Evaluation and optimization of solid adsorbents for the sampling of gaseous methylated mercury species.

This study evaluates the suitability of commercially available adsorbents for the measurement of gaseous organic mercury species namely monomethylmercury (MMHg) and dimethylmercury (DMHg). Bond Elut ENV (BE), a new generation of divinylbenzene (DVB), is evaluated the first time for simultaneous sampling and quantification of ultra-trace levels of MMHg and DMHg in air and its performance compared against Carbotrap(®) B (CB) and Tenax(®) TA (TA), two commonly used adsorbents for mercury solid phase adsorption. The suitability of TA as an absorbent for MMHg (recovery 100±8.1%) but less so for DMHg (recovery 64±17.3%) was confirmed while the reverse was observed for CB with an average recovery of 100±0.3% for DMHg but only 61±32.5% for MMHg. BE is the only adsorbent that showed excellent performance for trapping both Hg species with recoveries of 98±9.2% and 95±8.1% for MMHg and DMHg, respectively. Furthermore, BE exhibited much higher sampling capacities (>100L at 4°C) and preservation of sample integrity (>1 month at -20°C in the dark). Overall, BE proves to be the most suitable adsorbent for simultaneous trapping of organic Hg species with high sampling capacity and sample stability but also very good chromatographic properties which are desirable characteristics for both collection traps and analytical traps. Bond Elut ENV is proposed as an alternative to both Tenax(®) TA and Carbotrap(®) B with additional advantages of offering more versatility and sampling options.

Eccema alérgico de contacto a tetracaína ¿profesional? / Occupational? allergic contact dermatitis from tetracaine

Se presenta un caso de eccema alérgico de contacto por tetracaína en una mujer que al cuidado de una hija con parálisis cerebral se sensibiliza al utilizar sondas urinarias a las que aplicaba un ungüento (Organón®) que contienen tetracaína. Se discute si la sensibilizacion tenía o no un carácter profesional. (AU)

[Comparative tests of tetracian and of the new local anesthetic carticain in spinal anesthesiasa double placebo study]. / Vergleichende Untersuchungen von Tetracain und dem neuen Lokalanästhetikum Carticain bei Spinalanästhesien-eine Doppelblindstudie

Onset of effect, degree of effect and duration of effect of Tetracain (Pantocain) and Carticain (Ultracain) in hyperbaric solutions were compared on 60 subjects with spinal anesthesias. In the double-blind trial with individual randomization, no difference was found regarding the onset of action (latency period), the intensity of analgesia and the extent of the muscle blocking. With 151 +/- 48.9 min., the duration of analgesia with Carticain was distinctly and significantly shorter than in the case of Tetracain with 278 +/- 108.9 min., but thoroughly sufficient for the nature and duration of the surgical operations on pour patients, even in the postoperative phase.