Abstract: The production of textiles generates a large amount of liquid residues considered to be environmentally problematic and which, if discarded without due treatment, may cause eutrophication of water sources, the intoxication of living beings, and the blocking of light penetration. Some methods have been applied for the treatment of this type of waste, with the prominence of biological and physicochemical techniques. The combination of two or more techniques enhances the treatment’s efficiency. This work investigated the use of bacteria derived from the leachate produced by the textile industry itself, fed with vinasse, a by-product of the alcohol industry, with subsequent application of Fenton’s reaction. The biological method, optimized in terms of aeration and quantity of nutrients for the bacteria, combined with the physicochemical method optimized in terms of the amount of reagents, was efficient for the discoloration of the effluent in approximately 100 %, for toxicity reduction, for the degradation of organic matter in 80 %, and with acceptable acidity for disposal after only eight days of treatment. The method was considered of great efficiency and low application cost, without the production of hazardous waste.

Resumo Fundamento: O rastreamento genético em cascata é o método mais economicamente viável para a identificação de indivíduos com hipercolesterolemia familiar, mas as melhores estratégias para o recrutamento de indivíduos em risco em um programa de rastreamento deste tipo não são inteiramente conhecidas. Objetivo: Identificar os melhores preditores de recrutamento familiar em rastreamento genético, usando características derivadas de probandos testados. Métodos: Foram inscritos 183 casos índices com resultado genético positivo, que tiveram familiares rastreados de janeiro de 2011 a julho de 2015. A variável de resposta foi o número de familiares para cada caso índice inscrito. Todas as variáveis do estudo foram baseadas em características clínicas e socioeconômicas derivadas dos casos índices. O tamanho do efeito das variáveis preditoras foi obtido de modelo linear geral utilizando função de associação de regressão binomial negativa. A significância foi considerada com p < 0,05. Resultados: A média de idade dos casos índices ao ingressar no programa foi de 50 anos; 78,1% dos indivíduos relataram conhecimento de familiares com dislipidemia. O nível médio de LDL-colesterol inicial foi de 316 ± 90 mg/dL. Origem de referência por meio do site do programa em cascata vs. cuidados terciários, LDL-colesterol do caso índice e história familiar de níveis elevados de LDL-colesterol foram preditores independentes associados a um maior número de familiares inscritos. Conclusões: Programas de rastreamento genético em cascata da hipercolesterolemia familiar podem prever o recrutamento da família com base nas características do caso índice. Esta informação pode ser útil para criar abordagens de rastreamento melhores e mais eficazes para indivíduos em risco.

Abstract Background: Genetic cascade screening is the most cost-effective method for the identification of individuals with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), but the best strategies for the enrollment of at-risk individuals in a FH screening program are not fully known. Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the best predictors of familial enrollment into genetic screening, using features derived from tested probands. Methods: One hundred and eighty-three index-cases (ICs) with a positive genetic result that had relatives screened from 01/2011 to 07/2015 were included. The response variable was the number of relatives for each enrolled IC. All variables in the study were based on ICs’ derived clinical and socioeconomical features. The effect size of predictor variables were obtained through a general linear model using a negative binomial regression link function. Significance was considered with a p < 0.05. Results: Mean IC age when enrolling into the program was 50 years old; 78.1% of individuals reported knowledge of relatives with dyslipidemia. Mean baseline LDL-cholesterol level was 316 ± 90 mg/dL. Referral origin through the cascade program website vs. tertiary care, IC LDL-cholesterol and familial history of high LDL-cholesterol levels were independent predictors associated with a higher number of enrolled relatives. Conclusions: Our data suggest that FH cascade screening programs can predict family enrollment based on IC features. This information may be useful for devising better and more effective screening approaches for at-risk individuals.