Sorption and release process of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from different composition microplastics in aqueous medium: Solubility parameter approach.

Microplastics represent a growing environmental concern in the aquatic environment due to its size resemblance to microplankton in addition to its ability to act as concentrators of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Among them, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) stand out as POPs with dangerous levels in the aquatic environment. In this paper we have developed a methodology for studying the sorption and extraction process of twelve congeners of PBDE from four microplastics: polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), low density polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene (PS). We have proved that there is a dependence between the polymer composition and the solvent used for the extraction of the analytes. The extraction is function of the ability of the solvent to partially or totally dissolve the plastic that will allow the analyte to have a greater capacity to be released from the polymer structure. The solution of the polymer is achieved by making the free energy (ΔG, or Gibbs potential) of the system negative making the process occurs spontaneously, this will depend on the solubility parameter (∂), specific of both, solvent and polymer. Therefore, this study helps to determine which methodology to be applied for the extraction of pollutants before the start of the analysis. This approach has been applied to microplastic samples collected in different locations in the four oceans and collected from the Barcelona World Race (BWR) 2014-2015 sailing race.

A new experimental model of acid- and endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rats.

The majority of the animal models of acute lung injury (ALI) are focused on the acute phase. This limits the studies of the mechanisms involved in later phases and the effects of long-term treatments. Thus the goal of this study was to develop an experimental ALI model of aspiration pneumonia, in which diffuse alveolar damage continues for 72 h. Rats were intratracheally instilled with one dose of HCl (0.1 mol/l) followed by another instillation of one dose of LPS (0, 10, 20, 30, or 40 µg/g body weight) 2 h later, which models aspiration of gastric contents that progresses to secondary lung injury from bacteria or bacterial products. The rats were euthanized at 24, 48, and 72 h after the last instillation. The results showed that HCl and LPS at all doses caused activation of inflammatory responses, increased protein permeability and apoptosis, and induced mild hypoxemia in rat lungs at 24 h postinstillation. However, this lung damage was present at 72 h only in rats receiving HCl and LPS at the doses of 30 and 40 µg/g body wt. Mortality (∼50%) occurred in the first 48 h and only in the rats treated with HCl and LPS at the highest dose (40 µg/g body wt). In conclusion, intratracheal instillation of HCl followed by LPS at the dose of 30 µg/g body wt results in severe diffuse alveolar damage that continues at least 72 h. This rat model of aspiration pneumonia-induced ALI will be useful for testing long-term effects of new therapeutic strategies in ALI.

Analytical methodology for sampling and analysing eight siloxanes and trimethylsilanol in biogas from different wastewater treatment plants in Europe.

Siloxanes and trimethylsilanol belong to a family of organic silicone compounds that are currently used extensively in industry. Those that are prone to volatilisation become minor compounds in biogas adversely affecting energetic applications. However, non-standard analytical methodologies are available to analyse biogas-based gaseous matrixes. To this end, different sampling techniques (adsorbent tubes, impingers and tedlar bags) were compared using two different configurations: sampling directly from the biogas source or from a 200 L tedlar bag filled with biogas and homogenised. No significant differences were apparent between the two sampling configurations. The adsorbent tubes performed better than the tedlar bags and impingers, particularly for quantifying low concentrations. A method for the speciation of silicon compounds in biogas was developed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry working in dual scan/single ion monitoring mode. The optimised conditions could separate and quantify eight siloxane compounds (L2, L3, L4, L5, D3, D4, D5 and D6) and trimethylsilanol within fourteen minutes. Biogas from five waste water treatment plants located in Spain, France and England was sampled and analysed using the developed methodology. The siloxane concentrations in the biogas samples were influenced by the anaerobic digestion temperature, as well as the nature and composition of the sewage inlet. Siloxanes D4 and D5 were the most abundant, ranging in concentration from 1.5 to 10.1 and 10.8 to 124.0 mg Nm(-3), respectively, and exceeding the tolerance limit of most energy conversion systems.

Adenocarcinoma de endometrio de patrón sertoliforme / Sertoliform carcinoma of the endometrium

Se presenta el caso de una paciente que consultó por metrorragia posmenopaúsica. En la biopsia histeroscópica dirigida se informó de adenocarcinoma de endometrio endometrioide bien diferenciado. Se practicó histerectomía, doble anexectomía y lavados peritoneales. Durante el acto quirúrgico se valoró el grado de infiltración miometrial, que al revelar afectación del útero hasta la serosa, implicó la realización de linfadenectomía de espacios pélvicos y paraaórtico. El diagnóstico definitivo anatomopatológico fue de adenocarcinoma de endometrio tipo endometrioide de patrón sertoliforme moderadamente diferenciado. El estadío FIGO fue IIIA, por lo que se indicó quimioterapia y radioterapia como tratamiento adyuvante. A los 2 años la paciente presenta recidiva ganglionar y metástasis pulmonares con progresión a pesar del tratamiento quimioterápico, por lo que finalmente fallece.

We report a case of a patient with postmenopausal bleeding. In hysteroscopic directed biopsy was reported endometrioid endometrial adenocarcinoma well differentiated, so that she underwent total hysterectomy, both salpingo-oophorectomy and peritoneal washings. In the surgery, we evaluated the miometrial infiltration, with report invasion until serosa, so we practised pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. The pathologic diagnosis was sertoliform endometrioid carcinoma of the endometrium with moderate differentiation. The FIGO stage was IIIA, and we indicated chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Two year after, the patient presented nodal recurrence and lung metastases with no response to the chemotherapy drugs, so she dies.

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix: report of two cases.

Small cell neuroendocrine tumor of the cervix is a rare malignancy with aggressive behavior. Metastases and recurrent disease are frequent and multimodal therapy is commonly used. Neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy should be combined with radiation therapy and surgery, even in early stages. Nevertheless, due to the low prevalence of these tumors, the best treatment has not yet been determined. Two cases of small cell neuroendocrine tumor of the uterine cervix are reported. We describe the clinical course, diagnostic methods and examine treatments applied and survival.

Buschke-Lowenstein tumor and pregnancy: a case report.

Buschke-Lowenstein tumor is a giant condyloma acuminatum that arises on the male and female anogenital region. It is considered a histologically benign tumor but carries a risk of malignant transformation. Early diagnosis and treatment are advised and the choice of treatment is crucial. We present a case of a 31-year-old pregnant woman with myasthenia gravis affected by Buschke-Lowenstein tumor.

Fallopian tube carcinoma: incidental finding during surgery for acute pelvic inflammatory disease--case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube is a rare condition. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult and in most cases it is an intraoperative finding or a histopathological diagnosis. CASE: A 49-year-old woman presented with pelvic pain, fever (38 degrees C), elevated white blood cell count and a right adnexal mass. Pelvic inflammatory disease was suspected and broad spectrum antibiotics were established. Five days later, due to lack of clinical response, a total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and appendectomy were performed. Histopathology showed a primary fallopian tube carcinoma. Postoperatively she received chemotherapy. Afterwards she underwent a staging laparotomy. Some months later, new chemotherapy regimens were instituted because of the presence of lymph node metastases. CONCLUSION: Malignancy should be included in the differential diagnosis of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Serous cystadenoma of borderline malignancy arising in a parovarian paramesonephric cyst.

BACKGROUND: Borderline parovarian tumors are found incidentally at surgery or autopsy. They are extremely rare. The majority have been reported in young women and rarely are they large enough to be clinically significant. CASE: A 53-year-old multiparous female with a symptomatic paraovarian serous borderline cystadenoma is presented. DISCUSSION: The clinical aspects and subsequent management of related cases are discussed.

Carcinoma papilar seroso peritoneal primario. Presentación de 12 casos / Primary peritoneal serous papillary carcinoma. Presentation of 12 cases

Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas, diagnósticas, terapéuticas y evolutivas de las pacientes con carcinoma papilar seroso peritoneal primario tratadas en nuestro servicio durante 5 años. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo basado en 12 pacientes diagnosticadas y tratadas en el Servicio de Ginecología del Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet entre el 30 de junio de 1999 y el 30 de junio de 2004. Las variables analizadas han sido: edad al diagnóstico, situación menstrual, presentación clínica, tipo histológico, métodos diagnósticos, tratamiento, incidencias durante el seguimiento y supervivencia. Resultados: La edad media de las pacientes fue de 67 años, los síntomas más frecuentes fueron dolor y distensión abdominal, y los métodos más útiles para establecer la sospecha diagnóstica han sido la tomografía computarizada (TC) y la determinación sérica de CA 125. El tratamiento inicial fue quirúrgico en 8 pacientes, y en 3, previamente al tratamiento quirúrgico, se utilizó quimioterapia neoadyuvante con carboplatino y paclitaxel durante 3 ciclos, y en 1 paciente sólo se pudo realizar laparoscopia y biopsias múltiples. Las 8 pacientes que tuvieron como tratamiento inicial cirugía citorreductora recibieron quimioterapia adyuvante con carboplatino y paclitaxel durante 6 ciclos y se utilizó quimioterapia de segunda línea en 8. Ninguna recibió tratamiento radioterapéutico. El seguimiento ha oscilado entre 4 y 46 meses, con una media de 29. A 30 de junio de 2004, 6 pacientes han fallecido por la enfermedad, 4 están vivas con enfermedad y 2 están vivas sin presencia de enfermedad. Conclusiones: El carcinoma papilar seroso peritoneal primario tiene una incidencia baja, y se debe sospechar su presencia en las pacientes que presentan en la TC afectación peritoneal difusa, ascitis y normalidad en el tamaño ovárico, generalmente asociado a una elevación del CA 125 sérico. El tratamiento debe incluir cirugía citorreductora con un esfuerzo máximo asociada a quimioterapia adyuvante con carboplatino y paclitaxel. Su pronóstico es malo

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical findings, treatment and outcome of Primary Peritoneal papillary serous carcinoma in 12 patients admitted to Miguel Servet hospital between June 30, 1999, and June 30, 2004. Material and methods: This is an uncommon disease characterized by peritoneal carcinomatosis without other identifiable primary tumor; it typically presents resembling ovarian cancer, with abdominal pain and distention and in an advanced stage. Results: They were managed by surgical exploration, tumor debulking where possible and postoperative chemotherapy. Prognosis is poor. Conclusions: the presence of diffuse peritoneal disease and the absence of an ovarian mass on CT and an elevation of serum CA 125 level are suggestive of Primary Peritoneal papillary serous carcinoma

Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in sewage sludge and post-treated sludge: quantitative determination by HRGC-MS and mass spectral characterization.

DEHP was quantified into sewage sludge, thermally dried sludge and compost samples from different areas of Catalonia (North East Spain) using high-resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) coupled to a mass spectrometry (MS). The aim of the work was to determine the evolution of this ubiquitous environmental contaminant along some post-treatment sludge processes, such as composting and thermally drying. DEHP concentration detected in some sludges are above the maximum limit suggested by the EC (100 ppm d.m.) for agricultural use. However, the composting and thermally drying reduce the amount of DEHP in sewage sludge to acceptable level for safe land application. The study was completed with the characterization and long-term observation of DEHP in sewage sludge, composted sludge and thermally dried sludge mixed with two types of soils. In all cases, the percentage of DEHP degraded was higher than 50% after 9 months of incubation.

Prevalencia del virus del papiloma humano en una muestra de población urbana en la ciudad de Zaragoza / Prevalence of human papillota virus in a random sample of an urban population in the city of Zaragoza (Spain)

Objetivo: Valorar la prevalencia del virus del papiloma humano (VPH) en una muestra de población urbana en la ciudad de Zaragoza. Sujetos y métodos: Estudio basado en 298 pacientes reclutadas en centros urbanos de diagnóstico precoz de cáncer genital femenino y en consultas de anticoncepción de la ciudad de Zaragoza. Se excluyen los casos con citología anómala en los 6 meses previos al comienzo del estudio y las pacientes que habían recibido tratamiento por este motivo. A cada una de ellas se le realizó citología vaginal y test de detección de ADN del VPH, y además respondieron a un formulario acerca de sus antecedentes y hábitos de vida. Las pruebas estadísticas utilizadas han sido el test no paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis, el test de la X2 y la regresión logística. Resultados: La prevalencia del VPH en la población estudiada es del 10,6%. Las variables asociadas más significativas de infección por el VPH son el número de compañeros sexuales por mes en el último año (odds ratio [OR] = 2,1; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 1,05-3,42; p < 0,01) y la frecuencia de relaciones sexuales por vía vaginal y mes en el último año (OR = 1,9; IC del 95%, 1,09-2,96; p < 0,01). Conclusión: Conocer la prevalencia del VPH en cada medio y los factores relacionados con su infección nos va a permitir identificar los grupos de riesgo y adoptar estrategias para prevenir dicha infección

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of human papilloma virus (HPV) in an urban population in the city of Zaragoza (Spain). Subjects and methods: We studied HPV infection in 298 patients attending female genital cancer screening and contraception clinics in the city of Zaragoza. Patients with abnormal cytological results in the 6 months prior to the beginning of the study and those who had received treatment for this reason were excluded. All patients underwent a personal interview on lifestyle and antecedents, a Pap smear, and cervical swabs for HPV DNA detection using a Hybrid Capture II technique. Statistical analysis was performed using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test, X2 test and logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of HPV infection in the population studied was 10.6%. The main risk factors for HPV infection were the mean number of sexual partners per month in the previous year (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1; 95% CI, 1.05-3.42; p < 0.01) and the mean frequency of vaginal sexual intercourse per month in the previous year (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.09-2.96; p < 0.01). Conclusion: Determining the prevalence of HPV in each environment and risk factors for infection can be useful in identifying risk groups and adopting strategies to prevent this infection

Carcinoma primario de trompa de Falopio. Presentación de 9 casos / Primary fallopian tube carcinoma. A presentation of 9 cases

Objetivo: El propósito de este estudio es presentar la experiencia del Servicio de Ginecología del Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet de Zaragoza con respecto al carcinoma primario de trompa de Falopio. Material y métodos: Presentamos los datos correspondientes a 9 pacientes con carcinoma primario de trompa de Falopio, tratadas y posteriormente controladas en nuestro hospital entre el 1 de enero de 1995 y el 30 de junio de 2003.Resultados: Distribuidas por estadios, 2 pacientes se etiquetaron en estadio IA; 2, estadio IC; 2, estadio IIIA; 2, estadio IIIC, y 1 estadio IV. En todos los casos, el tratamiento inicial fue quirúrgico y, posteriormente, 7 pacientes recibieron quimioterapia adyuvante; ninguna recibió radioterapia. Preoperatoriamente, sólo se sospechó en un caso y en todas las pacientes el tipo histológico fue adenocarcinoma papilar seroso. El seguimiento ha oscilado entre 9 y 95 meses, con una media de 52; 2 pacientes han fallecido por la enfermedad a los 12 y 42 meses de seguimiento, 2 pacientes están vivas pero con presencia de enfermedad y 5 están vivas y libres de enfermedad. Conclusiones: El carcinoma de trompa de Falopio es un tumor de difícil diagnóstico preoperatorio, que presenta como síntomas más habituales la hemorragia vaginal anormal y el dolor pélvico. Su tratamiento es fundamentalmente quirúrgico y debe seguir pautas similares a las que aplicamos en el carcinoma de ovario (AU)

Application of the new C18 speedisks to the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in water and effluent samples.

A recently introduced disk for solid-phase extraction of pollutants from water (C18 Speedisk) has been tested for the analysis of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF). The complete procedure of analysis has been validated with spiked deionized water. The accuracy, expressed as recovery for the sum of 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners. is 92% and the precision, expressed as the RSD of reproducibility, is 5.8%. The limit of detection (LOD), using 2 l of water, is 4.2 pg/l (0.6 pg ITEQ/l) for the sum of 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners. Actually, the C18 Speedisks have substituted the use of other C18 membrane disks in our laboratory because they allow the fast and efficient analysis of samples with high content of suspended material and reduce the time of elution of free-particulate samples. These disks have been successfully applied to the analysis of water from different sources and with very different physical and chemical characteristics: seawater, rain water, an industrial effluent, a landfill leachate and the inlet and chlorinated and non-chlorinated outlet water from a wastewater treatment plant.

Analysis of dioxin-like compounds in vegetation and soil samples burned in Catalan forest fires. Comparison with the corresponding unburned material.

Only a few data are reported about the formation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and dibenzofurans (PCDF) in forest fires. However, the inventories of sources undertaken by several European and American countries consider natural fires as a possible source of PCDD/F and, in some cases, as one of the most important. In our work we have analysed vegetation and soil samples burned in four forest fires which happened in Catalonia in the summer of 1998. The concentration of dioxin-like compounds (PCDD/F, non-ortho polychlorinated bi-phenyls (PCB) and mono-ortho PCB) has been compared to the concentration present in the corresponding unburned material collected in places near the fires but not affected. The results of this preliminary study show very low concentrations in all the samples, both burned and unburned. Although a change in the profile (proportional increase of tetrachlorinated congeners in PCDD/F) is observed in burned samples compared to unburned ones, the absolute values of concentration decrease in most samples. Therefore, natural fires seem not to be an important source of dioxin-like compounds. These results will be confirmed with air emissions measurements in future studies.

Separation of non-ortho polychlorinated biphenyl congeners on pre-packed carbon tubes. Application to analysis in sewage sludge and soil samples.

The analysis of planar (non-ortho) polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) by HRGC-ECD or HRGC-HRMS requires a fractionation step to avoid the interferences of the bulk of PCB, usually in much higher concentration than the planar ones. In this paper, a new method, based on the fractionation of PCB on SPE commercial tubes pre-packed with Carbopack B, has been developed. After the extract has been applied on the stationary phase, the bulk of PCD are eluted with 15 ml of hexane (fraction I), mono-ortho PCB with 20 ml of hexane/toluene 99:1 (fraction II) and planar PCB with 20 ml of toluene (fraction III) in a station under vacuum. The method has been validated: accuracy (expressed as recovery in %) is >70% and precision (expressed as % RSD) is <20% considering changes of day, analyst and batch of tubes. The method is linear in the range studied. Other advantages are that the method is simple, rapid and it can be easily automated. The application of this separation to the determination of planar PCB in fly-ash extracts from an intercalibration exercise and to sewage sludge, sediment and soil samples has been successful. In addition, this method removes hydrocarbons from the planar PCB fraction and allows its concentration to very small volumes.

Study of evolution of PCDD/F in sewage sludge-amended soils for land restoration purposes.

The evolution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDF) in sewage sludge-amended soils used in the restoration of degraded lands, like quarries, has been studied. Two experiments were performed: one in the lab, under controlled conditions, and another in a quarry. Two different doses of sewage sludge were applied in both experiments (with two types of application in the quarry experiment) and the evolution of the amended soils were compared with that of the respective control soils (without addition of sewage sludge). The samples were analyzed with a previously validated method by HRGC HRMS after the extraction and the necessary clean-up steps. The results reveal that polluted sewage sludge increases PCDD/F concentration in soils and that these compounds are persistent in the matrix after long periods of time.

Sodium cholate interactions with rabbit's pulmonary surfactant.

In order to assay the possibility that sodium cholate interacts with pulmonary surfactant, we obtained bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from lungs of adult rabbits and measured the hysteresis area of surface tension-area loops of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in a Wilhelmy surface tension balance, before and after the addition of sodium cholate to reach different concentrations. We observed a biphasic behavior: at a low concentration of sodium cholate (1.5 x 10(5) mol/l; n = 6) the hysteresis area increased (p less than 0.05) as compared to its control (initial) area, meanwhile at a higher concentration (5 x 10(-5) mol/l; n = 6) the hysteresis area decreased (p less than 0.025), revealing a likely interaction of sodium cholate with pulmonary surfactant. We conclude that sodium cholate is able to interact in vitro with lung surfactant.