A surge in serum mucosal cytokines associated with seroconversion in children at risk for type 1 diabetes.

OnlinePublAims/Introduction: Autoantibodies to pancreatic islet antigens identify young children at high risk of type 1 diabetes. On a background of genetic susceptibility, islet autoimmunity is thought to be driven by environmental factors, of which enteric viruses are prime candidates. We sought evidence for enteric pathology in children genetically atrisk for type 1 diabetes followed from birth who had developed islet autoantibodies (“seroconverted”), by measuring mucosa-associated cytokines in their sera. Materials and Methods: Sera were collected 3 monthly from birth from children with a first-degree type 1 diabetes relative, in the Environmental Determinants of Islet Autoimmunity (ENDIA) study. Children who seroconverted were matched for sex, age, and sample availability with seronegative children. Luminex xMap technology was used to measure serum cytokines. Results: Of eight children who seroconverted, for whom serum samples were available at least 6 months before and after seroconversion, the serum concentrations of mucosaassociated cytokines IL-21, IL-22, IL-25, and IL-10, the Th17-related cytokines IL-17F and IL23, as well as IL-33, IFN-c, and IL-4, peaked from a low baseline in seven around the time of seroconversion and in one preceding seroconversion. These changes were not detected in eight sex- and age-matched seronegative controls, or in a separate cohort of 11 unmatched seronegative children. Conclusions: In a cohort of children at risk for type 1 diabetes followed from birth, a transient, systemic increase in mucosa-associated cytokines around the time of seroconversion lends support to the view that mucosal infection, e.g., by an enteric virus, may drive the development of islet autoimmunity.Leonard C Harrison, Esther Bandala-Sanchez, Helena Oakey, Peter G Colman, Kelly Watson, Ki Wook Kim, Roy Wu, Emma E Hamilton-Williams, Natalie L Stone, Aveni Haynes, Rebecca L Thomson, Peter J Vuillermin, Georgia Soldatos, William D Rawlinson, Kelly J McGorm, Grant Morahan, Simon C Barry, Richard O Sinnott, John M Wentworth, Jennifer J Couper, Megan AS Penno, on behalf of the ENDIA Study Grou

Fuel gas production from animal residue. Dynatech report No. 1551

A comprehensive mathematical model description of anaerobic digestion of animal residues was developed, taking into account material and energy balances, kinetics, and economics of the process. The model has the flexibility to be applicable to residues from any size or type of animal husbandry operation. A computer program was written for this model and includes a routine for optimization to minimum unit gas cost, with the optimization variables being digester temperature, retention time, and influent volatile solids concentration. The computer program was used to determine the optimum base-line process conditions and economics for fuel gas production via anaerobic digestion of residues from a 10,000 head environmental beef feedlot. This feedlot at the conditions for minimum unit gas cost will produce 300 MCF/day of methane at a cost of $5.17/MCF (CH/sub 4/), with a total capital requirement of$1,165,000, a total capital investment of $694,000, and an annual average net operating cost of$370,000. The major contributions to this unit gas cost are due to labor (37 percent), raw manure (11 percent), power for gas compression (10 percent), and digester cost (13 percent). A conceptual design of an anaerobic digestion process for the baseline conditions is presented. A sensitivity analysis of the unit gas cost to changes in the major contributions to unit gas cost was performed, and the results of this analysis indicate areas in the anaerobic digestion system design where reasonable improvements could be expected so as to produce gas at an economically feasible cost. This sensitivity analysis includes the effects on unit gas cost of feedlot size and type, digester type, digester operating conditions, and economic input data

Fuel gas production from animal waste: Phase I. Quarterly progress report (2nd), September 1, 1976--December 1, 1976. Dynatech report No. 1556

During this second quarter, meetings were held with contractors on the ERDA Fuel Gas from Animal Waste Program to discuss project planning and review. Site visits were made to groups involved in anaerobic digestion. An engineering and economic analysis of a process for the anaerobic digestion of animal residue was completed; the results can be used for the design of a pilot plant unit. A comprehensive engineering report of this analysis was completed, and a first draft was submitted to ERDA. Several proposals were received from ERDA and reviewed