Factors influencing sorption of trace elements in contaminated waters onto ground nut shells.

Biosorbent materials such as nut shells has been considered a promising alternative to the classic methods to remove potentially toxic elements from contaminated waters, improving water quality for other uses. The present study evaluated the sorption capacity of almond, hazelnut, pistachio and walnut shells for the single and simultaneous removal of As, Cd, Co, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn from contaminated waters. The influence of key parameters such as sorbent dose, ionic strength (ultrapure water vs. mineral water), element competition (mono-vs. multi-element spiked solution) and initial element concentration (maximum allowed value in wastewater discharges and ten times lower) was assessed. Hazelnut shells stood out as the material with higher potential to remove Cd, Co, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn in the tested conditions, achieving up to 99% of removal (Cd and Pb). Arsenic was not removed by none of the studied materials and the removal of Cr was only obtained in a simple matrix and in mono-element solution (41% of removal). An increase of matrix complexity negatively affected the sorption capacity of all the biosorbents in the removal of all the elements tested. The same behavior was obtained when the elements were simultaneously present in solution, with Pb, Cd and Hg being highly influenced by the presence of other elements. The increase in sorbent dose from 1 to 5 g/L allowed to at least duplicate the removal of Cd, Co, Ni and Zn by all the biosorbents. When decreasing the initial element concentration ten times the maximum allowed value in wastewater discharges, a significant increase of elements removal was attained, more pronounced for Hg and Pb. The possibility to change initial conditions towards high efficiencies validate the high potential of those biosorbents to be used in water remediation, with special focus on hazelnut shells, although other sorbents such as walnut or almond shells can be considered efficient with appropriate initial conditions and depending on the target elements to be removed.

A macroalgae-based biotechnology for water remediation: Simultaneous removal of Cd, Pb and Hg by living Ulva lactuca.

Metal uptake from contaminated waters by living Ulva lactuca was studied during 6 days, under different relevant contamination scenarios. In mono-metallic solutions, with concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 µg L-1 for Hg, 10-200 µg L-1 for Cd, and 50-1000 µg L-1 for Pb, macroalgae (500 mg L-1, d.w.) were able to remove, in most cases 93-99% of metal, allowing to achieve water quality criteria regarding both surface and drinking waters. In multi-metallic solutions, comprising simultaneously the three metals, living macroalgae still performed well, with Hg removal (c.a. 99%) not being significantly affected by the presence of Cd and Pb, even when those metals were in higher concentrations. Removal efficiencies for Cd and Pb varied between 57 and 96%, and 34-97%, respectively, revealing an affinity of U. lactuca toward metals: Hg > Cd > Pb. Chemical quantification in macroalgae, after bioaccumulation assays demonstrated that all Cd and Hg removed from solution was really bound in macroalgae biomass, while only half of Pb showed to be sorbed on the biomass. Overall, U. lactuca accumulated up to 209 µg g-1 of Hg, up to 347 µg g-1 of Cd and up to 1641 µg g-1 of Pb, which correspond to bioconcentration factors ranging from 500 to 2200, in a dose-dependent accumulation. Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order and Elovich models showed a good performance in describing the kinetics of bioaccumulation, in the whole period of time. In the range of experimental conditions used, no mortality was observed and U. lactuca relative growth rate was not significantly affected by the presence of metals. Results represent an important contribution for developing a macroalgae-based biotechnology, applied for contaminated saline water remediation, more "green" and cost-effective than conventional treatment methods.

Removal of mercury by silica-supported ionic liquids: Efficiency and ecotoxicological assessment.

Anthropogenic impacts have affected the coastal environment and contributed to its contamination. Mercury (Hg) is widespread in nature and has been shown to be toxic in even the smallest amounts, negatively affecting not only the marine ecosystem but also the entire trophic chain due to its biomagnification. Mercury ranks third on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry (ATSDR) priority list and it is therefore imperative to develop more effective methods than those currently available to avoid the persistence of this contaminant in aquatic ecosystems. The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of six different silica-supported ionic liquids (SIL) in removing Hg from contaminated saline water, under realistic conditions ([Hg] = 50 µg/L), and to ecotoxicologically evaluate the safety of the SIL-remedied water, using as test model the marine macroalga Ulva lactuca. The results revealed that SIL [Si][C3C1im][SCN] (250 mg/L) was the most effective in removing Hg from solution, with a efficiency up to 99 % in just 6 h, that enable to obtain < 1 µg/L Hg (European guideline in drinking water). U. lactuca exposed to either the SIL and/or the remedied water showed no significant changes in relative growth rate and chlorophyll a and b levels, compared to the control condition. Biomarker analysis (LPO, GSH, GSSG, SOD, GPx, CAT and GRed) also showed no significant changes in the biochemical performance of U. lactuca. Therefore, it could be assumed that water treatment with SIL or its presence in an aqueous environment does not pose toxicity levels that could inhibit the metabolism or cause cell damage to U. lactuca.

High-Throughput Drug Screening Revealed That Ciclopirox Olamine Can Engender Gastric Cancer Stem-like Cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are relevant therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. Still, the molecular circuits behind CSC characteristics are not fully understood. The low number of CSCs can sometimes be an obstacle to carrying out assays that explore their properties. Thus, increasing CSC numbers via small molecule-mediated cellular reprogramming appears to be a valid alternative tool. Using the SORE6-GFP reporter system embedded in gastric non-CSCs (SORE6-), we performed a high-throughput image-based drug screen with 1200 small molecules to identify compounds capable of converting SORE6- to SORE6+ (CSCs). Here, we report that the antifungal agent ciclopirox olamine (CPX), a potential candidate for drug repurposing in cancer treatment, is able to reprogram gastric non-CSCs into cancer stem-like cells via activation of SOX2 expression and increased expression of C-MYC, HIF-1α, KLF4, and HMGA1. This reprogramming depends on the CPX concentration and treatment duration. CPX can also induce cellular senescence and the metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to glycolysis. We also disclose that the mechanism underlying the cellular reprogramming is similar to that of cobalt chloride (CoCl2), a hypoxia-mimetic agent.

HMGA1 Has Predictive Value in Response to Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer.

Gastric cancer is a serious health problem worldwide. Although its incidence is decreasing, the five-year survival rate remains low. Thus, it is essential to identify new biomarkers that could promote better diagnosis and treatment of patients with gastric cancer. High-mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) is a non-histone, chromatin-binding protein that has been found overexpressed in several tumor types. It has been correlated with invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance, leading to worse patient survival. The aim of this work was to evaluate the clinical value of HMGA1 in gastric cancer. HMGA1 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry in a single hospital series (n = 323) of gastric adenocarcinoma cases (stages I to IV) with clinicopathological and treatment data. In this series, HMGA1 expression showed no significant relevance as a prognostic biomarker. Nevertheless, a significantly better overall survival was observed in cases with high levels of HMGA1 when they were treated with chemotherapy, compared to the nontreated ones, implying that they can benefit more from treatment than patients with low expression of HMGA1. We thereby show for the first time that HMGA1 expression has a substantial value as a biomarker of response to chemotherapy in gastric cancer.

Nutshells as Efficient Biosorbents to Remove Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury from Contaminated Solutions.

The release of potentially toxic elements into the environment, and their effects on aquatic ecosystems still present a real threat. To avoid such contamination, the use of biological sorbents as an alternative to conventional and expensive water remediation techniques has been proposed. The present study evaluated the potential of 0.5 g L-1 of peanut, hazelnut, pistachio, walnut, and almond shells to remove the requisite concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) from contaminated water. Hazelnut shells were identified as the sorbent with the highest potential and were evaluated in mono- and multi-contaminated mineral water. The influence of sorbent-intrinsic and solution-intrinsic characteristics were assessed. Differences among sorbents were attributed to varying percentages of their main components: cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Matrix complexity increase caused a decrease in Cd removal, presumably due to the diminution in electrostatic interaction, and complexation with anions such as Cl-. When simultaneously present in the solution, contaminants competed, with Pb showing higher affinity to the sorbent than Hg. High efficiencies (>90%) obtained for hazelnut shells for all elements in ultrapure water and for Pb and Hg in mineral water) reveals the high potential of this low-cost and abundant waste for use in the remediation of contaminated waters (circular economy).

The Relevance of Transcription Factors in Gastric and Colorectal Cancer Stem Cells Identification and Eradication.

Gastric and colorectal cancers have a high incidence and mortality worldwide. The presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) within the tumor mass has been indicated as the main reason for tumor relapse, metastasis and therapy resistance, leading to poor overall survival. Thus, the elimination of CSCs became a crucial goal for cancer treatment. The identification of these cells has been performed by using cell-surface markers, a reliable approach, however it lacks specificity and usually differs among tumor type and in some cases even within the same type. In theory, the ideal CSC markers are those that are required to maintain their stemness features. The knowledge that CSCs exhibit characteristics comparable to normal stem cells that could be associated with the expression of similar transcription factors (TFs) including SOX2, OCT4, NANOG, KLF4 and c-Myc, and signaling pathways such as the Wnt/ß-catenin, Hedgehog (Hh), Notch and PI3K/AKT/mTOR directed the attention to the use of these similarities to identify and target CSCs in different tumor types. Several studies have demonstrated that the abnormal expression of some TFs and the dysregulation of signaling pathways are associated with tumorigenesis and CSC phenotype. The disclosure of common and appropriate biomarkers for CSCs will provide an incredible tool for cancer prognosis and treatment. Therefore, this review aims to gather the new insights in gastric and colorectal CSC identification specially by using TFs as biomarkers and divulge promising drugs that have been found and tested for targeting these cells.

Dual nanofibrillar-based bio-sorbent films composed of nanocellulose and lysozyme nanofibrils for mercury removal from spring waters.

The present study explores the preparation of dual nanofibrillar-based bio-sorbent films composed of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) and lysozyme nanofibrils (LNFs) for application in the removal of Hg(II) from aqueous solutions. The free-standing films were fabricated via simple vacuum filtration of water suspensions of CNFs and LNFs and disclose good mechanical and thermal properties. The Hg(II) removal efficiency was evaluated by atomic fluorescence spectroscopy in ultra-pure and natural spring waters contaminated with environmental realistic levels of mercury (50 µg L-1). The removal efficiency is pH-dependent reaching a maximum of 99 % after 24 h at a pH value close to the isoelectric point of the protein. Under the experimental conditions, the sorption kinetics are well described by the pseudo-second-order and Elovich models, suggesting a chemisorption mechanism. These results demonstrate the ability of the dual nanofibrillar-based films to remove Hg(II) from water samples reaching a residual concentration lower than the guideline value for water intended for human consumption (1 µg L-1). Therefore, the CNFs/LNFs bio-sorbents might be a solution to treat low-concentrated mercury-contaminated waters.

Rare earth elements in mud volcano sediments from the Gulf of Cadiz, South Iberian Peninsula.

Eight gravity cores (GC) were retrieved from the deep mud volcanoes Sagres, Bonjardim, Soloviev and Porto in the Gulf of Cadiz. Cores with 137 to 317 cm long were sliced in intervals of 15 to 20 cm thickness, and 46 samples were analyzed for grain size distribution, loss on ignition, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Mn, Sr, Ba and the rare earth elements (REE) La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu. REE profile normalized to Post-Archean Australian Average Shale (PAAS) was dominated by a mid-REE bulge with a pronounced Eu enhancement. Sediment reducing conditions resulting from the anaerobic oxidation of methane probably contributed to the positive-Eu anomaly (1.18-2.19, PAAS normalization). Most likely, reactions near the sulfate-methane transition zone such as the precipitation of barium sulfate found at layers around 50-cm depth explain the enhancement of Eu/Eu* ratios. The Ce anomalies (0.93-1.09) were almost absent.

Simultaneous removal of trace elements from contaminated waters by living Ulva lactuca.

This work shows the capabilities of living seaweed, Ulva lactuca, to remove As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Hg, Mn and Ni from contaminated waters. Experiments were performed with three algal doses (1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 g L-1, FW), two ionic strengths (salinity 15 and 35), and trace element concentrations corresponding to the maximum allowed values in wastewaters. The highest removals were obtained with the algal dose of 6 g L-1, with efficiencies varying between 48% for As and 98% for Hg, after 24 to 72 h. Salinity showed no effect on the removal efficiency. Overall, Elovich model was the best in describing the kinetics of the process, except for Hg, where pseudo-second-order model performed better. The use of extractions with EDTA (0.001, 0.01 to 0.1 mol L-1) has clarified that most of the Hg (≈98%) and Cr (≈80%) crossed the macroalgae walls, while Ni, Cd and As were retained at the surface (between 60 and 80%). These results support the hypothesis that macroalgae-based technologies may be a viable, cost-effective, and greener option to reduce the rejection of priority hazardous substances in contaminated waters.

Major, minor, trace and rare earth elements in sediments of the Bijagós archipelago, Guinea-Bissau.

Sixty sediment samples from four sites in the Bijagós archipelago were characterized for fine fraction, loss on ignition, major, minor and trace elemental composition (Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Ti, P, Zr, Mn, Cr, Sr, Ba, B, V, Li, Zn, Ni, Pb, As, Co, U, Cu, Cs and Cd), and the elements of the La-Lu series. Element concentrations were largely explained by the Al content and the proportion of fine fraction content, with the exception of Ca and Sr. Sediments showed enhanced Ti, U, Cr, As and Cd concentrations with respect to estimated upper crust values, most likely mirroring a regional signature. Rare earth elements were in deficit relatively to the North American Shale Composite (NASC), mainly in coarser material. No pronounced Ce-anomaly was observed, while Eu-anomalies were positive in most analyzed sediments.

Bioaccumulation of Hg, Cd and Pb by Fucus vesiculosus in single and multi-metal contamination scenarios and its effect on growth rate.

Results of 7-days exposure to metals, using environmentally realistic conditions, evidenced the high potential of living Fucus vesiculosus to remove Pb, Hg and Cd from contaminated salt waters. For different contamination scenarios (single- and multi-contamination), ca 450 mg L-1 (dry weight), enable to reduce the concentrations of Pb in 65%, of Hg in 95% and of Cd between 25 and 76%. Overall, bioconcentration factors ranged from 600 to 2300. Elovich kinetic model described very well the bioaccumulation of Pb and Cd over time, while pseudo-second-order model adjusted better to experimental data regarding Hg. F. vesiculosus showed different affinity toward studied metals, following the sequence order: Hg > Pb > Cd. Analysis of metal content in the macroalgae after bioaccumulation, proved that all metal removed from solution was bound to the biomass. Depuration experiments reveled no significant loss of metal back to solution. Exposure to contaminants only adversely affected the organism's growth for the highest concentrations of Cd and Pb. Findings are an important contribute for the development of remediation biotechnologies for confined saline waters contaminated with trace metal contaminants, more efficient and with lower costs than the traditional treatment methods.

Evidence for contrasting accumulation pattern of cadmium in relation to other elements in Senilia senilis and Tagelus adansoni from the Bijagós archipelago, Guinea-Bissau.

Shellfish harvesting in intertidal areas is a widespread and economically important activity in many countries across West Africa. However, in some areas, there is virtually no information concerning the levels of contaminants (and other elements related to nutritional aspects) in the harvested species. We collected sediments and several individuals of the West African bloody cockle Senilia senilis and of the razor clam Tagelus adansoni during the dry season of 2015 nearby three islands in the Bijagós archipelago, Guinea-Bissau. Aluminium, Ca, Fe, Mg, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in sediments and whole soft tissues of the two bivalves. Sediments showed uniformly low trace element concentrations, pointing to an ecosystem with low levels of trace element contamination. T. adansoni presented higher concentrations of most elements than S. senilis, with the exception of Cd that showed up to 40 times higher values in S. senilis than in T. adansoni from the same sites. Furthermore, Cd concentrations (25±8.7 mg kg-1, dw) in S. senilis are clearly above the maximum level established for human consumption. Future studies should clarify whether biological factors are the major responsible for this unusual situation.

Comparative study on metal biosorption by two macroalgae in saline waters: single and ternary systems.

The biosorption capability of two marine macroalgae (green Ulva lactuca and brown Fucus vesiculosus) was evaluated in the removal of toxic metals (Hg, Cd and Pb) from saline waters, under realistic conditions. Results showed that, independently of the contamination scenario tested, both macroalgae have a remarkable capacity to biosorb Hg and Pb. In single-contaminant systems, by using only c.a. 500 mg of non-pre-treated algae biomass (size <200 µm) per litter, it was possible to achieve removal efficiencies between 96 and 99 % for Hg and up to 86 % for Pb. Despite the higher removal of Hg, equilibrium was reached more quickly for Pb (after 8 h). In multi-contaminant systems, macroalgae exhibited a similar selectivity toward the target metals: Hg > Pb> > Cd, although Pb removal by U. lactuca was more inhibited than that achieved by F. vesiculosus. Under the experimental conditions used, none of the macroalgae was effective to remove Cd (maximum removal of 20 %). In all cases, the kinetics of biosorption was mathematically described with success. Globally, it became clear that the studied macroalgae may be part of simple, efficient, and cost-effective water treatment technologies. Nevertheless, Fucus vesiculosus has greater potential, since it always presented higher initial sorption rates and higher removal efficiencies.

A persistent misperception: assisted reproductive technology can reverse the "aged biological clock".

Delaying motherhood should be a free choice made in full knowledge of all the consequences, but modern women have alarming misconceptions about their own reproductive systems and the effectiveness of assisted reproductive technologies. Doctors and health professionals must begin to discuss fertility preservation with their patients and make sure that young women truly understand all their options. Preventing age-related infertility is the responsibility not only of doctors and medical practitioners but also of society at large. Social, economic, and personal pressures are causing women to decide to conceive later in life, yet those who choose to delay motherhood are stigmatized as being selfish and unconcerned about starting a family. This stigma must be banished, and age-related infertility should be faced as a medical problem.

Stem cells in endometrium and their role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

The human endometrium is a dynamic tissue that undergoes cycles of growth and regression with each menstrual cycle. Adult progenitor stem cells are likely responsible for this remarkable regenerative capacity; these same progenitor stem cells may also have an enhanced capacity to generate endometriosis if shed in a retrograde fashion. The progenitor stem cells reside in the uterus; however, less-committed mesenchymal stem cells may also travel from other tissues such as bone marrow to repopulate the progenitor population. Mesenchymal stem cells are also involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and may be the principle source of endometriosis outside of the peritoneal cavity when they differentiate into endometriosis in ectopic locations. Finally, besides progenitor stem cells, recent publications have identified multipotent stem cells in the endometrium. These multipotent stem cells are a readily available source of cells that are useful in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Endometrial stem cells have been used to generate chondrocytes, myocytes, neurons, and adiposites in vitro as well as to replace dopaminergic neurons in a murine model of Parkinson's disease.

Silica coated magnetite particles for magnetic removal of Hg2+ from water.

The magnetic removal of Hg(2+) from water has been assessed using silica coated magnetite particles. The magnetite particles were first prepared by hydrolysis of FeSO(4) and their surfaces were modified with amorphous silica shells that were then functionalized with organic moieties containing terminal dithiocarbamate groups. Under the experimental conditions used, the materials reported here displayed high efficiency for Hg(2+) uptake (74%) even at contaminant levels as low as 50 µg l(-1). Therefore these eco-nanomagnets show great potential for the removal of heavy metal ions of polluted water, via magnetic separation.

Considerações sobre os movimentos de medicalização da vida / Considerations on life's medicalization movements / Consideraciones sobre los movimientos de medicalización de la vida

A ideia de que problemas cotidianos são diagnosticáveis e tratáveis pela medicina é antiga e ao mesmo tempo comum na atualidade, na qual habituou-se entender e explicar a vida psíquica e as condutas éticas pelo conhecimento da materialidade corporal. Este artigo realiza uma análise sobre a relação entre o saber biomédico e pedagógico na construção da concepção de infância normal/anormal. Nas duas últimas décadas, o investimento em pesquisas que investigam o funcionamento cerebral tem ampliado significativamente o conhecimento científico das interações entre o físico e o psicológico e sustenta fortemente a cultura somática. Nesse processo, diagnósticos psiquiátricos se tornaram dispositivos importantes na explicação e intervenção dos processos de escolarização considerados problemáticos. No percurso teórico investigado, destaca-se como a combinação entre as ciências biomédicas e a educação marcou e tem marcado as práticas de intervenção sobre os problemas enfrentados pelas crianças ao ingressarem na escola.

The idea that everyday problems are diagnosable and treatable by medicine is ancient as well as common today, when we are used to understanding and explaining the psyche and ethical conduct by knowing the materiality of the body. In the last two decades, investment in research investigating brain functioning has significantly expanded scientific knowledge of physiological and psychological interactions, which strongly support somatic culture. Thus, psychiatric diagnoses have become important tools in the explanation and intervention of schooling procedures considered "problematic". The combination of biomedical sciences and education has had an impact on intervention practices regarding the problems faced by children when they enter school. We are going to take a diachronic look at the relationship between biomedical knowledge and pedagogy that created the concept of normal/abnormal childhood.

La idea de que problemas cotidianos son diagnosticables y tratables por la medicina é antigua y al mismo tiempo común en la actualidad, donde se habituó a entender y explicar la vida psíquica y de las conductas éticas por el conocimiento de la materialidad corporal. Este artículo realiza un análisis sobre la relación entre el saber biomédico y pedagógico en la construcción de la concepción de infancia normal/anormal. En las dos últimas décadas, el patrocinio de investigaciones que se interesan por el funcionamiento cerebral, ha ampliado significativamente el conocimiento científico de las interacciones entre lo físico y lo psicológico y sustenta fuertemente la cultura somática. En este proceso, diagnósticos psiquiátricos se convirtieron en dispositivos importantes para la explicación e intervención de los procesos de escolarización considerados problemáticos. En el recorrido teórico investigado, se destaca como la combinación entre las ciencias biomédicas y la educación ha marcado las prácticas de intervención sobre los problemas enfrentados por los niños al ingresar a las instituciones educativas.

Estudo do desempenho da dopplervelocimetria e dos métodos de avaliação das atividades biofísicas fetais na predição das condições pós-natais adversas / Doppler velocimetry and fetal well-being assess, exams performance's study for adverse neonatal outcomes

Este estudo retrospectivo e transversal teve como objetivo verificar o desempenho dos exames antenatais, para a predição de resultados pós-natais adversos. Selecionaram-se 1387 pacientes com alto risco gestacional, no Setor de Avaliação da Vitalidade Fetal, da Clínica Obstétrica do Hospital das Clínicas da FMUSP. O desempenho de todos os exames foi testado, para a predição dos resultados pós-natais adversos, por meio do cálculo da sensibilidade, especificidade, VPP e VPN / The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the role prenatal exams to predict neonatal adverse outcomes. The sample was divided accoding to maternal and gestational complications, as placental insufficiency sthiology. Furthermore, the predictive values of the exams were analyzed in relation to postnatal adverse outcomes. The sample was constituted by 1,387 high-risk pregnancies assisted in the Obstetrics Department - Fetal Well-being Assessment Section of the Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo - Brazil. The performance of all prenatal enrolled exams were evaluated in order to predict the adverse outcomes, using sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV estimations...