Using Magnetically Responsive Tea Waste to Remove Lead in Waters under Environmentally Relevant Conditions

We report the use of a simple yet highly effective magnetite-waste tea composite to remove lead(II) (Pb[superscript 2+]) ions from water. Magnetite-waste tea composites were dispersed in four different types of water–deionized (DI), artificial rainwater, artificial groundwater and artificial freshwater–that mimic actual environmental conditions. The water samples had varying initial concentrations (0.16–5.55 ppm) of Pb[superscript 2+] ions and were mixed with the magnetite-waste tea composite for at least 24 hours to allow adsorption of the Pb[superscript 2+] ions to reach equilibrium. The magnetite-waste tea composites were stable in all the water samples for at least 3 months and could be easily removed from the aqueous media via the use of permanent magnets. We detected no significant leaching of iron (Fe) ions into the water from the magnetite-waste tea composites. The percentage of Pb adsorbed onto the magnetite-waste tea composite ranged from ~70% to 100%; the composites were as effective as activated carbon (AC) in removing the Pb[superscript 2+] ions from water, depending on the initial Pb concentration. Our prepared magnetite-waste tea composites show promise as a green, inexpensive and highly effective sorbent for removal of Pb in water under environmentally realistic conditions.SUTD-MIT International Design Center (Research Grant IDG11200105/IDD11200109)Singapore-MIT Allianc

Epigenetic re-wiring of breast cancer by pharmacological targeting of C-terminal binding protein

The C-terminal binding protein (CtBP) is an NADH-dependent dimeric family of nuclear proteins that scaffold interactions between transcriptional regulators and chromatin-modifying complexes. Its association with poor survival in several cancers implicates CtBP as a promising target for pharmacological intervention. We employed computer-assisted drug design to search for CtBP inhibitors, using quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling and docking. Functional screening of these drugs identified 4 compounds with low toxicity and high water solubility. Micro molar concentrations of these CtBP inhibitors produces significant de-repression of epigenetically silenced pro-epithelial genes, preferentially in the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. This epigenetic reprogramming occurs through eviction of CtBP from gene promoters; disrupted recruitment of chromatin-modifying protein complexes containing LSD1, and HDAC1; and re-wiring of activating histone marks at targeted genes. In functional assays, CtBP inhibition disrupts CtBP dimerization, decreases cell migration, abolishes cellular invasion, and improves DNA repair. Combinatorial use of CtBP inhibitors with the LSD1 inhibitor pargyline has synergistic influence. Finally, integrated correlation of gene expression in breast cancer patients with nuclear levels of CtBP1 and LSD1, reveals new potential therapeutic vulnerabilities. These findings implicate a broad role for this class of compounds in strategies for epigenetically targeted therapeutic intervention

Allergic rhinitis: evidence for impact on asthma

BACKGROUND: This paper reviews the current evidence indicating that comorbid allergic rhinitis may have clinically relevant effects on asthma. DISCUSSION: Allergic rhinitis is very common in patients with asthma, with a reported prevalence of up to 100% in those with allergic asthma. While the temporal relation of allergic rhinitis and asthma diagnoses can be variable, the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis often precedes that of asthma. Rhinitis is an independent risk factor for the subsequent development of asthma in both atopic and nonatopic individuals. Controlled studies have provided conflicting results regarding the benefits for asthma symptoms of treating comorbid allergic rhinitis with intranasal corticosteroids. Effects of other treatments for comorbid allergic rhinitis, including antihistamines, allergen immunotherapy, systemic anti-IgE therapy, and antileukotriene agents, have been examined in a limited number of studies; anti-IgE therapy and antileukotriene agents such as the leukotriene receptor antagonists have benefits for treating both allergic rhinitis and asthma. Results of observational studies indicate that treating comorbid allergic rhinitis results in a lowered risk of asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency visits. Results of several retrospective database studies in the United States and in Europe indicate that, for patients with asthma, the presence of comorbid allergic rhinitis is associated with higher total annual medical costs, greater prescribing frequency of asthma-related medications, as well as increased likelihood of asthma-related hospital admissions and emergency visits. There is therefore evidence suggesting that comorbid allergic rhinitis is a marker for more difficult to control asthma and worsened asthma outcomes. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the potential for improving asthma outcomes by following a combined therapeutic approach to comorbid allergic rhinitis and asthma rather than targeting each condition separately

Genome-wide mega-analysis identifies 16 loci and highlights diverse biological mechanisms in the common epilepsies

The epilepsies affect around 65 million people worldwide and have a substantial missing heritability component. We report a genome-wide mega-analysis involving 15,212 individuals with epilepsy and 29,677 controls, which reveals 16 genome-wide significant loci, of which 11 are novel. Using various prioritization criteria, we pinpoint the 21 most likely epilepsy genes at these loci, with the majority in genetic generalized epilepsies. These genes have diverse biological functions, including coding for ion-channel subunits, transcription factors and a vitamin-B6 metabolism enzyme. Converging evidence shows that the common variants associated with epilepsy play a role in epigenetic regulation of gene expression in the brain. The results show an enrichment for monogenic epilepsy genes as well as known targets of antiepileptic drugs. Using SNP-based heritability analyses we disentangle both the unique and overlapping genetic basis to seven different epilepsy subtypes. Together, these findings provide leads for epilepsy therapies based on underlying pathophysiology

C-terminal binding proteins: Emerging roles in cell survival and tumorigenesis

Within a cell, the levels and activity of multiple pro- and anti-apoptotic molecules act in concert to regulate commitment to apoptosis. Whilst the balance between survival and death can be tipped by the effects of single molecules, cellular apoptosis control pathways very often incorporate key transcription factors that co-ordinately regulate the expression of multiple apoptosis control genes. C-terminal binding proteins (CtBPs), which were originally identified through their binding to the Adenovirus E1A oncoprotein, have been described as such transcriptional regulators of the apoptosis program. Specifically, CtBPs function as transcriptional co-repressors, and have been demonstrated to promote cell survival by suppressing the expression of several pro-apoptotic genes. In this review we summarize the evidence supporting a key role for CtBP proteins in cell survival. We also describe the known mechanisms of transcriptional control by CtBPs, and review the multiplicity of intracellular signaling and transcriptional control pathways with which they are known to be involved. Finally we consider these findings in the context of additional known roles of CtBP molecules, and the potential implications that this combined knowledge may have for our comprehension of diseases of cell survival, notably cance

Opportunistic customer claiming during service recovery

Although a potentially significant issue to managers and academics alike, opportunistic customer behavior in the service recovery context has been largely ignored. A multi-stage research program, comprising actual customer claims (Study 1), in depth customer interviews (Study 2) and three experimental studies (Studies 3, 4, 5), explored opportunistic customer claiming behavior during service recovery and yielded robust findings across methods, contexts and samples. Potential determinants of opportunistic claiming in a service recovery context were identified by drawing on the justice, self-concept maintenance and neutralization theories. The findings support the hypothesis that when experiencing lower distributive, procedural and interactional justice, respondents were more likely to be opportunistic in their claiming. Further more, consumers were more likely to be opportunistic when dealing with large compared to small firms, and when they were in one-time transactions compared to when they had an established relationship with the firm. Finally, increased claiming in general, and opportunistic claiming in particular, did not lead to increased satisfaction with the service recovery. © 2009 Academy of Marketing Science

Crystal structure, characterization and magnetic properties of a 1D copper(II) polymer incorporating a Schiff base with carboxylate side arm

A new 1D polymeric copper(II) complex [{Cu(L)(CF3COO)}2]n has been synthesized using a potentially tetradentate Schiff base ligand, HL, ((E)-2-((pyridin-2-yl)methyleneamino)-5-chlorobenzoic acid) and characterized by different spectroscopic methods. Single crystal X-ray structural characterization reveals that the side arm carboxylate group of the coordinated Schiff base exhibits a μ 1,3-bridging mode and connects the neighbouring copper(II) ions leading to a zigzag 1D chain structure where the copper(II) ions display distorted square pyramidal geometries. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurement reveals a weak antiferromagnetic exchange (J = −0.47 ± 0.01 cm−1) prevails between copper(II) ions in the chain mediated by the bridging carboxylate group, is also supported by the room temperature EPR spectral study. Electrochemical property of the complex is also reported