scholarly journals Digestive disorders induced by the accumulation of arsenic in the human body

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 398-400
Author(s):  
Alina EPURE ◽  
◽  
Dan Mircea CHEȚA ◽  
◽  

Exposure to arsenic is common, but unconscious, inducing major imbalances especially in the digestive tract, lungs, skin. Contamination is achieved by exposure to arsenic in the air, soil, groundwater, food. It is noted the use of arsenic in pesticides, herbicides, paints, wood preservatives, drinking water, various foods with a wide range of consumption (seafood, rice – including rice milk, rice bran, rice cereals, rice syrup rice, rice crackers). The diagnosis of arsenic poisoning is an important step in establishing the diet and detoxification treatment, focusing on the cause, not the symptoms. We present the case of a 45-year-old patient with symptoms manifested in the digestive tract for 4 years: abdominal bloating, cramps, vomiting, weekly episodes of acute diarrhea. During these period the patient received multiple treatments depending on the symptoms, without a significant improvement, without performing specific investigations of arsenic poisoning. The personalized diet and treatment plan, used in the case of this patient, for a period of 4 months was distinguished by a total solution of the manifestations presented in the anamnesis stage.

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 215-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.R. Costa ◽  
M.N. de Pinho

Membrane fouling by natural organic matter (NOM), namely by humic substances (HS), is a major problem in water treatment for drinking water production using membrane processes. Membrane fouling is dependent on membrane morphology like pore size and on water characteristics namely NOM nature. This work addresses the evaluation of the efficiency of ultrafiltration (UF) and Coagulation/Flocculation/UF performance in terms of permeation fluxes and HS removal, of the water from Tagus River (Valada). The operation of coagulation with chitosan was evaluated as a pretreatment for minimization of membrane fouling. UF experiments were carried out in flat cells of 13.2×10−4 m2 of membrane surface area and at transmembrane pressures from 1 to 4 bar. Five cellulose acetate membranes were laboratory made to cover a wide range of molecular weight cut-off (MWCO): 2,300, 11,000, 28,000, 60,000 and 75,000 Da. Severe fouling is observed for the membranes with the highest cut-off. In the permeation experiments of raw water, coagulation prior to membrane filtration led to a significant improvement of the permeation performance of the membranes with the highest MWCO due to the particles and colloidal matter removal.


2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 209-216
Author(s):  
R. Sublet ◽  
A. Boireau ◽  
V.X. Yang ◽  
M.-O. Simonnot ◽  
C. Autugelle

Two lead removal water filters were developed to lower lead levels in drinking water below 10 μg.L-1 in order to meet the new regulation given by the European Directive 98-83, applicable in December 2013. An appropriate adsorbent was selected through a stringent research program among a wide range of media, and is composed of a synthetic zeolite and an activated carbon. Two prototypes were developed: the first is a faucet-mounted filter which contains a fixed bed of the adsorbent and a hollow fiber bundle, while the second is an under-sink cartridge made of a porous extruded block of carbon and adsorbent. Both are able to treat at least 1,000 litres of any water containing on average 100 to 150 μg Pb.L-1, by lowering the lead concentration below 10 μg.L-1. Once their safety considerations were addressed by an independent laboratory according to the French Ministry of Health recommendations, 20 prototypes were installed at consumers' taps in northeastern France. Their performance in terms of lead removal, HPC control and bad taste and odor reduction was followed for 6 months. This field testing program resulted in the validation of both prototypes which meet the new French Ministry of Health recommendations and assures that the filtered water is fully ED 98-83 compliant. Their commercialization will be launched first in France in middle 2002.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kei Shibata ◽  
Takeshi Yamaguchi ◽  
Moeko Kishi ◽  
Kazuo Hokkirigawa

2000 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 565-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Payment ◽  
Aminata Berte ◽  
Michèle Prévost ◽  
Bruno Ménard ◽  
Benoît Barbeau

A 300-km portion of the Saint Lawrence hydrological basin in the province of Québec (Canada) and 45 water treatment plants were studied. River water used by drinking water treatment plants was analyzed (6-L sample volumes) to determine the level of occurrence of bacterial indicators (total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and Clostridium perfringens) and pathogens (Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium, human enteric viruses). Pathogens and bacterial indicators were found at all sites at a wide range of values. Logistic regression analysis revealed significant correlations between the bacterial indicators and the pathogens. Physicochemical and treatment practices data were collected from most water treatment plants and used to estimate the level of removal of pathogens achieved under cold (0°C-4°C) and warm (20°C-25°C) water temperature conditions. The calculated removal values were then used to estimate the annual risk of Giardia infection using mathematical models and to compare the sites. The estimated range of probability of infection ranged from 0.75 to less than 0.0001 for the populations exposed. Given the numerous assumptions made, the model probably overestimated the annual risk, but it provided comparative data of the efficacy of the water treatment plants and thereby contributes to the protection of public health.Key words: public health, drinking water, health risk, pathogen occurrence.


2021 ◽  
pp. 875512252110392
Author(s):  
Brian L. LaRowe ◽  
Vicki M. Nussbaum

Background: Spasticity may present as a wide range of symptoms and conditions. With this protean presentation, a consensus regarding the best course of treatment does not exist. Those patients most severely affected may receive significant benefit from intrathecal baclofen delivery. However, this therapy may itself lead to patient injury in the event of withdrawal. Objective: Withdrawal from intrathecal baclofen may devolve rapidly into a situation in which the patient may incur significant morbidity and even death. A focused, prompt treatment plan would afford the patient the best possible outcome. Methods: The medical literature was reviewed for reports of plans of treatment of baclofen withdrawal and the results obtained. The nature of this problem does not lend itself to a typical study design, depending on case reports and basic pharmacological science application. The paucity of such reports severely limits categorical comparison of patient characteristics and clinical circumstances. Clinical situations, patient characteristics, and therapies were considered and compared. Outcomes of the varied treatments were evaluated for efficacy. Results: Inaccurate diagnoses, delayed correct diagnoses, and the absence of a consistent, treatment plan contributed to widely disparate outcomes. Prompt, correct diagnosis and intensive care unit–based continuous benzodiazepine infusion with titration led to a controlled clinical situation and maximized patient outcomes. Conclusions: Patients going through withdrawal from intrathecal baclofen achieved best outcomes when treated with a continuous infusion and titration of an intravenous benzodiazepine. A well-defined treatment protocol employing this management, reporting serial outcomes, would enable further refinement of the treatment of this clinical problem.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 914-920 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Wu ◽  
Shuqun Li ◽  
Xiaofei Zhao ◽  
Xinhua Zhao

Abstract The abuse of antibiotics is becoming more serious as antibiotic use has increased. The sulfa antibiotics, sulfamerazine (SM1) and sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), are frequently detected in a wide range of environments. The interaction between SM1/SMZ and bacterial diversity in drinking water was investigated in this study. The results showed that after treatment with SM1 or SMZ at four different concentrations, the microbial community structure of the drinking water changed statistically significantly compared to the blank sample. At the genus level, the proportions of the different bacteria in drinking water may affect the degradation of the SM1/SMZ. The growth of bacteria in drinking water can be inhibited after the addition of SM1/SMZ, and bacterial community diversity in drinking water declined in this study. Furthermore, the resistance gene sul2 was induced by SM1 in the drinking water.


2021 ◽  
Vol 869 (1) ◽  
pp. 012007
Author(s):  
A Yuslan ◽  
N Nasir ◽  
H Suhaimi ◽  
A Arshad ◽  
N W Rasdi

Abstract Copepods with a wide range of sizes, species, and nutritional compositions are preferred as live food for rearing of Betta splendens larvae. This research focuses on evaluating the efficiency of copepod enrichment diets in improving the coloration and feeding rate of B. splendens. Copepod were enriched with Chlorella sp. (T1), capsicum (T2), mixed vegetable (carrot + spinach), (T3), yeast (T4) and rice bran (T5) in 24 hours prior the feeding tests. As a result, proximate analysis of enriched-copepods showed that T1 (70.88±0.41) has highest protein content and T5 (22.01±0.59) has the highest lipid content. The specific growth rate and survival rate of B. splendens was highest in the treatment T1 (2.56±0.07%; 91.11±1.92%) and followed closely by T3 (2.49±0.51%; 85.55±8.39%). Feeding rate, T3 (70.08±3.88%) presented highest rate compared to other treatments. The different enrichment diets used were significantly impact the coloration test on body of L* value (P=0.001, P<0.05), T3 (66.11±3.60) appeared darker in color in contrast to others. As for a* value, the coloration was not impacted with the use of different enrichment on copepods (P=0.158, P>0.05) was detected for T1 (2.84±0.73) that gave a redder shade than other treatments did. T3 (2.40±0.30) exerted a more yellowish shade than the rest for b* value with a significant difference (P=0.015, P<0.05). The current study demonstrates that, rice bran, capsicum and mixed vegetable enrichment (carrot and spinach) have the potential to be an effective means of increasing B. splendens coloring and feeding rate. This potential diet can be further used as a substitution to artificial foods in producing sustainable culture of ornamental fish in the aquaculture industry.


Author(s):  
Colin Neal

Freshwater environments are of major importance to health issues in both direct (e.g., drinking water and sanitation) and indirect (e.g., industry, agriculture, and amenity/recreation) ways. However, water resources are finite, and, though renewable, demands have multiplied over the last 100 years due to escalating human populations and the growing requirements of industry and agriculture. Hence, there are increasing global concerns over the extent of present and future good quality water resources. As Gleick (1998) emphasizes: . . . ·Per-capita water demands are increasing, but percapita water availability is decreasing due to population growth and economic development. . . . . . . ·Half the world’s population lacks basic sanitation and more than a billion people lack potable drinking water; these numbers are rising. Incidences of some water-related diseases are rising. . . . . . . ·The per-capita amount of irrigated land is falling and competition for agricultural water is growing. . . . . . . ·Political and military tensions/conflicts over shared water resources are growing. . . . . . . ·A groundwater overdraft exists, the size of which is accelerating; groundwater supplies occur on every continent except Antarctica. . . . . . . ·Global climate change is evident, and the hydrological cycle will be seriously affected in ways that are only beginning to be understood. . . . The chemical composition of surface and groundwaters is influenced by a wide range of processes, some of which are outside the influence of humans while others are a direct consequence of anthropogenic pollution or changing of the environment. Starting with the range and nature of the processes involved, the changing nature of surface and groundwater quality is illustrated here, based on the evolution of the United Kingdom from a rural to an industrial and to a post- industrial society. The issue of what constitutes a health risk is outlined in relation to the pragmatic approaches required for environmental management. Surface and groundwater exhibit a wide range of chemical compositions, and, in ecosystems uninfluenced by humans, the range of compositions can vary considerably.


2000 ◽  
Vol os7 (3) ◽  
pp. 109-113 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalpesh Patel ◽  
Kenneth W Hemmings ◽  
Simon Vaughan

Occlusal splints (Michigan splints, night/bite guards or bite-raising appliances) can be an effective, inexpensive and reversible treatment for a wide range of dental problems. Objective The aim of this study was to analyse retrospectively the provision of occlusal splint (‘Michigan’ type) in general dental practice, following a prescription by a restorative dental consultant. Method One hundred patients were recruited from consultant clinics in a department of conservative dentistry during 1995 and 1996. All patients were prescribed a maxillary, full-coverage, heat-cured, acrylic-resin splint (Michigan splint) as part of a treatment plan. An explanatory letter and questionnaire were sent to all patients and to their referring general dental practitioner in 1997 and 1998. Results A response rate of 79% was achieved in obtaining completed questionnaires from both patients and general dental practitioners. Of respondents 43% (34/79) received an occlusal splint of some form. A small proportion of the respondents (16.5% [13/79]) received a Michigan splint as prescribed. Irrespective of the type of appliance provided, most patients (82% [28/34]) found them helpful. Of those who did not receive an occlusal splint, 38% (17/45) of patients felt financial implications deterred them from obtaining an appliance. Other common reasons for non-provision included: patients felt that symptoms had improved (18% [8/45]) and patients did not agree with treatment (18% [8/45]). The general dental practitioners had similar opinions to their patients. Discussion These findings raise some serious doubts on the efficacy of consultant clinic advice in the prescription of occlusal splints in general dental practice. The financial and educational issues raised by this study will need to be addressed to improve service provision. Conclusion The results of this study indicate that 16.5% of patient respondents prescribed a Michigan splint at a consultant clinic received such an appliance in general dental practice.


1981 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 169-175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Mantovani ◽  
Maria A. Manca ◽  
Francesco Cossu ◽  
Ernesto Proto ◽  
Guglielmo Taglieri ◽  
...  

The aim of the present study was to verify whether the CMI response of the host's lymphocytes is directed towards tumor-associated antigens (TAA) specific for each histological type of tumor. The leucocyte migration inhibition (LMI) test was selected for this purpose, utilizing the cancer patients' leucocytes and, as neoplastic antigens, formalin-fixed cells of surgically removed cancer tissue. Two hundred and eighteen patients were studied, 110 of whom were affected by breast cancer, 48 by digestive tract and 60 by laryngeal cancer. The total amount of tests performed was 278. The leucocytes of 93 normal subjects were tested against the different tissues' cancer antigens, as were the leucocytes of 41 patients with cancer of different organs tested against the corresponding normal tissues' antigens. The breast cancer patients (122 tests performed) showed 82.35 % positive tests against homologous antigen, 72.72 % and 95.24 % against heterologous (digestive tract and laryngeal cancer, respectively) antigens. The digestive tract cancer patients (69 tests performed) showed 70.27 % positive tests against homologous, 66.66 % and 43.48 % against heterologous antigens (breast and laryngeal cancer, respectively). The laryngeal cancer patients (87 tests performed) showed 74.29 % positive tests against homologous, 38.10 % and 80.65 % against heterologous antigens (breast and digestive tract, respectively). The results led to the conclusion that the LMI test response of cancer patients was not « tissue specific »: the test did not discriminate between the homologous and the heterologous cancer antigens, and it seems that the response was not directed towards specific TAA but only towards wide-range or « group » TAA, shared by several types of tumors.


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