Relationship between squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior two thirds of the tongue and removable denture use - a pioneer study in a Portuguese

The aim of the study was to determine whether there is any relationship between the presence of removable dentures and squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior two thirds of the tongue in a Portuguese population. A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with a biopsy-proven diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, who were seen and treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery of the Portuguese Institute of Oncology 'Francisco Gentil', Lisbon, Portugal, during a 3-year period. Several factors were examined: gender, use of removable dentures, age, location of the lesion, and alcohol and tobacco consumption. One hundred and six cases were selected from the initial 151 cases, with a male:female ratio of 3:1 and the lateral borders being the most commonly affected site. The prevalence in both genders was between the sixth and seventh decade of life. Men were more likely to consume alcohol and tobacco than women, and no relationship was observed between denture use and presence of carcinoma of the tongue. In light of the data obtained, it may be considered that female use of a denture plays an important role, but it cannot be identified as a remarkable etiologic factor.

Planta pilot d'una potabilitzadora

Treball de recerca realitzat per alumnes d'ensenyament secundari i guardonat amb un Premi CIRIT per fomentar l'esperit científic del Jovent l'any 2009. El treball ha consistit en dissenyar i construir una planta pilot d'una potabilitzadora que simulés el funcionament de les plantes potabilitzadores, basada en els mateixos principis . La Planta pilot de la potabilitzadora consta de les següents operacions: desbast, floculació, decantació, filtració de sorra, aireació, filtració de carbó actiu i desinfecció. La mostra utilitzada per la potabilització s’ha obtingut de l’embassament del Pasteral, lloc on la planta potabilitzadora de Girona capta l’aigua. Una vegada potabilitzada s’han realitzat una sèrie d’anàlisis tant a l’entrada com a la sortida, per determinar la variació obtinguda en diferents paràmetres del procés. Els tipus d’anàlisis realitzats són: fisicoquímics, microbiològics i organolèptics. Finalment, s’ha realitzat una comparació amb la potabilitzadora de Girona i s’ha verificat mitjançant els paràmetres de la normativa de l’aigua l'estat de la mostra.

Strategies of use of a specific immunoglobulin-rich egg yolk powder in weaning piglets

Two experiments were performed to determine the best strategy of use of the product TRACTcare® 4P (ITPSA) (TC, specific immunoglobulin-rich egg yolk powder within an energetic fatty acid matrix) in piglets from weaning and for 6 weeks, in diets without or with inclusion of antibiotics. Each trial was performed with 144 piglets in 24 pens, in a completely randomized design blocked by initial body weight. Feeds were formulated according to animal requirements in two periods. In the first trial no antibiotics were included in the feeds and no room disinfection from previous trial was performed; treatments were: 1) Negative control (NC); 2) NC+TC on top of the feed within the hopper for the first 3 days on trial (30 g/pig×day), and eventually if diarrhea appeared (TCOT); 3) NC+TC ad libitum provided in an extra hopper within the pen (TCAL); and 4) NC+TC at 5 g/kg added to the feed in the mixer (TC5). In the second trial, treatments were: 1) Positive control: basal diet that included 250 mg/kg amoxiciline (BD)+100 mg/kg colistine (AC); 2) BD+2 g/kg TC (TC2A); 3) BD+5 g/kg TC (TC5A); and 4) BD+8 g/kg TC (TC8A). In diets without antibiotics, the product TC at 5 g/kg in the feed numerically improved BW by 8% compared to Control animals, while G:F was almost identical between both groups. When antibiotics were used in the feed, replacement of colistin at 100 mg/kg for TC at 2 g/kg in feed numerically improved the performance compared to Positive control animals (for the whole trial period ADG 8% better: 390 g vs. 361 g; G:F 1% better: 0.748 kg/kg vs. 0.742 kg/kg), possibly due to the stimulation of feed consumption at weaning. In both trials, the lower number of dead and culled animals from TC5 and TC2A together with higher BW represented an advantage over Control treatments of 6% to 10% animals more and 15% to 17% total BW more at the end of the trial.

Nanopartícul·les core-shell estabilitzades en polímer amb propietats calítiques i bactericides medioambientalment segure

Aquest projecte de doctorat és un treball interdisciplinari adreçat a l’obtenció de nous nanocompòsits (NCs) funcionals sintetitzats a partir de materials polimèrics bescanviadors d’ions que són modificats amb nanopartícules metàl•liques (NPMs) de diferent composició. Els materials desenvolupats s’avaluen en funció de dues possibles aplicacions: 1) com a catalitzadors de reaccions orgàniques d’interès actual (NCs basats en pal•ladi) i, 2) la seva dedicació a aplicacions bactericides en el tractament d’aigües domèstiques o industrials (NCs basats en plata). El desenvolupament de nanomaterials és de gran interès a l’actualitat donades les seves especials propietats, l’aprofitament de les quals és la força impulsora per a la fabricació de nous NCs. Les nanopartícules metàl•liques estabilitzades en polímer (Polymer Stabilized Metal Nanoparticles, PSNPM) s’han preparat mitjançant la tècnica in-situ de síntesi intermatricial (Inter-matrix synthesis, IMS) que consisteix en la càrrega seqüencial dels grups funcionals de les matrius polimèriques amb ions metàl•lics, i la seva posterior reducció química dins de la matriu polimèrica de bescanvi iònic. L’estabilització en matrius polimèriques evita l’agregació entre elles (self-aggreagtion), un dels principals problemes coneguts de les NPs. Pel desenvolupament d’aquesta metodologia, s’han emprat diferents tipus de matrius polimèriques de bescanvi iònic: membrana Sulfonated PolyEtherEtherKetone, SPEEK, així com fibres sintètiques basades en polypropilè amb diferents tipus de grups funcionals, que ens permeten el seu ús com a filtres en la desinfecció de solucions aquoses o com a material catalitzador. Durant el projecte s’ha anat avançant en l’optimització del material nanocomposite final per a les aplicacions d’interès, en quant activitat i funcionalitat de les nanopartícules i estabilitat del nanocomposite. Així, s’ha optimitzat la síntesi de NPs estabilitzades en resines de bescanvi iònic, realitzant un screening de diferents tipus de resines i la seva avaluació en aplicacions industrials d’interès.

Epidemiology of foodborne Norovirus outbreaks in Catalonia, Spain

Background: Noroviruses are one of the principal biological agents associated with the consumption of contaminated food. The objective of this study was to analyse the size and epidemiological characteristics of foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Catalonia, a region in the northeast of Spain.Methods: In all reported outbreaks of gastroenteritis associated with food consumption, faecal samples of persons affected were analysed for bacteria and viruses and selectively for parasites. Study variables included the setting, the number of people exposed, age, sex, clinical signs and hospital admissions. The study was carried out from October 2004 to October 2005.Results: Of the 181 outbreaks reported during the study period, 72 were caused by Salmonella and 30 by norovirus (NoV); the incidence rates were 14.5 and 9.9 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. In 50% of the NoV outbreaks and 27% of the bacterial outbreaks (p = 0.03) the number of persons affected was ¿10; 66.7% of NoV outbreaks occurred in restaurants; no differences in the attack rates were observed according to the etiology. Hospitalizations were more common (p = 0.03) in bacterial outbreaks (8.6%) than in NoV outbreaks (0.15%). Secondary cases accounted for 4% of cases in NoV outbreaks compared with 0.3% of cases in bacterial outbreaks (p < 0.001)Conclusion: Norovirus outbreaks were larger but less frequent than bacterial outbreaks, suggesting that underreporting is greater for NoV outbreaks. Food handlers should receive training on the transmission of infections in diverse situations. Very strict control measures on handwashing and environmental disinfection should be adopted in closed or partially-closed institutions.

Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC): alcohol and tobacco consumption versus non-consumption. A study in a Portuguese population

There has been an increase in the incidence of carcinoma of the tongue, particularly among alcohol and tobacco non-users. However, the number of studies that would allow a better understanding of etiological factors and clinical features, particularly in the Portuguese population, is very limited. This study was based on patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior two thirds of the tongue that were treated at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery of the ¿Instituto Portugues de Oncologia de Lisboa - Francisco Gentil" IPOLFG) in Lisbon, Portugal, between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2009. The patients were divided in alcohol and tobacco users and non-users in order to evaluate the differences between these 2 groups based on gender, age, tumor location, denture use, and tumor size, metastasis and stage. Of the 354 cases, 208 were users and 146 were non-users. The main location in both groups was the lateral border of the tongue. Denture use showed no significant effect in both study groups. It was possible to conclude that patients who did not drink or smoke were older and presented with smaller tumor size, lower incidence of ganglion metastasis and lower tumor stage compared with alcohol and tobacco users.

Evaluation of reclamation technologies for wastewater reuse

Reclamation and reuse of wastewater require the use of tools that minimize risks to health and natural ecosystems. There are various types of such tools, among which HACCP (hazardanalysis and critical control points) and barrier systems are gainingimportance. The research reported here aims to determine andevaluate the most efficient combinations of different treatmentsystems—barriers—for the reclamation of secondary effluentsfrom urban sewage treatment plants, and for obtaining water ofsufficient quality for reuse in accordance with existing legislation,in which water disinfection has become one of the keys tocompliance. Several conventional and non-conventional reclamationtechnologies are evaluated. The results lead us to recommendtreatment lines for the different reclaimed water uses established inthe Spanish legislation.

Proyecto de ejecución de zona lúdica de verano formada por piscinas, jacuzzi y edificio de servicios

Este trabajo final de carrera se basa en la redacción de un proyecto de ejecución de una zona lúdica situada en el interior del recinto de un camping, la cual estará formada por una piscina de grandes dimensiones formada por tres vasos de tipo desbordante, una piscina de tipo infantil, un jacuzzi y finalmente un edificio de servicios complementarios (bar, aseos y enfermería). La piscina grande estará formada por tres vasos donde el agua va deslizándose de uno a otro hasta ser recogida por un depósito de compensación desde donde se realizará la filtración y tratamiento antes de ser devuelta al piscina de nuevo. La instalación está también preparada para ser utilizado cada vaso como una piscina individual, recogiendo el agua por los rebosaderos laterales y conduciéndola al mismo vaso de compensación. El tratamiento del agua se realizará de forma física a través de la filtración mediante filtros de arena y de forma química analizando la cantidad de cloro residual y el nivel de PH y posteriormente añadiendo de forma automática las cantidades de cloro y corrector de PH adecuados mediante bombas dosificadoras de precisión. La piscina infantil es de pequeñas dimensiones y esta preparada para ser utilizada por niños de muy corta edad. Se diferencia de la piscina grande en el sistema de recirculación de agua (en este casos e utilizarán skimmers) y en el tratamiento posterior, ya que se utilizará el sistema de hidrólisis salina para su desinfección en lugar de añadir directamente cloro. Este sistema de tratamiento del agua no es tan agresivo como el tradicional, siendo cada vez mas utilizado en piscinas de mediano y pequeño tamaño. El jacuzzi es de grandes dimensiones, disponiendo de su propio sistema de tratamiento de agua, utilizando el sistema de hidrólisis salina como en el caso de la piscina infantil. El edificio de servicios dispone de zonas de bar, enfermería y aseos. Se ha descrito desde la estructura a las instalaciones, justificando las conclusiones a través de los cálculos correspondientes, bien de forma manual, bien utilizando diverso software especializado.

Epidemiology of foodborne Norovirus outbreaks in Catalonia, Spain

Background: Noroviruses are one of the principal biological agents associated with the consumption of contaminated food. The objective of this study was to analyse the size and epidemiological characteristics of foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in Catalonia, a region in the northeast of Spain. Methods: In all reported outbreaks of gastroenteritis associated with food consumption, faecal samples of persons affected were analysed for bacteria and viruses and selectively for parasites. Study variables included the setting, the number of people exposed, age, sex, clinical signs and hospital admissions. The study was carried out from October 2004 to October 2005. Results: Of the 181 outbreaks reported during the study period, 72 were caused by Salmonella and 30 by norovirus (NoV); the incidence rates were 14.5 and 9.9 per 100,000 person-years, respectively. In 50% of the NoV outbreaks and 27% of the bacterial outbreaks (p = 0.03) the number of persons affected was ≥10; 66.7% of NoV outbreaks occurred in restaurants; no differences in the attack rates were observed according to the etiology. Hospitalizations were more common (p = 0.03) in bacterial outbreaks (8.6%) than in NoV outbreaks (0.15%). Secondary cases accounted for 4% of cases in NoV outbreaks compared with 0.3% of cases in bacterial outbreaks (p < 0.001) Conclusion: Norovirus outbreaks were larger but less frequent than bacterial outbreaks, suggesting that underreporting is greater for NoV outbreaks. Food handlers should receive training on the transmission of infections in diverse situations. Very strict control measures on handwashing and environmental disinfection should be adopted in closed or partially-closed institutions.

Acondicionamiento de cavidades terapéuticas

La aparición de materiales nuevos obliga a replantearse la preparación del sustrato dental para recibir el material de obturaión. El objetivo de estudio fue analizar la situación actual en lo referente al acondicionamiento de cavidades en operatoria dental previa a la obturación. Para ello se ha revisado la literatura más moderna en tres aspectos: la tinción de la caries, desinfección y la protección del complejo pulpodentinario. Después del estudio del tema llegamos a la conclusión que la dentina ha de ser conservada al máximo conservada al máximo evitando eliminarla de forma innecesaria, la desinfección de la cavidad es fundamental para evitar problemas postoperatorios y la protección del complejo pulpo-dentinario se hace imprescindible independientemente del material de obturación aunque la tendencia actual es seguir utilizando para ello adhesivos dentinarios.