Utilization of centrate from wastewater treatment for the outdoor production of Nannochloropsis gaditana biomass at pilot-scale

In this work, the outdoor pilot-scale production of marine microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana using centrate from the anaerobic digestion of municipal wastewater was evaluated. For this, outdoor continuous cultures were performed in both tubular and raceways reactors mixing seawater with different centrate percentages (15%, 20% and 30%) as culture medium. It was demonstrated that N. gaditana can be produced using centrate as the only nutrients source but at percentages below 30%. At this level inhibition was caused by an excess of ammonium in both photobioreactors, as confirmed by chlorophyll fluorescence and average irradiance data, thus reducing productivity. At 15% and 20% centrate percentages, biomass productivity was equal to that measured when using Algal culture medium, of 0.48 and 0.10 g·l-1·day-1 for tubular and raceway reactors respectively. During the experiments nitrogen depuration decreased from 85% to 63% in tubular reactors with the increase of centrate percentage in culture medium and the decrease in biomass productivity, while in raceway reactors an opposite behavior was observed due to ammonia stripping from the cultures. Phosphorus depuration from the culture medium was 85% whatever the system used and the centrate percentage in culture medium indicating a phosphorus limitation into the cultures. By supplying additional phosphorus, to achieve an N:P ratio of 5, it was possible to enhance productivity and increase nitrogen depuration in both systems. The use of centrate is confirmed as a useful method for reducing microalgae production costs and for increasing process sustainability. Consequently, it is demonstrated that for the production of microalgae biomass, centrate from wastewater treatment plants can be used as the exclusive nutrient source, achieving high productivities and nutrient removal rates if using suitable strains and if the system is operated adequately

Nitric Oxide Is an Upstream Signal of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-induced Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase½ Activation in Postcapillary Endothelium

Abstract We recently demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) significantly contributes to the mitogenic effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), suggesting a role for the NO pathway in the signaling cascade following kinase-derivative receptor activation in vascular endothelium. The aim of this study was to investigate the intracellular pathways linked to VEGF/NO-induced endothelial cell proliferation. We assessed the activity of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) that is specifically activated by growth factors, extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK½), on cultured microvascular endothelium isolated from coronary postcapillary venules. ERK½ was immunoprecipitated, and its activity was assessed with an immunocomplex kinase assay. In endothelial cells exposed for 5 min to the NO donor drug sodium nitroprusside at a concentration of 100 μm, ERK½ activity significantly increased. VEGF produced a time- and concentration-dependent activation of ERK½. Maximal activity was obtained after 5 min of stimulation at a concentration of 10 ng/ml. The specific MAPK kinase inhibitor PD 98059 abolished ERK½ activation and endothelial cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner in response to VEGF and sodium nitroprusside. The NO synthase inhibitorN ω-monomethyl-l-arginine, as well as the guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one, blocked the activation of ERK½ induced by VEGF, suggesting that NO and cGMP contributed to the VEGF-dependent ERK½ activation. These results demonstrate for the first time that kinase-derivative receptor activation triggers the NO synthase/guanylate cyclase pathway to activate the MAPK cascade and substantiates the hypothesis that the activation of ERK½ is necessary for VEGF-induced endothelial cell proliferation

The burden of mental disorders, substance use disorders and self-harm among young people in Europe, 1990-2019 : Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Mental health is a public health issue for European young people, with great heterogeneity in resource allocation. Representative population-based studies are needed. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 provides internationally comparable information on trends in the health status of populations and changes in the leading causes of disease burden over time. Methods Prevalence, incidence, Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) and Years of Life Lost (YLLs) from mental disorders (MDs), substance use disorders (SUDs) and self-harm were estimated for young people aged 10-24 years in 31 European countries. Rates per 100,000 population, percentage changes in 1990-2019, 95% Uncertainty Intervals (UIs), and correlations with Sociodemographic Index (SDI), were estimated. Findings In 2019, rates per 100,000 population were 16,983 (95% UI 12,823 - 21,630) for MDs, 3,891 (3,020 4,905) for SUDs, and 89.1 (63.8 - 123.1) for self-harm. In terms of disability, anxiety contributed to 647.3 (432 -912.3) YLDs, while in terms of premature death, self-harm contributed to 319.6 (248.9-412.8) YLLs, per 100,000 population. Over the 30 years studied, YLDs increased in eating disorders (14.9%;9.4-20.1) and drug use disorders (16.9%;8.9-26.3), and decreased in idiopathic developmental intellectual disability (-29.1%;23.8-38.5). YLLs decreased in self-harm (-27.9%;38.3-18.7). Variations were found by sex, age-group and country. The burden of SUDs and self-harm was higher in countries with lower SDI, MDs were associated with SUDs. Interpretation Mental health conditions represent an important burden among young people living in Europe. National policies should strengthen mental health, with a specific focus on young people. Funding The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Peer reviewe

Prescription appropriateness of anti-diabetes drugs in elderly patients hospitalized in a clinical setting: evidence from the REPOSI Register

Diabetes is an increasing global health burden with the highest prevalence (24.0%) observed in elderly people. Older diabetic adults have a greater risk of hospitalization and several geriatric syndromes than older nondiabetic adults. For these conditions, special care is required in prescribing therapies including anti- diabetes drugs. Aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness and the adherence to safety recommendations in the prescriptions of glucose-lowering drugs in hospitalized elderly patients with diabetes. Data for this cross-sectional study were obtained from the REgistro POliterapie-Società Italiana Medicina Interna (REPOSI) that collected clinical information on patients aged ≥ 65 years acutely admitted to Italian internal medicine and geriatric non-intensive care units (ICU) from 2010 up to 2019. Prescription appropriateness was assessed according to the 2019 AGS Beers Criteria and anti-diabetes drug data sheets.Among 5349 patients, 1624 (30.3%) had diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. At admission, 37.7% of diabetic patients received treatment with metformin, 37.3% insulin therapy, 16.4% sulfonylureas, and 11.4% glinides. Surprisingly, only 3.1% of diabetic patients were treated with new classes of anti- diabetes drugs. According to prescription criteria, at admission 15.4% of patients treated with metformin and 2.6% with sulfonylureas received inappropriately these treatments. At discharge, the inappropriateness of metformin therapy decreased (10.2%, P < 0.0001). According to Beers criteria, the inappropriate prescriptions of sulfonylureas raised to 29% both at admission and at discharge. This study shows a poor adherence to current guidelines on diabetes management in hospitalized elderly people with a high prevalence of inappropriate use of sulfonylureas according to the Beers criteria

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

A simplified process of swine slurry treatment by primary filtration and Haematococcus pluvialis culture to produce low cost astaxanthin

A simplified process for treating swine slurry through primary filtration and subsequent depuration of thefiltrate with the astaxanthin-rich microalga Haematococcus pluvialis is proposed. The first step comprisesa low-cost filtration system capable of reducing 66% of ammonia, 7% of phosphorus and 19% of chemicaloxygen demand, and increasing the concentration of nitrate, being this useful for subsequent growthof the algae. The second step comprises the discontinuous cultivation of H. pluvialis in diluted filteredslurry. The optimal dilution was researched by testing undiluted and 2, 4 and 8-fold diluted filtrate. Thisstep led to a drastic reduction in macro and micronutrients concentration (up to 99% for NO3-N andNH4-N, 98% for TP and 26% for chemical oxygen demand). After H. pluvialis growth the accumulation ofastaxanthin took place for 14 d in nutrient-deprived conditions: an astaxanthin accumulation of 1.27%on a dry weight basis was measured. These results indicate the possibility to couple low-cost filtrationand microalgae production to recover nutrients from swine wastewaters and to add value by producingvaluable astaxanthin for the feed market or for an on-farm utilization as feed addictive