An innovative compact system for advanced treatment of combined sewer overflows (CSOs) discharged into large lakes: Pilot-scale validation.

Combined sewer overflows discharging into natural water bodies could potentially contaminate them in terms of conventional wastewater parameters and coliform bacteria. When green water infrastructures are not technically feasible or practically sustainable for stormwater management, innovative compact and effective end-of-pipe systems can be of interest. This study presents long-term and real-environment validated data of a compact and rapid treatment system specifically applicable to CSOs that consists of a dynamic rotating belt filter, adsorption on granular activated carbon and UV disinfection steps. The results of treatment for Lake Garda in Italy, showed great potential for TSS, COD and E. coli removal efficiencies with more than 90%, 69% and 99% respectively. Due to the short contact time of GAC adsorption, nutrients removals were not very high. TN and TP removal of around 41% and 19% were observed respectively that suggests further specific nutrients removal processes are required for achieving higher efficiencies. The treatment system, due to its compactness and rapidness could be a great asset for water utilities in different EU catchments that are dealing with the frequent CSO events. In addition, the possibility of using different combinations of treatment steps allows the choice of different treatment scenarios depending on the treatment goals for any specific catchment.

Bispectral Index in the sedation with intranasal midazolam and intravenous diazepam in dental practice.

AIM: Aim of this study was to assess by clinical evaluation and by Bispectral Index (BIS) the tranquillizing properties of diazepam injected intravenously, and midazolam by intranasal route according to the body weight in dental patients. METHODS: A group of 34 patients undergoing implantology were divided at random into 2 groups of 17. They were evaluated physically, clinically and psychologically. The psychomotor activity was measured by the Newman's test. Preoperative anxiety was treated with chlordemethyldiazepam (CHDDZ) per os, administered before induction of conscious sedation. In the first group, conscious sedation was accomplished by induction with titrated doses of i.v. diazepam, and in the second group with 0.1 mg/kg of intranasal midazolam. BIS values were analysed as Area Under the Curve (AUC). RESULTS: The AUC BIS values after CHDDZ presedation were overlapping in both groups. AUC after midazolam decreased after induction of the conscious sedation (P<0.05), during anesthesia (P<0.01) and during intervention (P<0.01) compared to the diazepam treatment. In the midazolam group the BIS values were on average lower than 90, while in the diazepam group they were on average higher than 95 (P<0.01). The psychomotor recovery was more impaired after midazolam. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that nasal route ensures the quick absorption of midazolam as revealed during the first 3 min from drug administration. The depressant effect of midazolam increased as a function of time, reaching the highest levels during intervention. The results suggest that midazolam is endowed with sedative effects which may compromise the state of consciousness of the patient and be incompatible with the definition of conscious sedation in dentistry.

Cognitive-behavioral group therapy for obsessive-compulsive disorder: a 1-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of cognitive-behavioral group therapy (CBGT) for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over a 1-year follow-up period. METHOD: Forty-two OCD patients, who completed 12 sessions of CBGT, were followed for 1 year. Measures of the severity of symptoms were obtained at the end of the acute treatment and at 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment using the Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale (Y-BOCS) and the clinical global impression (CGI). RESULTS: The reduction in the severity of symptoms observed at the end of the treatment was maintained during 1 year (F2,41=1.1; P=0.342). Eleven patients (35.5%) relapsed in the follow-up period. The intensity of improvement (log rank=12.97, GL=1, P=0.0003) and full remission (log rank=6.17; GL=1; P=0.001) were strong predictors for non-relapsing. CONCLUSION: The CBGT is an effective treatment for OCD and its results are maintained for 1 year. However, further long-term randomized controlled trials are needed in order to confirm this finding.

Estado nutricional das crianças de 0 a 6 anos na Unidade Básica de Saúde do Jardim Uniäo da Vitória - Londrina, PR / Nutritional status of children from 0 to 6 years old in the Jardim Uniäo da Vitória, Health Basic Unit - Londrina, PR

Com o objetivo de determinar o estado nutricional das crianças de 0 a 6 anos do Jardim Uniäo da Vitória, Zona Sul de Londrina, analisou-se uma amostra de 241 crianças entre 0 a 6 anos de idade atendidas na Unidade Básica de Saúde Orlando Cestari, localizada no Jardim Uniäo da Vitória. Os dados antropométricos (peso e altura) e outros obtidos através de um questionário contendo informaçöes sobre o nível de escolaridade, renda familiar, realizaçäo de pré-natal pelas mäes, uso de drogas e tabaco na gravidez, baixo peso ao nascer, ocorrência de hospitalizaçäo por infecçäo nos últimos 12 meses, foram analisados estatisticamente pelo Teste do Qui- quadrado ou Teste Exato de Fisher. Os resultos obtidos demonstraram que 33 por cento das crianças apresentam desnutriçäo. Os fatores associados na determinaçäo da desnutriçäo da populaçäo estudada foram o baixo peso ao nascer em menores de 12 meses e maior número de hospitalizaçöes por infecçäo

The risk of convulsions: a longitudinal study of normal babies and infants with neonatal damage in the first 6 years of life.

After carefully reviewing the epidemiological literature on this subject, we assessed the risk of febrile, isolated or epileptic convulsions in normal babies and infants with neonatal damage. We considered 417 term or preterm infants with birth injury and compared them with 400 healthy full-term newborns, all born between 1978 and 1980, studying each one individually until at least the age of 6 using the chi 2 test, the risk factors in relation to the convulsive outcome in all the groups were processed. We also calculated the relative risk of outcome of both febrile convulsions and epilepsy. Our results show that as far as the onset of seizure disorders in the term infant is concerned, the predisposing factors are asphyxia, neurological syndrome, and previous barbiturate intake. In contrast with this, for premature infants the risk factors are severe apnea and severe prematurity.

[Hypochromic hyposideremic anemia as the first symptom of gastroesophageal reflux]. / Anemia ipocromica iposideremica come primo sintomo di reflusso gastroesofageo.

In a five months infant is described by authors iron deficiency anaemia as early symptom of gastroesophageal reflux undiagnosed previously. Laboratory evaluation excluded any haematological pathology; thereafter clinical suspicion was confirmed by radiological exams and oesophageal PH-monitoring.

[Clinical considerations on cases of pneumonia caused by mycoplasma]. / Considerazioni cliniche su una casistica di polmoniti da mycoplasma.

Personal experience of a series of mycoplasma-induced pneumoniae is reported. The importance of early diagnosis for the purpose of speedy target antibiotic therapy is reiterated. Stress is laid on the absence of complications in all patients studied.