Antibiotic resistance genes in treated wastewater and in the receiving water bodies: A pan-European survey of urban settings

There is increasing public concern regarding the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during wastewater treatment, their persistence during the treatment process and their potential impacts on the receiving water bodies. In this study, we used quantitative PCR (qPCR) to determine the abundance of nine ARGs and a class 1 integron associated integrase gene in 16 wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents from ten different European countries. In order to assess the impact on the receiving water bodies, gene abundances in the latter were also analysed.Six out of the nine ARGs analysed were detected in all effluent and river water samples. Among the quantified genes, intI1 and sul1 were the most abundant. Our results demonstrate that European WWTP contribute to the enrichment of the resistome in the receiving water bodies with the particular impact being dependent on the effluent load and local hydrological conditions. The ARGs concentrations in WWTP effluents were found to be inversely correlated to the number of implemented biological treatment steps, indicating a possible option for WWTP management.Furthermore, this study has identified blaOXA-58 as a possible resistance gene for future studies investigating the impact of WWTPs on their receiving water.COST ActionTekirdag Namık Kemal University-Corlu Faculty of Engineering3203301

Response surfaces of hazelnut oil yield in supercritical carbon dioxide

Response Surface Methodology was used to determine the effects of solvent flow rate (1, 3 and 5 g/ min), pressure (300, 375 and 450 bar) and temperature (40, 50 and 60 degreesC) on hazelnut oil yield in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2). Oil yield was represented by a second order response surface equation (R-2 = 0.997) using Box-Bhenken design of experiments. Oil yield increased with increasing SC-CO2 flow rate, pressure and temperature. The maximum oil yield was predicted from the response surface equation as 0.19 g oil/g hazelnut (34% of initial oil) when 4 g hazelnut particles (particle diameter < 0.85 mm) were extracted with 5 g/min SC-CO2 flow rate at 450 bar, and 60 degreesC for 10 min. Total extraction time at these conditions was predicted to be 35 min

Role of apoptosis, bcl-2 and bax protein expression in premature rupture of fetal membranes

OBJECTIVE: To examine the degree of apoptosis in human fetal membranes associated with premature rupture Of membranes (PROM) as compared with normal pregnancies and to evaluate the expression of proapoptotic bax and antiapoptotic bcl-2 gene products

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of hazelnut oil

Solubility of hazelnut oil in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) was determined at 15-60MPa, and 40-60 degrees C. The crossover pressure of hazelnut oil was between 15 and 30MPa. The solubility increased with pressure, but increased with temperature above the crossover pressure. Hazelnut particles (1-2 mm) were extracted at 30-60MPa, and 40-60 degrees C with SC-CO2 flow rate of 2 ml/min. Extraction occurred in two periods. The released oil on the surface of particles was extracted in the fast extraction period, and 39% of the initial oil was recovered at each condition. However, the duration of the fast extraction period decreased with increased pressure and temperature. The unreleased oil in the intact cells was extracted in the slow extraction period. The maximum recovery was 59% at 60MPa and 60 degrees C, for 180 min of extraction. The fluid phase and solid phase mass transfer coefficients increased with increased pressure and temperature

Role of apoptosis, bcl-2 and bax protein expression in premature rupture of fetal membranes

WOS: 000178826800002PubMed ID: 12418062OBJECTIVE: To examine the degree of apoptosis in human fetal membranes associated with premature rupture Of membranes (PROM) as compared with normal pregnancies and to evaluate the expression of proapoptotic bax and antiapoptotic bcl-2 gene products. STUDY DESIGN: Fetal membranes from 50 pregnancies were included in the study. Thirty of 50 pregnancies had PROM. Twenty pregnancies with intact membranes served as controls. Chorioamniotic membrane biopsies were taken from the rupture site of the membrane and periphery of the rupture side. In the control group, membrane biopsies were taken from the artificial rupture site, cervical pole of the membranes and, membranes close to the edge of the placenta. In recognizing apoptotic figures, routinely processed samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for light microscopic evaluation. Quantification of the apoptotic cells was performed with high-power fields and expressed as the number per 100 cells. The membranes of both groups were then stained with bcl-2 and bax antibodies by using the standard steptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase method. Staining with both antibodies were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Apoptotic cells were detected in the amniotic epithelium, in chorionic cells and fibroblastic layer of the fetal membranes. Apoptotic cells were found mostly in the chorionic cells. There was a statistically significant difference between the apoptotic index in PROM and the control group in both rupture and peripheral sites (P<.05), although within each group peripheral and rupture sites showed no difference in terms of apoptotic cell counts. Both bax and bcl-2 expression was observed in 40% of control cases and in 57% and 50% of cases with PROM, respectively, mostly in the chorionic trophoblastic cells. The PROM and control groups showed no statistically significant difference in terms of bcl-2 and bax protein expression. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis may play a role in the pathogenesis of PROM, but the changes in apoptosis do not seem to be mediated by bcl-2 and bax genes in the amniotic membrane. Other regulatory mechanisms must be investigated