Fate of glyphosate and its metabolite AminoMethylPhosponic acid (AMPA) from point source through wastewater sludge and advanced treatment.

peer reviewedThe fate of glyphosate and its metabolite AminoMethylPhosponic acid (AMPA) was followed at the catchment of the Sûre river, mainly characterized by small population density and small and medium-sized wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). A high concentration of AMPA was found in water samples collected in inlet from different wastewater streams, the industry being the main contributor, while glyphosate resulted mainly in domestic origin. The two molecules were also monitored in the anaerobic digestion as in the supernatant produced after centrifugation (reject water). A total of 0.0713 and 2.24 g/d of glyphosate and AMPA respectively were regularly returned to the activated sludge tank (AST) indicating a 20% impact of the sludge management line on the global wastewater mass balance. Finally, the use of Constructed Wetlands (CWs) in Vertical Flow (VF) configuration was tested as a suitable technology to retain both glyphosate and AMPA (90 and up to 50% elimination respectively) and minimize their discharge into surface water.R-AGR-3132 - EmiSure - part UL (01/01/2017 - 31/12/2020) - HANSEN Joachim6. Clean water and sanitatio

Aquariums et mycobacterioses

Mycobacterium infections are increasingly reported in fish fanciers who keep an aquarium. Inoculation occurs on abraded skin after an incubation period of 2 to 3 weeks. Clinically papulo-nodules, ulcers or verrucous plaques develop. These may progress into sporotrichoid lesions or into deeper infections involving tendons and bone. Cultural identification is obtained by biopsy specimen at low temperature (30-33°C). Faster identification may be performed by polymerase chain reaction. Histopathologic examination is characterized by a nonspecific inflammatory infiltrate in the acute phase. In chronic lesions the histopathologic pattern is a tuberculoidlike granuloma. No absolute consensus has been reached for the treatment but generally it is started with minocycline. Other antibiotics (cotrimoxazole, quinolones, clarithromycine, ethambutol in association) have made their proof.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

DRESS syndrome associated with HHV-6 reactivation.

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a serious condition associated with drugs. We report the case of a patient with a febrile skin eruption associated with eosinophilia and hepatitis following drug intake. Serological testing for human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) was positive. Skin biopsy was compatible with DRESS syndrome. Despite discontinuation of all medications and initiating of corticosteroids, the patient developed acute renal and cardiac failure leading to death. Diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment are discussed.JOURNAL ARTICLEinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Pulse steroid therapy for children's severe Alopecia areata?

Seven children with severe, rapidly evolving alopecia areata (AA) were treated with pulse Steroid therapy (PST). AA had been present for 3-44 weeks and involved more than 30% of the scalp. One patient had alopecia totalis. Intravenous methylprednisolone (5 mg/kg twice a day) administered for 3 days. No serious side effects were noted. At the 12-month follow-up, complete regrowth had occurred in 5 patients (71%). The patient with alopecia totalis had no regrowth. PST appears to be a promising and safe treatment for extensive, recent-onset AA in children. No response is to be expected in alopecia totalis or long-standing AA.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Assessing the impact of micropollutants mitigation measures using vertical flow constructed wetlands for municipal wastewater catchments in the greater region: a reference case for rural areas

The present research aims at giving an approach to the issue of surface water contamination due to micropollutants in rural areas. The catchment of the Sûre river was selected as a reference case for the Greater Region, characterized mainly by settlements with low population density, small water bodies and small- to medium-sized wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). For these WWTPs, conventional technical solutions for micropollutants elimination are not suitable; therefore, an adapted mitigation strategy is needed to prevent the impact of micropollutants, especially during the dry season. As a suitable alternative to more intensive technologies, Constructed Wetlands (CW) in Vertical Flow (VF) configuration have been successfully tested over one-year period and the elimination rate of 27 micropollutants was quantified. Emission reduction by VF was then considered in a static mass balance model that calculates the longitudinal concentrations profile for the entire river catchment. The EmiSûre approach which focuses on river quality (concentrations of pollutants) instead of emitted loads, effectively allowed to simulate adopted measures a priori and resulted efficient to support decision-makers with WWTPs upgrade scenarios

Reversal of the adult IgE high responder phenotype in mice by maternally transferred allergen-specific monoclonal IgG antibodies during a sensitive period in early ontogeny

IgE is an important trigger in allergy and asthma, diseases whose development is suggested to depend on an initial sensitization in early life. While induction of murine IgE responses requires both a genetically based IgE high responder phenotype and defined experimental conditions, maternally transferred IgG can override these prerequisites and suppress IgE formation in an allergen-specific manner. Here, we show that maternally transferred monoclonal IgG, irrespective of their subclass and recognized epitopes, induce IgE unresponsiveness, which is effective for parenteral immunization with bee venom phospholipase A² as well as for airway-immunization with nebulized ovonnucoid-containing ovalbumin. This IgE suppression is detectable in the offspring during the first 4 months of life, but not thereafter and not in the dams. However, when the initial immunization at an age of 3 or 4 months was followed by further application of both allergens via their respective routes, IgE suppression persisted up to an age of more than one year. If applicable to man, these findings may allow the development of a new strategy for the prevention of allergy and asthma by maternally transferred or neonatally injected allergen-specific mAb in combination with natural or prophylactic exposure to the respective allergens during early childhood