Investigation of the immobilisation / mobilisation of nickel, copper, chromium and zinc following co-disposal of activated sewage sludge with synthetic refuse

Laboratory microcosms were packed with synthetic refuse and waste activated sewage sludge in two ratios (4.1:1 and 4.1:2 v/v). The sludge was spiked (100 mg·l-1 or 200 mg·l-1) with the salts of each of four heavy metals (Ni2+, Cu2+, Cr3+ and Zn2+). Subsequently, the metal concentrations were increased progressively. For all the microcosms, including an unperturbated control, unbalanced fermentations resulted as evidenced by low pH values. Thus, heavy metal presence was not the sole cause. The leached metal concentrations were in a consistent order with high Zn and Ni concentrations recorded compared with immobilised Cr and Cu. After 15 weeks of operation, despite extensive retention, increases in Cr, Ni and Zn were detected in the leachates following elevated loadings. Due to the high redox potentials (+2 to +170 mV), precipitation of the metals as insoluble sulphides was not attainable. WaterSA Vol.27(4) 2001: 455-46

Heavy Metals Concentration of Dumpsites and Their Influence on the Soil Physical Properties in Three Major Cities of South Eastern Nigeria

This research was carried out to determine the concentration of heavy metals in soils of major dumpsites and their influence on soil physical properties in three major Cities in Southeastern Nigeria, namely; Owerri, Aba and Onitsha. Soil samples were collected randomly at depths 0 to 15cm, 15 to 30cm, 30 to 45cm. The samples were  taken to the Laboratory for routine analysis to determine the soil physical properties while the concentration of Ni, Pb, Cr, Cd, Zn, Fe and Mn were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The data generated were subjected to the following statistical analysis: Analysis of variance and least significant differences (LSD) in means, co-efficient of variation and correlation showing the relationship between soil physical properties and heavy metals. Results showed that soils irrespective of location have high sand fraction ranging from 617.8  1.63g/kg while silt and clay have very low values when compared with sand. This could allow large quantities of leachates from dumpsites to permeate ground water table. The soils were generally acidic. Concentration variation across the locations was observed to be low. The mean values of the concentrations of the heavy metals across all locations are as follows; Ni 13.406 (  0.352) mgKg-1, Fe 425.52  44.38mgKg-1, Pb 22.93  0.86mgKg-1, Cr 31.69  3.42mgkg-1 and Cd 11.89  0.86mgKg-1. Concentrations of heavy metals at waste dumpsites were all higher than the control location. Keywords: Heavy metal, concentration, Dumpsit

NHS waiting lists and evidence of national or local failure: analysis of health service data.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the national distribution of prolonged waiting for elective day case and inpatient surgery, and to examine associations of prolonged waiting with markers of NHS capacity, activity in the independent sector, and need. SETTING: NHS hospital trusts in England. POPULATION: People waiting for elective treatment in the specialties of general surgery; ear, nose and throat surgery; ophthalmic surgery; and trauma and orthopaedic surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Numbers of people waiting six months or longer (prolonged waiting). Characteristics of trusts with large numbers waiting six months or longer were examined by using logistic regression. RESULTS: The distribution of numbers of people waiting for day case or elective surgery in all the specialties examined was highly positively skewed. Between 52% and 83% of patients waiting longer than six months in the specialties studied were found in one quarter of trusts, which in turn contributed 23-45% of the national throughput specific to the specialty. In general, there was little evidence to show that capacity (measured by numbers of operating theatres, dedicated day case theatres, available beds, and bed occupancy rate) or independent sector activity were associated with prolonged waiting, although exceptions were noted for individual specialties. There was consistent evidence showing an increase in prolonged waiting, with increased numbers of anaesthetists across all specialties and with increased bed occupancy rates for ear, nose and throat surgery. Markers of greater need for health care, such as deprivation score and rate of limiting long term illness, were inversely associated with prolonged waiting. CONCLUSION: In most instances, substantial numbers of patients waiting unacceptably long periods for elective surgery were limited to a small number of hospitals. Little and inconsistent support was found for associations of prolonged waiting with markers of capacity, independent sector activity, or need in the surgical specialties examined

The association between BMI and mortality using offspring BMI as an indicator of own BMI: large intergenerational mortality study

Objectives To obtain valid estimates of the association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality by using offspring BMI as an instrumental variable for own BMI

Risk Ahead: Actigraphy-Based Early-Warning Signals of Increases in Depressive Symptoms During Antidepressant Discontinuation

Antidepressant discontinuation increases the risk of experiencing depressive symptoms. In a repeated single-subject design, we tested whether transitions in depression were preceded by increases in actigraphy-based critical-slowing-down-based early-warning signals (EWSs; variance, kurtosis, autocorrelation), circadian-rhythm-based indicators, and decreases in mean activity levels. Four months of data from 16 individuals with a transition in depression and nine without a transition in depression were analyzed using a moving-window method. As expected, more participants with a transition showed at least one EWS (50% true positives; 22.2% false positives). Increases in circadian rhythm variables (25.0% true positives vs. 44.4% false positives) and decreases in activity levels (37.5% true positives vs. 44.4% false positives) were more common in participants without a transition. None of the tested risk indicators could confidently predict upcoming transitions in depression, but some evidence was found that critical-slowing-down-based EWSs were more common in participants with a transition

Assessment of a novel, capsid-modified adenovirus with an improved vascular gene transfer profile

<p>Background: Cardiovascular disorders, including coronary artery bypass graft failure and in-stent restenosis remain significant opportunities for the advancement of novel therapeutics that target neointimal hyperplasia, a characteristic of both pathologies. Gene therapy may provide a successful approach to improve the clinical outcome of these conditions, but would benefit from the development of more efficient vectors for vascular gene delivery. The aim of this study was to assess whether a novel genetically engineered Adenovirus could be utilised to produce enhanced levels of vascular gene expression.</p> <p>Methods: Vascular transduction capacity was assessed in primary human saphenous vein smooth muscle and endothelial cells using vectors expressing the LacZ reporter gene. The therapeutic capacity of the vectors was compared by measuring smooth muscle cell metabolic activity and migration following infection with vectors that over-express the candidate therapeutic gene tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3).</p> <p>Results: Compared to Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5), the novel vector Ad5T*F35++ demonstrated improved binding and transduction of human vascular cells. Ad5T*F35++ mediated expression of TIMP-3 reduced smooth muscle cell metabolic activity and migration in vitro. We also demonstrated that in human serum samples pre-existing neutralising antibodies to Ad5T*F35++ were less prevalent than Ad5 neutralising antibodies.</p> <p>Conclusions: We have developed a novel vector with improved vascular transduction and improved resistance to human serum neutralisation. This may provide a novel vector platform for human vascular gene transfer.</p&gt

Delivery of the ibosome-inactivating protein, gelonin, to Iymphoma cells via CD22 and CD38 using bispecilic antibodies

It is well established that bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) can be used effectively in targeting the ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP), saporin, against neoplastic B cells. We have now extended this delivery system for use with gelonin. By measuring antigen-binding characteristics and epitope mapping a panel of anti-gelonin MAbs using the IAsys resonant mirror bisensor, we were able to rapidly select the most suitable for making BaAbs. The Fab’ fragments from these MAbs were chemically conjugated with Fab’ from either anti-CD22 or anti-CD38. Cytotoxicity assays showed that BsAbs were highly efficient at delivering gelonin to cultured Daudi cells and achieved levels of toxicity which correlated closely with the affinity of the BsAbs. Using pairs of anti-CD22 BsAbs we were able to generate bivalent BsAb-gelonin complexes which achieved IC50 values of 2 x 10 -11 M gelonin, a potency which is equivalent to that reached by saporin in this targeting system. However, because gelonin is 5-10 times less toxic than saporin, the therapeutic ratio for gelonin is superior, making it potentially a more useful agent for human treatment. Cytotoxicity assays and kinetic analysis showed that targeting gelonin via CD38 was 2-5 times less effective than delivery through CD22. However, with a pair of BsAbs designed to co-target gelonin via CD22 and CD38, the cytotoxicity achieved equalled that obtained with a pair of anti-CD22 BsAbs (IC50 = 1 x 10 -11 M). This important result suggests that the anti-CD38 helps bind the gelonin to the cell and is then ‘dragged’ or ‘piggy-backed’ into the cell by the anti-CD22 BsAb. The implication of these findings for cancer therapy is discussed. © 1995 Stockton Press. All rights reserved

Removal of ecotoxicity of 17α-ethinylestradiol using TAML/peroxide water treatment

17α -ethinylestradiol (EE2), a synthetic oestrogen in oral contraceptives, is one of many pharmaceuticals found in inland waterways worldwide as a result of human consumption and excretion into wastewater treatment systems. At low parts per trillion (ppt), EE2 induces feminisation of male fish, diminishing reproductive success and causing fish population collapse. Intended water quality standards for EE2 set a much needed global precedent. Ozone and activated carbon provide effective wastewater treatments, but their energy intensities and capital/operating costs are formidable barriers to adoption. Here we describe the technical and environmental performance of a fast- developing contender for mitigation of EE2 contamination of wastewater based upon smallmolecule, full-functional peroxidase enzyme replicas called “TAML activators”. From neutral to basic pH, TAML activators with H2O2 efficiently degrade EE2 in pure lab water, municipal effluents and EE2-spiked synthetic urine. TAML/H2O2 treatment curtails estrogenicity in vitro and substantially diminishes fish feminization in vivo. Our results provide a starting point for a future process in which tens of thousands of tonnes of wastewater could be treated per kilogram of catalyst. We suggest TAML/H2O2 is a worthy candidate for exploration as an environmentally compatible, versatile, method for removing EE2 and other pharmaceuticals from municipal wastewaters.Heinz Endowments, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Steinbrenner Institute for a Steinbrenner Doctoral Fellowship. NMR instrumentation at CMU was partially supported by NSF (CHE-0130903 and CHE-1039870)

Low alanine aminotransferase and higher cardiovascular events in type 2 diabetes: analysis of the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study

Aims Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is common in type 2 diabetes and associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to determine whether alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), as markers of liver health and NAFLD, might predict cardiovascular events in this population. Methods Data from the Fenofibrate Intervention and Event Lowering in Diabetes (FIELD) study were analysed to examine the relationship between liver enzymes and incident cardiovascular events (nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary and other cardiovascular death, coronary or carotid revascularization) over 5 years. Results ALT had a linear inverse relationship with the first cardiovascular event on study. After adjustment, for every standard deviation higher baseline ALT (13.2U/L), the risk of an event was 7%(95%CI 4–13, P=0.02) lower. Participants with ALT below and above the reference range 8–41 U/L for women and 9–59 U/L for men, had a hazard ratio of an event of 1.86(95%CI, 1.12–3.09) and 0.65(95%CI, 0.49–0.87), respectively (P=0.001). No relationship was found for GGT. Conclusions The data may indicate that in type 2 diabetes — associated with higher ALT due to prevalent NAFLD — lower ALT is a marker of hepatic or systemic frailty rather than health