Detection of activities in bathrooms through deep learning and environmental data graphics images.

Automatic detection activities in indoor spaces has been and is a matter of great interest. Thus, in the field of health surveillance, one of the spaces frequently studied is the bathroom of homes and specifically the behaviour of users in the said space, since certain pathologies can sometimes be deduced from it. That is why, the objective of this study is to know if it is possible to automatically classify the main activities that occur within the bathroom, using an innovative methodology with respect to the methods used to date, based on environmental parameters and the application of machine learning algorithms, thus allowing privacy to be preserved, which is a notable improvement in relation to other methods. For this, the methodology followed is based on the novel application of a pre-trained convolutional network for classifying graphs resulting from the monitoring of the environmental parameters of a bathroom. The results obtained allow us to conclude that, in addition to being able to check whether environmental data are adequate for health, it is possible to detect a high rate of true positives (around 80%) in some of the most frequent and important activities, thus facilitating its automation in a very simple and economical way.

Trends of legacy and emerging organic contaminants in a sediment core from Cienfuegos Bay, Cuba, from 1990 to 2015.

Legacy and emerging organic pollutants pose an ever-expanding challenge for the marine environment. This study analysed a dated sediment core from Cienfuegos Bay, Cuba, to assess the occurrence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), alternative halogenated flame retardants (aHFRs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), and phthalates (PAEs) from 1990 to 2015. The results evidence the continuing presence of historical regulated contaminants (PCBs, OCPs, and PBDEs) in the southern basin of Cienfuegos Bay. PCB contamination declined since 2007, likely in response to the gradual global phasing out of PCB containing materials. There have been relatively consistent low accumulation rates for OCPs and PBDEs at this location (in 2015 approximately 1.9 and 0.26ng/cm2/year, respectively, with 2.8ng/cm2/year for Σ6PCBs), with indications of recent local DDT use in response to public health emergencies. In contrast, sharp increases are observed between 2012 and 2015 for the contaminants of emerging concern (PAEs, OPEs, and aHFRs), and in the case of two PAEs (DEHP and DnBP) the concentrations were above the established environmental effect limits for sediment dwelling organisms. These increasing trends reflect the growing global usage of both alternative flame retardants and plasticizer additives. Local drivers for these trends include nearby industrial sources such as a plastic recycling plant, multiple urban waste outfalls, and a cement factory. The limited capacity for solid waste management may also contribute to the high concentrations of emerging contaminants, especially plastic additives. For the most recent year (2015), the accumulation rates for Σ17aHFRs, Σ19PAEs, and Σ17OPEs into sediment at this location were estimated to be 10, 46 000, and 750ng/cm2/year, respectively. This data provides an initial survey of emerging organic contaminants within this understudied region of the world. The increasing temporal trends observed for aHFRs, OPEs, and PAEs highlights the need for further research concerning the rapid influx of these emerging contaminants.

In-situ disinfection of wastes generated in dwellings by utilizing ozone for their safe incorporation into the recycling chain.

The Covid-19 pandemic has certainly changed behaviour patterns in many aspects of life, such as the management of solid wastes inside residential spaces. The goal of this research work is to study an ozone generator device as a disinfection and sterilization tool for these wastes in dwellings themselves, thus re-establishing the selective collection to take them back to the recycling chain. In addition, an approach to the risk verification is made. The methodology is based on an experimentation with a device designed to be as cheap as possible. A room like a bedroom is used as a test bed to apply the device, but with no people inside the room to avoid risks. The results show that the device is feasible, concluding that risks are acceptable if its use is correct and appropriate equipment is available to be applied and controlled, all without prejudice of the rigorous control by the competent authorities that approve its use.

Do unemployment benefits and economic aids to pay electricity bills remove the energy poverty risk of Spanish family units during lockdown? A study of COVID-19-induced lockdown.

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered serious economic crises in many countries. In Spain, millions of individuals have been ordered to remain at home and many are unemployed. The increased use of electrical appliances and low incomes make energy poverty highly likely. This study thus analyses the effectiveness of unemployment benefits and social measures to help Spanish family units pay their electricity bill during the COVID-19-induced lockdown in Spain (March-May 2020) and during a hypothetical lockdown in winter and summer. The results showed that the unemployment aids can contribute to alleviating energy poverty, especially if the unemployed individual worked in a poorly-paying job or for just a few hours. However, the social measures were found insufficient to avoid energy poverty. The application of a variable discount percentage in the electricity bill based on income and the month of the year would reduce energy poverty risk during further incidences of lockdown.

A comprehensive evaluation of two sample treatment procedures for the determination of emerging and historical halogenated flame retardants in biota.

Two different sample preparation protocols for the determination of 37 emerging and historical halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) in marine tissues were compared with regards to extraction recovery, lipid removal efficiency, repeatability, reproducibility, and ability to measure sub-ng g-1 (dry weight) concentrations in marine biota. One method involved a purification step using gel permeation chromatography (GPC) followed by a HPLC fractionation step on a Partisil amino-cyano normal phase (GPC-Partisil procedure) and the other more traditional method was based on sulphuric acid treatment followed by silica column fractionation (H2SO4-silica procedure). The samples were analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and liquid chromatography (LC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Sample fractionation in both methods enabled unique sample preparation procedures to isolate the GC from the LC amenable compounds. Both methods could remove > 99% of the lipids which was necessary prior to GC- and LC-MS/MS analyses. The majority of the target compounds (70%) had acceptable recoveries between 60-120% for both methods. However, the sulphuric acid treatment resulted in the degradation of the TBP-AE and the silica column fractionation resulted in the loss of BEH-TEBP and the elution of PBB-Acr and TBBPA-BME in the unsuitable fraction. High recoveries of DBE-DBCH (α+ß), EHTBB, BTBPE, BEH-TEBP, and PBB-Acr were attributed to matrix effects, suggesting the need to use isotope-labelled surrogate standards of the target compounds. The optimisation of the silica column chromatography, GPC, and Partisil fractionation is described and discussed to afford easy implementation of the method. The method using GPC followed by Partisil fractionation is more efficient and more reproducible than the sulphuric acid-silica procedure. The application of this method to marine biota reference materials revealed the presence of relatively high concentrations of DBE-DBCH isomers and BDE-47 in fish samples. The method detection limits comply with the recommendations of the European Commission.

Evaluating the potential of adaptive comfort approach using historic data to reduce energy consumption in buildings in southern Spain.

The application of adaptive comfort models is among the determinant factors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector. This research studies the region of Andalusia (south of Spain). A cluster analysis is applied to 786 Andalusian municipalities, and 4 groups are established according to the potential of adaptive strategies. A town is chosen from each group, and an hourly specific study is conducted for the last 20 years, as well as a daily study of the old time series by using an artificial neural network based on the existing climate data. The possibility of application of the EN 16798-1:2019 standard during the days of the year is analysed, as well as the possibilities of using natural ventilation and the possibility of using adaptive setpoint temperatures in comparison with both 3 fixed heating temperatures and 3 fixed cooling temperatures by considering the energy saving. The results to apply the standard ranged 69.0 and 100% of the days of each year. The possibilities of natural ventilation considered were greater than 10% of the hours of the year in all the assumptions. The energy saving of cooling degrees reveals a greater potential in the area studied than that of heating degrees; this tendency is supported by the study of old temporary series which are part of the climate variation predicted throughout the 21st century.

Analysing natural ventilation to reduce the cooling energy consumption and the fuel poverty of social dwellings in coastal zones.

In southern European countries, summer temperatures could contribute to a high cooling energy consumption. Family units with fewer economic resources living in social dwellings could suffer from fuel poverty if they want to use air conditioning systems. Otherwise, they could face discomfort hours because of a natural ventilation without clear control criteria. This study analyses quantitatively and qualitatively the possibilities of natural ventilation through mixed-mode and the possibility of reducing fuel poverty for family units living in social dwellings. For this purpose, the application of a natural ventilation approach was analysed through an adaptive behaviour based on EN 16798-1: 2019. A case study of 51 social dwellings was analysed by using various operation hypothesis between 2015 and 2019. The results showed the potential of using mixed-mode approaches based on the categories from EN 16798-1:2019 to achieve savings in the energy consumption and to remove cases of fuel poverty in low-income families. Likewise, surveys in which families living in these cities participated reflected the great awareness of the natural ventilation use, although there is not a clear criterion of the need of this ventilation for thermal comfort, as well as the need of a supportive use of air conditioning systems. Finally, the similarity of the climate conditions of the city analysed and the coastal cities from various countries in the south of Europe shows the possibility of using ventilation strategies as energy saving measures in other regions.

¿Temor de compartir los datos?: La necesidad de una ciencia más abierta / Fear of sharing the data?: The need for a more open science

Es una editorial

It is a editorial

A new marine sediment certified reference material (CRM) for the determination of persistent organic contaminants: IAEA-459.

A new marine sediment certified reference material (IAEA 459) with very low concentrations (µg kg-1) for a variety of persistent organic contaminants (POPs) listed by the Stockholm Convention, as well as other POPs and priority substances (PSs) listed in many environmental monitoring programs was developed by the IAEA. The sediment material was collected from the Ham River estuary in South Korea, and the assigned final values were derived from robust statistics on the results provided by selected laboratories which demonstrated technical and quality competence, following the guidance given in ISO Guide 35. The robust mean of the laboratory means was assigned as certified values, for those compounds where the assigned value was derived from at least five datasets and its relative expanded uncertainty was less than 40% of the assigned value (most of the values ranging from 8 to 20%). All the datasets were derived from at least two different analytical techniques which have allowed the assignment of certified concentrations for 22 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, 6 organochlorinated (OC) pesticides, 5 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and 18 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs). Mass fractions of compounds that did not fulfill the criteria of certification are considered information values, which include 29 PAHs, 11 PCBs, 16 OC pesticides, and 5 PBDEs. The extensive characterization and associated uncertainties at concentration levels close to the marine sediment quality guidelines will make CRM 459 a valuable matrix reference material for use in marine environmental monitoring programs.

The combined use of chemical and biochemical markers in Rutilus rutilus to assess the effect of dredging in the lower course of the Ebro River.

The lower course of the Ebro River is polluted with high concentrations of organochlorine compounds dumped by a chloro-alkali plant during the last century. A remediation plan, including building of a protective wall, removal and disposal of polluted sediments started in 2012. With the aim of assessing the effects of dredging of contaminated sediments and potential alterations of water quality, areas located upstream (RR) and downstream (BE, A) the chemical plant (FL) were monitored prior (October 2012) and during dredging (June 2013) using roach (Rutilus rutilus) as sentinel organisms. Concentrations of organochlorine compounds (OCs) in fish muscle and biliary levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), galaxolide (HHCB) and alkyphenols (APEs) were determined together with selected enzymatic activities (7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), 7-benzyloxy-4-trifluoromethyl-coumarin O-debenzyloxylase (BFCOD) and UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UGT)) in the liver. The obtained results proved the effectiveness of the wall retaining suspended particles and avoiding further contamination of downstream sites as fish sampled at downstream sites showed up to 9-fold higher concentrations of OCs in muscle during wall construction than during dredging. EROD and UGT activities were induced in fish from downstream sites; however, no clear response to the observed pollution gradient was detected.

Daño cerebral postanestesia general / Brain damage after general anesthesia

Fundamento y objetivo: La proteína S100B es un marcador sérico de daño cerebral. El objetivo fue evaluar el daño cerebral producido por la anestesia general mediante la determinación de la concentración de proteína S100B sérica antes y después de la anestesia general. Pacientes y método: Se incluyeron pacientes con intervención quirúrgica programada de amigdalectomía por hipertrofia amigdalar. En la consulta de preanestesia se extrajo una muestra de sangre venosa (muestra basal). Los pacientes fueron sometidos a anestesia general utilizando los siguientes fármacos anestésicos intravenosos: midazolam, fentanilo y propofol; y sevoflurano inhalado. Al finalizar la intervención quirúrgica y con el paciente aún en quirófano, se extrajo una segunda muestra de sangre venosa (muestra postexposición). Se determinó en suero la concentración de la proteína S100B en la muestra basal (S100Bb) y en la muestra postexposición (S100Bp), mediante inmunoanálisis de electroquimioluminiscencia en el MODULAR E-170 (Roche Diagnostics). Resultados: Se incluyeron 76 pacientes, 46 varones y 30 hembras, con edades entre 3 y 14 años (mediana 5 años). En todos los pacientes, los niveles de proteína S100B sérica aumentaron tras la anestesia general. Los valores obtenidos de S100Bp (mediana 164,0 ng/l) fueron significativamente mayores que los obtenidos de S100Bb (mediana 94,5 ng/l). La mediana de la diferencia entre S100Bp y S100Bb fue de 58,0 ng/l. Mediante el test de Wilcoxon se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre S100Bb y S100Bp (p < 0,0001). Conclusiones: La concentración de proteína S100B sérica aumentó significativamente tras la anestesia general. Esto indica que la anestesia general puede producir daño cerebral (AU)

Background and objective: S100B protein is a serum marker of cerebral damage. The objective was to evaluate the brain damage caused by general anaesthesia, by determining the concentration of serum S100B protein before and after of general anaesthesia. Patients and method: Patients with chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy and indications for tonsillectomy were included. A venous blood sample was taken from the patients before general anaesthesia (basal sample). The patients were anaesthetised using the following intravenous anaesthetic drugs: midazolam, fentanyl and propofol; and inhaled sevoflurane. A second venous blood sample (postoperative sample) was taken from patients after the surgery, in the operating room. The concentration of serum S100B protein was determined in the basal sample (S100Bb) and postoperative sample (S100Bp) by immunoassay electro-chemiluminescence in MODULAR E-170 (Roche Diagnostics). Results: Seventy-six patients were included, 46 males and 30 females, aged between 3 to 14 (median 5 years). In all the patients, serum S100B protein levels increased after general anaesthesia. The values of S100Bp (median 164.0 ng/L) were significantly higher than the values of S100Bb (median 94.5 ng/L). The median of the difference between S100Bp and S100Bb was 58.0 ng/L. There were statistically significant differences between S100Bb and S100Bp using the Wilcoxon test (P < .0001). Conclusions: The concentration of serum S100B protein increased significantly after general anaesthesia. This indicates that general anaesthesia may cause brain damage (AU)

[Brain damage after general anesthesia]. / Daño cerebral postanestesia general.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: S100B protein is a serum marker of cerebral damage. The objective was to evaluate the brain damage caused by general anaesthesia, by determining the concentration of serum S100B protein before and after of general anaesthesia. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Patients with chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy and indications for tonsillectomy were included. A venous blood sample was taken from the patients before general anaesthesia (basal sample). The patients were anaesthetised using the following intravenous anaesthetic drugs: midazolam, fentanyl and propofol; and inhaled sevoflurane. A second venous blood sample (postoperative sample) was taken from patients after the surgery, in the operating room. The concentration of serum S100B protein was determined in the basal sample (S100Bb) and postoperative sample (S100Bp) by immunoassay electro-chemiluminescence in MODULAR E-170 (Roche Diagnostics). RESULTS: Seventy-six patients were included, 46 males and 30 females, aged between 3 to 14 (median 5 years). In all the patients, serum S100B protein levels increased after general anaesthesia. The values of S100Bp (median 164.0 ng/L) were significantly higher than the values of S100Bb (median 94.5 ng/L). The median of the difference between S100Bp and S100Bb was 58.0 ng/L. There were statistically significant differences between S100Bb and S100Bp using the Wilcoxon test (P<.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of serum S100B protein increased significantly after general anaesthesia. This indicates that general anaesthesia may cause brain damage.

Influence of diet in the accumulation of organochlorine compounds in herons breeding in remote riverine environments.

The composition of organochlorine compounds (OCs), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), DDTs and polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), has been analyzed in eggs from cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) and little egret (Egretta garzetta), two species of herons (family Ardeidae), nesting at the same remote riverine environment (Aiguabarreig, Ebro River). These two species were selected to evaluate the importance of diet in the accumulation of OCs. Cattle egret essentially feeds on dry grassy habitats and follow cattle or other large animals whereas little egret feeds on fish, amphibians and crustaceans captured in shallow waters. The δ(15)N and δ(13)C isotopic composition of the sampled eggs was studied and the results were consistent with these species feeding habits. In both species, the compounds accumulated the most were the less volatile and more lipophilic, e.g. PCB congeners of higher chlorination, DDT and metabolites. The distinct foraging species preferences were reflected in significant higher concentrations in little egret than cattle egret of all pollutant groups analysed. These differences were statistically significant for DDTs and PCBs (p < 0.015 and p < 0.047, respectively), e.g. the p,p'-DDE and PCB concentrations were 6 and 4.5 times higher, respectively, in the former than the latter. This strong contrast indicates that in remote environments aquatic riverine ecosystems are more efficient OC reservoirs than the terrestrial ecosystem.

Organochlorine compounds in European catfish (Silurus glanis) living in river areas under the influence of a chlor-alkali plant (Ebro River basin).

European catfish, Silurus glanis, were used as sentinel organisms of the influence of recent and past discharges of organochlorine compounds (OCs) from a chlor-alkali plant located in the Ebro River. The fish concentrations of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs) and DDTs were very high along the last 100 km of the river, including the irrigation channels, e.g. 1.2-27 ng/g wet weight of HCB, 6.3-100 ng/g ww of PCBs and 1-270 ng/g ww of total DDT compounds. These concentrations were much higher than those found upstream from the chlor-alkali discharge site, 0.2 ng/g ww for HCB, 5.6 ng/g ww for PCBs and 7.5 ng/g for DDT compounds. These concentrations were also standing out among those previously described in this fish species. The European catfish collected in sites under lower water flows, Ribarroja reservoir and irrigation channels, showed higher muscle lipid content, 1.09-7.2%, than those from sites of higher current intensities, river bed, 0.27%-0.67%. In these lower water current areas catfish exhibited OC ww concentrations that were correlated to % lipids. These differences suggest that normalization to lipid content is necessary for comparison of the OC accumulation in specimens from riverine systems living under different flow intensities. Accordingly, OC concentrations referred to lipid content showed more uniform downriver distribution which was consistent with a single focal point as main source of these compounds for the European catfish collected in the last 100 km of river stretch. This geographic distribution was also consistent with the uniform composition of PCB congeners in the studied European catfish. The distribution of DDT compounds was predominated by 4,4'-DDE which is common in most currently examined fish from aquatic environments. However, it included a high proportion of 4,4'-DDD and 2,4'-DDD which was consistent with the high contribution of benthic organisms from anoxic environments in the diet of these fish.

Organochlorine compounds in Purple Heron eggs (Ardea purpurea) nesting in sites located around a chlor-alkali plant (Ebro River).

Eggs of Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) were collected from three sampled sites inside the Ebro River basin in years 2006 and 2007. These sites were located besides (Flix), upstream (Aiguabarreig) and downstream (Delta) a chlor-alkali plant. Organochlorine compounds (OCs) such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), polychlorostyrenes (PCSs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) and hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) were analysed to assess what are the accumulation patterns of these compounds in aquatic migratory birds breeding in the area of influence of the emissions from this industrial installation. Comparison of the egg concentrations between the three sites show higher concentrations of compounds manufactured in the past in the factory (PCBs, p,p'-DDT) or by-products of OC synthesis (HCB, PeCB and PCSs) in Flix than in Aiguabarreig reflecting a clear influence from the emissions of the chlor-alkali plant. The eggs collected in the Ebro Delta showed higher concentrations of total DDTs (mainly p,p'-DDE) than in the reference site (Aiguabarreig) which could reflect past applications of this insecticide in the area for agriculture. In contrast, HCHs were found in higher concentrations in the Delta and Aiguabarreig than in the Flix Reservoir. These compounds have been used as insecticides in agriculture and were not manufactured in the chlor-alkali plant. The present results show that despite Purple Herons are migratory birds, the food web transfer of OCs during the breeding season is sufficient for the accumulation of these compounds in the eggs, leading to statistically significant concentration differences between sites. These differences are consistent with the emissions of these pollutants from industrial or agricultural sources to the aquatic environments. Some of the p,p'-DDE concentrations observed in the area nearby the chlor-alkali plant are above the threshold effects for reproductive impairment.

Legacy and emergent persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in NW Mediterranean deep-sea organisms.

The levels and profiles of organochlorine (OC) contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and penta- (PeCB) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), as well as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in muscle samples of the deep-sea fish Alepocephalus rostratus, Coelorinchus mediterraneus and Lepidion lepidion and the red-shrimp Aristeus antennatus from the NW Mediterranean Sea. Mean PCB and DDT levels ranged from the highest concentrations in the fish A. rostratus (Σ(7)PCBs 6.93±0.71 ng/g w.w. and ΣDDTs 8.43±1.10 ng/g w.w.) to the lowest concentrations in the crustacean A. antennatus (Σ(7)PCBs 1.17±0.24 ng/g w.w. and ΣDDTs 2.53±0.26 ng/g w.w.). The concentrations of ΣHCHs and HCB were more than one order of magnitude lower, ranging from 0.07-0.36 ng/g w.w. and 0.03-0.15 ng/g w.w., respectively, while PeCB was only detected in a few samples. PBDE levels were approximately ten times lower than PCB and DDT concentrations, ranging from 0.47±0.20 ng/g w.w. in A. antennatus to 0.92±0.13 ng/g w.w. in A. rostratus. The high-molecular-weight PCBs 153, 138 and 180 represented 69-79% of Σ(7)PCBs in fish and 60% in the red shrimp. Moreover, in fish, the main DDT compound detected was the metabolite p,p'-DDE (70-80% of ΣDDTs), indicative of old DDT residues. In contrast, o,p'-DDE was the main DDT metabolite (49% of ΣDDTs) in shrimp, while the parent compound p,p'-DDT and its metabolite p,p'-DDE exhibited similar proportions of 16% and 21%, respectively. For PBDEs, the most abundant congeners were BDEs 28, 47, 99, 100 and 154 in fish (>70% Σ(14)PBDEs), while BDEs 153 and 209 were also important in A. antennatus, suggesting different uptake and/or biotransformation rates of PBDEs between fish and crustacea. In this sense, the ratios BDE 99/100, BDE 153/154, and BDE 47/99 were determined as proxies for BDE metabolization capacities and contrasted among species.

Differential diagnosis by EEG of dissociative status versus nonconvulsive status epilepticus.

INTRODUCTION: Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) has different clinical presentations, from minimal confusion to bizarre behavioral manifestations, psychosis or coma. As a result, patients can sometimes be misdiagnosed and labeled as psychiatric cases. CLINICAL CASE: The patient was alert and disoriented in time, with disconnection episodes, generalized slowness, slow mental response, faltering language and slow answers. A differential diagnosis between dissociative status and NCSE was proposed. The physical and neurological examinations were normal. The cranial CT scan findings were normal. Only the EEG provided the definitive diagnostic data, consisting of generalized spike and wave discharges of 2-3 Hz against a desynchronized background. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of NCSE requires the availability of an EEG. Often patients are on the border between medical conditions and mental disorders. Observation of the disease evolution and an open-minded attitude of physicians are necessary for the correct diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnóstico diferencial mediante EEG entre cuadro disociativo y estatus epiléptico no convulsivo / Differential diagnosis by EEG of dissociative status versus nonconvulsive status epilepticus

Introducción. El estatus epiléptico no convulsivo (EENC) incluye diferentes formas clínicas, desde una mínima confusión hasta alteraciones complejas del comportamiento, la psicosis o el coma. Por ello a veces el paciente puede ser mal diagnosticado y etiquetado como psiquiátrico. Caso clínico. Consciente y desorientada en el tiempo, episodios de desconexión, lentitud generalizada, bradipsíquia, lenguaje entrecortado y con lentitud en las respuestas. Se planteó el diagnóstico diferencial entre estado disociativo y EENC. Tanto la exploración física general como la neurológica fueron normales. El TC craneal fue normal. Sólo el EEG aportó el dato definitivo al presentar descargas de punta-onda generalizadas entre 2-3 Hz y desincronización del trazado de base. Conclusiones. El diagnóstico de EENC requiere la disponibilidad de EEG. A menudo se presentan pacientes en la frontera entre la patología médica y los trastornos mentales, la observación de la evolución y una actitud abierta por partede los profesionales es necesaria para un correcto diagnóstico y tratamiento (AU)

Introduction. Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE)has different clinical presentations, from minimal confusion to bizarre behavioral manifestations, psychosis or coma. As a result, patients can sometimes be misdiagnosed and labeled as psychiatric cases. Clinical case. The patient was alert and disoriented in time, with disconnection episodes, generalized slowness, slow mental response, faltering language and slow answers. A differential diagnosis between dissociative status and NCSE was proposed. The physical and neurological examinations were normal. The cranial CT scan findings were normal. Only the EEG provided the definitive diagnostic data, consisting of generalized spike and wave discharges of2-3 Hz against a desynchronized background. Conclusions. Diagnosis of NCSE requires the availability of an EEG. Often patients are on the border between medical conditions and mental disorders. Observation of the disease evolution and an open-minded attitude of physicians are necessary for the correct diagnosis and treatment (AU)

Contaminant accumulation and multi-biomarker responses in field collected zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), to evaluate toxicological effects of industrial hazardous dumps in the Ebro river (NE Spain).

Large amounts of industrial waste containing high concentrations of mercury, cadmium and organochlorine residues were dumped in a reservoir adjacent to a chlorine-alkali plant in the village of Flix(Catalonia, Spain), situated at the shore of the lower Ebro river. Effects of these contaminants to aquatic river invertebrates were assessed by integrating analyses of metals and organochlorine residues in field collected zebra mussels and crayfish with a wide range of biomarkers. Biological responses included levels of metallothioneins, activities of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, oxidative stress biomarkers (glutathione content, enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione s-transferase, glutathione peroxidise and glutathione reductase), levels of lipid peroxidation and of DNA strand breaks. The results obtained evidenced similar response patterns in mussels and crayfish with increasing toxic stress levels from upper parts of the river towards the meander located immediately downstream from the most polluted site, close to the waste dumps. The aforementioned stress levels could be related with concentrations of mercury, cadmium, hexachlorobenzene, polychlorobiphenyls and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes from 4- to 195-fold greater than local background levels. The response of biomarkers to these pollutant concentrations differences was reflected in high activities and levels of antioxidant enzymes, metallothioneins, lipid peroxidation and DNA strand breaks and decreased levels of glutathione.