A Case of Acute Myocarditis and Rhabdomyolysis after a Scorpion Sting

WOS: 000392193000004Introduction: Scorpion stings continue to be a current public health problem in tropical regions of the world. Local effects are usually seen, but fatal cardiovascular complications may occur, albeit rarely, from scorpion stings. The purpose of this case is to emphasize that rhabdomyolysis and myocarditis can occur in patients admitted to a hospital with a scorpion sting. Case Report: A 30-year-old male patient presented to our emergency department (ED) with complaints of pain and redness in the bite site after being stung by a scorpion. His blood pressure was 180/100 mmHg and heart rate was 130/ min. Electrocardiography (ECG) showed a sinus tachycardia. Laboratory tests revealed the following values: creatinine: 1.71 mg/dL, creatinin kinase (CK): 2129 U/L, creatinin kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB): 43.24 ng/mL, and troponin: 22.59 ng/mL. After catheterization of the bladder, dark brown urine was seen. There were no pathological findings in coronary angiography, but the left ventricular ejection fraction was detected as 45%. The clinically stable patient was discharged on the fifth day of hospitalization. There were no abnormal findings in the latest tests of laboratory parameters. Conclusion: Scorpion stings can cause death due to toxic effects on the cardiovascular system. Observations for possible complications from a scorpion sting, such as the possibility of myocarditis, should be kept in mind in patients admitted to the ED with complaints of a scorpion sting

Pollutant footprint analysis for wastewater management in textile dye houses processing different fabrics

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the water and pollution footprints of a dye house, which processed cotton knits, polyester (PES) knits and PES-viscose woven fabrics. Experimental evaluation was carried out for each processing sequence. Variations in wastewater flow and quality were established as a function of the production program in the plant. A model evaluation of wastewater dynamics was performed and defined specifications of an appropriate treatment scheme. RESULTS: The plant was operated with a capacity of 4300 t year−1 of fabric, which generated a wastewater flow of 403 500m3 year−1 and a COD load of 675 t year−1. The overall wastewater footprint of the plant was computed as 91m3 t−1 and the COD footprint as 160 kg t−1 of fabric. Depending on the fabric type, results indicated expected changes in wastewater flow between 600 and 1750m3 day−1 in COD load between 1470 and 2260 kg day−1 and in COD concentration between 1290 and 3400mgL−1. CONCLUSION: A model simulation structured upon COD fractionation and related process kinetics revealed partial removal of slowly biodegradable COD, coupled with high residual COD, which would by-pass treatment. Resulting biodegradation characteristics necessitated an extended aeration system, which could also enable partial breakdown of residual COD. Effluent COD could be reduced to 220–320mgL−1 with this wastewater management strategy. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industr

Black Sea

The Black Sea is a deep (approx. 2200 m), semienclosed European basin with 87% of the volume being anoxic, which leads to several consequences for its biodiversity. Challenges due to climate changes as well as high anthropogenic impacts have led to intense study of the Black Sea’s environmental future. Although its area is only approximately 410,000 km2, the Black Sea receives drainage from almost one-third of continental Europe, and so it has hydrological inputs and influences from a huge area. It borders six countries with diverse climatic and socioeconomic circumstances. Its role in human activities dates back to the earliest times of European history, which partly explains the impacts it has received. Recent past periods of high eutrophication and overfishing of top predators are now a part of history, but they triggered a change in the Black Sea system to a new state that damaged its resilience. Previously, the whole sea was close to collapse, but today pressures have changed and now include invasive species, more limited fresh water input, global changes in atmospheric dynamics, and others that lead to unpredictable changes, which, along with human economic activities, make the future of the Black Sea the subject of intense scientific interest