Algal biofuels from urban wastewaters: maximizing biomass yield using nutrients recycled from hydrothermal processing of biomass

Recent studies have proposed algal cultivation in urban wastewaters for the dual purpose of waste treatment and bioenergy production from the resulting biomass. This study proposes an enhancement to this approach that integrates cultivation of an acidophilic strain, Galdieria sulphuraria 5587.1, in a closed photobioreactor (PBR); hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) of the wet algal biomass; and recirculation of the nutrient-rich aqueous product (AP) of HTL to the PBR to achieve higher biomass productivity than that could be achieved with raw wastewater. The premise is that recycling nutrients in the AP can maintain optimal C, N and P levels in the PBR to maximize biomass growth to increase energy returns. Growth studies on the test species validated growth on AP derived from HTL at temperatures from 180 to 300°C. Doubling N and P concentrations over normal levels in wastewater resulted in biomass productivity gains of 20-25% while N and P removal rates also doubled.

Reproductive outcome of a case with familial balanced translocation t(3;6): implications for genetic counseling

Although it is known that parental carriers of structural chromosomal rearrangements are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss, subsequent natural pregnancies remain possible. We examined the reproductive outcome of a familial balanced translocation with t(3;6)(q12;q27). Karyotyping of the proband revealed 46,XY chromosomes with the balanced translocation t(3;6). The first 2 pregnancies resulted in spontaneous abortions. Based on the proband karyotype, his father and half-brother were subjected to cytogenetic analysis, and both showed 46,XY, t(3;6)(q12;q27). After genetic counseling, the proband chose to continue the pregnancy. During the third pregnancy, the subject gave birth to a normal male infant. For parental carriers with balanced chromosomal translocations, natural pregnancy should be considered during genetic counseling.

In vitro antifungal susceptibility of Trichophyton violaceum isolated from tinea capitis patients

OBJECTIVES

Trichophyton violaceum is an anthropophilic dermatophyte that is endemic to parts of Africa and Asia and is sporadic in Europe. T. violaceum mainly causes tinea capitis in both children and adolescents. Although the infections caused by T. violaceum are of considerable medical importance, its antifungal susceptibility profile remains poorly examined.

METHODS

In this study, we tested the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of a set of clinical T. violaceum isolates obtained from tinea capitis patients, using the CLSI broth microdilution method. We tested eight antifungals and used isolates collected from Western China (21), Eastern China (12), the Middle East (1), Europe (20), South Africa (7) and Canada (1).

RESULTS

The geometric means of the MICs of the antifungals for all isolates were as follows (in increasing order): posaconazole, 0.021 mg/L; terbinafine, 0.023 mg/L; voriconazole, 0.062 mg/L; amphotericin B, 0.20 mg/L; itraconazole, 0.34 mg/L; caspofungin, 0.56 mg/L; fluconazole, 4.23 mg/L; and flucytosine, 8.46 mg/L. No statistically significant differences in the susceptibility profiles of T. violaceum were detected within the geographical regions tested.

CONCLUSIONS

Posaconazole, terbinafine and voriconazole were shown to be the most potent antifungal agents against T. violaceum isolates obtained from tinea capitis patients worldwide. These results might help clinicians in developing appropriate therapies that have a high probability of successfully treating tinea capitis due to T. violaceum.

Adipogenic differentiation potential of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from ovariectomized mice

OBJECTIVES

In human post-menopausal osteoporosis, enhanced adipogenesis in bone marrow and enhanced formation of adipose tissue in vivo are observed. These changes correlate with reduced trabecular bone volume and increased adipocyte cell size as well as cell number. However, cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying osteoporosis-related changes in adipocyte cell volume are not known. This study was designed to compare adipogenic potential of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) obtained from ovariectomized mice with that of control ADSCs, and to analyse pathological mechanisms from the point of functional changes of ADSCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Healthy female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into ovariectomy and sham-surgery groups. Mouse ADSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro up to passage 3. After adipogenic induction, oil red O staining of lipid droplets was used to detect adipogenic ability of ADSCs; real-time PCR and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect expression of adipogenesis-related genes and proteins.

RESULTS

As indicated by increased expression of adipogenic and lipogenic genes and proteins, and lipid droplets accumulation shown by oil red-O staining, adipogenic differentiation of ADSCs was significantly enhanced in the ovariectomy group compared to the sham-surgery group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that enhanced adipogenic differentiation of ADSCs is likely to be the important cause for increased adipogenesis in vivo and subsequent obesity-like changes in body mass, in mice, after ovariectomy.

Electrospun P34HB fibres: a scaffold for tissue engineering

OBJECTIVES

Amongst the fourth generation of PHAs is bio-plasticpoly3-hydroxybutyrate4-hydroxybutyrate (P34HB); it is thus appropriate to perform novel research on its uses and applications. The main objective of this study was to determine whether electrospun P34HB fibres would accommodate viability, growth and differentiation of mouse adipose-derived stem cells (mASCs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, we looked at P34HB in two forms, electrospun P34HB fibres and P34HB film. Morphology of electrospun P34HB fibres and P34HB film were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, after cell seeding. Cell adhesion, proliferation and cytotoxicity tests were conducted on both by MTT and CCK-8 assays, respectively. After being cultured with osteogenic induction, expression of adipogenic genes Runx2, OPN and OCN, were examined by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

By scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we observed that the mASCs grew well associated with the P34HB materials. After MTT and CCK-8 assay, we concluded that P34HB would, indeed, be a material suitable for further cell adhesion and proliferation studies. More importantly, we found that the P34HB matrices promoted expression of Runx2, OPN and OCN with osteogenic induction.

CONCLUSIONS

In this investigation, we can confirm that the electrospun P34HB fibres accommodated survival, proliferation and differentiation of mASCs, and we have been able to draw the conclusion that fibre scaffolds produced by the electrospinning process are promising for application of bone tissue engineering.

The impact of the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) fasting glucose diagnostic criterion on the prevalence and outcomes of gestational diabetes mellitus in Han Chinese women

AIMS

The International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) proposed that a one-time value of fasting plasma glucose of 5.1 mmol/l or over at any time of the pregnancy is sufficient to diagnose gestational diabetes. We evaluated the repercussions of the application of this threshold in pregnant Han Chinese women.

METHODS

This is a retrospective study of 5360 (72.3% of total) consecutively recruited pregnant Han Chinese women in one centre from 2008 to 2011. These women underwent a two-step gestational diabetes diagnostic protocol according to the previous American Diabetes Association criteria. The IADPSG fasting plasma glucose criterion was used to reclassify these 5360 women. The prevalence, clinical characteristics and obstetric outcomes were compared among the women classified as having gestational diabetes by the previous American Diabetes Association criteria (approximately 90% were treated), those reclassified as having gestational diabetes by the single IADPSG fasting plasma glucose criterion (untreated), but not as having gestational diabetes by the previous American Diabetes Association criteria, and those with normal glucose tolerance.

RESULTS

There were 626 cases of gestational diabetes defined by the previous American Diabetes Association criteria (11.7%) and these cases were associated with increased risks of maternal and neonatal outcomes when compared with the women with normal glucose tolerance. With the IADPSG fasting plasma glucose criterion, another 1314 (24.5%) women were reclassified as having gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes classified by the IADPSG fasting plasma glucose criterion was associated with gestational hypertension (P = 0.0094) and neonatal admission to nursery (P = 0.035) prior to adjustment for maternal age and BMI, but was no longer a predictor for adverse pregnancy outcomes after adjustment.

CONCLUSION

The simple IADPSG fasting plasma glucose criterion increased the Chinese population with gestational diabetes by 200%. The increased population with gestational diabetes was not significantly associated with excess obstetric and neonatal morbidity.

A peptide-free, liposome-based oligosaccharide vaccine, adjuvanted with a natural killer T cell antigen, generates robust antibody responses in vivo

Due to the prevalence of oligo- and polysaccharides on the surfaces of pathogenic organisms, carbohydrates are primary targets for recognition by antibodies generated by the immune systems of higher organisms. Consequently, substantial effort has been expended in efforts to develop vaccines based on carbohydrate epitopes. Typical approaches involve multivalent presentation of carbohydrate targets on antigenic peptides or proteins, which often involve substantial synthetic commitments and/or vaccines that are heterogeneous and difficult to characterize. We have developed a simple, liposome-based approach to generate multivalent carbohydrate vaccines, and in place of an antigenic peptide or protein, we have used a potent antigen for natural killer T cells. This vaccine, based on the Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 14 polysaccharide, gave a response superior to that from a clinically used vaccine (Prevnar). The dependence of this response on liposome formation was demonstrated by comparison to a simple mixture of the oligosaccharide and the natural killer T cell adjuvant. The importance of the strength of the adjuvant was observed by use of a potent synthetic adjuvant and a weaker, bacterial derived glycolipid adjuvant. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of this novel and relatively simple means of generating carbohydrate-based vaccines.

Air-based photoelectrochemical cell capturing water molecules from ambient air for hydrogen production

A system is demonstrated that autonomously produces hydrogen gas using sunlight and outside air as the only inputs.

Transplant tolerance to pancreatic islets is initiated in the graft and sustained in the spleen

The immune system is comprised of several CD4(+) T regulatory (Treg) cell types, of which two, the Foxp3(+) Treg and T regulatory type 1 (Tr1) cells, have frequently been associated with transplant tolerance. However, whether and how these two Treg-cell types synergize to promote allograft tolerance remains unknown. We previously developed a mouse model of allogeneic transplantation in which a specific immunomodulatory treatment leads to transplant tolerance through both Foxp3(+) Treg and Tr1 cells. Here, we show that Foxp3(+) Treg cells exert their regulatory function within the allograft and initiate engraftment locally and in a non-antigen (Ag) specific manner. Whereas CD4(+) CD25(-) T cells, which contain Tr1 cells, act from the spleen and are key to the maintenance of long-term tolerance. Importantly, the role of Foxp3(+) Treg and Tr1 cells is not redundant once they are simultaneously expanded/induced in the same host. Moreover, our data show that long-term tolerance induced by Foxp3(+) Treg-cell transfer is sustained by splenic Tr1 cells and functionally moves from the allograft to the spleen.

Kidney transplantation from donors after brain or cardiac death in China--a clinical analysis of 94 cases

BACKGROUND

We analyzed outcomes of kidney transplantation (KTx) from donation after brain death (DBD) or cardiac death (DCD) in China under the current level of the health care system.

METHODS

Among 94 KTx performed from February 2007 to March 2012 in two organ transplant centers in the south of China, 50 KTx were used DBD and 44 DCD donors. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

At a mean follow-up of 25.5 months, the 1-year and 2-year graft survival rates were 96.8% and 95.2% respectively. Delayed graft function (DGF) occurred in 27.7% recipients, three of whom lost graft function. Among six observed acute rejection episodes, five were reversed. When compared to the DCD group in DBD patients were apt to recover from DGF. Serum creatinine decreased more promptly in the DBD than in DCD group. Serum creatinine in the DCD group increased after months 12, when it was significantly higher than that in the DBD group (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Kidney transplantation from DBD donors showed good outcomes with few complications. Although KTx from DCD donors showed a higher DGF rate and longer duration of graft recovery, we achieved favorable short-term clinical outcome using this source.

Influence of the human MIF promoter polymorphism on hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common worldwide malignancies. A relative complete diagnosis system for primary carcinoma of liver has already been established, but the surgical prognosis for HCC, which depends mainly on postoperative pathological classification and data of recurrence and metastasis, lacks valid experimental indicators. Macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) is related to many cancers; hence, the polymorphism of MIF genes may be associated with the surgical prognosis of HCC. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of MIF gene promoter 794CATT (MIF-794CATT) microsatellite repeats and HCC surgical prognosis and evaluate the contribution of polymorphism to the prognosis of hepatectomy. Sequencing was used to identify the MIF-794CATT of 241 patients who had been submitted to HCC surgery. These patients were classified into 2 groups: one with MIF-794CATT high-repetitive-sequence genotypes (7/x+8/x) and one with low-repetitive-sequence genotypes (5/5+5/6+6/6). Five indictors were analyzed: average survival times were compared using the t-test, and tumor-node-metastasis staging, recurrence and metastasis, differentiation grade, and survival rate were compared using the chi-square test. The (7/x+8/x) CATT group had 139 patients and the (5/5+5/6+6/6) CATT group had 102. Significant differences were found in the 5 factors (P = 0.000, 0.008, 0.002, 0.000, and 0.003, respectively). Patients with MIF-794CATT5-8 low-repetitive-sequence genotypes had better prognosis than those with high-repetitive-sequence genotypes. The polymorphism detection of MIF-794CATT microsatellite repeats is valuable for HCC surgical prognosis.

Analysis of human biologics with a mouse skin transplant model in humanized mice

Preclinical testing of human therapeutic monoclonal antibodies has been limited in murine models due to species differences in pharmacokinetics and biologic responses. To overcome these constraints we developed a murine skin transplant model in humanized mice and used it to test human monoclonal antibody therapy. Neonatal NOD/SCID/IL2Rγc(null) mice (NSG) were reconstituted with human CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells (hNSG). When adult, these mice rejected MHC mismatched murine C57BL/6J skin grafts. Rejection required adequate reconstitution with human cells. There was diffuse infiltration of the epidermis and dermis with hCD8 and hCD4 cells in rejected grafts by immunohistochemistry. Studies with B6/MHC class I and II knockout mice donors indicated that neither is required for rejection. Graft rejection was associated with the development of effector and central memory T cells and an increase in serum immunoglobulins. We also tested the effects of teplizumab (anti-CD3 mAb) and found it could delay skin graft rejection, whereas ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4 [cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4] mAb) treatment accelerated rejection. These findings demonstrate that hNSG mice reliably and predictably reject a xenogenic mouse skin graft by a human T cell mediated mechanism. The model can be utilized to investigate the ability of human immunotherapies to enhance or suppress functional human immune responses.

Kidney transplantation from donation after cardiac death donors in China--a single-center experience

OBJECTIVE

To report clinical outcomes of kidney transplantation from cardiac death donors (DCD) in China, and to investigate its feasibility to expand the organ donor pool.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively studied clinical data of 46 DCD kidneys from 31 donors from February 2007 to August 2011. Recipients were followed for patient and graft survival.

RESULTS

We discarded the organs from 3 of 29 (10.3%) DCD donors and 7 of 42 (16.7%) kidneys that displayed renal thrombosis. Of the 39 recipients engrafted with DCD kidneys successfully, the mean follow-up was 16 months, (range = 50 days to 43 months). Delayed graft function (DGF) occurred in 15 (38.5%) recipients, who except one recovered within 3 months. Three biopsy-proven acute rejection episodes were observed in two recipients (5.1%). All patients survived through the follow-up. The graft survival rate was 97.4% at 12 months and 94.9% at 24 months. A 45-year-old male recipient who received a pair of grafts from a 6-year-old child survived with good renal function.

CONCLUSION

Although kidney transplantations from DCD donors showed a higher rate of DGF with a longer duration of graft recovery, we achieved favorable short-term clinical outcome in terms of graft survival and function. Donation after cardiac death can expand the organ donor pool in China.

α-Fe2O3 nanotubes-reduced graphene oxide composites as synergistic electrochemical capacitor materials

We present a facile approach for the fabrication of a nanocomposite comprising α-Fe(2)O(3) nanotubes (NTs) anchored on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for electrochemical capacitors (ECs). The hollow tubular structure of the α-Fe(2)O(3) NTs presents a high surface area for reaction, while the incorporation of rGO provides an efficient two-dimensional conductive pathway to allow fast, reversible redox reaction. As a result, the nanocomposite materials exhibit a specific capacitance which is remarkably higher (~7 times) than α-Fe(2)O(3) NTs alone. In addition, the nanocomposites show excellent cycling life and large negative potential window. These findings suggest that such nanocomposites are a promising candidate as negative electrodes in asymmetrical capacitors with neutral electrolytes.