Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in D2 Receptor Primed Adolescent Rats Given Twice Daily Nicotine Administrations.

Nicotine use is very prevalent in the schizophrenic population, which is a 2.5 fold greater than the general population. In the present study, the drug quinpirole (dopamine D2/D3 agonist) or saline was given neonatally to 25 Sprague-Dawley male and female rats. Rats were randomly assigned to condition. Beginning postnatal day 33 animals were given twice daily administrations of nicotine (0.5 mg/kg free base). After the first of the daily injections they were placed in a locomotor arena every other day for behavioral testing. One day after behavioral testing, the dorsal striatum and nucleus accumbens were removed for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) assay. BDNF is a neurotrophin that plays an important role in neuronal development, neuronal maintenance and plasticity, and synaptic activity. Results showed that nicotine produced locomotor sensitization but this was not enhanced by neonatal quinpirole, unlike past work. Regarding BDNF, there was a significant increase in the nucleus accumbens in rats treated with nicotine; neonatal quinpirole increased the BDNF response produced by nicotine. Nicotine produced an increase in dorsal striatum BDNF that was not affected by neonatal quinpirole treatment. Importantly, it appears that nicotine administrations, that occurred in two different contexts, may result in differential behavioral results relative to nicotine administrations given consistently in the same context

The SHAW experience in Indonesia: The multi-stakeholder approach to sustainable sanitation and hygiene

Caring for sanitation is the basis of healthy living for all in the community, but in general it is an individual responsibility. From the late 1990s, the CLTS (Community Led Total Sanitation) approach showed that people can become aware of why sanitation is important for them and their communit. They can be triggered to accomplish non-subsidized actions towards an Open Defecation Free (ODF) environment. The Community Based Total Sanitation (STBM) strategy was initiated in 2008 by the Government of Indonesia (GOI). It is a “total sanitation and hygiene” approach as a next generation to CLTS. The Sanitation, Hygiene and Water (SHAW) Programme is the first in Indonesia to apply STBM at large scale and had to develop an approach to make it work. After 4 years, we reached nearly 1 million people, and a new generation of issues comes up and needs to be solved

Detection of Shiga toxin-encoding genes in small community water supplies

Shiga toxin (Stx), one of the most potent bacterial toxins known, can cause bloody diarrhea, hemolytic uremic syndrome, kidney failure and death. The aim of this pilot was to investigate the occurrence of Shiga toxin-encoding genes, stx (stx1 and stx2) from total coliform (TC) and E. coli positive samples from small community water systems. After aliquots for TC and E. coli analyses were removed, the remnant volume of the samples was enriched, following a protocol developed for this study. Fifty-two per cent of the samples tested by multiplex PCR were positive for the presence of the stx genes; this percentage was higher in raw water samples. The stx2 gene was more abundant. Testing larger volumes of the samples increase the sensitivity of our assay, providing an alternative protocol for the detection of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) that might be missed by the TC assay. This study confirms the presence of Stx encoding genes in source and distributed water for all systems sampled and suggests STEC as a potential health risk in small systems

Impact on diarrhoeal illness of a community educational intervention to improve drinking water quality in rural communities in Puerto Rico

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Waterborne disease is a major risk for small water supplies in rural settings. This study was done to assess the impact of an educational intervention designed to improve water quality and estimate the contribution of water to the incidence of diarrhoeal disease in poor rural communities in Puerto Rico a two-part study was undertaken.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>An educational intervention was delivered to communities relying on community water supplies. This intervention consisted of student operators and administrators supervising and assisting community members who voluntarily "operate" these systems. These voluntary operators had no previous training and were principally concerned with seeing that some water was delivered. The quality of that water was not something they either understood or addressed. The impact of this intervention was measured through water sampling for standard bacteriological indicators and a frank pathogen. In addition, face-to-face epidemiological studies designed to determine the base-line occurrence of diarrhoeal disease in the communities were conducted. Some 15 months after the intervention a further epidemiological study was conducted in both the intervention communities and in control communities that had not received any intervention.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Diarrhoeal illness rates over a four week period prior to the intervention were 3.5%. <it>Salmonella </it>was isolated from all of 5 distributed samples prior to intervention and from only 2 of 12 samples after the intervention. In the 15 months follow-up study, illness rates were lower in the intervention compared to control communities (2.5% <it>vs </it>3.6%%) (RR = 0.70, 95%CI 0.43, 1.15), though this was not statistically significant. However, in the final Poisson regression model living in an intervention system (RR = 0.318; 95%CI 0.137 - 0.739) and owning a dog (RR = 0.597, 95%CI 0.145 - 0.962) was negatively associated with illness. Whilst size of system (RR = 1.006, 95%CI 1.001 - 1.010) and reporting problems with sewage system (RR = 2.973, 95%CI 1.539 - 5.744) were positively associated with illness.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Educational interventions directed both at identified individuals and the community in general in small communities with poor water quality is a way of giving communities the skills and knowledge to manage their own drinking water quality. This may also have important and sustainable health benefits, though further research preferably using a randomised control trial design is needed.</p

Recommendations for dealing with waste contaminated with Ebola virus: a Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points approach

Objective To assess, within communities experiencing Ebola virus outbreaks, the risks associated with the disposal of human waste and to generate recommendations for mitigating such risks. Methods A team with expertise in the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points framework identified waste products from the care of individuals with Ebola virus disease and constructed, tested and confirmed flow diagrams showing the creation of such products. After listing potential hazards associated with each step in each flow diagram, the team conducted a hazard analysis, determined critical control points and made recommendations to mitigate the transmission risks at each control point. Findings The collection, transportation, cleaning and shared use of blood-soiled fomites and the shared use of latrines contaminated with blood or bloodied faeces appeared to be associated with particularly high levels of risk of Ebola virus transmission. More moderate levels of risk were associated with the collection and transportation of material contaminated with bodily fluids other than blood, shared use of latrines soiled with such fluids, the cleaning and shared use of fomites soiled with such fluids, and the contamination of the environment during the collection and transportation of blood-contaminated waste. Conclusion The risk of the waste-related transmission of Ebola virus could be reduced by the use of full personal protective equipment, appropriate hand hygiene and an appropriate disinfectant after careful cleaning. Use of the Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points framework could facilitate rapid responses to outbreaks of emerging infectious disease

Bacteriological Water Quality Indicators in Natural Waters

Abstract A number of natural waters were analyzed for the presence of somatic coliphages, total and fecal coliforms (TC and FC), Escherichia coli (Ec), heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and fecal streptococci (FS). Sources sampled include permanent and intermittent streams, irrigation canals, potable water treatment plant influents and sewage treatment plant influents and effluents and receiving waters above and below those effluents. Earlier studies in Puerto Rico have suggested that coliphages are only detected in natural waters contaminated with sewage(1). In this study most sources had coliphages most of the time. Coliphage densities are compared with the bacteriological indicators analyzed. Standard Methods(2) includes formulae for the estimation of total and fecal coliform densities from coliphage results. For this study coefficients of empirical formulae to estimate TC and FC densities from coliphage occurrence are given and extended to E. coli densities. Coliphages have proven to be reliable indicators of the occurrence of TC and FC, though not Ec, in these samples and the ease, reliability and precision of the method suggest that it may with confidence be substituted for other methods for natural water monitoring. Key Words: coliphage, natural water quality. Methods &amp; Materials Samples were collected in clean, sterile polypropylene 0.5 or 1 L bottles. A dechlorinating agent was not used for samples from non-chlorinated sources. All samples were transported immediately to the laboratory and refrigerated. All analyses were completed within thirty hours of sample collection. Analyses for coliphage, total coliform(TC), fecal coliform(FC) and fecal streptococci(FS) were in accordance with Standard Methods(2). Heterotrophic plate counts were made on R2A medium, by spread plate techniques and were incubated in the dark for 168 hours at ambient temperature. All coliphage determinations were made utilizing the host culture, Escherichia coli C, ATCC 13706 and following the technique in Standard Methods. Plaques were counted at 6 hours. Presumptive E. coli, (Ec) determinations were made utilizing MPN methods with media containing MUG. MUG-positive cultures (cultures which fluoresce when exposed to long-wave UV -approximately 340 nm) are presumed positive for the presence of E. coli. Samples were collected from 4 sites on an irrigation canal system (canal samples), 5 sites on Río Guanajibo (river samples), a sewage treatment plant influent and effluent and a potable water treatment plant influent (collected at the plant, piped from a small reservoir). Two of the canal sample sites are the influent and effluent of a large wetland, consisting of approximately 350 acres with an average depth of water of 1.5 -2 feet (1.8 billion gallons, 648,000 m 3 )with an unknown residence time. Statistical analyses were performed utilizing PC software, SPSS and SYSTAT, both from SPSS, Inc, Chicago, IL. Estimates of TC and FC identified as &quot;calculated&quot; (TCcalc, e.g.) were according to formulae 1 and 3 from Standard Methods

Modulation of brain cation-Cl− cotransport via the SPAK kinase inhibitor ZT-1a

This is the final version. Available on open access from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordThe SLC12A cation-Clcotransporters (CCC), including NKCC1 and the KCCs, are important determinants of brain ionic homeostasis. SPAK kinase (STK39) is the CCC master regulator, which stimulates NKCC1 ionic influx and inhibits KCC-mediated efflux via phosphorylation at conserved, shared motifs. Upregulation of SPAK-dependent CCC phosphorylation has been implicated in several neurological diseases. Using a scaffold-hybrid strategy, we develop a novel potent and selective SPAK inhibitor, 5-chloro-N-(5-chloro-4-((4-chlorophenyl)(cyano)methyl)-2-methylphenyl)-2-hydroxybenzamide ("ZT-1a"). ZT-1a inhibits NKCC1 and stimulates KCCs by decreasing their SPAK-dependent phosphorylation. Intracerebroventricular delivery of ZT-1adecreases inflammation-induced CCC phosphorylation in the choroid plexus and reduces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) hypersecretion in a model of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus. Systemically administered ZT-1a reduces ischemia-induced CCC phosphorylation, attenuates cerebral edema, protects against brain damage, and improves outcomes in a model of stroke. These results suggest ZT-1a or related compounds may be effective CCC modulators with therapeutic potential for brain disorders associated with impaired ionic homeostasis.National Key R&D ProgramNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaFundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of ChinaHydrocephalus FoundationSimons Foundatio

The Concurrence of Standard Microbiological Indicators of Potable Water Quality, Frank Pathogens and Human Disease in Small Potable Water Systems

. Thirty years in potable and wastewater, over 100 publications in microbiology, operation, design and administration of potable and wastewater systems and in natural and coastal water systems; member of national, regional and local workgroups and advisory councils. PO Box 48, Lajas, PR 00667-0048; tel. 01 787 808 0640, fax 01 787 892 2089; [email protected] G I Ramírez toro,PhD -Director of CECIA, the environmental institute of Interamerican University of Puerto Rico, twice recipient of US EPA awards for environmental education; extensive publications in microbiology of water and environmental education. Paul Hunter, PhD -Profesor, Univ. of East Anglia, UK, internationally recognized as a leader in environmental microbiology and epidemiology; European editor of Water and Health; several books, including Drinking Water and Infectious Disease: Establishing the Links. Diane Herson, PhD -Profesor, Univ. of Delaware, US; first described the effects of several of the micronutrients for microbes in water and has published extensively in potable water and environmental microbiology; several texts, including Bioremediation, the first in the field. Kathleen Verville, PhD -Profesor, Washington College, MD. Numerous publications in water and environmental microbiology, including new protocols for field applications and assessments of microbiological methods. ABSTRACT The incidence and the frequency of endemic (non-outbreak) waterborne disease is unknown, but thought to be much higher than outbreak reporting, which is in turn uncertain, would suggest. [1] Further, the frequency and occurrence of frank pathogens in potable water distribution systems is likewise undetermined. [2] Finally, the etiology of most waterborne disease, even from outbreaks, is largely unknown