Landfill leachate from Municipal Solid Waste: Multi-technique approach for its fine characterization and determination of the thermodynamic and sequestering properties towards some toxic metals.

Landfill leachate is a multicomponent aqueous matrix generated by the percolation of rainwater into the body of a landfill. Considering its content of natural and xenobiotic components, it must be considered as a waste, whose composition depends on type of waste, biodegradation processes, rainwater, composition and compaction of waste and their age; these factors influence the transport, absorption, toxicity, bioaccumulation of the contaminants. Leachates sampled from landfill and downhill piezometers, in periods characterized by different rainfall, were studied by ATR-FTIR and SEM-EDX techniques; analyses were carried out on dried and calcinated residues obtained at T = 383 and 923 K, respectively. The chemical-physical characterization of all the leachates was carried out by using the official methods of analysis, obtaining for many metals and some organic contaminants exceedance of the concentrations with respect to the limits established by the Italian Legislative Decree 152/2006. From potentiometric titrations carried out at T = 298.15 K in NaCl(aq) and applying the Polyprotic Like model, each leachate resulted to have a different composition in terms of COOH and OH groups and various acid-base properties. The interacting ability of leachates with metal cations (Cd2+, Zn2+, Cu2+) was studied by potentiometric and voltammetric (only for Pb2+) techniques in NaCl (NaNO3 for Pb2+) aqueous solutions, at I = 0.15 mol dm-3 and T = 298.15 K, obtaining diverse speciation models and complexes of very different stability. The leachates sequestering ability towards the metal cations was quantified at various pH values using the pL0.5 parameter, proving that each leachate has a different strength of interaction towards the metals, that tends to increase with the pH and confirming that they behave as carriers of contaminants through the soil and towards groundwater, with the consequent problems of contamination and/or environmental disaster and risks for the human health.

[Age at diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder depending on ethno-cultural background or migratory status: A systematic literature review]. / Âge au diagnostic de trouble du spectre autistique en fonction de l'appartenance à une minorité ethnoculturelle ou du statut migratoire, une revue de la littérature systématisée.

INTRODUCTION: The early identification and access to health care of toddlers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) - or at risk of developing it - is a crucial public health issue, as care and intervention may be more effective in younger children in order to improve their development and prognosis. However, there are still disparities in identification and health care access for children with ASD despite better screening methods. Given that misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis are often due to the cultural gap between clinician and patient in some psychiatric disorders such as depression or schizophrenia, we examined this question concerning ASD and wondered to what extent ethno-cultural or migratory status might have an impact on the age at which a child is diagnosed. The only published review looking for independent factors influencing age of diagnosis concludes that the factors that have been proved to play a role are: socioeconomic status; symptom severity; level of parental concern, and family interactions with the health and education systems prior to diagnosis. The impact of ethno-cultural or migratory status is less clear. And yet, all these factors may be interconnected: migrants have on average a lower socioeconomic status, minorities don't have the same access to health care, and cultural background can have an influence on what is expected of a child's development and health. In order to try and clarify this issue and to analyze the way in which the international literature approaches the subject, we carried out a systematic review. METHOD: Six databases were interrogated: Pubmed, Embase, Psychinfo, WebOfScience, Cochrane and Cinahl using the key words "ASD", "pervasive developmental disorder", "diagnosis", "age", "migrant", "ethnicity", "cross cultural". We narrowed neither the period of time not selected the articles by their method, as our objective was to collect the entirety of the articles written on the subject. We completed this review by including the pertinent references made in the articles. RESULTS: Twenty articles were included, all epidemiological and observational, about children diagnosed in specialized centers. Published between 2002 and 2019, they cover a 20-year research period, between 1992 and 2016. The methods are disparate: the diagnosis criteria used are from DSM IV, IV TR and ICD; data originate from medical records, phone or internet surveys, and Medicaid healthcare claims. Comparison of the age at diagnosis is the principal objective for only thirteen studies; statistical data analyses vary, especially concerning adjustments. Seventy-five percent of the articles originate from North America where the compared populations are defined by ethnic and racial categories that are not used in some other countries, notably in Europe. Only five explore the link between migratory status and age at diagnosis. The research results concerning the impact of ethnicity are contradictory, while those concerning migratory status seem to indicate that migrant children are likely to be diagnosed later. But the articles and their methods being too heterogeneous, it was difficult to make a meta-analysis and impossible to reach a scientific conclusion. CONCLUSION: Nevertheless, this review highlights the existence of a lot of confounding factors and raises many issues. It shows that the United States produces most of the studies whose conclusions cannot be generalized because of the particular history and organization of this country. In Europe, where belonging to minority groups is thought to be through migratory status, studies are rare. There is an urgent need for new research in order to clarify the connection between migratory status and socioeconomic factors, to precisely define the independent variables influencing diagnosis -such as access to healthcare- and finally to explore the possibility of different symptomatic expressions depending on cultural backgrounds. This review falls within studies currently carried out by the psychiatric service at Avicenne hospital in Bobigny, France about ASD in a transcultural context.

[Psychological effects of emergency calls management on medical dispatcher assistants in a SAMU-Center 15]. / Répercussions psychologiques de la prise en charge des appels d'urgence sur les assistants de régulation médicale (ARM) d'un SAMU­Centre 15.

INTRODUCTION: In France, the emergency call center is called SAMU (service d'aide médicale d'urgence). The Medical Dispatcher Assistant (MDA) is the first responder and is exposed to first calls of distress and has a high risk of stress disorder. AIM: Psychological impact of emergency calls on MDA. METHOD: National multicenter prospective study from January to August 2018 by electronic surveys, including all MDA of 13 SAMU, subdivided in 5 sections: population characteristics, PCL-5 scale (DSM-5) assessing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), ProQOL assessing professional quality of life, call categories and an MDA's emotional perception, and work impacts on an MDA's quality of life. Univariate descriptive statistical analysis of the group with PCL-5≥34 (=complete PTSD group) and with PCL-5<34 (=group without complete PTSD). RESULTS: Of 400 MDA asked to be interviewed, 283 (71 %) replied of whom 72 % (205) were women and 28 % (79) men. Age groups: 9 % (25) for 18-25 yrs, 39 % (110) for 26-35 yrs, 31 % (89) 36-45 yrs, 15 % (43) 46-55 yrs and 6 % (16) for more than 56 yrs. All MDA reported having been exposed to death experience. For 46 % (129) the most recent traumatic event occurred within the last 7 months. 78 % (219) have reported intense fear, feeling helpless, or even sensed horror when answering the calls. 97 % (273) could talk about it with colleagues but only 64 % (180) with family. 72 % (203) felt lack of recognition at work. 78 % (220) had no knowledge about psycho-traumatic disorder. While 11 % (30) suffered symptoms suggestive of a complete PTSD, 15 % (42) an incomplete PTSD, 3 % (8) suffer burnout and 4 % (11) compassion fatigue, none reported secondary traumatic stress. The only significant difference (P<0.05) between the two groups characteristics was on the education level. 74 % (22) of the MDA with a complete PTSD had a High School diploma or less. MDA with symptoms suggestive of complete PTSD developed significantly (P<0.001) more stress reduction strategies (alcohol, drugs, medication) (13 % vs 2 %), had more food disorders (80.5 % vs 38 %), more sleeping problems (75.5 % vs 21 %), more anxiety (67 % vs 17 %), and more sick leaves (13 % vs 4 %) than the group without complete PTSD. CONCLUSION: Part of the surveyed MDAs showed symptoms suggestive of PTSD. The study highlights that MDAs is a vulnerable population, and PTSD prevention techniques should be systematically implemented for them. The study also highlights that a higher education level prevents the psycho traumatic process with its accompanying disorders.

Ultrasound measurement of reproductive organs in juvenile European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax.

In this study, ultrasonographic examination was performed thrice, 15 days apart, on juvenile European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax, from 330 to 360 days of age, to assess the size and the morphology of male and female. Results have proved this method as a suitable and non-invasive procedure to assess sexual differentiation.

Temperament and character dimensions in opiate addicts: comparing subjects who completed inpatient treatment in therapeutic communities vs. incompleters.

The aim of this study was to compare temperamental profiles of patients who completed inpatient treatment of drug dependence with those who failed to complete the program. One hundred forty four opiate addicts, all resident in therapeutic communities and screened to exclude Axis I disorders, were assessed using the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). After one year, the TCI scores were compared between those who were still resident and those who had dropped out. Significant differences between groups were found in Reward Dependence, Persistence, Cooperativeness, Self-Transcendence. Temperament and character features may have an influence on motivation and on the adherence to treatment and community rules, as they modulate the maintenance of ongoing behaviors and the sensitivity to social rewards. The findings suggest that personality assessment with TCI in opiate addicts may be helpful in screening procedures to increase the efficiency of treatment and rehabilitative strategies.

Retrospective analysis of 200 severe post-burn cases in cambodia and bangladesh.

The experience is reported of two years' surgical activity carried out in hospitals for civil war victims in Battambang (Cambodia) and in an NGO hospital in Dhaka (Bangladesh) with regard to the treatment of non-acute burn patients. The aim of this report is to demonstrate that work in field hospitals deficient in means and equipment achieves the same results as those usually obtained in western hospitals. Our experience covers the surgical treatment of 200 patients with scars due to fire, acids, and land mines. We mainly treated patients with scars compromising or preventing the normal activity of limbs and extremities, with the aim of restoring correct functionality and an aesthetically satisfactory appearance.

Bile duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a 1994-2001 audit on 13,718 operations in the area of Rome.

BACKGROUND: Bile duct injuries (BDIs) during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) still are reported with greater frequency than during open cholecystectomy (OC). METHODS: In 1999, a retrospective study evaluating the incidence of BDIs during LC in the area of Rome from 1994 to 1998 (group A) was performed. In addition, a prospective audit was started, ending in December 2001 (group B). RESULTS: In group A, 6,419 LCs were performed (222 were converted to OC; 3.4%). In group B, 7,299 LCs were performed (225 were converted to OC; 3.1%). Seventeen BDIs (0.26%) occurred in group A and 16 (0.22%) in group B. Overall, mortality and major morbidity rates were 12.1% and 30.3%, respectively, without significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence and clinical relevance of BDIs during LC in the area of Rome appeared to be stable over the past 8 years and were not influenced by the use of a prospective audit, as compared with a retrospective survey.

[Influence of biphosphonates on the integration process of endosseous implants evaluated using single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT)]. / Valutazione scintigrafica con metodica SPECT dell'effetto dei bifosfonati sul processo di osseointegrazione implantare.

Biphosphonates are a large class of drugs which inhibits the resorbing activity of osteoclasts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of topical application of the biphosphonate alendronate on the integration process of endosseus implants placed in a partially edentulous patient. After incision and elevation of a mucoperiosteal flap and carrying out the osteotomy, 2 SLA implants 10 mm long and 3.5 mm wide were inserted in the area of # 4.5 and 4.6. Before placement of # 4.5, a paste made of grinded tablets of alendronate and Rifocin was applied in the osteotomy. Fifteen days after stage I, an evaluation of the osteoblastic peri-implant activity was carried out using single photon emission computerized tomography. Healing was within normal limits. Four months after stage I, the 2 implants were uncovered and considered clinically and radiographically integrated. The osteoblastic activity was judged similar bet-ween the 2 implants in terms of quality of biological response. Osseous scintigraphy and the achievement of implant osseointegration demonstrate the lack of toxicity of the topical application of the biphosphonate alendronate during the initial osseous healing. However, new experimental studies and clinical trials are necessary to confirm the results obtained.

Low frequency of severe hepatotoxicity and association with HCV coinfection in HIV-positive patients treated with HAART.

BACKGROUND: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is strongly effective in reducing morbidity and mortality in HIV-1-positive individuals. Its main drawback is the potential toxicity. Data on the frequency and determinants of severe hepatotoxicity in a clinical setting are still sparse. METHODS: This is a prospective study of HIV-1-positive individuals with known HBsAg and HCV-Ab serology. The study end point was progression to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels > or =200 IU/L after HAART initiation. Cumulative probability of progression to this end point was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HR) were estimated by proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: One thousand two hundred fifty-five patients were included. HBsAg was found in 91 (7.2%), HCV-Ab in 578 (46.5%) patients; almost all injection drug users (451 of 482; 93.6%) were HCV-Ab positive. Sixty-one individuals progressed to the end point with a probability of 7.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.6-10.0) of progression at 24 months from starting. Independent factors predicting progression to the end point were baseline ALT levels (HR, 5.29; 95% CI, 3.24-8.65; every 10 IU/L higher), HCV-Ab positivity (HR, 4.01; 95% CI, 1.48-10.85) or both HBsAg and HCV Ab positivity (HR, 3.85, 95% CI, 1.01-14.61), and previous non-HAART therapy (HR, 1.84, 95% CI, 1.04-3.42). Patients receiving stavudine-containing regimens had a lower risk than those receiving zidovudine-containing regimens (HR, 0.30, 95% CI, 0.12-0.71). CONCLUSIONS: There was a low risk of ALT > or =200 IU/L in our cohort. Hepatitis C coinfection and elevated ALT levels at HAART initiation are important predictors of progression to ALT > or =200 IU/L; stavudine-containing regimens were associated with a lower risk compared with zidovudine-containing regimens.

Impaired seminal antioxidant capacity in human semen with hyperviscosity or oligoasthenozoospermia.

Antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma was evaluated in 120 semen samples subdivided into asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic specimens with normal consistency and into asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic specimens with hyperviscosity. Semen samples (n = 25) from normozoospermic donors were used as a control group. Scavenger antioxidant capacity of reactive oxygen species was evaluated by superoxide dismutase and catalase activity measurements, whereas the chain-breaking antioxidant efficiency was detected by total antioxidant status assessment. In semen with normal viscosity, unaltered enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant capacity was revealed in the asthenozoospermic specimens, whereas low superoxide dismutase activity was detected in oligoasthenozoospermic samples. On the contrary, impairment of both the scavenger and chain-breaking antioxidative systems was revealed in asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic hyperviscous ejaculates, regardless of sperm count. Catalase activity and total antioxidant status values were also reduced in the 2 subgroups of hyperviscous ejaculates compared with their respective matched controls, whereas similar superoxide dismutase activities were detected in oligoasthenozoospermic samples with normal and high consistencies. These results suggest that asthenozoospermia could be related to an antioxidant deficiency only in combined ejaculate pathologies, and that a severe impairment of the low and high molecular weight seminal antioxidative capacities could be associated with semen hyperviscosity.

Ultrastructural analysis of chromatin defects in testicular spermatids in azoospermic men submitted to TESE-ICSI.

BACKGROUND: Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) combined with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is offered to treat obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia, but factors that influence the outcome of ICSI are not well defined. METHODS AND RESULTS: The percentage of elongated spermatids with normal chromatin condensation in azoospermic patients submitted for TESE-ICSI was determined. The quantitative analysis could be applied to nine of 19 biopsies classified as incomplete late maturation arrest (LMA) and compared with 10 biopsies with normal spermatogenesis. The percentage of elongated spermatids with normal chromatin was lower in LMA than in normal histology (mean 4.4%, range 0-20, and mean 52.9%, range 40-70 respectively; P = 0.0001). The percentage of elongated spermatids with normal chromatin was negatively correlated with the serum concentration of FSH (r = -0.86, P < 0.0001) and the number of degenerated germ cells per 100 Sertoli cells nuclei (r = -0.68; P < 0.0001), while it was positively correlated with the number of elongating spermatids per 100 Sertoli cell nuclei (r = 0.81; P < 0.0001). The percentage of elongated spermatids with normal chromatin was not correlated with the rate of oocyte fertilization, while the delivery rate/cycle was higher in cases with normal histology compared with cases of LMA. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary data suggest that an altered chromatin condensation is a ubiquitous defect in spermatids of non-obstructed azoospermic men submitted for TESE-ICSI.

Binding of 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylate by open chain polyammonium cations.

The interaction of some open chain polyammonium cations with 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylate was studied potentiometrically, at 25 degrees C. For all the investigated systems, the species ALHr(r-3) (r = 1,2 ... n + 2; n = number of aminogroups; A = amine; L = carboxylate) are formed. The stability of these complexes depends on charges in the polyammonium cation and in the carboxylic ligand, and for the reaction HiAi+ + HjL(j - 3) = ALHi + j(i + j - 3) we found a mean free energy contribution for salt bridge -delta G0 = 6.5 +/- 0.3 kJ mol-1 n-1 (n = number of possible salt bridges). The results of this investigation are compared with those of similar systems. By considering also the tricarboxylic ligands citrate and 1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate, we found for their complexes with polyammonium cations a fairly close stability. Calculations performed including complexes formed with these two ligands give -delta G0 = 6.6 +/- 0.4 kJ mol-1 n-1.

Binding of acrylic and sulphonic polyanions by open-chain polyammonium cations.

The interactions between some acrylic and sulphonic polyanions and some protonated amines (diamines NH(2)-(CH(2))(x)-NH(2), x=2,...,10; linear tri-, tetra-, penta- and hexa-amines) were studied potentiometrically in aqueous solution, at 25 degrees C. For both types of polyanions AL(2)H(i) (L(-), monomer of polyanion, A, amine) species are formed, with i=1,...,n (n=number of amino groups in the amine). The stability of these species is strictly dependent on the polyammonium cation charge, and fairly independent of the type of amine (in diamine species maximum stability is observed for x=4, 5). Acrylic and sulphonic polyanion complexes are considerably stronger than analogous species formed by low molecular weight anions. Mean stability can be expressed as logK=2.87zeta(2/3), for polyacrylic anions and logK=2.42zeta(2/3) for polysulphonic anions (zeta=absolute value for charge product of reactants).

Interaction of l-malic acid with alkaline metals and open chain polyammonium cations in aqueous solution.

This work reports a potentiometric, calorimetric and spectropolarimetric ultraviolet circular dichroism (UV/CD) study of the interaction of l-malic acid with alkaline metals or (poly)ammonium (methylamine, ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, spermine, tetraethylenepentamine and pentaethylenehexamine) cations. Stability data (logK, DeltaG(0)) were obtained potentiometrically for the l-malic acid with (poly)ammonium cations systems; calorimetric measurements (25 degrees C) made it possible to obtain DeltaH(0) and TDeltaS(0) values for the complexes formed in the systems under examination. logK values calculated (for the reaction: H(i)A(i+)+H(j)L((j-z))=ALH(r)((i+j-z)), with r=i+j) range between 0.8 and 4.6, i.e., the interactions are from weak to fairly strong while maximum stability for each system is given by the species with the highest z(anion)xz(cation) (z=charge) value. Enthalpy changes associated with reactions H(n)A(n+)+L(2-)=ALH(n)((n-2)) and H(n)A(n+)+HL(-)=ALH(n+1)((n-1)) are always positive and increase progressively with n. The same is valid for T DeltaS(0) values, which indicate that these species are entropically stabilized, as expected for electrostatic interactions. It was verified that the UV/CD signal depends on both ionic medium and ionic strength value; for comparison, we used the l-malic acid signal recorded in tetramethylammonium chloride as baseline background salt (as in potentiometry). UV/CD spectra were recorded for solutions containing both cationic and anionic species. When the cation was a protonated polyamine, CD spectra calculations were performed for most stable ion pairs: the results show remarkable differences in Deltaepsilon (dm(3) mol(-1) cm(-1)) values at 205 nm (which is the l-malate UV/CD lambda(max)) between the chiral ligand and its complex with a polyamine.

Thermodynamic parameters for the binding of inorganic and organic anions by biogenic polyammonium cations.

Thermodynamic parameters for the interaction of protonated biogenic polyamines with inorganic or organic polyanions were studied potentiometrically (H(+)-glass electrode) and calorimetrically, at 25 degrees C. No background salt was used in the measurements to avoid interferences, and the formation constants and formation enthalpies were extrapolated to zero ionic strength. Species formed are ALH(r) [L=Cl(-), SO(4)(2-), HPO(4)(2-), P(2)O(7)(4-) and P(3)O(10)(5-); tartrate, malate, citrate, glutamate, 1,2,3-propanetricarboxylate, 1,2,3,4-butanetetracarboxylate], with r=1,2...(n+m-2) and r=1,2...(n+m-1) for inorganic and organic ligands, respectively (n, m=maximum degree of protonation of amine and ligand, respectively). The stability of the various species formed is a function of charges involved in the formation reaction. DeltaH(0) values are generally positive, and therefore these complexes are entropically stabilized. Results are discussed in connection with several previously reported data on similar systems. DeltaG(0) and TDeltaS(0) follow a linear trend as a function of polyammonium cation and inorganic or carboxylic anion charges. DeltaG(0) and TDeltaS(0) charge relationships are reported. In particular, mean values of DeltaG(0) and TDeltaS(0) for single interaction were calculated: DeltaG(0)=7.0 kJ mol(-1) n(-1), TDeltaS(0)=9.1 kJ mol(-1) n(-1) and DeltaG(0)=5.7 kJ mol(-1) n(-1) and TDeltaS(0)=8.7 kJ mol(-1) n(-1), for the species of inorganic and organic polyanions, respectively (n=number of possible salt bridges). A linear relationship was also found for TDeltaS(0) versus DeltaG(0), whose equation is TDeltaS(0)=-7-1.39 DeltaG(0) (with r=0.9409; r, correlation coefficient). The body of correlations found for these thermodynamic parameters shows quite good predictive value.

Prostatic origin of a zinc binding high molecular weight protein complex in human seminal plasma.

The profile of the zinc ligand high molecular weight proteins was investigated in the seminal plasma of 55 normozoospermic subjects by size exclusion high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The proteins were recovered from Sephadex G-75 gel filtration of seminal plasma in three zinc-containing fractions which were then submitted to HPLC analysis. The results were, that in all the samples, the protein profiles showed two peaks with apparent molecular weight of approximately 660 and approximately 250 kDa. Dialysis experiments revealed that both approximately 660 and approximately 250 kDa proteins were able to uptake zinc against gradient indicating their zinc binding capacity. The HPLC analysis of the whole seminal plasma evidenced only the approximately 660 kDa protein complex as a single well quantifying peak, furthermore a positive correlation between its peak area and the seminal zinc values (P < 0.001) was observed. This suggested a prostatic origin of the approximately 660 kDa protein complex which was then confirmed by the seminal plasma HPLC analysis of a subject with agenesis of the Wolffian ducts. Finally the study demonstrated the presence of two zinc binding proteins, approximately 660 and approximately 250 kDa respectively, in human seminal plasma and the prostatic origin of the approximately 660 kDa.