Correlation of phytoplankton satellite observations and radiological doses in molluscs.

In this work data of salinity, temperature, suspended particulate matter (SPM), chlorophyll-a, and phytoplankton concentration in the Gibraltar Strait coast, in the confluence of the Mediterranean Sean and the Atlantic Ocean, were analyzed together with 210Po, 40K, 210Pb and 234Th activity concentration in different types of bivalve molluscs at the same time-period. The physicochemical parameters were evaluated using the Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) products based on satellite observations. A multivariate statistical analysis, including contrasted natural radioactivity contents, allowed the discrimination of bivalve molluscs from Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. Additionally, a cluster analysis determined a highly significant negative correlation 210Po concentration in molluscs and phytoplankton concentration suggesting that phytoplankton concentration in the water column is a determinant factor to regulate 210Po concentration in those animals. These results introduce a useful tool to calculate the radiological doses in seafood from chlorophyll satellite image.

The behaviour of 236U in the North Atlantic Ocean assessed from numerical modelling: A new evaluation of the input function into the Arctic.

A numerical model, previously validated with other radionuclides, was applied to simulate the dispersion of 236U released from European nuclear fuel reprocessing plants in the North Atlantic and Shelf Seas using a published reconstruction of Sellafield and La Hague releases. Model results are in better agreement with observations if the lowest estimation of such releases are used. This implies that approximately 40kg of 236U has been discharged from Sellafield. It was found that adsorption of 236U on bed sediments of the shallow European Shelf Seas plays an essential role in its dispersion patterns. This contrasts strongly with the more conservative behaviour of 129I in the same area. This has two important implications in the use of 236U as oceanographic tracer; i) special care must be taken in coastal areas, as sediments might act as sinks and sources of 236U; ii) the annual input function of 236U into the Arctic is not directly controlled by the annual discharges from Sellafield and La Hague, since sediments from the Irish, Celtic and North Sea modulate and smooth the signal. Only 52% of the total releases enter into the Arctic Ocean.

Natural and artificial radionuclides in a marine core. First results of 236U in North Atlantic Ocean sediments.

There are very few data available of 236U in marine sediment cores. In this study we present the results from the first oceanic depth profile of 236U in a sediment core sampled in the North Atlantic Ocean, at the PAP site (4500 m depth, Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) site, 49°0' N, 16°30' W). Additionally, the sediment core was radiologically characterized through the measurement of anthropogenic 137Cs, 239Pu, 240Pu, 129I and 14C and natural 210Pb, 40K and 226Ra. The measured 236U concentrations decrease from about 90·106 at g-1 at the seafloor down to 0.5·106 at g-1 at 6 cm depth. They are several orders of magnitude lower than the reported values for soils from the Northern Hemisphere solely influenced by global fallout (i.e. from 2700·106 to 7500·106 at g-1). 236U/238U atom ratios measured are at least three orders of magnitude above the estimated level for the naturally occurring dissolved uranium. The obtained inventories are 1·1012 at m-2 for 236U, 80 Bq m-2 for 137Cs, 45 Bq m-2 for 239+240Pu and 2.6·1012 at m-2 for 129I. Atomic ratios for 236U/239Pu, 137Cs/236U and 129I/236U, obtained from the inventories are 0.036, 0.11 and 2.5 respectively. Concentration profiles show mobilization probably due to bioturbation from the abundant detritivore holothurian species living at the PAP site sea-floor. The range of 236U, 137Cs, 239+240Pu and 129I values, inventories and ratios of these anthropogenic radionuclides are more similar to the values due to fall-out than values from a contribution from the Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing Plants dispersed to the south-west of the North Atlantic Ocean. However, signs of an additional source are detected and might be associated to the nuclear wastes dumped on the Eastern North Atlantic Ocean.

A sequential determination of 90Sr and 210Po in food samples.

The latest EU Council Regulation 2016/52/Euratom updates the emergency limits on radionuclides in foods including 210Po and 90Sr, two of the most important radionuclides for radiological dose from the ingestion pathway. A novel and straightforward method has been developed for sequential determination of 90Sr and 210Po in food samples using ultra low-level liquid scintillation counting and alpha-particle spectrometry. For 90Sr analysis, the method makes use of stable strontium as yield tracer, and 210Po is determined through self-deposition using 209Po as a yield tracer. The quantification limit for this method is 25.0 and 2.0Bqkg-1 for 90Sr and 210Po, respectively. The proposed radiochemical separation can be completed within 2days for a batch of 12 samples. The radiochemical procedure was validated by its application for the measurement of IAEA certified reference materials, and through participation in a national intercomparison exercise. Results are also presented in seafood from the Mediterranean coast.

Rapid determination of (210)Pb and (210)Po in water and application to marine samples.

Measurement of radionuclides in marine samples, specifically radioactive pairs disequilibrium, has gained interest lately due to their ability to trace cutting edge biogeochemical processes. In this context, we developed a fast, direct method for determining (210)Pb and (210)Po water through the use of ultra low-level liquid scintillation counting and alpha-particle spectrometry respectively and through Eichrom Sr resins for the Po-Pb separation. For (210)Pb analysis, the method uses stable lead as a yield tracer measured by a robust ICP-MS technique, and (210)Po is determined through self-deposition using the conventional (209)Po yield tracer. The improvements of the method over other techniques are: a) the analysis can be completed within 6 days, simplifying other methods, b) very low limits of detection have been achieved -0.12 and 0.005mBqL(-1) for (210)Pb and (210)Po, respectively - and c) most of the method could be carried out in on-board analysis. We applied the method to different aqueous samples and specifically to marine samples. We determined (210)Pb and (210)Po in the dissolved fraction of Mediterranean Sea water and an estuary at the South-West of Spain. We found that it can be successfully employed to marine samples but we recommend to i) use a minimum of 20L water to measure the (210)Pb in the dissolved phase by LSC and lower volumes to measure total concentrations; ii) wait for (210)Pb and (210)Bi in secular equilibrium and measure the total spectrum to minimise the limit of detection and improve accuracy.

Miedo al atragantamiento (chocking phobia) en el diagnóstico diferencial de los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria / Chocking phobia in the differential diagnosis of eating disorders

Introducción: El «miedo al atragantamiento" se caracteriza por el temor y la aversión a ingerir alimentos sólidos, e incluso, en ocasiones, líquidos y medicamentos. Estas características, junto con la pérdida de peso y la frecuencia de síntomas obsesivo compulsivos, hacen pensar a veces en una anorexia nerviosa. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo longitudinal de una serie de 6 pacientes (4 niños y 2 niñas) diagnosticados de miedo al atragantamiento en los últimos 5 años. Resultados: La edad media en la primera visita fue de 9.9 años (rango de 5-16 años) y el tiempo de evolución desde el inicio del cuadro de 1,7 meses (desviación estándar [DE]1,0 meses). Los niños habían perdido como promedio un 13% del peso inicial, situándose su peso en el momento del diagnóstico en una puntuación Z media de -1.19 (DE:0,72). Tras el diagnóstico, todos los niños recibieron terapia cognitivo-conductual (Tl CC), asociada a farmacoterapia en 5 pacientes. Precisaron suplementación de la dieta con una fórmula hipercalórica 4 pacientes ( 300-900k cal/día) durante un periodo medio de 2 meses. Todos los casos evolucionaron favorablemente, con normalización de la ingesta y recuperación ponderal tras un periodo medio de 5.6 meses (DE:2.5). Conclusiones: 1. Aunque los datos clínicos de presentación pueden hacer pensar en una anorexia nerviosa de comienzo precoz, en estos pacientes no existe distorsión de la imagen corporal ni temor a la ganancia de peso. 2. El inicio de la sintomatología fue precedido por un episodio estresante y en algún caso se vio favorecido por una personalidad prepatológica. 3. El cuadro se acompaña frecuentemente de una pérdida importante de peso (entre el 7 y el 20% del peso inicial). 4. El éxito del tratamiento se basa en la colaboración entre los psiquiatras y el equipo de soporte nutricional

Background: Choking phobia is characterized by afear and avoidance of swallowing salid food and, on occasion, even liquidsor pills. These characteristics, when added to the weight loss and the frequent association of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, are suggestive of an eating disorder. Methods: The records of 6 children and adolescents (4 boys and 2 girls) who had been diagnosed as having choking phobia over the preceding five years were reviewed for inclusion in a longitudinal, descriptive study. The data are presented as the mean and standard deviation (SD). Results: The mean age at the time of the first visit was 9.9 years (range 5 to 16 y). The mean time between the first symptoms and diagnosis was 1.7 months (SD:1.0 m). On average, the patients lost 13% of their initial weight. The Z score for weight was -1.19 (SO: 0.72). All of them received cognitive behavioural therapy and, except in one case, they also received drugs. Four children had their diet supplemented with a hypercaloric enteral formula (300-900 kcal/day) for 2 months. Complete remission was achieved in every case, weight restoration took a mean period of 5.6 months (SD: 2.5 mo). Conclusions: Although the differential diagnosis should include early onset anorexia nervosa, there is no body image distortion or fear of gaining weight. The episode started after a stressful situation, generally related to food. It was accompanied by a weight loss of 7% to 20% of initial weight. The combination of cognitive-behavioural therapy plus drugs and nutritional assessment obtained good results in this young population

[Diencephalic syndrome: An uncommon cause of malnutrition]. / Síndrome diencefálico: una causa poco común de malnutrición.

Diencephalic syndrome (DS) is a complex of signs and symptoms related to hypothalamic dysfunction. Its main features are emaciation despite normal energy intake and an alert appearance. This syndrome has been described in association with space-occupying lesions of the hypothalamic-optic chiasm region, mainly low-grade glioma, and less often with tumors in the proximity of the IV ventricle. Two patients with DS are reported. The first patient was an 8-month old boy with classical features of DS. Extensive investigation of malabsorption revealed no abnormalities and the first neurologic sign was a rotatory nystagmus. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed evidence of a hypothalamic tumor, which was identified after surgical resection as a pilocytic astrocytoma. The second patient was an adolescent boy who presented a 20-kg weight loss over a 6-month period and psychological disturbances. Gastrointestinal disease was ruled out as a cause of malnutrition. Because of a polydipsia-polyuria syndrome, manifest while the patient was hospitalized with a suspected diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, MRI of the brain was performed. Multiple intracranial lesions were revealed, mainly in the hypothalamus, and were identified as a disseminated disgerminoma. No neurologic signs or symptoms were present. The patients died 2 years and 1 year after diagnosis, respectively. Although DS is rare, it should be considered in severe failure to thrive or emaciation despite adequate food intake and normal absorptive function of the small bowel.

Síndrome diencefálico: una causa poco común de malnutrición / Diencephalic syndrome: an uncommon cause of malnutrition

El síndrome diencefálico es un conjunto de signos y síntomas relacionados con una disfunción hipotalámica y cuyos rasgos característicos son una marcada malnutrición a pesar de una ingesta calórica normal y la apariencia de alerta. Este síndrome se ha descrito asociado a lesiones ocupantes de espacio en la región hipotalámico-quiasmática, sobre todo gliomas de bajo grado y, con menor frecuencia, a tumores de fosa posterior, emplazados en la proximidad del IV ventrículo. Se presentan los casos de 2 pacientes afectados. El primero de ellos era un lactante de 8 meses con un cuadro de síndrome diencefálico clásico. Tras un estudio exhaustivo de malabsorción con resultados negativos mostró un nistagmo rotatorio como primer signo neurológico. Se le realizó una resonancia magnética que evidenció un tumor hipotalámico, que tras la cirugía se identificó como un astrocitoma pielocítico. El segundo paciente fue un adolescente varón con pérdida de 20 kg de peso en los últimos 6 meses y alteraciones psicológicas. Se descartó enfermedad gastrointestinal como causa de la malnutrición; la presencia de un síndrome de polidipsia-poliuria mientras permanecía ingresado con el diagnóstico de sospecha de anorexia nerviosa llevó a la realización de una resonancia magnética que mostró la existencia de numerosas lesiones intracraneales, sobre todo en el hipotálamo, que resultaron ser la diseminación de un disgerminoma. El paciente no presentaba ningún signo ni síntoma neurológico. Ambos pacientes fallecieron a los 2 años y al año del diagnóstico, respectivamente. A pesar de que se trata de una enfermedad infrecuente, debería considerarse su diagnóstico en pacientes con fallo de medro importante o emaciación que presentan una ingesta conservada y una función absortiva intestinal normal (AU)

[Giant-cell myocarditis simulating an apical myocardial infarct]. / Miocarditis de células gigantes simulando un infarto de miocardio apical.

We present a case of a 57-year-old man with a giant-cell myocarditis that made its debut as a sustained ventricular polymorphic tachycardia interpreted in the context of old apical myocardium infarct, with a posterior evolution towards refractory heart failure, which finally needed urgent cardiac transplantation. We explain the characteristics of this unusual myocarditis, which has a poor prognosis, and also the results of the laboratory techniques that led to an equivocal diagnosis in this patient.

[Follow-up of children born to parents affected by the toxic oil syndrome]. / Seguimiento de hijos nacidos de padres afectados por el síndrome tóxico.

Conditions at birth and evolution during the first year of life of a group of infants whose parents were affected by the Spanish Toxic Syndrome are presented. They are distributed in three groups: first those infants of high risk whose father or mother (or both) have consumed toxic oil; second children whose parents had consumed non-brandname oil not demonstrated to have been toxic and without signs of disease; and a third control group of normal newborns without previous medical history. From the present study, authors cannot affirm whether ingestion of toxic oil by pregnant women had influenced intrauterine growth or first year growth. Nonetheless, new studies are needed which clarify evolutionary aspects of these children.