Gravity and Electrostatic Separation for Recovering Metals from Obsolete Printed Circuit Board.

This study proposed an evaluation of enrichment processes of obsolete Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), by means of gravity and electrostatic separation, aiming at the recovery of metals. PCBs are the most important component in electronic devices, having high concentrations of metals and offering a secondary source of raw materials. Its recycling promotes the reduction in the environmental impacts associated with its production, use, and disposal. The recovery method studied started with the dismantling of the PCB, followed by a comminution and granulometric classification. Subsequent magnetic, gravity, and electrostatic separations were performed. After the separations, a macroscopic visual evaluation and chemical analysis were carried out, determining the metal content in the concentrate products. The results obtained from gravity separation showed a product with metallic concentrations of 89% and 76% for particle sizes of 0.3−0.6 mm and 0.6−1.18 mm, respectively. In electrostatic separation, the product obtained was 88% for the lower particle size (<0.3 mm) and 62% for particles sizes >1.18 mm.

Vinyl-Asbestos Floor Risk Exposure in Three Different Simulations.

Vinyl floors are widely used in public areas for their low cost and easy cleaning. From 1960 to 1980, asbestos was often added to improve vinyl floor performances. The Italian Ministerial Decree (M.D.) 06/09/94 indicates asbestos vinyl tiles as non-friable materials and, therefore, few dangerous to human health. This work aims to check through three different experimental tests if asbestos floor tiles, after decades of use, maintain their characteristics of compactness and non-friability. The effect of a small stone fragment stuck in the sole of rubber shoes was reproduced by striking the vinyl floor with a crampon. A vinyl tile was broken into smaller pieces with the aid of pliers to simulate what normally happens when workers replace the floors or sample it to verify the presence of asbestos. The third test reproduced the abrasion of the tile surface due to the dragging of furniture or heavy materials or sand grains that remain attached to the soles of shoes. The tests were carried out in safe conditions, working under an extractor hood with a glove box. Airborne sampling in the hood obtained the concentration of asbestos fibers produced in each test. The simulation tests performed confirms the possible release of fibers if the vinyl tiles are cut, abraded or perforated, as indicated by the Italian M.D.

Can oral formulation increase the risk of lormetazepam abuse?

The slowness of dripping and the presence of alcohol have been offered/suggested as possible causes for the increased risk of developing dependence to the oral formulation of lormetazepam rather than to other anxiolytic and hypnotic drugs. We hence assessed the time of dripping of the most used benzodiazepines and z-drugs oral solution products under experimental conditions and the different employed excipients through a comparative analysis of the Summaries of Product Characteristics. A wide range of the median overall dispensing time was found across the eight products included in the analysis. Among the products containing LMZ, Minias® ranked in the fourth position, while LMZ Mylan Generics® and Noctamid® in the sixth and third, respectively. Our data suggest that the pace of dripping and the presence of alcohol cannot be considered themselves the cause that triggered the abuse of lormetazepam. More precisely, the quantity of alcohol per bottle has been found negligible at therapeutic doses; however, when these are exceeded, they may have clinical implications for patients. Further studies are needed to assess them. Meanwhile, the public-health problem remains and some improvements should be carried out at different levels, to guarantee the appropriate prescription and use of lormetazepam oral solution.

Rejection of hemolyzed samples can jeopardize patient safety.

INTRODUCTION: In vitro hemolysis is the primary cause of sample/test rejection by the laboratory. CASE REPORT: A 10-year-old, admitted with an asthma attack in the emergency-room, medicated with albuterol sulphate (intravenous bronchodilator that could induce hypokalemia), needed laboratory test monitoring. The physician prescribed the technical-nurse to perform blood sampling for: complete blood count, electrolytes, glucose, and blood gas analysis-within 30min after therapy. Samples were delivered to laboratory with a note "I had difficult to locate an appropriate access to perform the blood collection". LABORATORY RESULTS: Glucose: 4.77 mmol/L. Complete blood count revealed discreet eosinophilia 0.13x109/L, and thrombocytopenia 18x109/L. However, platelet clumps were observed in peripheral blood smear. Blood gas analysis was unreported, laboratory informed that sample had micro clots.Electrolytes: laboratory did not report the results; sample hemolyzed. 0.9 g/L of free hemoglobin is the cut-off defined by the laboratory; the sample presented 2.3 g/L of free hemoglobin. 3.9 mmol/L of potassium was the unreported result vs 2.1 mmol/L in the new sample.Briefly, the laboratory technician was trained to hide potassium results on hemolyzed sample due to the potential overestimation. Even if the hemolyzed sample presented a potassium value close to the lower reference range value (3.5-5.1 mmol/L), reporting the potassium result could allow the physician starting proper therapy to revert the hypokalemia by albuterol sulfate. CONCLUSION: The laboratory should be aware of the clinical patient conditions and of the related physician needs, before hiding results. Therefore, both the laboratory and the clinic personnel should communicate in order to guarantee the patient safety.

Troubleshooting in PM Leadless: How to manage an indissoluble knot.

A 77-year-old patient, with permanent atrial fibrillation, underwent successful Micra transcatheter pacing system (MTPS) implantation. Once begun the pull-back of the tether, an increasing resistance was felt by the operator until complete blockage. A challenging recapture of MTPS into the delivery system was performed. The retrieved MTPS showed an indissoluble knot close to the docking button that blocked the running of the tether, and a long clot inside the delivery system. The new design of internal handle components of MTPS recently updated seems to favor clot formation. We suggest a reconsideration of the standard recommendations about delivery system flushing and design of the inner flushing tube system.

[Three different kinds of tumor in the same patient. Correlation with the lifestyle]. / Tre differenti tumori nello stesso paziente. Correlazione con lo stile di vita.

A patient was a heavy smoker and drinker, so during his life has developed three cancers: larynx, liver and lung. These cancers can be linked to his bad lifestyle. We believe that it is very important to insist upon health education which can reach the entire population, so that illnesses related to a mistaken lifestyle can be reduced.

Radiology of patients with vertical banded gastroplasty.

BACKGROUND: The authors evaluated the usefulness of routine traditional radiology in the management of patients submitted to VBG. METHODS: Radiological findings in 65 subjects who had undergone VBG were evaluated. Post-surgical clinical and radiological examinations were performed 3 days, 1, 4 and 12 months after surgery. Upper GI symptoms, gastroesophageal imaging and 80% solid meal pouch emptying time were recorded. RESULTS: The routine postoperative study, in the absence of clinical symptoms, showed no unsuspected complication in any patient, both in the early and in the late postoperative period. There was no significant correlation at 4 and 12 months between emptying time and duration of satiation, emptying time and percent excess weight loss (%EWL), and duration of satiation and %EWL. CONCLUSIONS: Traditional radiological studies can be safely omitted from both the immediate postoperative period and from the long-term follow-up in asymptomatic VBG patients. The studies were not helpful in understanding functional changes leading to weight loss after VBG.

Thirteen years of follow-up in patients with adjustable silicone gastric banding for obesity: weight loss and constant rate of late specific complications.

BACKGROUND: Despite its simplicity, safety and good short-term results, progressive weight regain and a high incidence of complications have been reported after the adjustable silicone gastric banding (ASGB). The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term results of this operation in our patient population. METHODS: Between 1990 and 1996, 45 morbidly obese patients underwent insertion of an ASGB. The trend of the patients' BMI over time was studied using a linear mixed effect model adjusted for the preoperative BMI. So as to estimate the cumulative probability of band removal and the cumulative hazard function, Lambda(t) Kaplan-Meier analysis was used. RESULTS: 1 year after the operation, the average BMI was 79% of its preoperative value, which then increased linearly over time. The slope of the regression line was estimated at beta =0.42, indicating an average increase of 0.42 BMI units per year. 27 bands (60%) were removed because of specific late complications. The cumulative risk of band removal increased linearly with time. The hazard rate was estimated to be lambda =0.008 events/patient/month, corresponding to 0.1 events/patient/year. CONCLUSIONS: ASGB yielded good short-term results, but the progressive weight regain and constant risk of complications in the long term tend to nullify the optimism.