High nitrogen removal rate using ANAMMOX process at short hydraulic retention time.

The anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) is a chemolithoautotrophic process, which converts NH(4)(+) to N(2) using nitrite (NO(2)(-)) as the electron acceptor. This process has very high nitrogen removal rates (NRRs) and is an alternative to classical nitrification/denitrification wastewater treatment. In the present work, a strategy for nitrogen removal using ANAMMOX process was tested evaluating their performance when submitted to high loading rates and very short hydraulic retention times (HRTs). An up-flow ANAMMOX column reactor was inoculated with 30% biomass (v v(-1)) fed from 100 to 200 mg L(-1) of total N (NO(2)(-)-N + NH(4)(+)-N) at 35 °C. After start-up and process stability the maximum NRR in the up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor was 18.3 g-N L(-1) d(-1) operated at 0.2 h of HRT. FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) analysis and process stoichiometry confirmed that ANAMMOX was the prevalent process for nitrogen removal during the experiments. The results point out that high NRRs can be obtained at very short HRTs using up-flow ANAMMOX column reactor configuration.

Experimental study on band dispersion in channels structured with micropillars.

The band dispersion in channels with an orderly pillar structure with a pressure-driven liquid flow was determined. Several channels with different geometries were etched in a silicon wafer and enclosed by a glass wafer. The microchannels obtained had the same depth, pillar disposition, and overall porosity, but different pillar diameters and channel widths. The broadening of narrow bands of a fluorescent sample solution flowing through the channels was measured using a fluorescence microscope. It was shown that the peak dispersion occurring in the channels can be much lower than in conventional packed columns, as a consequence of the higher degree of order of the solid structure. Reduced plate heights of approximately 0.2 could be obtained for (nonretained) bands. No correlation was found between the aspect ratio (the ratio of the channel width and the pillar diameter) and band dispersion. The geometrical construction of the sidewall region was shown to play a critical role for channel performance. A good agreement was found with predictions for the optimal sidewall geometry obtained previously with simulation studies.

Levels of C-telopeptide fragments of collagen type I enable the monitoring and early adjustment of clodronate therapy in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis.

We monitored the efficacy of therapy with clodronate, a bisphosphonate drug, in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis, using urinary immunoenzymatic assay of C-telopeptide of collagen type I, an eight amino acid fragment (collagen fragment) of the C-telopeptide of the alpha1-chain of collagen type I (EKAHDGGR). The analysis of the dynamics of collagen fragment concentrations (a marker of bone resorption) during treatment suggests the possibility of early modulation and customization of therapy based on the levels of this marker. This could enable improved control over secondary effects and side effects of clodronate therapy. Pharmacologic inhibition of bone resorption by osteoclasts could be indirectly responsible for the increase in parathyroid hormone found during treatment with clodronate. Increased levels of parathyroid hormone are probably necessary to stimulate residual osteoclast activity and are sufficient for the maintenance of calcium-phosphate homeostasis in a new pharmacologically-induced equilibrium. Outside this context the levels of parathyroid hormone of certain patients would be considered pathologic.

[Childhood sinusitis. A description and comments based on a 10-year series of cases]. / Le sinusiti infantili. Descrizione e considerazioni in base ad una casistica decennale.

Following a review of the embryology, evolution, anatomy and physiopathology of the paranasal naso-sinus apparatus, the paper briefly describes the history of pathological studies in this area. The main clinical symptoms connected to infantile sinusal pathologies are outlined and, on the basis of a series of 1982 affected subjects (16.45% of subjects studied), the frequency of these diseases is underlined together with the net prevalence of maxillary sinusal involvement in childhood, as is confirmed by data published in pediatric literature. After having described the pathogenesis, clinical symptoms and the possibilities of prophylaxis, the paper discusses a successful therapy using: a macrolide (erythromycin); a drug with a mixed action on the synthesis and composition of mucus and on the permeability of the mucosa (ambroxol); and a true mucolytic compound (acetylcysteine). The cost/benefit ratio of this treatment is advantageous compared to other immunomodulating treatments. In conclusion, the paper suggests a careful search for this pathology among the recurrent respiratory infections, using the therapeutic protocol described in the event of sinusal infection, and reserving the use of immunomodulating drugs for those cases which do not form part of this group.

[Changes in carnitine metabolism. A case report about probable partial deficiency of muscle carnitine palmitoyltransferase]. / Le alterazioni del metabolismo della carnitina. A proposito di un caso di probabile carenza parziale della carnitina-palmitoil-transferasi muscolare.

The main alterations of carnitine metabolism are mentioned synthetically in order to point up the heterogeneity of clinical, biohumoral, instrumental and enzymatic pictures deriving from the deficiency of carnitine-palmitoyl-transferase. We describe a case with a slight deficiency of CPT, showing a typical symptomatology, but with some peculiarities, such as the absence of myoglobinuria and, in particular way, the presence of haemolysis caused by a long fasting, that doesn't find an easy interpretation. On the basis of some experimental dates described in literature, we may suppose that the red blood cells might be somewhat affected by the consequence of the metabolical deficiency (change). The case is mentioned also in order to focus the attention on the possibility of diagnosing this disease since childhood, before the symptoms deriving as a consequence from the enzymatic deficiency are completely clear. And this in order to allow an early dietetic and therapeutic treatment.