Letter: Reduction of nitrate and nitrite in water by immobilized enzymes

NITRATE, a common and serious contaminant of ground water, is removed at present either by physicochemical methods that do not degrade it, or via degradation by microorganisms, which is a slow process1. We report here a rapid and efficient process for nitrate removal which involves catalytic reduction by immobilized enzymes. The reduction is driven by an electrical current, and results in complete conversion of nitrate to N2 without residues. Our electro-bioreactor was constructed by co-immobilizing the enzymes (purified NADH: nitrate reductase from Zea mays2 and crude nitrite reductase and N2O reductase from Rhodop-seudomonas3) with electron-carrying dyes in a polymer matrix, which was then attached in thin layers to the surface of the cathode. Nitrate-laden water is pumped past the anode and through the active matrix on the cathode while a low voltage is applied, resulting in two-stage nitrate reduction to N2 via nitrite. The enzyme activity is higher in the co-immobilized state than in free solution. In principle, such electro-bioreactors could be developed for removal of other water contaminants such as pesticides, if appropriate enzymes and cofactors can be identified. © 1992 Nature Publishing Group

Preconception care for diabetic women for improving maternal and fetal outcomes : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Preexisting diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk for maternal and fetal adverse outcomes. Despite improvement in the access and quality of antenatal care recent population based studies demonstrating increased congenital abnormalities and perinatal mortality in diabetic mothers as compared to the background population. This systematic review was carried out to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of preconception care in improving maternal and fetal outcomes for women with preexisting diabetes mellitus. Methods We searched the following databases, MEDLINE, EMBASE, WEB OF SCIENCE, Cochrane Library, including the CENTRAL register of controlled trials and CINAHL up to December 2009, without language restriction, for any preconception care aiming at health promotion, glycemic control and screening and treatment of diabetes complications in women of reproductive age group with type I or type II diabetes. Study design were trials (randomized and non-randomized), cohort and case-control studies. Of the 1612 title scanned 44 full papers were retrieved of those 24 were included in this review. Twelve cohort studies at low and medium risk of bias, with 2502 women, were included in the meta-analysis. Results Meta-analysis suggested that preconception care is effective in reducing congenital malformation, RR 0.25 (95% CI 0.15-0.42), NNT17 (95% CI 14-24), preterm delivery, RR 0.70 (95% CI 0.55-0.90), NNT = 8 (95% CI 5-23) and perinatal mortality RR 0.35 (95% CI 0.15-0.82), NNT = 32 (95% CI 19-109). Preconception care lowers HbA1c in the first trimester of pregnancy by an average of 2.43% (95% CI 2.27-2.58). Women who received preconception care booked earlier for antenatal care by an average of 1.32 weeks (95% CI 1.23-1.40). Conclusion Preconception care is effective in reducing diabetes related congenital malformations, preterm delivery and maternal hyperglycemia in the first trimester of pregnancy