Study of the potential valorization of metal contaminated Salix via phytoextraction by combustion

International audiencePhytoextraction is an emerging technology to remediate soils and sediments contaminated with trace elements. In the particular case of dredged sediment landfill sites contaminated with metals, phytoextraction may contribute to the management scheme of sediments and to the revaluation of certain land-disposed contaminated sediments. In this study, rapidly growing trees (willows) were cultivated in short rotation coppice (SRC) on a metal contaminated dredged sediment landfill site to produce biomass for heat and financial return. Three willow clones were planted on 4.5 hectares of this disposal site to assess phytoextraction efficiency and biomass production. Two combustion assays were performed in a biomass boiler of 30 KW, the first one with Salix Zn and Cd enriched wood harvested from the SRC and the second one with Salix wood bought at a wood producer (control). Combustibles, ashes and gases were analyzed to study trace element behaviour during the combustion process. For phytoextraction efficiency, best results are obtained when exportation of both stems and leaves are carried out. The most optimistic scenario led to a reduction of the total Cd content of the sediment from 3.16 to 2 mg kg -1 in 23 years. Due to boiling points, Cd and Zn were more found in fumes than in ashes. According to current regulation, Salix wood issued from phytoextraction should be used for non-domestic purpose, in industrial or collective boilers equipped with efficient filters

Response letter to “Latent class analysis of 216 patients with adult-onset Still’s disease” by Sugiyama et al.

Abstract Sugiyama et al. recently described in “Latent class analysis of 216 patients with adult-onset Still’s disease,” baseline characteristics, laboratory tests, treatment, relapse, and death of adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) patients from a Japanese hospital. They identified two subgroups: Class 1 (n=155) with a younger age and typical symptoms of AOSD and Class 2 (n=61) with older patients and fewer typical symptoms of AOSD. In 2022, VEXAS (vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome, an established X-linked disease associated with a somatic mutation in UBA1, is considered as a differential diagnosis for AOSD particularly in elderly. These patients from Class 2 could benefit from more explorations for mild myelodysplasia and VEXAS

Les propositions de réforme du 118e congrès des notaires

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Fingerprinting approach to trace sedimentary and contaminant sources in a canalized section of the Scheldt river (Northern France) for watershed management

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Traçage de sources sédimentaires et de contaminants dans une section canalisée de l’Escaut : le bief Denain-Trith (Hauts-de-France)

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Correspondence on “Safety of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases: results from the EULAR Coronavirus Vaccine (COVAX) physician-reported registry” by Machado et al

We read with great interest the article by Machado et al who describe safety of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease. 1 The authors observed that vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 is well tolerated with rare report of I-RMD flare and very rare reports of serious adverse events. We observed that the authors included only 27 patients with autoinflammatory diseases. We thus propose to complete their observation with the result of our study about 190 patients with autoinflammatory disease (AID). A web survey assessing adverse effects after COVID-19 vaccination was sent on 7-30 June 2021 to patients with AID followed in the French national adult AID reference centre, and already included in the Juvenile Inflammatory Rheumatism (JIR) cohort. The patients were asked whether they had received a COVID-19 vaccination, the type of vaccine and number of injections. Severe adverse events were defined by the need for hospitalisation. Local reaction, fever, headache, arthralgia, myalgia, allergic reaction, fatigue, nausea, adenopathy, heart disorder, venous thromboembolism and stroke were monitored after the first and the second injection. The survey was sent by email to 445 patients with AID: 225 (50%) patients answered it, 168 aged between 18 and 55 years old and 57 aged above 55 years old. Among the 190 patients who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines (online supplemental table), most patients had familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) (n=128, 67.4%); other AID were undefined systemic AID (n=20), TNF-α receptor-associated periodic syndrome (n=13), cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (n=9), adult-onset still disease (n=9), mevalonate kinase deficiency (n=7) and A20 haploinsufficiency (n=4). Eleven patients declared also having AA amyloidosis (5.7%). Colchicine was the most used treatment (n=138, 72.6%); 37 (19.5%) patients were on biotherapy, mostly interleukin-1 inhibitors (n=33) and 15 patients were not taking any treatment. Forty-six patients had already contracted SARS-CoV-2. Out of the 190 (84.4%) vaccinated patients with AID, BNT162b2 (Pfizer/ BioNTech) (n=157, 82.6%) and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AstraZeneca) (n=22, 11.5%) were the most common vaccines; few patients received CX-024414 (Moderna) (n=11, 5.8%). Eighty-eight patients (46%) developed mild adverse events after the first injection and 70 patients (54%) after the second injection. Among the 153 patients who received BNT162b2, tenderness at the injection site was the most reported event (n=39, 25.5%); others were myalgia (n=28, 18.3%), fever (n=20, 13%) and headache (n=16, 10.5%). Concerning ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, reported events were fever (n=13, 59%), myalgia (n=11, 50%) and intense fatigue (n=2, 9%). Concerning CX-024414, four patients reported fever and myalgia (36%). No severe adverse event requiring hospitalisation has been reported. Twelve patients with FMF (9.3%) reported a mild flare after the first injection, which did not require hospitalisation. No vaccinated patient had developed COVID-19 after the second vaccine injection. Altogether, this study shows that adverse event of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with AID are similar to the expected adverse effects reported in the general population. 2 Especially among patients with FMF on colchicine treatment, the vaccine is very safe and should be highly recommended to patients with risk factors of severe COVID-19, since we previously reported death among such patients with FMF. 3 It also suggests that COVID-19 vaccination does not usually trigger an AID flare; these data were also reported in patients with autoimmune diseases 4 and AID. 5 To our knowledge, this is the largest study describing the effects of COVID-19 vaccination among patients with AID: the vaccine is well tolerated; these data combined with the results from Machado et al 1 could reassure patients displaying immune systemic disorders including AID patients who are still hesitant about COVID-19 vaccination, especially in the actual context of the resurgence of the epidemy

Algorithmes diagnostiques et thérapeutiques des maladies auto-inflammatoires monogéniques présentant des fièvres récurrentes chez l'adulte

International audienceAutoinflammatory diseases (AID) are defined as disorders of innate immunity. They were initially defined in contrast to autoimmune diseases because of the lack of involvement of the adaptive immune system and circulating autoantibodies. The 4 monogenic AIDs first described are called the "historical" AIDs and include: Familial Mediterranean Fever (associated with MEFV mutations), cryopyrinopathies (associated with NLRP3 mutations), Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-associated Periodic Syndrome (associated with TNFRSF1A mutations) and Mevalonate Kinase Deficiency (associated with MVK mutations). In the last 10 years, more than 50 new monogenic AIDs have been discovered due to genetic advances. The most important discovery for adult patients is VEXAS syndrome associated with somatic UBA1 mutations leading to an autoinflammatory disease affecting mostly elderly men. Diagnosis of monogenic AIDs is based on personal and family history and detailed analysis of symptoms associated with febrile attacks, in the context of elevated peripheral inflammatory markers. This review proposes a practical approach of the diagnosis of the main monogenic AIDs among adult patients to guide the clinician

Traçage de sources sédimentaires et de contaminants dans une section canalisée de l’Escaut : le bief Denain-Trith (Hauts-de-France)

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Combustion of Salix used for phytoextraction : The fate of metals and viability of the processes

International audiencePhytoextraction may reduce the environmental risk posed by contaminated sediments while simultaneously providing an economic return via bioenergy production. There is a lack of information on the combustion of metal enriched willows used for phytoextraction. This work aimed to determine the Cd phytoextraction efficiency of Salix on a case study in France and elucidate the distribution of metals in the end products of the combustion process. Three willow clones were cultivated in short rotation coppice (SRC) on a metal contaminated dredged sediment landfill site. Combustion assays were performed in a biomass boiler of 40 kW with a Zn and Cd enriched Salix wood 'Tora' harvested from a part of the SRC and a commercial 'Tora', for comparison. In a best-case scenario, phytoextraction could reduce total Cd burden of the sediment from 2.39 mg kg-1 DW to 2 mg kg-1 DW in 19 years. Combustion experiments showed that Cd and Zn occurred at the highest concentrations in the particulate fraction of the flue gas (flyash), rather than in the bottom ash. Combustion of 'Tora' from phytoextraction resulted in Cd and Zn concentrations in flue gas emissions that exceeded French regulation. This was also observed for Cd in the flue gas of the commercial 'Tora'. Irrespective of the wood provenance, the use of industrial or collective boilers, equipped with efficient filters, is required to minimize air pollution. Given this constraint, wood produced during phytoextraction should be usable for bioenergy production. The possible uses of bottom ash are discussed