Some effects of sodium pentachlorophenol on activated sludge and minnows.

The primary purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of sodium pentachlorophenol on activated sludge. An additional objective was to determine the toxicity of sodium pentachlorophenol to minnows. All activated sludge units were grown on a glucose and mineral nutrient waste. In addition, a unit acclimated to 100 and 250 mg/1 of sodium pentachlorophenol was also studied. The effect of a shock loading of sodium pentachlorophenol was found to depend on the concentration of the loading and also on the group of micro-organisms which were predominating. One activated sludge system was seriously impared at a shock loading of 10 mg/l; yet, another system was not seriously impared until the concentration of the shock loading was 30 mg/1. The acclimated unit significantly reduced the organic content of the glucose waste within six hours; however, the concentration of biological solids was much lower and the oxygen utilization rate was much higher in this system than in the systems receiving the glucose waste only. It was also found that the acclimated unit remained a completely dispersed system. In all cases sodium pentachlorophenol was found to increase the production of cellular protein and to inhibit the production of carbohydrate. Sodium pentachlorophenol was found to be resistant to biological attack. The studies with minnows established that the 48-hour median tolerance limit is 1.0 mg/l of sodium pentachlorophenol. It was also established that concentrations as low as 0. 4 mg/l are toxic to fish --Abstract, pages ii-iii

Effect of Ageing Microbial Populations on Substrate Removal Patterns in Mixed Substrate Systems

Engineerin

Mucous contribution to gut nutrient content in American gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum

This study developed and applied an approach to calculate the proportion of fish gut content composed of mucus secreted by the oropharyngeal cavity and gut. The amount of nitrogen in the contents of the foregut (oesophagus and gizzard) and the epibranchial organs of suspension‐feeding American gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum was significantly higher than the nitrogen in the homogeneous food source. Using data collected from suspension‐feeding experiments and the nitrogen content of D. cepedianum mucus, a series of equations illustrated that mucus constituted c. 10% of D. cepedianum foregut content and 12% of epibranchial organ content by dry mass. Future quantification of fish feeding selectivity and absorption efficiency can use this approach to take into account the contribution of fish mucus to the nutrients in the gut contents. This study supports the conclusion that suspension‐feeding D. cepedianum in a heterogeneous environment selectively ingest nutrient‐rich particles, even when gut nutrient content is adjusted to take into account the contribution of mucus

Evaluation of variants in the selectin genes in age-related macular degeneration

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common disease of the elderly that leads to loss of the central visual field due to atrophic or neovascular events. Evidence from human eyes and animal models suggests an important role for macrophages and endothelial cell activation in the pathogenesis of AMD. We sought to determine whether common ancestral variants in genes encoding the selectin family of proteins are associated with AMD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Expression of E-selectin, L-selectin and P-selectin was examined in choroid and retina by quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence. Samples from patients with AMD (n = 341) and controls (n = 400) were genotyped at a total of 34 SNPs in the <it>SELE</it>, <it>SELL </it>and <it>SELP </it>genes. Allele and genotype frequencies at these SNPs were compared between AMD patients and controls as well as between subtypes of AMD (dry, geographic atrophy, and wet) and controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>High expression of all three selectin genes was observed in the choroid as compared to the retina. Some selectin labeling of retinal microglia, drusen cores and the choroidal vasculature was observed. In the genetic screen of AMD versus controls, no positive associations were observed for <it>SELE </it>or <it>SELL</it>. One SNP in <it>SELP </it>(rs3917751) produced p-values < 0.05 (uncorrected for multiple measures). In the subtype analyses, 6 SNPs (one in <it>SELE</it>, two in <it>SELL</it>, and three in <it>SELP</it>) produced p-values < 0.05. However, when adjusted for multiple measures with a Bonferroni correction, only one SNP in <it>SELP </it>(rs3917751) produced a statistically significant p-value (p = 0.0029).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This genetic screen did not detect any SNPs that were highly associated with AMD affection status overall. However, subtype analysis showed that a single SNP located within an intron of <it>SELP </it>(rs3917751) is statistically associated with dry AMD in our cohort. Future studies with additional cohorts and functional assays will clarify the biological significance of this discovery. Based on our findings, it is unlikely that common ancestral variants in the other selectin genes (<it>SELE </it>and <it>SELL</it>) are risk factors for AMD. Finally, it remains possible that sporadic or rare mutations in <it>SELE</it>, <it>SELL</it>, or <it>SELP </it>have a role in the pathogenesis of AMD.</p

A Stress Function for Evaluating Strategies for Water Quality Management

R-805614-01-0; issue date unknown, but report includes data gathered in 1976 and most recent publication listed in bibliography is from 1979.Prepared for Municipal Environmental Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agenc

The AVP/AVPR1A/AVPR2 Signaling Axis as an Exploitable Target in the Treatment of Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer

In prostate cancer (PC), androgen deprivation therapy remains the gold standard for treatment of high risk or advanced disease, but unfortunately PC typically recurs as castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). CRPC is incurable and thus new therapies that exploit actionable targets are needed. Our lab identified the Arginine Vasopressin Receptor Type 1A (AVPR1A) as a therapeutic target in CRPC. AVPR1A is part of a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family which includes Arginine Vasopressin Receptor Type 2 (AVPR2), with arginine vasopressin (AVP) as their endogenous ligand. AVPR1A stimulates intracellular calcium release through the G&alpha; subunit Gq/11, while AVPR2 increases intracellular cAMP through the G&alpha; subunit G&alpha;s and canonically activates phosphokinase A (PKA).Interrogation of patient sample data sets revealed that AVP expression is upregulated in advanced metastatic forms of prostate cancer compared to less aggressive, localized disease. Additionally, CRPC cells were found to produce AVP and require AVP production for optimal proliferation. AVPR1A and AVPR2 co-expression correlating in advanced prostate cancer and CRPC production of AVP indicate a potential mechanism for CRPC growth driven by AVPR1A/AVPR2 mediated autocrine/paracrine signaling.Combined suboptimal doses of AVPR1A and AVPR2 antagonists were evaluated in vitro and synergistically inhibited CRPC cell growth as well as increased cell death with no effect on non-tumorigenic prostate epithelial cells. Additionally, inhibition of AVPR1A and AVPR2, individually or together, with selective antagonists reduced tumor size in vivo while having no obvious effect on mouse health. These findings implicate a novel mechanism for CRPC-tumor microenvironment crosstalk through cancer-produced AVP acting both on the tumor itself in an autocrine fashion and potentially in a paracrine fashion on the surrounding tumor microenvironment. This novel mechanism, the AVP/AVPR1A/AVPR2 signaling axis, is an exploitable target for repurposing clinically safe and effective compounds to treat CRPC.&nbsp;</p

Henrico Iulio, Antonii, V. Cl.mi Cancellarii Schomburg. F. Wittershaemio, IC.to Et Honoratae virgini, Elisabethae, Georgii Burcardi a Lippa, Serenißimo nostro, duci Brunsvig. a secretis, filiae, Sponsis Lectissimis

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