Population dynamics of the long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829) in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon.

A 10-year monitoring program was developed to quantify the population dynamics of the long-snouted seahorse population in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon. Based on 985 underwater visual censuses, we estimated the long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus Cuvier, 1829) population size in the Mar Menor lagoon and its reduction in size in the last decades, as well as the effect of eutrophication crises in 2016 and 2019 on the species. The annual recruitment for the 2013-2020 period was estimated by comparing the relative abundance of early seahorse life stages in the ichthyoplankton. The density ranged from 0.0458 specimens/m3 at the beginning of the sampling period to 0.0004 at the end, showing a statistically significant difference between the three analyzed periods (Hgl=2 = 14.0, p = 0.001). The long-snouted seahorse population from the Mar Menor lagoon exemplifies the impact of fishing activities and human pressure, especially euxinic episodes and habitat destruction. As a result of this, the Mar Menor population has decreased from several million specimens to a few thousand, in only three decades. This species showed considerable resilience, the seahorse population began to recover once fishing activity stopped. In contrast, the long-snouted seahorse showed high vulnerability to habitat loss and an episodic flooding event. Adult seahorses showed preferences for highly complex habitats, especially Caulerpa prolifera-Cymodocea nodosa mixed meadows and habitats of high complexity and anthropogenic origin, such as harbors, jetties, or breakwaters. In contrast, juvenile seahorses preferred monotonous seabeds with low complexity, such as the sandy beds that are characteristic of the Mar Menor lagoon littoral.

Total Arsenic Concentrations in Sea Turtle Tissues from the Mediterranean Coast of Spain.

In this work we studied total arsenic concentrations in liver, muscle and kidney of 49 individuals of two sea turtle species (loggerhead sea turtles, n = 45; leatherback turtles, n = 4) stranded in Murcia (South-eastern Spain) coastline between 2009 and 2018. In accordance with the literature, muscle was the tissue with the highest concentrations in both species, followed by liver and kidney. Although differences in arsenic concentrations were not statistically significant between the study species, loggerhead sea turtles showed concentrations two or three times higher than those of leatherback turtles, which we attribute to differences on feeding behavior and habitat preferences. Arsenic concentrations in turtles from this area increase evidence of western Mediterranean Sea as a hotspot for metal pollution. Based on the scarce existing knowledge on arsenic toxicity in sea turtles, those levels found in our study are below those responsible for liver damage.

Risk factors for the development of a second melanoma in patients with cutaneous melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous melanoma patients have an increased risk of developing other neoplasms, especially cutaneous neoplasms and other melanomas. Identifying factors associated with an increased risk might be useful in the development of melanoma guidelines. OBJECTIVES: To identify risk factors related to the development of a second primary melanoma in a series of patients diagnosed with sporadic melanoma and to establish the estimated incidence rate. METHODS: A longitudinal study based on prospective follow-up information of patients diagnosed with sporadic cutaneous melanoma at our centre from 2000 to 2015 was performed. Cumulative incidence was estimated based on competing risk models, and the association of characteristics with the risk of a second melanoma was performed by Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Out of 1447 patients included in the study, after a median follow-up of 61 months, 55 patients (3.8%) developed a second melanoma. Fair hair colour, more than 100 common melanocytic nevi and the presence of more than 50 cherry angiomas were independently associated with the development of a second melanoma. The site and the histological subtype of the first and second melanomas were not consistent. The second melanomas were thinner than the first ones. CONCLUSIONS: Fair-haired and multiple-nevi patients might benefit from more intensive prevention measures. The finding of cherry angiomas as a risk factor suggests that these lesions could be markers of skin sun damage in the setting of certain degree of genetic susceptibility.

Halide removal from water using silver doped magnetic-microparticles.

This study proposes the use of new materials based on core-shell structure magnetic microparticles with Ag0 (Ag(0)-MPs) on their surface to remove bromides and chlorides from waters intended for human consumption. Hydrogen peroxide was used as oxidizing agent, Ag(0)-MPs is thereby oxidized to Ag (I)-MPs, which, when in contact with Cl- and Br- ions, form the corresponding silver halide (AgCl and AgBr) on the surface of Ag-MPs. The concentration of Cl- and Br- ions was followed by using ion selective electrodes (ISEs). Silver microparticles were characterized by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, while the presence of AgCl and AgBr on Ag-MPs was determined by microanalysis. We analyzed the influence of operational variables, including: hydrogen peroxide concentration in Ag-MP system, medium pH, influence of Cl- ions on Br- ion removal, and influence of tannic acid as surrogate of organic matter in the medium. Regarding the influence of pH, Br-and Cl- removal was constant within the pH range studied (3.5-7), being more effective for Br- than for Cl- ions. Accordingly, this research states that the system Ag-MPs/H2O2 can remove up to 67.01% of Br- ions and 56.92% of Cl- ions from water (pH = 7, [Ag-MPs]0 = 100 mg L-1, [H2O2]0 = 0.2 mM); it is reusable, regenerated by radiation and can be easily removed by applying a magnetically assisted chemical separation process.

Hg and Se in Organs of Three Cetacean Species from the Murcia Coastline (Mediterranean Sea).

We determinated Hg and Se concentrations in liver, kidney, brain, lung and muscle of five bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), four common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) and four Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus) stranded along the Murcia coast, Southeast Spain, in order to evaluate the risk of Hg toxicity. Hg concentrations showed similar concentrations to other individuals in the Mediterranean Sea with the same length in the same period. We observed a positive correlation of Hg and Se in liver (r = 0.948, p < 0.001) and kidney (r = 0.939; p = 0.001) and ratio the Se/Hg molar was higher than 1 in most cases. Our results suggest that the protective effects of Se against Hg toxicity occur in cetaceans. However, we detected levels of Hg described as responsible liver damage and neurotoxicological effects so other tools, as biochemical markers, should be included. Besides, more studies are needed to evaluate the risk of Hg exposure in dolphins from Murcia coastline.

Central nervous system prophylaxis with intrathecal liposomal cytarabine in a subset of high-risk patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma receiving first line systemic therapy in a prospective trial.

The dissemination in the central nervous system (CNS) is an uncommon but fatal complication occurring in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Standard prophylaxis has been demonstrated to reduce CNS relapse and improve survival rates. Intrathecal (IT) liposomal cytarabine allows maintaining elevated drug levels in the cerebrospinal fluid for an extended period of time. Data on the efficacy and safety of liposomal cytarabine as CNS prophylaxis in patients with DLBCL are still insufficient. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the prophylaxis with IT liposomal cytarabine in prevention of CNS relapse in high-risk patients with DLBCL who were included in a trial of first line systemic therapy with 6 cycles of dose-dense R-CHOP every 14 days. Twenty-four (18.6 %) out of 129 patients were identified to have risk factors for CNS involvement, defined as follows: >30 % bone marrow infiltration, testes infiltration, retroperitoneal mass ≥10 cm, Waldeyer ring, or bulky cervical nodes involvement. Liposomal cytarabine (50 mg) was administered by lumbar puncture the first day of the 1st, 2nd, and 6th cycle of R-CHOP14 scheme. Among 70 IT infusions, grade 3-4 adverse events reported were headache (one patient) and nausea/vomiting (one patient). With a median follow-up of 40.1 months, no CNS involvement by DLBCL was observed in any patient. In conclusion, IT liposomal cytarabine is safe, feasible, and effective for CNS prophylaxis, causing few associated risks and little discomfort to patients with DLBCL.

Influence of adult Anguillicoloides crassus load in European eels swimbladder on macrophage response.

Anguillicoloides crassus has become one of the most important threats to the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Adult parasites colonize the swimbladder leading to an impaired functioning of this organ. The infection is also responsible for an increased in the stress level of infected eels, that could produce an altered immune response as well. Differences in parasite loads and effects in the European and Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) have been described. We have studied the influence of the number of adult parasites present in the swimbladder of wild eels on the macrophage response (phagocytosis and respiratory burst) as part of the first immune response to pathogens. Our results show an increased phagocytozed bacterial survival 24 h post-infection in macrophages of eels infected with more than ten adult parasites compared to macrophages from eels infected with less than those ten adult parasites. Respiratory burst results also showed a less efficient response in macrophages from eels infected with more than ten adult parasites, although in this case results were not found to be significant.

Detection and characterization of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidifoliorum in kiwifruit in Spain.

AIMS: Bacterial canker of kiwifruit caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa) is currently the major threat to its commercial production worldwide. In 2011, the most virulent type (Psa3) was detected for the first time in Northwest-Spain, in the province of Pontevedra. In 2013 surveys, leaves and flower buds with mild symptoms were observed in Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward' vines in an orchard at the province of A Coruña, suggesting the presence of P. syringae pv. actinidifoliorum (Psaf). METHODS AND RESULTS: Isolates obtained from such orchard were characterized by morphological, biochemical and physiological tests, fatty acids (FA) profile and molecular tests (PCR, BOX-PCR, duplex PCR, multiplex PCR, real-time PCR, PCR-C, phytotoxins, housekeeping and effector genes). Pathogenicity tests were also carried out on plants and fruits of A. deliciosa 'Hayward' and on different cultivated plants and fruits. Results demonstrated the presence of P. syringae pv. actinidifoliorum in Spain. CONCLUSIONS: The work provides new information on the pathovar P. syringae pv. actinidifoliorum, which has only been found previously in New Zealand, Australia and France. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: The results are relevant for taxonomy of isolates of P. syringae from kiwifruit, especially those of low virulence not belonging to pathovar actinidiae.

Richness and diversity of helminth species in eels from a hypersaline coastal lagoon, Mar Menor, south-east Spain.

The composition and diversity of parasite communities and intestinal components, as well as infra-community structure, were assessed in eels Anguilla anguilla, from Mar Menor, a permanent Mediterranean hypersaline coastal lagoon. Data were used to determine whether this helminth community differs in composition and structure from that of eels in lagoons with lower salinity regimes and higher freshwater inputs. A total prevalence of 93% was detected. Specifically, parasites were identified as Deropristis inflata, Bucephalus anguillae, Contracaecum sp., Anguillicoloides crassus and two plerocercoid larvae belonging to the order Proteocephalidae, the marine species representing 91% of the isolated helminths. In the total community, digenetic trematodes were the dominant group of helminths, and D. inflata, an eel specialist, dominated both the component community and the infra-community. Richness and diversity were low but similar to those reported in other saline lagoons, and maximum species per eel did not exceed four. At the infra-community level, higher abundance than in other brackish or marine Mediterranean environments was detected. The findings provide further evidence of the similarity in composition and structure of helminth communities in eels from various Mediterranean coastal lagoons. Moreover, salinity-dependent specificities are well supported and reflect the life history of individual eels.

[Translated article] Study of femoral component malrotation as a cause of pain after total knee arthroplasty.

INTRODUCTION: The total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been shown to be a successful and cost-benefit procedure in terms of pain improvement in patient with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. However, almost a 20% of the patients are not satisfied with the result of the surgery. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We have carried out a transversal unicentric cases controls study with clinical cases of the own hospital, obtained by a clinical records revision. A total of 160 patients with a TKA with at least 1 year of follow-up were selected. Demographic variables, functional scales (WOMAC and VAS) and rotation of the femoral component through the analysis of the images obtained by CT scan were collected. RESULTS: The total was 133 patients that was divided in two groups. A control group and pain group. The Control group was made up of 70 patients with a mean age of 69.59 years (23 men and 47 women) and the pain group was made up of 63 patients with a mean age of 69.48 years (13 men and 50 women). We didn't find difference regarding the analysis of the rotation of the femoral component. In addition, we were not found significant differences when applying a stratification by sex. And, the analysis of the malrotation of the femoral component, previously defining limits of value rotation considered as extreme, in any of the case did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: The results of the study confirm that malrotation of the femoral component had no influence on the presence of pain at a minimum of one year of follow-up after TKA implantation.

POPs concentrations in cetaceans stranded along the agricultural coastline of SE Spain show lower burdens of industrial pollutants in comparison to other Mediterranean cetaceans.

Despite the Mediterranean Sea being one of the world's marine biodiversity hotspots, it is a hotspot of various environmental pollutants. This sea holds eight cetacean with resident populations whose numbers are considered to decline in the last decades and which are particularly susceptible to POPs bioaccumulation due to their peculiar characteristics. In this work, we studied blubber concentration of various OCPs and several PCBs and PBDEs congeners in cetaceans stranded in the northern coast of the Gulf of Vera (Region of Murcia, SE Spain) between 2011 and 2018. Most compounds and congeners were above the limit of detection in most samples, although some pesticides like endosulfan stereoisomers or endrin were never detected. DDT and its metabolites, PCBs and metoxychlor appear as the dominant compounds while PBDEs shows concentrations of lower magnitude. Striped dolphin was the species accounting for higher concentrations of most pollutants. There were differences in concentrations and profiles between species which could be partially explained by differences on diet and feeding behavior. We also observed differences based on life history parameters suggesting maternal transfer for most POPs, in accordance with other works. DDE/ ΣDDT ratio suggest no recent exposure to these pesticides. Despite showing lower concentrations than some previous works, PCB concentrations accounted for higher total TEQ than many studies. According to toxicity thresholds in the literature, we cannot guarantee the absence of health consequences on populations studied, especially for those caused by PCBs. These findings are of major importance considering the relevance of the study area in the conservation of Mediterranean cetaceans.

Assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in mediterranean top marine predators stranded in SE Spain.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants. Although they are not bioaccumulated in vertebrates, chronic exposures might still derive on serious toxic effects. We studied concentrations of 16 reference PAHs on blubber of two dolphin species (striped dolphin, n = 34; and bottlenose dolphin, n = 8) and one marine turtle (loggerhead turtle, n = 23) from the Mediterranean waters of SE Spain, an important or potential breeding area for these and other related species. Σ16 PAHs concentrations were relatively similar between the three species, but they were in the lower range in comparison to worldwide data. Of the six PAHs detected, fluoranthene was the only high molecular weight (HMW) PAH, so low molecular weight (LMW) PAHs predominated. Naphthalene and phenanthrene were invariably those PAHs with higher detection rates as well as those with higher concentrations. In accordance with the literature, sex and length did not have significant influence on PAHs concentrations, probably due to high metabolization rates which prevent for observation of such patterns. Despite LMW PAHs are considered less toxic, we cannot dismiss toxic effects. This is the first work assessing PAHs concentrations in cetaceans and sea turtles from the SE Spain, which could serve as the baseline for future research.

Study of femoral component malrotation as a cause of pain after total knee arthroplasty. / Estudio de la malrotación del componente femoral como causa de dolor tras la implantación de una artroplastia total de rodilla.

INTRODUCTION: The total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been shown to be a successful and cost-benefit procedure in terms of pain improvement in patient with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. However, almost a 20% of the patients are not satisfied with the result of the surgery. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We have carried out a transversal unicentric cases controls study with clinical cases of the own hospital, obtained by a clinical records revision. A total of 160 patients with a TKA with at least 1year of follow-up were selected. Demographic variables, functional scales (WOMAC and VAS) and rotation of the femoral component through the analysis of the images obtained by CT scan were collected. RESULTS: The total was 133 patients that was divided in two groups. A control group and pain group. The control group was made up of 70 patients with a mean age of 69.59years (23 men and 47 women) and the pain group was made up of 63 patients with a mean age of 69.48years (13 men and 50 women). We did not found difference regarding the analysis of the rotation of the femoral component. In addition, we were not found significant differences when applying a stratification by sex. The analysis of the malrotation of the femoral component, previously defining limits of value rotation considered as extreme, in any of the case did not show significant differences. CONCLUSION: The results of the study confirm that malrotation of the femoral component had no influence on the presence of pain at a minimum of one year of follow-up after TKA implantation.

First Report of Bacterial Canker of Kiwifruit Caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae in Spain.

Bacterial canker of kiwifruit caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae was first described in Japan and Korea and is currently an emerging disease that causes major losses in China, Italy, New Zealand, France, Portugal, and Chile. Gold kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis), especially cvs. Jin Tao and Hort 16A, seem to be more susceptible than green kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) cvs. Hayward and Summer. The bacterium affects male and female woody vines equally, with young vines being more susceptible. The most characteristic symptoms that appear in early spring are reddish orange or white exudates associated with cankers and wounds in branches and/or trunk, as well as brown leaf spots. Buds and fruits were also affected (1). In Spain, 1,132 ha of kiwifruit orchards yielded 25,285 t of fruit in 2009 (2). Most Spanish kiwifruit is cultivated in Galicia (northwest Spain), where the main cultivar is Hayward. In 2010, the first plantation of cv. Jin Tao and one plantation of cv. Summer were established in this area close to Hayward woody vine. In early spring 2011, 80% of the vines in one orchard had twigs with reddish exudates and branches and trunks as well as leaves with angular spots surrounded by yellow haloes. Isolations from both Actinidia spp. were conducted on nutrient agar with sucrose. One hundred and twelve isolates were obtained and seventy-seven were aerobic, gram negative and nonfluorescent on King's B medium. Biochemical tests performed were levan, oxidase, potato rot, arginine didhydrolase, hypersensitivity in tobacco, and utilization of 49 carbohydrates by the API 50 CH system (BioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France). Three PCR protocols were used: two with pathovar-specific primers (PSAF1/PSAR2 and PSAF3/PSAR4) and one with nonspecific primers (PsITSF1/PsITSR2) (3). The results of all biochemical and molecular tests were in agreement with those expected for P. syringae pv. actinidiae. The 16S-23S region of strain EFA 37 isolated from A. deliciosa cv. Summer was sequenced (GenBank Accession No. JF815537) and had 100% sequence identity with P. syringae pv. actinidiae (GenBank Accession Nos. AY342165 and D86357). Pathogenicity tests were performed on 15 plants of A. deliciosa cv. Hayward (five plants per isolate) with the Spanish representative strain EFA 37 and compared with two reference strains isolated from both Actinidia species in Italy and five plants of an untreated control. Three buds per healthy vine were wounded with a sterile needle, inoculated with 30 to 50 µl of each bacterial suspension (108 CFU/ml), sealed, and then covered with plastic. Five leaves per healthy vine were also pierced with a sterile needle and then atomized with the same suspension. Symptoms began to appear after 5 days on inoculated vines, but not on untreated control vines. The bacterium, P. syringae pv. actinidiae, was reisolated from symptomatic plants. The kiwifruit orchard with affected plants was eradicated (25 ha). To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. syringae pv. actinidiae in Spain. References: (1) EPPO Alert List. Online publication. Retrieved from http://www.eppo.org/QUARATINE/Alert_List , June, 2011. (2) Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino (MARM). Anuario de Estadística, Online Publication. Retrieved from http://www.marm.es/estadistica/pags/anuario/2010 , June 2011. (3) J. Rees-George et al. Plant Pathol. 59:453, 2010.

Absence of anisakid larvae in farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) in Southeast Spain.

In the present study, a total of 871 farmed fish, 612 gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) and 259 European sea bass (Dicentrarchux labrax L.), were examined for the presence of anisakid larvae. Two diagnostic methods were applied, visual inspection and artificial digestion based on the degradation of fish soft tissue in an acidified pepsin enzyme solution. None of the samples examined in this study contained any anisakid parasite. The results suggest that consumption of these farmed fish species carries a minimal risk of exposure to these nematodes in this region.

A critical review about neurotoxic effects in marine mammals of mercury and other trace elements.

Marine mammals are more exposed to mercury (Hg) than any others animals in the world. As many trace elements, Hg it is able to impair the brain function, which could be a cause of population decline. Nevertheless, these issues have been scarcely studied because of the technical and ethical difficulties. We conducted a systematic review about marine mammals' brain exposition to Hg and other trace elements, and their neurotoxic effects. Information was scarce and the lack of standardization of nomenclature of brain structures, sample collecting and results presentation made it difficult to obtain conclusions. Hg was the most studied metal and toothed whales the most studied group. Despite being its target organ, brain accumulates lesser concentrations of Hg than other tissues as liver. We found a significant positive correlation between both organs' burden (rho = 0.956 for cetaceans; rho = 0.756 for pinnipeds). Reported Hg values in brain of cetaceans (median 3.00 ppm ww) surpassed by one or two orders of magnitude those values found in other species as pinnipeds (median 0.33 ppm ww) or polar bears (median 0.07 ppm ww). Such values exceeded neurotoxicity thresholds. Although marine mammals ingest mostly the organic and more toxic form MeHg, different fractions of inorganic mercury can appear in brain, which could suggest some detoxification mechanisms. Other suggested mechanisms include Se-Hg interaction and liver sequestration. Although other elements are subjected to a rigid homeostatic control, appear in low concentrations or do not exert an important neurotoxic effect, they should be more studied to elucidate their neurotoxicity potential.

Stranded cetaceans warn of high perfluoroalkyl substance pollution in the western Mediterranean Sea.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of organohalogenated compounds of environmental concern due to similar characteristics as the well-studied legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that typically show environmental persistence, biomagnification and toxicity. Nevertheless, PFAS are still poorly regulated internationally and in many aspects poorly understood. Here, we studied liver and muscle concentrations in five cetacean species stranded at the southeastern coast of Spain during 2009-2018. Twelve of the fifteen targeted compounds were detected in >50% of the liver samples. Hepatic concentrations were significantly higher than those in muscle reflecting the particular toxicokinetics of these compounds. Bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus showed the highest hepatic ΣPFAS (n = 5; 796.8 ± 709.0 ng g-1 ww) concentrations, followed by striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba (n = 29; 259.5 ± 136.2 ng g-1 ww), sperm whale Physeter macrocephalus (n = 1; 252.8 ng g-1 ww), short-beaked common dolphin Delphinus delphis (n = 2; 240.3 ± 218.6 ng g-1 ww) and Risso's dolphin Grampus griseus (n = 1; 78.7 ng g-1 ww). These interspecies differences could be partially explained by habitat preferences, although they could generally not be related to trophic position or food chain proxied by stable N (δ15N) and C (δ13C) isotope values, respectively. PFAS profiles in all species showed a similar pattern of concentration prevalence in the order PFOS>PFOSA>PFNA≈PFFUnA>PFDA. The higher number of samples available for striped dolphin allowed for evaluating their PFAS burden and profile in relation to the stranding year, stable isotope values, and biological variables including sex and length. However, we could only find links between δ15N and PFAS burdens in muscle tissue, and between stranding year and PFAS profile composition. Despite reductions in the manufacturing industry, these compounds still appear in high concentrations compared to more than two decades ago in the Mediterranean Sea and PFOS remains the dominating compound.

Trace metals in striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded along the Murcia coastline, Mediterranean Sea, during the period 2009-2015.

Mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), selenium (Se) and arsenic (As) concentrations in internal tissues of 72 striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from Murcia Region (Mediterranean coastline) have been investigated for the first time. Hg showed the highest concentration, followed by Se, Cd, As and Pb. In general, the levels of metal found in this study were similar to those described in similar studies in the Mediterranean Sea. However, in some adult specimens, Hg liver concentrations were related with toxic effects in cetacean. A significant correlation was observed with age, likewise between Se and Hg and Cd in tissues, which agree with detoxify effect attributed to Se through inert complex formation. Molar ratio Hg:Se in liver was close to 1:1 in some specimens, which would indicate overload of the Hg-Se detoxify function and compromised health. These results could contribute to a better knowledge of the distribution of these persistent pollutants in the Mediterranean Sea.

Home-based intravenous analgesia with elastomeric pump as an outpatient procedure for pain control after anterior cruciate ligament repair. / Analgesia intravenosa domiciliaria mediante bomba elastomérica como procedimiento ambulatorio de control del dolor en la reparación del ligamento cruzado anterior.

OBJECTIVE: To follow up pain in the immediate postoperative period, using an elastomeric pump in anterior cruciate ligament surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 309 patients who had undergone anterior cruciate ligament repair with bone-tendon-bone allograft. Pain control was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS) during the immediate postoperative period, in the postoperative care unit, in the recovery room, and after the first 24-48-72hours following home discharge. The need for rescue medication, adverse effects observed and emergency visits were also registered. RESULTS: 309 patients were assessed (264 males, 45 females), mean age 33 (range: 18 - 55). Postoperative pain was mild in 44.7% of patients, and 38.5% were pain-free. At discharge, 41.1% of patients reported mild pain and 57% were pain-free. At home, mild to moderate levels of pain were maintained and over 97% of patients presented VAS values ≤ 3. Fewer than 3% had adverse effects, 8.7% had to use analgesic medication at some point. Pruritus occurred in less than 1% of patients receiving intravenous analgesia at home, and fewer than 2% had device-related complications. DISCUSSION: There is no consensus regarding the postoperative management of anterior cruciate ligament lesions, although most surgeons use multimode anaesthesia and different combinations of analgesics to reduce postoperative pain. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an intravenous elastomeric pump as postoperative analgesia for anterior cruciate ligamentoplasty has yielded good results.

Halide removal from waters by silver nanoparticles and hydrogen peroxide.

The objective of this study was to remove halides from waters by silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The experimental parameters were optimized and the mechanism involved was also determined. The AgNP/H2O2 process proved efficacious for bromide and chloride removal from water through the selective precipitation of AgCl and AgBr on the AgNP surface. The optimal AgNP and H2O2 concentrations to be added to the solution were determined for the halide concentrations under study. The removal of Cl- and Br- anions was more effective at basic pH, reaching values of up to 100% for both ions. The formation of OH, O2-, radicals was detected during the oxidation of Ag(0) into Ag(I), determining the reaction mechanism as a function of solution pH. Moreover, the results obtained show that: i) the efficacy of the oxidation of Ag(0) into Ag(I) is higher at pH11, ii) AgNPs can be generated by the O2- radical formation, and iii) the presence of NaCl and dissolved organic matter (tannic acid [TAN]) on the solution matrix reduces the efficacy of bromide removal from the medium due to: i) precipitation of AgCl on the AgNP surface, and ii) the radical scavenger capacity of TAN. AgNPs exhausted can be regenerated by using UV or solar light, and toxicity test results show that AgNPs inhibit luminescence of Vibrio fischeri bacteria.