Carnosine prevents testicular oxidative stress and advanced glycation end product formation in D-galactose-induced aged rats.

D-Galactose is shown to mimic natural ageing in rodents by exacerbating oxidative stress and glycation. Steroid production and having a poor antioxidant system make testis vulnerable to galactose-induced ageing. Antioxidation and antiglycating actions of carnosine may be intriguing for prevention of testicular ageing. In this study, male Wistar rats were applied D-galactose (300 mg/kg; subcutaneously 5 days a week) and carnosine (250 mg/kg; intraperitoneally 5 days a week) along with D-galactose for 2 months. D-Galactose treatment increased testicular reactive oxygen species, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, diene conjugates, protein carbonyls, advanced oxidation products of proteins and advanced glycation end products. Carnosine was capable of repelling oxidative stress and glycation produced by D-galactose. Johnsen's score, which describes histopathological evaluation, was also significantly improved with preserved spermatogenesis by carnosine. It appears that carnosine deters the testicular oxidative stress due to galactose-induced ageing directly by its antioxidative and antiglycating properties.

Carnosine and vitamin E--a promising pair in the combat against testicular oxidative stress in aged rats.

Oxidative stress is considered to play a key role in ageing. Carnosine alone or together with vitamin E may prove to be helpful in dealing with problems of ageing through its antioxidant activity. Testis, by producing steroids and possessing a poor antioxidant system may become a strong target for the chronic oxidative stress generated during ageing. Therefore we investigated the in vivo effect of carnosine alone or together with vitamin E on testicular oxidative stress in aged rats. In this study, young (5 months) and aged (22 months) Wistar rats were used. Carnosine (250 mg kg(-1); i.p.; 5 days per week) and vitamin E (200 mg kg(-1); i.m.; twice per week) were given to aged rats for 2 months. Increased testicular lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase activity in aged rats were declined to the levels of young ones by both treatments. Decreased glutathione peroxidase and glutathione transferase activities returned to the level of young's only by carnosine plus vitamin E treatment. Histopathological evaluation described by Johnsen's score, also showed significant improvement with preserved spermatogenesis. Carnosine plus vitamin E treatment appears to stage a powerful performance by attenuating testicular oxidative stress and sparing the antioxidant system.

The effect of carnosine treatment on prooxidant-antioxidant balance in liver, heart and brain tissues of male aged rats.

Carnosine (beta-alanyl-L: -histidine) is a dipeptide with antioxidant properties. Oxidative damage by free radicals is one of the mechanisms underlying the aging process. This study was done to investigate the effects of carnosine treatment on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status of liver, heart, brain in male young and aged rats. At the initiation of study, young and aged rats were 5 and 22 months old, respectively. Carnosine (250 mg/kg, daily, i.p.) was administered for 1 month to rats. At the end of this period, malondialdehyde (MDA) and diene conjugate (DC) and protein carbonyl (PC) levels, glutathione (GSH), vitamin E and vitamin C levels and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and glutathione transferase (GST) activities were determined in tissues of carnosine-treated young and old rats. Liver and heart, but not brain MDA and DC levels increased significantly in aged rats as compared to young rats. Liver PC levels were also significantly elevated. Significant decreases in GSH and vitamin C levels and SOD activities were detected in liver of aged rats, but vitamin E levels and GSH-Px and GST activities remained unchanged. Non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants did not change in heart and brain of aged rats. Carnosine treatment decreased high MDA, DC and PC levels and caused significant increases in vitamin E level and SOD activity in the liver of aged rats. There were no changes in non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants in the heart and brain of carnosine-treated aged rats. In conclusion, carnosine treatment was found to be useful in the decrease of age-related oxidative stress in the liver.

Quality of the bottom sediment prior to dredging in the Golden Horn of Istanbul.

The Golden Horn has experienced severe pollution due to uncontrolled domestic and industrial wastewater discharges until recent years. A restoration project has been developed by our universities, upon a request from Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Two principal alternatives for the dredging and disposal of the bottom sediments were considered: disposing on the land and disposing in the sea. Both of these alternatives include several sub-alternatives. Characterization of the sediment quality is crucially important for selecting the best alternative considering the cost, environmental impact and public acceptance. However, only a few and rather old studies were present with which it was not possible to get a comprehensive information on the critical sediment characteristics. Therefore, the aim of this study was determination of spatial distribution of sediment characteristics. The project area, at which the sediment quality determined, covers the part of the Golden Horn remaining at the upstream of Valide Sultan Bridge. The number of sampling stations were thirteen and the sediment samples were collected from 0.0m, 5.0m and 10.0m from the bottom surface. The following parameters were measured on each sample: Total solids, organic matter, total phosphorus, TKN, oil and grease, total sulphur, and sediment oxygen demand (SOD). Sediment oxygen demand parameter was further divided into three fractions, namely, biological (SOD-B) and chemical (SOD-C). Average organic content of the bottom sediment was around 10% while ammonia and sulfur exhibit very high levels. It is found that the bottom sediment is well stabilized with very low organic content below 5.0m from the bottom surface. It can be said that, removing the upper 5m of the bottom sediment will be enough for creating a relatively stable bottom surface which will cause oxygen depletion in the overlaying water at acceptable levels. High SOD values of the bottom sediment makes the alternatives considering disposal in the Marmara Sea and Black Sea inapplicable. High SOD-C values, especially, indicate that the sediment will cause a tremendous reduction in the oxygen concentration in a very short time at any marine environment, and even it may create anaerobic conditions. Therefore, disposal of dredged sediment into abandoned mines 4km from the Golden Horn by a pressure pipeline has been chosen as the best applicable alternative.

Advanced treatment of high strength opium alkaloid industry effluents.

The purpose of this study was to investigate an effective treatment system which can be applicable to treat opium alkaloid industry (OAI) effluents characterised with high COD, TKN, dark color and non-biodegradable organic pollutants. In the first phase of the study, lab-scale anaerobic (UASBR) + aerobic (SBR) treatability studies were carried out on opium processing industry effluents. Effluent CODs from the two staged biological treatment system were relatively high (-700 mg l(-1)) and additional post treatment was required. Physico-chemical treatability studies previously carried out on the effluent of opium alkaloid wastewater treatment plant, were not effective in removing residual COD and color. In the second phase of the study, the refractory organics causing higher inert COD values in the SBR effluent were additionally treated by using Fenton's Oxidation. The batch tests were performed to determine the optimum operating conditions including pH, H2O2 dosage, molar ratio of Fe2+/H2O2 and reaction time. It was found that removal efficiencies of COD and color for 30 minutes reaction time were about 90% and 95%, respectively. The ratio of H2O2/FeSO4 was determined as 200 mg l(-1)/600 mg l(-1) for the optimum oxidation and coagulation process at pH 4. Experimental results of the present study have clearly indicated that the Fenton's oxidation technology is capable to treat almost all parts of the organics which consist of both soluble initial and microbial inert fractions of COD for opium alkaloid industry effluents. Effluents from the Fenton's Oxidation process can satisfy effluent standards for COD and color in general.

Ammonia recovery from high strength agro industry effluents.

The aim of the study was to investigate ammonia recovery from high strength agro industry effluents involving significant amounts of ammonia, by applying magnesium ammonium phosphate (MAP) precipitation technology. Two types of industrial effluents have been tested in the study. The first plant was an opium alkaloid processing industry and the second one was a baker's yeast industry. High chemical oxygen demand (COD), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and unacceptable dark brown color characterized effluents from both industries. Effluents from the biologically treated opium alkaloid and baker's yeast industries were both applied at the stoichiometric ratio (Mg:NH4:PO4 = 1:1:1) and above the stoichiometric ratio (Mg:NH4:PO4 = 1.1:1:1.1) to MAP precipitation. NH4 removals of 61-80% were achieved at the pH of 9.2 at the stoichiometric ratio, whereas 83% NH4 removal was obtained at the pH of 9.2 above the stoichiometric ratio. Experimental studies performed on both anaerobically and/or aerobically treated baker's yeast and opium alkaloid industry effluents have clearly indicated that MAP precipitation was an appropriate treatment option for NH4 removal or struvite recovery from high ammonia content agro industry effluents. Additional ammonia recovery studies were conducted on ozonated and Fenton's oxidation applied effluents and these have also indicated that the amounts of struvite and the quality of MAP precipitate was increased significantly. In this framework, MAP sludge recovered from combined biological and Fenton's oxidation treatment effluents were considered as a more valuable slow release fertilizer for agricultural use.

Planning of wastewater treatment and disposal systems of Istanbul metropolitan area.

Current and future wastewater treatment and disposal strategies of Istanbul city are presented. Istanbul is the largest city of Turkey and has a population of 10 million that may reach about 20 million in 2032. The city is divided into Asian and European sides by the Bosphorus Strait. The Sea of Marmara is an enclosed sea, connected to the Black Sea and Aegean Sea by the straits of Bosphorus and Dardanelles. Therefore, there is very strong and permanent stratification in the Sea of Marmara throughout the year, lower layers carrying Mediterranean and the upper layers carrying Black Sea water. This unique coastal structure of Istanbul necessitated a detailed study to determine the level of wastewater treatment and the location and depth of marine outfalls. A comprehensive three-dimensional water quality modelling study concluded that tertiary treatment including nitrogen and phosphorus removal is required for the effluent discharges into the Marmara Sea. However, enhanced primary or even primary treatment has been found satisfactory for discharges into the lower layers of the Bosphorus and into the Black Sea. Provisions for upgrading to secondary treatment were recommended. The status of existing and planned wastewater treatment plants and sea outfalls of Istanbul city are also presented. Although the amount of treated wastewater was only 63 percent in 1998, a target of 95 percent treatment level by the end of 2000 has been adopted in implementation plans. All treatment plants are located at or close to the coast except Pasakoy WWTP which is in the catchment area of Omerli Reservoir, the major source of drinking water for Istanbul city. The Pasakoy WWTP has been designed to treat wastewaters collected from the catchment area of Omerli Reservoir to tertiary level before ultimate disposal. The implementation programme together with the cost estimates are given. Total investment on water, wastewater and stormwater projects up to year 2032 is estimated at about 10 billion US Dollars. The share of the wastewater projects in this total is increasing with time. The financial analysis concluded that investments for a Higher Demand Scenario can be realised by raising the water tariffs to 1.0 $/m3 for Phase 1 and 0.9 $/m3 for Phase 2.

Application of membrane and ozonation technologies to remove color from agro-industry effluents.

The results of membrane and ozonation experiments carried out on various agro-industry effluents including fermentation (baker's yeast), corrugated board, opium alkaloid and textile dying industries are presented. The experiments were performed using lab-scale membrane and ozonation reactors. Color removals were in the range of 80 to 99% for the membrane treatment studies. Ozonation experiments have shown that color removals in the range of 83 to 98% are possible for the investigated wastewaters. Final color levels were lower than 100 Pt-Co unit, which is quite acceptable aesthetically. The relative unit treatment costs of ozonation were about two times higher than membrane systems especially for very strong colored effluents including fermentation and opium alkaloid industries. The study has demonstrated that both membrane and ozonation technologies are viable options for color removal.