Anaerobic degradation of papermill sludge in a two-phase digester containing rumen microorganisms and colonized polyurethane foam

Summary The use of reticulated polyurethane foam as a support material for the immobilization of methanogenic associations and its application to the anaerobic treatment of fine particulate solid wastes was investigated. The colonization of polyurethane support particles in a continuous upflow reactor fed on a mixture of acetate, propionate and butyrate, was both rapid and dense. The combination of rumen microorganisms and colonized support particles in a two-phase digester resulted in an efficient anaerobic decomposition of papermill sludge.     

Airway cellularity, lipid laden macrophages and microbiology of gastric juice and airways in children with reflux oesophagitis

Background and methods

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a recently discovered respiratory virus associated with bronchiolitis, pneumonia, croup and exacerbations of asthma. Since respiratory viruses are frequently detected in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD (AE-COPD) it was our aim to investigate the frequency of hMPV detection in a prospective cohort of hospitalized patients with AE-COPD compared to patients with stable COPD and to smokers without by means of quantitative real-time RT-PCR.

Results

We analysed nasal lavage and induced sputum of 130 patients with AE-COPD, 65 patients with stable COPD and 34 smokers without COPD. HMPV was detected in 3/130 (2.3%) AE-COPD patients with a mean of 6.5 × 10⁵ viral copies/ml in nasal lavage and 1.88 × 10⁵ viral copies/ml in induced sputum. It was not found in patients with stable COPD or smokers without COPD.

Conclusion

HMPV is only found in a very small number of patients with AE-COPD. However it should be considered as a further possible viral trigger of AE-COPD because asymptomatic carriage is unlikely.     

Lysophosphatidic acid enhances interleukin-13 gene expression and promoter activity in T cells

Airway smooth muscle cells (ASMC) are a source of inflammatory chemokines that may propagate airway inflammatory responses. We investigated the production of the CXC chemokine growth-related oncogene protein-alpha (GRO-alpha) from ASMC induced by cytokines and the role of MAPK and NF-kappaB pathways. ASMC were cultured from human airways, grown to confluence, and exposed to cytokines IL-1beta and TNF-alpha after growth arrest. GRO-alpha release, measured by ELISA, was increased by >50-fold after IL-1beta (0.1 ng/ml) or 5-fold after TNF-alpha (1 ng/ml) in a dose- and time-dependent manner. GRO-alpha release was not affected by the T helper type 2 cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13. IL-1beta and TNF-alpha also induced GRO-alpha mRNA expression. Supernatants from IL-1beta-stimulated ASMC were chemotactic for neutrophils; this effect was inhibited by anti-GRO-alpha blocking antibody. AS-602868, an inhibitor of IKK-2, and PD-98059, an inhibitor of ERK, inhibited GRO-alpha release and mRNA expression, whereas SP-600125, an inhibitor of JNK, reduced GRO-alpha release without effect on mRNA expression. SB-203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, had no effect. AS-602868 but not PD-98059 or SP-600125 inhibited p65 DNA-binding induced by IL-1beta and TNF-alpha. By chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, IL-1beta and TNF-alpha enhanced p65 binding to the GRO-alpha promoter, which was inhibited by AS-602868. IL-1beta- and TNF-alpha-stimulated expression of GRO-alpha from ASMC is regulated by independent pathways involving NF-kappaB activation and ERK and JNK pathways. GRO-alpha released from ASMC participates in neutrophil chemotaxis.     

Olfactory contribution to Fos expression during mating in inexperienced male hamsters

Male hamsters are very dependent on chemosensory cues for normal mating behavior. We have previously reported that central, vomeronasal pathways are intensely and selectively activated during mating or pheromonal stimulation. The contribution of main olfactory sensory input to the patterns of c-fos activation was investigated in this study. Sexually inexperienced male hamsters were either made anosmic by intranasal infusion of zinc sulfate or remained intact. Fos protein immunoreactivity was analyzed in main olfactory and vomeronasal pathways of the zinc sulfate-treated, anosmic animals after mating with receptive females for 45 min, and compared with Fos patterns seen in intact mating animals, some of which have been described in a previous publication. The zinc sulfate-treated anosmic males described here all mated when given access to receptive females. Whether mated or unstimulated, anosmic males had little or no Fos expression in main olfactory pathways; significantly less even than in unstimulated intact animals. Mating did not increase Fos expression in main olfactory pathways of intact animals over that of unstimulated intact controls. However, Fos expression in central vomeronasal pathways was significantly higher in mating anosmic males, as in intact males, compared with appropriate non-mating controls. Fos expression was significantly different between intact and zinc sulfate-treated anosmic mating males in only one area studied. The rostral anterior medial amygdala, known to receive a small olfactory terminal field, had significantly lower Fos expression in zinc sulfate-treated anosmic males that mated when compared with intact-mating animals. Thus, functional main olfactory input to the rostral vomeronasal amygdala can be demonstrated but does not appear to be critical for mating behavior in previously inexperienced male hamsters with intact vomeronasal organs. Other main olfactory input appears to have a negligible contribution to Fos-patterns in such animals.      

Intermediate filaments in nervous tissues

Intermediate filaments have been isolated from rabbit intradural spinal nerve roots by the axonal flotation method. This method was modified to avoid exposure of axons to low ionic strength medium. The purified filaments are morphologically 75-80 percent pure. The gel electrophoretogram shows four major bands migrating at 200,000, 145,000, 68,000, and 60,000 daltons, respectively. A similar preparation from rabbit brain shows four major polypeptides with mol wt of 200,000 145,000, 68,000, and 51,000 daltons. These results indicate that the neurofilament is composed of a triplet of polypepetides with mol wt of 200,000, 145,000, and 68,000 daltons. The 51,000-dalton band that appears in brain filament preparations as the major polypeptide seems to be of glial origin. The significance of the 60,000- dalton band in the nerve root filament preparation is unclear at this time. Antibodies raised against two of the triplet proteins isolated from calf brain localize by immunofluorescence to neurons in central and peripheral nerve. On the other hand, an antibody to the 51,000-dalton polypeptide gives only glial staining in the brain, and very weak peripheral nerve staining. Prolonged exposure of axons to low ionic strength medium solubilizes almost all of the triplet polypeptides, leaving behind only the 51,000- dalton component. This would indicate that the neurofilament is soluble at low ionic strength, whereas the glial filament is not. These results indicate that neurofilaments and glial filaments are composed of different polypeptides and have different solubility characteristics.     

Effect of a fixed-ratio (1:1:1) transfusion protocol versus laboratory-results–guided transfusion in patients with severe trauma: a randomized feasibility trial

Background:

Hemorrhage coupled with coagulopathy remains the leading cause of preventable in-hospital deaths among trauma patients. Use of a transfusion protocol with a predefined ratio of 1:1:1 (1 each of red blood cells [RBC], frozen plasma [FP] and platelets) has been associated with improved survival in retrospective studies in military and civilian settings, but such a protocol has its challenges and may increase the risk of respiratory complications. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess the feasibility of a 1:1:1 transfusion protocol and its effect on mortality and complications among patients with severe trauma.

Methods:

We included 78 patients seen in a tertiary trauma centre between July 2009 and October 2011 who had hypotension and bleeding and were expected to need massive transfusion (≥ 10 RBC units in 24 h). We randomly assigned them to either the fixed-ratio (1:1:1) transfusion protocol (n = 40) or to a laboratory-results–guided transfusion protocol (control; n = 38). The primary outcome, feasibility, was assessed in terms of blood product ratios and plasma wastage. Safety was measured based on 28-day mortality and survival free of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Results:

Overall, a transfusion ratio of 1:1:1 was achieved in 57% (21/37) of patients in the fixed-ratio group, as compared with 6% (2/32) in the control group. A ratio of 1:1 (RBC:FP) was achieved in 73% (27/37) in the fixed-ratio group and 22% (7/32) in the control group. Plasma wastage was higher with the intervention protocol (22% [86/390] of FP units v. 10% [30/289] in the control group). The 28-day mortality and number of days free of acute respiratory distress syndrome were statistically similar between the groups.

Interpretation:

The fixed-ratio transfusion protocol was feasible in our study, but it was associated with increased plasma wastage. Larger randomized trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of such a protocol in trauma care. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, no. {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00945542","term_id":"NCT00945542"}}NCT00945542A fixed-ratio (1:1:1) transfusion strategy is a resuscitation strategy for trauma patients that promotes the transfusion of red blood cells (RBC), plasma and platelets (PLT) at a 1:1:1 ratio while minimizing crystalloid infusion.¹ This balanced transfusion strategy aims to correct both the early coagulopathy of trauma and the volume status of patients in hemorrhagic shock, thus targeting preventable hemorrhage-related deaths.^2,3 Retrospective studies of the 1:1:1 transfusion protocol reported marked reductions in mortality based on retrospectively calculated ratios of plasma:PLT:RBC.^4–6 Methodologic limitations, particularly survivorship bias (where higher mortality was associated with low ratios of plasma and PLT to RBC in unsalvageable patients who died before 1:1:1 transfusion could be achieved), preclude any definitive conclusion on the potential benefit of a 1:1:1 transfusion strategy in terms of efficacy and safety.^7–10The 1:1:1 transfusion strategy has been widely adopted by trauma centres worldwide^11,12 and is being increasingly used in prehospital care and in the care of patients without traumatic injuries.^13–15 Widespread adoption of the strategy has significant resource and safety implications. Its full implementation requires access to thawed type AB plasma, which is chronically in short supply.¹⁶ In addition, because of the difficulty in predicting the need for massive transfusion (commonly defined as ≥ 10 RBC units in 24 h), the 1:1:1 transfusion protocol may lead to unnecessary exposure to blood components and an increased risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis and multiple organ dysfunction.¹⁷We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing a 1:1:1 transfusion strategy with the standard of care at our institution (laboratory-results–guided transfusion; laboratory results are available for transfusion decisions throughout resuscitation) in trauma patients predicted to need massive transfusion. Our primary objective was to assess the feasibility and safety of the fixed-ratio protocol in patients with severe trauma.     

Intraspecific DNA divergence in Drosophila: a study on parthenogenetic D. mercatorum

Drosophila mercatorum is a species that can give rise to totally homozygous parthenogenetic strains. Using the technique of DNA-DNA hybridization, we have assessed the overall single-copy DNA differences among three independently derived strains that represent three independent genomes. Among strains, the average difference between homoduplex and heteroduplex median melting temperatures is 1.3 degrees C. This represents greater than or equal to 1.3% base-pair mismatch. Normalized percent of reassociation indicates further genetic differences, probably reflecting insertion/deletion differences and/or regions of the genome that are highly variable. This overall intraspecific genetic variation is higher than generally is thought to exist but is consistent with growing evidence of extensive DNA diversity within species of invertebrates. High intraspecific DNA variation may be correlated with rapid phyletic rates of evolution. Because of this high level of variation, the technique of DNA-DNA hybridization may be used to study intraspecific variation in invertebrates but is limited in its usefulness for higher systematic studies.      

Have grass carp driven declines in macrophyte occurrence and diversity in the Vaal River,South Africa?

The Vaal River, South Africa, historically had a rich diversity of native submerged macrophytes with at least 13 species from 5 families recorded. Over the past 10 years there has been a noticeable reduction in the occurrence and diversity of submerged macrophytes in the river. It is possible that this is linked to the recent increase in the populations of invasive alien grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella Cuvier & Valenciennes (Cyprinidae) in the river, where populations have been a concern since 2005. Grass carp invasions worldwide have been shown to have severe impacts on macrophyte biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. This fish is an aggressive feeder on submerged macrophytes, as well as being an ecosystem engineer that can change water and sediment chemistry.