Techno-economic assessment of decentralized polishing schemes for municipal water reclamation and reuse in the industrial sector in costal semiarid regions: The case of Barcelona (Spain)

This study demonstrates the techno-economic reliability of an innovative fit-for-use treatment train to boost municipal reclaimed water reuse fore industrial uses in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area (BMA). The relatively high conductivity (2090 μS/cm) and hardness (454 mg/L) of reclaimed water in the BMA (e.g. Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) of El Baix Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain), together with the restrictive water quality demands in industrial uses, claims for the implementation of advanced reclamation schemes based on desalination technologies such as reverse osmosis (RO). The study assesses the benefits of two potential pre-treatments of the RO stage: (i) ultrafiltration (UF) or (ii) an innovative high-performance nano-structured polymeric adsorbent (CNM); in which a permeability decline of 5% was observed when CNM was used as a pre-treatment, while a stable permeability of RO was found when was fed by the UF effluent. On the other hand, generic cost curves have been calculated for the technologies evaluated and were applied to estimate capital and operational expenditures (CAPEX and OPEX) for the scale-up in three different industrial sites (e.g., chemical, waste management and electro-coating industries). The economic assessment indicates that the use of municipal reclaimed water is economically competitive in front of the use of tap water in the BMA, providing savings between 0.13 and 0.52 €/m³ for the waste management industry and between 0.49 and 0.98 €/m³ for the electrocoating industry. On the other hand, the use of groundwater in one of the industrial sites and its relatively low cost implied that, although it is necessary a RO, the current cost of water is significantly lower.

Physical activity trajectories are associated with the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in patients with coronary heart disease. A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Current guidelines recommend that adults with chronic health conditions should engage in regular physical activity (PA), and avoid inactivity. Yet, the exact role of PA trajectories in the mortality risk of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) remains unclear.

Purpose

We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the association of longitudinal trajectories of PA with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in patients with CHD.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis based on PRISMA statement. Six electronic databases were searched for cohort studies that analysed the association of PA trajectories (inactive over time, active over time, increased activity over time, and decreased activity over time) with the risk of all-cause and CVD mortality in patients with CHD. Study quality was evaluated by the Newcastle Ottawa scale. We used the inverse variance weighted method to combine summary measures using random-effects models to minimize the effect of between-study heterogeneity. The study is registered in PROSPERO.

Results

We meta-analyzed nine longitudinal cohorts involving 33,576 patients (25010 acute CHD, 8566 chronic CHD, mean age 62.5 years, 34% women, median follow-up duration 7.2 years), according to four PA trajectories. All studies assessed PA through validated questionnaires. The definitions of activity and inactivity at baseline and follow-ups were in agreement with current PA guidelines. Trajectories were calculated based on comparison of activity status at baseline and follow-up. All the studies defined increased activity over time as moving from the inactive to the active category, and decreased activity over time as moving from the active to the inactive category. Compared to patients remaining inactive over time, the lowest risk of all-cause and CVD mortality was observed in patients remaining active over time (HR [95% CI]: 0.50 [0.39–0.63] and 0.48 [0.35–0.68], respectively), followed by patients who increased their PA over time (HR [95% CI]:0.55 [0.44–0.7] and 0.63 [0.51–0.78], respectively), and patients who decreased activity over time (HR [95% CI]: 0.80 [0.64–0.99] and 0.91 [0.67–1.24], respectively). These results were consistent both in the acute and chronic CHD settings. The overall risk of bias was low, and no evidence of publication bias was observed. Multiple sensitivity analyses provided consistent results.

Conclusions

In patients with CHD, the risk of all-cause and CVD mortality is progressively reduced from being inactive over time, to decreased activity over time, to increased activity over time, to being active over time. These findings highlight the benefits of adopting a more physically active lifestyle in patients with chronic and acute CHD, independent of previous PA levels. Future studies should clarify the complex interactions between motivations and disease severity as potential drivers for PA trajectories

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding sources: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): University of Bern

Survey of coccidia on commercial broiler farms in Colombia: frequency of Eimeria species, anticoccidial sensitivity, and histopathology

Avian coccidiosis continues to be one of the costliest diseases of commercial poultry. Understanding the epidemiology of Eimeria species in poultry flocks and the resistance profile to common anticoccidials is important to design effective disease prevention and control strategies. This study examined litter samples to estimate the prevalence and distribution of Eimeria species among broiler farms in 4 geographic regions of Colombia. A total of 245 litter samples were collected from 194 broiler farms across representative regions of poultry production between March and August 2019. The litter samples were processed for oocysts enumeration and speciation after sporulation. End-point polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was conducted to confirm the presence of Eimeria species. Anticoccidial sensitivity was determined with 160 Ross AP males in 5 treatment groups: noninfected, nonmedicated control (NNC), infected, nonmedicated control (INC), infected salinomycin treated (SAL, dose: 66 ppm), infected diclazuril treated (DIC, dose: 1 ppm), and infected methylbenzocuate-Clopidol treated (MET.CLO, dose: 100 ppm), All birds were orally inoculated with 1 × 106 sporulated oocysts using a 1 mL syringe, except for the NNC- group who received 1ml of water.Eimeria spp. were found in 236 (96.3%) out of 245 individual houses, representing 180 (92.8%) out of 194 farms. Eimeria acervulina was the most prevalent species (35.0%) followed by Eimeria tenella (30.9%), Eimeria maxima (20.4%), and other Eimeria spp. (13.6%). However, mixed species infections were common, with the most prevalent combination being mixtures of E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella, and other species in 31.4% of the Eimeria-positive samples. PCR analysis identified E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella, Eimeria necatrix, Eimeria mitis, and Eimeria praecox with variable prevalence across farms and regions. Anticoccidial sensitivity testing of strains of Eimeria isolated from 1 region, no treatment difference (P > 0.05) was observed in final weight (BW), weight gain (BWG) or feed conversion (FCR). For the global resistance index (GI) classified SAL and MET.CLO as good efficacy (85.79 and 85.49, respectively) and DIC as limited efficacy (74.52%). These results demonstrate the ubiquitous nature of Eimeria spp. and identifies the current state of sensitivity to commonly used anticoccidials in a region of poultry importance for Colombia.

Comprehensive proteomic study identifies serpin and cystatin antiproteases as novel correlates of HIV-1 resistance in the cervicovaginal mucosa of female sex workers

Not all individuals exposed to HIV-1 become infected, and evidence from HIV-1 highly exposed seronegative women (HIV-1-resistant) suggests that mucosal factors in the female genital tract, the first site of contact for the virus, are playing a role. To better understand factors mediating protection from HIV-1, we performed a large clinical study using the tools of systems biology to fully characterize the cervicovaginal mucosa proteome in HIV-1-resistant women. Cervicovaginal lavage fluid was collected from 293 HIV-1-resistant, uninfected, and infected sex workers and analyzed by 2D-LC LTQ-FT-MS. Of the more than 360 unique proteins identified, 41 were differentially abundant (>3-fold cutoff) in HIV-1-resistant women. The majority of over-abundant proteins were antiproteases (>40%), some with described anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV-1 activity. Quantification of specific anti-HIV-1 antiproteases Serpin A1, Serpin A3, and Cystatin B and an epithelial antiprotease A2ML1 found them to be significantly over-abundant in HIV-1-resistant women (p = 0.004; p = 0.046; p = 0.0003; and p = 0.04, respectively). Expression levels were not correlated to sexual practices or other epidemiological factors. Mucosal antiprotease levels correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokine concentration (p = <0.0001), but independently of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in HIV-1-resistant women including TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8. This comprehensive systems biology approach identifies mucosal serpins and cystatins as novel correlates of HIV-1-resistance. This represents the first study characterizing these factors in the female genital tract.

Primary bone lymphoma

Primary bone lymphoma is a rare condition which represents a low percentage of both the malignant primary bone tumours and the non-Hodgkin extranodal lymphoma. This explains the lack of publications, lines of investigations, and specific diagnostic and treatment protocols. In the following article we will carry out a revision of the existing literature on this rare subject, using as argument a clinical case of left femoral location stage IE treated with CHOP chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Toxicity of a GM3 cancer vaccine in Macaca fascicularis monkey: a 12-month study

GM3 is a ganglioside that has been biochemically identified as dominating the cell surface of several human tumours, but is also found on human normal cells at much lower density. Since GM3 is widely distributed in essentially all types of animal cells, there is a conflict with the concepts of tumour-associated antigen, immunogen, and toxicity. We have designed a GM3-based cancer vaccine for the treatment of human breast and melanoma tumours. Prior to the Phase I clinical trial, we carried out a 12-month dose repeated toxicity study in five male Macaca fascicularis monkeys. Four male monkeys were treated with placebo in a similar way. During the study, no differences were observed between control and treated monkeys related to daily clinical observations (other than local damage) including rectal temperature, blood pressure, respiratory and cardiac rates, weight gain, biochemical and hematological parameters (with the exception of transitory pathological changes), and anti-DNA and anti-nuclear antibodies, although treated monkeys consistently developed both IgM- and IgG-specific anti-GM3 antibodies. Sixty per cent of treated monkeys developed moderate local reactions at the injection site, which disappeared without sequels. We concluded that this GM3 cancer vaccine overcame in monkeys the natural tolerance to GM3 ganglioside evidenced by a strong immune response, while the local reactions elicited-were transitory without apparent important systemic toxicity effects.

Recombinant Opc protein from Neisseria meningitidis reconstituted into liposomes elicits opsonic antibodies following immunization

The reconstitution of recombinant bacterial outer membrane proteins (OMPs) into their native conformations after purification has been the major problem in their use as effective vaccines. Liposomes have been shown to be an attractive approach, providing a native-like environment for these antigens. The meningococcal recombinant Opc (rOpc) protein, produced as inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli, was incorporated into phospholipid vesicles consisting of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. The incorporation of rOpc into the lipid bilayer was demonstrated, and the reconstitution of some native epitopes was tested using a set of monoclonal antibodies. Subcutaneous immunization of Balb/c mice with rOpc-containing vesicles resulted in the generation of a high level of specific antibodies. The elicited antibodies reacted with the native meningococcal protein and showed opsonic activity.

A purified GM3 ganglioside conjugated vaccine induces specific, adjuvant-dependent and non-transient antitumour activity against B16 mouse melanoma in vitro and in vivo

The presence of substantial amounts of GM3 ganglioside on human melanomas and other tumours, together with its peculiar biological properties, makes this glycolipid a unique target for cancer immunotherapy. B16 mouse melanoma expresses GM3 and constitutes an appropriate model for the development of novel GM3-based vaccines. Recently, we hydrophobically incorporated purified GM3 into the outer membrane protein complex from Neisseria meningitidis to form very small size proteoliposomes (GM3/VSSP). We have examined the antitumour properties of GM3/VSSP vaccine and compared it with GM3 incorporated in very low density serum lipoproteins (GM3/VLDL). Immunization with four doses of GM3/VSSP vaccine (120 microg of ganglioside) plus Freund's adjuvant or Montanide ISA 51 significantly increased the overall survival of mice inoculated in the subcutis with 103 B16-F1 cells, whereas the GM3/VLDL immunogen was ineffective. The non-transient character of tumour protection was confirmed in animals surviving the first challenge and re-inoculated with 5 x 103 cells. GM3/VSSP vaccine also reduced the subcutaneous growth of highly aggressive B16-F10 cells. The importance of ganglioside structure in the tumour-protective effect of GM3/VSSP vaccine was confirmed using GM3 containing N-glycolylneuraminic acid, a ganglioside absent in melanoma cells. Immunostaining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) experiments showed a high specificity of immune sera against GM3 and the presence of all four IgG subclasses, with a preponderance of IgG2b and IgG3. In addition, a strong anti-B16 complement-mediated cytotoxicity was induced by vaccination with GM3/VSSP. The present data indicate the molecular specificity of GM3/VSSP vaccine as well as the adjuvant-dependent and non-transient character of tumour protection in the B16 mouse model. These findings suggest that an appropriate GM3 vaccine may be capable of inducing prolonged tumour protection in melanoma patients.

A mouse IgG1 monoclonal antibody specific for N-glycolyl GM3 ganglioside recognized breast and melanoma tumors

14F7 murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) is an IgG1 immunoglobulin that is generated by immunizing Balb/c mice with GM3(NeuGc) ganglioside hydrophobically conjugated with human very-low-density lipoproteins and in the presence of Freund's adjuvants. 14F7 MAb binds specifically to GM3(NeuGc), whereas neither N-glycolyl or N-acetyl gangliosides, nor a sulfated glycolipid, are recognized as assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay or immunostaining on thin layer chromatograms. Immunohistochemical studies in fresh tumor tissues showed that 14F7 MAb strongly recognized in antigen expressed in human breast and melanoma tumors.

[Spinal cord infarctions as a complication of coronary angiography]

INTRODUCTION

Spinal cord infarction is the commonest vascular disorder of the spinal cord, but its incidence is low and difficulty in diagnosis means that often it is not recognized. Although cases of spinal cord infarction have been reported as complicating angiographic procedures, it rarely occurs nowadays.

CLINICAL CASE

We describe a case of spinal cord infarction following coronariography. The patient was a 61 year-old man with ischemic cardiopathy who was admitted to our hospital for coronariographic study. Immediately after the study had been done, the patient complained of acute, intense lumbar pain with paraesthesia and progressive weakness of his legs, developing paraparesia and sphincter disorders. Magnetic resonance of the spine was done and in the spinal cord an oval lesion was seen in the medullar cone which was compatible with infarction. Six months later this finding was unchanged.

CONCLUSION

A spinal infarction as a complication of invasive vascular studies, such as angiographies, is exceptional nowadays, but should be remembered as a possible adverse effect. It may be suspected in cases of acute lumbar pain with motor and sensory defects of the legs and may be confirmed on magnetic resonance studies of the spinal cord.

Enhancement of the immune response to poorly immunogenic gangliosides after incorporation into very small size proteoliposomes (VSSP)

Certain gangliosides are tumor-associated antigens that constitute potential targets for cancer immunotherapy. A major drawback in the design of ganglioside-based cancer vaccines, however, is the poor immunogenicity of these glycolipids. Here we report the immunological and physicochemical properties of very small size proteoliposomes (VSSP) obtained by using anionic detergents to incorporate gangliosides into the outer membrane protein complex (OMPC) of N. meningitidis. VSSP of three different gangliosides, GM3, NGcGM3 and GD3, were tested. These gangliosides differ in level of expression in normal tissues and in immunogenicity in different animal species. We show that the immunization with VSSP in an oil adjuvant consistently induced both IgM and IgG anti-ganglioside antibodies. In the mouse, the anti-ganglioside IgG fraction was not restricted to the typical T-independent isotype IgG3. Unexpectedly, significant levels of the T-dependent IgG1, IgG2a and particularly IgG2b were also found. VSSP-mediated enhancement of the immunogenicity was not restricted to the relatively immunogenic ganglioside GD3, satisfactory immune responses against highly tolerated GM3 and NGcGM3 were also obtained. Similar results were achieved in chickens and monkeys. No reactogenicity was observed even when self-gangliosides were used for immunization. VSSP overcame natural tolerance to gangliosides in an adjuvant dependent fashion.

Interferon-gamma receptor extracellular domain-IgG fusion protein produced in Chinese hamster ovary cells as mixture of glycoforms

Glycosylation of proteins fulfills important functions and because of its diversity contributes to apparent protein heterogeneity. We investigated the heterogeneity of a fusion protein comprising the extracellular domain of the human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) receptor and parts of the human IgG3 constant region, a potential IFN-gamma antagonist. The protein was produced in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and was secreted into the culture medium as an 175 kD glycoprotein. Glycosylation represented approximately one-third of the apparent molecular mass of the fusion protein, consisted of N- and O-linked carbohydrate moieties, and included sialic acid residues as part of both N- and O-linked oligosaccharides. Fusion protein forms with different apparent molecular masses and charges were separated by ion-exchange chromatography. Preparative electrofocusing revealed a wide spectrum of glycoforms. Glycosylation of the fusion protein and of soluble IFN-gamma receptors, comprising the extracellular domain of the native sequence, expressed in insect and CHO cells did not interfere with affinity of ligand binding.

Interferon gamma receptor extracellular domain expressed as IgG fusion protein in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Purification, biochemical characterization, and stoichiometry of binding

Agents that antagonize the functions of interferon gamma (IFN gamma) are potential pharmaceuticals against several immunological and inflammatory disorders. IFN gamma receptor-immunoglobulin G fusion proteins (IFN gamma R-IgG) function as antagonists of endogenous IFN gamma and have longer half-lives in vivo in comparison with soluble IFN gamma receptors (sIFN gamma R), consisting of the extracellular region of the native sequence. A fusion protein comprising the extracellular domain of the human IFN gamma receptor and the hinge, CH2 and CH3 domains of the human IgG3 constant region, was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. The IFN gamma R-IgG3 fusion protein was secreted into the culture medium as a 175-kDa glycoprotein and was purified over Protein G-Sepharose, DEAE-Sepharose, and size exclusion chromatography. IFN gamma R-IgG3 bound IFN gamma in solid phase assays and ligand blots, competed for the binding of radiolabeled IFN gamma to the cell surface receptor of Raji cells, and inhibited the IFN gamma-mediated antiviral activity with an efficiency at least one order of magnitude higher than that of the soluble receptor produced in the same expression system. Two IFN gamma R-IgG3 fusion proteins bound two IFN gamma dimers forming a complex of approximately 380 kDa. In immunodiffusion assays, the IFN gamma R-IgG3 fusion protein did not precipitate IFN gamma. Dissociation of bound IFN gamma from IFN gamma R-IgG3 was 2-fold slower than from the sIFN gamma R produced in insect cells.

Leishmania donovani: in vitro culture and [1H] NMR characterization of amastigote-like forms

When Leishmania donovani promastigote forms, were cultured in TC-199 medium at 28 degrees C and subsequently incubated at 38 degrees C, they turned into aflagellate (amastigote-like) forms. A return of the incubation-culture temperature to 28 degrees C these amastigote-like forms to revert to promastigotes. The amastigotes obtained by heat-shock, were viable and retained antigenic capacity being recognized by the sera of naturally infected patients. These forms, remained also capable of multiplying inside the J-774A.1 macrophages. When the amastigote-like forms are kept in culture at 38 degrees C retained their rounded appearance and their biological characteristics for more than 3 months subculturing every 6 days. These amastigote-like forms, when used for subcultures at 28 degrees C, transformed into promastigotes capable of multiplying as flagellate forms. The amastigote-like forms obtained in vitro can be used in biochemical studies related to chemotherapy and immunology studies, as part of an effort to combat this parasite. The end-products of of glycolysis were studied in both the amastigote-like and promastigote forms of L. donovani, by proton magnetic resonance analysis of the culture media. Alanine, succinate, and acetate, were predominant, and to a lesser extent pyruvate, glycine and D-lactate. Our results suggest that both forms of Leishmania use different biochemical strategies to obtain their energy.