Performance and design considerations for an anaerobic moving bed biofilm reactor treating brewery wastewater: Impact of surface area loading rate and temperature.

Three 4 L anaerobic moving bed biofilm reactors (AMBBR) treated brewery wastewater with AC920 media providing 680 m2 protected surface area per m3 of media. Different hydraulic retention times (HRT; 24, 18, 12, 10, 8 and 6 h) at 40% media fill and 35 °C, as well as different temperatures (15, 25 and 35 °C) at 50% media fill and 18 h HRT were examined. Best performance at 35 °C and 40% media fill was observed when HRT was 18 h, which corresponded with 92% removal of soluble COD (sCOD). Organic loading rates (OLR) above 24 kg-COD m-3d-1 decreased performance below 80% sCOD removal at 35 °C and 40% media fill. The reason was confirmed to be that surface area loading rates (SALR) above 50 g-sCOD m-2d-1 caused excessive biofilm thickness that filled up internal channels of the media, leading to mass transfer limitations. Temperature had a very significant impact on process performance with 50% media fill and 18 h HRT. Biomass concentrations were significantly higher at lower temperatures. At 15 °C the mass of volatile solids (VS) was more than three times higher than at 35 °C for the same OLR. Biofilms acclimated to 25 °C and 15 °C achieved removal of 80% sCOD at SALR of 10 g-sCOD m-2d-1 and 1.0 g-sCOD m-2d-1, respectively. Even though biomass concentrations were higher at lower temperature, biofilm acclimated to 25 °C and 15 °C performed significantly slower than that acclimated to 35 °C.

Removal of Soluble Phosphorus from Surface Water Using Iron (Fe-Fe) and Aluminum (Al-Al) Electrodes.

The removal of soluble phosphorus using iron and aluminum electrodes was studied in water samples from the Red River, a hyper-eutrophic stream in Winnipeg, Canada. Four trials were conducted: (I) mixed batch with 150-900 mA applied for 1 min to 1 L, (II) stagnant batch with 600-900 mA applied for 1 min to 1 L, and (III and IV) continuously stirred-tank reactor with 6.25-10 min hydraulic retention times and constant 900 mA. Maximum soluble phosphorus removals of 70-80% were observed in mixed batch, and there was no significant difference between aluminum and iron electrodes (P value of 0.0526-0.9487). Aluminum electrodes performed significantly worse than iron electrodes under higher hydraulic loads, with iron removing >70% soluble phosphorus and aluminum <40% (P values of 0.0035-0.0143). The estimated cost of consumables, reported per million liters of water treated, to remove 70% soluble phosphorus from eutrophic waters with 0.35 g m-3 soluble phosphorus would include 5-17.5 USD electricity costs and material costs of 5.3-12.2 USD for iron and 39.2 USD for aluminum.

Granulation of activated sludge under low hydrodynamic shear and different wastewater characteristics.

Five reactors were operated with low upflow superficial air velocities (0.41cmmin-1) in order to observe granulation on synthetic wastewaters with different characteristics: 1) 340mg-CODL-1; 2) 630mg-CODL-1; and 3) 1300mg-CODL-1. Stable granulation was only observed under low hydrodynamic shear for low-strength wastewater. 55-70% of soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD) was utilized before aeration and 91% COD, 62% total nitrogen (TN), and 96% total phosphorus (TP) were removed from the low-strength wastewater. Although medium-strength wastewater did generate granules they rapidly acquired a filamentous surface layer that resulted in decreased performance and loss of nitrification. 94% COD, 30% TN, and 85% TP were removed from the medium-strength wastewater. The high-strength wastewater did not develop granules and 85% COD was removed. Results demonstrated that high shear force was not required for granulation. Rather, granulation depended on multiple parameters to out-select rapidly growing aerobic microorganisms.

Effect of photoperiod on endocrine profiles and vitellogenin expression in European eels Anguilla anguilla during artificially induced ovarian development.

The aim of this work was to determine the effects of dark and light conditions on the E2, testosterone and thyroid hormones levels and on the gene expression levels (vitellogenin 1, vitellogenin 2, and estradiol receptor one) in European eels (Anguilla anguilla) during ovarian development induced by increasing doses of carp pituitary extracts (CPEs). The subjects were divided into 2 groups: 14-hour light:10-hour dark (Light Group) and 24-hour darkness (Dark Group). All the eels received intramuscular injections with CPE at a dosage of 10 mg/kg body weight (BW) once a week for the first 3 weeks, 20 mg/kg BW fourth-sixth week, 30 mg/kg BW seventh-ninth week, and 40 mg/kg up to the end of the experiment (13th week). Vitellogenin and estradiol receptor expression levels did not show significant differences between the two housing conditions whereas in both groups vitellogenin mRNA increased starting from first CPE injection. Testosterone and 17-beta estradiol plasma levels were significantly greater in the Dark Group compared with the Light Group starting from the ninth and the 13th week, respectively. These results suggest that darkness could be a useful variable for standardizing gonadal maturation in eels kept in captivity.

Phytoremediation of dredged marine sediment: monitoring of chemical and biochemical processes contributing to sediment reclamation.

In this study, a pilot phytoremediation experiment was performed to treat about 80 m(3) of silty saline sediments contaminated by heavy metals and organic compounds. After preliminary mixing with a sandy soil and green compost application, three different plant treatments [Paspalum vaginatum (P); P. vaginatum + Spartium junceum (P + S); P. vaginatum + Tamarix gallica (P + T)] were compared to each other and to an unplanted control (C) in order to evaluate the plant efficiency in remediating and ameliorating agronomical and functional sediment properties. The experiment was monitored for one year after planting by taking sediment samples at two depths and performing several chemical and biochemical analyses. After one year, the increase in hydrolytic enzyme and dehydrogenase activities indicated the stimulation of sediment functionality. Additionally, the availability of energy sources derived from organic matter application and plant-root activity promoted the formation of a stable organic matter fraction. Finally, P + S and P + T were also effective in decontaminating polluted marine sediments from both organic (total petroleum hydrocarbons, TPH) and inorganic (heavy metal) pollutants.

Enteric neuroplasticity in seawater-adapted European eel (Anguilla anguilla).

European eels live most of their lives in freshwater until spawning migration to the Sargasso Sea. During seawater adaptation, eels modify their physiology, and their digestive system adapts to the new environment, drinking salt water to compensate for the continuous water loss. In that period, eels stop feeding until spawning. Thus, the eel represents a unique model to understand the adaptive changes of the enteric nervous system (ENS) to modified salinity and starvation. To this purpose, we assessed and compared the enteric neuronal density in the cranial portion of the intestine of freshwater eels (control), lagoon eels captured in brackish water before their migration to the Sargasso Sea (T0), and starved seawater eels hormonally induced to sexual maturity (T18; 18 weeks of starvation and treatment with standardized carp pituitary extract). Furthermore, we analyzed the modification of intestinal neuronal density of hormonally untreated eels during prolonged starvation (10 weeks) in seawater and freshwater. The density of myenteric (MP) and submucosal plexus (SMP) HuC/D-immunoreactive (Hu-IR) neurons was assessed in wholemount preparations and cryosections. The number of MP and SMP HuC/D-IR neurons progressively increased from the freshwater to the salty water habitat (control > T0 > T18; P < 0.05). Compared with freshwater eels, the number of MP and SMP HuC/D-IR neurons significantly increased (P < 0.05) in the intestine of starved untreated salt water eels. In conclusion, high salinity evokes enteric neuroplasticity as indicated by the increasing number of HuC/D-IR MP and SMP neurons, a mechanism likely contributing to maintaining the body homeostasis of this fish in extreme conditions.

Eicosapentaenoic acid pre-treatment reduces biochemical changes induced in total brain and myelin of weanling Wistar rats by cuprizone feeding.

Recently, we investigated the effects of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a fatty acid which modulates immune response and stimulates myelin gene expression, in an established model of multiple sclerosis (MS): the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced in Dark Agouti rats. As scientific evidences and our previous studies have suggested that EPA could directly affect oligodendrocytes, we have now evaluated the effects of EPA in the non-immune mediate MS model characterized by selective oligodendrocytes damage induced by cuprizone (CPZ). We found that feeding weanling rats diets containing 0.6% CPZ for 2 weeks induced variation of whole brain and myelin biochemical composition representative of a severe myelin damage. We thus administered daily and by gavage EPA or PBS to 2-day old rats up to 21 days. Afterwards, rats were fed CPZ diet for 9 days. The results show that compared to PBS/CPZ fed rats, the whole brain cerebroside content in EPA pre-treated rats was statistically increased as well as there was an overall trend of increase of all other biochemical components.

Effects of two water disinfectants (chloramine T and peracetic acid) on the epidermis and gills of Garra rufa used in human ichthyotherapy.

Doctor fish (Garra rufa) have recently been used for aesthetic purposes and as a medical treatment in patients with psoriasis (ichthyotherapy). For this particular kind of human therapy it is essential to guarantee adequate hygienic conditions for both people and fish. The aim of this study was to test two concentrations of water disinfectants, chloramine T and peracetic acid, on Garra rufa to ascertain possible exposure damage to the epidermis and gills. Fish were exposed to 2 mg/l and 10 mg/l of chloramine T and to 15 microl/l and 45 microl/l of peracetic acid in a 40-minute static bath up to six times a day for one week. The epidermis and gills were checked for histological changes and the number of epidermal mucous cells, club cells and taste buds were quantified; mucous cells were also characterized histochemically to detect alterations in mucin production. No mortality or severe histological changes were found in treated or control fish. Cell count showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in mucous cells (mean 49.1 +/- 6.7 vs 37.0 +/- 13.1 of controls) in animals treated with peracetic acid independently of the dose. Club cell number showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in fish treated with 2 mg/l of chloramine T (mean 74.3 +/- 15.6) and with 45 microl/1 of peracetic acid (mean 78.17 +/- 10.5) compared to controls (mean 107.0 +/- 19.2). Histochemical evaluation of mucous cells did not reveal changes in mucin type in fish exposed to the two disinfectants. The results suggest a good tolerability of Garra rufa to the two disinfectants at the concentrations tested.

Mesoglycan treatment in Raynaud phenomenon: a case series.

AIM AND METHODS: Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) is a common clinical disorder without cure or gold standard therapy. Mesoglycan is an well-balanced extract of glycosaminoglycans active on endothelial layers at microcirculatory level. Herein we investigated for the first time the efficacy and tolerability of mesoglycan on vasospastic attacks and videocapillaroscopy patterns in 25 consecutive patients with primary or secondary RP. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: During 12 months of add-on therapy, mesoglycan obtained a remarkable and significant reduction in the frequency of Raynaud attacks and an improvement of the capillaroscopy abnormalities in most patients, without important adverse effects, revealing a good convenience in the management if this condition.

Review article: the diagnosis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease -- availability and accuracy of non-invasive methods.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a wide spectrum of clinical conditions, actually representing an emerging disease of great clinical interest. Currently, its diagnosis requires liver biopsy, an invasive procedure not free from potential complications. However, several non-invasive diagnostic strategies have been proposed as potential diagnostic alternatives, each with different sensitivities and accuracies. AIM: To review non-invasive diagnostic parameters and tools for NAFLD diagnosis and to formulate a diagnostic and prognostic algorithm for a better classification of patients. METHODS: A literature search was carried out on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus for articles and abstracts in English. The search terms used included 'NAFLD', 'non invasive method and NAFLD', 'transient elastography' and 'liver fibrosis'. The articles cited were selected based on their relevancy to the objective of the review. RESULTS: Ultrasonography still represents the first-line diagnostic tool for simple liver steatosis; its sensitivity could be enhanced by the complex biochemical score SteatoTest. Serum cytokeratin-18 is a promising and accurate non-invasive parameter (AUROCs: 0.83; 0.91) for the diagnosis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The staging of liver fibrosis still represents the most important prognostic problem: the most accurate estimating methods are FibroMeter, FIB-4, NAFLD fibrosis score (AUROCs: 0.94; 0.86; 0.82) and transient elastography (AUROC: 0.84-1.00). CONCLUSIONS: Different non-invasive parameters are available for the accurate diagnosis and prognostic stratification of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease which, if employed in a sequential algorithm, may lead to a reduced use of invasive methods, i.e. liver biopsy.

Is subclinical adrenal failure in adrenoleukodystrophy/adrenomyeloneuropathy reversible?

BACKGROUND: X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy/adrenomieloneuropathy (ALD/AMN) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder due to mutations in the ABCD1 gene encoding the ABC transporter ALDP. Mutations in ALDP impair peroxisomal ß-oxidation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA), resulting in elevated levels of VLCFA in plasma, nervous system, and adrenals. Lorenzo's oil, combined with VLCFA- poor diet, normalizes plasma VLCFA within 1 month, but it does not prevent the progression of pre-existing neurological symptoms. No previous study analyzed the effect of Lorenzo's oil therapy on adrenal function. AIM: To investigate short-term effects of Lorenzo's oil, combined with VLCFA- poor diet, on adrenal function of AMN patients with early subclinical signs of adrenal failure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Seven AMN subjects underwent VLCFA-restricted diet combined with Lorenzo's oil (45 ml/day po), without steroid therapy, for 6 months. RESULTS: All patients had elevated ACTH at baseline, and a significant reduction was evident after 6 months (median ACTH at baseline: 1300 pg/ml, range: 720- 2100; median ACTH at 6 months: 186 pg/ml, range: 109-320, p: 0.0156). Cortisol was normal both at baseline and after 6 months. VLCFA dropped in all patients during the 6- month follow-up, and no patient required glucocorticoid replacement therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Adrenal insufficiency in ALD/AMN is probably due to a defective adrenal response to ACTH, related to VLCFA accumulation with progressive disruption of the adrenal cell membrane functions. In an early phase, Lorenzo's oil therapy may be able to improve VLCFA clearance and restore a normal ACTH receptor activity, and hypoadrenalism may be potentially reversible.

Effect of micronutrient-enriched sunflower oils on plasma lipid profile and antioxidant status in high-fat-fed rats.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate in vivo whether micronutrient-enriched high-oleic sunflower oils (optimized oils) obtained using different crushing and refining procedures could have any beneficial effect on plasma lipid profile and antioxidant status. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet for 4 weeks. The lipid source consisted of 20% optimized sunflower oils with different quantities and qualities of micronutrients. The control group received traditional refined high-oleic sunflower oil. The experimental optimized oils in the diets had a hypolipidemic effect. The reduction in plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels was 43% and 20%, respectively, in the group fed the diet with the highest levels of micronutrients. The serum ferric antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione significantly increased and lipid peroxidation decreased in parallel with the enhancement of micronutrients. These results suggest that a regular intake of optimized sunflower oils can help to improve lipid status and reduce lipid peroxidation in plasma.

Autoimmune liver diseases in a paediatric population with coeliac disease - a 10-year single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Coeliac disease (CD) can be associated with liver disease. Gluten-free diet (GFD) normalizes cryptogenic forms, but most likely not autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). For this condition, immunosuppressants represent the treatment. However, when these are stopped, AIH generally relapses. AIM: To determine in CD children liver test abnormality frequency, the effect of GFD alone, or plus prolonged immunosuppressants on AIH course. METHODS: Coeliac disease patients with abnormal transaminases were selected; if transaminases <5 x UNL (upper normal limits), GFD alone was administered; if >5 x UNL, liver examinations and biopsy were performed. In AIH, immunosuppressants were administered (5 years). Treatment was stopped only if patients remained in remission during the entire maintenance period and normalized liver histology. RESULTS: A total of 140 out of 350 CD children had hypertransaminaemia: 133 cryptogenic disease, 7 AIH. GFD normalized only cryptogenic hepatitis. During treatment, all AIH persistently normalized clinical and biochemical parameters; after withdrawal, six patients maintained a sustained remission (follow-up range: 12-63 months), while one relapsed. CONCLUSIONS: In CD children with AIH, only GFD plus immunosuppressants determines a high remission rate. When clinical remission is reached, a prolonged immunosuppressive regimen induces a high sustained remission rate after treatment withdrawal, indicating that this regimen may prevent early relapse.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and neurological diseases.

This review summarizes the knowledge of the role of dietary PUFAs, especially omega-3, on normal brain function. Furthermore, it reports the evidence pointing to potential mechanisms of omega-3 fatty acids in development of neurological disorders and efficacy of their supplementation in terms of symptom management.

[The short-stay observation unit: an experience of the Pediatric Department in Modena]. / Osservazione breve intensiva (OBI) in pediatria: l'esperienza del Policlinico di Modena.

The use of a short-stay observation unit (OBI) in a pediatric department has reduced the number of admissions. Significant cost savings and a better care for children and their families have been also achieved. During the year 2003 in our department 1759 children received OBI. 226 (12.8%) were then admitted. 1553 (87.2%) were discharged after a nine-hour mean stay. Descriptive statistics are used to outline the sample of patients and used treatments.

Plasma levels of adrenomedullin in patients with adrenoleukodystrophy/adrenomyeloneuropathy.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Adrenomedullin (AM) is a recently purified hypotensive peptide and its encoding gene has been sequenced from a human pheochromocytoma. High levels of AM have been shown in Addison's disease (AD). X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy/adrenomyeloneuropathy (ALD/AMN) is a peculiar adrenal insufficiency due to an accumulation of very-long chain fatty acid in adrenal cells and it is very often associated with a devastating demyelination of the central nervous system. METHODS: We studied the AM plasma levels of 22 patients with ALD/AMN (18 with hypoadrenalism, ALDa, and 4 with normal adrenal function, ALDb) and compared them with 18 males with classical AD and 16 normal male subjects. All patients with hyposurrenalism were studied before treatment with hydrocortisone. RESULTS: Both patients with ALD/AMN and AD showed increased levels of AM and all of them showed a significant difference from the control group (p < 0.0001). The plasma renin activity was higher in all patient groups than in the control group (p <0.001 ALDa, ALDb and AD vs. control group). The aldosterone levels were higher in ALDa and ALDb groups than AD (ALDa vs. AD p < 0.01; ALDb vs. control group p < 0.05; AD vs. controls p < 0.01). ACTH plasma levels were higher in ALDa and AD than ALDb and the control group (ALDa vs. AD not significant while ALDa and AD vs. control p <0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that plasma AM levels in ALDa, ALDb and AD are higher than controls. These results were previously described in untreated AD. While classical AD patients show complete adrenal insufficiency (both mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid defects), ALD/AMN patients show a less compromised glomerular function, indicating that AM is not completely correlated with mineralocorticoid insufficiency, and that the exact mechanism responsible for the increased AM levels in ALD/AMN is still unknown.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 modulates the susceptibility of human bladder cells to uropathogenic bacteria.

The present study analyses the susceptibility of human bladder-derived cells (HT-1376) to the infection by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and Chlamydia trachomatis, as well as to the adhesiveness of uropathogenic bacteria. HT-1376 cells were efficiently infected by HSV-2 strain 333, as demonstrated by immunofluorescence staining of viral antigens, titration of cytopathic effect, and visualisation by transmission electron microscopy. This cell model was also prone to C. trachomatis (serovar E, Bour strain) replication and to the adherence of clinical uropathogenic isolates of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris and Enterococcus faecalis. The pre-infection of HT-1376 cells with HSV-2 caused a tenfold increased adherence of an E. coli strain (U1), isolated from a patient affected by severe haemorrhagic cystitis, whereas in HSV-2 pre-infected cells the number of C. trachomatis inclusion bodies was significantly reduced. Our findings indicate that these cells are a suitable in vitro model for studying infection and super-infection of the lower urinary tract by viruses and bacteria.

Involvement of bovine lactoferrin moieties in the inhibition of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.

Bovine lactoferrin (BLf) is an iron binding protein folded in two lobes, N- and C-lobes. In this study we have reported the inhibitory activity towards herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in vitro infection of BLf tryptic digested N- and C-lobes in comparison with the whole protein. The N-lobe and C-lobe exerted an anti-herpesvirus activity 50- and 10-fold lower than native BLf, respectively. In order to assess the phase of viral replication affected, lactoferrin-derived lobes were added to the cells at different non cytotoxic concentrations, during the whole cycle of viral infection or during viral attachment step, demonstrating that both lobes interfered with the early phases of infection. Among the BLf tryptic digested fragments, two negatively-charged small peptides deriving from N-lobe, previously shown effective towards HSV-1, have been further studied. We assessed that the net negative charge of these peptides was not responsible for the antiviral activity since their activity was not modified when the aspartic and glutamic acidic residues of these peptides were replaced with asparagine and glutamine, respectively. The experiments here reported confirm a pivotal role of N-lobe in inhibiting viral infection. However, the residual inhibiting activity of C-lobe and the similar efficacy shown by negatively or positively charged peptides strongly support the idea that the antiviral activity of bovine lactoferrin cannot be fully explained simply on the basis of competition between the protein and viral recognition sites for binding to glycosaminoglycans.

Diet, lipids and brain development.

Brain development is a sequential anatomical process characterised by specific well-defined stages of growth and maturation. One of the fundamental and necessary events in the normal development of the central nervous system in vertebrates is the formation of a myelin sheath. It is becoming more evident that this process is influenced by dietary lipids. A number of findings have indicated that the administration of a diet deficient in essential fatty acids during development causes hypomyelination in the rat brain. Our studies have shown that lipids can also play a role in accelerating myelinogenesis in the brain of rats whose mothers had been fed, during pregnancy and lactation, a lipid fraction extracted from yeast grown on n-alkanes. Further studies have shown that accelerated myelinogenesis is connected to a precocious appearance of behavioural reflexes. Thus, the use of particular lipids in human nutrition must be carefully screened for possible effects on brain development.