Principles of Membrane Surface Modification for Water Applications

Membrane technologies offer efficient and reliable solutions to separate components from aqueous media. Among them, pressure driven membrane separation processes namely microfiltration (MF), ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) have been preferred in many industrial operations (food, pharmaceutical, chemical, drinking water, wastewater) due to the intrinsic advantages such as high selectivity, stability, ecocompatibility, scalability, flexibility, small footprint and low operational cost. This chapter will focus on the latest developments of surface modified polymeric membranes via the Layer-by-layer self-assembly approach and incorporation/decoration of nanomaterials. Variable parameters including size and charge of polyelectrolyte, ionic strength of the media, number of bilayers, and different types of nanomaterials on the bulk and surface property, water permeability, selectivity, antifouling, antibacterial, and adsorptive properties of the resultant composite membranes will be reviewed by comparison with the neat membranes. Membrane stability in terms of throughput and rejection characteristics during long-term filtrations will be addressed in this chapter

Renal complications of lipodystrophy: A closer look at the natural history of kidney disease

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144612/1/cen13732_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/144612/2/cen13732.pd

The effect of long-term nicotine exposure on bone mineral density and oxidative stress in female Swiss Albino rats

WOS: 000313517300015PubMed ID: 22955292To evaluate the effect of long-term low or high-dose nicotine exposure on bone mass via measuring bone mineral density (BMD) and oxidant-antioxidant status markers. Thirty-five female Swiss Albino rats weighing 70 +/- A 10 g were divided as the control group (n = 12), low-dose nicotine group (n = 12) and high-dose nicotine group (n = 11). While the control group was given only normal drinking water, the low-dose nicotine group had 0.4 mg/kg per day and the high-dose nicotine group, 6.0 mg/kg per day of nicotine added to their water for the period of 1 year. BMD was determined with X-ray absorptiometry of lumbar vertebra, corpus femoris, proximal and distal femur. To evaluate oxidant-antioxidant status malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were determined. When comparing the nicotine groups and controls, neither BMD nor oxidant-antioxidant status markers showed any statistically significant difference. In comparison to the controls, 12 months of high-dose oral nicotine exposure did not have a significant effect on BMD and low-dose nicotine exposure led to a statistically insignificant increase in BMD. Contrary to common belief, the results of this study show that nicotine is not responsible for the decrease in BMD leading to osteoporosis frequently seen in smokers. However, there is a need to explore the other harmful materials in tobacco which may be responsible for the alterations seen in BMD of smokers.Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, TurkeyEge UniversityThe authors thank Dr. Timur Kose (Department of Biostatistics, Ege University) for statistical analyses and Prof. Dr. Kamil Kumanlioglu and his technicians measuring BMD with X-ray absorptiometry in Ege University School of Medicine, Department of Nuclear Medicine. The work was funded by Scientific Research Grant of Ege University School of Medicine, Izmir, Turkey

Tumor markers in familial Mediterranean fever and their correlation with the frequency of attacks

PubMed ID: 19026128Objective. Serum levels of tumor markers can be elevated in several benign diseases affecting the serosal surfaces. Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a genetic disease characterized by acute attacks of fever and inflammation of the serosal membranes. The aim of this study was to examine the levels of tumor markers in FMF patients and their correlation with the frequency of attacks. Methods. Serum levels of CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3, CA 72-4, CEA, and AFP were measured by ELISA in 36 patients with a definitive diagnosis of FMF (21 males, l5 females, mean age 36.4±10.3 yrs) and in 19 healthy controls. Results. Serum levels of all tumor markers were normal in the controls. In FMF patients serum levels of CA 125, CA 19.9, CA 15.3, CEA and AFP were within normal ranges, whereas CA 72.4 was significantly higher than in the controls (p=0.001). Ha~f of the FMF patients showed increased levels of CA 72.4; the mean level was lower in those in complete remission. However, no statistically significant correlation was found between FMF attacks and acute phase reactant levels. Conclusion. With the exception of Ca 72.4, serum levels of tumor markers are not affected by changes in inflammatory cytokines levels during FMF attacks. © Copyright Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology 2008

Experimental research Effect of 1α-25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 on intimal hyperplasia developing in vascular anastomoses: a rabbit model

INTRODUCTION: A common problem encountered in routine daily practice of cardiovascular surgery is migration of smooth muscle cells leading to intimal hyperplasia developing at vascular anastomosis sites which then causes luminal narrowing. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiproliferative effect of 1,25 (OH)(2)D(3) on intimal hyperplasia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-one male white New Zealand rabbits weighing 2-3 kg were selected. There were 3 groups of animals each consisting of 7 rabbits. Group 1 was the control group. Group 2 was the sham group and group 3 consisted of rabbits receiving 1,25 (OH)(2)D(3). The right carotid arteries of the subjects in groups 2 and 3 were transected and re-anastomosed. A daily dose of 25 ng 1,25 (OH)(2)D(3) per 100 g body weight was administered for 14 days to rabbits in group 3. Rabbits in group 2 were not subject to any pharmaceutical agent. All the subjects were sacrificed at the end of the 28(th) postoperative day. Their right carotid arteries were resected and then investigated histopathologically. RESULTS: Intimal thickness and intimal area were measured as significantly lower in group 1 when compared with the other groups (p = 0.004). In group 3, the ratios of thickness of tunica intima/thickness of tunica media and area of tunica intima/area of tunica media were significantly lower than those of group 2 (p = 0.015, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: 1,25 (OH)(2)D(3), the active metabolite of vitamin D, reduces the intimal hyperplasia developing after vascular anastomoses

Neuroprotective effects of progesterone in spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

Background: This experimental study was performed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of progesterone on spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

Neuroprotective effects of progesterone in spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

Background: This experimental study was performed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of progesterone on spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

Effect of 1 alpha-25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 on intimal hyperplasia developing in vascular anastomoses: a rabbit model

Introduction: A common problem encountered in routine daily practice of cardiovascular surgery is migration of smooth muscle cells leading to intimal hyperplasia developing at vascular anastomosis sites which then causes luminal narrowing. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiproliferative effect of 1,25 (OH)(2)D-3 on intimal hyperplasia

The activity of adenosine deaminase and the level of nitric oxide in spinal cord of methotrexate administered rats: Protective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester

The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the possible role of nitric oxide (NO) levels and activity of adenosine deaminase (ADA) in the pathogenesis of methotrexate (MTX)-induced neurotoxicity, to demonstrate the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), the potent antioxidant, in decreasing the toxicity. A total of 19 adult male rats were divided into three experimental groups, as follows: group I, control group; group II, MTX-treatcd group; group III, MTX+CAPE-treated group. In the second day of experiment, MTX was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) with a single dose of 20 mg/kg to group II and group III. CAPE was administered i.p. with a dose of 10 mu mol/kg once daily for 7 days to group III. Histopathological findings of the inflammatory reaction were observed in spinal cord of MTX administered rats, compared with control rats. All parameters of: inflammatory reaction were significantly decreased in MTX plus CAPE administered rats, compared with MTX administered rats. The injection of MTX caused significant increase in the activity of ADA and in levels NO levels in spinal cord of rats (p = 0.007 and p = 0.0001, respectively). Co-treatment with CAPE caused a significant decrease in activity of ADA and the levels of NO in spinal cord (p = 0.024 and p=0.0001, respectively). Study indicate that NO and ADA may play ail important role in the pathogenesis of MTX-induced oxidative spinal cord damage. CAPE may have protective aspects in this process by antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect and it will become a promising drug in the prevention Of undesired side effect of MTX. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Polycystic ovary syndrome is associated with increased osteopontin levels

WOS: 000372072300007PubMed ID: 26701868Objective: Osteopontin (OPN) is a multi-functional secreted glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism and inflammatory process. Growing evidence suggests that there is a link between OPN and ovarian function. However, no such link has yet been found for OPN in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Our aim was to ascertain whether circulating OPN levels are altered in women with PCOS and to determine whether OPN levels differ between the follicular phase and mid-cycle of the menstrual cycle in eumenorrheic women. Design and methods: In total, 150 women with PCOS and 150 age-and BMI-matched controls without PCOS were recruited for this prospective observational study. OPN levels were measured using ELISA. Metabolic parameters were also determined. Results: Circulating OPN levels were significantly elevated in PCOS women compared with controls (69.12 +/- 31.59 ng/ml vs 42.66 +/- 21.28 ng/ml; P<0.001). OPN levels were significantly higher at mid-cycle than in the follicular phase in eumenorrheic women. OPN was positively correlated with BMI, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), free testosterone, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that the odds ratio (OR) for PCOS was 3.64 for patients in the highest quartile of OPN compared with those in the lowest quartile (OR=3.64; 95% CI=2.42-5.57; P=0.011). Our findings indicate that BMI, HOMA-IR, hs-CRP, and free testosterone are independent factors influencing serum OPN levels and that OPN is an independent predictor for HOMA-IR. Conclusion: PCOS is associated with increased OPN levels