the fractured fragments can consolidate improperly, causing secondary deformities of the orbital region with aesthetic and functional alteration. Surgical planning of secondary deformities is critical for adequate pre-operative planning. In the last decade an increasing number of dedicated software applications for surgical planning have been developed. Standard computed tomography (CT) or the relatively new cone beam CT can be used for diagnostic purposes, pre-surgical visual treatment outcome and virtual surgery. In this report, the authors propose their pre-operative planning analysis for surgical correction of secondary deformities of orbital fractures. The treatment of orbital fracture must, in fact, analyse not only the bone structures but the soft tissue and surrounding periorbital region. The position of the orbit in the space should be determined in relation to the surrounding structures compared to the contralateral side, if this is not affected by the trauma or pre-existing malformations.

Evaluation of pollution in Camichin estuary (Mexico): pro-oxidant and antioxidant response in oyster (Crassostrea corteziensis).

The physiological system of molluscs, particularly pro-oxidant and antioxidant mechanisms, could be altered by pollutants and induce disturbance on health status and productive parameters of aquatic organisms, such as oyster. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical contamination in water (total metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and oxidative stress parameters in oysters (Crassostrea corteziensis) in Camichin estuary, located in Mexican Tropical Pacific. The results obtained showed the presence of arsenic, lead and zinc, as well as naphthalene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene in concentrations relatively higher than criteria established by local and international guidelines. Regarding the biomarkers of oxidative stress response (H2O2 and O2 concentration, catalase activity, lipid peroxidation, and hydroperoxide concentration), differences between oyster from estuary and control group were significant. These results indicate that these pollutants could be related with oxidative stress detected in oyster.

Compost suppressiveness against Phytophthora capsicion pepper in potting trials.

Suppression of soil-borne plant diseases with composts has been widely studied. Composts suppressive to soil-borne pathogens have been detected in various cropping systems. Vegetable plants are generally propagated in pots, allowing the use of suppressive substrates to control zoospore-producing pathogens, like Phytophthora sp. The objective of the present work was to assess compost suppressiveness against Phytophthora capsici on pepper (cv. Corno di Toro). A municipal compost showing a good suppressive activity in previous trials on vegetable crops was used. Compost was mixed at 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% (v/v) with a commercial peat substrate, used as control. Substrates have been inoculated at 0.25, 0.5 and 1 g/l with wheat and hemp kernels infested with P. capsici and after one week 10 plants were transplanted for each treatment in 4 trays of 10 liters volume capacity and placed in greenhouse at 20 degrees C. Diseased plants were assessed weekly after transplanting and above-ground biomass of plants was assessed at the end of the trials. Compost applied at 80% significantly controlled the disease at high inoculum density (1 g/l), while at lower inoculums density, 0.25 and 0.5 g/l, reduced compost applications, 40% and 60% respectively, were sufficient to significantly control the disease. The application of compost at 20%, in absence of the pathogen, increased the biomass of pepper plants compared to control. The use of compost based substrates can be a suitable strategy for controlling soil-borne diseases on pepper, but results depends on application rates.