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With the current increasing interest in aquifer denitrification, recent attention has been given to cost-effective in-situ treatments such as Enhanced In-Situ Biological Denitrification (EISBD), which intends to stimulate the indigenous bacterial activity by injecting an external organic substrate and/or nutrients to the aquifer matrix. Within this context, laboratory batch assays have been conducted to develop a strategy for in-situ denitrification of a nitrate-contaminated aquifer in Argentona, Catalonia (Spain). The assays were run under aerobic and anaerobic conditions at a temperature of 17 degrees C to better simulate the conditions of the aquifer. Acetate and glucose were added to assess their potential to promote heterotrophic denitrifying bacteria activity. Overall, the results revealed that indigenous micro-organisms had the potential of reducing nitrate under appropriate conditions. Nitrate removal was complete and faster under anaerobic conditions, though high nitrate removals were also attained under initial aerobic conditions when a readily organic compound was amended at a sufficient dosage. The results also revealed that a significant amount of the available organic carbon was consumed by processes other than denitrification, namely aerobic oxidation and other microbial oxidation processes. To sum up, the results of this study demonstrated that addition of organic compounds into the groundwater is a promising method for in-situ bioremediation of nitrate in the Argentona aquifer. This approach could potentially be applied to a number of situations in which nitrate concentration is elevated and where indigenous micro-organisms with potential to reduce nitrate are present within the aquifer material.

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Isosaccharinic (ISA) and gluconic acids (GLU) are polyhydroxy carboxylic compounds showing a high affinity to metal complexation. Both organic ligands are expected in the cementitious environments usually considered for the disposal of low- and intermediate-level radioactive wastes. The hyperalkaline conditions imposed by cementitious materials contribute to the formation of ISA through cellulose degradation, whereas GLU is commonly used as a concrete additive. Despite the high stability attributed to ISA/GLU complexes of tetravalent actinides, the number and reliability of available experimental studies is still limited. This work aims at providing a general and comprehensive overview of the state of the art regarding Th, U(IV), Np(IV), and Pu(IV) complexes with ISA and GLU. In the presence of ISA/GLU concentrations in the range 10(-5)-10(-2) M and absence of calcium, An(IV)(OH)x(L)y complexes (An(IV)=Th, U(IV), Np(IV), Pu(IV); L=ISA, GLU) are expected to dominate the aqueous speciation of tetravalent actinides in the alkaline pH range. There is a moderate agreement among their stability, although the stoichiometry of certain An(IV)-GLU complexes is still ill-defined. Under hyperalkaline conditions and presence of calcium, the species CaTh(OH)4(L)2(aq) has been described for both ISA and GLU, and similar complexes may be expected to form with other tetravalent actinides. In the present work, the available thermodynamic data for An(IV)-ISA/GLU complexes have been reviewed and re-calculated to ensure the internal consistency of the stability constants assessed. Further modelling exercises, estimations based on Linear Free-Energy Relationships (LFER) among tetravalent actinides, as well as direct analogies between ISA and GLU complexes have also been performed. This approach has led to the definition of a speciation scheme for the complexes of Th, U(IV), Np(IV) and Pu(IV) with ISA and GLU forming in alkaline to hyperalkaline pH conditions, both in the absence and presence of calcium.

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Molecular characterization of human female gametes should make it easier to understand the basis of certain infertility disorders. Biologically significant mRNAs have been analysed in single oocytes to search for molecular biomarkers of oocyte quality. Initial analysis was focused on mRNA for proteins involved in cell growth and cycle control, specifically those encoding members of the general transcription apparatus such as the subunits of the general transcription factor TFIID. This heteromultimeric protein, comprising about 15 subunits, is the most important general transcription factor of the second class. These proteins are essential for the initiation of transcription of protein-coding genes, so they must be present in mature oocytes for mRNA synthesis during the first phases of embryonic development. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction was used to identify different TFIID subunits in single oocytes and to search for differences in expression as compared with control tissues. The data show that the mRNAs for most TFIID subunits are indeed synthesized in oocytes, but their expression profiles differ markedly. TATAbox-binding protein associated factor 4B (TAF4B), TAF5 and TATAbox-binding protein-like 2 (TBPL2) are expressed at higher levels in oocytes than in control tissues. It is suggested that they could be used as biomarkers of oocyte quality.

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Selenium is a toxic element with a relatively high mobility in the natural waters. Iron oxy-hydroxides might play an important role in the migration of this element as well as on its removal from contaminated water. In this work we study the interaction of Se(IV), and Se(VI) with natural iron oxides hematite and goethite through two series of batch experiments at room temperature. In the first series, sorption as a function of initial selenium concentration is studied and the results have been fitted with Langmuir isotherms. In a second series of experiments, sorption is studied as a function of pH, being the main trend an increase of the sorption at acidic pH. The variation of the sorption with pH has been modelled with a triple layer surface complexation model and using the FITEQL program. The experimental data have been modelled considering for the Se(IV) the formation of the FeOSe(O)O(-) complex onto the hematite surface, and a mixture of FeOSe(O)O(-), and FeOSe(O)OH onto the goethite surface. For Se(VI) the surface complex considered is FeOH(2)(+)-SeO(4)(2-) on both goethite and hematite.

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Due to the higher stability of the spent nuclear fuel (mainly composed of UO2) under reducing conditions, and in order to enhance the retention/retardation of some key radionuclides, the olivine rock from the Lovasjärvi intrusion has been proposed as a potential redox-active backfill-additive in deep high-level nuclear waste (HLNW) repositories. In this work, two different approaches have been undertaken in order to establish the redox buffer capacity of olivine rock: (1) The capacity of the rock to respond to changes in pH or pe has been demonstrated and the final (pH, pe) coordinates agree with the control exerted by the system Fe(II)/Fe(III). (2) The rate of consumption of oxygen has been determined at different pH values. These rates are higher than the ones reported in the literature for other solids, what would point to the possibility of using this rock as an additive to the backfill material in a HLNW.

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This study presents the performance of 39 cases of myotonic dystrophy on Kohs' blocks test (21 females and 18 males, age range from 9 to 70 years). On this test, the patients have to reproduce figures from models previously showed to them. Some of the patients had some kind of professional activity, while others had never exerted a professional occupation. The patients denoted considerable difficulty to perform the test. Some cases constructed entirely different figures in comparison to the presented drawings, translating visuo-spatial and constructional disabilities. The performance was insufficient in 71.4% of the cases. These cases solved less than 50% of the test. The levels of analysis and synthesis were severely impaired. A total of 18 cases got less than 10 points, not reaching 20% of the test. The results showed the sensitivity of this test in detecting visuo-spatial impairment in myotonic dystrophy.

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In this paper the authors disclose the result of a research carried out on two brothers whose parents were first cousins, being the gene transmitted by the father. The psychological test Wechsler Intelligence Scale of Children (WISC) was used in two occasions in order to assess the verbal and non-verbal skills. FRM and IRM were nine and eleven-year-old respectively, in the first examination, being the former thirteen and the latter fifteen-year-old on the second one. A comparison between the McFie's diagram and the WISC scores was made: the McFie's diagram showed the impairment severity in each cortical lobe when the left hemisphere was compared with the right one. The McFie's diagram was made from WISC's scores: the McFie's diagram showed the impairment severity in each cortical lobe when the left hemisphere was compared with the right one. On the second examination the performance was worse than in the first, mainly in the non-verbal aspects. The IRM's diagram showed a reduction in the right frontal and parietal lobes. In the FRM's diagram a reduction in the left frontal, temporal and parietal lobes, and also, in the right parietal lobe was found. The visual-spatial constructive aspects showed greatest impairment in this result.

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The authors studied in two occasions a group of 12 patients with myotonic dystrophy in a mean interval of three years and a half between the examinations. The neuro-psychological battery included the following tests: Raven's progressive matrices (coloured and general scales), Wechsler children intelligence scale (WISC), Kohs' blocks and Piaget-Head. 50% of the patients had better scores on the second examination on RCPM, 81.89% on WISC-digit span, 63.67% on WISC-numbers, 44.44% on Piaget-Head 2 and 60% on Kohs' blocks. However, on Piaget-Head 1-3, the majority had worse results (87.56%) with statistical significative difference (p < 0.05). Though the scores from Kohs' blocks were better in 60% of the patients with p < 0.05, we have to consider that 60% had 0 point on first examination being their scores a little better on second one. This is enough to result on statistical significative difference, however, very low if compared to normal subjects.

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The authors carried out a study of children with progressive muscular dystrophy of Duchenne type (DMD), giving special attention to physiatrical follow-up, having in mind that the practice of exercises has been debated very much in the specialized literature. The goal of this study is to try to settle the limits for the utilization of kinesitherapy which should be applied only in specific situations, such as: after skeletal muscular trauma or when the respiratory system is at risk. In this situation the physiatrical procedure would be to restrict physical activity, with early use of wheelchairs and the exclusion of the use of orthoses for orthostatism. DMD, at present, has been considered a result of duplication (60%), deletion (5 to 6%) or point mutations at gen Xp21 (Zatz, 1994), that codifies a protein called Dystrophin (Hoffman et al., 1987). Dystrophin is a cytoskeletal sarcolemmic protein that constitutes about .002% of the total protein of the muscle, present in skeletal fibers concentrated in muscle tendinous joints, which supplies mechanical reinforcement to the surface of the membrane during stretching and shortening physical activity. This protein is absent in DMD cases, wherefore, the sarcolemma undergoes a segmentary necrosis losing its contractile property during eccentric and concentric physical activity. The importance of physiatrical follow-up for DMD patients is to avoid deformities and tendon shortening, to ameliorate the patient's quality of life, to provide respiratory assistance and general counseling to members of the patient's family. The objective of this study is to try to clarify the risks and possibilities of kinesitherapy applied to DMD cases.

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Orofacial examination was applied in 39 patients with myotonic dystrophy. We made an original table with a scale of punctuation. The group showed a deficit of 43.70%. The female group was 6.16% better than male's. The maternal inherited cases were 3.63% better than the paternal ones. When we separated the groups by decades, there was a tendency to an increasingly better performance as the age of the beggining of symptoms was later. The performance was 10.68% better in the group of patients with 1 to 10 years than in the group with 11 to 20 years of disease. We concluded that the phonoaudiological affection in myotonic dystrophy was less intense in patients with later onset of symptoms and less than 10 years of disease.

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An account of the authors' experience in strength measurement using a hand-held dynamometer in 16 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is given. A rapid decrease of knee extension strength was observed, between 6 and 8 years of age, analysing among patients of different ages. At the same time loss of the ability to walk has occurred. An unexplainable increase in strength was observed in two patients examined in a six month interval. A short review of the literature is given and the conclusion of the importance on the wider use of the instrument.

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Steinert's disease (myotonic dystrophy) is a hereditary degeneration transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait recognized by clinical history, physical examination, electromyography and muscle biopsy. In a prospective study of Steinert's disease, thirty-one patients underwent physical examination, standard ECG, exercise ECG, Holter electrocardiography, chest X-ray, M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography, phonocardiography and radionuclide angiocardiography with the intent to study the involvement of cardiac muscle. Owing to the frequent complaint of dyspnea (l4 patients - 45.16 per cent) and the evidence of peripheral cyanosis (8 patients - 25.80 per cent), spirometry was carried out in order to evaluate the cardiorespiratory involvement. Twenty-one patients (67.7 per cent) presented symptoms and 30 patients (96.71 per cent) clinical signs at the examination. Standard ECG disclosed 27 patients (90 per cent) with some abnormality. Conduction defects were shown in 14 patients (46.66 per cent), arrhythmias in 9 cases (30 per cent) and low voltage of the P wave in 8 cases (26.66 per cent). Conduction defects not disclosed by standard ECG were shown by Holter electrocardiographic recordings. Echocardiography disclosed a high incidence of mitral valve prolapse (39.13 per cent). Phonocardiographic systolic time intervals were abnormal in all patients, even through with normal PEP/LVET ratio. Ejection fraction and segmental contractility were normal as measured at rest by radionuclide angiocardiography in 20 cases (64.51 per cent). Fourteen patients were subjected to spirometry. This study showed 9 patients (64.28 per cent) with respiratory disturbances. The major ventilatory dysfunction was the restrictive component, present in 7 cases (77.77 per cent). These data suggest respiratory involvement in myotonic dystrophy.

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Os autores demonstraron a presenca de tumores (epitelioma de Malherbe) associados a doenca de Steinert, em uma mulher branca de 34 anos de idade. Estudaram o caso de ponto de vista histopatologico, constatando a semelhanca com as descricoes de outros autores

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Os autores descrevem oito casos de pacientes com crises epilepticas relacionadas a ingestao de alimentos.Sao descritas as caracteristicas das crises, frequencia e resultados terapeuticos, bem como a avaliacao eletroencefalografica

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Estudou-se o caso de um paciente com crises epilepticas relacionadas a ingestao de alimentos, cujos exames complementares mostraram a presenca de massa tumoral frontoparietal direita, identificada histologicamente como astrocitoma protoplasmatico microcistico, que se infiltrava ate a cissura silviana

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Os autores chamam atencao para o problema do comprometimento neurologico da esquistossomose mansonica em nosso meio, com areas endemicas, onde milhoes de individuos sao acometidos por esta parasitose. Assinalam a subestimacao destas complicacoes que sao pouco diagnosticadas, apesar das multiplas manifestacoes medulares e encefalicas que surgem nestes casos, embora as lesoes medulares sejam bem mais frequentes e mais sugestivas. Ressaltam a importancia do diagnostico etiologico diante da existencia de possibilidades terapeuticas satisfatorias

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Three women with extrinsic oculo-muscular distrophy were studied. In two patients the symptoms were began at 25 and another one at 56 year-old. Non myogenic features were observed: in case one there was familial otosclerosis. This patient had impossibility to beget children. Her first menstruation was observed at 19 and the last at 40 year-old, like to case 2, which was the only to have electrocardiographic alterations. Romberg's signal and profound hyporeflexia was obtained in case 3, whose family had a lot of member with cataract. Biopsy of the non ocular muscles was made too, in spite of patient's symptoms had been concerning to ocular muscles only. All of non ocular muscles had myogenic features. In electromyogram examination of non ocular muscles the myogenic features were observed too. Therefore, we believe in diffuse myogenic process in spite of ocular manifestation had been the only patient's complaints.

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A caracteristic case of hemifacial progressive atrophy at right is reported. The patient was a man with 45 year-old. There were epileptic crisis at left too. Alterations observed in clinical-neurological examination are referred. In computadorized tomographic axial examination there were parietotemporal atrophy at left and frontal contrast hipercaptation at right. In EEG there were lentification at right and depression at left who was in concordance with the pathological alterations of the patient: atrophy and cortical depression at left with facial atrophy at right and lentification and contrast hipercaptation at right with epileptic crisis at left. EMG showed facial velocity conduction slowed at right. The authors believe in atrophy hemifacial progressive has been a disease which injuries central and peripheral nervous system at one time.

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E apresentado um exemplar de atrofia hemifacial progressiva com acometimento caracteristico da hemiface direita. Concomitantemente, havia crises epilepticas dimidiadas a esquerda. O EEG mostrou depressao do ritmo a esquerda e lentificacao a direita. Na TC havia atrofia a esquerda e hipercaptacao frontal direita do contraste. O EMG mostrou lentificacao na conducao nervosa facial a direita.Comentarios sao feitos sobre os achados acima, bem como uma revisao da literatura

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