Health-related quality of life of adults with cutaneous leishmaniasis at ALERT Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a growing public health threat in Ethiopia. Leishmania aethiopica is the predominant causative organism. Affected individuals develop chronic skin lesions on exposed parts of the body, mostly on the face, which are disfiguring and cause scarring.

Sustainable Soil Management: Effects of Clinoptilolite and Organic Compost Soil Application on Eco-Physiology, Quercitin, and Hydroxylated, Methoxylated Anthocyanins on .

Climate change and compostinS1g methods have an important junction on the phenological and ripening grapevine phases. Moreover, the optimization of these composting methods in closed-loop corporate chains can skillfully address the waste problem (pomace, stalks, and pruning residues) in viticultural areas. Owing to the ongoing global warming, in many wine-growing regions, there has been unbalanced ripening, with tricky harvests.

Distinct patterns of occurrence, common associations, and survival of patients with second primary maligancies: A 5-year single institute experience with review of literature.

Background: Multiple primary malignancy (MPM) is defined as occurrence of two or more synchronous or metachronous primary malignancies. With the rise in cancer burden and meticulous screening of index primary malignancy (IPM) during treatment, increased incidence of second primary malignancy (SPM) is expected. This study was undertaken with an attempt to analyze the incidence, commonest associations, management strategies, and clinical outcomes of MPM.

Specific biotests to assess eco-toxicity of biodegradable polymer materials in soil.

Eco-toxicity investigation of polymer materials was considered extremely necessary for their potential menace, which was widely use as mulching materials in agricultural. In this study, polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS) and synthetic biomaterials-Ecoflex and cellulose were applying into soil cultivated with two potential indicator plants species: oat (Avena sativa) and red radish (Raphanus sativum). Variety of chemical, biochemical parameters and enzyme activity in soil were proved as effective approach to evaluate polymers phytotoxicity in plant-soil mesocosm.

Landfarming as a sustainable management strategy for fresh and phytoremediated sediment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a landfarming process (LP) in recovering sediments at different biodegradation phases: phytoremediated dredged sediments (PDS) and fresh dredged sediments (FDS). The PDS landfarming was applied to (1) reduce residual contamination and (2) improve the biological activities in order to obtain a decontaminated matrix rich in organic matter and enzymatic activity to be reused as agronomic substrate. In 3 months of LP, a microbial activity stimulation (from 7 to 48%) and a decrease in organic contamination (about 15%) were recorded.

Methotrexate and prednisolone study in erythema nodosum leprosum (MaPs in ENL) protocol: a double-blind randomised clinical trial.

Introduction: Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is an immunological complication of leprosy. ENL results in morbidity and disability and if it is not treated can lead to death. The current treatment consists of thalidomide or high doses of oral corticosteroids for prolonged periods.

Monitoring of a long term phytoremediation process of a soil contaminated by heavy metals and hydrocarbons in Tuscany.

The purpose of this study was to monitor and model indicators of soil contamination, organic matter evolution and biochemical processes involved in a long-term phytoremediation process. Populus nigra L., Paulownia tomentosa Steud.

Remediated marine sediment as growing medium for lettuce production: assessment of agronomic performance and food safety in a pilot experiment.

Background: The use of reclaimed dredged sediments as growing media may offer a profitable alternative to their disposal as a waste and at the same time meets the need of peat-substitute substrates in horticulture. When sediments are reused to cultivate food crops, issues related to human health rise due to potential accumulation of contaminants in the product. This pilot study aimed at verifying the suitability of a reclaimed dredged port sediment, used pure or mixed with peat, as a growing medium for lettuce cultivation.

Phytoremediated marine sediments as suitable peat-free growing media for production of red robin photinia (Photinia x fraseri).

Sediments dredged by an industrial port, slightly contaminated by heavy metals and petroleoum hydrocarbons, were phytoremediated and used as peat-free growing media for the red robin photinia (Photinia x fraseri L.). Plants were grown on sediment only (S), sediment mixed with composted pruning residues (S + PR), sediment fertilized with controlled release fertilizers (S + F) and peat-based growing media as control (C).

Clinico-pathological features of erythema nodosum leprosum: A case-control study at ALERT hospital, Ethiopia.

Background: Leprosy reactions are a significant cause of morbidity in leprosy population. Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is an immunological complication affecting approximately 50% of patients with lepromatous leprosy (LL) and 10% of borderline lepromatous (BL) leprosy. ENL is associated with clinical features such as skin lesions, neuritis, arthritis, dactylitis, eye inflammation, osteitis, orchitis, lymphadenitis and nephritis.

The prevalence and association with health-related quality of life of tungiasis and scabies in schoolchildren in southern Ethiopia.

Background: The prevalence of skin disease in low and middle income countries is high and communicable skin diseases are a significant public health problem. Tungiasis is an ectoparasite infestation caused by the flea Tunga penetrans, which has a widespread geographical distribution. Tungiasis causes painful skin lesions and may affect activities of daily living.

A leprosy clinical severity scale for erythema nodosum leprosum: An international, multicentre validation study of the ENLIST ENL Severity Scale.

Objectives: We wished to validate our recently devised 16-item ENLIST ENL Severity Scale, a clinical tool for measuring the severity of the serious leprosy associated complication of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL). We also wished to assess the responsiveness of the ENLIST ENL Severity Scale in detecting clinical change in patients with ENL.

Methods: Participants, recruited from seven centres in six leprosy endemic countries, were assessed using the ENLIST ENL Severity Scale by two researchers, one of whom categorised the severity of ENL.

Use of phytoremediated sediments dredged in maritime port as plant nursery growing media.

We evaluated the potential of a phytoremediated sediment (TR) dredged from maritime port as peat-free growth substrate for seven ornamental plants, in comparison with an untreated sediment (NT), in a greenhouse experiment. The studied plants were Quercus ilex, Photinia x fraseri, Viburnum tinus, Cistus albidus, Raphiolepis indica, Westringia fruticosa and Teucrium fruticans. Plant growth was monitored for ten months, and the changes in the physico-chemical properties, toxicity, microbial biomass and enzyme activities involved in the C, P and N cycles were also monitored during the plant growth period.

The phytoremediation of an organic and inorganic polluted soil: A real scale experience.

A phytoremediation process with horse manure, plants (Populus alba, Cytisus scoparius, Paulownia tomentosa) and naturally growing vegetation was carried out at a real-scale in order to phytoremediate and functionally recover a soil contaminated by metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu, Cr), hydrocarbons (TPH) and polychlorobiphenyls (PCB). All the plants were effective in two years in the reclamation of the polluted soil, showing an average reduction of about 35%, 40%, and 70% in metals, TPH and PCB content, respectively. As regards the plants, the poplar contributed the most to organic removal.

ENLIST 1: An International Multi-centre Cross-sectional Study of the Clinical Features of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum.

Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a severe multisystem immune mediated complication of borderline lepromatous leprosy and lepromatous leprosy. ENL is associated with skin lesions, neuritis, arthritis, dactylitis, eye inflammation, osteitis, orchitis, lymphadenitis and nephritis. The treatment of ENL requires immunosuppression, which is often required for prolonged periods of time and may lead to serious adverse effects.

Molecular tools to understand the bioremediation effect of plants and earthworms on contaminated marine sediments.

A meso-scale pilot plant was set up to test the efficiency of a bioremediation scheme applied to marine sediments contaminated by heavy metals and hydrocarbons. The experiment was implemented for three years in two stages using two remediation agents: plants (Paspalum vaginatum and Tamarix gallica) and earthworms (Eisenia fetida). DNA and RNA-based methodologies were applied to elucidate the dynamics of the bacterial population and were related to improving biological and chemical conditions of the sediments.

Factors controlling carbon metabolism and humification in different soil agroecosystems.

The aim of this study was to describe the processes that control humic carbon sequestration in soil. Three experimental sites differing in terms of management system and climate were selected: (i) Abanilla-Spain, soil treated with municipal solid wastes in Mediterranean semiarid climate; (ii) Puch-Germany, soil under intensive tillage and conventional agriculture in continental climate; and (iii) Alberese-Italy, soil under organic and conventional agriculture in Mediterranean subarid climate. The chemical-structural and biochemical soil properties at the initial sampling time and one year later were evaluated.

Exploring the functional soil-microbe interface and exoenzymes through soil metaexoproteomics.

Functionally important proteins at the interface of cell and soil are of potentially low abundance when compared with commonly recovered intracellular proteins. A novel approach was developed and used to extract the metaexoproteome, the subset of proteins found outside the cell, in the context of a soil enriched with the nitrogen-containing recalcitrant polymer chitin. The majority of proteins recovered was of bacterial origin and localized to the outer membrane or extracellular milieu.

Organic matter and pollutants monitoring in reed bed systems for sludge stabilization: a case study.

In this study, results about sludge stabilization and pollutant monitoring in a reed bed system (RBSs) situated in Central Italy (Colle di Compito, 4,000 p.e.) were presented.

Ornamental plants for micropollutant removal in wetland systems.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the efficiency of micropollutant removal, such as Cu, Zn, carbamazepine, and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS), through the use of a subsurface vertical flow constructed wetland system with ornamental plants. Zantedeschia aethiopica, Canna indica, Carex hirta, Miscanthus sinensis, and Phragmites australis were selected and planted in lysimeters filled up with gravel. The lysimeters were completely saturated with synthetic wastewater (N 280 mg L(-1), P 30 mg L(-1), Cu 3.

The mortality associated with erythema nodosum leprosum in Ethiopia: a retrospective hospital-based study.

Background: Erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) is a debilitating multisystem disorder which complicates leprosy. It is characterised by fever, malaise and painful erythematous cutaneous nodules. ENL is often recurrent or chronic in nature and frequently severe.

Stabilisation and mineralisation of sludge in reed bed systems after 10-20 years of operation.

Sludge stabilisation and mineralisation during periods of operation between 10 and 21 years were investigated in three different systems receiving sludge from urban wastewater treatment plants situated in Denmark. Samples were taken along the entire profiles, in order to compare the effectiveness of the sludge stabilisation process. Particular attention was given to the stabilisation process occurring within the reed beds; in fact, parameters correlated to biochemical properties of organic sludge matter were determined.

Phytoremediation of dredged marine sediment: monitoring of chemical and biochemical processes contributing to sediment reclamation.

In this study, a pilot phytoremediation experiment was performed to treat about 80 m(3) of silty saline sediments contaminated by heavy metals and organic compounds. After preliminary mixing with a sandy soil and green compost application, three different plant treatments [Paspalum vaginatum (P); P. vaginatum + Spartium junceum (P + S); P.

Organic matter stabilization in reed bed systems: Danish and Italian examples.

In this study, results about sludge stabilization in reed bed systems (RBSs) after the entire period of operation in two different systems situated in Denmark (Helsinge 42,000 population equivalent (p.e.) - 10 years) and in Italy (La Fontina, 30,000 p.

Functional gene expression of oil-degrading bacteria resistant to hexadecane toxicity.

Contamination with oil poses a threat to the environment and to human health worldwide. Biological methodologies have proved to be economical, versatile and efficient for the remediation of pollutants. In this paper, a highly efficient oil-degrading bacterial strain USTB-2 was isolated from an oil production well of Dagang oil field in Tianjin, China.