Adverse health and environmental outcomes of sewage treatment plant on surrounding groundwater with emphasis on some mitigation recommendations.

Water quality deterioration hinders economic and social development in developing countries that are facing freshwater security and shortages. Based on the collection of 29 water samples, this study focused on the relationship between sewage treatment plant and groundwater system surrounding it using multidisciplinary approach that combines the characterization of groundwater system and its connection with surrounding canal and drains, using chemical and isotopic characterization revealing that there is a direct relation between the surface water system and surrounding groundwater system. About 58% of the groundwater samples and all surface water samples in the investigated area are threatened by high concentrations of trace elements. The multivariate statistical analysis elucidates that anthropogenic effect and fertilizers sewage contamination are the main causes of groundwater pollution. Nearly, 31% and 11.5% of groundwater samples were posing oral chronic non-carcinogenic health risk and dermal chronic risk for adult, respectively, while all surface water samples were posing oral chronic non-carcinogenic health risk, with no dermal hazard. The uncharged species of Fe and Al are expected to be more mobile in groundwater because they would not be attracted to the surface charge of minerals. Inorganic ligands (HCO3-, SO42-, Cl-, and NO3-) act as nucleation centers that were linked with those trace elements creating new species with higher solubility degree in water that are transported away randomly for long distances in the water path.

[Impact of the French consensus guidelines on the management of colonic and rectal cancer: a population-based study]. / Impact des conférences de consensus sur la prise en charge du cancer du côlon et du rectum.

AIM: To compare the management of colorectal cancer (CRC) before and after the French consensus conferences of rectal cancer (RC) in 1994 and colonic cancer (CC) in 1998. METHODS: From 344 CCR incident cases in 1992 and 545 in 2000, patient characteristics, tumor data, and diagnostic and treatment modalities were collected to compare the management of CRC. RESULTS: Post-operative mortality did not change significantly (4% in 1992 and 2.8% in 2000). No trends were observed in disease stage at diagnosis or rate of resection. For patients with CC (n=244 in 1992 and n=396 in 2000), the number of resection specimens with at least 12 lymph nodes increased from 11% in 1992 to 27% in 2000 (p<0.001). For CC with Dukes stage C and D, the use of chemotherapy increased significantly: for Dukes Stage C from 45% in 1992 to 55% in 2000; for Dukes Stage D from 37% in 1992 to 67% in 2000. For patients with RC (n=100 in 1992 and n=149 in 2000), no change in use of adjuvant radiotherapy was observed: 59% in 1992 versus 53.4% in 2000. Preoperative radiotherapy for RC was performed in 63% in 1992 and 75% in 2000 (p=0.7). CONCLUSION: The consensus guidelines appear to have moderately influenced management practices. A better diffusion of guidelines to practitioners and a systematic evaluation of actual practices would be helpful to improve their impact.

[Not Available]. / Impact des conférences de consensus sur la prise en charge du cancer du côlon et du rectum: Étude de population.

UNLABELLED: Impact of the French consensus guidlines on the management of colonic and rectal cancer: A population-based study F. Borie, M. El Nasser, A. Herrero, C. Gras-Aygon, CRISAP-LR, J.-P. Daures, B. Tretarre Aim: To compare the management of colorectal cancer (CRC) before and after the French consensus conferences of rectal cancer (RC) in 1994 and colonic cancer (CC) in 1998. METHODS: From 344 CCR incident cases in 1992 and 545 in 2000, patient characteristics, tumor data, and diagnostic and treatment modalities were collected to compare the management of CRC. Résults: Post-operative mortality did not change significantly (4% in 1992 and 2.8% in 2000). No trends were observed in disease stage at diagnosis or rate of resection. For patients with CC (n=244 in 1992 and n=396 in 2000), the number of resection specimens with at least 12 lymph nodes increased from 11% in 1992 to 27% in 2000 (p<0.001). For CC with Dukes stage C and D, the use of chemotherapy increased significantly: for Dukes Stage C from 45% in 1992 to 55% in 2000; for Dukes Stage D from 37% in 1992 to 67% in 2000. For patients with RC (n=100 in 1992 and n=149 in 2000), no change in use of adjuvant radiotherapy was observed: 59% in 1992 versus 53.4% in 2000. Preoperative radiotherapy for RC was performed in 63% in 1992 and 75% in 2000 (p=0.7). CONCLUSION: The consensus guidelines appear to have moderately influenced management practices. A better diffusion of guidelines to practitioners and a systematic evaluation of actual practices would be helpful to improve their impact.

Prevention of secondary lymphedema.

After some preliminary remarks upon pathophysiologic and anatomo-surgical aspects, the main complications of axillary lymph-nodal dissection for breast cancer treatment are reported. The role of surgical technique is particularly underlined and also the importance of proper management of wound and surgical drainage post-operatively are pointed out. Author describes, finally, the necessity of an adequate knowledge of lymphatic drainage not only of mammary region, but also of surrounding area, in order to prevent lesions to lymphatic pathways, particularly to those draining upper arm at the same site of breast cancer.

Effects of N-methyl- and N-isobutyl-1,2-diphenyl ethanol amines on the spontaneous and evoked contractions in the rat isolated uterus.

1. The effects of N-methyl- and N-isobutyl-1,2-diphenyl ethanol amine (compounds M & E), respectively and diltiazem (D) were examined on the spontaneous and evoked uterine contractions of pregnant rats in vitro. 2. Addition of compound M (75-300 microM), compound E (15-60 microM) or D (100-400 nM) to the uterine tissues, inhibited the spontaneous contractions in a dose-dependent manner. The potency order was D greater than E greater than M. 3. The inhibitions were reversed by elevating the extracellular Ca2+ concentration by 20 mM. The compounds also antagonised CaCl2-evoked contractions. 4. Treatment of rats with either compound during pregnancy days (1-16) did not affect the implantation process and did not induce any teratogenicity. 5. The uterine inhibitory effects of the compounds may be due to blockade of uterine Ca2+ channels.