Removal of Phenolic Compounds from Water Using Copper Ferrite Nanosphere Composites as Fenton Catalysts

The authors affiliated to the University of Jaén (Department of Inorganic and Organic Chemistry) acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and from FEDER (Project CTQ2016-80978-C2-1-R). L. Mateus thanks the Asociación Universitaria Iberoamericana de Postgrado (AUIP) and University of Jaén for their grant and financial support.Copper ferrites containing Cu+ ions can be highly active heterogeneous Fenton catalysts due to synergic effects between Fe and Cu ions. Therefore, a method of copper ferrite nanosphere (CFNS) synthesis was selected that also permits the formation of cuprite, obtaining a CFNS composite that was subsequently calcined up to 400 °C. Composites were tested as Fenton catalysts in the mineralization of phenol (PHE), p-nitrophenol (PNP) and p-aminophenol (PAP). Catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and magnetic measurements. Degradation of all phenols was practically complete at 95% total organic carbon (TOC) removal. Catalytic activity increased in the order PHE < PNP < PAP and decreased when the calcination temperature was raised; this order depended on the electronic effects of the substituents of phenols. The as-prepared CFNS showed the highest catalytic activity due to the presence of cubic copper ferrite and cuprite. The Cu+ surface concentration decreased after calcination at 200 °C, diminishing the catalytic activity. Cuprite alone showed a lower activity than the CFNS composite and the homogeneous Fenton reaction had almost no influence on its overall activity. CFNS activity decreased with its reutilization due to the disappearance of the cuprite phase. Degradation pathways are proposed for the phenols.This research was funded by Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness and FEDER (grant number CTQ2016-80978-C2-1-R), Asociación Universitaria Iberoamericana de Postgrado (AUIP) and University of Jaén

Colombian consensus on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of candida Spp. disease in children and adults

La Candidiasis Invasora (CI) y la candidemia, como su manifestación más frecuente, se ha convertido en la principal causa de micosis oportunista a nivel hospitalario. Este manuscrito realizado por miembros de la Asociación Colombiana de Infectología (ACIN), tuvo como objetivo proporcionar un conjunto de recomendaciones para manejo, seguimiento y prevención de la CI/candidemia y de la infección candidiásica de mucosas, en población adulta, pediátrica y neonatal, en un entorno hospitalario, incluyendo las unidades hemato-oncológicas y unidades de cuidado crítico. Todos los datos obtenidos mediante una búsqueda exhaustiva, fueron revisados y analizados de manera amplia por todos los miembros del grupo, y las recomendaciones emitidas se elaboraron luego de la evaluación de la literatura científica disponible, y el consenso de todos los especialistas involucrados, reconociendo el problema de la emergencia de las infecciones por Candida Spp. y brindando una correcta orientación a los profesionales de la salud sobre el manejo de pacientes con enfermedad candidiásica, de una forma racional y práctica, enfatizando en la evaluación del paciente, estrategias de diagnóstico, profilaxis, tratamiento empírico, tratamiento dirigido y terapia preventiva.Invasive Candidiasis (IC) and candidemia (as its most frequent manifestation) have become the main cause of opportunistic mycosis at hospital settings. This study, made by members of the Colombian Association of Infectious Diseases (ACIN), was aimed at providing a set of recommendations for the management, follow-up and prevention of IC / candidemia and mucous membrane candida infection in adult, pediatric and neonatal patients in a hospital setting, including the hemato-oncological and critical care units. All the data obtained through an exhaustive search were reviewed and analyzed in a comprehensive manner by all the members of the group, and the recommendations issued are being made after a careful review of the scientific literature available and the consensus of all specialists involved; the emergence of Candida Spp. problem is highlighted and a correct orientation to health professionals regarding the management of patients with candidiasis is provided in a rational and practical way, emphasizing patient evaluation, diagnostic strategies, prophylaxis, empirical treatment, directed treatment and preventative therap

Mycotic Spondylodiscitis

Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 43 años con antecedentes de síndrome de Cushing, candidemia previa y terapia de suplencia con esteroides que ingresó con dolor lumbar, condemostración radiográfica de deformidad vertebral y compromiso discal. Tenía evidencia microbiológica de C. albicans. Se discute la epidemiología, microbiología, cuadro clínico y tratamiento de las discitis por especies de Candida.Q3Artículo original1-6We present the case of a 43 year old woman with a past history of Cushing’s syndrome, steroidtherapy and candidemia. She entered with lumbar pain and radiological demonstration ofvertebral deformity and discal compromise was shown. There was microbiological evidence of C.albicans infection. We discuss the epidemiology, micro-biology, clinical picture and treatmen offungal discitis

Editorial : Cosechando los éxitos del pasado y asumiendo nuevos retos

Nuevo Comité Editorial: cosechando los éxitos del pasado y asumiendo nuevos retos. En este año se completan 9 volúmenes de la revista Infectio. Este gran logro ha sido posible gracias al tesón y al trabajo arduo de quienes fueron sus fundadores, de los posteriores integrantes del comité editorial, de los evaluadores y, principalmente, de aquellas personas que decidieron compartir y divulgar su trabajo en nuestra revista.Q3Editorial5-

The analytic hierarchy process to support decision-making processes in infrastructure projects with social impact

There is an increasing awareness among all kinds of organisations (in business,government and civil society) about the benefits of jointly working with stakeholders to satisfy both their goals and the social demands placed upon them. This is particularly the case within corporate social responsibility (CSR) frameworks. In this regard, multi-criteria tools for decision-making like the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) described in the paper can be useful for the building relationships with stakeholders. Since these tools can reveal decision-maker’s preferences, the integration of opinions from various stakeholders in the decision-making process may result in better and more innovative solutions with significant shared value. This paper is based on ongoing research to assess the feasibility of an AHP-based model to support CSR decisions in large infrastructure projects carried out by Red Electrica de España, the sole transmission agent and operator of the Spanishelectricity system

Hepatitis B vaccine in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection

La infección por virus de hepatitis B (VHB) representa un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial, especialmente entre las personas infectadas con el VIH, en quienes la coinfección modifica el curso y la historia natural de la enfermedad, así como la morbimortalidad, lo cual hace imperativo diseñar estrategias encaminadas a la prevención de la infección por VHB en pacientes infectados con VIH. La vacunación constituye la forma más importante de prevención, aunque su efectividad se ve alterada, de acuerdo al estado inmunológico y virológico del paciente.26-33Hepatitis B is a public health problem in the entire world, mainly among HIV infected people in whom the coinfection change the course, natural history and morbi-mortality of the disease. Because of this, it is imperative to design strategies to prevent hepatitis B infection in HIV patients. Vaccination is the most important tool for prevention, although its efficacy varies according to immunologic and virologic status of the patient

P1917 Antiretrovirals adverse reactions from a prospective HIV AIDS cohort study in Bogotá, Colombia

Comunicación breves550Background: Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR), lead not just to a high percentage of therapy abandonment, but also to a poor adherence to treatment instructions resulting in failure of therapy. The purpose of this study was to show the relation between the use of drugs and ADRs, their impact on treatment and the severity of reaction as defined by the DAIDS scale

Mercados municipales de Zapopan

Documento final del Proyecto de Aplicación Profesional en el que se presenta una investigación realizada en tres mercados del ayuntamiento de Zapopan: San Isidro, Francisco Sarabia y Tesistán. El objetivo de la investigación fue identificar las problemáticas, hacer propuestas y colaborar en la planeación de estrategias para mejorar las condiciones de los mercados y lograr un impacto positivo que se vea reflejado en las ventas. Para la investigación, se visitaron los mercados y se aplicaron encuestas a los locatarios, consumidores y administradores. La muestra que se usó para sacar el número de encuestas fue infinita con un nivel de confianza del 90 por ciento y un índice de error del 5 por ciento. En este proyecto trabajaron alumnos de las licenciaturas en Mercadotecnia, Administración de Empresas y Administración Financiera.ITESO, A.C

Melioidosis en Colombia, descripción de un caso clínico y consideraciones epidemiológicas

Melioidosis is an infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei whose clinical diagnosis can be difficult due not only to its varied clinical presentation but also to the difficulties in the microbiological diagnosis.Thus, it may be necessary to use molecular techniques for its proper identification once it is suspected.There are few antibiotics available for the treatment of this disease, which must be used over a long period of time. Although it is known to be endemic in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Australia, in Colombia there are few reported cases.We describe a case of melioidosis in the northern region of Colombia. Additionally, we review its clinical characteristics and treatment and we describe the local epidemiology of this disease.La melioidosis es una enfermedad infecciosa causada por Burkholderia pseudomallei cuyo diagnóstico clínico puede ser difícil debido a su variada presentación clínica y a las dificultades del diagnóstico microbiológico, por lo cual pueden requerirse técnicas moleculares para su adecuada identificación una vez se sospecha su presencia.Son pocos los antibióticos disponibles para el tratamiento de esta enfermedad y, además, deben usarse durante un tiempo prolongado. Aunque se conoce por ser endémica en Tailandia, Malasia, Singapur, Vietnam y Australia, en Colombia se han reportado algunos pocos casos.Se presenta un caso de melioidosis en la región norte de Colombia, se hace una revisión de las características clínicas y el tratamiento, y se describe la epidemiología local de esta enfermedad

Community-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Colombia

Q1Cartas al editor2000-2001To the Editor: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an established nosocomial pathogen worldwide but more recently has emerged as a highly virulent organism in the community, particularly in the United States (1–3). In Latin America, community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) has only been described in the southern area of the continent (Uruguay and Brazil) (4,5). No reports from the Andean region are available. We describe 2 cases of CA-MRSA causing soft-tissue infections (1 severe) in Colombia