Co-composting of oil exhausted olive-cake, poultry manure and industrial residues of agro-food activity for soil amendment

The co-composting of exhausted olive-cake with poultry manure and sesame shells was investigated. These organic solid wastes were watered by the confectionary wastewater which is characterized by its high content of residual sugars raising its COD. Four aerated windrows were performed to establish the effects of confectionary by-products on the compost process. Different mixtures of the agro-industrial wastes were used. During the composting process, physico-chemical parameters (temperature, moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, total carbon and total nitrogen) were studied. The stability of the biological system was noticed after 70 days. The final products were characterized by their relatively high organic matter content, and low C/N ratio of 14-17. The humidification of the windrows with the wastewater seemed to have accelerated the composting process in comparison to a windrow humidified with water. In addition, the organic matter degradation was enhanced to reach 55-70%. The application of the obtained composts to soil appeared to significantly improve the soil fertility. Indeed, field experiments showed an increase in potato yield; the production was 30.5-37.5 tons ha(-1), compared to 30.5 tons ha(-1) with farm manure.

Co-composting of oil exhausted olive-cake, poultry manure and industrial residues of agro-food activity for soil amendment

The co-composting of exhausted olive-cake with poultry manure and sesame shells was investigated. These organic solid wastes were watered by the confectionary wastewater which is characterized by its high content of residual sugars raising its COD. Four aerated windrows were performed to establish the effects of confectionary by-products on the compost process. Different mixtures of the agro-industrial wastes were used. During the composting process, physico-chemical parameters (temperature, moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, total carbon and total nitrogen) were studied. The stability of the biological system was noticed after 70 days. The final products were characterized by their relatively high organic matter content, and low C/N ratio of 14-17. The humidification of the windrows with the wastewater seemed to have accelerated the composting process in comparison to a windrow humidified with water. In addition, the organic matter degradation was enhanced to reach 55-70%. The application of the obtained composts to soil appeared to significantly improve the soil fertility. Indeed, field experiments showed an increase in potato yield; the production was 30.5-37.5 tons ha(-1), compared to 30.5 tons ha(-1) with farm manure.

Bioconversion of wastes from the olive oil and confectionary industries: spectroscopic study of humic acids

Structural changes in humic acids extracted from composted mixtures of sesame bark with the paste of olive mill wastewater or exhausted olive cake, were investigated using FTIR spectroscopy and solid state 13C CP/MAS techniques. The C/N ratio and organic matter degradation decreased significantly after 6 months of composting. The FTIR spectra of humic acids content showed an increase in the aromatic compounds content and a degradation of aliphatic chains. During composting, nuclear magnetic resonance 13C spectral analyses confirmed that aromatic groups exhibited a slight increase while the aliphatic groups decreased and disappeared at the end of the composting process. These results showed that during composting, aliphatic chains were preferentially oxidized, while aromatic macromolecules were bio converted into highly functionalized compounds.

[Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis in children. Apropos of 8 cases]

Eight pediatric cases of the diffuse form of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis are reported. These patients were selected among 17 with destruction of one kidney. Clinical symptoms were suggestive of a tumor in some instances. However, an infectious etiology was strongly suggested by the presence of a renal lithiasis in seven cases (including five staghorn stones) and of a urinary tract infection in six cases (usually caused by a Proteus). Nephrectomy was performed in every case.

[Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome associated with dysthyroidism]

The occurrence of Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome in a context of dysthyroidism is not a chance happening, as is reflected by the 37% rate of incidence. Routine labial biopsy, carried out in 59 cases of primary hypothyroidism due to atrophic thyroiditis, 20 of Basedow's disease and 4 of Hashimoto thyroiditis identified Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome (3-4 Chisholm grade) in 3 of the 59 cases of hypothyroidism i.e. in 5 percent, and in one Basedow case out of 20, i.e. 5 percent. Using Kaplan's criteria, the incidence of Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome rises to 22 percent in hypothyroidism and 30 percent in Basedow's disease. Consequently, the incidence of Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome is higher in Basedow disease than in primary hypothyroidism. Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome is seen particularly in dysthyroidism involving manifest and all-round clinical signs. This association does not seem to result from one disease being caused by the other, but the outcome of the onset of entities to which a genetically determined context predisposes the subject, as is shown by the prevalence of HLA DRW3 and HLA B8 groupings in Gougerot-Sjögren syndrome, in primary hypothyroidism, in Basedow's disease and in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

[Malacoplakia in children. Report of a case with bilateral ureteral stenosis]

A case of severe vesicoureteral malakoplakia with bilateral megaureter in a child is reported. On the basis of a review of the literature, we recall the main characteristics of this condition, particularly concerning pathologic findings and ethiopathogenesis, and underline the difficulty of therapeutic decisions, especially if surgery is considered.

[Left-sided scrotal pain as a manifestation of an accessory spleen ectopic to the gonads]

The authors report a new case of accessory spleno-testicular fusion with scrotal pain. They point out the main features of this rare congenital anomaly and review data from the literature.