Contamination and restoration of an estuary affected by phosphogypsum releases

The Huelva Estuary in Huelva, Spain, has been one of the most studied environmental compartments in the past years from the point of view of naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) releases. It has been historically affected by waste releases, enriched in radionuclides from the U-decay series, from factories located in the area devoted to the production of phosphoric acid and phosphate fertilizers. Nevertheless, changes in national regulations forced a new waste management practice in 1998, prohibiting releases of phosphogypsum into the rivers. The input of natural radionuclides from phosphate factories to rivers was drastically reduced. Because of this there was a unique opportunity for the study of the response of a contaminated environmental compartment, specifically an estuary affected by tidal influences, after the cessation of the contaminant releases to, in this case, the Huelva Estuary (henceforth referred to as the Estuary). To investigate the environmental response to this new discharge regime, the specific activities of radionuclides 226Ra and 210Pb in water and sediment samples collected in four campaigns (from 1999 to 2005) were determined and compared with pre-1998 values. From this study it is possible to infer the most effective mechanisms of decontamination for the Estuary. Decontamination rates of 210Pb and 226Ra in the sediments and water have been calculated using exponential fittings and corresponding half-lives have been deduced from them. The cleaning half-life in the whole area of the Estuary is about 6 and 3.5 years for 226Ra and 210Pb respectively. The observed trend clearly shows that contamination of the Estuary by natural radionuclides is now decreasing and radioactive levels in waters and sediments are approaching the natural background references. This work attempts to evaluate whether it can be expected that the decontamination of the enhanced levels of natural radioactivity in the Estuary can be performed via natural processe

Malignant nerve sheath tumor involving glossopharyngeal, vagus and spinal nerve with intracranial-extracranial extension and systemic metastases in a patient with type 1 neurofibromatosis: A case report

AbstractIntroductionIntracranial malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are an extremely rare pathology with a high morbidity and mortality. Epidemiological, clinical and prognostic data are scarce and with little certainty in the literature. The aim of this paper is to report for first time in English literature, the case of a patient with type 1 neurofibromatosis, who presented a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor that involved the left glossopharyngeal, vagus and spinal nerves with intracranial and extracranial extension through jugular foramen and systemic metastases.Presentation of caseA 37 years-old female patient with malnutrition and Villaret́s syndrome. It was confirmed by brain magnetic resonance imaging and PET-CT the presence of a neoplasic lesion which was radiologically compatible with malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor with systemic metastases. Partial surgical resection was performed; the patient postoperative course was without significant clinical improvement but with added peripheral facial palsy. The patient did not accept adjuvant management because of personal reasons.Discussion and conclusionBehavior therapy is unclear due to the low frequency of the disease and the lack of case series, representing a challenge for the physician in its approach and a poor prognosis for the patient

Efecto del diluyente sobre calidad espermática del semen ovino refrigerado

Keeping the semen refrigerated allows it to be used for a longer time after obtaining the ejaculate. The objective of this work was to assess the effect of the type of sperm on sperm quality (motility, viability and acrosomal integrity) of refrigerated ovine semen. Four English Suffolk sheep with an average age of two years, weight and similar body condition were used. Semen was extracted once a week with an artificial vagina. After obtaining the ejaculates, the sperm quality was evaluated, the extenders were added and it was refrigerated at a temperature of 4°C. Motility, viability and acrosomal damage were assessed at 0, 2, 4 and 24 hours. It was found that the pH did not change during the 24 hours in the three diluents. Motility and viability were better in the triladyl base diluent for the duration of the experiment. However, the acrosomal integrity was better in the first two diluents. In conclusion, it can be said that the triladyl-based extender can present an alternative for refrigerated storage of ovine semen.La conservación del semen en refrigeración, permite utilizarlo por más tiempo después de la obtención del eyaculado. El objetivo de este trabajo fue valorar el efecto del tipo de sobre la calidad espermática (motilidad, viabilidad e integridad acrosomal) del semen ovino refrigerado. Se utilizaron cuatro borregos de raza Suffolk Inglés con una edad promedio de dos años, peso y condición corporal similar, se les extrajo semen una vez por semana con vagina artificial. Tras la obtención de los eyaculados, se evaluó la calidad espermática, se adicionaron los diluyentes y se refrigeró a una temperatura de 4° C. Se valoró motilidad, viabilidad y daño acrosomal a las  0, 2, 4 y 24 horas. Se encontró que el pH, no varío durantes las 24 horas en los tres diluyentes. La motilidad y viabilidad fueron mejores en el diluyente base triladyl durante la duración del experimento. Sin embargo, la integridad acrosomal fue mejor en los dos primeros diluyentes. En conclusión, se puede decir que el diluyente a base de triladyl, puede presentar una alternativa para la conservación del semen ovino en refrigeración

Effect of Oxidative Stress on Sperm Cells

Free radicals are unstable molecules that have an unpaired electron in their last orbital, which makes them highly unstable agents. In medicine, it has been discovered that they play an important role in cell signaling and without them some cells such as leukocytes or sperm could not perform their biological functions. To protect itself from these oxidizing agents, the cell has a defense system based on antioxidants; however, when this balance is lost and oxidizing agents exceed the cellular antioxidant capacity, the cell enters oxidative stress, which affects cellular components such as proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, amino acids, and carbohydrates, among others. In the case of spermatozoa, due to their high metabolic rate, they produce large quantities of oxygen reactive species (ROS), decreasing sperm motility, alterations in cytoplasmic components, modifications in genetic material, or sperm death. In this chapter, a review is made of a brief history of how the toxicity of oxygen and free radicals was discovered, the oxidative stress in cells, and the effect of oxidative stress in the cytoplasmic sperm membrane, in the spermatic mitochondria, in the spermatic acrosome, in the sperm DNA, and in the fertility of the female and the male

Rhabdovirus in papaya (Carica papaya L.) in the southeast of Mexico.

En plantaciones comerciales de papaya en el Sureste de México en los estados de Chiapas, Tabasco, Oaxaca y Veracruz, se observaron incidencias de 0,1 a 10% de plantas con síntomas peculiares, éstas fueron observadas, muestreadas y estudiadas, para detectar infección viral. Los entrenudos del tallo fueron más cortos que lo normal, las hojas más cortas y coriáceas. Se observaron necrosis en hojas jóvenes, los peciolos fueron cortos y curvados con estrias gris rojizas y las flores y pequeños frutos erectos verticalmente. En tinciones negativas fueron observadas partículas de forma de bala, además de varillas e isométricas. Partículas baciliformes con una membrana perinuclear, también fueron observadas dentro de los núcleos en preparaciones ultrafinas. En preparaciones teñidas se observaron inclusiones en los núcleos del floema. La enfermedad no se transmitió mecánicamente ni por semilla. La incidencia fue más alta en el verano que en el invierno. Todas las descripciones coinciden con una infección por el Rhabdovirus necrosis apical del papayo, aunque mezclado con el potyvirus mancha anular del papayo y con unas partículas isométricas no identificadas.In commercial papaya plantations of the southeastern Mexican States of Chiapas, Tabasco, Oaxaca and Veracruz, 0.1 to 10% incidence of plants with peculiar symptoms were observed, sampled and studied for viral infections. Stem internodes were shorter than normal, the leaves were smaller and harder. There was necrosis in younger leaves, petioles were shorter and curved with reddish-gray stripes, and flower and small fruits were standing upright. In negative staining bullet-shaped particles were observed, as well as rod shaped and isometric ones. Bacilliform particles with a perinuclear membrane were also observed within the nucleus in ultra thin preparations, and stained preparations inclusions were present in the nucleus of the floem. The disease could not be mechanically nor seed transmitted. The incidence was higher in the summer than in the winter. All the description coincided with an infection by the papaya apical necrosis Rhabdovirus, although mixed with the papaya ringspot Potyvirus and with an isometric particle not identified

Rhabdovirus en papayo (Carica papaya L.) en el sureste de México

In commercial papaya plantations of the southeastern Mexican States of Chiapas, Tabasco, Oaxaca and Veracruz, 0.1 to 10% incidence of plants with peculiar symptoms were observed, sampled and studied for viral infections. Stem internodes were shorter than normal, the leaves were smaller and harder. There was necrosis in younger leaves, petioles were shorter and curved with reddish-gray stripes, and flower and small fruits were standing upright. In negative staining bullet-shaped particles were observed, as well as rod shaped and isometric ones. Bacilliform particles with a perinuclear membrane were also observed within the nucleus in ultra thin preparations, and stained preparations inclusions were present in the nucleus of the floem. The disease could not be mechanically nor seed transmitted. The incidence was higher in the summer than in the winter. All the description coincided with an infection by the papaya apical necrosis Rhabdovirus, although mixed with the papaya ringspot Potyvirus and with an isometric particle not identified.En plantaciones comerciales de papaya en el Sureste de México en los estados de Chiapas, Tabasco, Oaxaca y Veracruz, se observaron incidencias de 0,1 a 10% de plantas con síntomas peculiares, éstas fueron observadas, muestreadas y estudiadas, para detectar infección viral. Los entrenudos del tallo fueron más cortos que lo normal, las hojas más cortas y coriáceas. Se observaron necrosis en hojas jóvenes, los peciolos fueron cortos y curvados con estrias gris rojizas y las flores y pequeños frutos erectos verticalmente. En tinciones negativas fueron observadas partículas de forma de bala, además de varillas e isométricas. Partículas baciliformes con una membrana perinuclear, también fueron observadas dentro de los núcleos en preparaciones ultrafinas. En preparaciones teñidas se observaron inclusiones en los núcleos del floema. La enfermedad no se transmitió mecánicamente ni por semilla. La incidencia fue más alta en el verano que en el invierno. Todas las descripciones coinciden con una infección por el Rhabdovirus necrosis apical del papayo, aunque mezclado con el potyvirus mancha anular del papayo y con unas partículas isométricas no identificadas

Reliable Freestanding Position-Based Routing in Highway Scenarios

sensor

Infección grave por neumococo. Comportamiento clínico-terapéutico en la región oriental del país. Año 2000

Se caracteriza a los niños (n=41) egresados de las 12 unidades de terapia intensiva pediátricas (UTIP) de las provincias orientales, con los diagnósticos de infección grave por neumococo, en el período de enero a diciembre del 2000. El mayor porcentaje de los pacientes procedieron de las provincias de Guantánamo (31,2 %) y Santiago de Cuba (24,4 %). El 53,7% de los niños tenían antecedente de salud aparente. Fue más común que la infección se presentara como una meningoncefalitis (56,2 %) o como una neumonía (36,6 %). En el 48,8% de los casos hubo que realizar cambios terapéuticos. El tratamiento inicial más común fue con cefalosporina de 3ra generación, seguido de la combinación de cefalosporina de 3ra generación y penicilina. El 17,1% del total falleció por meningoncefalitis

Infección grave por neumococo. Comportamiento clínico-terapéutico

Se caracterizan 41 niños egresados de las 12 unidades de terapia intensiva pediátrica (UTIP) de las provincias orientales, con los diagnósticos de infección grave por neumococo, en el período de enero a diciembre del 2000. El mayor porcentaje de los pacientes procedieron de las provincias de Guantánamo (31,2 %) y Santiago de Cuba (24,4 %). El 53,7% de los niños tenían antecedente de salud aparente. Fue más común que la infección se presentara como meningoencefalitis (56,2 %) o neumonía (36,6 %). En el 48,8% de los casos hubo que realizar cambios terapéuticos. El tratamiento inicial más común fue con cefalosporina de tercera generación, seguida de la combinación de cefalosporina de tercerageneración y penicilina. El 17,1% del total falleció por meningoencefalitis