Simultaneous removal of Cr(III) from high contaminated soil and recovery of lactic acid from the spent solution.

It is proposed a closed-loop treatment cycle for Cr(III) removal from contaminated soils (2080 mg/kg). The treatment includes the use of lactic acid as washing agent, and the recovery of both Cr(II) and lactic acid from the spent solution. Results indicate that Cr(III) removal efficiency can be very high, passing 70% in all tested operative conditions. The metal forms strong complexes with lactic acid, and therefore cannot be eliminated through direct precipitation simply increasing the pH value. Therefore, lactic acid is preliminarily extracted from the solution using n-butanol at very acidic pH. The obtained extraction degree is generally high, varying between 0.5 and 1 according to the amount of used n-butanol solution. After lactic acid extraction, almost 100% of chromium can be recovered through precipitation in alkaline conditions. Lactic acid, in turns, can be purified and reused for a new washing treatment, separating it from n-butanol solution through water extraction. The extraction efficiency is once more satisfying (around 0.5), and not dependent on the operative pH.

Assembly of a photosynthetic reaction center with ABA tri-block polymersomes: highlights on protein localization.

The reconstitution of the integral membrane protein photosynthetic reaction center (RC) in polymersomes, i.e. artificial closed vesicles, was achieved by the micelle-to-vesicle transition technique, a very mild protocol based on size exclusion chromatography often used to drive the incorporation of proteins contemporarily to liposome formation. An optimized protocol was used to successfully reconstitute the protein in a fully active state in polymersomes formed by the tri-block copolymers PMOXA22-PDMS61-PMOXA22. The RC is very sensitive to its solubilizing environment and was used to probe the positioning of the protein in the vesicles. According to charge-recombination experiments and to the enzymatic activity assay, the RC is found to accommodate in the PMOXA22 region of the polymersome, facing the water bulk solution, rather than in the PDMS61 transmembrane-like region. Furthermore, polymersomes were found to preserve protein integrity efficiently as the biomimetic lipid bilayers but show a much longer temporal stability than lipid based vesicles.

Energy recovery in wastewater decontamination: simultaneous photocatalytic oxidation of an organic substrate and electricity generation.

The contemporary removal of organic pollutants from aqueous solution and electricity generation is studied in the present work by means of an experimental device resulting from the combination of a photocatalytic reactor and an electrochemical cell. The proposed system relies on the capability of Cu2+ ions to reduce in the presence of TiO2, (solar) UV radiations and a sacrificial organic agent. In the anodic solution of the combined photoreactor-cell, Cu0 is oxidized to Cu2+ and the latter is reduced again to the lowest oxidation state. The use of different sacrificial agents ranging from formic acid (FA) to glycerol (GLY) to glucose (GLU) is investigated along with the adoption of two different cathodes for the cell, the first based again on the couple Cu2+/Cu0 and the second on the couple O2/H2O.

'Frequently recurring' nocturnal polyuria is predictive of response to desmopressin in monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis in childhood.

INTRODUCTION: The nocturnal polyuria is considered a significant predictive value for response to desmopressin. The cutoff value useful to define nocturnal polyuria is still a matter of debate. Moreover, it is current notion that maximal voided volume (MVV) could be used as a predictor for desmopressin response. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the impact of different definitions of nocturnal polyuria (and of its frequency) and MVV in predicting the response to desmopressin. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 103 patients with frequent monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (≥4 wet nights/week) were enrolled. A bladder diary over a 4-day period was collected. The MVV was defined as the highest micturition volume detected at bladder diary. Nocturnal diuresis was measured in 5 wet nights. Then, patients were administered with 120 mcg of sublingual desmopressin. After 2 months, if there was no complete response, the dose was increased to 240 mcg. Nocturnal polyuria was defined as follows: 1.Definition 1: nocturnal urine production >130% of the expected bladder capacity (EBC). 2. Definition 2: >100% EBC. 3. Definition 3: > 20×(age + 9) mL. The primary outcome was 'response to desmopressin' after 3 months of treatment. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients responded to desmopressin. Comparing the responses to desmopressin on the basis of the three definitions of nocturnal polyuria, no significant difference was found. There was no cutoff value of nocturnal polyuria expressed as %EBC useful in providing a significant receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The area under the ROC curve for MVV expressed as %EBC was 0.67 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54-0.80; p = 0.01). A MVV >103.1% of EBC had 78.8% (95% CI, 61.1-91.0) sensitivity and 47.5% (95% CI, 31.5-63.9) specificity for predicting response to desmopressin. Among the patients with nocturnal polyuria according to definition 1, a higher percentage of subjects with nocturnal polyuria in 4 out of 5 or 5 out of 5 nights responded to desmopressin, compared with other patients. Patients presenting with nocturnal polyuria according to definition 3 in 5 out of 5 nights showed a 100% of response to desmopressin. At multivariate analysis, the only significant odds ratio (OR) to respond to desmopressin was that of patients with nocturnal polyuria according to definition 1 in >3 nights (OR = 7.1, 95% CI, 1.3-40.3). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The presence or absence of nocturnal polyuria-according to all three definitions-in at least one night was not effective in predicting the response to desmopressin. Predictors of desmopressin response were nocturnal polyuria in >3 out of 5 wet nights according to definition 1 and in 5 out of 5 wet nights according to definition 3.

Biodegradation, ecotoxicity and UV254/H2O2 treatment of imidazole, 1-methyl-imidazole and N,N'-alkyl-imidazolium chlorides in water.

Imidazole-based compounds are used as reagents for the manufacturing of other compounds including imidazolium-based ionic liquids, which have been recently proposed as a green alternative to conventional solvents. Since some imidazole-based compounds have been demonstrated to be harmful to aquatic organisms, the removal of imidazole, 1-methylimidazole, 1-ethyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride and 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride from aqueous solutions was attempted by biological oxidation, direct UV254 photolysis, and UV254/H2O2 process at pH 5.5 and 8.5. Results showed that UV254/H2O2 treatment is an effective tool for the removal of the selected compounds at both pHs. In fact, the kinetic constants of the reaction between the photogenerated HO radicals and the four target compounds, estimated by means of both numerical and competition kinetic method, range between 2.32·109 M-1 s-1 and 5.52 ·109 M-1 s-1. Moreover, an ecotoxicity assessment of the contaminated water before and after initial treatment without further processing was assessed by using two living aquatic organisms: Raphidocelis subcapitata and Daphnia magna. The results of this assessment not only corresponded closely to previous findings (in terms of EC50 values) reported in the literature, but also indicated that, in some cases, UV254/H2O2 oxidation by-products could be even more toxic than parent compounds.

Removal of benzoylecgonine from water matrices through UV254/H2O2 process: Reaction kinetic modeling, ecotoxicity and genotoxicity assessment.

Benzoylecgonine (BE), the main cocaine metabolite, has been detected in numerous surface water and treatment plants effluents in Europe and there is urgent need for effective treatment methods. In this study, the removal of BE by the UV254/H2O2 process from different water matrices was investigated. By means of competition kinetics method, the kinetic constant of reaction between BE and the photogenerated hydroxyl radicals (OH) was estimated resulting in kOH/BE=5.13×10(9)M(-1)s(-1). By-products and water matrices scavengers effects were estimated by numerical modeling of the reaction kinetics for the UV254/H2O2 process and validated in an innovative microcapillary film (MCF) array photoreactor and in a conventional batch photoreactor. The ecotoxicity of the water before and after treatment was evaluated with four organisms Raphidocelis subcapitata, Daphnia magna, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Vicia faba. The results provided evidence that BE and its transformation by-products do not have significant adverse effects on R. subcapitata, while D. magna underwent an increase of lipid droplets. C. elegans was the most sensitive to BE and its by-products. Furthermore, a genotoxicity assay, using V. faba, showed cytogenic damages during the cell mitosis of primary roots.

Ds-Induced Alleles at the OPAQUE-2 Locus of Maize.

Transposon mutagenesis has been used to isolate mutable alleles at the Opaque-2 (O2) locus of maize. Plants with the Activator-Dissociation (Ac-Ds) system of transposable elements and O2 were crossed as males to a stable o2 tester line. Among a population of 200,000 kernels, 198 exceptional kernels with somatic instability were recovered. In four cases, designated O2-m1, o2-m2, O2-m3 and O2-m4, variegated phenotypes appeared in F(2) and subsequent generations. Genetic analyses indicated that the presence of Ds near or within the O2 gene was responsible for the observed somatic instability at the O2 locus. The phenotypes of the newly induced alleles were of two types. Alleles O2-m1, O2-m3 and O2-m4, in the absence of Ac, were characterized by kernel phenotypes indistinguishable from the wild type; in the presence of Ac they generated kernels with opaque sectors interspersed within a vitreous background. In contrast, the mutable allele o2-m2, in the absence of Ac, was characterized by kernels with a recessive phenotype similar to o2 recessive mutants. In the presence of Ac, it reverted somatically to wild-type-producing kernels with vitreous spots in an o2 background. The association of the Ds element with the O2 locus may prove a valuable tool directed to the isolation of DNA fragments bearing the O2 gene.

Estimation of biodegradation kinetic constants for aromatic derivates through aerobic batch experiments.

The kinetics of aerobic biodegradation were studied for 20 aromatic species by using sludges taken from a municipal sewage treatment plant. The reproducibility of the results is tested with respect to the period of collection of the sludges and the wastewater treatment plant where they were taken. The comparison of kinetic constants estimated for investigated chemicals allows evaluation of the effect on the reactivity due to the presence of single groups (i.e. -OH, -CH3, -Cl, -NO2) into the aromatic structures. The search for easy structure-reactivity relations is also attempted by using some group contributing methods.

Dual inhibition of REV-ERBß and autophagy as a novel pharmacological approach to induce cytotoxicity in cancer cells.

REV-ERBα and REV-ERBß nuclear receptors regulate several physiological processes, including circadian rhythm and metabolism. A previous study reported the REV-ERBα gene to be co-overexpressed with ERBB2 in breast cancer cell lines. Surprisingly, we found that several tumor types, including a number of breast cancer cell lines, predominantly express the REV-ERBß variant. This pattern was independent of ERBB2 and ER status, and opposite to that of non-cancer mammary epithelial HMEC cells, in which REV-ERBα was the major variant. Consistent with this molecular profile, REV-ERB target genes in both circadian and metabolic pathways were derepressed upon silencing of REV-ERBß, but not REV-ERBα. Strikingly, we found that REV-ERBß is a determinant of sensitivity to chloroquine, a clinically relevant lysosomotropic agent that suppresses autophagy. The cytoprotective function of REV-ERBß appears to operate downstream of autophagy blockade. Through compound screening, we identified ARN5187, a novel lysosomotropic REV-ERBß ligand with a dual inhibitory activity toward REV-ERB-mediated transcriptional regulation and autophagy. Remarkably, although ARN5187 and chloroquine share similar lysosomotropic potency and have a similar effect on autophagy inhibition, ARN5187 is significantly more cytotoxic. Collectively, our results reveal that dual inhibition of REV-ERBß and autophagy is an effective strategy for eliciting cytotoxicity in cancer cells. Furthermore, our discovery of a novel inhibitor compound of both REV-ERB and autophagy may provide a scaffold for the discovery of new multifunctional anticancer agents.

A double-blind trial of haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and lorazepam in the treatment of delirium in hospitalized AIDS patients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and side effects of haloperidol, chlorpromazine, and lorazepam for the treatment of the symptoms of delirium in adult AIDS patients in a randomized, double-blind, comparison trial. METHOD: Nondelirious, medically hospitalized AIDS patients (N = 244) consented to participate in the study and were monitored prospectively for the development of delirium. Patients entered the treatment phase of the study if they met DSM-III-R criteria for delirium and scored 13 or greater on the Delirium Rating Scale. Thirty patients were randomly assigned to treatment with haloperidol (N = 11), chlorpromazine (N = 13), or lorazepam (N = 6). Efficacy and side effects associated with the treatment were measured with repeated assessments using the Delirium Rating Scale, the Mini-Mental State, and the Extrapyramidal Symptom Rating Scale. RESULTS: Treatment with either haloperidol or chlorpromazine in relatively low doses resulted in significant improvement in the symptoms of delirium as measured by the Delirium Rating Scale. No improvement in the symptoms of delirium was found in the lorazepam group. Cognitive function, as measured by the Mini-Mental State, improved significantly from baseline to day 2 for patients receiving chlorpromazine. Treatment with haloperidol or chlorpromazine was associated with an extremely low prevalence of extrapyramidal side effects. All patients receiving lorazepam, however, developed treatment-limiting adverse effects. Although only a small number of patients had been treated with lorazepam, the authors became sufficiently concerned with the adverse effects to terminate that arm of the protocol early. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms of delirium in medically hospitalized AIDS patients may be treated efficaciously with few side effects by using low-dose neuroleptics (haloperidol or chlorpromazine). Lorazepam alone appears to be ineffective and associated with treatment-limiting adverse effects.

Promoter and expression studies on an Arabidopsis thaliana dehydrin gene.

A genomic clone of a group 2 lea/rab/dehydrin gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, Xero2/lti30, was cloned and sequenced. Promoter-GUS fusions were introduced into plants to analyse the promoter and determine expression patterns. Using root cultures, GUS expression was found to be moderately stimulated by abscisic acid (ABA), wounding, cold and dehydration. Results with an ABA-deficient mutant suggested endogenous ABA is required for these responses. Promoter deletion studies indicated multiple cis-acting elements are involved in the induction of the gene. GUS expression occurred in desiccated seeds, in all tissues of young seedlings and in roots (with the exception of the root tip), desiccated pollen grains, trichomes and the vascular tissues of leaves and stems in mature plants.

CD45 fraction bone marrow cells as potential delivery vehicles for genetically corrected dystrophin loci.

Targeted correction of mutations in muscle can be delivered by direct i.m. injection of corrective DNA to the dystrophic muscle or by autologous injection of cells that have been genetically corrected after isolation from the individual with the dystrophic muscle. The successful application of chimeraplasty and short fragment homologous replacement to correct the exon 23 nonsense mdx transition at the mouse dys locus has opened up the possibility that with further development, targeted gene correction may have some future application for the treatment of muscular dystrophies. In vitro, application of targeted gene correction at the mdx dys locus results in better correction efficiencies than when applied directly to dystrophic muscle. This suggests that at least for the time being, a strategy involving ex vivo correction may be advantageous over a direct approach for delivery of gene correction to dystrophic muscle. This, particularly in view of recent developments indicating that bone-marrow-derived cells are able to systemically remodel dystrophic muscle, whilst penetration of DNA introduced to muscle is limited to individually injected muscles. Application of targeted gene correction to Duchenne dystrophy needs to account for the fact that about 65% of Duchenne muscular dystrophy cases involve large frame-shift deletion of gene sequence at the dys locus. Traditionally, whilst targeted gene correction is able to restore point mutations entirely, it remains to be seen as to whether a strategy for the 'correction' of frame shift deletions may be engineered successfully. This communication discusses the possibility of applying targeted gene correction to dystrophic muscle in Duchenne dystrophy.

Diet and nutrition in ulcer disease.

In this era of H2-inhibitors, the available evidence does not support the need to place peptic ulcer disease patients on restrictive diets. The major goal of diet is to avoid extreme elevations of gastric acid secretion and the direct irritation of gastric mucosa. In view of this, only slight modifications in the patient's usual diet are recommended. Table 1 depicts a sample menu for chronic peptic ulcer disease. Frequent milk ingestion as previously prescribed is not encouraged. This is owing to the transient buffering effect and significant gastric acid secretion effect of milk. The fat content of milk has no influence on these effects. Spices, in particular black pepper, red pepper, and chili powder, may produce dyspepsia. One study shows red chili powder to have no detrimental effect on duodenal ulcer healing. It has also been proposed that daily pepper ingestion may have a beneficial adaptive cytoprotective response. While still controversial and under evaluation, peptic ulcer patients should avoid any spice that causes discomfort, especially during exacerbation of peptic disease. Currently, studies indicate that it is prudent to avoid alcohol. This is especially true for the concentrated forms, such as 40% (80 proof) alcohol. Coffee should be avoided on the basis of its strong acid secretagogue property. Coffee can induce dyspepsia. Whether noncoffee caffeine-containing beverages (tea, soft drinks) induce peptic ulcer is unknown, but they are acid secretion stimulators. Decaffeinated coffee has an acid stimulating effect as well. It is reasonable to have peptic ulcer patients restrict decaffeinated coffee and all caffeine-containing beverages. There appears to be no evidence to restrict dietary fiber. Some fiber-containing foods may possess factors that are protective against ulcer disease. According to the Mayo Clinic Diet Manual, previously recommended small frequent feedings have not been shown to be more effective than three meals per day in the treatment of chronic peptic ulcer disease. This reference cites authorities advising against extra feedings because of increased acid secretion and unnecessary complication of eating patterns. However, some patients claim to be relieved of symptoms with more frequent feedings, especially during acute phases. Citric acid juices may induce reflux and cause discomfort in selective patients. Stomach distention with large quantities of food should be discouraged. Although there is now little role for dietary therapy, one should note that bland and ulcer diets probably are not detrimental to most persons if they are used for a short time and may have some psychological benefit.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Kinetic modeling of pyruvic acid ozonation in aqueous solutions catalyzed by Mn(II) and Mn(IV) ions.

The ozonation of pyruvic acid (2-ketopropionic acid) in aqueous solutions, catalyzed by Mn(II) and Mn(IV) ions, has been studied at three different pH values (pH = 1.1, 2.0 and 3.0). A mathematical model of the unsteady operation of the experimental reactor has been developed, which takes into account the reactions occurring in the liquid phase and the ozone mass transfer from the gas bubbles. Those reactions have been described with two alternative kinetic models, both made out of four elementary steps. The two kinetic models correlate the experimental data with a fair accuracy, respectively at the lowest and at the highest pH examined. In particular, at pH = 3.0, the ozonation results are inhibited by the acetate ions produced by the reaction itself. This effect has been correctly described in the terms of a complex formed with the low oxidation-state manganese, which successively reacts with the dissolved ozone.

Symptomatic tension pneumocephalus after evacuation of chronic subdural haematoma: report of seven cases.

We present seven cases of tension pneumocephalus developing after burr hole evacuation of chronic subdural haematoma. After a careful review of the literature we discuss the physiopathology, the diagnosis and the treatment of this complication of chronic subdural haematoma surgery.

Association of elevated levels of prothrombin fragment 1+2 and Arg506 to Gln mutation in patients with a history of ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Recent findings have indicated the association between APC-resistance and cerebrovascular disease. These reports prompted us to investigate whether resistance to APC could be found in patients suffering from stroke. METHODS: Therefore, we studied APC-resistance in 50 young adults (< or =45 yrs) with a history of ischemic stroke. Eleven out of fifty cerebrovascular subjects showed APC-resistance, while 2 had PC deficiency and 3 PS deficiency. No deficiencies in the anticoagulant protein AT III and in fibrinolytic proteins were found. The family history demonstrated a distribution of APC-resistance compatible with dominant autosomal inheritance. The plasma concentration of prothrombin fragment 1+2 (F1+2), which is a marker of hypercoagulable states, was also measured in patients and family members of resistant subjects (n = 38). RESULTS: DNA analysis showed factor V R506Q mutation (Leiden mutation) in 11 patients and their relatives with poor response to activated protein C detected by APTT tests. Of 11 investigated subjects with APC-resistance, 9 were heterozygotes and 2, with the lowest APC-ratio values, were homozygotes for factor V mutation. Among 38 relatives, 22 showed a poor response to APC and according to the APC-ratio values, 18 were heterozygotes and 4 homozygotes for FV Leiden mutation. The mutation, in heterozygous form, was also found in 2% of our normal population (n = 100). The plasma concentration of F1+2 was significantly higher both in 11 individuals carrying the FV:Q506 mutation and in 39 patients without APC-resistance compared to that found in the control group. However, the patients with FV:Q506 mutation showed the highest values in F1+2. In the studied family members F1+2 plasma levels were within normal values. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate a possible involvement of APC-resistance in the pathogenesis of cerebral thrombosis in young adults and agree with the hypothesis that individuals with APC-resistance have an imbalance between pro-and anti-coagulant forces leading to increased thrombin generation and a hypercoagulable state.

The double sperm line in Isochaetides (Annelida, Clitellata, Tubificidae).

Sperm morphology and spermatogenesis were examined in the oligochaete annelid Isochaetides arenarius, a species belonging to the subfamily Tubificinae inhabiting the sediments of Lake Baikal. As all tubificines, Isochaetides produces two types of spermatozoa, named eusperm and parasperm. The eusperm are the fertilizing male gametes and consist, in sequence, of an acrosome, a nucleus, a mitochondrial mid-piece, and a tail. The parasperm have the same general architecture, but differ in cytological details: the acrosome is shorter, devoid of a perforatorium, and the acrosome vesicle has a different, simpler, shape. The nucleus is much shorter and rectilinear (the eusperm nucleus is twisted). The mid-piece mitochondria are less numerous but their overall volume is larger. The flagellum has a plasma membrane largely separated from the axoneme, and is devoid of glycogen granules. After mating, the two sperm types gather in the spermathecae to form spermatozeugmata; in these structures the parasperm form an external sheath involving the centrally located eusperm and their tails are connected by conspicuous septate junctions. Parasperm nuclei are produced through a process of fragmentation of the 'spermatocytes', whereas the flagellar basal bodies are produced by a process similar to that giving rise to basal bodies in ciliated epithelia.

Ozonation of p-chlorophenol in aqueous solution.

The ozonation of p-chlorophenol (CHP) in aqueous solution has been studied in the pH range 2.0-8.0, in the presence of tert-butyl alcohol, which prevents the activation of the radical mechanism of oxidation. Results indicate that the pH influences the system reactivity and that only a partial chlorine release is observed for lengthy ozonation too, after the complete substrate disappearance. For adopted experimental conditions the oxidation process develops under a quasi-diffusional regime of absorption with reaction, a transition domain between kinetic and diffusional regimes in which ozone and dissolved substances react exclusively in the liquid film. A proper mathematical model has been developed and used to simulate the system behaviour

The thermal decomposition of dimethoate.

The thermal decomposition of dimethoate, an organophosphorus pesticide, has been studied with the aim at assessing the reaction kinetics, the energy released during the process and the decomposition products. Dimethoate shows a marked tendency to undergo thermal decomposition at temperature higher than 369 K. A moderate pressure increase has been recorded at the end of all runs. Many thiophosphoric compounds have been identified among the decomposition products.

A kinetic model for the degradation of benzothiazole by Fe3+-photo-assisted Fenton process in a completely mixed batch reactor.

The degradation of benzothiazole in aqueous solution by a photo-assisted Fenton reaction has been studied in a batch reactor in the pH range 2.0 - 3.2 and for H2O2 and Fe(III) concentrations respectively between 1.0 x 10(-3) - 1.5 x 10(-1) and 1.0 x 10(-6) - 4.0 x 10(-6) M. A kinetic model has been developed to predict the decay of benzothiazole at varying reaction conditions. The use of kinetic constants from the literature in the model allows to simulate the system behavior by taking into account the influence of pH, hydrogen peroxide, Fe(III) and sulfate concentrations and the ionic strength.