Enhanced phosphorus removal from sewage in mesocosm-scale constructed wetland using zeolite as medium and artificial aeration.

Phosphorus (P) contained in sewage maybe removed by mesocosm-scale constructed wetlands (MCW), although removal efficiency is only between 20% and 60%. P removal can be enhanced by increasing wetland adsorption capacity using special media, like natural zeolite, operating under aerobic conditions (oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) above +300 mV). The objective of this study was to evaluate P removal in sewage treated by MCW with artificial aeration and natural zeolite as support medium for the plants. The study compared two parallel lines of MCW: gravel and zeolite. Each line consisted in two MCW in series, where the first MCW of each line has artificial aeration. Additionally, four aeration strategies were evaluated. During the operation, the following parameters were measured in each MCW: pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen and ORP. Phosphate (PO4(-3) - P) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), five-day biological oxygen demand (BOD5), total suspended solids (TSS) and ammonium. (NH4(+) - N) were evaluated in influents and effluents. Plant growth (biomass) and proximate analysis for P content into Schoenoplectus californicus were also performed. The results showed that PO4(-3) - P removal efficiency was 70% in the zeolite medium, presenting significant differences (p < .05) with the results obtained by the gravel medium. Additionally, aeration was found to have a significant effect (p < .05) only in the gravel medium with an increase in up to 30% for PO43 - P removal. Thus, S. californicus contributed to 10-20% of P removal efficiency.

Relación entre el diagnóstico clínico preoperatorio y el histopatológico posoperatorio, en pacientes con cáncer prostático localizado / Relationship between clinical preoperative diagnosis and postoperative histology in patients with localized prostate cancer

Introducción: Las variables relevantes preoperatorias con que cuenta el urólogo para una toma de decisión frente a un cáncer prostático localizado son: la edad, el tacto rectal, el antígeno prostático específico (APE) e informe histológico de la biopsia por punción con el Gleason. Además se pueden incluir otras variables como el volumen prostático, número de muestras de biopsias positivas, porcentaje de la muestra comprometida, etc. Nosotros quisimos evaluar el grado de concordancia entre el diagnóstico clínico-patológico preoperatorio con el hallazgo histológico, posoperatorio en pacientes prostatectomizados, debido a la implicancia pronóstica y en la toma de decisión que pudiese tener. Material y Método: Se estudiaron retrospectivamente 119 prostatectomías radicales entre marzo de 2004 y junio de 2009. Se consideraron: edad, tacto, antígeno prostático específico (APE) y score de Gleason. Se excluyeron pacientes con tratamiento antiandrogénico u hormonal neoadjuvante. Resultados: En el preoperatorio la mediana de edad fue de 66 años (61-68), de APE 7,35 ng/ml (5,38-11,8) y de Gleason fue de 6 (5-7). El 87,4 por ciento de los pacientes tenía un APE >4,0 ng/ml. El 54 por ciento (n= 64) tenía un estadio clínico T1c y el 46 por ciento (n= 55) un estadio T2. En el posoperatorio 23,5 por ciento (n= 28) tuvo un estadio pT2 y el 74 por ciento (n= 88) un estadio pT3. En pacientes con estadio pT2 el APE preoperatorio fue de 5,9 ng/ml (4,4-9,4), en el estadio pT3 fue de 7,9 ng/ml (5,7-12,8). El score de Gleason en pT2 fue de 5 (5-6), en el pT3 fue de 6 (5-7). No encontramos diferencia de edad en los estadios pT2 (67 años) y pT3 (68 años). Conclusiones: En el estudio histopatológico posoperatorio de pacientes con estadio clínico T1c y T2, se confirmó un estadio pT2 sólo en 23,5 por ciento, el 74 por ciento tenían un estadio pT3 (a, b). En el cáncer prostático localizado, el tacto rectal no fue útil en su correlación con el estadio histológico...

Introduction: Relevant preoperative variables in patients with localized prostate cancer are: age, digital rectal examination (DRE), prostatic specific antigen (PSA) level and Gleason score in the transrectal biopsy. Other variables include prostate volume, number of positive biopsy samples, percentage of involvement in the biopsy, etc. We evaluated the agreement between the preoperative clinico pathologic diagnosis and the postoperative histology report in patients submitted to prostatectomy. Material and method: This is a retrospective review of 119 radical prostatectomies performed between March 2004 and June 2009. We recorded age, DRE, PSA level, and Gleason score. Patients receiving anti-androgenic treatment or neoadjuvant hormonal treatment were excluded. Results: Preoperative findings: median age was 66 years (61-68), median PSA level was 7.35 ng/ml(5.38-11.8) and median Gleason score was 6 (5-7). PSA level >4 ng/ml was found in 87.4 percent of the patients. Clinical stage T1c was found in 54 percent (n=64) of the cases whereas 46 percent (n=55) were stage T2. Postoperative findings: stage pT2 was found in 23.5 percent (n=28) of the patients whereas 74 percent (n =88)were pT3 stage. In pT2 patients, preoperative PSA was 5,9 ng/ml (4.4-9.4). In pT3 patients, PSA was7.9 ng/ml (5.7-12.8). Gleason score in pT2 was 5 (5-6); in pT3 patients, Gleason score was 6 (5-7). No age difference was found between pT2 stage (67 years) and pT3 stage (68 years).Conclusions: Postoperative histology in patients with T1c and T2 stages confirmed a pT2 stage only in 23.5 percent of the cases; 74 percent of the cases were pT3 (a,b) stage. In localized prostate cancer, DRE was not useful for the correlation with pathologic staging, especially for stage pT3 cases. Preoperative Gleason score was relatively useful; we found understaging 36.2 percent of the cases and overstaging 21.8 percent of the patients. These variables should be considered in the initial evaluation of...

HTLV-I positive progressive spastic paraparesis (TSP) associated with a lymphoid disorder in three Chilean patients.

We describe the clinical and laboratory features in three Caucasian Chilean patients with tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) associated with/or preceded by a lymphoproliferative disorder involving cutaneous lesions and localised lymphadenopathy. The neurological symptoms and signs were characteristic of TSP and CSF examination revealed the presence of oligoclonal bands. All three patients had a moderate leucocytosis (10-14 x 10(9)/l) with eosinophilia and a minority (2-4%) of circulating atypical polylobed or ATLL-like lymphocytes. Lymph node histology showed a diffuse pattern of infiltration (1 case) and marked expansion of the paracortical zone with convoluted lymphocytes and immunoblasts (2 cases). Skin biopsy demonstrated a dermal lymphoid infiltration with epidermotropism. Antibodies to HTLV-I were detected in the serum and CSF in the three patients and Southern blot analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed a monoclonal integration of HTLV-I proviral DNA in one case whereas in the two others the pattern was indicative of low level polyclonal integration. All three patients were treated with prednisolone and one with PUVA with transient partial response on the skin and neurological manifestations. Two patients died months to 5 years from presentation and the other is alive 12 years from diagnosis with active neurological and skin disease. The simultaneous occurrence of HTLV-I associated TSP with smouldering ATLL and a cutaneous ATLL or pre-leukaemic form is discussed.