Functional and structural parameters to assess the ecological status of a metal contaminated area in the tropics.

Ecological parameters (soil invertebrates, microbial activity, and plant community) were assessed in a metal contaminated site in an abandoned lead smelter and non-contaminated reference sites, as part of an ecological risk assessment (ERA). Vegetation cover inside the smelter area was lower and presented a more homogenous species composition than outside. A more simplified and less abundant vegetation community within the smelter area also simplified the habitat conditions, which in addition to metal toxicity, impaired the soil microbial and faunal communities. A significant reduction in the feeding activity was observed within the smelter area. Also a significant change in community composition of surface dwelling invertebrates was observed at those sites when compared to sites outside the smelter area. Moreover, basal respiration, microbial biomass C, dehydrogenase and phosphatase activity also decreased in several of these points under the smelter area. As a result, a significant impairment of organic material decomposition in the most contaminated sites was observed. Metal contamination affected the ecological status of the site, leading to a risk for ecosystem functioning and provisioning of ecosystem services like organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling, even 17 years after the end of smelting activities. Regarding the sensitivity of the ecological parameters assessed, most were able to distinguish sites within the smelter area boundaries from those outside. However, only bait lamina (feeding activity), basal respiration and microbial biomass carbon presented high capacity to distinguish the level of soil contamination, since they were significantly correlated with metal loadings, and thus are promising candidates to be integrated in the Ecological Line of Evidence of an ERA.

Leakage estimation using Kalman filtering in noninvasive mechanical ventilation.

Noninvasive mechanical ventilation is today often used to assist patient with chronic respiratory failure. One of the main reasons evoked to explain asynchrony events, discomfort, unwillingness to be treated, etc., is the occurrence of nonintentional leaks in the ventilation circuit, which are difficult to account for because they are not measured. This paper describes a solution to the problem of variable leakage estimation based on a Kalman filter driven by airflow and the pressure signals, both of which are available in the ventilation circuit. The filter was validated by showing that based on the attained leakage estimates, practically all the untriggered cycles can be explained.

Global models for patient-ventilator interactions in noninvasive ventilation with asynchronies.

Noninvasive ventilation is a clinical procedure that enables patients with chronic respiratory failure to reduce the work of breathing and to improve blood oxygenation. In order to attain such goals, the ventilation support is expected to be phase synchronized with the patient spontaneous breathing. Unfortunately, asynchrony events are not rare. In order to provide more effective ventilation schemes, the patient-ventilator interactions should be better understood both during normal rhythm and asynchronism. This paper investigates this problem using data-driven modeling. Hence the estimation of input-output and autonomous models from pressure and airflow time series is discussed and illustrated. Issues concerning the nonlinearity of the interactions and modeling assumptions are dealt with. The results presented include models obtained from airflow and pressure measurements of a set of patients.

Cannabidiol for the treatment of psychosis in Parkinson's disease.

The management of psychosis in Parkinson's disease (PD) has been considered a great challenge for clinicians and there is a need for new pharmacological intervention. Previously an antipsychotic and neuroprotective effect of Cannabidiol (CBD) has been suggested. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to directly evaluate for the first time, the efficacy, tolerability and safety of CBD on PD patients with psychotic symptoms. This was an open-label pilot study. Six consecutive outpatients (four men and two women) with the diagnosis of PD and who had psychosis for at least 3 months were selected for the study. All patients received CBD in flexible dose (started with an oral dose of 150 mg/day) for 4 weeks, in addition to their usual therapy. The psychotic symptoms evaluated by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and the Parkinson Psychosis Questionnaire showed a significant decrease under CBD treatment. CBD did not worsen the motor function and decreased the total scores of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale. No adverse effect was observed during the treatment. These preliminary data suggest that CBD may be effective, safe and well tolerated for the treatment of the psychosis in PD.

Burning mouth syndrome responsive to pramipexol.

Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterized by burning discomfort or pain in otherwise normal oral mucosa. It is usually refractory. Treatment modalities are scarce. Herein we report one case of primary disabling BMS, previously refractory to multiple regimens, with complete and persistent improvement with pramipexol, a nonergot dopamine agonist which has high selectivity for dopaminergic D2 receptors. We discuss potential pathophysiological implications of our findings.

Nummular headache: three new cases.

Nummular headache is proposed as a distinct type of headache in the Appendix of the second edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-II). It is a chronic condition, with the following characteristics: pain is felt on a small circumscribed cranial area; pain is of mild to moderate intensity; there is no evidence of a structural abnormality. Herein, three cases fulfilling the ICHD-II proposed criteria (code A13.7.1) for nummular headache are reported.