Conversion of Omega-3 Fatty Acids from Algae Biomass Produced Biodiesel

As the effects of global warming continue to escalate, carbon-neutral fuels are becoming sought after alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. Biodiesel is a promising source of carbon-neutral fuel that can be produced from organisms such as algae. A new process has been proposed by Yadav for algal oil extraction using sonic waves and carbon dioxide microbubbles (Yadav et al., 2019). Although a novel idea, it currently struggles to compete economically with other types of biodiesel production as well as traditional food sources. However, a small subsection of the FAMEs is able to be further processed into Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids can be added to foods as nutraceutical supplements and can be sold for a higher price than biodiesel. This proposal attempts to modify a theoretical algae-to-biodiesel process to separate these valuable FAMEs from the other biodiesel products and produce approximately 12,000 tons/yr of raw Omega-3 supplement. The process utilizes liquid-liquid extraction to remove the methyl EPA and methyl DHA from the biodiesel and then uses base-catalyzed ester hydrolysis to convert the long chain methyl esters into their marketable carboxylic acid form. The proposed plant will produce 547,830 US-tons of biodiesel which satisfies 10% of the current biodiesel market, 12,000 US-tons of Omega-3 fatty acids, and 39,683 US-tons of crude glycerol per year. This production level 30% of the United States Omega-3 market in 2024, and 6% of the current glycerol market. A financial analysis of manufacturing the plant to separate desired FAMEs and hydrolyze them to the Omega-3s over a 20-year period shows that this process could be profitable to a varying degree based on the sale price of the Omega-3s. The profitability of this design is contingent on a few factors, such as being able to access the right markets to sell the raw Omega-3 product being formed and how the market for these supplements will grow in the future. Thus, this proposal can recommend, with some hesitation, pursuing the modifications to the plant to co-produce biodiesel with Omega-3 fatty acids

Hematologic Toxicity of Concurrent Administration of Radium-223 and Next-generation Antiandrogen Therapies.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: Radium-223 is a first-in-class radiopharmaceutical recently approved for the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer in patients with symptomatic bone metastases. Initial studies investigating Radium-223 primarily used nonsteroidal first-generation antiandrogens. Since that time, newer antiandrogen therapies have demonstrated improved survival in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer. It has been suggested that the rational combination of these newly approved agents with Radium-223 may lead to improved response rates and clinical outcomes. Currently, there is lack of information regarding the safety of concurrent administration of these agents with radiopharmaceuticals. Here, we report on hematologic toxicity findings from our institution in patients receiving concurrent Radium-223 and next-generation antiandrogen therapies with either enzalutamide or abiraterone. MATERIALS/METHODS: In a retrospective study, we analyzed patients who received Radium-223 as part of an early-access trial, and following FDA approval in May 2013, patients receiving Radium-223 as part of standard care. Radium-223 was given at standard dosing of 50 kBq/kg each month for 6 total cycles. Complete blood counts were performed before treatment monthly and following each injection. Blood counts from patients receiving Radium alone and concurrently with next-generation antiandrogens were compared. To date, 25 total patients were analyzed, with a median of 5 monthly doses received per patient. Fourteen patients received concurrent therapy during monthly Radium-223 with either enzalutamide (n=8) or abiraterone (n=6). RESULTS: Six patients expired due to disease progression. Two patients discontinued treatment due to grade 3 myelosuppression. For patients receiving either Radium alone and with concurrent next-generation antiandrogen therapy, there did not appear to be any statistically significant differences between initial and nadir blood counts. Mean change from initial neutrophil count to nadir was 1.9×10/L in patients receiving Radium alone, versus 2.3×10/L in patients receiving concurrent therapy (P=0.77). Mean change from initial hemoglobin value to nadir was 1.5 g/L in patients receiving Radium alone, versus 1.8 g/L in patients receiving concurrent therapy (P=0.31). Mean change from initial platelet count to nadir was 52.3×10 cells/L in patients receiving Radium alone versus 70.6×10 cells/L in patients receiving concurrent therapy (P=0.39). Individual blood counts for each measured laboratory are included in the supplemental data. PSA was stable or decreased in 22% of patients receiving Radium alone versus 35% of patients receiving combination treatment (P=0.24). CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent administration of Radium-223 and next-generation antiandrogen therapies appears to be well tolerated with similar toxicities to standard administration of Radium-223 alone. This particular cohort of patients represents a high-risk, heavily pretreated group of patients with advanced metastatic disease and significant marrow burden. Despite these risk factors, hematologic toxicity was modest and was in the range expected for this risk group based on previous trials. To date, this is the first study investigating the toxicity of combination treatment. Further studies investigating the safety and efficacy of combination treatments are warranted

The Luminal Progenitor Compartment of the Normal Human Mammary Gland Constitutes a Unique Site of Telomere Dysfunction

Telomeres are essential for genomic integrity, but little is known about their regulation in the normal human mammary gland. We now demonstrate that a phenotypically defined cell population enriched in luminal progenitors (LPs) is characterized by unusually short telomeres independently of donor age. Furthermore, we find that multiple DNA damage response proteins colocalize with telomeres in >95% of LPs but in <5% of basal cells. Paradoxically, 25% of LPs are still capable of exhibiting robust clonogenic activity in vitro. This may be partially explained by the elevated telomerase activity that was also seen only in LPs. Interestingly, this potential telomere salvage mechanism declines with age. Our findings thus reveal marked differences in the telomere biology of different subsets of primitive normal human mammary cells. The chronically dysfunctional telomeres unique to LPs have potentially important implications for normal mammary tissue homeostasis as well as the development of certain breast cancers

Addressing Noncommunicable Disease on Short-Term Medical Trips: A Longitudinal Study of Hypertension Treatment in Santo Domingo

Background: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide and pose complex challenges in developing nations. Short-term medical trips, which often operate independently of government and pharmaceutical companies, are in a unique position to address NCDs in developing nations. In 2010, the Dominican Aid Society of Virginia shifted the focus of their semiannual clinic to addressing NCDs in Paraíso, Santo Domingo. Objective: This study analyzes the longitudinal impact of a short-term medical trip on the control of hypertension in their patient population. Methods: Returning patients were identified through a review of medical records from 2014 and 2016. A sample of patients who only visited in either 2014 or 2016 were matched on sex and age and served as an internal comparison group. A generalized linear mixed model was applied to assess changes in blood pressure, the proportion of patients receiving blood pressure treatment, and the intensity of blood pressure treatment within and between returning and new patients over the study period. Findings: There was a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure within returning patients. Change in systolic blood pressure was significantly different between returning and new patients, with improvement in returning patients. There was a significant increase in the proportion of new patients receiving blood pressure treatment and a higher intensity of blood pressure treatment over time. The change in the proportion of patients receiving blood pressure treatment in the new patient group was significantly higher than that of the returning patient group. ConclusionsShort-term medical trips with a recurrent presence in a community may improve control of hypertension and other NCDs in developing nations. Further research into the impact that short-term medical trips may have on NCDs is needed

Environmental health conditions in protracted displacement: a systematic scoping review

Adequate environmental health services are critical for human rights, health, and development, especially in the context of forced displacement. There are more than 70 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide, most in protracted situations, having been displaced for more than two years. Some live in camps or informal settlements, but most live in urban areas. Environmental health services are important in the transition from emergency re- sponse to sustainable development in these settings, but evidence on environmental health in displaced popula- tions is disparate and of variable quality. We conducted a systematic scoping review of environmental conditions, exposures, and outcomes in protracted displacement settings; obstacles to improvement in environmental health services; and recommendations made for improvement. We included 213 publications from peer- reviewed and grey literature databases. Data were extracted on environmental health topics including water, sanitation, hygiene, overcrowding, waste management, energy supply, vector control, menstrual hygiene, air quality, and food safety. Most studies present data from low- and lower-middle income countries. Northern Africa and Western Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa are the most-represented regions. There is substantial evidence on water, sanitation, and crowding, but few studies report findings on other environmental health topics. Water-related disease, parasites, and respiratory infections are frequently cited and studies report that services often fail to meet international standards for humanitarian response. The most frequent obstacles and recommendations are institutional, political, or implementation-related, but few studies provide concrete recommendations for im- provement. Our review compiles and characterizes the research on environmental health in protracted displace- ment. We recommend including displaced populations in international environmental health policy and monitoring initiatives, and bridging from humanitarian response to sustainable development by preparing for long-term displacement from the early stages of a crisis