Effect of Carbamazepine, Ibuprofen, Triclosan and Sulfamethoxazole on Anaerobic Bioreactor Performance: Combining Cell Damage, Ecotoxicity and Chemical Information

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are partially degraded in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), thereby leading to the formation of more toxic metabolites. Bacterial populations in bioreactors operated in WWTPs are sensitive to different toxics such as heavy metals and aromatic compounds, but there is still little information on the effect that pharmaceuticals exert on their metabolism, especially under anaerobic conditions. This work evaluated the effect of selected pharmaceuticals that remain in solution and attached to biosolids on the metabolism of anaerobic biomass. Batch reactors operated in parallel under the pressure of four individual and mixed PPCPs (carbamazepine, ibuprofen, triclosan and sulfametoxazole) allowed us to obtain relevant information on anaerobic digestion performance, toxicological effects and alterations to key enzymes involved in the biodegradation process. Cell viability was quantitatively evaluated using an automatic analysis of confocal microscopy images, and showed that triclosan and mixed pollutants caused higher toxicity and cell death than the other individual compounds. Both individual pollutants and their mixture had a considerable impact on the anaerobic digestion process, favoring carbon dioxide production, lowering organic matter removal and methane production, which also produced microbial stress and irreversible cell damage.Comunidad de MadridUniversidad de Alcal

Biodiesel and FAME synthesis assisted by microwaves: homogeneous batch and flow processes

Fatty acids methyl esters (FAME) have been prepared under microwave irradiation, using homogeneous catalysis, either in batch or in a flow system. The quality of the biodiesel obtained has been confirmed by GC analysis of the isolated product. While the initial experiments have been performed in a small scale laboratory batch reactor, the best experiment has been straightforward converted into a stop-flow process, by the use of a microwave flow system. Compared with conventional heating methods, the process using microwaves irradiation proved to be a faster method for alcoholysis of triglycerides with methanol, leading to high yields of FAME

Membranas electrohiladas de doble acción para tratamiento de agua

Número de publicación: 2 663 129 Número de solicitud: 201600852 51 Int. CI.: B01D 61/00 (2006.01) C02F 1/44 (2006.01)Membranas electrohiladas de doble acción para tratamiento de agua. La presente invención consiste en un procedimiento para la fabricación de membranas activas basadas en fibras submicrométricas que combinan una acción antimicrobiana con la capacidad de retención de contaminantes apolares en solución acuosa. Las membranas se producen mediante un procedimiento de electrohilado en disolución acuosa a partir de mezclas de un poliácido y un polialcohol solubles en agua que se estabilizan mediante un procedimiento de curado y se post-funcionalizan mediante la incorporación de dendrímeros con terminación amino mediante un procedimiento de injertado can ayuda de un agente de acoplamiento. La aplicación del material es la producción de membranas o componentes de membranas multicapa para tratamiento de agua con acción antimicrobiana y con capacidad para retener contaminantes apolares.Universidad de Almerí

Image guided SBRT for multiple liver metastases with ExacTrac Adaptive Gating

AimTo report the outcome and toxicity of sequential stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for multiple liver metastases in patients treated with ExacTrac Adaptive Gating.BackgroundIn selected patients with a limited number of liver metastases, SBRT has been evaluated as a safe and effective treatment, with minimal toxicity and high rates of local control.Materials and methodsFrom April 2008 to October 2013, 21 patients with multiple (3–14) liver metastases (n[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]=[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]101) were treated sequentially with SBRT at our institution. Maximum tumor diameter was 7.5[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]cm. Prior to treatment, internal markers were placed inside or near the tumor. CT or PET-CT simulation was used for the definition of gross tumor volume (GTV). Median planning target volume was 32.3[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]cc (3.6–139.3[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]cc). Treatment consisted of 3 fractions (12–20[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]Gy/fraction) or 5 fractions (10[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]Gy/fraction), prescribed to the 90–95% of the PTV volume. Daily intra-fraction image guidance was performed with ExacTrac Adaptive Gating. Regular follow-up included CT or PET-CT imaging.ResultsAfter a median of 23.2 months, the estimated local control rate was 94.4%, 80.6%, 65% and 65% after 1, 2, 3 and 4 years; the median overall survival was 62 months (95% CI 49.12–74.87) and the actuarial survival reached at 60 months was 57.6%. The univariate data analysis revealed that only primary histology other than colorectal adenocarcinoma was shown as an independent significant prognostic factor for local control (p[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]=[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]0.022). Number of treated metastases did not modify significantly the overall survival (p[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]=[[ce:hsp sp="0.25"/]]0.51). No toxicity higher than G3 (1 patient with chest wall pain) and no radiation-induced liver disease were observed.ConclusionsSequential SBRT with ExacTrac Adaptive Gating for multiple liver metastases can be considered an effective, safe therapeutic option, with a low treatment-related toxicity. Excellent rates of local control and survival were obtained

Assessing METland® Design and Performance Through LCA: Techno-Environmental Study With Multifunctional Unit Perspective

Conventional wastewater treatment technologies are costly and energy demanding; such issues are especially remarkable when small communities have to clean up their pollutants. In response to these requirements, a new variety of nature-based solution, so-called METland®, has been recently develop by using concepts from Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (MET) to outperform classical constructed wetland regarding wastewater treatment. Thus, the current study evaluates two operation modes (aerobic and aerobic–anoxic) of a full-scale METland®, including a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) conducted under a Net Environmental Balance perspective. Moreover, a combined technical and environmental analysis using a Net Eutrophication Balance (NEuB) focus concluded that the downflow (aerobic) mode achieved the highest removal rates for both organic pollutant and nitrogen, and it was revealed as the most environmentally friendly design. Actually, aerobic configuration outperformed anaero/aero-mixed mode in a fold-range from 9 to 30%. LCA was indeed recalculated under diverse Functional Units (FU) to determine the influence of each FU in the impacts. Furthermore, in comparison with constructed wetland, METland® showed a remarkable increase in wastewater treatment capacity per surface area (0.6 m2/pe) without using external energy. Specifically, these results suggest that aerobic–anoxic configuration could be more environmentally friendly under specific situations where high N removal is required. The removal rates achieved demonstrated a robust adaptation to influent variations, revealing a removal average of 92% of Biology Oxygen Demand (BOD), 90% of Total Suspended Solids (TSS), 40% of total nitrogen (TN), and 30% of total phosphorus (TP). Moreover, regarding the global warming category, the overall impact was 75% lower compared to other conventional treatments like activated sludge. In conclusion, the LCA revealed that METland® appears as ideal solution for rural areas, considering the low energy requirements and high efficiency to remove organic pollutants, nitrogen, and phosphates from urban wastewater

Effect of Carbamazepine, Ibuprofen, Triclosan and Sulfamethoxazole on Anaerobic Bioreactor Performance: Combining Cell Damage, Ecotoxicity and Chemical Information

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are partially degraded in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), thereby leading to the formation of more toxic metabolites. Bacterial populations in bioreactors operated in WWTPs are sensitive to different toxics such as heavy metals and aromatic compounds, but there is still little information on the effect that pharmaceuticals exert on their metabolism, especially under anaerobic conditions. This work evaluated the effect of selected pharmaceuticals that remain in solution and attached to biosolids on the metabolism of anaerobic biomass. Batch reactors operated in parallel under the pressure of four individual and mixed PPCPs (carbamazepine, ibuprofen, triclosan and sulfametoxazole) allowed us to obtain relevant information on anaerobic digestion performance, toxicological effects and alterations to key enzymes involved in the biodegradation process. Cell viability was quantitatively evaluated using an automatic analysis of confocal microscopy images, and showed that triclosan and mixed pollutants caused higher toxicity and cell death than the other individual compounds. Both individual pollutants and their mixture had a considerable impact on the anaerobic digestion process, favoring carbon dioxide production, lowering organic matter removal and methane production, which also produced microbial stress and irreversible cell damage

Local control rates in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) of lung metastases associated with the biologically effective dose

AimTo evaluate dose differences in lung metastases treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), and the correlation with local control, regarding the dose algorithm, target volume and tissue density.BackgroundSeveral studies showed excellent local control rates in SBRT for lung metastases, with different fractionation schemes depending on the tumour location or size. These results depend on the dose distributions received by the lesions in terms of the tissue heterogeneity corrections performed by the dose algorithms.Materials and methodsForty-seven lung metastases treated with SBRT, using intrafraction control and respiratory gating with internal fiducial markers as surrogates (ExacTrac, BrainLAB AG), were calculated using Pencil Beam (PB) and Monte Carlo (MC) (iPlan, BrainLAB AG).Dose differences between both algorithms were obtained for the dose received by 99% (D99%) and 50% (D50%) of the planning treatment volume (PTV). The biologically effective dose delivered to 99% (BED99%) and 50% (BED50%) of the PTV were estimated from the MC results. Local control was evaluated after 24 months of median follow-up (range: 3–52 months).ResultsThe greatest variations (40.0% in ΔD99% and 38.4% in ΔD50%) were found for the lower volume and density cases. The BED99% and BED50% were strongly correlated with observed local control rates: 100% and 61.5% for BED99%>85Gy an

Acute skin toxicity of ultra-hypofractionated whole breast radiotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost for early breast cancer

Background: Whole-breast irradiation (WBI) after breast conserving surgery (BCS) is indicated to improve loco-regional control and survival. Former studies showed that addition of tumor bed boost in all age groups significantly improved local control although no apparent impact on overall survival but with an increased risk of worse cosmetic outcome. Even though shortened regimens in 3 weeks are considered the standard, recent studies have shown the non-inferiority of a treatment regimen of 5 fractions in one-week in both locoregional control and toxicity profile, although simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in this setting has been scarcely studied. Materials and Methods: From March-2020 to March-2022, 383 patients with early breast cancer diagnosis and a median age of 56 years-old (range 30–99)were included in a prospective registry of ultra-hypofractionated WBI up to a total dose of 26 Gy in 5.2 Gy/fraction with a SIB of 29 Gy in 5.8 Gy/fraction in 272 patients (71%), 30–31 Gy in 6–6.2 Gy/fraction in 111 patients (29%) with close/focally affected margins. Radiation treatment was delivered by conformal 3-D technique in 366 patients (95%), VMAT in 16patients (4%) and conformal 3-D with deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) in 4patients (1%). Ninety-three per cent of patients received endocrine therapy and 43% systemic or targeted chemotherapy. Development of acute skin complications was retrospectively reviewed. Results: With a median follow-up of 18 months (range 7–31), all patients are alive without evidence of local, regional or distant relapse. Acute tolerance was acceptable, with null o mild toxicity: 182 (48%) and 15 (4%) patients developed skin toxicity grade 1 and 2 respectively; 9 (2%) and 2 (0.5%) patients breast edema grade 1and 2 respectively. No other acute toxicities were observed. We also evaluated development of early delayed complications and observed grade 1 breast edema in 6 patients (2%); grade 1 hyperpigmentation in 20 patients (5%); and grade 1 and 2 breast induration underneath boost region in 10(3%) and 2 patients (0.5%) respectively. We found a statistically significant correlation between the median PTVWBI and presence of skin toxicity (p = 0.028) as well as a significant correlation between late hyperpigmentation with the median PTVBOOST (p = 0.007) and the ratio PTVBOOST/PTVWBI (p = 0.042). Conclusion: Ultra-hypofractionated WBI + SIB in 5 fractions over one-week is feasible and well tolerated, although longer follow-up is necessary to confirm these results