Comparative study of the degradation of real textile effluents by photocatalytic reactions involving UV/TiO2/H2O2 and UV/Fe2+/H2O2 systems.

This work investigated the treatability of real textile effluents using several systems involving advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) such as UV/H2O2, UV/TiO2, UV/TiO2/H2O2, and UV/Fe2+/H2O2. The efficiency of each technique was evaluated according to the reduction levels observed in the UV absorbance of the effluents, COD, and organic nitrogen reduction, as well as mineralization as indicated by the formation of ammonium, nitrate, and sulfate ions. The results indicate the association of TiO2 and H2O2 as the most efficient treatment for removing organic pollutants from textile effluents. In spite of their efficiency, Fenton reactions based treatment proved to be slower and exhibited more complicated kinetics than the ones using TiO2, which are pseudo-first-order reactions. Decolorization was fast and effective in all the experiments despite the fact that only H2O2 was used.

Dural Arteriovenous Fistula within the Hypoglossal Canal Successfully Treated by Transvenous Embolization. Case Report.

SUMMARY: We report a case of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) within the left hypoglossal canal in a 64-year-old man who presented with tinnitus and ocular symptoms. Angiography revealed DAVF with the fistulous pouch medial to the left jugular bulb. The fistula was feeded by meningeal branches of the bilateral ascending pharyngeal arteries and the branches from the left vertebral artery. The fistula shunted into the left jugular bulb, with reflux into the left inferior petrosal (IPS) and cavernous sinuses (Cses), left superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) and cortical veins over the cerebral convexity. We performed transvenous coil embolization to occlude the fistula resulting in complete resolution of symptoms and signs.

Dynamic QRS-complex and ST-segment monitoring by continuous vectorcardiography during carotid endarterectomy.

BACKGROUND: Many authors report a high incidence of cardiac events during carotid endarterectomy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of dynamic continuous on-line vectorcardiography for monitoring the occurrence of myocardial ischaemia during carotid endarterectomy. METHODS: We studied 21 patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy. Patients underwent general anaesthesia with isoflurane or sevoflurane. The vectorcardiogram was monitored continuously during carotid endarterectomy. Electrodes were placed according to the previously described lead system and connected to a computerized system for on-line vectorcardiography. Two trend variables were recorded: the QRS vector difference, which reflects changes in the shape of the QRS complex; and the ST vector magnitude, which represents deflection of the ST segment from the isoelectric level. The ST segment deflection was measured 60 ms after termination of the QRS complex. RESULTS: Vectorcardiography was successfully recorded in all 21 patients. Three patients showed intraoperative vectorcardiogram abnormalities. In one of these three patients, both ST vector magnitude and QRS vector difference increased after induction of anaesthesia and ST vector magnitude returned to baseline after administration of nitroglycerin. In the other two patients, both ST vector magnitude and QRS vector difference gradually increased after cross-clamping of the internal carotid artery and ST vector magnitude returned to baseline after unclamping. QRS vector difference remained elevated for several hours in all three patients. CONCLUSIONS: Monitoring ST vector magnitude and QRS vector difference by vectorcardiography may be useful for identifying myocardial ischaemia during carotid endarterectomy.

Effects of acute normovolemic hemodilution on ventriculoarterial coupling in dogs.

BACKGROUND: Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) causes a decrease in systemic vascular resistance. Similar to vasodilating drugs, ANH might modify ventriculoarterial coupling. Left ventricular elastance (Ees), effective arterial elastance (Ea), stroke work (SW), and pressure volume area (PVA) were used as indicators to examine the effects of ANH on this coupling. METHODS: After institutional approval eight dogs were anesthetized with isoflurane and subjected to measurements including aortic pressure, left ventricular (LV) pressure, and LV volume. Left ventricular volume was measured with a conductance catheter. Ees was determined as the slope of the end-systolic pressure-volume relationship. Ea was determined as the ratio of LV end-systolic pressure to stroke volume. Ventriculoarterial coupling was evaluated as the ratio of Ees to Ea. Mechanical efficiency, another criterion for ventriculoarterial coupling, was calculated as the ratio of SW to PVA. Data are expressed as mean+/-SD, and P<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Normovolemic exchange of 50 ml kg-1 of blood for 6% hydroxyethyl starch (ANH50) reduced hemoglobin concentration from 12.8+/-3.0 g dl-1 to 6.4+/-1.3 g dl-1. Acute normovolemic hemodilution 50 did not change Ees significantly although it significantly decreased Ea. Left ventricular elastance/Ea did not change after ANH (1.0+/-0.4 at baseline and 1.2+/-0.5 at ANH50). Acute normovolemic hemodilution 50 significantly increased SW and PVA, preventing SW/PVA from changing significantly after ANH (0.57+/-0.10 at baseline and 0.62+/-0.14 at ANH50). CONCLUSION: Before ANH, ventriculoarterial coupling was so matched as to maximize SW at the expense of the work efficiency. This relation was preserved at ANH50.

Treatment of effluents of poultry slaughterhouse with aluminum salts and natural polyelectrolytes.

A mixture of aluminum salts and natural polyelectrolytes, extracted from the cactus Opuntia ficus indica, has been used for cleaning of wastewater from poultry slaughterhouse. The aggregation and settling properties of colloids and complex organics such as oil, grease, fats, proteins, and suspended solids, was increased if compared with conventional methods of wastewater treatment using only aluminum or iron sulfate. A mixture of aluminum salt in a concentration range of 300 to 600 mg l(-1) and natural polyelectrolytes of 0.6 to 0.8 mg l(-1) was used for flocculation and coagulation. The combination of coagulant and natural polyelectrolytes was able to remove chemical oxygen demand (86%), oil and grease (93%), turbidity (89%), and suspended solids (93%). Methanization activity was also investigated for the effluents in natura.

Increased expression of glutathione S-transferase in renal proximal tubules in the early stages of diabetes: a study of type-2 diabetes in the Akita mouse model.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The objective of this study was to examine whether the gene expression profile in the kidney is modified by hyperglycemia in the early stage of diabetes. METHODS: We analyzed the expression of kidney mRNAs using cDNA array membranes including 588 genes in the kidney of the Akita mouse, a model of type-2 diabetes, after exposure to hyperglycemia for a moderate length of time, but before the manifestation of diabetic glomerulosclerosis. Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical studies were performed to confirm whether the protein for the increasingly expressed mRNA was highly expressed in the kidney of the diabetic mouse. RESULTS: Two of the 10 detected mRNAs, glutathione S-transferase (GST) alpha and mu, in the kidneys from diabetic mice showed a more than twofold increased expression in comparison to those of control mice. Western blot analysis in kidney tissue extracts confirmed increases in GST alpha and mu at protein levels in the diabetic mice. Immunohistochemical studies revealed strong staining for those proteins in the proximal tubules of diabetic mice. CONCLUSION: These data collectively indicate that expression of GSTs is increased in epithelial cells in proximal tubules even at the early stage of diabetes, probably in response to oxidative stress triggered by hyperglycemia or other toxic effects of glucose.

A new locus for a dominant form of multinodular goiter on 3q26.1-q26.3.

A mass screening program for congenital hypothyroidism has markedly improved prognosis of children with congenital hypothyroidism and also revealed several cases with unknown pathogenesis. We here report two independent Japanese multigeneration families with multinodular goiter (MNG) with euthyroidism and with high TSH. The propositi, 3- and 8-year-old girls in two families, were found during a mass screening. An autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance was suggested in both families. The clinical examinations suggested impaired hormonogenesis but discarded known defects in iodine transport, organification, deficiency of hydrogen peroxide, and thyroid peroxidase. Linkage analysis of the two families including 10 members each using 343 microsatellite markers mapped a single locus independently at D3S1618 (theta = 0) on 3q26.1-q26.3 with a two-point LOD score 3.62 (1.81 for each family) and multipoint LOD score of 3.61 (1.80 for each family). Haplotype inspection delimited an 18-cM interval between D3S1565 and D3S3686.

Bronchospasm induced by cardiopulmonary bypass.

Severe bronchospasm during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is an unusual event. A 16-year-old girl with pulmonary stenosis who underwent reconstruction of the right ventricle outflow tract experienced severe bronchospasm following CPB. Just after the initiation of the partial CPB, high inspiratory airway pressure was suddenly recognized. The lung had become too stiff for the anesthetic circuit bag to be squeezed by hand. Tracheobronchial obstruction was ruled out by investigation with a fiberoptic bronchoscope. A presumptive diagnosis of severe bronchospasm was made, and aggressive bronchodilator therapy was instituted. The attack was successfully treated with aggressive bronchodilator therapy. Although the exact causes for bronchospasm in our case are not clear, CPB factors, such as the release of complements and allergic reactions might have induced the attack under relatively light anesthetic state.

Pulmonary arterial pressure can be estimated by transesophageal pulsed doppler echocardiography.

We examined whether pulmonary arterial pressure can be estimated on the basis of pulmonary arterial flow velocity determined via intraoperative pulsed Doppler transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in 20 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Standard pulmonary artery measurements were taken as well. Measurements were taken before sternotomy, after pericardiotomy, after cardiopulmonary bypass, and after sternum closure. The variables obtained by TEE included preejection period (PEP), acceleration time (AT), right ventricular ejection time (RVET), and R-R interval (RR). Five ratios were calculated as indices of pulmonary arterial pressure--PEP/AT, PEP/RVET, AT/RVET, PEP/ square root of RR, and AT/ square root of RR--and were compared with pulmonary artery catheterization findings, i.e., systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (sPAP), log sPAP, mean PAP (mPAP), and log mPAP. Before sternotomy, PEP/AT, PEP/ square root of RR, and AT/ square root of RR showed significant correlation with all pulmonary artery catheterization values. AT/RVET showed correlation with all pulmonary artery values except log mPAP. PEP/AT showed the closest correlation with sPAP (r = 0.771) and log sPAP (r = 0.789). PEP/AT also showed close correlation with mPAP (r = 0.764) and log mPAP (r = 0.777). Significant agreement between sPAP and mPAP values calculated from a regression equation and values measured via pulmonary artery catheter was observed by plotting the differences against the mean values of the two measurements. We therefore conclude that noninvasive estimation of pulmonary arterial pressure is feasible via intraoperative TEE when sternotomy is not involved.

Biological treatment of wastewater from the cassava meal industry.

Biological treatments of cassava meal processing wastewaters were investigated by aerobic and combined anaerobic/aerobic reactors. As a pretreatment, flocculation and sedimentation with aluminum salts and natural polyelectrolytes were employed, in order to change the effluent concentration of organics from 14,000 to 2000 mg/L in the bench scale reactor, with a hydraulic retention time of 37 min and an influent rate of 0.56 L/cm. Biological degradation by an activated sludge process was carried out using a reactor volume of 20 L. The observed organic matter removal rates were 89 to 93%, the cyanide removal was 95 to 99%, and the food to microorganisms ratio was found to be in the range of 0.166 to 0.242/day, with a hydraulic residence time of 1.4 to 4.2 days. As a posttreatment, flocculation and coagulation were employed, resulting in an effluent of good quality, as shown by turbidity measurements and negative tests for fecal and total coliforms.

Intraoperative evaluation of pulmonary artery flow during the Fontan procedure by transesophageal Doppler echocardiography.

After the Fontan procedure, pulmonary artery (PA) flow is maintained without right ventricular pump function. We evaluated intraoperative PA flow velocity patterns using transesophageal Doppler echocardiography (TEE) immediately after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in patients during Fontan or hemi-Fontan procedures. We studied 10 patients with single-ventricle physiology (age range, 5 mo to 3 yr 1 mo). Anesthesia was induced and maintained with fentanyl. After induction of anesthesia, a pediatric TEE probe was inserted into the esophagus. All patients had surgical repair involving direct anastomosis of the right atrium to the PA. Immediately after completion of CPB, adequacy of the atriopulmonary anastomosis was assessed and PA flow velocity was recorded. In all patients, the atriopulmonary anastomosis was clearly defined using a single-plane TEE probe, and PA flow recording was completed successfully. Intraoperative PA flow velocities showed two distinct patterns. Biphasic forward flows with peak velocities during systole and diastole were observed in six patients. The remaining four patients showed forward flows with flow reversals. The four patients demonstrating flow reversals showed significantly reduced fractional shortening (26.5+/-2.1% vs. 35.5+/-6.3%) and larger pressure gradient between the right atrium and left atrium (10.8+/-1.3 mm Hg vs 8.0+/-0.9 mm Hg) when compared to those without reverse flow. Two patients with reverse flow required reoperation because of hypotension. Because PA flow is influenced by pulmonary vascular resistance and left ventricular function, TEE assessed intraoperative PA flow should be further evaluated as a useful predictor of surgical outcome after a Fontan procedure.

A cluster of lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI) patients in a northern part of Iwate, Japan due to a founder effect. The Mass Screening Group.

Lysinuric protein intolerance is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by defective transport of the dibasic aminoacids. Mutational analysis of LPI patients in the northern part of Japan revealed that six were homozygous for the R410X mutation and two others were compound heterozygotes of R410X and other unknown mutations. In the population epidemiology study in a local cluster in the northern part of Iwate, ten heterozygotes were found in 1190 newborn babies leading to an estimated LPI incidence of 1/57,000. Polymorphism analysis revealed two major alleles, A and B, in intron 8. While the population frequency of allele A was 0.9 and that of allele B was 0.1 in the northern part of Japan the R410X mutations were exclusively on allele B in 31 chromosomes suggesting a founder effect. Genetic analysis in patients revealed strong linkage disequilibrium with D14S283 and TCRA indicating that the R410X mutation occurred before at least 130 generations ago (about 2600 years). The R410X mutation was shown to be useful as a molecular marker for screening LPI patients in the northern part of Japan.

Transesophageal echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary arterial and venous flow during high-frequency jet ventilation.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) effects on pulmonary arterial and venous flow compared to those of intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) by using pulsed Doppler transesophageal echocardiography. DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital operating room. PATIENTS: 13 ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing lower abdominal or lower extremity surgery. INTERVENTIONS: PATIENTS had total IV anesthesia with propofol and fentanyl. After anesthesia induction, a transesophageal echocardiography probe was inserted into the esophagus. IPPV (TV, 8-10 mL/kg; respiratory rate, 10-12 cycles/min; I/E ratio, 1:2; FIO(2), 1.0) and HFJV (driving pressure, 0.5-0.6 kgf/cm(2); frequency,3 Hz; I/E ratio, 1:1; FIO(2), 1.0) were performed under hemodynamically stable conditions. MEASUREMENTS: Pulmonary-arterial-flow velocity, pulmonary-venous-flow velocity, left ventricular short-axis view, and airway-pressure curve were recorded simultaneously. Parameters measured were: hemodynamic variables, arterial blood gases, inspiratory airway pressure; [from pulmonary-arterial-flow velocity] pre-ejection period (PEP), acceleration time (AT), right ventricular ejection time (RVET), and their ratios (PEP/AT, AT/RVET); [from pulmonary-venous-flow velocity] time-velocity integral of the first systolic wave (S1), second systolic wave (S2), and diastolic wave (D), and systolic fraction (integral S1 + S2/S1+ S2 + D); [from M-mode] left-ventricular-end systolic volume, left-ventricular-end diastolic volume (LVEDV), stroke volume, cardiac output, and ejection fraction, using Teichholz's method. MAIN RESULTS: Peak inspiratory airway pressure during HFJV was significantly lower than that during IPPV. HFJV significantly decreased PEP/AT, correlating positively with pulmonary arterial pressure, and significantly increased AT and AT/RVET, correlating negatively with pulmonary arterial pressure. Systolic fraction, correlating negatively with left atrial pressure, increased significantly during HFJV, as did LVEDV, stroke volume, cardiac output, and ejection fraction. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that, in comparison to IPPV, HFJV significantly decreases pulmonary arterial pressure and left atrial pressure, resulting in significant increases in cardiac output and ejection fraction in healthy anesthetized adults.

A case of atypical granular cell tumor of the neurohypophysis.

A case of granular cell tumor (GCT) arising in the neurohypophysis of a 63-year-old woman is reported. The tumor consisted of ovoid, polygonal or spindle-shaped cells in a sheet-like or fascicular arrangement. Its abundant cytoplasm contained granules positive for diastase-resistant periodic acid-Schiff reaction. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells contained numerous polymorphic lysosomes of various densities. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for S-100 protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein and Leu7, suggesting that the tumor originated from pituicytes that were thought to be modified astrocytes in the neurohypophysis and its stalk. The granular cells showed nuclear atypia, pleomorphism and increased mitotic activity. Therefore, the present tumor was considered as a histologically atypical GCT. Interestingly, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, Ki-67 and p53 were stained in a few tumor cells of this case. These findings indicate that the present tumor had a malignant potential.

Identification of two chromosomal loci determining glucose intolerance in a C57BL/6 mouse strain.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Our objective was to map the genes responsible for poor glucose tolerance in a C57BL/6 (B6) mouse model, which provides a human model of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Insulin secretion was found to be significantly lower in B6 than in C3H/He (C3H) mice (analysis of variance, P < 0.05) at 10, 20, and 30 minutes during the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT: 1.5 g glucose/kg of body weight). METHODS: Mean 30-minute blood glucose values during IPGTT at 8, 9, and 10 weeks of age were used as a surrogate for glucose tolerance. The primers of 87 genetic microsatellite markers (14.9 +/- 6.2 cM apart) genome-wide quantitative trait linkage (QTL) analysis in F2 and F3 mice with the highest and lowest (n = 15 for each extreme) 30-minute blood glucose values were used. RESULTS: Genome-wide QTL analysis confirmed the locus (D2Mit48) on chromosome 2, with a LOD score of 8.3, and the locus (D13Mit48) on chromosome 13, with a LOD score of 4.2 in F3. Direct sequencing of candidate genes, proprotein convertase-2 (PC2) on chromosome 2 and proprotein convertase-1/3 (PC1/PC3) on chromosome 13, failed to reveal a mutation or polymorphism specific to B6 mice. CONCLUSIONS: Use of QTL mapping revealed two loci associated with poor glucose tolerance of B6.

Probable involvement of a germ-line mutation of an unknown mismatch repair gene in a Japanese Muir-Torre syndrome phenotype.

A combination of haplotype analysis and direct sequencing were conducted on Japanese Muir-Torre syndrome kindred. In the kindred, two females revealed a hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC) phenotype and one male had a sebaceous tumor in addition to a HNPCC phenotype. Haplotype analysis and direct sequencing failed to show involvement of the known mismatch repair genes, with the exception of MSH5, in this kindred. Analysis of large fragments (from 3.9 to 6. 2 kb) covering the entire 25 kb MSH5 gene in the proband revealed the absence of gross changes in the promoter region and exons. The direct sequencing of the promoter region and all 25 exons failed to demonstrate any mutations in the coding regions except for a CA repeat polymorphism in intron 3 and a C/A polymorphism in intron 15. Taken together present results indicate that a novel and yet unknown mismatch repair gene is likely involved in the HNPCC in this kindred.

Effects of dietary cadmium and its bioconcentration in tilapia Oreochromis niloticus.

The administration of cadmium, as food supplement, its bioaccumulation, and the effects on the development of tilapia Oreochromis niloticus were investigated. The average size and weight and its behavior compared with controls were investigated during the period January 31, 1997, until March 31, 1999. At intervals of 60 days the measurements of size and weight were performed, and the concentration of cadmium in feces, water, muscular tissue, and viscera were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The initial average cadmium concentration in food was 5 mg small middle dotkg(-1) and only after 6 months a small effect on size and weight could be observed. With increases in cadmium concentration to 50 mg small middle dotkg(-1), beginning after the 7th month, and 100 mg small middle dotkg(-1) after the 16th month, a clear difference in size and weight and also in behavior could be observed. An LC(50) value of 40 mg small middle dotkg(-1) was observed after the 23rd month.