lucho

A biodecolorization model that considers the simultaneous mechanism of biosorption and biodegradation of a synthetic dye by immobilized white-rot fungus Trametes subectypus B32 in a fixed bed bioreactor was developed. The model parameters (biokinetic, biosorption and macroscopic transport) were determined by independent experiments. The biodecolorization model was used to determine the effect of variables such as immobilized biomass content, volumetric flow of wastewater, dye feeding concentration and initial dye concentration...

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the association between changes in airborne particulate matter concentration (PM) with changes in cases of mortality, acute respiratory infections (ARI) and asthma over 2004-2008 in an industrialized and polluted region in central Mexico. METHODS: A generalized linear model with a Poisson distribution and a negative binomial analysis was used to evaluate the influence of PM and temperature on all-cause mortality (All-cause-M), cause-specific mortality (Cause-specific-M), ARI and asthma, using cubic spline functions and distributed lags of PM...

The atmosphere of the Tula Industrial Corridor in Central Mexico is contaminated due to several industries including oil refining while station monitoring in this area are limited. Lanthanides are considered fingerprint of oil refinery activities, and La, Ce and Sm have been previously detected in this area using filters. The suitability of T. usneoides as a biomonitor assessing the La, Ce and Sm concentrations in Particulate Matter is evaluated by NAA. Results of both biomonitor and filters are highly correlated...

A silica-cerium mixed oxide (SiCe) was prepared by the sol-gel process, using tetraethylorthosilicate and cerium nitrate as precursors and obtained as an amorphous solid possessing a specific surface area of 459 m(2) g(-1). Infrared spectroscopy of the SiCe material showed the formation of the Si-O-Ce linkage in the mixed oxide. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy indicated that the cerium oxide particles were homogenously dispersed on the matrix surface. X-ray diffraction and (29)Si solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance implied non-crystalline silica matrices with chemical environments that are typical for silica-based mixed oxides...

Clinical microbiology laboratories in Peru have the task to diagnose the infectious agents present in the clinical samples, for this, they have different tools available; their use depends on having material and human resources. The microbiological laboratory can perform simple and complex tests, depending on the level, the geographical location and the available resources. We mention the problems found with the available laboratory procedures and their potential diagnostic aid. We emphasize the need of having standardised procedures, the continuous education and training of the staff, and the importance of the laboratory network led by the Instituto Nacional de Salud...

Soil, sediments, water and plant samples from the mining zone of Molango were collected and analyzed and Mn-tolerant and Mn-accumulator plants were identified. Soil and sediments presented moderately alkaline and reducing conditions, a normal electrical conductivity, a sandy texture and medium-to-high cation exchange capacities. These properties favored the presence of Mn(2+), which is the form most easily assimilated by plants, and the total Mn concentration (11,637-106,104 mg kg(-1) dried weight, DW) was at phytotoxic level...

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of premalignant gastric lesions and its relationship with helicobacter pylori infection. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional retrospective study. Between january and june 2008, consecutive subjects of middle and high socioeconomic status were evaluated by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy during a gastric cancer screening in Central FAP Hospital. The demografic, clinic and endoscopic information were analysed...

PURPOSE: Determine the prevalence, clinical-epidemiological characteristics and predictive factors for Barrets Esophagus (BE). METHOD: An analytical and transversal study was conducted, followed by a case-control study nested in a population participating in a gastric cancer screening campaign, from January to June 2008 at the Central Hospital of the Peruvian Air Force (FAP). A BE case was defined due to the endoscopic presence of columnar-appearing mucosa confirmed by intestinal metaplasia at biopsy...

A test for assessing the anoxic biodegradability of organic compounds under denitrifying conditions is proposed. The method is based on the recovery and quantification of the CO2 produced, which is evidence of complete biodegradation of the test compound (added as the sole carbon source). The tests were carried out in a mineral medium, with nitrate as electron acceptor. Whole lake sediments, sediment extracts and a commercial inoculum were assayed as a possible inoculum source by means of glucose biodegradability tests...

Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for most patients with end-stage renal disease. However, in spite of continuous progress in surgical techniques and immunosuppressive therapy, a wide variety of vascular and nonvascular complications can arise postoperatively. Vascular complications include transplant renal artery stenosis, arteriovenous fistulas or intrarenal pseudoaneurysms following renal transplant biopsy, extrarenal pseudoaneurysms, and graft thrombosis. Nonvascular complications include urologic complications (eg, ureteral obstruction, urine leak) and perigraft fluid collections (eg, lymphocele, abscess, hematoma, urinoma)...

The quantitative description of cooperativity effects at binding of low-molecular reagents with active reactive centers of hybrid materials requires the elaboration of convenient and reliable meaningful models and calculation procedures. The model of fixed polydentate centers was analyzed as a prospective tool for simulation of adsorption equilibria. The model was shown to be flexible and adaptive. At the theoretic foundations, it is equivalent or more general as compared with another approaches. The procedure for constructing the models fitting the experimental data within their errors and the corresponding calculation tools were discussed...

Ciliated hepatic foregut cyst (CHFC) is a rare, benign, solitary cyst occurring most often in the left lobe of the liver. CHFCs are typically found incidentally during radiologic imaging, surgical exploration, or autopsy. Only six cases of CHFC diagnosed by fine needle aspiration have been reported in the literature. We describe a CHFC diagnosed by aspiration in a 70-yr-old woman who presented with a 2-yr history of abdominal discomfort. The radiologically benign-appearing lesion was located in the subcapsular area of segment IV of the liver...

This study analyses a screening programme for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among US veterans in a suburban Veterans Affairs Medical Center, in New York. This is the first study examining all 11 potential risk factors listed in the 2001 National U.S. Veterans Health Administration Screening Guidelines. A retrospective study was conducted of 5400 veterans 'at risk' of HCV, identified through a questionnaire in this institution's primary-care outpatient departments between 1 October 2001 and 31 December 2003...

As the prevalence of obesity in the United States continues to increase, the volume of endovascular and fluoroscopically guided procedures is also increasing. With obese patients, it often seems the only consideration is whether the table weight tolerance can accommodate the patient. This is a naive approach to performing procedures in obese patients, as there are multiple considerations involved in providing state-of-the-art endovascular and interventional care to obese patients. A growing collection of literature is beginning to surface regarding the appropriate modifications in the interventional care of these patients...

The compound di-3-n-propyltrimethoxysilane (1,4-diazoniabicycle[2.2.2]octane) dichloride, [(MeO)3Si(CH2)3N+ (CH2CH2)3N+ (CH2)3Si(OME)3]Cl2 was obtained and was used as a precursor reagent to obtain hybrid xerogels where the organic molecule was bonded to a silica framework by reacting the ends of both sides of the precursor reagent. That is, both -Si(OME)3 groups react with tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) by hydrolysis-condensation reactions. The resulting hybrid xerogels with variable C/Si mole ratios were prepared and analyzed and their textural characteristics determined...

We evaluated the accumulation and distribution of major and trace elements in agricultural soils of District 03 (DR03) in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, irrigated with raw wastewaters for an average of 20 years. Samples of topsoils (0-30 cm depth) were extracted using a modified Tessier method. Total concentrations of the species tested were in the ranges of 675-1176 mg K kg(-1), 277.9-1001 mg Na kg(-1), 6,708-81,854 mg Ca kg(-1), 23,800-106,974 mg Mg kg(-1), 9.2-123.8 mg B kg(-1), 0.6-1.9 mg Cd kg(-1), 11.6-27...

Porous Al2O3 presenting a specific surface area of SBET = 105 m2 g(-1) was coated with 3-N-propylpyridinium chloride silsesquioxane polymer. The ion exchange capacity of this polymer grafted onto an Al2O3 surface, resulting in a material designated as AlSiPy(+)Cl-, was 1.09 mmol g(-1). Furthermore, a cobalt(II) tetrasulfophthalocyanine anionic complex was immobilized on the chemically modified surface by an ion exchange reaction with a yield of 40 micromol g(-1) (the surface density of the electroactive species is 3...

The metal ion adsorption properties of the microporous hybrid anilinepropylsilica xerogel were studied using divalent copper, zinc, and cadmium ions in aqueous solutions in concentrations ranging from 10(-4) up to 5x10(-3) moll(-1). At low concentrations the surface of the solid phase presents selectivity for Cu (II), even in competitive conditions. This preferential sorption ability for copper in relation to zinc and cadmium ions was interpreted by considering the xerogel morphology.

Irrigation of agricultural land with wastewater will increase crop production, but also heavy metal concentrations and the rate of infection of farmers with pathogens. The risks associated with the use of wastewater are reduced by treating the wastewater, but treatment also reduces organic material, phosphorus and inorganic N for crops. We investigated characteristics, e.g. heavy metal concentrations, of soils of the valley of the Mezquital (Mexico) irrigated with waste from Mexico City water since 1912, 1925, 1965, 1976, 1996 or 1997, or not irrigated at all, and dynamics of C and N when soil was amended with wastewater or drainage water...

Thirty-four consecutive patients were hospitalized with diagnosis of severe Babesia infection over the course of 13 years. The average time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 15 days. When compared with uninfected febrile control patients, affected patients complained significantly more often of malaise, arthralgias and myalgias, and shortness of breath (P<.05), and they more often had thrombocytopenia and abnormal liver function (P<.05). Forty-one percent of patients with Babesia developed complications such as acute respiratory failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation, congestive heart failure, and renal failure...