Cysteinyl leukotrienes: multi-functional mediators in allergic rhinitis

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) are a family of inflammatory lipid mediators synthesized from arachidonic acid by a variety of cells, including mast cells, eosinophils, basophils, and macrophages. This article reviews the data for the role of CysLTs as multi-functional mediators in allergic rhinitis (AR). We review the evidence that: (1) CysLTs are released from inflammatory cells that participate in AR, (2) receptors for CysLTs are located in nasal tissue, (3) CysLTs are increased in patients with AR and are released following allergen exposure, (4) administration of CysLTs reproduces the symptoms of AR, (5) CysLTs play roles in the maturation, as well as tissue recruitment, of inflammatory cells, and (6) a complex inter-regulation between CysLTs and a variety of other inflammatory mediators exists.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75432/1/j.1365-2222.2006.02498.x.pd

A new phosphospecific cell-based ELISA for p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), p38 MAPK, protein kinase B and cAMP-response-element-binding protein.

Assaying activation of signal transduction is laborious and does not allow the study of large numbers of samples, essential for high-throughput drug screens or for large groups of patients. Using phosphospecific antibodies, we have developed ELISA techniques enabling non-radioactive semi-quantitative assessment of the activation state of p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), p38 MAPK, protein kinase B and the transcription factor cAMP-response-element-binding protein (CREB) in 96-well plates. This assay has been termed PACE (phosphospecific antibody cell-based ELISA) and was used successfully for both adherent and suspension cells. Various stimuli induced dose-dependent enzymic activity of which the kinetics closely correlated with those measured via classical methodology. Using PACE we have now characterized for the first time the concentration-dependent effects of various inflammatory prostaglandins on CREB phosphorylation in macrophages. PACE is a straightforward and novel technique enabling the large-scale analysis of signal transduction

Efficient Total Nitrogen Removal in an Ammonia Gas Biofilter through High-Rate OLAND

Ammonia gas is conventionally treated in nitrifying biofilters; however, addition of organic carbon to perform post-denitrification is required to obtain total nitrogen removal. Oxygen-limited autotrophic nitrification/denitrification (OLAND), applied in full-scale for wastewater treatment, can offer a cost-effective alternative for gas treatment. In this study, the OLAND application thus was broadened toward ammonia loaded gaseous streams. A down flow, oxygen-saturated biofilter (height of 1.5 m; diameter of 0.11 m) was fed with an ammonia gas stream (248 +/- 10 ppmv) at a loading rate of 0.86 +/- 0.04 kg N m(-3) biofilter d(-1) and an empty bed residence time of 14 s. After 45 days of operation a stable nitrogen removal rate of 0.67 +/- 0.06 kg N m(-3) biofilter d(-1), an ammonia removal efficiency of 99%, a removal of 75-80% of the total nitrogen, and negligible NO/N2O productions were obtained at water flow rates of 1.3 +/- 0.4 m(3) m(-2) biofilter section d(-1). Profile measurements revealed that 91% of the total nitrogen activity was taking place in the top 36% of the filter. This study demonstrated for the first time highly effective and sustainable autotrophic ammonia removal in a gas biofilter and therefore shows the appealing potential of the OLAND process to treat streams

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation for treatment of ammonium-rich wastewaters*

The concept of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) is presently of great interest. The functional bacteria belonging to the Planctomycete phylum and their metabolism are investigated by microbiologists. Meanwhile, the ANAMMOX is equally valuable in treatment of ammonium-rich wastewaters. Related processes including partial nitritation-ANAMMOX and completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) have been developed, and lab-scale experiments proved that both processes were quite feasible in engineering with appropriate control. Successful full-scale practice in the Netherlands will accelerate application of the process in future. This review introduces the microbiology and more focuses on application of the ANAMMOX process

Nitrogen Removal from Digested Black Water by One-stage Partial Nitritation and Anammox

This study assessed the technical feasibility to treat digested black water from vacuum toilets (> 1000 mg NH4+-N L-1) in a lab-scale oxygen-limited autotrophic nitrification/denitrification (OLAND) rotating biological contactor. After an adaptation period of 2.5 months, a stable. nitrogen removal rate of ca. 700 mg N L-1 d(-1) was reached over the subsequent 5 months. Suppression of the nitrite oxidizing bacteria at free ammonia levels above 3 mg N L-1 resulted in a nitrogen removal efficiency of 76%. The favorable ratios of both organic and inorganic carbon to nitrogen guaranteed endured anammox activity and sufficient buffering capacity, respectively. Quantitative FISH showed that aerobic and anoxic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AerAOB and AnAOB) made up 43 and 8% of the biofilm, respectively. Since a part of the AerAOB was probably present in anoxic biofilm zones, their specific ammonium conversion was very low, in contrast to the high specific AnAOB activity. DGGE analysis showed that the dominant AerAOB and AnAOB species were resistant to the transition from synthetic medium to digested black water. This study demonstrates high-rate nitrogen removal from digested black water by one-stage partial nitritation and anammox, which will allow a significant decrease in operational costs compared to conventional nitrification/denitrification