Investigations of geopolymeric mixtures based on phosphate washing waste

The extraction of the phosphate ore produces a high amount of waste causing serious environmental problems. This waste, termed as phosphate washing waste, was filtered and dried at 105 °C for 24 h to remove the water. The dried waste was milled and then sieved in a 100 ?m sieve. The resulting phosphates washing waste (PWW) particles size are below 70 ?m. The phosphate washing waste was calcined at 700 °C and 900 °C. Both calcined and uncalcined waste were investigated with X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray powder diffraction (DRX), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), simultaneous differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses (DTA-TG) and particle size analysis. This waste was activated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and sodium silicate in order to produce geopolymeric materials. The influence of replacing PWW by 15% of metakaolin was also study. The results show that the highest compressive strength is obtained with metakaolin. The results also showed that compressive strength decreased with the increase of NaOH concentration.Gafsa Phosphate Company “CPG Tunisia” for providing us the phosphate washing waste sample and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the finance of the project UID/ECI/04047/2013info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Acute left ventricular dysfunction secondary to right ventricular septal pacing in a woman with initial preserved contractility: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Right ventricular apical pacing-related heart failure is reported in some patients after long-term pacing. The exact mechanism is not yet clear but may be related to left ventricular dyssynchrony induced by right ventricular apical pacing. Right ventricular septal pacing is thought to deteriorate left ventricular function less frequently because of a more normal left ventricular activation pattern.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report the case of a 55-year-old Tunisian woman with preserved ventricular function, implanted with a dual-chamber pacemaker for complete atrioventricular block. Right ventricular septal pacing induced a major ventricular dyssynchrony, severe left ventricular ejection fraction deterioration and symptoms of congestive heart failure. Upgrading to a biventricular device was associated with a decrease in the symptoms and the ventricular dyssynchrony, and an increase of left ventricular ejection fraction.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Right ventricular septal pacing can induce reversible left ventricular dysfunction and heart failure secondary to left ventricular dyssynchrony. This complication remains an unpredictable complication of right ventricular septal pacing.</p

Adult aortic coarctation discovered incidentally after the rupture of sinus of Valsalva aneurysm: combined surgical and interventional approach

Combination of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SVA), and a coexisting asymptomatic adult aortic isthmic coarctation is extremely rare. The timing and sequence of surgical and/or interventional repair of these two pathologies are controversial. We present a case of a 37-year-old male who was admitted to our department because of severe acute congestive heart failure and signs of ruptured aneurysm of the SV into the right ventricle. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography confirmed the communication between an important right coronary SVA and right ventricle, bicuspid aortic valve, mild aortic regurgitation, and revealed severe aortic coarctation. Because of the severe dilation of right sinus of Valsalva a surgical repair of the ruptured aneurysm was performed. Aortic coarctation was treated four weeks later by a percutaneous stent-graft implantation. This case report supports the concept that hybrid approach is feasible in patients with ruptured SVA and aortic coarctation in adulthood. (C) 2011 Published by European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved

Successful pregnancies after transvenous cardiac resynchronization therapy in a woman with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries

Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries is a rare heart defect that can be associated with systemic ventricular dysfunction and conduction disturbances. The use of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with congenital heart disease is not fully established, and achievement of successful pregnancies after implantation of transvenous, biventricular system has never been described, and which resulted in a significant clinical improvement. We describe a 33-year-old female with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, who achieved six pregnancies and successful vaginal deliveries. The two last pregnancies were achieved after cardiac resynchronization therapy for systemic ventricular dysfunction and complete heart block. A congenital cardiac disease has been identified in only one offspring

Isolated lip involvement in psoriasis: an uncommon aspect of a common dermatologic condition

Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that typically affects the extremities, trunk, scalp, and nails. Psoriatic cheilitis as an exclusive presentation is very rare and to our knowledge, only 6 cases have been reported to date. The absence of cutaneous lesions causes diagnostic difficulties that can result in misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. Observation: We reported the case of a 21-year-old woman with a seven years history of scaly plaques of the vermillion of the lips as the only disease manifestation. Her cheilitis was associated with significant psychiatric morbidity. Oral biopsy showed a psoriasiform pattern. Local applications of betamethasone was proposed. Discussion: Although lip psoriasis is extremely rare, it can be the sole presentation of psoriasis even in the absence of accompanying skin lesions, other oral manifestations or a family history of psoriasis. Conclusion: Lip psoriasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic or recurrent treatment-resistant labial lesions

Prevalence of Brugada-type ECG pattern and early ventricular repolarization pattern in Tunisian athletes

Sana Ouali1, Helmi Ben Salem1, Sami Hammas1, Elyes Neffeti1, Fahmi Remedi1, Abdallah Mahdhaoui2, Essia Boughzela1, Rafik Mankai31Department of Cardiology, Sahloul Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia; 2Department of Cardiology, Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia; 3Central Sports Medicine Centre of El Menzah, TunisiaIntroduction: No data regarding the prevalence of the Brugada-type electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern and the early ventricular repolarization pattern (ERP) in the North African population were available. The aims of this study were to determine the frequency of Brugada-type ECG pattern and ERP in Tunisia and to evaluate ECG descriptors of ventricular repolarization in a population of athletes.Methods: Over a 2-year period, resting 12-lead ECG recordings were analyzed from athletes (n = 540; 348 males; age 18.3 &amp;plusmn; 2.4 years). Brugada-type ECG pattern was defined as Type 1, 2, or 3, and ERP was characterized by an elevation of the J point in the inferior and/or lateral leads. The population was divided into three groups of athletes: ERP group; Brugada-type ECG pattern group; and control group, with neither ERP nor Brugada ECG pattern. Clinical and electrocardiographic parameters were compared among the study groups.Results: Nine subjects (1.66%) had a Brugada-type ECG pattern. None of them had the coved-type, 3 (0.6%) had the Type 2, and 6 (1.1%) had the Type 3. All subjects were asymptomatic. A Brugada-type ECG pattern was observed in seven males. No female had the Type 2 Brugada ECG pattern. ECG parameters were similar among Brugada-type ECG pattern and control athletes. ERP (119 subjects, 22%) was obtained in 98 males. Heart rate was lower, the QRS duration shorter and QT and Tpeak&amp;ndash;Tend intervals were longer in ERP than control groups.Conclusion: The results indicate that the frequency of the Brugada-type ECG pattern and ERP were respectively 1.66% and 22.00% in athletes, being more prevalent in males. The ERP group experienced shorter QRS duration and longer Tpeak&amp;ndash;Tend interval than in the control population.Keywords: J wave, ERP athletes, T wav