Biochar from Pyrolysis of Biosolids for Nutrient Adsorption and Turfgrass Cultivation.

At water resource recovery facilities, nutrient removal is often required and energy recovery is an ever-increasing goal. Pyrolysis may be a sustainable process for handling wastewater biosolids because energy can be recovered in the py-gas and py-oil. Additionally, the biochar produced has value as a soil conditioner. The objective of this work was to determine if biochar could be used to adsorb ammonia from biosolids filtrate and subsequently be applied as a soil conditioner to improve grass growth. The maximum carrying capacity of base modified biochar for NH3-N was 5.3 mg/g. Biochar containing adsorbed ammonium and potassium was applied to laboratory planters simulating golf course putting greens to cultivate Kentucky bluegrass. Planters that contained nutrient-laden biochar proliferated at a statistically higher rate than planters that contained biosolids, unmodified biochar, peat, or no additive. Nutrient-laden biochar performed as well as commercial inorganic fertilizer with no statistical difference in growth rates. Biochar from digested biosolids successfully immobilized NH3-N from wastewater and served as a beneficial soil amendment. This process offers a means to recover and recycle nutrients from water resource recovery facilities.

Plasma advanced glycation end products (AGEs), receptors for AGEs and their correlation with inflammatory markers in middle school-age children.

AIM: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and/or their receptors (RAGE) are significantly positively correlated with adiposity, inflammation, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance in adults. However, the relationships between AGEs, RAGE, and adiposity-related comorbidites in children have not been well studied. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study of 88 children (age 11-15 years) from the New York area enrolled in the Reduce Obesity and Diabetes (ROAD) study, we examined the correlation of the AGE N(ε)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), soluble RAGE (sRAGE), and endogenous secretory RAGE (esRAGE) with adiposity, inflammatory markers [interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α], adiponectin, lipids, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretory capacity. RESULTS: Pediatric CML levels were ~20% below average adult levels. CML was significantly (p < 0.05) positively correlated with age and insulin sensitivity and negatively with adiposity, dyslipidemia and IL-6. sRAGE correlated positively with esRAGE and negatively with adiposity and IL-6. Both sRAGE and esRAGE correlated negatively with insulin secretory capacity. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that unlike adults, CML is negatively associated with adiposity and adiposity-related comorbidity risk in children. As in adults, sRAGE and esRAGE were, to varying degrees, negatively correlated with body fatness and risk factors for adiposity-related comorbidities.

The coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor acts as a tumour suppressor in malignant glioma cells.

The coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) is a membrane glycoprotein with a cytoplasmic domain, a transmembrane domain and an extracellular region consisting of two immunoglobulin-like domains, an amino-terminal immunoglobulin variable (IgV)-related domain (D1), which is distal to the cell surface, and a proximal IgC2 domain (D2). The coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor has been shown to exhibit tumour suppression activity in human bladder and prostate cancer cells. In the current paper, we demonstrate that CAR is a tumour suppressor in glioma cells and that the extracellular D2 domain is not required for this inhibitory effect. This finding provides a biological basis for the observation that expression of CAR is downregulated in malignant glioma cells. This suggests that strategies to redirect adenoviruses to achieve CAR-independent infection will be necessary to realise the full potential of adenoviral vectors for cancer gene therapy.

Efficient oncolysis by a replicating adenovirus (ad) in vivo is critically dependent on tumor expression of primary ad receptors.

Replicating adenoviruses (Ads) are designed to replicate in and destroy cancer cells, generating viral progeny that spread within the tumor. To address the importance of the primary cellular receptor for Ads, the coxsackievirus and Ad receptor (CAR), in permitting intratumoral spread of a replicating Ad, we have used a pair of tumor cell lines differing only in the expression of a primary receptor for Ad5. This novel system thus allowed the first direct evaluation of the relationship between the efficacy of a replicating Ad and the primary receptor levels of the host cell without the confounding influence of other variable cellular factors. We demonstrate that the absence of the primary cellular receptor on the tumor cells restricts the oncolytic potency of a replicating Ad both in vitro and in vivo. Based on these findings, it is apparent that the potential therapeutic advantages afforded by viral replication would be negated by poor intratumoral spread of the viral progeny due to the failure to infect neighboring tumor cells. Because a number of studies have reported that primary cancer cells express only low levels of CAR, our results suggest that strategies to redirect Ads to achieve CAR-independent infection will be necessary to realize the full potential of replicating Ads in the clinical setting.

Serum content of the C-propeptide of the cartilage molecule type II collagen in children.

OBJECTIVE: The C-propeptide of cartilage type II procollagen, together with the N-propeptide, are removed from newly synthesized procollagen during collagen fibril assembly in cartilage matrix. The presence and content of the C-propeptide reflect the synthesis of this molecule. Recently, we showed that serum levels of the C-propeptide are increased in adults with rheumatoid arthritis, pointing to increased synthesis of this molecule. In this study we examined its content in the sera of children to determine whether it changes during development. METHODS: Sera were obtained from 44 premature infants (cord blood), 75 children (0-18 years), 14 young adults (18-22 years) and 47 adults (35-60 years). The concentration of serum C-propeptide of type II procollagen was determined by a solution phase competitive inhibition radioimmunoassay which uses a polyclonal antiserum specific for the bovine and human C-propeptide. RESULTS: Compared with adults, concentrations of the C-propeptide of type II procollagen were significantly elevated in children of ages 0-14 years. Concentrations were constant until 10 years of age (premature infants: 14.5 +/- 1.4 ng/ml, mean +/- SE; 0-10 years: 13.6 +/- 1 ng/ml). In children of ages 10-14 years, during which the pubertal growth spurt is ordinarily observed, the mean concentration increased (10-14 years: 21.6 +/- 0.7 ng/ml) although not significantly due to the variation between individuals. Concentrations at all ages younger than 14 were significantly greater than those in older adolescents ages 14-18 (6.3 +/- 0.7 ng/ml), young adults (8.4 +/- 2.0 ng/ml) and adults (5.7 +/- 0.4 ng/ml). Serum concentrations did not show significant differences with respect to sex, but varied from child to child at any given age. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of this circulating C-propeptide may be of use in studying the biochemical and physiological bases of changes in cartilage turnover in children, and abnormalities thereof.

Expression of bone morphogenetic protein-6 messenger RNA in bovine growth plate chondrocytes of different size.

Bone morphogenetic protein-6 (BMP-6) is an osteoinductive factor that may have a regulatory role in the terminal differentiation of chondrocytes. We investigated the expression of BMP-6 messenger RNA in freshly isolated newborn calf rib chondrocytes separated by density gradient centrifugation into five highly enriched subpopulations at different stages of maturation as assessed by cell size and alkaline phosphatase activity. Expression of BMP-6 mRNA was compared with expression of type II collagen mRNA and type X collagen mRNA using Northern analysis. Type X collagen mRNA expression increased with increasing cell size whereas type II collagen mRNA varied little with cell size. BMP-6 mRNA expression was highest in small cells and lowest in the largest cells, which were maximally expressing type X collagen mRNA. This suggests that up-regulation of the BMP-6 gene may precede chondrocyte hypertrophy.

Comparison of collagen propeptides as growth markers in children with inflammatory bowel disease.

The serum concentrations of the carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen and the amino-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen as biochemical markers of growth activity were compared in 46 children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease. Significant correlations were noted between growth velocity and type I procollagen (r = 0.65; P less than 0.001) and type III procollagen concentrations (r = 0.64; P less than 0.001). Although the serum concentration of type I procollagen was generally about 15 times greater than that of type III, the respective serum concentrations were highly correlated (r = 0.66; P less than 0.001) at all growth velocities. The use of daily corticosteroid therapy was associated with significantly lower concentrations of both propeptides (P less than 0.01) than was alternate-day or no corticosteroid therapy, respectively. Children with growth arrest (0.0 cm/mo) had type I and type III procollagen concentrations similar to those found in adults. These observations indicate that the serum concentrations of both collagen propeptides reflect growth activity in children with inflammatory bowel disease and suggest that routine measurement of collagen propeptides may have clinical value in monitoring normal and abnormal growth. The data suggest that the measurement of one propeptide does not offer an advantage over the other.

Effect of calcium/phosphorus ratio on mineral retention in parenterally fed premature infants.

We hypothesized that retention of parenterally delivered calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) is affected by the ratio of the delivered minerals and that a 1.7:1 ratio would be optimal since this is the ratio of retention of these minerals by the fetus. Forty-one very low birth weight (VLBW) infants were randomly assigned to one of three total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions that were different only in their Ca:P ratios: 2:1 (76 mg/kg/day Ca and 38 mg/kg/day of P), and 1.3:1 (58 mg/kg/day Ca and 45 mg/kg/day P), and 1.3:1 (58 mg/kg/day of Ca and 45 mg/kg/day of P). Serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase, retentions of calcium and phosphorus and urinary cyclic AMP levels were measured after 48 h on the assigned Ca to P ratio. Calcium retentions were higher with the 2:1 and 1.7:1 ratios and phosphorus retentions were higher with the 1.3:1 and 1.7:1 ratios. The 1.7:1 ratio allowed for the highest absolute retention of both minerals and was the closest to published in utero accretion of calcium and phosphorus. The serum and urine studies demonstrated no abnormalities on any of the three ratios. Cyclic AMPs were not different among groups and were not elevated compared to previous reports suggesting that none resulted in parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulation. We conclude that the 1.7:1 ratio is better than higher or lower ratios for delivery of calcium and phosphorus in TPN solutions at the quantities studied.

Effect of high calcium and phosphorus intake on mineral retention in very low birth weight infants chronically treated with furosemide.

The treatment of premature infants with the diuretic furosemide appears to be a contributory factor in the development of metabolic bone disease presumably because of furosemide-induced hypercalciuria. In this study, we measured calcium and phosphorus balance in furosemide-treated very low birth weight infants (VLBW) infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) who were fed a specialized premature formula containing increased amounts of calcium and phosphorus. Furosemide-treated infants received 166 +/- 37 mg/kg/day and retained 80 +/- 34 mg/kg/day of calcium, and 87 +/- 19 mg/kg/day and retained 52 +/- 14 mg/kg/day of phosphorus. The amounts retained were approximately 65% of the calcium and 72% of the phosphorus requirements for in utero mineral accretion. Compared to a group of similarly fed VLBW infants without BPD and not treated with the diuretic, the furosemide-treated infants excreted a larger percent of the calcium intake in the urine but had similar total urinary calcium and phosphorus losses (mg/kg/day) and serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. From the latter two findings, we suggest that the extra mineral content of the formula may have promoted bone mineralization and prevented the occurrence of secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Simultaneous infusion of calcium and phosphorus in parenteral nutrition for premature infants: use of physiologic calcium/phosphorus ratio.

We hypothesized that parenteral delivery of calcium and phosphorus in a ratio of 1.7:1 would promote retention of these minerals and decrease urinary phosphorus excretion, and that delivery of increased amounts of this ratio would result in higher retentions. Serum levels and retention of calcium and phosphorus were measured as calcium intake was increased from 36 to 76 mg/kg/day in 10 mg increments and as phosphorus intake was adjusted to maintain the 1.7:1 ratio. Five different infants were studied at each of the five levels. The amounts of calcium and phosphorus retained increased steadily and at level 5 were 71.8 +/- 1.2 mg/kg/day and 40.9 +/- 1.7 mg/kg/day, respectively. Over the five levels the average percent calcium retention was 91.4 +/- 4.2 and the average percent phosphorus retention was 89.1 +/- 7.7. The provision of parenteral calcium and phosphorus in a 1.7:1 ratio resulted in a balanced retention of both minerals over the range studied. The use of this calcium/phosphorus ratio appears to be appropriate for the preterm infant receiving total parenteral nutrition.

Longitudinal assessment of type I procollagen in children with inflammatory bowel disease subjected to surgery.

Using radioimmunoassay we have measured the serum concentrations of the C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (pColl-I-C) in 12 Tanner I-II subjects (aged 9-16 years) with severe Crohn's disease (8 patients) or ulcerative colitis (4 patients) and markedly decreased growth velocity who were subjected to surgery and 50 similarly aged children with either ulcerative colitis (20 patients) or Crohn's disease (30 patients) and normal growth. Prior to operation, the mean growth velocity and pColl-I-C concentration in the former group of 12 children were 0.03 +/- 0.02 cm/month (normal greater than or equal to 0.5 cm/month) and 14.1 +/- 1.9 micrograms/dl, respectively. This pColl-I-C concentration is comparable with that previously reported for adults (5-17 micrograms/dl) and significantly lower than found in the 50 normally growing children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (46.9 +/- 2.0 micrograms/dl) (p less than 0.001). All 12 children subjected to surgery had a marked increase in growth velocity and pColl-I-C concentration to 0.73 +/- 0.08 cm/month and 59.1 +/- 5.6 micrograms/dl, respectively (p less than 0.001 compared with preoperative values). Changes in pColl-I-C concentrations antedated measurable changes in linear growth. These data suggest that pColl-I-C concentrations can reflect growth velocity in children with IBD subjected to surgery and may provide a rapidly available measure of current "growth activity."

Relationship of type I procollagen to corticosteroid therapy in children with inflammatory bowel disease.

We determined the serum concentration of the C-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (pColl-I-C) in 60 children and adolescents (ages 4 to 17 years) with inflammatory bowel disease (24 ulcerative colitis, 36 Crohn disease) and in seven children (ages 2 to 15 years) with nongastrointestinal disease (asthma) during varying regimens of corticosteroid therapy. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease were grouped according to disease severity (mild, and moderate to severe). Significantly lower pColl-I-C concentrations and growth velocities were found in each severity group among those subjects receiving daily corticosteroid therapy compared with those receiving alternate-day or no corticosteroid therapy (P less than 0.01). When daily corticosteroid therapy was initiated and then maintained for 7 to 14 days in 11 patients with exacerbation of inflammatory bowel disease clinical improvement resulted, but mean procollagen concentrations decreased significantly (P less than 0.001). In seven children with asthma receiving methylprednisolone intravenously, significant decreases in pColl-I-C concentrations were noted within 24 to 48 hours of therapy (P less than 0.001). These data indicate that serum procollagen values decrease during both short- and long-term daily administration of corticosteroid therapy. Longitudinal assessment of procollagen concentrations may provide rapid assessment of the effects of different corticosteroid regimens on growth.

Alternate day infusion of calcium and phosphate in very low birth weight infants: wasting of the infused mineral.

Very low birth weight infants require greater intakes of calcium and phosphate than can be supplied simultaneously in parenteral nutrition. We investigated the biochemical effects and retention of calcium and phosphate when each was administered for 24 h on an alternate day schedule as part of total parenteral nutrition. Serum and urine were collected during a 24 h basal period and during randomly ordered 24 h infusions of either calcium or phosphate in 14 infants during the first week of life. In general, the urinary excretion of the infused mineral (calcium or phosphorus) increased during the 24 h period of its infusion. The serum phosphorus level fluctuated widely from day to day while the serum calcium level did not change. During the 24 h infusion of phosphate, phosphate retention was 67.9 +/- 7.4% and, during the 24 h infusion of calcium, calcium retention was 72.5 +/- 4.3%. However, ongoing excretion of each mineral on the day it was not infused meant that 48.3% of the 48 h phosphate intake and 42.2% of the 48 h calcium intake were lost in the urine. We conclude that excessive amounts of the administered mineral were excreted and that alternate day infusion of calcium and phosphate is an unsatisfactory method for providing these minerals. Attainment of sufficient retentions of calcium and phosphate will require development of novel methods of simultaneous administration which provide calcium and phosphate in high concentrations.

Phosphorus deficiency syndrome in very low birth weight infants.

Inadequate dietary phosphorus intake is a contributing factor to the occurrence of metabolic bone disease in very low birth weight infants. This article reviews the clinical presentation and the pathophysiology of the phosphorus deficiency syndrome in premature infants. Recommendations for therapy and prevention of phosphorus deficiency are presented.