Insight into the roles of hematite iron oxide nanoparticles on microalgae growth, urban wastewater treatment and bioproducts generation: Gompertz simulation, nutrient mass balance and gene expression.

In this study, the effect of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles spiking in urban wastewater (UWW) on growth rate, wastewater treatment ability and bioproducts generation of C. vulgaris and Spirulina was investigated and compared with pure cultivation system. The biomass concentration of C. vulgaris and Spirulina improved by 20 % and 39 % at 10 and 15 mg/L α-Fe2O3, respectively while the both microalgae growth pattern fitted better with Gompertz simulation after treatment with α-Fe2O3. The nutrients mass balance revealed that 1 g of treated C. vulgaris and Spirulina could uptake more COD, TN and TP in comparison to the untreated cells. The lipid generation increased remarkably (C. vulgaris: 45 % and Spirulina: 72 %) after α-Fe2O3 treatment. While, the addition of α-Fe2O3 showed no significant impact on the protein and carbohydrate productivity. Overall, this study evangelize the role of nanoparticles on promoting microalgae applications as a sustainable approach for UWW treatment and promising feedstock for biofuel production.

IL-15 Prevents the Development of T-ALL from Aberrant Thymocytes with Impaired DNA Repair Functions and Increased NOTCH1 Activation.

We previously reported that NOD.Scid mice lacking interleukin-15 (IL-15), or IL-15 receptor alpha-chain, develop T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). To understand the mechanisms by which IL-15 signaling controls T-ALL development, we studied the thymocyte developmental events in IL-15-deficient Scid mice from NOD and C57BL/6 genetic backgrounds. Both kinds of mice develop T-ALL characterized by circulating TCR-negative cells expressing CD4, CD8 or both. Analyses of thymocytes in NOD.Scid.Il15-/- mice prior to T-ALL development revealed discernible changes within the CD4-CD8- double-negative (DN) thymocyte developmental stages and increased frequencies of CD4+CD8+ double-positive cells with a high proportion of TCR-negative CD4+ and CD8+ cells. The DN cells also showed elevated expressions of CXCR4 and CD117, molecules implicated in the expansion of DN thymocytes. T-ALL cell lines and primary leukemic cells from IL-15-deficient NOD.Scid and C57BL/6.Scid mice displayed increased NOTCH1 activation that was inhibited by NOTCH1 inhibitors and blockers of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Primary leukemic cells from NOD.Scid.Il15-/- mice survived and expanded when cultured with MS5 thymic stromal cells expressing Delta-like ligand 4 and supplemented with IL-7 and FLT3 ligand. These findings suggest that IL-15 signaling in the thymus controls T-ALL development from aberrant thymocytes with an impaired DNA repair capacity and increased NOTCH1 activation.

Macular ischemia associated with imatinib mesylate therapy for chronic myeloid leukemia.

PURPOSE: Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec, East Hanover, NJ) is a drug approved for the treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or Kit-positive gastrointestinal stromal tumors. A case of ischemic maculopathy associated with imatinib mesylate therapy is reported. METHODS: A 62-year-old woman with a 16-year history of CML was treated with imatinib mesylate, initially at a daily dose of 400 mg that was decreased to 300 mg due to systemic side effects. Several weeks after beginning imatinib mesylate therapy, she developed blurred vision (greater in the left eye than in the right eye). RESULTS: Fundus examination of both eyes revealed retinal telangiectasia with intraretinal hemorrhages and perifoveal retinal telangiectasia. Fluorescein angiography showed macular ischemia (greater in the left eye than in the right eye). Late perifoveal leakage was present surrounding the macular ischemic zone. Visual acuity was reduced to 20/30 in the right eye and 20/100 in the left eye, which did not improve over 10 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Imatinib mesylate may be associated with ischemic maculopathy that can severely compromise vision. It may be necessary for patients receiving this therapy to be monitored for associated visual symptoms and funduscopic abnormalities.