PubMed · 15573556
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Jerry Laws. 2004. Danger overhead.. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15573556/
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Biomonitoring of trace elements is essential to assess ecosystem health, in particular in landscapes influenced by human activity. The Guadiamar Valley (SW Spain) was polluted in 1998 by a spill from an open-pit pyrite mine affecting about 55 km2. In this paper, we used two common species of tree, namely wild olive and holm oak, to biomonitor the concentration of nine trace elements-As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Tl and Zn-in this spill-affected area over the 3-year period 1999-2001. We analysed the leaves and fruits of trees growing in the spill-affected terraces, and compared them with adjacent trees in the non-affected upper terraces. The main trace elements polluting the soil were Zn, As, Pb and Cu. In general, the oak leaves were richer in trace elements than the olive leaves, reaching phytotoxic levels for As and Pb, while the olive fruits (pulp) were more polluted than the oak seeds (protected inside a hard pericarp), reaching toxic values for Cd and Pb. The concentration of trace elements in the leaves and fruits decreased with time and, in consequence, the toxicity risk to the food web diminished.
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STUDY DESIGN: Case report of a patient treated surgically 2 months after sustaining a misdiagnosed acute traumatic lumbosacral dislocation is presented. OBJECTIVES: The aims is to report in full about an uncommon case of anterior traumatic L5-S1 spondylolisthesis treated successfully with combined posterior stabilization and anterior fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Review of literature shows that traumatic lumbosacral dislocations and its treatment by open reduction and internal fixation are rare with only few well-documented case reports. METHODS: We report the case of a 37-year-old man, who sustained a work-related traumatic lumbosacral dislocation. The delayed diagnosis of traumatic L5-S1 spondylolisthesis was initially missed and first treated, when the patient was transferred to the author's institution because of persistent neurological deficits. In the following the patient was successfully reduced and stabilized with posterior internal fixation and anterior interbody fusion. This case is documented in detail with radiographs, CT and MRI scans, as well as clinical pictures. RESULTS: At a 1.5-year follow-up complete fusion was achieved. The patient returned to work on the same job before injury, ambulating pain-free with a good subjective back-function and no limitations carrying out his recreational activities. At follow-up he had persistent sensible S1 nerve root deficits (ASIA grade E). CONCLUSIONS: Traumatic lumbosacral spondylolisthesis is a rare injury pattern. Its diagnosis can be missed initially, therefore computed tomography with biplanar reconstructions is mandatory in addition to good-quality conventional radiographs to plan and carry out such challenging management problems successfully. Surgical treatment for reduction, stabilization and interbody fusion is the method of choice.