Environmental law — resuming progress on lead poisoning: a prime indicator of civilization

[Failing to adequately protect citizens against the threat of lead poisoning is an indication that our society is not fully civilized. There are many compelling reasons to take concerted action against lead: the seriousness of its harm, the preventability of poisoning, that all of society is affected, and that many actions are economically feasible. Even the most costly action, removal of the source, has an excellent costbenefit ratio. After reviewing the state of affairs and the reasons to take action, this Article provides an overview of some of the actions that can be taken. Mustering the ability to take action will be a symbolic and important exercise of democracy, strengthening the sense of common purpose, and illustrating that government exists to care for the people.]Published versio

The adenylate energy charge and specific fermentation rate of brewer’s yeasts fermenting high- and very high-gravity worts

Published online 18 October 2007 in Wiley InterScienceIntracellular and extracellular ATP, ADP and AMP (i.e. 5′-AMP) were measured during fermentations of high- (15°P) and very high-gravity (VHG, 25°P) worts by two lager yeasts. Little extracellular ATP and ADP but substantial amounts of extracellular AMP were found. Extracellular AMP increased during fermentation and reached higher values (3 µM) in 25°P than 15°P worts (1 µM). More AMP (13 µM at 25°P) was released during fermentation with industrially cropped yeast than with the same strain grown in the laboratory. ATP was the dominant intracellular adenine nucleotide and the adenylate energy charge (EC = ([ATP] + 0.5*[ADP])/([ATP] + [ADP] + [AMP])) remained high (>0.8) until residual sugar concentrations were low and specific rates of ethanol production were 85 g/l) reached in VHG fermentations did not decrease the EC below values that permit synthesis of new proteins. The results suggest that, during wort fermentations, the ethanol tolerance of brewer's strains is high so long as fermentation continues. Under these conditions, maintenance of the EC seems to depend upon active transport of α-glucosides, which in turn depends upon maintenance of the EC. Therefore, the collapse of the EC and cell viability when residual α-glucoside concentrations no longer support adequate rates of fermentation can be very abrupt. This emphasizes the importance of early cropping of yeast for recycling.(undefined

Preimplantation Factor (PIF) reverses neuroinflammation while promoting neural repair in EAE model

Embryo-derived PIF modulates systemic maternal immunity without suppression. Synthetic analog (sPIF) prevents juvenile diabetes, preserves islet function, reducing oxidative stress/protein misfolding. We investigate sPIF effectiveness in controlling neuroinflammation/MS. Examine sPIF-induced protection against harsh, clinical-relevant murine EAE-PLP acute and chronic models. Evaluate clinical indices: circulating cytokines, spinal cord histology, genome, canonical global proteome, cultured PLP-activated splenocytes cytokines, and immunophenotype. Short-term, low-dose sPIF prevented paralysis development and lowered mortality ( P < 0.05). Episodic sPIF reversed chronic paralysis ( P < 0.0001) completely in > 50%, by day 82. Prevention model: 12 days post-therapy, sPIF reduced circulating IL12 ten-fold and inflammatory cells access to spinal cord. Regression model: sPIF blocked PLP-induced IL17 and IL6 secretions. Long-term chronic model: sPIF reduced spinal cord pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, (ALCAM, CF1, CCL8), apoptosis-promoters, inflammatory cells access (JAM3, OPA1), solute channels (ATPases), aberrant coagulation factors (Serpins), and pro-antigenic MOG. Canonical proteomic analysis demonstrated reduced oxidative phosphorylation, vesicle traffic, cytoskeleton remodeling involved in neuro-cytoskeleton breakdown (tubulins), associated with axon re-assembly by (MTAPs)/improved synaptic transmission. sPIF – through coordinated central and systemic multi-targeted action – reverses neuroinflammation/MS and imparts significant neuroprotective effects up to total paralysis resolution. Clinical testing is warranted and planned