Dynamics of an Oligotrophic Bacterial Aquifer Community during Contact with a Groundwater Plume Contaminated with Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes: an In Situ Mesocosm Study{dagger}

An in situ mesocosm system was designed to monitor the in situ dynamics of the microbial community in polluted aquifers. The mesocosm system consists of a permeable membrane pocket filled with aquifer material and placed within a polypropylene holder, which is inserted below groundwater level in a monitoring well. After a specific time period, the microcosm is recovered from the well and its bacterial community is analyzed. Using this system, we examined the effect of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) contamination on the response of an aquifer bacterial community by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes and PCR detection of BTEX degradation genes. Mesocosms were filled with nonsterile or sterile aquifer material derived from an uncontaminated area and positioned in a well located in either the uncontaminated area or a nearby contaminated area. In the contaminated area, the bacterial community in the microcosms rapidly evolved into a stable community identical to that in the adjacent aquifer but different from that in the uncontaminated area. At the contaminated location, bacteria with tmoA- and xylM/xylE1-like BTEX catabolic genotypes colonized the aquifer, while at the uncontaminated location only tmoA-like genotypes were detected. The communities in the mesocosms and in the aquifer adjacent to the wells in the contaminated area consisted mainly of Proteobacteria. At the uncontaminated location, Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were found. Our results indicate that communities with long-term stability in their structures follow the contamination plume and rapidly colonize downstream areas upon contaminatio

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Biologicka rozlozitelnost substituovanych alifatickych aminu

The dissertation thesis deals with ethylendiamine (ED) N-derivatives biodegradability using mixed culture of activated sludge. ED and namely its N-carboxymethylderivatives tend to form extremely stable coordination compounds with most metal ions, so called &quot;chelates&quot;. Ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) is the most important N-derivative of ED from the economical point of view. In natural ecosystems and conventional treatment plants EDTA is biologically non-degradable. This work was aimed to find the relation between chemical structure of the substance and biodegradability of complexing agents on ED basis, including EDTA. Biodegradability of ED and its selected N-ethyl-, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-and N-carboxymethylderivatives was studied with use of mixed microorganisms culture of activated sludge. Derivatives were gradually approaching to EDTA in terms of the substitution range and characteristics of substituents. The influence of adaptation period and mean cells retention time of microorganisms of activated sludge (sludge age) on the biodegradation degree and rate of individual ED N-derivatives was also studied. Biodegradability of ED N-derivatives generally decreases with increasing substitution range in the molecule. In case of fully substituted ED N-derivatives biodegradability decreases in order of substituents: ethyl-&gt;(2-hydroxyethyl)-&gt;N-carboxymethyl-. ED and all its N-ethylderivatives are biologically degradable. ED, N-ethylED (EED) and N,N-diethylED (N,N-DEED) are readily biodegradable by non-adapted activated sludge. N,N'-diethylED (N,N'-DEED) and N,N,N',N'-tetraethylED (TEED) are potentionally biodegradable by adapted activated sludge with sludge age of 10 days or higher. General decrease of biodegradability with increasing substitution range of ED corresponds to the relation of ED substitution range to chemical oxidation of ED N-ethylderivatives. Substitutution range of N-hydroxyethylderivatives is also the cause of N,N,N',N'-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)ED (THEED) stability and worse biodegradation characteristics of N,N',-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ED (BHEED). N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ED (HEED) is readily biodegradable by non-adapted activated sludge. EDTA and N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine-N,N,N',-triacetic acid (HEDTA) stability demonstrate the influence of substitution range in case of N-carboxymethyl- derivatives. Ethylenediamine-N,N'-diacetic acid (EDDA) is degradable after adaptation of activated sludge with sludge age of 5 days or higher, which is important from the view of its strong chelating capacity and thus possible replacement of EDTAAvailable from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi

Acceptability and Feasibility of a Return-to-Work Intervention for Posttreatment Breast Cancer Survivors: Protocol for a Co-design and Development Study

BackgroundThe mortality rate from breast cancer has been declining for many years, and the population size of working-age survivors is steadily increasing. However, the recurrent side effects of cancer and its treatment can result in multiple disabilities and disruptions to day-to-day life, including work disruptions. Despite the existing knowledge of best practices regarding return to work (RTW) for breast cancer survivors, only a few interdisciplinary interventions have been developed to address the individualized needs and multiple challenges of breast cancer survivors, health care professionals, and employer and insurer representatives. Thus, it seems appropriate to develop RTW interventions collaboratively by using a co-design approach with these specific stakeholders. ObjectiveThis paper presents a protocol for developing and testing an innovative, interdisciplinary pilot intervention based on a co-design approach to better support RTW and job retention after breast cancer treatment. MethodsFirst, a participatory research approach will be used to develop the intervention in a co-design workshop with 12 to 20 participants, including people affected by cancer, employer and insurer representatives, and health care professionals. Next, a pilot intervention will be tested in a primary care setting with 6 to 8 women affected by breast cancer. The acceptability and feasibility of the pilot intervention will be pretested through semistructured interviews with participants, health care professionals, and involved patient partners. The transcribed data will undergo an iterative content analysis. ResultsThe first phase of the project—the co-design workshop—was completed in June 2021. The pilot test of the intervention will begin in spring 2022. The results from the test will be available in late 2022. ConclusionsThe project will offer novel data regarding the use of the co-design approach for the development of innovative, co-designed interventions. In addition, it will be possible to document the acceptability and feasibility of the pilot intervention with a primary care team. Depending on the results obtained, the intervention could be implemented on a larger scale. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/3700

Balade patrimoniale en médecine, pharmacie et sciences biomédicales

Le lecteur est invité à une balade patrimoniale à la découverte d'ouvrages anciens et précieux couvrant les domaines de la médecine, de la pharmacie et des sciences biomédicales. Parmi ces trésors, on peut pointer une édition grecque de 1538 d'Hippocrate, un ouvrage d’exception en couleurs de 1549 de Dioscoride, deux atlas d’anatomie à feuillets mobiles, de très beaux ouvrages de botanique médicale, etc. Grâce à une iconographie variée et grâce aux commentaires rédigés pour la plupart par des membres de la Faculté de Médecine, le lecteur pourra notamment se rendre compte des progrès considérables qui ont été réalisés dans divers secteurs de la santé. Un beau livre richement illustré, pour toute personne désireuse de s’informer sur la médecine d’autrefois. Ce catalogue, complément à l’exposition Quand la médecine rencontre son patrimoine (18 novembre 2017 - 31 janvier 2018) est le fruit d’une collaboration entre la Bibliothèque Universitaire Moretus Plantin (BUMP) et la Faculté de Médecine de l’Université de Namur