Evaluation of total phenol pollution in water of San Martin Canal from Santiago del Estero, Argentina.

Santiago del Estero is a province located in northwestern Argentina. The Dulce River is used for irrigation through a vast network of channels and ditches, including the San Martin Canal (SMC), which crosses the capital city of Santiago del Estero. This canal's water is used for drinking, as well as recreational use for the general population. However, this river has been seriously polluted for several decades. The present study focuses on the identification and the quantification of the water pollution levels of total phenols in the SMC according to the seasonal periods. Water samples from various areas of the canal in different months of the year, extending from December to September, were collected for analysis. Additionally, the concentration of total dissolved solids (TDS), chlorides, sulphates, nitrites and organic matter, as well as water hardness and alkalinity, were analysed in order to conduct a more complete study of the contamination of this area. The results showed a worrying total phenol concentration that exceeded the limit set by Argentine legislation for drinking water, as well as water for recreational use (5 µg/L). The total phenol (TP) concentration was directly determined by a molecular absorption spectroscopy method based on a new flow injection analysis system (FIA). Under the selected experimental conditions, the detection and quantification limits were 0.0490 and 0.1633 µg/mL, respectively. The developed method provides a number of improvements related to the speed of analysis, the restricted consumption of the reagents and sample volumes and the unnecessary sample treatment that contribute to environmentally friendly analytical chemistry. The results showed that TP make a significant contribution in the SMC pollution, especially during the months of April (400 ±â€¯110 µg/L) and September (240 ±â€¯20 µg/L). A high sulphate concentration that was higher than the limit allowed by the legislation was also found.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis: report of a case with epiphyseal and metaphyseal involvement.

Chronic recurrent osteomyelitis is a recognized clinicopathological entity with typical radiographic findings in the metaphyses of the long bones. Epiphyseal lesions usually are small and may easily be overlooked. Bone scintigraphy is helpful in identifying multiple lesions whether symptomatic or not. The diagnosis is one of exclusion without pathognomonic findings. Recognition of the condition is important to avoid treatment with antibiotics and repeated operations.

Sexual behaviour of Zebu bulls in the humid tropics of Costa Rica: single versus multiple-sire groups.

This study compares the courtship and mounting behaviour of Bos indicus bulls in single- and multiple-sire groups in Costa Rica (latitude 10 degrees 25'N, longitude 84 degrees 32'W, annual precipitation of 3096mm, temperature of 24 degrees C and humidity of 85.3%). Four, 3-4 year-old Brahman bulls with previous sexual experience were used to sire a group of 120 multiparous cows (average of 128 days post-partum and a body condition score of 2.5) allocated to two groups of 60 each: (1) single-sire mating group (SSM) and (2) multiple-sire mating group of three bulls (MSM). Bulls were rotated among groups every 7 days for 28 days. The frequency, type and duration of sexual activities (mounting and mounting attempts) and courtship activities (smelling and licking genital area, butting, supporting the head over a female and the sign of Flehmen) were calculated for each mating group. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics (Wilcoxon, Mann-Withney tests) were used to calculate differences between mating programmes. Sexual activities tended to be more frequent in the SSM group than the MSM group (267 versus 124, P>0.05). Differences in the ratios of sexual to courtship activities between both groups were significant (1:3 in SSM and 1:6 in MSM, P>0.05). Pregnancy rate averages were 28 and 37%, respectively, (P>0.05). It is concluded that under these conditions multiple-sire mating and single-sire mating achieved similar pregnancy rates.

¿Existen asimetrías condilares en pacientes infantiles con mordida cruzada posterior? / Are condylar asymmetries in infantile patients with posterior cross-bite?

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la presencia de asimetría del cóndilo mandibular en pacientes con mordida cruzada posterior unilateral que acudieron para posible tratamiento ortodóncico, comparando la altura y el ancho mandibular de ambos cóndilos. Métodos: Se midieron las anchuras y alturas condilares derechas e izquierdas en 42 ortopantomografías de pacientes infantiles de siete, ocho y nueve años, de ambos sexos, utilizando el método de Habets. Resultados: No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas, respecto al género y tipo de dentición, tanto en la altura como en la anchura condilar en la muestra compuesta por 42 pacientes. Conclusiones: No observamos la existencia de asimetría del cóndilo en el que se desarrolla la mordida cruzada posterior en relación al contralateral en los grupos de edad estudiados

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of asymmetry of the mandibular condyle in patients with a unilateral posterior crossbite who came for possible orthodontic treatment, comparing the mandibular height and width of both condyles. Methods: Right and left condyle widths and heights were measured in 42 orthopantomographies of seven, eight and nine year old children of both sexes, using the Habets method. Results: No statistically significant differences were found regarding gender and type of dentition, both in the height and in the condylar width in the sample composed of 42 patients. Conclusions: We did not observe the asymmetry of the condyle in which the posterior crossbite was developed in relation to the contralateral bite in the age groups studied

Better sexual acceptability of agomelatine (25 and 50 mg) compared with paroxetine (20 mg) in healthy male volunteers. An 8-week, placebo-controlled study using the PRSEXDQ-SALSEX scale.

Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common and underestimated effect of antidepressants. Healthy volunteers are the most adequate group to study this adverse event avoiding influence of depression itself. Sexual acceptability of agomelatine (a melatonergic agonist and 5HT(2C) antagonist) paroxetine and placebo by using the Psychotropic-Related Sexual Dysfunction Salamanca Sex Questionnaire (PRSEXDQ-SALSEX) was explored. A total of 92 healthy male volunteers were randomised to agomelatine (25 or 50 mg), paroxetine 20 mg or placebo for 8 weeks. SD, defined as at least one sexual impairment in one of the following PRSEXDQ-SALSEX items (decreased libido, delayed orgasm/ejaculation, anorgasmia/no ejaculation and erectile dysfunction), was evaluated at baseline and after 2, 4 and 8 weeks. At the last post-baseline assessment, SD was significantly lower in each agomelatine group (22.7% on 25 mg and 4.8% on 50 mg) than in the paroxetine group (85.7%; p < 0.0001). In the placebo group, 8.7% of volunteers reported a SD. The percentages of volunteers with moderate or severe SD were 4.5% for agomelatine 25 mg, 4.8% for agomelatine 50 mg, 61.9% for paroxetine 20 mg and 0% in the placebo group (p < or = 0.0001 agomelatine versus paroxetine). There is a much lower risk of having SD with agomelatine than paroxetine in healthy male volunteers, which confirms the better sexual acceptability profile of agomelatine compared with the SSRIs.

[Infection of the urinary tract, its association with local predisposing factors]. / Infección de vías urinarias; su asociación con factores predisponentes locales.

A total of 167 cases of children with the diagnosis of urinary infection seen through the last five at the Hospital Infantil de México were studied with the purpose of investigating the frequency of the association of obstructive urologic malformations or vesicoureteral reflux with urinary infection and their role in the infection. Out of this number, there were 127 cases with urologic malformations, especially of the upper urinary tract. The most frequent symptoms were enuresis, lumbar pain and hematuria. Out of this group, 53 patients (41%) showed recurrent infections in contrast with only 4 out of 40 cases (10%) without malformation. Out of 167 cases, 64 recovered: 30 of the total of 40 who showed no malformations and only 34 out of 127 with malformations. Twelve cases in this group showed chronic renal insuficiency as final outcome, but none of the patients without malformation followed this course. Analysis of this clinical material shows a high incidence of urologic malformations in patients complaining of urinary infection which has an important role in mortality and lethality of this process. Thus, it is concluded that obstructive uropathy must be investigated in every case of urinary infection, especially if enuresis, lumbar pain or hematuria are present.