RESUMO
Plastic debris is thought to be widespread in freshwater ecosystems globally1. However, a lack of comprehensive and comparable data makes rigorous assessment of its distribution challenging2,3. Here we present a standardized cross-national survey that assesses the abundance and type of plastic debris (>250 µm) in freshwater ecosystems. We sample surface waters of 38 lakes and reservoirs, distributed across gradients of geographical position and limnological attributes, with the aim to identify factors associated with an increased observation of plastics. We find plastic debris in all studied lakes and reservoirs, suggesting that these ecosystems play a key role in the plastic-pollution cycle. Our results indicate that two types of lakes are particularly vulnerable to plastic contamination: lakes and reservoirs in densely populated and urbanized areas and large lakes and reservoirs with elevated deposition areas, long water-retention times and high levels of anthropogenic influence. Plastic concentrations vary widely among lakes; in the most polluted, concentrations reach or even exceed those reported in the subtropical oceanic gyres, marine areas collecting large amounts of debris4. Our findings highlight the importance of including lakes and reservoirs when addressing plastic pollution, in the context of pollution management and for the continued provision of lake ecosystem services.
Assuntos
Lagos , Plásticos , Poluição da Água , Abastecimento de Água , Ecossistema , Lagos/química , Plásticos/análise , Plásticos/classificação , Poluição da Água/análise , Poluição da Água/estatística & dados numéricos , Inquéritos e Questionários , Urbanização , Atividades HumanasRESUMO
Wastewater discharge from wastewater treatment plants continuously pumps microplastics into rivers, yet their transport distances within these waterways remain unknown. Herein, we developed a conceptual framework by synthesizing the microplastic data from the Yangtze River Basin to evaluate its transport distances, quantifying a significant spatial dependence between large-scale wastewater discharge and riverine microplastics (p < 0.05). The presence of microplastics at a specific sampling site could be attributed to wastewater discharge within a large-scale range spanning >1000 km upstream, encompassing a substantial portion equivalent to one-third of the Yangtze River Basin. The dominance analysis indicated that the contribution of wastewater discharge in rivers with higher discharge (>100 m3/s) to riverine microplastic pollution exceeded 65% within the Yangtze River Basin. The spatial dependence framework of riverine microplastics on wastewater discharge advances our prior understanding of the prevention and control of riverine microplastics by demonstrating that such pollution is not limited to nearby environmental factors.
RESUMO
Nocardia neocaledoniensis is a rare species of Nocardia bacteria, identified in 2004 in hypermagnesian ultramafic soil of New Caledonia. Culture of this opportunistic pathogen from spinal biopsy samples confirmed N. neocaledoniensis spondylodiscitis in an immunocompromised man. Isolation of this unusual species from spinal biopsy samples illustrates its underappreciated ability to cause invasive infection.
Assuntos
Discite , Nocardiose , Nocardia , Humanos , Masculino , Discite/diagnóstico , Nocardia/genética , Nocardiose/diagnóstico , Nocardiose/tratamento farmacológico , Bactérias , RNA Ribossômico 16SRESUMO
A variety of organisms can colonize microplastic surfaces through biofouling processes. Heterotrophic bacteria tend to be the focus of plastisphere research; however, the presence of epiplastic microalgae within the biofilm has been repeatedly documented. Despite the relevance of biofouling in determining the fate and effects of microplastics in aquatic systems, data about this process are still scarce, especially for freshwater ecosystems. Here, our goal was to evaluate the biomass development and species composition of biofilms on different plastic polymers and to investigate whether plastic substrates exert a strong enough selection to drive species sorting, overcoming other niche-defining factors. We added microplastic pellets of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a mix of the two polymers in 15 lentic mesocosms in five different locations of the Iberian Peninsula, and after one month, we evaluated species composition and biomass of microalgae developed on plastic surfaces. Our results, based on 45 samples, showed that colonization of plastic surfaces occurred in a range of lentic ecosystems covering a wide geographical gradient and different environmental conditions (e.g., nutrient concentration, conductivity, macrophyte coverage). We highlighted that total biomass differed based on the polymer considered, with higher biomass developed on PET substrate compared to HDPE. Microplastics supported the growth of a rich and diversified community of microalgae (242 species), with some cosmopolite species. However, we did not observe species-specificity in the colonization of the different plastic polymers. Local species pool and nutrient concentration rather than polymeric composition seemed to be the determinant factor defying the community diversity. Regardless of specific environmental conditions, we showed that many species could coexist on the surface of relatively small plastic items, highlighting how microplastics may have considerable carrying capacity, with possible consequences on the wider ecological context.
Assuntos
Microalgas , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Ecossistema , Monitoramento Ambiental , Microplásticos , Plásticos , Polímeros/química , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análiseRESUMO
Mycetoma is a chronic infection that is slow to develop and heal. It can be caused by fungi (eumycetoma) or bacteria (actinomycetoma). We describe a case of actinomycetoma caused by Actinomadura mexicana in the Caribbean region.
Assuntos
Actinomadura/isolamento & purificação , Dermatoses do Pé/diagnóstico , Micetoma/diagnóstico , Actinomadura/genética , Adulto , Região do Caribe , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Dermatoses do Pé/microbiologia , Humanos , Micetoma/microbiologiaRESUMO
PURPOSE: Nocardiosis is a life-threatening infectious disease. We aimed at describing nocardiosis in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID). METHODS: This international retrospective cohort included patients with PID and nocardiosis diagnosed and/or published from Jan 1, 2000, to Dec 31, 2016. To identify nocardiosis cases, we analyzed PID databases from the French National Reference Center for PID (Paris, France) and the National Institute of Health (NIH, United States of America) and we performed a literature review on PubMed. RESULTS: Forty-nine cases of nocardiosis associated with PID were included: median age at diagnosis of nocardiosis was 19 (0-56) years and most cases were observed among chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patients (87.8%). Median time from symptoms to diagnosis of Nocardia infection was 20 (2-257) days. Most frequent clinical nocardiosis presentation was pneumonia (86.7%). Twelve-month mortality rate was 4.2%, and 11.9% of patients experienced a possible recurrence of infection. Nocardiosis more frequently led to the diagnosis of PID among non-CGD patients than in CGD patients. Non-CGD patients experienced more cerebral nocardiosis and more disseminated infections, but mortality and recurrence rates were similar. Highest incidences of nocardiosis among PID cohorts were observed among CGD patients (0.0057 and 0.0044 cases/patient-year in the USA and in France, respectively), followed by IL-12p40 deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Among 49 cases of nocardiosis associated with PID, most patients had CGD and lung involvement. Both mortality and recurrence rates were low.
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Nocardiose/epidemiologia , Nocardiose/etiologia , Doenças da Imunodeficiência Primária/complicações , França/epidemiologia , Doença Granulomatosa Crônica/diagnóstico , Humanos , Incidência , Nocardiose/diagnóstico , Doenças da Imunodeficiência Primária/epidemiologia , Doenças da Imunodeficiência Primária/etiologia , Vigilância em Saúde Pública , Sistema de Registros , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
Nocardia takedensis was first isolated in 2005, from soil in Japan. We report here two cases of lymphangitis in France (2012-2017) caused by N. takedensis both occurring after skin injury while gardening, which enabled its inoculation. The two patients were immunocompromised and successfully treated by an antimicrobial agent active on the isolated strain, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid for patient one and patient two, respectively. Our study along with previous ones supports the idea of a newly recognized cutaneous opportunistic pathogen and reinforces the recommendation of using gloves during soil exposure for immunocompromised patients. Lastly, according to data found in the literature, we would recommend trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole as an efficient empirical antibiotic therapy in case of cutaneous infection caused by N. takedensis.
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Linfangite/diagnóstico , Linfangite/microbiologia , Nocardiose/diagnóstico , Nocardiose/microbiologia , Nocardia/isolamento & purificação , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , França , Jardinagem , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Nocardiose/tratamento farmacológico , Dermatopatias Infecciosas/diagnóstico , Dermatopatias Infecciosas/tratamento farmacológico , Dermatopatias Infecciosas/microbiologia , Infecções dos Tecidos Moles/diagnóstico , Infecções dos Tecidos Moles/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções dos Tecidos Moles/microbiologiaRESUMO
The diagnosis of nocardiosis, a severe opportunistic infection, is challenging. We assessed the specificity and sensitivity of a 16S rRNA Nocardia PCR-based assay performed on clinical samples. In this multicenter study (January 2014 to April 2015), patients who were admitted to three hospitals and had an underlying condition favoring nocardiosis, clinical and radiological signs consistent with nocardiosis, and a Nocardia PCR assay result for a clinical sample were included. Patients were classified as negative control (NC) (negative Nocardia culture results and proven alternative diagnosis or improvement at 6 months without anti-Nocardia treatment), positive control (PC) (positive Nocardia culture results), or probable nocardiosis (positive Nocardia PCR results, negative Nocardia culture results, and no alternative diagnosis). Sixty-eight patients were included; 47 were classified as NC, 8 as PC, and 13 as probable nocardiosis. PCR results were negative for 35/47 NC patients (74%). For the 12 NC patients with positive PCR results, the PCR assay had been performed with respiratory samples. These NC patients had chronic bronchopulmonary disease more frequently than did the NC patients with negative PCR results (8/12 patients [67%] versus 11/35 patients [31%]; P = 0.044). PCR results were positive for 7/8 PC patients (88%). There were 13 cases of probable nocardiosis, diagnosed solely using the PCR results; 9 of those patients (69%) had lung involvement (consolidation or nodule). Nocardia PCR testing had a specificity of 74% and a sensitivity of 88% for the diagnosis of nocardiosis. Nocardia PCR testing may be helpful for the diagnosis of nocardiosis in immunocompromised patients but interpretation of PCR results from respiratory samples is difficult, because the PCR assay may also detect colonization.
Assuntos
Nocardiose/diagnóstico , Infecções Oportunistas/diagnóstico , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodos , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Contagem de Colônia Microbiana , Feminino , Hospitalização , Humanos , Hospedeiro Imunocomprometido , Pneumopatias/diagnóstico , Pneumopatias/microbiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Nocardia/isolamento & purificação , Infecções Oportunistas/microbiologia , RNA Ribossômico 16S , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at risk of nocardiosis, a rare opportunistic bacterial infection, but prognosis and outcome of these patients are poorly defined. Our objectives were to identify factors associated with 1-year mortality after nocardiosis and describe the outcome of patients receiving short-course antibiotics (≤120 days). METHODS: We analyzed data from a multicenter European case-control study that included 117 SOT recipients with nocardiosis diagnosed between 2000 and 2014. Factors associated with 1-year all-cause mortality were identified using multivariable conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: One-year mortality was 10-fold higher in patients with nocardiosis (16.2%, 19/117) than in control transplant recipients (1.3%, 3/233, P < .001). A history of tumor (odds ratio [OR], 1.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.8), invasive fungal infection (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.1-1.5), and donor age (OR, 1.0046; 95% CI, 1.0007-1.0083) were independently associated with 1-year mortality. Acute rejection in the year before nocardiosis was associated with improved survival (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.73-0.98). Seventeen patients received short-course antibiotics (median duration 56 [24-120] days) with a 1-year success rate (cured and surviving) of 88% and a 5.9% risk of relapse (median follow-up 49 [6-136] months). CONCLUSIONS: One-year mortality was 10-fold higher in SOT patients with nocardiosis than in those without. Four factors, largely reflecting general medical condition rather than severity and/or management of nocardiosis, were independently associated with 1-year mortality. Patients who received short-course antibiotic treatment had good outcomes, suggesting that this may be a strategy for further study.
Assuntos
Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Nocardiose/tratamento farmacológico , Transplante de Órgãos/efeitos adversos , Idoso , Antibacterianos/administração & dosagem , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Europa (Continente)/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Infecções Fúngicas Invasivas/complicações , Infecções Fúngicas Invasivas/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções Fúngicas Invasivas/microbiologia , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Nocardiose/complicações , Nocardiose/epidemiologia , Nocardiose/mortalidade , Razão de Chances , Infecções Oportunistas/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções Oportunistas/microbiologia , Prognóstico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Nocardiosis is a rare, life-threatening opportunistic infection, affecting 0.04% to 3.5% of patients after solid organ transplant (SOT). The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for Nocardia infection after SOT and to describe the presentation of nocardiosis in these patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective case-control study of adult patients diagnosed with nocardiosis after SOT between 2000 and 2014 in 36 European (France, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain) centers. Two control subjects per case were matched by institution, transplant date, and transplanted organ. A multivariable analysis was performed using conditional logistic regression to identify risk factors for nocardiosis. RESULTS: One hundred and seventeen cases of nocardiosis and 234 control patients were included. Nocardiosis occurred at a median of 17.5 (range, 2-244) months after transplant. In multivariable analysis, high calcineurin inhibitor trough levels in the month before diagnosis (odds ratio [OR], 6.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.58-14.51), use of tacrolimus (OR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.17-6.00) and corticosteroid dose (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.22) at the time of diagnosis, patient age (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07), and length of stay in the intensive care unit after SOT (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.00-1.09) were independently associated with development of nocardiosis; low-dose cotrimoxazole prophylaxis was not found to prevent nocardiosis. Nocardia farcinica was more frequently associated with brain, skin, and subcutaneous tissue infections than were other Nocardia species. Among the 30 cases with central nervous system nocardiosis, 13 (43.3%) had no neurological symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: We identified 5 risk factors for nocardiosis after SOT. Low-dose cotrimoxazole was not found to prevent Nocardia infection. These findings may help improve management of transplant recipients.
Assuntos
Inibidores de Calcineurina/administração & dosagem , Nocardiose/epidemiologia , Nocardia/efeitos dos fármacos , Infecções Oportunistas/epidemiologia , Transplantes , Combinação Trimetoprima e Sulfametoxazol/administração & dosagem , Adulto , Idoso , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Europa (Continente)/epidemiologia , Feminino , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Nocardiose/microbiologia , Nocardiose/prevenção & controle , Infecções Oportunistas/microbiologia , Infecções Oportunistas/prevenção & controle , Estudos Retrospectivos , Fatores de Risco , TransplantadosRESUMO
Here we report in a human, a renal transplant patient, the first disseminated infection with Nocardia cerradoensis, isolated after a brain biopsy. Species identification was based on 16S rRNA, gyrB, and hsp65 gene analyses. Antibiotic treatment was successful by combining carbapenems and aminoglycosides and then switching to oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Assuntos
Nocardiose/diagnóstico , Nocardia/classificação , Nocardia/isolamento & purificação , Sepse/diagnóstico , Aminoglicosídeos/uso terapêutico , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Encéfalo/microbiologia , Encéfalo/patologia , Carbapenêmicos/uso terapêutico , Análise por Conglomerados , DNA Girase , DNA Bacteriano/química , DNA Bacteriano/genética , DNA Ribossômico/química , DNA Ribossômico/genética , Feminino , Proteínas de Choque Térmico , Humanos , Transplante de Rim , Testes de Sensibilidade Microbiana , Microscopia , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Nocardia/química , Nocardia/genética , Nocardiose/microbiologia , Filogenia , RNA Ribossômico 16S/genética , Radiografia Abdominal , Radiografia Torácica , Sepse/microbiologia , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização e Dessorção a Laser Assistida por Matriz , Transplantados , Resultado do Tratamento , Combinação Trimetoprima e Sulfametoxazol/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Some bacterial species recovered from the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are indisputably associated with lung infections, whereas the clinical relevance of others, such as Nocardia spp., remains unclear. Sixteen French CF cases of colonization/infection with Nocardia spp. were reviewed in order to evaluate the epidemiology, the clinical impact and the potential treatment of these bacteria, and results were compared to those of the literature. Five Nocardia species were identified, Nocardia cyriacigeorgica being the major species (50 % of cases). At first isolation, Nocardia was the sole pathogen recovered in six patients. Seven patients presented pulmonary exacerbation. For 12 patients, antimicrobial treatment against Nocardia was started immediately, mainly based on cotrimoxazole (6 of the 12 cases). In this study, we highlight the heterogeneity of the clinical management of Nocardia spp. in CF. Guidelines for the clinical management of Nocardia infections in CF patients are proposed.
Assuntos
Portador Sadio/epidemiologia , Fibrose Cística/complicações , Nocardiose/epidemiologia , Nocardia/isolamento & purificação , Pneumonia Bacteriana/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Portador Sadio/microbiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , França/epidemiologia , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Nocardia/classificação , Nocardiose/tratamento farmacológico , Nocardiose/microbiologia , Pneumonia Bacteriana/tratamento farmacológico , Pneumonia Bacteriana/microbiologia , Combinação Trimetoprima e Sulfametoxazol/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Plastics in aquatic ecosystems rapidly undergo biofouling, giving rise to a new ecosystem on their surface, the 'plastisphere.' Few studies quantify the impact of plastics and their associated community on ecosystem traits from biodiversity and functional traits to metabolic function. It has been suspected that impacts on ecosystems may depend on its state but comparative studies of ecosystem responses are rare in the published literature. We quantified algal biomass, bacterial and algal biodiversity (16S and 18S rRNA), and metabolic traits of the community growing on the surface of different plastic polymers incubated within rivers of the Lower Mekong Basin. The rivers selected have different ecological characteristics but are similar regarding their high degree of plastic pollution. We examined the effects of plastics colonized with biofilms on ecosystem production, community dark respiration, and the epiplastic community's capability to influence nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, and oxygen in water. Finally, we present conceptual models to guide our understanding of plastic pollution within freshwaters. Our findings showed limited microalgal biomass and bacterial dominance, with potential pathogens present. The location significantly influenced community composition, highlighting the role of environmental conditions in shaping community development. When assessing the effects on ecosystem productivity, our experiments showed that biofouled plastics led to a significant drop in oxygen concentration within river water, leading to hypoxic/anoxic conditions with subsequent profound impacts on system metabolism and the capability of influencing biogeochemical cycles. Scaling our findings revealed that plastic pollution may exert a more substantial and ecosystem-altering impact than initially assumed, particularly in areas with poorly managed plastic waste. These results highlighted that the plastisphere functions as a habitat for biologically active organisms which play a pivotal role in essential ecosystem processes. This warrants dedicated attention and investigation, particularly in sensitive ecosystems like the Mekong River, which supports a rich biodiversity and the livelihoods of 65 million people.
Assuntos
Ecossistema , Plásticos , Rios , Rios/microbiologia , Biodiversidade , Biomassa , Poluentes Químicos da ÁguaRESUMO
Cyanobacterial blooms present substantial challenges to managers and threaten ecological and public health. Although the majority of cyanobacterial bloom research and management focuses on factors that control bloom initiation, duration, toxicity, and geographical extent, relatively little research focuses on the role of loss processes in blooms and how these processes are regulated. Here, we define a loss process in terms of population dynamics as any process that removes cells from a population, thereby decelerating or reducing the development and extent of blooms. We review abiotic (e.g., hydraulic flushing and oxidative stress/UV light) and biotic factors (e.g., allelopathic compounds, infections, grazing, and resting cells/programmed cell death) known to govern bloom loss. We found that the dominant loss processes depend on several system specific factors including cyanobacterial genera-specific traits, in situ physicochemical conditions, and the microbial, phytoplankton, and consumer community composition. We also address loss processes in the context of bloom management and discuss perspectives and challenges in predicting how a changing climate may directly and indirectly affect loss processes on blooms. A deeper understanding of bloom loss processes and their underlying mechanisms may help to mitigate the negative consequences of cyanobacterial blooms and improve current management strategies.
Assuntos
Cianobactérias , Proliferação Nociva de Algas , Cianobactérias/fisiologiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Nocardia cyriacigeorgica is recognized as one of the most prevalent etiological agents of human nocardiosis. Human exposure to these Actinobacteria stems from direct contact with contaminated environmental matrices. The full genome sequence of N. cyriacigeorgica strain GUH-2 was studied to infer major trends in its evolution, including the acquisition of novel genetic elements that could explain its ability to thrive in multiple habitats. RESULTS: N. cyriacigeorgica strain GUH-2 genome size is 6.19 Mb-long, 82.7% of its CDS have homologs in at least another actinobacterial genome, and 74.5% of these are found in N. farcinica. Among N. cyriacigeorgica specific CDS, some are likely implicated in niche specialization such as those involved in denitrification and RuBisCO production, and are found in regions of genomic plasticity (RGP). Overall, 22 RGP were identified in this genome, representing 11.4% of its content. Some of these RGP encode a recombinase and IS elements which are indicative of genomic instability. CDS playing part in virulence were identified in this genome such as those involved in mammalian cell entry or encoding a superoxide dismutase. CDS encoding non ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPS) and polyketide synthases (PKS) were identified, with some being likely involved in the synthesis of siderophores and toxins. COG analyses showed this genome to have an organization similar to environmental Actinobacteria. CONCLUSION: N. cyriacigeorgica GUH-2 genome shows features suggesting a diversification from an ancestral saprophytic state. GUH-2 ability at acquiring foreign DNA was found significant and to have led to functional changes likely beneficial for its environmental cycle and opportunistic colonization of a human host.
Assuntos
Adaptação Fisiológica/genética , Evolução Molecular , Genoma Bacteriano , Nocardia/genética , Actinobacteria/genética , Animais , Hibridização Genômica Comparativa , Elementos de DNA Transponíveis , DNA Bacteriano/genética , Feminino , Metaboloma , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Nocardia/patogenicidade , Filogenia , Sintenia , VirulênciaRESUMO
Only little is known when talking about the evolution of a vertebral fracture. From the few studies available in the literature, we can deduce that the risk a vertebral compression fracture has to worsen its deformity is consistent. It is important to try to make a prognosis on how the fracture is going to heal based on the type of fracture encountered. A chapter of its own is the occurrence of a vertebral fracture non-union that is difficult to diagnose and treat, but comes along with a poor prognosis.
Assuntos
Fraturas da Coluna Vertebral/fisiopatologia , Fraturas da Coluna Vertebral/terapia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Consolidação da Fratura , Fraturas por Compressão/diagnóstico por imagem , Fraturas por Compressão/fisiopatologia , Fraturas por Compressão/terapia , Humanos , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fraturas por Osteoporose/diagnóstico por imagem , Fraturas por Osteoporose/fisiopatologia , Fraturas por Osteoporose/terapia , Prognóstico , Radiografia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Risco , Fraturas da Coluna Vertebral/diagnóstico por imagem , Tomografia , Raios XRESUMO
Aseptic loosening due to wear debris is the most frequent modality of failure in total hip arthroplasty. Bisphosphonates, a class of molecules which inhibit bone resorption showed an inhibitory effects on particles-induced osteolysis in vitro and in animal models. We report the clinical, radiographic and densitometric outcome of four postmenopausal women with total hip arthroplasty affected by peri-prosthetic osteolysis treated with neridronate due to their unwillingness to be operated. After neridronate treatment, there was general improvement in pain and function: VAS decrease 13 points (15%), the Harris Hip Score increase 9 points (15%). An average number of 3.3 x-ray per patients with an average follow-up of 23 months (range 12-34) were collected and evaluated. In all the patients except one, serial radiographs didn't show any progression of radioluciencies lines or periprosthetic osteolysis. Bone density was evaluated by Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry after an average follow-up of 21 months (range 6-46 mo): periprosthetic BMD around the whole stem and the cup increased respectively 2.4% and 7.1%. Treatment was well tolerated and no significant side effects were registered. This retrospective collection of a small group of patients suggest that bisphosphonates should be clinically useful in preventing periprosthetic wear debris mediated osteolysis and claim for dedicated clinical trials.
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Global urbanization trends have led to the widespread increasing occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, pesticides, and micro- and nano-plastics in aquatic systems. Even at low concentrations, these contaminants pose a threat to aquatic ecosystems. To better understand the effects of CECs on aquatic ecosystems, it is important to measure concentrations of these contaminants present in these systems. Currently, there is an imbalance in CEC monitoring, with more attention to some categories of CECs, and a lack of data about environmental concentrations of other types of CECs. Citizen science is a potential tool for improving CEC monitoring and to establish their environmental concentrations. However, incorporating citizen participation in the monitoring of CECs poses some challenges and questions. In this literature review, we explore the landscape of citizen science and community science projects which monitor different groups of CECs in freshwater and marine ecosystems. We also identify the benefits and drawbacks of using citizen science to monitor CECs to provide recommendations for sampling and analytical methods. Our results highlight an existing disparity in frequency of monitoring different groups of CECs with implementing citizen science. Specifically, volunteer participation in microplastic monitoring programs is higher than volunteer participation in pharmaceutical, pesticide, and personal care product programs. These differences, however, do not necessarily imply that fewer sampling and analytical methods are available. Finally, our proposed roadmap provides guidance on which methods can be used to improve monitoring of all groups of CECs through citizen science.
Assuntos
Ciência do Cidadão , Praguicidas , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Humanos , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Ecossistema , Plásticos , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Praguicidas/análiseRESUMO
Textile fibre evidence can provide important activity level information in criminal cases. To date, very few studies have investigated fibre persistence on fabrics exposed to aquatic conditions, even though items of evidence and victim's bodies can regularly be found in aquatic environments. This lack of research on whether fibres (and other trace evidence) persist on evidence submerged in water, has shown to impact practice as it is reported that crime scene examiners do not attempt to recover this evidence, due to the belief that it would not be present. The dynamic nature of aquatic environments mean that the studies are difficult to conduct in situ and variables, such as water flow rate are not possible to control and thought to be difficult to monitor. To address these challenges, artificial streams (also known as mesocosms) were employed in this study to investigate the persistence rate of polyester fibres on different fabric types (Woollen/nylon mix carpet, 100% polyester fleece, and 95% polyester/5% elastane sports vest) for a four week exposure time (1, 8, 24, 48, 120, 168, 264, 336, 504 and 672 hrs). The effect of water flow rate on the persistence of fibres was investigated by conducting the experiment with two flow velocities; 'high' (â¼2.75 L/s) or 'low' (â¼0.7 L/s). Significant differences between textile type were seen at 504 hrs under low flow conditions and 8, 24, 168 and 264 hrs under high flow conditions. When comparing flow velocities, a significant difference was seen at 1 hr exposure for the fleece textile only, indicating that the two flow rates used in this study do not significantly affect fibre persistence. Initial loss rates were highest for the first hour of submergence for the carpet, fleece and sports vest. Fibre persistence rates were highest on the carpet, followed by fleece and then sports vest. Persistence rates remained mostly constant after 24 hrs for all textiles but with redistribution of fibres between textiles being seen after this exposure time. The use of artificial flumes in this study provided a balance between realistic experimentation and a controlled study; key experimental variables could be continously and safely monitored. This study provides the first fibre persistence data in river type environments and proposes a new method for testing persistence in aquatic environments. This approach is not limited to fibres evidence and could be employed for other evidence such as glass, pollen, fingerprints and DNA.
RESUMO
The pathogenic strain Nocardia cyriacigeorgica GUH-2 was isolated from a fatal human nocardiosis case, and its genome was sequenced. The complete genomic sequence of this strain contains 6,194,645 bp, an average G+C content of 68.37%, and no plasmids. We also identified several protein-coding genes to which N. cyriacigeorgica's virulence can potentially be attributed.