Necrotizing Fasciitis and Middle Ear Infection

A fasceíte necrosante (FN) é uma doença rara em pediatria. Na maior parte dos casos surge como complicação de varicela, sendo a pele habitualmente a porta de entrada e o Streptococcus pyogenes o agente mais frequente. Os autores descrevem um caso clínico de uma criança de 8 anos, previamente saudável que, no contexto de uma otite média aguda medicada com um anti-inflamatório não esteróide (AINE), desenvolve uma infecção invasiva a Streptococcus 13 hemoliticus do grupo A

Microbial plankton communities in the coastal southeastern Black Sea: Biomass, composition and trophic interactions

We investigated biomass and composition of the pico-, nano- and microplankton communities in a coastal station of the southeastern Black Sea during 2011. We also examined trophic interactions within these communities from size-fractionated dilution experiments in February, June and December. Autotrophic and heterotrophic biomasses showed similar seasonal trends, with a peak in June, but heterotrophs dominated throughout the year. Autotrophic biomass was mainly comprised by nanoflagellates and diatoms in the first half of the year, and by dinoflagellates and Synechococcus spp. in the second half. Heterotrophic biomass was mostly dominated by heterotrophic bacteria, followed by nanoflagellates and microzooplankton. Dilution experiments suggest that nano- and microzooplankton were significant consumers of autotrophs and heterotrophic bacteria. More than 100% of bacterial production was consumed by grazers in all experiments, while 46%, 21% and 30% of daily primary production were consumed in February, June and December, respectively. In February, autotrophs were the main carbon source, but in December, it was heterotrophic bacteria. An intermediate situation was observed in June, with similar carbon flows from autotrophs and heterotrophic bacteria. Size-fraction dilution experiments suggested that heterotrophic nanoflagellates are an important link between the high heterotrophic bacterial biomass and microzooplankton. In summary, these results indicate that nano- and microzooplankton were responsible for comprising a significant fraction of total microbial plankton biomass, standing stocks, growth and grazing processes. This suggests that in 2011, the microbial food web was an important compartment of the planktonic food web in the coastal southeastern Black Sea

a case study from Portugal

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Preoperative predictors of death and sustained ventricular tachycardia after pulmonary valve replacement in patients with repaired tetralogy of fallot enrolled in the INDICATOR Cohort

Background -Risk factors for adverse clinical outcomes have been identified in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) before pulmonary valve replacement (PVR). However, pre-PVR predictors for post-PVR sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and death have not been identified. Methods -Patients with rTOF enrolled in the INDICATOR cohort-a 4-center international cohort study- who had a comprehensive preoperative evaluation and subsequently underwent PVR were included. Pre-procedural clinical, electrocardiogram, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), and postoperative outcome data were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards multivariable regression analysis was used to evaluate factors associated with time from pre-PVR CMR until the primary outcome-death, aborted sudden cardiac death, or sustained VT. Results -Of the 452 eligible patients (median age at PVR 25.8 years), 36 (8%) reached the primary outcome (27 deaths, 2 resuscitated death, and 7 sustained VT) at a median time after PVR of 6.5 years. Cox proportional hazards regression identified pre-PVR right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction < 40% (hazard ratio [HR] 2.39; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18 to 4.85; P = 0.02), RV mass-to-volume ratio ≥ 0.45 g/mL (HR 4.08; 95%, CI 1.57 to 10.6; P = 0.004), and age at PVR ≥ 28 years (HR 3.10; 95% CI 1.42 to 6.78; P = 0.005) as outcome predictors. In a subgroup analysis of 230 patients with Doppler data, predicted RV systolic pressure ≥40 mm Hg was associated with the primary outcome (HR 3.42; 95% CI 1.09 to 10.7; P = 0.04). Preoperative predictors of a composite secondary outcome-postoperative arrhythmias and heart failure-included older age at PVR, pre-PVR atrial tachyarrhythmias, and a higher left ventricular end-systolic volume index. Conclusions -In this observational investigation of patients with rTOF, an older age at PVR and pre-PVR RV hypertrophy and dysfunction were predictive of shorter time to postoperative death and sustained VT. These findings may inform the timing of PVR if confirmed by prospective clinical trials

Digestibility in selected rainbow trout families and modelling of growth from the specific intake of digestible protein

The experiments aimed to clarify variations in digestibility of dietary nutrients in rainbow trout. Furthermore, the objective was to study how differences in digestibility might be related to growth and feed utilisation at various growth rates. When comparing the results from the experiments it appeared that particularly protein digestibility was closely related to specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio at high growth rates. As a tool to visualise the relationship between protein digestibility and growth of rainbow trout a growth model was developed based on the specific intake of digestible protein, and general assumptions on protein content and protein retention efficiency in rainbow trout. The model indicated that increased protein digestibility only partly explained growth increase and that additional factors were important for growth increment

Enrichment of trace elements in the clay size fraction of mining soils

Reactive waste dumps with sulfide minerals pro- 14 mote acid mine drainage (AMD), which results in water and 15 soil contamination by metals and metalloids. In these systems, 16 contamination is regulated by many factors, such as mineral- 17 ogical composition of soil and the presence of sorption sites 18 on specific mineral phases. So, the present study dedicates 19 itself to understanding the distribution of trace elements in 20 different size fractions (<2-mm and <2-μm fractions) of min- 21 ing soils and to evaluate the relationship between chemical 22 and mineralogical composition. Cerdeirinha and Penedono, 23 located in Portugal, were the waste dumps under study. The 24 results revealed that the two waste dumps have high degree of 25 contamination by metals and arsenic and that these elements 26 are concentrated in the clay size fraction. Hence, the higher 27 degree of contamination by toxic elements, especially arsenic 28 in Penedono as well as the role of clay minerals, jarosite, and 29 goethite in retaining trace elements has management implica- 30 tions. Such information must be carefully thought in the reha- 31 bilitation projects to be planned for both waste dumps

Addressing quality and usability of surface water bodies in semi-arid regions with mining influences

Water resources management has considerable importance, specifically in the context of climate change. This subject has introduced new challenges in semi-arid regions with water quality problems, such as the Iberian Pyrite Belt, which is one of the largest metallogenetic provinces in the world and one of the driest regions in Europe. Positioned in the Mediterranean context, the region has a high density of polymetallic sulphide mines that promote the degradation of water systems. The present study aims to assess the water quality in the Pyrite Belt, considering a total of 34 surface water bodies, including constructed reservoirs, permanent and ephemeral streams, and mining facilities with accumulated water (e.g., pit lakes and mining dams). The water samples were analysed for physico-chemical properties, including field parameters (pH, electrical conductivity), alkalinity/acidity, hardness, anions, and potential toxic elements. The results were used for hydrochemical classifications and the assessment of suitability for public uses. Statistical methods, such as hierarchical cluster analysis and nearest centroid classifier, were used for grouping and evaluating the similarity between water bodies. Two groups were generated from the analysis: i) constructed lakes with alkaline and sodium signatures; and ii) waters suffering from the influence of mining wastes, e.g., showing high acidity, sulphate and metal contents. Therefore, the loss of water quality in the vicinity of mines reflects the impact of acid mine drainage. The methodological approach used may be applied to the integrated management of water resources in regions with mining influences and where it is necessary to combat drought and water scarcity scenarios.Patricia Gomes acknowledge FCT (Science and Technology Foundation, Portugal) by the research fellowship under the POCH (Programa Operacional Capital Humano) supported by the European Social Fund and National Funds of MCTES (Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior) with reference SFRH/BD/108887/2015. This work was co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, based on COMPETE 2020 (Programa Operacional da Competitividade e Internacionalizacao) - project ICT (UID/GEO/04683/2013) with reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007690 and project Nano-MINENV number 029259

Raw clays from Morocco for degradation of pollutants by Fenton-like reaction for water treatment

Three raw clays from Morocco were used as heterogeneous catalysts for Fenton-like oxidation of organic pol-lutants in water. The selected pollutants were two dyes used in the textile industry, Congo Red (CR) and Tar-trazine (Tar, known also as a food coloring compound, E102) and Caffeine (Caf), a stimulant drug present in popular beverages such as coffee and tea, commonly used in Morocco. Two different processes were used for their degradation: (i) Fenton-like reaction; and (ii) electro-Fenton-like reaction. Process (i) was used for Tar and Caf degradation in the presence of clays from different region of Morocco (Middle Atlas -ClayMA, Fez -ClayF, and Ourika -ClayO), the best results being obtained with ClayO and ClayMA, on which 60.0% and 23.4% of conversion and 41.0% and 20.5% of mineralization were achieved for Tar and Caf, respectively. Process (ii) was used for degrading CR by clay-modified electrodes (CME) using the rawclays from Fez and Ourika regions (ClayF and ClayO). The stability of the CME was assessed by cyclic voltammetry studies, which proved that they are stable in the experimental conditions used. The electrodegradation of CR dye, performed without hydrogen peroxide in the reaction medium, achieve 67.0% of mineralization at the end of electrolysis (2 h)