Functional Simulation Exercise on Functionality of National Public Health Emergency Operations Centers in the African Region: Review of Strengths and Gaps.

National public health emergency operations centers (PHEOCs) serve as hubs for coordinating information and resources for effective emergency management. In the a simulation exercise is 1 of 4 components that can be used to test the functionality of a country's emergency response capabilities in a simulated situation. To test the functionality of PHEOCs in World Health Organization African Region member states, a regional functional exercise simulating an Ebola virus disease outbreak was conducted.

Efficacy assessment of peracetic acid in the removal of synthetic 17α-ethinyl estradiol contraceptive hormone in wastewater.

Increasing concerns have been raised on endocrine disrupting chemicals like the sex hormone 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), the more since traditional wastewater (WW) treatments appear to be ineffective for their removal. The efficacy of the relatively novel disinfectant peracetic acid (PAA) in EE2 removal was evaluated, as well as its potential effects on WW quality parameters. The treatments tested for EE2 removal were also evaluated in terms of toxicity, through the determination of biochemical responses (antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation and vitellogenin induction) using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a biological model.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: case report.

Objective: The description of this case is due to the rarity of this clinical entity and its semiotic diversity, which implies a high level of suspicion for a correct diagnosis.

Methods: Description of a clinical case, based on the data referred to in the clinical process.

Results: The case describes a young male patient, attended to at the emergency room due to right chest pain, which further investigation revealed to be consistent with spontaneous pneumomediastinum.

Thirteen square centimetre mass causing syncope in a patient with device related infective endocarditis.

A 68-year-old man presented with anorexia, weight loss and severe asthenia starting 2 months before and fever lasting over 2 weeks. Analytical study revealed increased C reactive protein and sedimentation velocity. While thoracic x-ray and urinalysis were unremarkable, blood cultures were consistently positive for Enterococcus faecalis.