Entwicklung einer Glucosedehydrogenase-basierten Anode und deren Anwendung in einer Glucose/O2-Biobrennstoffzelle

Unter Verwendung von mehrwandigen Kohlenstoffnanoröhren wurde in dieser Studie eine neuartige Anode zum Einsatz in Biobrennstoffzellen entwickelt. Dazu wurde das rekombinante Enzym Pyrrolochinolinchinon(PQQ)- abhängige Glucosedehydrogenase kovalent an eine aus PQQ bestehenden Zwischenschicht gekoppelt, welche zuvor an die Kohlenstoffnanoröhren adsorbiert war. Die Nanoröhren wurden aufgrund ihrer Thiolmodifikation chemisorptiv auf einer Goldelektrode gebunden. In glucosehaltiger Lösung konnte der Start eines katalytischen Stroms bei einem Potential von -80 mV vs. Ag/AgCl (1 MKCl) beobachtet werden. Unter Substratsättigung wurden Stromdichten im Bereich von 170 bis 200 μA/cm2 gemessen. Dieses System basiert auf einem mediatorvermittelten Elektronentransfer. Die entwickelte (PQQ)-GDH-MWCNT-Elektrode wurde mit einer MWCNT-modifizierten Elektrode kombiniert, bei der Bilirubinoxidase (BOD) als Biokatalysator fungiert. Daraus resultierte eine membranfreie Biobrennstoffzelle mit einem leichgewichtspotential von 600 mV und Leistungsdichten im Bereich von 20-25 μW/cm2.In this study a biofuel cell anode is developed on the basis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Recombinant pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) dependent glucose dehydrogenase is covalently coupled to a PQQ-layer which is adsorbed onto thiolmodified MWCNTs. The MWCNTs are chemisorbed to a gold electrode. In the presence of glucose a catalytic current starts at a potential of -80 mV vs. Ag/AgCl, 1 M KCl. Under substrate saturation current densities of 170 to 200 μA/cm2 can be achieved. The operation is based on mediated electron transfer of the enzyme. This (PQQ)-GDH-MWCNT-electrode is combined with a MWCNT-modifi ed electrode to which bilirubin oxidase (BOD) is covalently coupled. The resulting membrane-free biofuel cell has an open cell potential of 600 mV and can achieve power densities in the range of 20-25 μW/cm2

Prevalence of nonmedical methamphetamine use in the United States

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Illicit methamphetamine use continues to be a public health concern in the United States. The goal of the current study was to use a relatively inexpensive methodology to examine the prevalence and demographic correlates of nonmedical methamphetamine use in the United States.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The sample was obtained through an internet survey of noninstitutionalized adults (n = 4,297) aged 18 to 49 in the United States in 2005. Propensity weighting methods using information from the U.S. Census and the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were used to estimate national-level prevalence rates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall prevalence of current nonmedical methamphetamine use was estimated to be 0.27%. Lifetime use was estimated to be 8.6%. Current use rates for men (0.32%) and women (0.23%) did not differ, although men had a higher 3-year prevalence rate (3.1%) than women (1.1%). Within the age subgroup with the highest overall methamphetamine use (18 to 25 year olds), non-students had substantially higher methamphetamine use (0.85% current; 2.4% past year) than students (0.23% current; 0.79% past year). Methamphetamine use was not constrained to those with publicly funded health care insurance.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Through the use of an internet panel weighted to reflect U.S. population norms, the estimated lifetime prevalence of methamphetamine use among 18 to 49 year olds was 8.6%. These findings give rates of use comparable to those reported in the 2005 NSDUH. Internet surveys are a relatively inexpensive way to provide complimentary data to telephone or in-person interviews.</p

A Subset of Osteoblasts Expressing High Endogenous Levels of PPARγ Switches Fate to Adipocytes in the Rat Calvaria Cell Culture Model

Understanding fate choice and fate switching between the osteoblast lineage (ObL) and adipocyte lineage (AdL) is important to understand both the developmental inter-relationships between osteoblasts and adipocytes and the impact of changes in fate allocation between the two lineages in normal aging and certain diseases. The goal of this study was to determine when during lineage progression ObL cells are susceptible to an AdL fate switch by activation of endogenous peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma.Multiple rat calvaria cells within the ObL developmental hierarchy were isolated by either fractionation on the basis of expression of alkaline phosphatase or retrospective identification of single cell-derived colonies, and treated with BRL-49653 (BRL), a synthetic ligand for PPARgamma. About 30% of the total single cell-derived colonies expressed adipogenic potential (defined cytochemically) when BRL was present. Profiling of ObL and AdL markers by qRT-PCR on amplified cRNA from over 160 colonies revealed that BRL-dependent adipogenic potential correlated with endogenous PPARgamma mRNA levels. Unexpectedly, a significant subset of relatively mature ObL cells exhibited osteo-adipogenic bipotentiality. Western blotting and immunocytochemistry confirmed that ObL cells co-expressed multiple mesenchymal lineage determinants (runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), PPARgamma, Sox9 and MyoD which localized in the cytoplasm initially, and only Runx2 translocated to the nucleus during ObL progression. Notably, however, some cells exhibited both PPARgamma and Runx2 nuclear labeling with concomitant upregulation of expression of their target genes with BRL treatment.We conclude that not only immature but a subset of relatively mature ObL cells characterized by relatively high levels of endogenous PPARgamma expression can be switched to the AdL. The fact that some ObL cells maintain capacity for adipogenic fate selection even at relatively mature developmental stages implies an unexpected plasticity with important implications in normal and pathological bone development