Enhancement of fouling resistance of microfiltration membranes by surface modification using UV-curing photopolymer.

Membrane fouling, a major problem in membrane-based processes, decreases the water permeability of a membrane. Membrane fouling can be mitigated either by the application of an additional process for membrane cleaning and pretreatment or by fabricating and modifying membranes to achieve low surface interaction forces. This study aimed to improve the fouling resistance of a commercially available membrane by modifying it with a UV-cured photopolymer, MINs, to achieve low surface energy. The morphological variations (thickness and pore size distribution) of the coating layer were most affected by the viscosity of the UV-cured photopolymer. The thickness of the coating layer was inversely proportional to the dilution factor of the MINs. The pore size distribution could be adjusted by surface modification, and the smallest pore size range (0.077-0.078 µm) was observed for the MC5 membrane. In addition, the pore size distribution, surface roughness, and zeta potential of the membrane decreased after the surface modification. Thus, the developed surface modification strategy has potential for improving the fouling resistance of commercially available microfiltration membranes.

Recovery of sodium sulfate from seawater brine using fractional submerged membrane distillation crystallizer.

Seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine contain many valuable resources. In this study, fractional-submerged membrane distillation crystallizer (F-SMDC) was used to recover sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) from SWRO brine. The concentration/temperature gradient (CG/TG) in the reactor enhanced water recovery utilizing MD and Na2SO4 crystallization via a crystallizer. Crystals were not obtained at the bottom section of the F-SMDC due to: firstly, calcium sulfate crystallization occurring on the membrane surface; and secondly, low temperature-sensitivity solubility component such as NaCl exerting a negative influence. In order to obtain supersaturation, a sulfate-rich scenario was created in the reactor through the addition of the following three components: Na2SO4, MgSO4 and (NH4)2SO4. When Na2SO4 and MgSO4 were added, a larger concentration was observed at the top section, resulting in a low concentration gradient (CG) ratio, i.e. around 1.7. Conversely, the addition of (NH4)2SO4 achieved faster Na2SO4 crystallization (VCF 1.42) at the bottom section with a greater CG ratio of more than 2.0. Total water recovery ratio of 72% and 223.73 g Na2SO4 crystals were successfully extracted from simulated SWRO brine using laboratory scale F-SMDC.

A critical review on remediation, reuse, and resource recovery from acid mine drainage.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a global environmental issue. Conventionally, a number of active and passive remediation approaches are applied to treat and manage AMD. Case studies on remediation approaches applied in actual mining sites such as lime neutralization, bioremediation, wetlands and permeable reactive barriers provide an outlook on actual long-term implications of AMD remediation. Hence, in spite of available remediation approaches, AMD treatment remains a challenge. The need for sustainable AMD treatment approaches has led to much focus on water reuse and resource recovery. This review underscores (i) characteristics and implication of AMD, (ii) remediation approaches in mining sites, (iii) alternative treatment technologies for water reuse, and (iv) resource recovery. Specifically, the role of membrane processes and alternative treatment technologies to produce water for reuse from AMD is highlighted. Although membrane processes are favorable for water reuse, they cannot achieve resource recovery, specifically selective valuable metal recovery. The approach of integrated membrane and conventional treatment processes are especially promising for attaining both water reuse and recovery of resources such as sulfuric acid, metals and rare earth elements. Overall, this review provides insights in establishing reuse and resource recovery as the holistic approach towards sustainable AMD treatment. Finally, integrated technologies that deserve in depth future exploration is highlighted.

Acid mine drainage treatment by integrated submerged membrane distillation-sorption system.

Acid mine drainage (AMD), an acidic effluent characterized by high concentrations of sulfate and heavy metals, is an environmental and economic concern. The performance of an integrated submerged direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) - zeolite sorption system for AMD treatment was evaluated. The results showed that modified (heat treated) zeolite achieved 26-30% higher removal of heavy metals compared to natural untreated zeolite. Heavy metal sorption by heat treated zeolite followed the order of Fe > Al > Zn > Cu > Ni and the data fitted well to Langmuir and pseudo second order kinetics model. Slight pH adjustment from 2 to 4 significantly increased Fe and Al removal rate (close to 100%) due to a combination of sorption and partial precipitation. An integrated system of submerged DCMD with zeolite for AMD treatment enabled to achieve 50% water recovery in 30 h. The integrated system provided a favourable condition for zeolite to be used in powder form with full contact time. Likewise, heavy metal removal from AMD by zeolite, specifically Fe and Al, mitigated membrane fouling on the surface of the hollow fiber submerged membrane. The integrated system produced high quality fresh water while concentrating sulfuric acid and valuable heavy metals (Cu, Zn and Ni).

Immortalization of Porcine 11ß-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1-Transgenic Liver Cells Using SV40 Large T Antigen.

Cortisol is a steroid hormone essential to the maintenance of homeostasis that is released in response to stress and low blood glucose concentration. Cortisol is converted from cortisone by 11ßhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (HSD11B1). It has been reported that too much cortisol or overexpression of HSD11B1 induces obesity and the insulin resistance that accompanies metabolic syndrome in rodent adipose tissue. In our previous study, HSD11B1-transgenic (TG) fibroblasts were established, and a porcine model was generated by SCNT using those fibroblasts. Hepatocytes overexpressing HSD11B1 were obtained from livers of this porcine model and cultured in vitro. However, the primary hepatocytes were found to have a short life span or low proliferation rate. To overcome these problems, the SV40 large T antigen was transduced into primary HSD11B1-TG hepatocytes, and those cells were immortalized. Immortalized HSD11B1-TG hepatocytes showed restored morphology, more rapid proliferation rate, and more expression of HSD11B1 than primary hepatocytes. As well, these cells kept the hepatic characteristics such as gluconeogenic response to cortisone and increased expression of hepatic makers. The immortalized HSD11B1-TG hepatocytes may be useful for studying traits and potential therapeutic drugs for treatment of metabolic disorders induced by overexpression of HSD11B1.

Advanced developmental toxicity test method based on embryoid body's area.

Embryonic stem cell test (EST) evaluates the embryotoxic potential of substances and measures the half inhibition in viability of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), fibroblasts (3T3 cells) and in cardiac differentiation of ESC. In this study, we suggest the developmental toxicity test method (termed EBT) applying area of embryoid bodies (EBs) instead of cardiac differentiation of EST. In the assessment of 21 substances, EB area was logarithmically decreased in dose-dependent manner. Decline in EB area resulted in decrease of beating ratio during differentiation of ESCs. In classification by the EBT-based prediction model reflecting decline in cell viability and EB area, toxicity for 21 chemicals showed 90.5% accuracy. In the results of next generation sequencing, reduction in EB area resulted from cell cycle arrest mediated by HDAC2 and CDKN2A. Conclusively, EBT is advanced and is a useful tool to assess and classify various embryotoxicants in a short time with less effort.

Inhibitory effect of progesterone during early embryonic development: Suppression of myocardial differentiation and calcium-related transcriptome by progesterone in mESCs: Progesterone disturb cardiac differentiation of mESCs through lower cytosolic Ca(2.).

Progesterone (PG) and its derivates are used in prevention of spontaneous miscarriage. However, some studies have reported that exposure to PG and its derivates during pregnancy can cause malformations and affect both blood pressure and the cardiovascular system. The effect of PG on cardiomyogenesis of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) is not well known. Expression of Pgr mRNA showed an opposite pattern of beating-ratio during differentiation. PG treatment resulted in reduction of the beating ratio to 60.45±1.54% from 92.17±2.98% in normal differentiation, reduced transcripts of heart morphogenesis and Ca(2+) binding-related genes in the next generation sequencing data and significantly decreased expression levels of Ca(2+)/contraction-related genes including Ryr2, Calm2, Trpv2, and Mylk3, the intracellular Ca(2+) level, and the beating frequency. These results suggest that PG exerts inhibitory effects on differentiation of mESCs into functional cardiomyocytes.

Effects of motion style acupuncture treatment in acute low back pain patients with severe disability: a multicenter, randomized, controlled, comparative effectiveness trial.

Reviews of the efficacy of acupuncture as a treatment for acute low back pain (aLBP) have shown that there is insufficient evidence for its effect and that more research is needed. Motion style acupuncture treatment (MSAT) is novel in that it requires a part of the patient's body to move passively or actively while acupuncture needles are retained. A multicenter, randomized, comparative effectiveness trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of MSAT in aLBP with severe disability. A total of 58 aLBP patients with severe functional disability (defined per Oswestry Disability Index [ODI] ⩾60%) were recruited and assigned randomly to receive 1 session of either conventional diclofenac injection (n=29) or MSAT (n=29). The primary outcome measured improvement in LBP using the 10-point numerical rating scale of LBP, and the secondary outcome assessed disability using the Oswestry Disability Index at 30minutes and at 2, 4, and 24weeks after treatment. Analyses were by intention to treat. The numerical rating scale of the MSAT group decreased 3.12 (95% confidence interval=2.26, 3.98; P<.0001) more than that of the injection group and the Oswestry Disability Index of the MSAT group decreased 32.95% (95% confidence interval=26.88, 39.03; P<.0001) more than that of the injection group, respectively. The difference between the 2 groups maintained statistical significance at 2 and 4weeks after treatment. These results suggest that MSAT has positive effects on immediate pain relief and the functional recovery of aLBP patients with severe disability.

Motion style acupuncture treatment (MSAT) for acute low back pain with severe disability: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial protocol.

BACKGROUND: Acupuncture is widely-used to treat patients with low back pain, despite insufficient evidence of the technique's efficacy for acute back pain. Motion style acupuncture treatment (MSAT) is a non-traditional acupuncture treatment requiring a patient to exercise while receiving acupuncture. In Korea, MSAT is used to reduce musculoskeletal pain and improve functional status. The study aims to evaluate the effect of MSAT on acute low back pain with severe disability. METHODS/DESIGN: This study is a multicenter, randomized, active-controlled trial with two parallel arms. Participants with acute low back pain and severe functional disability, defined as an Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) value > 60%, will be randomly allocated to the acupuncture group and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) injection group. The acupuncture group will receive MSAT and the NSAID injection group will receive an intramuscular injection of diclofenac. All procedures will be limited to one session and the symptoms before and after treatment will be measured by assessors blinded to treatment allocation. The primary outcome will be measured at 30 minutes after treatment using the numerical rating scale (NRS) of low back pain while the patient is moving. Secondary outcomes will be measured at 30 minutes after treatment using the NRS of leg pain, ODI, patient global impression of change, range of motion (ROM) of the lumbar spine, and degrees of straight leg raising (SLR). Post-treatment follow-up will be performed to measure primary and secondary outcomes with the exception of ROM and SLR at 2, 4, and 24 weeks after treatment. DISCUSSION: The results of this trial will be discussed. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT01315561.

Integrative package for low back pain with leg pain in Korea: a prospective cohort study.

UNLABELLED: Back pain significantly affects both patients and society through personal suffering, supporting burden, work loss, and incurred expenses. With no unequivocal support for surgery versus conservative treatment, an integrative approach has become popular in Korea. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the outcomes of an integrative package for low back pain with leg pain. METHODS: A prospective cohort study involving patients with low back and leg pain and confirmed disc herniation was carried out at an outpatient clinic in Korea. The treatment package comprised of herbal medicines, acupuncture, bee venom acupuncture, and a Korean version of spinal manipulation (Chuna). Study participants were evaluated at baseline and every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. Low back and leg pain intensity levels were measured on a visual analog scale (0-10), back function was evaluated with the Oswestry Disability Index (0-100), and the overall quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 Health Survey (0-100 in 8 different subcategories). RESULTS: Out of 150 patients, 128 completed the 24 weeks of therapy. Patients reported improvements in all outcome measures. At the completion of the study, low back pain scores improved by a mean of 3.3 (95% CI=2.8 to 3.8), and leg pain scores improved by a mean of 6.3 (95% CI=5.9 to 6.6). Significant improvements in ODI and SF-36 scores were observed at 4 weeks and sustained throughout. CONCLUSIONS: This integrative package was effective in the treatment of LBP with leg pain and warrants further rigorous investigations.

Physicochemical characterization and in vivo evaluation of thermosensitive diclofenac liquid suppository.

Liquid suppository systems composed of poloxamers and bioadhesive polymers were easy to administer to the anus and mucoadhesive to the rectal tissues without leakage after the dose. However, a liquid suppository containing diclofenac sodium could not be developed using bioadhesive polymers, since the drug was precipitated in this preparation. To develop a liquid suppository system using sodium chloride instead of bioadhesive polymers, the physicochemical properties such as gelation temperature, gel strength and bioadhesive force of various formulations composed of diclofenac sodium, poloxamers and sodium chloride were investigated. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetic study of diclofenac sodium delivered by the liquid suppository was performed. Diclofenac sodium significantly increased the gelation temperature and weakened the gel strength and bioadhesive force, while sodium chloride did the opposite. The liquid suppositories with less than 1.0% of sodium chloride, in which the drug was not precipitated, were inserted into the rectum without difficulty and leakage. Furthermore, liquid suppository gave significantly higher initial plasma concentrations and faster Tmax of diclofenac sodium than did solid suppository, indicating that drug from liquid suppository could be absorbed faster than that from solid one in rats. Our results suggested that a thermosensitive liquid suppository system with sodium chloride and poloxamers was a more physically stable, convenient and effective rectal dosage form for diclofenac sodium.