Prevalence and severity of antipsychotic related constipation in patients with schizophrenia: a retrospective descriptive study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antipsychotic are the cornerstone in the treatment of schizophrenia. They also have a number of side-effects. Constipation is thought to be common, and a potential serious side-effect, which has received little attention in recent literature.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>We performed a retrospective study in consecutively admitted patients, between 2007 and 2009 and treated with antipsychotic medication, linking different electronic patient data to evaluate the prevalence and severity of constipation in patients with schizophrenia under routine treatment conditions.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Over a period of 22 months 36.3% of patients (99) received at least once a pharmacological treatment for constipation. On average medication for constipation was prescribed for 273 days. Severe cases (N = 50), non-responsive to initial treatment, got a plain x-ray of the abdomen. In 68.4% fecal impaction was found.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A high prevalence of constipation, often severe and needing medical interventions, was confirmed during the study period. Early detection, monitoring over treatment and early intervention of constipation could prevent serious consequences such as ileus.</p

SUPPLEMENTARY CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS COMPRISING DREDGED SEDIMENTS

The object of this invention is a supplementary cementitious material to be used in combination with an activator such as Portland cement to produce a hydraulic binder. The supplementary cementitious material is based on physico-chemically treated filter cake product extracted from dredged sediments and can partially replace Portland cement clinker in conventional concrete applications with positive effects on sustainability (reduction of CO2 emissions, upcycling of residues).status: publishe

Supplementary cementitious materials comprising dredged sediments

A supplementary cementitious material used in combination with an activator such as Portland cement to produce a hydraulic binder. The supplementary cementitious material is based on physico-chemically treated filter cake product extracted from dredged sediments and can partially replace Portland cement clinker in conventional concrete applications with positive effects on sustainability (reduction of CO2 emissions, upcycling of residues).status: publishe

BIND-AMOR: Reuse of dredged sediments as supplementary cementitious materials

© RILEM 2015 In the Port of Antwerp, 500.000 tonnes dry matter base (DM) of sediments need to be dredged each year to ensure the navigability of the waterways. Traditionally, these maintenance dredged sediments were disposed in settling ponds or underwater cells. However, due to near exhaustion of the existing storage capacity as well as the limited availability of new storage sites, an alternative, sustainable solution needed to be developed. Between 2008 and 2011, the state-ofthe- art treatment and storage facility AMORAS was realised by the Flemish Government represented by the Department of Mobility and Public Works (MOW), division Maritime Access. Since 2011, the AMORAS-installation treats up to 600.000 ton DM of sediments annually by mechanical dewatering with membrane filter presses. Pre-treatment steps include sand separation (63 μm cut-off hydrocyclones) and lime addition to enhance flocculation. The produced fine grained (< 63 μm) filter cakes have a dry matter content of minimally 60%, resulting in a significant volume decrease of the sediments as well as physical properties suitable for storage in an onsite landfill. To increase the operational lifetime of the storage facility, reuse of the non-contaminated filter cakes was considered. A strict separation between highly and marginally contaminated sediments is maintained throughout the process. Furthermore, the sediments are homogenized in differentsteps, resulting in a continuous supply of homogeneous filter cakes with a good environmental quality. As such, the fine fraction filter cakes of AMORAS are uniquely suited for valorisation. In the ongoing BIND-AMOR project, the potential of the filter cakes for the production of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) is investigated. The project is executed under the authority of the Flemish Government (MOW) by VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research), KU Leuven and FLSmidth.status: publishe