Hydrodynamic cavitation pre-treatment of urban waste: Integration with acidogenic fermentation, PHAs synthesis and anaerobic digestion processes.

Urban waste can be valorized within a biorefinery approach, producing platform chemicals, biopolymers and energy. In this framework, hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) is a promising pre-treatment for improving biodegradability due to its high effectiveness and low cost. This paper deals with the effect of HC pre-treatment on the acidogenic co-fermentation process of thickened sewage sludge from a WWTP and seasonal vegetable waste from a wholesale market. Specifically, HC was assessed by testing two sets of parameters (i.e., treatment time of 30 and 50 min; vacuum pressure 1.4 and 2.0 bar; applied power 8 and 17 kW) to determine its effectiveness as a pre-treatment of the mixture. The highest increase in sCOD (+83%) and VFAs (from 1.93 to 17.29 gCODVFA L-1) was gained after 50 min of cavitation. Fermentations were conducted with not cavitated and cavitated mixtures at 37 °C on 4 L reactors in batch mode, then switched to semi-continuous with OLR of 8 kgTVS m-3 d-1 and HRT of 5-6.6 d. Good VFAs concentrations (12.94-18.27 gCODVFA L-1) and yields (0.44-0.53 gCODVFA gVS(0)-1) were obtained, which could be enhanced by pre-treatment optimization and pH control. The organic acid rich broth obtained was then assessed as a substrate for PHAs storage by C. necator. It yielded 0.37 g g-1 of polyhydroxybutyrate, such biopolymer resulted to have analogous physicochemical characteristics of commercial equivalent. The only generated side-stream would be the solid-rich fraction of the fermented effluent, which valorization was assessed through BMP tests, showing a higher SGP of 0.42 Nm3 kgTVS-1 for the cavitated.

Anaerobic codigestion of the mechanically sorted organic fraction of a municipal solid waste with cattle manure in packed microcosms under batch conditions.

Packed microcosms, consisting of 0.6 L-flask filled with tire chips (TC, a non-cost-recyclable non-biodegradable material) or ceramic cubes, were employed in the wet batch mesophilic anaerobic codigestion of a mechanically sorted organic fraction of a municipal solid waste with cattle manure. Two different waste mixtures were digested within four successive batch experiments, performed by collecting the digested waste and by refilling each microcosm with the same experimental mixture. Methane production yields related to the first experiment were comparable to those of non-packed identically developed microcosms, while they significantly grew during all the following experiences. No CH4-production lag-phase was observed since the second batch experiment. Similar results were obtained for both packing materials: however, the highest methane yields were achieved within bioreactors packed with TC in the presence of a mixture in which the volatile suspended solids (VSS) provided by the municipal waste represented the 55% of the total ones. Under such condition, a methane yield corresponding to the biochemical methane potential (BMP) calculated through a 6-month experiment with non-packed microcosms (176 ml/gVS) was attained in about 1/4 of the time. Importantly, the BMP can significantly grow up as a consequence of the approach described in this study.

A comparison of subcutaneous sumatriptan and dihydroergotamine nasal spray in the acute treatment of migraine.

We compared the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous (SC) sumatriptan (6 mg) with that of dihydroergotamine (DHE) nasal spray (1 mg plus optional 1 mg) in the acute treatment of migraine. Two hundred sixty-six adult migraineurs (International Headache Society criteria) completed a multicenter, double-blind, double-dummy, cross-over study. Patients took SC sumatriptan for one attack and DHE nasal spray for the other in random order. Data from both treatment periods show that at all time points from 15 minutes, SC sumatriptan was significantly better than DHE nasal spray at providing both headache relief (moderate/severe headache improving to mild/none) and resolution of headache. Similarly, SC sumatriptan was superior to DHE nasal spray for the other efficacy end points assessed in the study. Patients reported that both treatments were well tolerated. Adverse events were reported by 43% of patients taking SC sumatriptan and 22% of patients taking DHE nasal spray. These were usually mild and transient. We conclude that subcutaneous sumatriptan has a faster onset of action than DHE nasal spray and provides greater relief of acute migraine symptoms.

Biodegradation of hydroxylated and methoxylated benzoic, phenylacetic and phenylpropenoic acids present in olive mill wastewaters by two bacterial strains.

Two aerobic bacterial strains, a chlorophenol-degrading bacterium characterized in this work as a Ralstonia sp. LD35 on the basis of the sequence of the gene encoding for 16S ribosomal RNA, and Pseudomonas putida DSM 1868, capable of metabolizing 4-methoxybenzoic acid, were tested for their capacity to degrade monocyclic aromatic acids responsible for the toxicity of olive mill wastewaters (OMWs). Both strains possess interesting and complementary degradation capabilities in resting cell conditions: Ralstonia sp. LD35 was found to metabolize 4-hydroxybenzoic, 4-hydroxyphenylacetic, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic and cinnamic acid, whereas DSM 1868 was capable of metabolizing 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic, 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic and 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid, as well as 4-hydroxybenzoic and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. The kinetic parameters describing the growth of the two strains on the same compounds were determined in growing-cell batch conditions, and showed that both strains presented high affinity and high specific growth rates towards all assayed substrates. In addition, the two strains were capable of growing on and extensively biodegrading a mixture of monocyclic aromatic acids commonly found at high concentrations in OMWs, and of growing on a 20% dilution of a natural OMW. All these features make the two strains attractive candidates for the development of a biotechnological process for the biodegradation of aromatic compounds found in OMWs.

Use of exogenous specialised bacteria in the biological detoxification of a dump site-polychlorobiphenyl-contaminated soil in slurry phase conditions

The possibility of biologically detoxifying a contaminated soil from an Italian dump site containing about 1500 mg/kg (in dry soil) of polychlorinated biphenyls was studied in the laboratory in this work. The soil, which contained indigenous aerobic bacteria capable of growing on biphenyl or on monochlorobenzoic acids at concentration of about 300 CFU per g of air-dried soil, was amended with inorganic nutrients, saturated with water and treated in aerobic 3-L batch slurry reactors (soil suspension at 20% w/v). Either Pseudomonas sp. CPE1 strain, capable of cometabolising low-chlorinated biphenyls into chlorobenzoic acids, or a bacterial co-culture capable of aerobically dechlorinating polychlorobiphenyls constituted by this bacterium and the two chlorobenzoic acid degrading bacteria Pseudomonas sp. CPE2 strain and Alcaligenes sp. CPE3 strain, were used as inocula (final concentration of about 10(8) CFU/mL for each bacterium), in the absence and in the presence of biphenyl (4 g/kg of air dried soil). Significant soil polychlorobiphenyl depletions were observed in all the reactors after 119 days of treatment. The soil inoculation with the sole CPE1 was found to slightly enhance the polychlorobiphenyl depletions (about 20%) and the soil detoxification; the effect was higher in the presence of biphenyl. The use of the polychlorobiphenyl mineralising bacterial co-culture as inoculum resulted in a strong enhancement of the depletions of both the soil polychlorobiphenyls (from 50 to 65%) and of the original soil ecotoxicity. The bacterial biomass inoculated was found to implant into the soil; the higher specialised biomass availability thus reached in the inoculated soil was probably responsible of a more extensive biodegradation of polychlorobiphenyls and therefore of the higher detoxification yields observed in the inoculated reactors. The soil ecotoxicity, measured through two different soil contact assays, i.e., the Lepidium sativum germination test and the Collembola mortality test, was often found to decrease proportionally with the soil polychlorobiphenyl concentration. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

An aerobic fixed-phase biofilm reactor system for the degradation of the low-molecular weight aromatic compounds occurring in the effluents of anaerobic digestors treating olive mill wastewaters.

An aerobic co-culture, prepared by combining Ralstonia sp. LD35 and Pseudomonas putida DSM1868, was recently found to be capable of extensively degrading many of the hydroxylated and/or methoxylated benzoic, phenylacetic and 3-phenyl-2-propenoic acids occurring in the olive mill wastewaters (OMWs). In the perspective of developing a biotechnological process for the degradation of low-molecular weight (MW) aromatic compounds occurring in the effluents of anaerobic digestors treating OMWs, the capability of this bacterial co-culture of biodegrading a synthetic mix of the above mentioned compounds and the aromatic compounds of an anaerobic OMW-treatment plant effluent in the physiological state of immobilised cells was investigated. Two aerobic fixed-bed biofilm reactors were developed by immobilising the co-culture cells on Manville silica beads and on polyurethane foam cubes. Both supports were found to give rise to a microbiologically stable and biologically active biofilm. The two biofilm reactors were found to be similarly capable of rapidly and completely biodegrading the components of a synthetic mix of nine monocyclic aromatic acids typically present in OMWs and the low-MW aromatic compounds occurring in the anaerobic effluent in batch conditions. However, in the same conditions, the silica bead-packed reactor was found to be more effective in the removal of high-MW phenolic compounds from the anaerobic effluent with respect to the polyurethane cube-packed reactor. These results are encouraging in the perspective of using the co-culture as immobilized cells for developing a continuous biotechnological process for the post-treatment of effluents with low-MW aromatic compounds produced by anaerobic digestors treating OMWs.

Could saliva stand for plasma in theophylline monitoring in asthmatic children? Still a controversial problem.

Theophylline determination in saliva was proposed several years ago as a convenient and non-invasive alternative to monitoring plasma in children and adults. Published data demonstrated that theophylline saliva concentration linearly correlates plasma concentration. However, the variability found in interindividual serum/saliva ratios and the wide scattering among the data points precluded the clinical use of saliva for theophylline monitoring. The purpose of this study was to compare different standardized methods for obtaining stimulated saliva intending to reduce the variability in plasma/saliva ratios and to determine the most reliable one. A group of 150 ambulatory chronic asthmatic 4.5 to 20.83 (10 +/- 3.7; M +/- SD) year-old patients receiving theophylline 6.85 +/- 1.88 mg/kg every 12 h as slow release preparations for 4 to 100 days was studied. One ml venous blood and salivary specimens were simultaneously collected 5.15 +/- 0.36 h after the morning maintenance dose. In a subgroup of 75 patients, saliva was collected using first a new device called salivette, immediately followed by the collection of an expectorated sample 30 s after citric acid crystals stimulation. In the other patients saliva was collected using citric acid containing salivette. Theophylline concentration was determined using HPLC. For all types of saliva collection, salivary and plasma theophylline concentrations correlated significantly. However whichever method was used, based on the -2 to +2 SD interval, a large range of plasma theophylline was predicted from a single salivary theophylline concentration. Despite a further standardization of the sampling of saliva, saliva theophylline could not accurately predict plasma concentration.

A randomized, double-blind, multicentre controlled trial of ibuprofen versus acetaminophen and placebo for symptoms of acute otitis media in children.

Two hundred and nineteen children (boys: 56%, girls: 44%) were included in a randomized, double-blind, multicentre (4 centres) controlled trial designed to assess the efficacy and safety of ibuprofen (IBU) in the treatment of 1 to 6 year-old children with otoscopically proven acute otitis media (AOM), either unilateral or bilateral. They randomly received 10 mg/kg IBU (n = 71), or acetaminophen (PARA) (n = 73) or placebo (PLA) (n = 75), orally, tid, for 48 hours. All received oral cefaclor (Alfatil, Lilly, France) for seven days. They were evaluated before (D0) and at the end of treatment (D2). The main criterion of response was the aspect (landmarks and color) of the tympanic membrane assessed on a semi-quantitative scale from 0 to 6. Other criteria, assessed on semi-quantitative scales, included relief of pain (0 or 1), rectal temperature (0 to 2), and overall evaluation by parents of the improvement of quality of life on three items: appetite (0 to 2), sleep (0 to 2), and playing activity (0 to 2). The results at D2 were as follows: there was no significant difference between treatment groups as to the main criterion, but only a trend for IBU and PARA to do better than PLA but not for IBU to do better than PARA. From these data there is no argument to emphasize the utility of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in treating the inflammatory signs of the tympanic membrane in otitis. There was a statistically significant difference between treatment groups at D2 for pain, IBU being superior to PLA (P < 0.01): 7%, 10% and 25% of the children were still suffering at D2 in the IBU, PARA and PLA treatment groups, respectively. The difference between PARA and PLA for pain was not statistically significant. There was no significant difference between treatment groups for the other criteria. All treatments were well and equally tolerated. Although no significant difference was found between the treatment groups on the aspect of the tympanic membrane, the efficacy of IBU was evidenced on the relief of pain, the symptom that most disturbs the child.

First results of a clinical pilot study on intraarterial chemotherapy with haemofiltration of locally advanced gastrointestinal cancers.

Intra-arterial chemotherapy combined with haemofiltration enables the administration of drugs to confined neoplastic tissue while limiting the systemic drug exposure. During the procedure, the cytotoxic drugs are injected into the arterial supply of the tumour and the venous blood coming from the tumour bed is pumped out and filtered trough haemofiltration unit in order to extract the cytotoxic drug not fixed on the tumour. The patients selected for such treatment failed previous intravenous chemotherapy. Thirteen patients underwent intra-arterial chemotherapy injections combined with haemofiltration procedures: 8 unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer and 5 pelvic recurrences from rectal cancer. Fluorouracil, mitomycin C and doxorubicin were infused. One out of thirteen patients presented a complete regression of his liver metastases, 5/13 presented a partial regression, 2/13 patients did not show any significant modification of the size of their lesions and were classified as stable disease, 5/13 patients showed a progression of their neoplastic disease. No nephrotoxicity or major gastrointestinal side effects were observed. Intra-arterial chemotherapy combined with haemofiltration procedure is a therapeutic modality that could be considered in patients with locally advanced cancer who failed previous first line intravenous chemotherapy.

Salmeterol versus slow-release theophylline combined with ketotifen in nocturnal asthma: a multicentre trial. French Multicentre Study Group.

We wished to assess the efficacy of inhaled salmeterol (SML; 50 micrograms b.i.d.) compared to a combination of slow-release theophylline and ketotifen p.o. (TK; T 300 mg+K 1 mg b.i.d.) for the treatment of nocturnal asthma. Ninety six patients with nocturnal asthma, (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 60-90% of predicted value, reversibility > or = 15%, at least two nocturnal awakenings per week) were eligible for a multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy cross-over study (14-day run-in, two successive 28-day treatment periods). Efficacy was assessed as success/failure, success being defined as the complete disappearance of nocturnal symptoms/awakening during the last week of each treatment period. There was a statistically significant difference between SML and TK for this criterion: 46% and 39% success with SML during periods I (first 28-day period) and II (following the cross-over), compared to only 15% and 26% with TK, respectively (p < 0.01). SML was also significantly better for the other criteria (lung function, rescue salbutamol intake during day and night). Side-effects were five times less frequent in SML-treated patients (p < 0.004). Efficacy and tolerance of SML were obviously far better than those of TK in patients with nocturnal asthma.

Salmeterol compared with slow-release terbutaline in nocturnal asthma. A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, sequential clinical trial. French Multicenter Study Group.

The aim of the multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group clinical trial with a 2-week treatment period was to compare the efficacy and safety of salmeterol (50 micrograms twice daily) with slow-release (SR) terbutaline (5 mg orally, twice daily) in nocturnal asthma. A total of 159 asthmatic adults (FEV, 50-90% of predicted value; sex ratio: 0.87) with at least two nocturnal awakenings during a 7-d run-in period was included in the study. Patients were centrally randomized with a national computer network (Minitel). The main variable (number of awakening-free nights during the last week of treatment) was analyzed according to a sequential method with the one-sided triangular test. The number of awakening-free nights (+/- SD) was significantly higher in the salmeterol group: 5.3 +/- 2.4 vs 4.6 +/- 2.3 (P = 0.006). Salmeterol was significantly more effective than SR-terbutaline in the following factors: number of patients without any awakening during the last week of treatment (50% vs 27%, P = 0.003), mean morning PEF (351 +/- 109 l/min-1 vs 332 +/- 105 l/min-1, P = 0.04), PEF diurnal variation 6 +/- 10% vs 11 +/- 12%, P = 0.01), overall assessment of efficacy by the patient and the investigator (P = 0.001 and 0.005, respectively), and daily rescue salbutamol intakes (P = 0.004). In the salmeterol group, significantly fewer patients reported adverse events (16% vs 29%, P = 0.04).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Biodegradation of synthetic and naturally occuring mixtures of mono-cyclic aromatic compounds present in olive mill wastewaters by two aerobic bacteria.

Two bacterial strains, Ralstonia sp. LD35 and Pseudomonas putida DSM 1868, were assayed for their ability to degrade the monocyclic aromatic compounds commonly found in olive mill wastewaters (OMWs). The goal was to study the possibility of employing the two strains in the removal of these recalcitrant and toxic compounds from the effluents of anaerobic treatment plants fed with OMWs. At first, the two strains were separately assayed for their ability to degrade a synthetic mixture of nine aromatic acids present in OMWs, both in growing- and resting-cell conditions. Then, due to the complementary activity exhibited by the two strains, a co-culture of the two bacteria was tested under growing-cell conditions for degradation of the same synthetic mixture. Finally, the degradation activity of the co-culture on two fractions was studied. Both fractions one deriving from natural OMWs through reverse osmosis treatment and containing low-molecular weight organic molecules, and the other obtained from an anaerobic lab-scale treatment plant fed with OMWs, were rich in monocyclic aromatic compounds. The co-culture of the two strains was able to biodegrade seven of the nine components of the tested synthetic mix (2, 6-dihydroxybenzoic acid and 3, 4, 5-trimethoxybenzoic acid were the two undegraded compounds). In addition, an efficient biodegrading activity towards several aromatic molecules present in the two natural fractions was demonstrated.

Comparison of subcutaneous sumatriptan with usual acute treatments for migraine. French Sumatriptan Study Group.

246 migraine patients (International Headache Society definition, 1-6 severe attacks per month) were randomised into a multicentre, cross-over study comparing subcutaneous (s.c.) sumatriptan 6 mg administered by an auto-injector (Glaxo device) with usual acute migraine treatments. Patients were treated for 2 months or up to 12 attacks, and then crossed over to the alternative treatment for the same duration. Usual treatments were: analgesics (including combinations), 49%; ergotamine, 24%; NSAIDs 19%; DHE, 7%. Rescue medication was allowed 2 h after the first dose. Headache was assessed on a 4-point self-rating scale (0: none, 1: mild, 2: moderate, 3: severe). Other migraine symptoms were assessed as present or absent. Quality of life was assessed before the study and at the end of each treatment period. Two hundred and seventeen patients were eligible for the cross-over analysis. At 2 h post-dosing, an average of 78% of attacks per patient were successfully relieved (grade 3 or 2 to 1 or 0) by s.c. sumatriptan, compared with 34% for the usual treatments (p < 0.001) and 63% of attacks per patient were completely relieved (grade 0) by s.c. sumatriptan compared with 15% for the usual treatments (p < 0.001). Sumatriptan-treated patients used rescue medication for 19% of their attacks, compared to 59% for comparator drugs (p = 0.001). Results for patient preference were: s.c. sumatriptan, 85%; usual treatments, 10%; no preference, 5% (p < 0.001). Sumatriptan was significantly superior to comparator drugs for all other efficacy end-points (p < 0.001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A dose-defining study of sumatriptan suppositories in the acute treatment of migraine.

In this dose-ranging, randomised, multinational, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study, 431 patients treated a single migraine attack with study medication: sumatriptan suppository 6 mg, 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, or placebo. Patients were treated in the clinic with a single dose in suppository form. All doses of sumatriptan, except 6 mg, were significantly better than placebo (p < 0.004) and achieved similar rates of headache relief within two hours of dosing. The highest response rate was in the 25 mg group (72%) compared with placebo (37%) (p < 0.001). Fewer patients required rescue medication in the active groups (1% 100 mg to 13% 6 mg) compared with placebo (17%), and more patients were able to work and function normally two hours after dosing (41%, 100 mg; 20%, placebo). The overall incidence of adverse events was similar in the placebo, 6 mg and 12.5 mg groups (14-17%) but higher in the 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg groups (25%, 32% and 29% respectively). Analysis of plasma sumatriptan levels indicated rapid rectal absorption for all doses (median tmax = 1.0 hr). It is concluded that sumatriptan, in doses above 6 mg, is an effective and well tolerated treatment for acute migraine. From this study doses of 12.5 mg and 25 mg sumatriptan were identified as having the best efficacy/safety profile and were evaluated further.

C-reactive protein in measles.

Seventy-two children with early measles (1st-3rd day of rash), presenting at two centres in Santiago, Chile, were classified as having mild ('ordinary measles', n = 50), or moderate to severe measles ('primarily severe measles', n = 22). The level of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was determined by nephelometry from a finger prick sample. The mean CRP value in ordinary measles, 19 mg/l, was significantly lower (P less than 0.001) than in primarily severe measles where the mean CRP was 65 mg/l. During late measles (5th-8th day of rash), the mean CRP was 19 mg/l if the child recovered uneventfully (n = 35), whereas the mean level of 123 mg/l (P less than 0.001) was encountered when the child suffered from complicating pneumonia (n = 22). We conclude that the simple quantitative CRP determination is a useful alarm signal during the course of measles: elevated levels point to severity or complications in recovery.

Characterization, in some human breast cancer cell lines, of gastrin-releasing peptide-like receptors which are absent in normal breast epithelial cells.

The binding of 125I-Tyr4 bombesin was investigated on plasma membranes of 8 human breast cancer cell lines and 2 long-term cultures of normal human breast epithelial cells. Scatchard plots were compatible with high-affinity, single-site class of receptors in 3 cell lines (KD of 0.75 x 10(-9) and 10(-9) M, Bmax of 0.75 x 10(-13) and 9.7 x 10(-13) M/mg protein in MDA-MB231 and in T47D cells, respectively) while no binding was observed in 5 other cell lines and normal epithelial cells. The neuropeptide and its structural analogues (natural or synthetic) inhibited the binding of 125I-Tyr4 bombesin in the following order of potency: gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP, EC50 = 1.7 x 10(-10) M) greater than BIM 26159 greater than bombesin, Tyr4 bombesin greater than BIM 26147 greater than litorin greater than neuromedin C. In contrast, 125I-Tyr4 bombesin binding was not displaced by neuromedin B, somatostatin, bradykinin and insulin. In agreement with our binding data, SDS-PAGE of the complex 125I-Tyr4 bombesin-receptor covalently linked by ethylene glycol-bis succinimidyl succinate (EGS) identified after autoradiography a single band with a molecular weight of 75,000, which disappeared in the presence of bombesin in excess. No transcription of either GRP or neuromedin B mRNA could be shown in tumor or normal cells. Exogenous gastrin-releasing peptide had no effect on growth of the cell lines when a serum-free medium was used, implicating that in breast cancer cell lines this receptor does not mediate growth but has a functional role.

Pharmacokinetics of tiaprofenic acid in children after a single oral dose.

Twelve healthy children in three age groups anaesthetized for minor surgery were given a single oral dose of tiaprofenic acid (3 mg.kg-1) (TA). Seven blood samples and zero to 8 and 8 to 24 h urines were collected. TA concentrations in plasma and urine were measured by HPLC. No significant difference was found between the age groups in the kinetic parameters of TA and no correlation was found between these parameters and age: tmax = 2.12 h, Cmax = 8.78 mg.l-1, AUC(0----8 h) 33.9 mg.h.l-1, AUC = 39.3 mg.h.l-1, t1/2 = 2.35 h, Vt = 0.319 l.kg-1, CL = 0.094 l.h-1.kg-1. Renal clearance was 14 ml.h-1.kg-1.33% of the TA dose was recovered in the 24 h urine, 48% of which was conjugated, whereas in adults, TA is only found in urine as conjugates. The apparent plasma clearance was significantly higher (56%) than in 12 healthy adults given 1.5 mg.kg-1 TA. Volume of distribution and t1/2 did not significantly differ between children and adults. Since no relationship has been established between plasma TA and either efficacy or toxicity, a different dose regimen cannot be recommended in 3-11 year-old children from that in adults.