A first attempt for using of combined sorption and anaerobic processes for handling source separated human urine.

Processing human urine with clinoptilolite results in a solid phase upon which majority of nutrients are concentrated, which may be used as fertilizer; in addition to a liquid residue to be disposed of which is saline, rich in organics and contains residual nutrients. Despite several work regarding nutrients recovery from human urine, the fate of organic matter in the liquid residue is yet to be revealed. This study aims to investigate the combination of sorption and anaerobic processing (ANA) to accomplish concurrent nutrient recovery, and organic matter removal from hydrolyzed human urine (HHU) for environmental protection. Fixed bed clinoptilolite columns were used for nutrient recovery from HHU and an anaerobic expanded granular sludge bed reactor (AnEGSB) was used for removal of organic matter from residue of the former process. Furthermore, the effluent of AnEGSB was subjected to post treatment using stage-wise sorption to enhance the effluent quality before disposal. Majority of nutrients were removed by the sorption process with 80% of ammonium and almost all of phosphorus. Sorption removed 35% of orgnic matter while ANA was responsible for the rest. Post treatment helped to polish the quality of the AnEGSB effluent to the permissible level of domestic wastewater discharge standards of EU.With the proposed combination, almost 100% of nitrogen and phosphorus were recovered for further use as fertilizer providing benefits for sustainability. Also, 97% of organic matter could be removed from HHU to provide environmental protection, which was accompanied by methane (CH4) production of 0.4 L CH4/day which is equivalent to 0.113 L CH4/g COD removed. Successful implementation of the proposed combination helps improve management of domestic wastewater.

The influence of post-fixation on visualising vimentin in the retina using immunofluorescence method.

BACKGROUND: Post-fixation of sections is especially required for cryostat sections of fresh frozen tissues. Vimentin is an intermediate filament in both fibrillary and non-fibrillary form, expressed in Müller's cells and astrocytes of the retina. Our aim was to determine the best post-fixation method for visualising vimentin in archival mouse eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used an archival mouse eye, slightly pre-fixed with paraformaldehyde and stored at -80°C for 4 years. We tried three fixatives (pa-raformaldehyde [PFA], alcohol/acetic acid [AAA] and methanol) for post-fixation of eye sections. RESULTS: We showed that post-fixation alters the labelling properties of vimentin expressed in the retina. In the sections with no post-fixation, vimentin positivity was observed in and around the nuclei in non-fibrillary form. In PFA post-fixed sections, the vimentin in the retina was not observed as fibrils. Positivity was observed in the nuclei and in perinuclear regions of the cells. In AAA post-fixed sections, positive labelling was observed around the nuclei as fibrils. In methanol post-fixed sections, labelling was observed around the nuclei as fibrils. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that post-fixation with AAA is more convenient for immunofluorescent labelling of vimentin in the retina for slightly PFA pre-fixed and long-term stored retina. (Folia Morphol 2018; 77, 2: 246-252).

Effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on oxidant and anti-oxidant status of liver and serum in a rat model with acute methanol intoxication.

BACKGROUND: Methanol toxicity is one of the major public health problems because it can cause severe morbidity and mortality. Methanol intoxication causes changes in the balance between the production of free radicals and antioxidant capacity. AIMS: We aimed to investigate the effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on the total oxidant status, total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxidative stress index (OSI) parameters of the liver and the serum in a rat model of acute methanol intoxication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats were treated with intraperitoneal (i.p.) Methotrexate (MTX) for 7 days. On the 8th day, i.p. Methanol was administered in the methanol, ethanol and CAPE groups. Four hours after methanol treatment, ethanol was injected i.p. in the ethanol group; CAPE (i.p.) in the CAPE group; serum physiologic i.p. in other groups. After 8 hours, rats were killed and the serum and the liver samples were obtained for biochemical analyses. RESULTS: The OSI value was significantly higher in the methanol group compared to the ethanol and CAPE groups. Serum TAS levels of the methanol group were significantly different compared to the control group, but not compared to the MTX group. The amelioration of oxidative stress was greater in the CAPE group compared to the ethanol group but was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that CAPE treatment ameliorates oxidative stress in the serum and liver in a rat model of acute methanol intoxication.

Stagewise processing of yellow water using clinoptilolite for nitrogen and phosphorus recovery and higher residual quality.

Source-separated human urine may be used as a source of fertilizers indirectly through processing with clinoptilolite. The suggested form of fertilizer is clinoptilolite loaded with plant nutrients from urine, where nitrogen and phosphorus will be released upon contact with water. Triggered by the need for handling high concentrations remaining in the liquid phase to be disposed of, this paper aims to present the option of improving the residual nutrient quality through stagewise processing with clinoptilolite, while investigating any improvement in nutrient removal. Two sets of experiments, stagewise operation under (i) constant loadings and (ii) variable loadings in each stage, are discussed. Stagewise operation has been observed to be successful for attaining reduced residual liquid phase concentrations as well as improvements in nitrogen recovery as compared to single-stage operation. Comparing constant and variable stagewise loadings, the final concentration is 10 times lower with variable loadings. The latter is comparable to a level found in only 1% of conventional domestic wastewater volume. Stagewise operation was beneficial from the standpoint of both additional nutrient recovery and for residuals control, with more pronounced benefits for attaining higher quality residual liquid phase concentrations to be disposed of.

Nitrogen recovery from source-separated human urine using clinoptilolite and preliminary results of its use as fertilizer.

The use of source separated human urine as fertilizer is one of the major suggestions of the new sanitation concept ECOSAN. Urine is rich in nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium which act as plant nutrients, however its salinity is high for agricultural and landscape purposes. Moreover, characteristics change significantly throughout storage where salinity increases to higher values as the predominant form of nitrogen shifts from urea to ammonium. Transferring nitrogen in human urine onto the natural zeolite clinoptilolite and using the subsequently recovered ammonium from the exhausted clinoptilolite for agricultural/landscape purposes is suggested as an indirect route of using urine in this work. Results reporting the outcome of the proposed process together with characterization of fresh and stored urine, and preliminary work on the application of the product on the landscape plant Ficus elastica are presented. Up to 97% of the ammonium in stored urine could be transferred onto clinoptilolite through ion exchange and about 88% could be recovered subsequently from exhausted clinoptilolite, giving an overall recovery of 86%. Another important merit of the suggested process was the successful elimination of salinity. Preliminary experiments with Ficus elastica had shown that the product, i.e. clinoptilolite exhausted with ammonium, was compatible with the synthetic fertilizer tested.

The effect of initial loading on the removal of ammonium and potassium from source-separated human urine via clinoptilolite.

Collection of wastewater in segregated streams is one of the new concepts in domestic wastewater management. One such stream is yellow water which is mainly human urine. Direct use of this richest fraction in terms of nutrients on plants as fertilizer is one of the recommendations as the final end use. Indirect use of urine as fertilizer may also be exercised after various modes of processing. One of those is processing with clinoptilolite to transfer plant nutrients onto the zeolite and then to recover them subsequently. One of the significant factors in this process is the initial nutrient loading with which clinoptilolite is charged. This paper aims to investigate the transfer of ammonium and potassium from source-separated urine onto clinoptilolite, concentrating upon surface concentrations attained and removal efficiencies under various initial ammonium loadings. The results have indicated that variations in initial loading have no significant effect in terms of removal efficiencies up to 10 mg NH(4) (+)/g clinoptilolite. Highly acceptable efficiencies could be attained up to 15 mg NH(4) (+)/g clinoptilolite after which the efficiency goes down as initial loading is increased. Overall, increased initial loadings result in higher final surface concentrations but decreased removal efficiencies.

Upgrading fertilizer production wastewater effluent quality for ammonium discharges through ion exchange with clinoptilolite.

It had previously been shown that ammonium selective natural zeolite clinoptilolite may be used successfully as an ion exchanger for ammonium removal and nitrogen control from domestic wastewater. The process had been reported to be acceptable either by itself alone or as an upgrade. In this work, the possibility of using clinoptilolite for ammonium removal from fertilizer production wastewater was investigated. The fertilizer plant under consideration was rather a non-typical one with a lower ammonium strength than what is normally expected, and a variable effluent concentration. Batch experiments were performed to assess the capacity of clinoptilolite towards ammonium removal from an industrial wastewater at two different pHs. Flow experiments for the characterization of system behavior under continuous feeding conditions at different contact times were conducted for breakthrough analysis. Both real and simulated fertilizer wastewater samples were investigated and the results have shown that the real one may successfully be represented by the simulated one. Experimental results have shown that surface capacities exceeding 14 mg ammonium g(-1) clinoptilolite could be attained, complete removal of ammonium may be achieved with empty bed contact times of 10 min or higher and ion exchange with clinoptilolite could be used successfully to comply with the effluent standards given for the fertilizer plant.

Clinical characteristics and course of spinal cord involvement in Behçet's disease.

Parenchymal neurological involvement in Behçet's disease (p-NBD) usually presents with a brainstem syndrome; occasionally spinal cord may also be involved. Files of patients with Behçet's disease and spinal cord involvement were reviewed retrospectively, in comparison with other types of p-NBD. Amongst 216 patients with p-NBD, 24 had spinal cord involvement (11%). Most commonly patients presented with sensory-motor symptoms, sphincter and/or sexual dysfunction evolving over days. Four of 10 patients showed single or multiple cervical and/or dorsal lesions on spinal MRI's and one showed dorsal atrophy. Although the clinical picture was variable, it tended to be severe; seven cases had primary progressive course, 11 cases had a secondary progressive course after initial attack(s), four had attacks with severe residual sequela and two had improvement after attacks. After a median follow-up period of 67 months, eight were independent and 14 were dead or dependent, whereas amongst the remaining patients with p-NBD, 113 patients were independent and 56 patients were dead or dependent (P < 0.05). Our study suggests that spinal cord involvement has even worse prognosis compared with other types of p-NBD. Therefore, recognition of spinal cord involvement in Behçet's patients should prompt early vigorous treatment.

Percutaneous placement of central venous catheters: comparing the anatomical landmark method with the radiologically guided technique for central venous catheterization through the internal jugular vein in emergent hemodialysis patients.

PURPOSE: To compare the success and immediate complication rates of the anatomical landmark method (group 1) and the radiologically (combined real-time ultrasound and fluoroscopy) guided technique (group 2) in the placement of central venous catheters in emergent hemodialysis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed prospectively in a randomized manner. The success and immediate complication rates of radiologically guided placement of central venous access catheters through the internal jugular vein (n=40) were compared with those of the anatomical landmark method (n=40). The success of placement, the complications, the number of passes required, and whether a single or double-wall puncture occurred were also noted and compared. RESULTS: The groups were comparable in age and sex. The indication for catheter placement was hemodialysis access in all patients. Catheter placement was successful in all patients in group 2 and unsuccessful in 1 (2.5%) patient in group 1. All catheters functioned adequately and immediately after the placement (0% initial failure rate) in group 2, but 3 catheters (7.5% initial failure rate) were non-functional just after placement in group 1. The total number of needle passes, double venous wall puncture, and complication rate were significantly lower in group 2. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous central venous catheterization via the internal jugular vein can be performed by interventional radiologists with better technical success rates and lower immediate complications. In conclusion, central venous catheterization for emergent dialysis should be performed under both real-time ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance.

Effects of phototherapy on newborn rat testicles.

Phototherapy is the most widespread treatment for lowering bilirubin concentration in neonates. In the routine, phototherapy has some side effects including skin eruption, fluid loss, abdominal distention, mild hemolysis and mild thrombocytopenia. The aim of the study was to investigate the possible mutagenic and gametocidal side effects of 72 h continuous phototherapy on the rat testicle. We observed decreases in spermatogonia numbers per tubule (S/T values), tubular fertilization index (TFI) and sperm sertoli cell index (SSCI), which are the most reliable methods in estimating future fertility potential, due to sensitivity to phototherapy. The differences between study and control groups for S/T, TFI and SSCI values were statistically significant (p = 0.008, p = 0.02 and p = 0.004, respectively). There were significant differences in seminiferous tubule diameters between the control and study groups (p < 0.005), but no significant difference in DNA index values between the control (0.66 +/- 0.12) and study (0.59 +/- 0.05) groups (p > 0.05). As a conclusion, phototherapy seems to have some side effects on the newborn rat testicle. Further studies with larger groups, designed for investigation of the effects of phototherapy on seminiferous tubules, may give more beneficial results.

Ion exchange with natural zeolites: an alternative for water softening?

Possibility of using natural zeolites for water softening was investigated. Quantitative data regarding separation of calcium from water at various levels of hardness through ion exchange with the ammonium selective natural zeolite clinoptilolite is reported. Capacity of the zeolite towards calcium removal in the presence of ammonium at low concentrations and calcium at higher concentrations, and breakthrough characteristics are presented. The results have revealed that removal of calcium, and hence hardness, through ion exchange with clinoptilolite under those circumstances is a promising alternative, with surface capacities reaching 11 mg calcium/g clinoptilolite.

Clinoptilolite: a possible support material for nitrifying biofilms for effective control of ammonium effluent quality?

Ammonium selective natural zeolite clinoptilolite is suggested as a possible support material for nitrifying biofilms to help improve effluent ammonium quality through its high capacity of ammonium removal in the process of ion exchange. This will especially be helpful in cases where the biofilter receives peak or variable loads routinely or occasionally. At the time of peak loads or shocks of ammonium, ion exchange capacity will provide a buffer for the effluent ammonium quality. Data to support this suggestion is presented.

Lhermitte-Duclos disease associated with neurofibromatosis type-1 and non-ossifying fibroma.

Lhermitte-Duclos disease (LDD) is a rare cerebellar disorder of uncertain pathogenesis characterized by enlargement of cerebellar folia. Magnetic resonance imaging is the diagnostic modality of choice and usually distinguishes the LDD by its characteristic "striated or laminated pattern" appearance. Various additional abnormalities have been reported in association with LDD. We report a case of LDD coexisting with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) and non-ossifying fibroma.

Magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging in methylmalonic acidemia.

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is an inborn disorder of amino acid metabolism, often presenting with neurological symptoms. We present the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the brain in a 16-month-old male patient with classic neurological and laboratory findings for MMA. MRI demonstrated the hyperintensity within globi pallidi both on T2-weighted image and DWI during the acute episode of metabolic acidosis.

Scapular manipulation technique for reduction of traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations: experiences of an academic emergency department.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder dislocations account for almost 50% of all joint dislocations, which are most commonly anterior (90-98%) and occur due to trauma. This prospective study was conducted to report our experiences of using the scapular manipulation technique (SMT) to reduce traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations. METHODS: Between March 2002 and March 2003, SMT was applied to 41 patients who presented with traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation to the Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Emergency Medicine, Ankara, Turkey, which is a level 1 trauma centre with an annual attendance of 85,000 patients. The technique was applied to patients in the prone position by a single operator. Where necessary, a procedural sedation/analgesia (PSA) protocol was followed. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 26 (63.4%) male patients aged between 17 and 76 years (SD 15.6). History of recurrent shoulder dislocations at the same site were taken from seven (17.1%) of the patients. Mean (SD) trauma to reduction time was approximately 61.5 (72) minutes (range 10-480). Five patients (12%) had a greater tuberosity fracture. SMT was attempted twice to only four (9.8%) patients by a standard PSA protocol. We experienced a success rate of 90.2% at the first attempt and 100% overall. None of the patients encountered any complication. CONCLUSIONS: We report the successful use of SMT in the prone position for the reduction of traumatic anterior shoulder dislocations, mainly without requirement of any sedatives or opiate analgesics. We believe that SMT may also be applied by inexperienced physicians, as it is simple, applicable, and easily understood. As no single method has a 100% success rate, SMT is a useful one to know.

Pronuclear synchronization and nuclear morphology of mature and in vitro matured oocytes in the rat: an ultrastructural study.

The objective of this study was to evaluate synchronous and asynchronous pronucleus (PN) formation and the related patterns of juxtapositional nucleolus (n) formation in immature (prophase I [PI] and metaphase I [MI]) and mature (metaphase II [MII]) oocytes after fertilization, both ultrastructurally and at the level of light microscope. A single dose of 15 IU gonadotrophin was injected subcutaneously to twenty four 26-wk-old, female Wistar rats to induce ovulation. Human chorionic gonadotrophin (4 IU) was administered 40 h later, and after 4-6 h the ovaries were dissected, and the oocytes were aspirated. A total of 214 rat oocytes were classified according to a maturation index as follows: group I, 80 PI oocytes; group II, 50 MI oocytes; and group III, 84 MII oocytes. Immature oocytes were in vitro matured for 18-36 h. Spermatozoa were acquired by microepididymal sperm aspiration and processed using swim-up technique. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed on mature oocytes after 2 h of incubation and on in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes 4 h after maturation. Pronuclear synchronization [both pronucleases (PNs) centrally located, equal sized, with equal numbers and sizes of juxtapositional nucleoli (Nn)] was observed in fertilized oocytes. Asynchronous PN formation (diversity between male and female PNs, related to dimensions, localization, and the number of Nn) in groups I, II, and III was found in 75, 86, and 47% of preembryos, respectively. There was a significant difference of synchronous pronuclear formation between mature and IVM oocytes (P < 0.05). In IVM oocytes, asynchronous PN formation is high, and juxtapositional pronucleolar patterns are observed to be low by transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Removal of ammonium from human urine through ion exchange with clinoptilolite and its recovery for further reuse.

Ammonium, from separately collected human urine, had been removed through transfer onto the ammonium selective natural zeolite, clinoptilolite, through ion exchange. In the subsequent treatment steps of washing with tap water, ammonium removed from urine was eluted from the surface of the clinoptilolite to be recovered for further reuse. Different quantities of clinoptilolite were used for a survey of the capacity of the zeolite for the process and to identify removal efficiencies based on initial ammonium loads. The highest surface concentration attained under experimental conditions employed was 15.44 mg ammonium per gram of clinoptilolite for an initial concentration of 110 mg ammonia per litre, and the highest removal was 98%, obtained for a loading of 1 mg ammonium per gram clinoptilolite. In the subsequent elution process, better removals were observed as pH was increased and the highest removal was attained at pH 13. The recovery was calculated as 9.73 mg ammonium per gram of clinoptilolite, corresponding to an efficiency of 63% only through washing with tap water. The results have given positive indications for the possibility of using ion exchange with clinoptilolite for the removal of ammonium from human urine and an incentive for improving methods of elution for its recovery for further reuse.

Activated carbon and residual nitrification for higher quality effluents for the coastal areas.

Efforts for the task of modification of a nitrification/denitrification unit operating in a series of two fixed bed columns are outlined. The problem was elevated dissolved oxygen concentrations at the entrance of the denitrification column, resulting in an excessive consumption of methanol. The possibility of using a column of activated carbon for adsorption alone and in which both adsorption and residual nitrification take place was investigated. The results were observed to be very satisfactory in reducing dissolved oxygen levels to practically zero at the entrance of the denitrification unit especially for the case where both adsorption and residual nitrification were employed.

Water quality in drinking water reservoirs of a megacity, istanbul.

Providing clean water at relevant quality and quantity is a challenge that regulatory authorities have to face in metropolitan cities that seem to develop at their limits of sustainability. Istanbul strives to face such a challenge for its population of over 10 million, through six surface water resources. Two approaches of classification for the reservoirs are presented, one based on current regulations and an alternative based on a more detailed classification. The results have shown that nutrient control is the primary issue, and one of the reservoirs has already exceeded the limits of being eutrophic, one is at mesotrophic conditions, and the remaining four are at the limit of being eutrophic, indicating the significance of making the correct decision and taking pertinent measures for management and control. It has been observed that the only mesotrophic resource, which also has the best general quality class, has no industry and a very low population density, whereas the one that is already eutrophic is also the one with the lowest quality class, has the highest population density, and has the greatest percentage of urban land use within its watershed.

Effect and Control of Pollution in Catchment Area of Lake Sapanca, Turkey

/ Land-based point and diffuse pollution sources in the catchment area of Lake Sapanca, Turkey, were investigated. The present and future distribution of pollution loads were evaluated in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus, biochemical oxygen demand, and pesticides. A methodology for the estimation of pollution loads was presented; most of which were based on "unit loads." Presently domestic and industrial point sources dominate over diffuse sources including fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural use, nutrient loads from forests and meadows, urban runoff, and leachates from unregulated dumps of solid wastes. For the future, the aim of the control action is to maintain the sustainability of the water quality of the lake, at least at the second class of European Community standards. Within this framework; urgent/short-term and medium/long-term control actions will be exercised. In the urgent/short-term stage, simpler and natural ways of treatment will be employed. In the medium/long-term stage an integrated collection and treatment system will be put on operation. After completion of a proposed collection system and treatment plants to handle point sources, the control of diffuse sources will be more significant. Control of diffuse sources for the abatement of further deterioration of water quality then becomes the key issue to be emphasized in the Lake Sapanca catchment area. Diffuse sources control will be achieved by dividing the catchment area into three major protection zones. Use of pesticides and fertilizers on agricultural land and all other activities within these protection zones will be accomplished according to control plans, which will be supervised by an institution established to be responsible of all the activities within the basin.KEY WORDS: Diffuse sources; Land-based pollution; Nutrients; Pesticides; Point sources; Protection zones