Operational experiences with the carbon adsorption plant at Church Wilne

The Church Wilne Works now has a carbon treatment facility that allows water from a problematic source to be supplied to part of the City of Nottingham. The difficulties with odour from warm water have been overcome and the originally unsuspected problem of trace organic contamination has been satisfactorily resolved. The Works has its own self-contained carbon regeneration facility, which is covered in a separate paper at this conference.     

Prediction of multicomponent adsorption behavior in activated carbon adsorbers: kinetic aspects

Although the concentrations of solutes are very low in water treatment, it cannot be expected that the film-diffusion model predicts breakthrough behavior satisfactorily, for the following reasons: most of the solutes have less favorable isotherms than p-nitrophenol or p-chlorophenol; many solutes are much larger molecules and hence have a much higher internal diffusion resistance than p-nitrophenol or p-chlorophenol; and displacement effects cause a much higher internal resistance than expected from single-solute data. Therefore, internal diffusion resistance has to be incorporated into the film-homogeneous diffusion model. All parameters needed in this model can be obtained from batch reactor tests. Multi-solute systems may be regarded as a single-solute system or a bi-solute system, respectively, if all solutes except one or two are present in very different concentrations; and/or have a comparatively small affinity to activated carbon; and/or have a comparatively small internal diffusion coefficient.     

多壁碳纳米管与活性炭吸附中分子毒素的比较

近年出现的多壁碳纳米管(MWCTs),因其有多空隙结构,高比表面积,高比表面能,高反应活性等决定其优异的吸附性能,非常有利于中分子毒物的吸附。本文的目的是研究MWCTs对中分子物质的吸附能力。我们选取维生素B12(VB12)作为中分子毒素的模拟物,分别利用扫描电子显微镜(SEM)和透射电子显微镜(TEM)观察MWCTs和商业用炭肾中活性炭的微观形貌,用紫外可见吸收光谱对比二者对VB12的吸附性能。实验中观察到MWCTs能形成发达的空隙结构,孔径多在中孔范围内。与活性炭相比,MWCTs的中孔孔隙结构远比活性炭发达,具有比活性炭更大的比表面积。通过Langmuir方程和Freundlich方程的拟合分析,VB12在MWCTs上的吸附为多分子层吸附,而在活性炭上的吸附类型更倾向于Langmuir模型对应的单分子层的吸附。MWCTs较活性碳有更快的吸附速率、更大的吸附量,可望成为新型的灌流器吸附剂。     

Patients' satisfaction with information and experiences with counseling on cardiovascular medication received at the pharmacy

Objective

To assess the extent to which patients feel they have received enough information on cardiovascular drugs and experienced counseling at the pharmacy. In addition, to identify factors that are predictors for patient satisfaction with the information received.

Methods

Fifteen community pharmacies participated. New and chronic users of cardiovascular medication received a questionnaire containing sociodemographic and health questions, a measure of satisfaction with information received (SIMS), beliefs about medication (BMQ), and frequency of pharmacy counseling.

Results

Of the 578 respondents, 335 (58%) indicated to be unsatisfied with the information received on 3 or more SIMS items. Patients’ age, beliefs about medication, duration of cardiovascular treatment and use of antithrombotics predicted patients’ satisfaction with information received. Two-thirds of patients reported ‘never’ to have experienced 5 of 8 counseling activities at the pharmacy.

Conclusions

A considerable proportion of patients are unsatisfied with the information received on cardiovascular medication. The majority of patients have only received a limited scope of medication counseling at the pharmacy.

Practice implications

Information and counseling should be tailored to patients’ needs and concerns about cardiovascular medication and the experience patients already have with treatment. Pharmacists could enhance their role in supporting patients using cardiovascular medication.     

Loss of carbon dioxide sensitivity by the respiratory system in cats with activated brain GABAergic structures

Activation of GABAergic system by the agonist sodium oxybutyrate (200 mg/kg body weight) or phenibut (100 mg/kg) results in drastic reduction or complete loss of sensitivity to carbon dioxide by the central regulator of respiration. It is concluded that respiration in this case is regulated by oxygen but not by carbon dioxide. Translated fromByulleten’ Eksperimental’noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 123, No. 4, pp. 385–390, April, 1997     

Comprehensive health promotion interventions at the workplace: experiences with health circles in Germany

Health circles, the central element of a comprehensive health promotion approach that has been developed in Germany in recent years, emphasize organizational and psychosocial factors while actively involving employees in the process. Through an extensive review the authors identified 11 studies, presenting the results of 81 health circles. The scientific quality of the data is limited: only 3 studies used (nonrandomized) control groups, whereas the remaining studies are based on retrospective before-and-after comparison. Nonetheless, the available data suggest that health circles are an effective tool for the improvement of physical and psychosocial working conditions and have a favorable effect on workers' health, well-being, and sickness absence. More rigorous studies are needed to confirm these results.     

Factors associated with experiences of genetic discrimination among individuals at risk for huntington disease

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that are associated with experiencing genetic discrimination (GD) among individuals at risk for Huntington disease (HD). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to examine factors associated with experiencing GD in data from a cross‐sectional, self‐report survey of 293 individuals at risk for HD. The study sample comprised 167 genetically tested respondents, and 66 who were not tested (80% response rate). Overall, individuals who learn they are at risk for HD at a younger age (OR = 3.1; 95% CI: 1.5–6.2; P = 0.002), are mutation‐positive (OR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.4–6.0; P = 0.006), or are highly educated (OR = 2.7; 95% CI: 1.4–5.1; P = 0.002) are more likely to experience GD, particularly in insurance, family, and social settings. Further, younger age was associated with discrimination in insurance (OR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.94–1.00; P = 0.038). This study provides evidence that some people who are at risk for HD were more likely to experience GD than others. Individuals who learned they are at risk for HD at a younger age and those who are mutation‐positive were more likely to experience GD, particularly in insurance, family, and social settings. Younger individuals were more likely to experience discrimination in the insurance setting. Overall, highly educated individuals were also more likely to report discrimination. These results provide direction for clinical and family discussions, counseling practice, and policy aimed at mitigating experiences of GD. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Lung cancer screening with low-dose helical CT in Korea: experiences at the Samsung Medical Center

To determine overall detection rates of lung cancer by low-dose CT (LDCT) screening and to compare histopathologic and imaging differences of detected cancers between high- and low-risk groups, this study included 6,406 asymptomatic Korean adults with >or=45 yr of age who underwent LDCT for lung cancer screening. All were classified into high- (>or=20 pack-year smoking; 3,353) and low-risk (3,053; <20 pack-yr smoking and non-smokers) groups. We compared CT findings of detected cancers and detection rates between high- and low-risk. At initial CT, 35% (2,255 of 6,406) had at least one or more non-calcified nodule. Lung cancer detection rates were 0.36% (23 of 6,406). Twenty-one non-small cell lung cancers appeared as solid (n=14) or ground-glass opacity (GGO) (n=7) nodules. Cancer likelihood was higher in GGO nodules than in solid nodules (p<0.01). Fifteen of 23 cancers occurred in high-risk group and 8 in low-risk group (p=0.215). Therefore, LDCT screening help detect early stage of lung cancer in asymptomatic Korean population with detection rate of 0.36% on a population basis and may be useful for discovering early lung cancer in low-risk group as well as in high-risk group.     

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia with severe craniofacial involvement shows homozygosity at 6q21-22.1 locus

Craniotubular dysplasias (CTD) are a heterogeneous group of genetic disorders of skeletal development, whose clinical and etiological classification is still much debated. One of the most common form is the autosomal dominant craniometaphyseal dysplasia (CMD) which is associated with mutation in the ANKH gene. In the literature a few families are reported with CMD phenotype that suggest an autosomal recessive (AR) pattern of inheritance. A candidate locus at 6q21-22 has been mapped in a large inbred Brazilian family, but the gene of the recessive form is still unknown. Our data on a female patient with CMD phenotype, born from healthy first degree cousins and displaying homozygosity for polymorphic markers at the 6q21-22 locus, further support the existence of an AR CMD, expanding its clinical spectrum to a more severe phenotype.     

The thymus of mice at different periods after irradiation with fast carbon ions

Irradiation of mice with energy-fast carbon ions 4.0 in dose impairs histological structure of thymus on the first day after the challenge. Non differentiated cell forms (blasts and large lymphocytes) and middle lymphocytes were most sensitive to the irradiation. As a result mitotic activity decrease was noted. Reparative process in thymus begins on d 22 after irradiation with carbon ions when stem cells obviously accumulate. At the same time mitotic activity intensifies. Although at distant terms T cells differentiation and formation are inhibited which is reflected in significantly reduced number small lymphocytes in thymus cortex and medulla on d 60 of postirradiation period as compared to that in control.     

Sperm with damaged membranes are profoundly at risk to have caspases 8, 9 and 3 activated

PROBLEM:  It is almost dogma that IL-2 is not expressed at the M–F interface during normal pregnancy. However, recent results by ours and others clearly showed that IL-15-Th1 type cytokine which shares many similarities with IL-2 is expressed at the interface. IL-15 can affect cytolytic activity of maternal decidual lymphocytes which heavily infiltrate maternal decidua during the first trimester pregnancy. These cells are in a direct contact with trophoblastic cells. IL-18 is a recently discovered Th1 type cytokine with many interesting functions. The aim is to examine IL-18 distribution at the interface and its potential in up-regulating peripheral blood (PB) and decidual lymphocytes (DL) cytotoxicity. Th1 activated lymphocytes are LAK cells and they can kill by both Perforin and Fas pathways in non MHC restricted manner.
METHODS:  PBL and DL were obtained from elective pregnancy termination of pregnancy. IL-18 and IL-18R expression was detected by flow cytometry and immunohistology and cytolytic potential by cytotoxicity against K-562 (NK sensitive) and P815 (NK resistant) cell lines.
RESULTS:  IL-18 positive cells were found in the suspension of Decidual adherent cells and IL-18 R expressions at the trophoblastic cells of villi. Both IL-15 and IL-18 are increasing cytolytic potential of PBL and DL against NK sensitive cell line. Decidual lymphocytes are activated cells with the potential of killing NK resistant but LAK sensitive lines and this is mediated by both perforin and Fas pathways.
CONCLUSIONS:  Physiological and pathophysio- logical role(s) of cytolytic pathways and Th1 cytokines (IL-15 and IL-18) at the interface will be discussed.     

A sequence variant on 17q21 is associated with age at onset and severity of asthma

A sequence variant (rs7216389-T) near the ORMDL3 gene on chromosome 17q21 was recently found to be associated with childhood asthma. We sought to evaluate the effect of rs7216389-T on asthma subphenotypes and its correlation with expression levels of neighboring genes. The association of rs7216389-T with asthma was replicated in six European and one Asian study cohort (N=4917 cases N=34 589 controls). In addition, we found that the association of rs7216389-T was confined to cases with early onset of asthma, particularly in early childhood (age: 0–5 years OR=1.51, P=6.89·10⁻⁹) and adolescence (age: 14–17 years OR=1.71, P=5.47·10⁻⁹). A weaker association was observed for onset between 6 and 13 years of age (OR=1.17, P=0.035), but none for adult-onset asthma (OR=1.07, P=0.12). Cases were further stratified by sex, asthma severity and atopy status. An association with greater asthma severity was observed among early-onset asthma cases (P=0.0012), but no association with sex or atopy status was observed among the asthma cases. An association between sequence variants and the expression of genes in the 17q21 region was assessed in white blood cell RNA samples collected from Icelandic individuals (n=743). rs7216389 associated with the expression of GSDMB and ORMDL3 genes. However, other sequence variants showing a weaker association with asthma compared with that of rs7216389 were more strongly associated with the expression of both genes. Thus, the contribution of rs7216389-T to the development of asthma is unlikely to operate only through an impact on the expression of ORMDL3 or GSDMB genes.     

Cathepsin K gene mutations and 1q21 haplotypes in at patients with pycnodysostosis in an outbred population

The molecular genetics of the autosomal recessive disorder pycnodysostosis was studied in five independent families from an outbred Caucasian population. We found two new mutations and one recently described mutation in the cathepsin K gene by sequencing DNA from eight patients with pycnodysostosis: a one base transition in exon8, c926T > C, causing a single amino acid substitution leucine-->proline, L309P; A 3' splice site mutation in intron 2, c121-1G > A, causing deletion of all exon 3, 41V-81Mdel; and the exon 3 missense mutation c236G > A leading to residue G79E. In three of the families patients were homozygous for 926T > C. In the remaining two families patients were heterozygous for 926T > C and 121-1G > A in one case, and for 926T > C and 236G > A in the other case. Assays using genomic DNA were developed for all three mutations. We tested 150 healthy control persons and observed the mutation frequencies: 0 to 300 for 121-1G > A and 236G > A and 1 to 150 for 926T > C. One patient from each family was haplotyped with eight microsatellite markers surrounding the cathepsin K gene on chromosome 1q21. A very rare, P = 1.8 x 10(-6) to P = 0.0004, and highly preserved area around the presumed disease locus was common to all the patients. This haplotype was found on seven chromosomes identical by state, IBS, out of the possible eight carrying the 926T > C mutation. Founder effect, locus homogeneity, and allele heterogeneity regarding pycnodysostosis within this population are discussed. Finally, the first pregnancy and delivery described in a patient with pycnodysostosis is reported.     

Linkage analysis in Spanish families with nonspecific X-linked mental retardation: Significant linkage at Xq13-q21

Mental retardation (MR) is a genetically heterogeneous, clinically variable condition. Many cases of MR are linked to the X chromosome. The aim of this study was to identify candidate loci for nonspecific MR in Spanish samples. We selected seven families with nonspecific MR and a pattern of inheritance compatible with an X-linked disorder and a group of 26 sib pairs of mentally retarded individuals. We performed linkage analysis with a panel of 15 markers evenly distributed along the X chromosome. The study showed linkage to marker DXS8076, located in Xq21.1, by the lod score method (z = 2.11 at straight theta = 0.155) and the nonparametric extended relative pair analysis method (chi(2) = 5.32; P < 0.03). Genetic heterogeneity was found, with an estimated 75% of the families linked at recombination fraction straight theta = 0.10 to the DXS8076 locus (chi(2) = 9.51; P < 0.009). Xq13-q21 is one of the critical regions for X-linked MR previously reported, and our study supports the idea that this region may contain a locus for MR in Spanish patients.