Cathodic and anodic biofilms in Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells.

The oxygen reduction due to microaerophilic biofilms grown on graphite cathodes (biocathodes) in Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells (SCMFCs) is proved and analysed in this paper. Pt-free cathode performances are compared with those of different platinum-loaded cathodes, before and after the biofilm growth. Membraneless SCMFCs were operating in batch-mode, filled with wastewater. A substrate (fuel) of sodium acetate (0.03 M) was periodically added and the experiment lasted more than six months. A maximum of power densities, up to 0.5 W m(-2), were reached when biofilms developed on the electrodes and the cathodic potential decreased (open circuit potential of 50-200 mV vs. SHE). The power output was almost constant with an acetate concentration of 0.01-0.05 M and it fell down when the pH of the media exceeded 9.5, independently of the Pt-free/Pt-loading at the cathodes. Current densities varied in the range of 1-5 Am(-2) (cathode area of 5 cm(2)). Quasi-stationary polarization curves performed with a three-electrode configuration on cathodic and anodic electrodes showed that the anodic overpotential, more than the cathodic one, may limit the current density in the SCMFCs for a long-term operation.

"Non-dipper" hypertensive patients and progressive renal insufficiency: a 3-year longitudinal study.

Patients with a blunted or absent nocturnal blood pressure (BP) drop may be subject to increased risk for target organ damage. In this 3-year longitudinal case-control study we tested the hypothesis that an association exists between a reduced or absent night-time fall in BP and a future decline of kidney function in renal hypertensive patients. The case subjects were 48 hypertensives with renal insufficiency, divided into two groups according to the presence (dippers: n 20) or absence (non-dippers: n 28) of a nocturnal diastolic BP decline greater than 10% of daytime values, detected by ambulatory BP monitoring. At the baseline evaluation the two groups did not differ with respect to age, sex, body weight, office systolic and diastolic BP, mean daytime ambulatory BP, creatinine clearance, 24 h proteinuria. In the ambulatory BP profiles over a 3-year follow-up the nocturnal reductions of systolic and diastolic BP in the dippers were 14% and 15%, respectively, vs 7% and 5% in the non-dippers (p = 0.002/0.003). The non-dippers had a faster rate of creatinine clearance decline than the dippers (0.37 +/- 0.26 vs 0.27 +/- 0.09 ml/min/month; p = 0.002). Urinary protein excretion increase was higher in the non-dipper group than in the dipper group (993 +/- 438 vs 691 +/- 222 mg/24 h; p = 0.009). This longitudinal study suggests that the non-dipping pattern of ambulatory BP can be associated with a faster progression of renal insufficiency in renal hypertensives and that a proper nocturnal BP control is an additional aim of antihypertensive therapy.

Circadian blood pressure changes in patients with chronic renal insufficiency: a prospective study.

Circadian blood pressure (BP) rhythm was prospectively studied by ambulatory 24-h monitoring in normotensive (n = 27) and hypertensive (n = 41) patients with stable progression of chronic renal insufficiency, and in matched control groups (healthy subjects: n = 28 and patients with essential hypertension: n = 47) without renal disease. The follow-up period lasted 24 months. The renal patients showed a disturbance in the 24-h profile of BP, with significantly blunted nocturnal pressure reduction as compared with the respective control groups (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). In addition to the rearrangement of circadian rhythm, the normotensive and hypertensive renal patients displayed a wider distribution of systolic and diastolic BP values and a greater nocturnal variability. Among the normotensive and hypertensive patients with chronic renal insufficiency, a significant correlation was found between the decline in creatinine clearance over the 24-month period and the average nighttime diastolic BP (r = 0.526; p < 0.01 and r = 0.613; p = 0.001, respectively) and nocturnal diastolic fall (r = 0.612; p < 0.001 and r = 0.496; p < 0.01, respectively). These data offer support for the view that renal normotensive patients are exposed to a relative hypertension at nighttime and that renal hypertensive subjects can be underestimated in their hypertensive status if the measurement of BP is confined to daytime. In both groups, nocturnal BP overload can accelerate the progression rate of renal insufficiency.

Simultaneous ovarian and intrauterine pregnancy: case report.

The simultaneous presence of an ovarian and a normal intrauterine pregnancy is a very rare condition. We report such a case seen as an ovarian cyst during gestation. It was immediately and successfully treated, thus allowing for the normal physiologic continuation of the gestation.

Geographical and temporal patterns of air-borne and personal 1,1,1-trichloroethane exposure in Piedmont region (Italy).

During the summer of 1989 and the winter 1989-1990, we initiated measurements of 1,1,1-trichloroethane concentrations in indoor, outdoor, and 'personal' air, in urban and rural sites. In the Piedmont region (North-Western Italy) we have carried out an atmospheric monitoring study: in the centre of Turin city (urban site), in Cuorgnè (rural site), and in Banchetta (remote site). First results confirm a higher winter contamination (11.67 vs. 2.79 micrograms/m3) and a higher contamination at the urban site, compared to rural and remote sites. Excluding Cuorgnè in the summer, all indoor/outdoor ratios are greater than 1 and, in all cases, the 'personal' air shows higher 1,1,1-trichloroethane levels than indoor and outdoor air. In Turin the relationships between winter and summer all show a higher winter contamination, while, in Cuorgnè no differences are proven.

Valor de la prueba de D-xilosa en sujetos ancianos / Valaue od D-xylose test in elderly subjects

Se efectúa la prueba de D-Xilosa con 25 g, en 10 pacientes de más de 60 años (media: 75,5), indemnes de afección digestiva o extradigestiva, susceptibles de pertubar el resultado. Para comparar los resultados observados hay un grupo control de 10 adultos jóvenes (media: 23,7). La xilosemia en las dos primeras horas se encuentra dentro de límites normales en los sujetos ancianos como en el grupo control. No ocurre lo mismo con la xilosuria que la absorción de D-Xilosa se efectúa normalmente en los sujetos ancianos, cuando ésta es valorada sobre la xilosemia y no así con la xilosemia en las dos primeras horas para ambos grupos, como una forma simplificada de esta prueba

Valor de la prueba de D-xilosa en sujetos ancianos / Valaue od D-xylose test in elderly subjects

Se efectúa la prueba de D-Xilosa con 25 g, en 10 pacientes de más de 60 años (media: 75,5), indemnes de afección digestiva o extradigestiva, susceptibles de pertubar el resultado. Para comparar los resultados observados hay un grupo control de 10 adultos jóvenes (media: 23,7). La xilosemia en las dos primeras horas se encuentra dentro de límites normales en los sujetos ancianos como en el grupo control. No ocurre lo mismo con la xilosuria que la absorción de D-Xilosa se efectúa normalmente en los sujetos ancianos, cuando ésta es valorada sobre la xilosemia y no así con la xilosemia en las dos primeras horas para ambos grupos, como una forma simplificada de esta prueba (AU)

[Intrauterine rupture of ML Cu 250 device. Report of two cases]. / Rottura intrauterina dello IUD ML Cu 250.

PIP: The first case involved a 32-year old nullipara who had had a first trimester abortion by curettage. 2 years after receiving a ML Cu 250 IUD, she requested removal of the IUD but the procedure was done in a incomplete fashion: 1 of the arms of the device broke off and stayed in the uterine cavity. Its position was visualized by echography centrally at the fundus, and it was removed during hysteroscopy under general anesthesia. The second case was a 38-year old patient which 2 previous pregnancies ended in eutocia. She wanted removal of a ML Cu 250 IUD 3 years after its insertion. Partial removal was also effected in this case: an arm of the indented crown remained in the cavity, breaking off at the point of insertion over the central filament. Ecography did not visualize clearly the location of the fragment. Intracavitary maneuvers and subsequently curettage under general anesthesia were performed without success. Hysteroscopy under general anesthesia finally localized the fragment deeply embedded in the endometrium, provoking a virus reaction over the left lateral wall. After attempts at removal with endoscopy, Pean pincers were introduced and fragmented the distal are of the IUD. There have been reports of rupture of IUDs: 1 case of Lippes Loop, 1 case of Cu-7, 1 case of Majzlin spring, and 4 cases of ML Cu 250. Radiological visualization of a fragment is impossible, as the crown is not radiopaque. Hysteroscopy is the intervention of choice in order to avoid inappropriate surgical maneuvers.^ieng

[Value of the D-xylose test in elderly subjects]. / Valor de la prueba de D-Xilosa en sujetos ancianos.

To ten patients who have more than sixty years old (medium: 75.5), the test of D-Xylose with 25 g was carried out. They have not intestinal or extraintestinal disease, that difficult the results. A control group was, ten adults young (medium: 23.7). The xylose in blood was in the first hours, between the normals limits in both groups. It does not occurred with the xylose in urine of five hours. This work support that the absorption of D-Xylose is carried out normally in old people, when the detection is in blood not in urine. Although we purpose the detection of xylose in blood during the first two hours in both groups, as an easy way for this test.

Valor de la prueba de D-Xilosa en sujetos ancianos. / [Value of the D-xylose test in elderly subjects]

To ten patients who have more than sixty years old (medium: 75.5), the test of D-Xylose with 25 g was carried out. They have not intestinal or extraintestinal disease, that difficult the results. A control group was, ten adults young (medium: 23.7). The xylose in blood was in the first hours, between the normals limits in both groups. It does not occurred with the xylose in urine of five hours. This work support that the absorption of D-Xylose is carried out normally in old people, when the detection is in blood not in urine. Although we purpose the detection of xylose in blood during the first two hours in both groups, as an easy way for this test.