Biomedical subjects

J Azcárate

Publications and source records attributed to J Azcárate.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

European policy on biodegradable waste: a management perspective.

The main characteristics of the European environmental policy are reviewed. Focusing on EU policy on waste, the paper presents the principles on which EU waste management is founded, particularly the waste hierarchy. In this hierarchy, priority shall be given to prevention of the generation of wastes and of its hazardousness. Secondly, the reuse and the recovery of materials (recycling), which implies the separation of waste at source involving consumers in the scheme of waste management. Priority should be given to material recycling over energy recovery. The less desirable option is the disposal of waste. The paper reviews specific directives on organic waste management, following the scheme of the waste hierarchy, together with the general trends observed in producing common regulations for all types of organic residuals. Afterwards, key issues and measures for the implementation of a feasible strategy for organic residuals management, e.g. quality requirements and quality assurance, are discussed. Finally, there is a view from a manager's perspective on the current EU policy, public acceptance and suitable waste management operations.

Biodegradation, Environmental↗

PubMed2000

Feasibility study prior to the certification of trace elements in urban and industrial wastewater reference materials.

Reliable results for the determination of trace elements in urban and industrial wastewaters are of paramount importance for both checking the performance of sewage treatment and for detecting possible urban or industrial contamination sources. The quality control of measurements should in principle rely on external tools such as certified reference materials (CRM), which should represent, as closely as possible, the matrix of samples currently analysed, e.g., in the frame of environmental monitoring. To date, however, no CRM representatives of wastewater composition are available, which limits the possibility for control laboratories to check their QC externally. To fill this gap, the European Commission's Standards, Measurements and Testing Programme (formerly BCR) has started a European collaborative project of which the aim is to test the feasibility of preparation of wastewater reference materials and the analytical state-of-the-art to enable the certification of trace elements in such matrices. This paper presents the results of the first phase of this project, namely the feasibility study and the results of an interlaboratory trial.

Certification↗

PubMed1995

Progressive opening-wedge osteotomy for angular long-bone deformities in adolescents.

We report the treatment in 17 patients of 27 angular deformities of the long bones by progressive opening-wedge osteotomy. The technique consists of percutaneous osteotomy and progressive angular correction using a modified Wagner distractor. Ten patients (20 bone segments) had adolescent bilateral idiopathic tibia vara with a mean angular deformity of 12 degrees varus (10 to 16). Seven other adolescent patients had secondary angular deformities either at the distal femur or the distal tibia. One of the femoral deformities had an associated 5.5 cm of shortening which was treated simultaneously. The patients with idiopathic tibia vara achieved a final mean angular correction of 15 degrees (mechanical axis from 12 degrees varus to 3 degrees valgus). In patients with secondary angular deformities the mean angular correction was 17 degrees. The Wagner device was removed in an average period of 12 weeks (9 to 27), and no major complications were observed. Progressive opening-wedge osteotomy is an alternative to conventional osteotomies for the treatment of angular deformities of the long bones in adolescent patients, and has the advantage of requiring less invasive surgery, allowing progressive and adjustable correction with bone lengthening if needed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1989

[Modified Kasai technique for the treatment of biliary atresia].

Kasai's procedure has changed significantly the prognosis of biliary atresia. However, ascending cholangitis is a relatively frequent postoperative complication with high morbidity and mortality rates. We have developed a modification of that technic consisting in the isolation of a segment of jejunum-with its blood supply carefully preserved, after fashioning an antireflux valve in its distal end. This segment of bowel, less than 10 cm. in length, is anastomosed to the porta hepatis proximally and to the duodenum distally. Using this technic, we have operated upon three infants with biliary atresia and a child with extended rabdosarcoma of the biliary tree. After a follow up of 10 to 17 months with an average of 12.5 months, all children remain free of cholangitis and two of them are anicteric.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗