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In many ways, South Africa’s landscape has been dominated by mining, given that, for so many years this sector has been the mainstay of the South African economy. As such the environmental impacts of these mining activities are one of the greatest globally. These environmental impacts need to be addressed during each phase of environmental planning, especially during mine closure. By investigating the microbial enzymatic activity of tailings associated with different gold mine waste disposal environments in order to distinguish the effects of gold mining on associated ecosystems. This research will exemplify the importance of microbiological enzymatic characteristics as part of rehabilitation assessment criteria. Soil enzymatic and physicochemical analysis were analysed by standard methods and the result emphasised that the tailings materials possess poor microbial enzymatic activities. The baseline soil microbial activity levels of the tailings are dependent on the specific chemical, physical and biological parameters of the tailings materials. The microbial activity of the different gold tailings storage facilities varied greatly. Generally, the microbial enzymatic activity was greater on the surface/rhizosphere zone in the partially revegetated tailings sites. In contrast, the barren tailings had the lowest microbial enzymatic activity, which also had the lowest acidic pH. The low dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, urease, acid and alkaline phosphatase enzymatic activities observed at these mining sites signifies that tailings materials possess poor microbiological enzymatic characteristics. Consequently, it can be assumed that the soil quality and fertility of these sites are lower because of decreased microbial activity due to the deficit of biodegradable organic matter and limited nutrient cycling. The mine waste disposal environment is devoid of true soil character deprived of macro and micro-nutrients, acidic pH with elevated concentrations of trace metals. Thus, indicating a high degree of soil degradation and poor soil health that affects not only the chemical and physical characteristic of the tailings material but also the microbiological properties. As such, it is clear that the contribution that microbes make to the ecosystems functioning in extreme environments, such as mine waste disposal environments is vastly underrated. Subsequently, microbial processes need to be included into mine rehabilitation practices, hypotheses, models, and interpretation of rehabilitation findings. To conclude, the study provided a microbial baseline status of different gold tailings storage facilities that will provide a platform for future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article, titled "Cerebral Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Monitoring as a Predictor for Postoperative Inadequate Emergence Following Anesthesia in Adult Cardiac Surgery Patients: Myth or Reality?", explores the association between cerebral oxygen saturation decrease and inadequate emergence after cardiac surgery. The study included 309 patients over the age of 50 who underwent elective cardiac surgery. The results showed that patients with inadequate emergence had a longer duration of cerebral oxygen saturation reduction and ventilation. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings in a larger sample size. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the role of sarcopenia, a condition characterized by low muscle mass, as a potential marker for mortality in patients undergoing VA-ECMO implantation for postcardiotomy shock. The study retrospectively analyzed 439 patients who underwent ECMO implantation and identified 144 patients who had a perioperative computed tomography scan. The study found that patients with sarcopenia had a significantly higher 30-day mortality rate compared to those without sarcopenia. The authors suggest that sarcopenia could be used as a supplemental tool for risk stratification in these patients. [Extracted from the article]

Despite new concepts and strategies of basic and advanced life support, the outcome of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains poor. The main reason accounting for these poor results is a low-flow phase during conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with insufficient end organ perfusion. The early use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vaECMO) during CPR, i.e. extracorporeal resuscitation (ECPR) might improve OHCA survival rates as well as the neurological outcome in resuscitated patients. This article on a case series discusses the management of ECPR in three patients with OHCA. All patients suffered from a witnessed OHCA and received effective bystander CPR. After subsequent advanced cardiac life support could not achieve a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), vaECMO support was established as a bridge to therapy on site or after transportation to a primary or tertiary hospital. During the course of therapy two patients died and one patient was discharged after a full recovery. Early ECPR might improve the outcome in patients with prolonged cardiac arrest without ROSC. The use of ECPR should be based on the individual decision of an experienced ECPR team considering defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. As the outcome mainly depends on the duration and quality of conventional CPR, ECPR support should be requested immediately after establishing advanced life support (approximately 10-15 min). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite new concepts and strategies of basic and advanced life support, the outcome of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains poor. The main reason accounting for these poor results is a low-flow phase during conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with insufficient end organ perfusion. The early use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vaECMO) during CPR, i.e. extracorporeal resuscitation (ECPR) might improve OHCA survival rates as well as the neurological outcome in resuscitated patients. This article on a case series discusses the management of ECPR in three patients with OHCA. All patients suffered from a witnessed OHCA and received effective bystander CPR. After subsequent advanced cardiac life support could not achieve a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), vaECMO support was established as a bridge to therapy on site or after transportation to a primary or tertiary hospital. During the course of therapy two patients died and one patient was discharged after a full recovery. Early ECPR might improve the outcome in patients with prolonged cardiac arrest without ROSC. The use of ECPR should be based on the individual decision of an experienced ECPR team considering defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. As the outcome mainly depends on the duration and quality of conventional CPR, ECPR support should be requested immediately after establishing advanced life support (approximately 10-15 min). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current report highlights the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (va-ECMO) in a case of pulmonary embolism complicated by right ventricular failure. A 38-year-old woman was admitted to a secondary care hospital with dyspnea and systemic hypotension. Diagnostic testing revealed a massive pulmonary embolism. Thrombolytic therapy was unsuccessful necessitating thromboendarterectomy in the presence of cardiogenic shock. To allow the necessary transport of the highly unstable patient to a tertiary care center a mobile ECMO team was called in. The team immediately initiated awake va-ECMO as a bridge to therapy. Extracorporeal support subsequently allowed a safe transportation and successful completion of the surgical procedure with complete recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current report highlights the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (va-ECMO) in a case of pulmonary embolism complicated by right ventricular failure. A 38-year-old woman was admitted to a secondary care hospital with dyspnea and systemic hypotension. Diagnostic testing revealed a massive pulmonary embolism. Thrombolytic therapy was unsuccessful necessitating thromboendarterectomy in the presence of cardiogenic shock. To allow the necessary transport of the highly unstable patient to a tertiary care center a mobile ECMO team was called in. The team immediately initiated awake va-ECMO as a bridge to therapy. Extracorporeal support subsequently allowed a safe transportation and successful completion of the surgical procedure with complete recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A 49-year-old male patient suffering from end-stage ischemic cardiomyopathy with a left ventricular ejection fraction below 15% was presented to redo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Coronary angiogram demonstrated an occluded left anterior descending artery and occluded right coronary artery, perfused retrogradely from the circumflex artery. Since positron emission tomography did not demonstrate viable left ventricular myocardium except for the basis of the left ventricle, CABG was considered futile. Cardiac transplantation was contra-indicated due to pharmacologically unresponsive pulmonary artery hypertension. The patient successfully underwent left ventricular assist device implantation in combination with right coronary artery revascularization. The article reflects the regimen of right ventricular preservation in this patient.(J Card Surg 2010;25:116-119). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]