Recycle of Alum recovered from water treatment sludge in chemically enhanced primary treatment

An investigation was made to study the feasibility of recovering the Alum from coagulation sludges and reusing it in chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) process to make the CEPT more cost-effective and recover the resource (Alum) efficiently. The optimum condition and efficiency of the acidification method for Alum recovery from coagulation sludge were investigated in the test. The results show that when the recovery rate of Alum reaches its highest level, 84.5%, the reduction rate of sludge is 35.5%. It turns out that the capability of recovered coagulant to remove turbidity, UV(254) and COD are 96%, 46% and 53%, respectively. The results prove that the recovered coagulants could be used in CEPT and the efficiency of recovered coagulant to remove pollutants is similar to that of fresh coagulant. Although some substances will be enriched during recycle, they have little effect on the quality of treated wastewater. The experiments verify that it would be an advisable and cost-effective way to recover Alum from coagulation sludges in water treatment and chemical wastewater treatment, and it could be then recycled to CEPT as well as reduce sludge volume.

Application of cumulative odds logistic model on risk factors analysis for sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in Kaiyuan city, Yunnan province, China

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the epidemiology of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among female sex workers (FSW) in Kaiyuan city, Yunnan province, China, and to identify risk factors associated with STI.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of 737 FSW was carried out from March to May 2006, with confidential interviews and laboratory tests for STI. A cumulative logit model was used to evaluate the risk factors for STI.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of HIV is 10.3%. The prevalence of syphilis, herpes simplex virus type 2, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and trichomonas was 7.5%, 68.1%, 8.3%, 25.9% and 10.6%, respectively. In multivariate cumulative odds logistic analysis, the factors associated with STI were education level, living in the entertainment location, injection drug use, non-injection drug use, over five clients in the previous week and inconsistent use of condoms with clients.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight the gravity of the STI epidemic among FSW in China, where sexual transmission has now overtaken unsafe injection practices as the dominant mode of HIV transmission. Targeted intervention programmes for FSW should focus on increasing condom use, strengthening knowledge and awareness of STI/HIV and encouraging routine screening and treatment-seeking behaviours. Reducing the spread of STI also has profound implications for the prevention of HIV.

Phase II study of weekly administration of docetaxel (D) in combination with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib (E) in metastatic breast cancer (MBC)

Abstract #3124

Background: Single agent weekly docetaxel (D) is an active agent in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with response rates of 29% - 53%. Erlotinib (OSI-774, Tarceva®) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor directed against EGFR, which is overexpressed in 30-40% of breast cancers, making EGFR an attractive treatment target. This study was designed to assess the combination of D and E in previously untreated recurrent and/or MBC.
 Methods: Adult patients with histologically confirmed MBC without prior chemotherapy for recurrence or metastases were eligible. Treatment plan was: D (initially 35 mg/m2 intravenous infusion weekly x 3 every 4 weeks) and E 150 mg orally daily uninterrupted. In patients with responding or stable disease, E was continued in 4 week cycles following a minimum of 6 cycles of D and E. Estimates of overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were made by Kaplan-Meier method and the difference between groups by log-rank test. Tumor EGFR expression by immunohistochemisty and ER/PR was correlated with OS and PFS.
 Results: 39 female pts were enrolled between 12/02 and 8/06. The median age was 51 yrs (range 28-78). The median number of cycles of D and E received was 4 (range 1-26) and of E following D and E was 11 (range 2-18). EGFR, ER/PR and Her-2/neu status was determined on 35/39 patients. EGFR: 23 positive, 12 negative. ER/PR: 25 positive, 10 negative. Her-2/neu: 2 positive, 33 negative. Ten pts. were not evaluable for survival or response due to toxicity occurring within the first cycle. Best responses (n=29) ; PR 11(39%), SD 4 (14%), PD 13 (45%), and clinical benefit (PR+SD) 15 (54%). Median PFS was 8 mos (95% CI: 4.4-12.2). PFS for EGFR negative tumors appeared better than EGFR positive tumors (12 mos PFS 33% vs. 23%) but was not significant (p = 0.53). There was no difference in OS between these groups (p=0.38). PFS and OS for ER/PR positive pts was significantly higher than ER/PR negative pts 6 mos PFS 67% vs. 25% (p= 0.009) and 2 yr OS 53.9% vs. 12.5% (p=0.015). , All patients were included for toxicity assessment (n-39). The first 26 pts received planned D dose of 35mg/m2. Because of non-hematologic toxicity, trial was subsequently modified to start D at 25 mg/m2. Grade 3 or 4 Leukopenia was seen in 15% pts. Principal non-hematologic grade 3-4 toxicities included anorexia, diarrhea, and fatigue (18% pts).
 Conclusions: Combination therapy for advanced breast cancer with docetaxel and erlotinib shows promising activity with favorable response compared with other studies. There was no significant association with EGFR expression and PFS, however this combination is more favorable for ER positive patients. Randomized trials for ER positive disease is warranted to further investigate the efficacy of this combination compared to single agent docetaxel.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 3124.

A 6 gene molecular predictor of lapatinib related benefit: from cell line models to clinical trials

Abstract #58

Background: Identification of molecular predictors of response is an important aspect of individualized cancer treatment. Responses to lapatinib (L), an oral inhibitor of HER2 and EGFR, approved in combination with capecitabine for HER2+ metastatic breast cancer (MBC), were evaluated in a panel of BC cell lines. Computational approaches were used to identify transcripts that quantitatively associate with response to L in the cell line panel that were then tested in 2 clinical trials.
 Methods: The clinical utility of a 6-gene predictor was tested retrospectively using a branched-chain DNA assay in paraffin-embedded archival tumor tissue from patients (pts) with HER2 negative or untested MBC tumors enrolled in a phase III trial of paclitaxel (P) vs. P+L, and from pts with HER2 positive MBC enrolled in a L monotherapy trial. Expression of HER2 transcript using the branched-chain assay was compared with HER2 fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) status; discordant cases were analyzed. Response patterns for pts with HER2+ tumors and a computational model that predicts L sensitivity or resistance is described.
 Results: Ingenuity analysis of the mRNA predictors of response to L identified in the BC cell line panel revealed saturated gene networks with HER2 as a major node. The 6-gene predictor of response was comprised of 2 genes associated with sensitivity to L: HER2 and GRB7; 4 genes associated with resistance to L: CRK, ACOT9, FLJ31079, and DDX5. Expression results for the 6 genes and progression-free survival (PFS) data were available for 159 pts on L+P. Median PFS in the branched-chain HER2+ group was 32.9 wks vs. 22.4 wks in the HER2-negative group. The 6-gene predictor was used to predict response to L in the HER2+ pts. Comparison of PFS in the 24 “L sensitive” tumors vs. 25 “L resistant” tumors indicated that the predictor, derived from cell-line analyses, had the potential to predict clinical response to L in pts treated with L+P (HR=0.58; 95% CI=0.30-1.11; p=0.07). The 6-gene predictor was further tested in an independent L monotherapy study in pts with HER2 FISH+ MBC. Comparison of PFS in the 24 “L sensitive” tumors vs. 28 “ L resistant” tumors reconfirmed the potential of the 6-gene predictor to enrich for HER2+ pts most likely to experience clinical benefit from L (HR=0.40; 95% CI=0.19-0.84; p=0.015). Further testing is ongoing.
 Conclusions: This study suggests that molecular predictors of clinical response can be developed through an analysis of response from a collection of 50 BC cell lines. The identification of a L specific 6-gene assay is promising as a clinical predictor of benefit from L in pts with HER2+ BC.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 58.

MUC1 expression in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract #3009

Background. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) comprises ∼10-15% of newly-diagnosed early-stage breast cancer. Most TN tumors are high grade and have a high incidence of recurrence and distant metastases. Patients with early stage TNBC usually do not receive any maintenance systemic therapy beyond standard cytotoxic chemotherapy and may therefore benefit from novel experimental therapies, including immunotherapy. MUC1 is a tumor antigen expressed on differentiated tumor cells, including BC, and therefore represents an ideal target for MUC1-based vaccination. In this study, we evaluated TNBC for the expression of MUC1 by immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis.
 Material and Methods. Fifty-three cases of ER(-) PR(-) HER-2/neu(-) early-stage BC were evaluated for expression of the MUC1 glycoprotein by IHC stain analysis. Immunoreactivity was graded based on the intensity and percent of tumor cells staining for MUC1. Intensity of staining was graded as negative (0), positive (1) or strongly-positive (2), and the percent of tumor cells staining positively was graded from 0 to 100%. A specimen was considered positive if immunoreactive cells were found in at least 5% of tumor cells. An overall score of 0 to 2.0 was then calculated for each case by multiplying the intensity of staining by the percent of tumor cells staining positively.
 Results. Forty nine of the fifty three cases of TNBC (92%) were MUC1+ by IHC stain analysis. The mean score was 0.90, with a range of 0 to 1.9. Cases were evenly distributed over this range, and the majority of cases (66%) exhibited moderate to strong expression of MUC1 (score 0.5 to 1.90). A minority of cases (26%) demonstrated weak expression, and 8% of cases lacked expression of MUC1 by study criteria.
 Discussion. MUC1 expression has been documented in the epithelium of secretory tubules, acini, and intralobular ducts of normal breast tissue and in breast carcinoma of undefined subtype. However, this is the first study to specifically evaluate TNBC for the expression of MUC1. The results of our study suggest that the vast majority of cases of early stage TNBC express MUC1. Since other MUC1+ tumors such as prostate, pancreatic and ER+ breast cancer have been successfully vaccinated with MUC1-based peptide vaccines, this study suggests that consideration may be given to patients with early stage TNBC as possible candidates for such novel MUC1-based vaccines after having completed standard therapies for TNBC.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 3009.

Ferric coagulant recovered from coagulation sludge and its recycle in chemically enhanced primary treatment

An investigation was conducted to study the feasibility of ferric coagulant recovery from chemical sludge and its recycle in chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) to make the process more cost-effective, as well as reduce sludge volume. The optimum conditions and efficiency of the acidification for ferric coagulant recovery from coagulation sludge were investigated. Experimental results showed that the recovered coagulants can be used in CEPT and the pollutants removal efficiency is similar to that of fresh coagulant, and for some aspects the effect of recovered coagulants is better than that of fresh ones, such as turbidity removal. Although some substances will be enriched during recycle, they have little effect on treated wastewater quality. Acidification condition also had significant influence on reduction of sludge volume. The efficiency of coagulant recovery had a linear relationship with sludge reduction. Experiments verify that it would be a sustainable and cost-effective way to recover ferric coagulant from coagulation sludge in water treatment and chemical wastewater treatment, and then recycle it to CEPT, as well as reduce sludge volume.

Spatially resolved photoluminescence study of single ZnO tetrapods

ZnO tetrapods and nanowires were fabricated by a simple method of thermal evaporation of pure Zn powder in the air. These nanostructures, formed in different temperature regions of the same apparatus, displayed distinct photoluminescence (PL) characteristics. Spatially resolved PL measurements on legs of individual tetrapods show that the green luminescence (GL) decreases with decreasing leg diameter, and there was no detectable GL from nanowires grown simultaneously. These PL properties suggest that the green luminescence may not come from surface states, but rather from bulk defects.

Connexin 43 hemichannels contribute to the propagation of apoptotic cell death in a rat C6 glioma cell model

Gap junctions (GJs) have been demonstrated to communicate cell death signals from apoptotic to healthy cells, thereby spatially extending apoptosis. Before being incorporated into GJs, hemichannels (hemi-GJs) are normally closed but recent evidence suggests that they can be opened by various messengers and conditions, thereby forming a pore through which molecules can enter or leave the cell potentially leading to cell death. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of GJs and hemichannels in the communication of apoptosis toward surrounding cells. We induced apoptosis in C6 glioma cells stably transfected with connexin (Cx)43, with cytochrome C (cytC) using in situ electroporation and found that healthy surrounding cells underwent apoptotic transformation. Work with various cell death markers, wild-type (WT) and Cx43-expressing cells, inhibitors of GJs and/or hemichannels, and Cx43 gene silencing showed that GJs contribute to the spread of apoptosis in a zone next to where apoptosis was triggered whereas hemichannels also promoted cell death beyond this area. Buffering cytoplasmic Ca(2+) changes inhibited the spread of apoptosis in both cases. We conclude that Cx43 hemichannels, in concert with their GJ counterparts, play a role in communicating cytC-induced apoptotic cell death messages.

Analysis of the interindividual conservation of T cell receptor alpha- and beta-chain variable regions gene in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

The aim of this study was to find conserved motifs in specific T cell receptor (TCR) alpha- and beta-chains, and to analyse the association between complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) spectratype and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) activity. TCR alpha-and beta-chain CDR3 spectratypes were analysed in 20 SLE patients. The CDR3 spectratypes of three patients were monitored over time, and the CDR3 regions of clonally expanded T cells were sequenced. CDR3 spectratype analysis showed prominent usage of TCR AV8, AV14, AV23, AV30, AV31, BV2, BV8, BV11, BV14, BV16, BV19 and BV24 families in SLE patients. The CDR3 spectratype showed dynamic change correlating with SLE activity. The sequence of the CDR3 region in clonally expanded T cells suggested a conserved GGX amino acid motif in both alpha- and beta-chains. The Ja34 and Jb2s1 region genes were found in high frequency. Both TCR Valpha and Vbeta gene usage is highly restricted in SLE, suggesting that the TCRs recognize a limited number of antigenic epitopes. The conserved motifs and limited use of joining region genes may indicate the recognition of similar antigenic epitopes in multiple individuals.

Peripheral muscle targets and central projections of the mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus in macaque monkeys

The mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus (MesV) contains the somata of primary afferent neurons that innervate muscle spindles in masticatory muscles and mechanoreceptors in the periodontal ligaments. There are conflicting reports about additional peripheral targets of MesV, such as the extraocular muscles, as well as about its central targets. In addition, only limited primate data are available. Consequently, we examined MesV projections in macaque monkeys. The retrograde tracer wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP) was injected into masticatory or extraocular muscles to define the peripheral targets of the primate MesV. Numerous labeled neurons were found in ipsilateral MesV after masticatory muscle injections. The scattered distribution of labeled cells, and their presence among clusters of unlabeled cells, suggests the muscle representations overlap. Just a few MesV neurons were labeled after extraocular muscle injections. This correlates with the small number of muscle spindles present in macaque extraocular muscles, suggesting MesV cells supplying extraocular muscle spindles may contribute a minor component to oculomotor proprioception. To examine the central connections of MesV, biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was injected into the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Vs). The presence of retrogradely labeled MesV cells indicated a projection to Vs from MesV. These injections also anterogradely labeled terminals that lay in close association with MesV cells, suggesting an ascending projection from Vs to MesV. Finally, a small number of MesV neurons were labeled after WGA-HRP injections into the upper cervical spinal cord. This pattern of central connections indicates MesV and Vs information is combined to guide mastication.

Evaluation of cotton rats as a model for severe acute respiratory syndrome

Experimental studies were conducted to evaluate two species of cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus and Sigmodon fulviventer, as a model for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Blood and turbinate wash samples, and lung tissue were collected from each animal at different time points after SARS coronavirus (CoV) infection for determining the growth curve of virus, if any, by the standard infectivity assay in Vero E6 cells. In addition, sections of the lung, liver, spleen, and kidney were taken and used for histology analysis. All animals were observed daily for signs of illness, and in some experiments, animals were weighed on the day when they were sacrificed. The results indicated that the cotton rat species, S. hispidus and S. fulviventer, were not a useful model for either SARS-CoV infection or disease. This observation was supported by the absence of any signs of illness, the failure to consistently demonstrate virus in the blood and tissues, and the absent of any notable histopathology. However, infected animals were capable of producing neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV, suggesting the seroconversion did occur. Further studies are warranted to consider other animal species in efforts to find better animal models for the evaluation of SARS-CoV vaccines and antiviral drugs.

PTEN polymorphisms and the risk of esophageal carcinoma and gastric cardiac carcinoma in a high incidence region of China

PTEN, as a tumor suppressor gene, plays an important role in regulating cell growth, proliferation, and apoptosis. Two common polymorphisms, -9C/G and IVS4 (-/+), may alter susceptibility to the disease. To test the hypothesis that the genetic variations of PTEN play a role in the etiology of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric cardiac adenocarcinoma (GCA), a population-based case-control study was conducted in 350 ESCC patients, 257 GCA patients, and 634 healthy controls from a high-incidence region of Hebei province, China. The PTEN polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP). The results showed that the family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGIC) significantly increased the risk of developing ESCC and GCA (the age, gender and smoking status adjusted OR = 1.73 and 1.67; 95% CI = 1.29-2.32 and 1.28-2.19, respectively). The overall distribution of the PTEN -9C/G genotype was not significantly different between cancer patients and controls. Compared with the PTEN IVS4-/- genotype, the IVS4+/+ genotype significantly decreased the risk of ESCC and GCA development, the adjusted OR was 0.64 (95% CI = 0.44-0.94) and 0.63 (95% CI = 0.41-0.98), respectively. Stratification analysis by gender, age, smoking status and family history of UGIC showed that the PTEN IVS4-/+ genotype only reduced the risk of ESCC (adjusted OR = 0.55, 95%CI = 0.34-0.90) among subjects with family history of UGIC. While the IVS4+/+ genotype decreased the susceptibility to both ESCC and GCA (adjusted OR = 0.61 and 0.57, 95% CI = 0.37-0.98 and 0.34-0.98, respectively) among male subjects, the IVS4+/+ genotype only decreased the risk of ESCC development among subjects younger than 55 years (adjusted OR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.21-0.85). In addition, the haplotype analysis found that the -9C/IVS4- haplotype increased the risk of developing ESCC and GCA (OR = 1.31 and 1.24, 95% CI = 1.08-1.58 and 1.001-1.53). Our results suggested that the PTEN IVS4+/+ homozygote may play a protective role in the development of ESCC and GCA, while the haplotype -9C/IVS4- might be the risk factor of the development of ESCC and GCA in the high incidence region population of Hebei province, China.

No association found between the promoter variants of TNF-alpha and diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes

PURPOSE

Necrosis tumor factor (TNF) is known to be associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). The objective of this study was to examine the genetic variations of TNF-alpha and assess their possible relationship to DR in type 2 diabetic patients in the Chinese population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a case-control association study between the promoter variants of TNF-alpha and diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. We selected three variants in the promoter region of TNF-alpha, namely rs1800629, rs1041981, and rs2857713.

RESULTS

No individual SNP nor any haplotype was found to be associated with DR in our study.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to report TNF-alpha polymorphisms in patients with DR in the Chinese population. The results suggest that the variants among the promoter of TNF-alpha are unlikely to play a major role in the susceptibility to DR in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Association of misconceptions about HIV transmission and discriminatory attitudes in rural China

This study examined HIV-related knowledge and attitudes among 524 randomly selected adult residents from 12 rural Chinese communities where HIV infection among plasma donors has been reported. Most participants were familiar with the main routes of HIV transmission but had substantial misconceptions about risk of HIV transmission through casual social contacts. Higher score of misconception and being older and married independently predicted stronger discriminatory attitude. Intervention programs with focus on eliminating misconceptions about HIV transmission may reduce stigma.