Analysis of first flush to improve the water quality in rainwater tanks.

Although most Australians receive their domestic supply from reticulated mains or town water, there are vast areas with very low population densities and few reticulated supplies. In many of these areas rainwater collected in tanks is the primary source of drinking water. Heavy metals have recently become a concern as their concentration in rain water tanks was found to exceed recommended levels suitable for human consumption. Rainwater storage tanks also accumulate contaminants and sediments that settle to the bottom. Although not widely acknowledged, small amounts of contaminants such as lead found in rain water (used as drinking water) may have a cumulative and poisonous effect on human health over a life time. This is true for certain factors that underlie many of the chronic illnesses that are becoming increasingly common in contemporary society. The paper reports on a study which is part of a project that aims to develop a cost effective in-line filtration system to improve water quality in rainwater tanks. To enable this, the characteristics of rainwater need to be known. One component of this characterization is to observe the effects of the first flush on a rainwater tank. Samples of the roof runoff collected from an urban residential roof located in the Sydney Metropolitan Area in the initial first few millimetres of rain were analysed. The results show that bypassing the first 2 mm of rainfall gives water with most water quality parameters compliant with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) standards. The parameters that did not comply were lead and turbidity, which required bypassing approximately the first 5 mm of rainfall to meet ADWG standards. Molecular weight distribution (MWD) analysis showed that the concentration of rainwater organic matter (RWOM) decreased with increasing amount of roof runoff.

Water quality characterisation of rainwater in tanks at different times and locations.

Rainwater collected from ten domestic roofs in Sydney and from one in Wollongong, a town south of Sydney, Australia was analysed to determine the water quality and to compare against the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) to determine its suitability as a potable water supply. The pollutants analysed were 13 heavy metals, 8 salts & minerals, pH, ammonia, orthophosphate, conductivity, water hardness, turbidity, total suspended solids, Total dissolved salts & Bicarbonate. The results indicate that the rainwater tested complied to most of the parameters specified in the ADWG. Molecular weight distribution of organic matter from one of the domestic rainwater tanks was analysed in terms of the effects of aging and roof contact. Molecular weight distribution of organic matter in rainwater showed prominent peaks at 37,500 daltons may be due to biopolymers, 850 Da to humic substances, 500 Da to building blocks, 220 Da to low MW acids, and less than 220 Da to amphiphilics. The findings also indicate that the first flush volumes that by-passed the tank can have a significant influence on the water quality in the rainwater tank.

Membrane fouling propensity after adsorption as pretreatment in rainwater: a detailed organic characterisation.

Organic characterisation in rainwater was investigated in terms of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and molecular weight distribution (MWD) after powdered activated carbon (PAC) adsorption. PAC adsorption was used as pretreatment to membrane filtration to reduce membrane fouling. The MW of organic matter in rainwater used in this study was in the range of 43,000 Da to 30 Da. Each peak of organic matter consisted of biopolymers (polysaccharides and proteins), humic and fulvic acids, building blocks, low MW acids (hydrolysates of humic substances), low MW neutrals and amphiphilics. Rainwater contained the majority of hydrophilic compounds up to 72%. PAC adsorption removed 33% of total DOC. The removal efficiencies of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions after PAC adsorption were 50% and 27%, respectively. PAC adsorption was found to preferentially remove the hydrophobic fraction. The majority of the smaller MW of 1,100 Da, 820 Da, 550 Da, 90 Da and 30 Da was removed after PAC adsorption. The MFI values decreased from 1,436 s/L2 to 147 s/L2 after PAC adsorption. It was concluded that PAC adsorption can be used as a pretreatment to membrane filtration with rainwater.

Neuroprotective effects of acetylsalicylic acid in an animal model of focal brain ischemia.

Recent studies have shown neuroprotective effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in cell cultures and hippocampal slices. The present study demonstrates similar effects in a whole-animal modal of focal ischemic stroke. Focal cortical ischemia was produced in Wistar rats by ligation of the common carotid and middle cerebral arteries. Subjects were sacrificed 8 days after ligation, and infarct volume was assessed via automated densitometry. Significant reductions in infarct volume were seen with i.p. ASA doses of 15 mg/kg and above. Reductions occurred when ASA was injected 2 h or 30 min before ligation, but not when it was injected 8 or 24 h before, or 30 min after ligation.

[Ultrasonographic study of cerebral blood flow in hemorrhage strokes]. / Ultrasonograficzne przezczaszkowe badania przeplywu w krwotokach mózgowych.

The cerebral blood flow was studied by means of transcranial ultrasonographic recording in hemorrhagic strokes. In acute phase of stroke the diastolic and mean velocity was slowed down and the pulsation index PI and resistance index RI were increased. Following of the changes of these indices may be of prognostic importance.

Searching for new TNF-alpha analogs having potential application in cancer therapy.

Two new TNF-alpha analogs were prepared and tested for their anti-tumor activity on fibrosarcoma SA-1 tumor model in vivo. In analog LK-801 two histidines (His107His108) were introduced into the surface loop thus enabling efficient purification by metal-affinity chromatography. This analog showed less side effects and can serve as a lead compound to look for other useful mutations. Another analog LK-802 was designed by introduction of additional pair of mutations (Cys95Cys148) into LK-801 in order to prepare disulfide linked TNF trimers. Cytotoxicity on mouse cell line L929 was comparable to TNF-alpha, but effect on tumor growth was quite reduced. Pharmacokinetic study revealed that serum levels of LK-802 were quite low in comparison to native TNF-alpha. This at least partially explains why anti-tumor activity of LK-802 is reduced and also illustrates the problems in designing the analogs with desired in vivo biological properties.

Purification of human tumour necrosis factor by membrane chromatography.

The recombinant human tumour necrosis factor alpha from an extract of Escherichia coli was enriched to homogeneity according to specific activity and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis by purification using anion-exchange HPLC and hydrophobic interaction HPLC. Parallel experiments with the same separation methods, but carried out with membrane chromatography on compact discs, gave similar results in terms of yield and purity of the product. The active form of the protein is a trimer. The second isolation step, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, causes dissociation of the trimer into monomers and a partial loss of the biological activity of the protein. The phenomenon occurs on both the column and the disc. This in turn indicates strongly that the dissociation of the protein is a consequence of interaction between the samples and the hydrophobic ligand, and is not caused by non-specific interaction with the matrix.

Adult polyglucosan body disease.

A 45-years old unconscious woman was admitted to the hospital, where she died 3 days later. For the preceding month she had suffered from a headache. She had no past medical history. Cerebrospinal fluid pressure was increased, there were 350 mg/100 of protein, and 105 mg/100 of glucose. Neuropathological examination revealed that the main microscopic abnormality was massive accumulation of PAS-positive polyglucosan bodies (PB) in the cerebral hemispheres, brain stem and cerebellum. These bodies were found most frequently around the vessels, or diffusely in the nervous tissue beneath the pia, particularly in depth of the cortical sulci. They were observed in the processes of nerve cells, astrocytes, and microglia cells. The material stored in PB was strongly positive in PAS, and PAS-dimedone, weakly stained in H&E, the reaction to GFAP, RCA-1 and Bielschowsky methods appeared rather on PB periphery. The neuropathologic features are consistent with adult polyglucosan body disease and are distinctive from other conditions in which PB may accumulate.

Modification of TNF-alpha pharmacokinetics in SA-1 tumor-bearing mice.

Fibrosarcoma-SA-I-tumor-bearing mice were treated s.c. in the vicinity of tumors (peri-tumorally) or intravenously, with recombinant human TNF-alpha lacking 1 to 3 amino acids from N-terminal part (TNF-alpha Nv3). Tumor growth delay, observed after both routes of TNF-alpha Nv3 application, was statistically significant, though a better anti-tumor effect was achieved after peri-tumoral application. TNF-alpha Nv3 serum levels were determined in these animals and compared with TNF-alpha Nv3 serum levels in healthy animals, which were treated with TNF-alpha Nv3 either s.c. or i.v. The peak serum levels of TNF-alpha Nv3 applied peri-tumorally/s.c. were significantly higher in tumor-bearing than in healthy mice, whereas smaller differences in peak serum levels were found after i.v. application, which might correlate with anti-tumor activity. Whatever the route of application, TNF-alpha Nv3 elimination from the serum of tumor-bearing mice was slower than that in healthy animals. Also, comparison of TNF-alpha Nv3 pharmacokinetic parameters for tumor-free and sarcoma- or melanoma-bearing mice has demonstrated that the pharmacokinetics of TNF-alpha Nv3 are modified in tumor-bearing animals.

[Auricular leiomyoma]. / Léiomyome auriculaire.

An auricular leiomyoma is reported. This neoplasm is extremely rare in the head and neck region. The clinical and histopathological features are discussed.

[Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) in women during pregnancy]. / Podostre stwardniajace zapalenie mózgu (SSPE) u kobiet w okresie ciazy.

Four women with SSPE during pregnancy were observed. The influence of pregnancy on the course of illness was in all patients unfavourable: the disease exacerbated, what could be explained by physiological immunosuppression connected with gestation. Delivery (in three cases by sectio caesarea) had no beneficial influence on the fatal course of SSPE. In two cases intrauterine necrosis of foetus took place in the 8th and 20th week from the beginning of SSPE. In other two cases healthy children were born. One of them does not exhibit any neurological abnormalities during the first 5 years of life.

[The value of diagnostic and prognostic methods of encephalo-volumetry (EVM) in acute ischemic stroke]. / Ocena wartosci diagnostycznej i prognostycznej metody encefalovolumetrycznej (EVM) w ostrych udarach niedokrwiennych.

The authors report the results of encephalovolumetric (EVM) investigations carried out in 75 patients with ischaemic stroke. The search for correlations between the clinical state of the patients and EVM findings demonstrated such a correlation between changing brain volume and the course of stroke. Changes in the course of EVM curves may be of prognostic importance in acute ischaemic stroke.

[Clinical diagnosis of Jakob-Creutzfeldt syndrome--analysis of 6 cases]. / Diagnostyka kliniczna choroby Creutzfeldta-Jakoba--analiza 6 przypadków.

The authors present an analysis of the clinical course of 6 cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (patients were aged from 27 to 59 years). The diagnosis was established during the life of the patients. In the neurological status dementia and syndromes of pyramidal and extrapyramidal lesions predominated. Neuropathological examinations in 5 cases demonstrated also considerable cerebellar damage, however, clinical signs of this damage were noted in two patients only. EEG findings were of greatest importance among the laboratory investigations.

[Postmortem study of the cerebral vascular system by the method of vascular casts in patients with ischemic cerebral infarction]. / Badania ukladu naczyniowego mózgu metoda odlewów naczyniowych u osób zmarlych z powodu udarów niedokrwiennych.

The method of vascular casts was used for investigation of the cerebral vessels in subjects with atherosclerosis. The studied material comprised 35 brains taken from patients aged 70-85 years who died after strokes and 5 brains of patients aged 21-30 years who died after traffic accidents as a control group. It was found that small vessels in the atherosclerotic brains were tortuous and had numerous narrowings, they appeared elongated, and their course differed from that in young subjects. The casting method provided oval-shaped impressions of endothelial cell nuclei which could not have been visualized so clearly with the previously used histological methods.

Application of platinum gauze activated by hydrogen to the adsorption separation of silver traces and their determination by aas or spectrophotometry.

A method ("electrosorption") has been developed for separation of silver from copper by its deposition through internal electrolysis with hydrogen adsorbed on a platinum surface. The silver can then be stripped and determined by atomic-absorption spectrometry or the dithizone method. The activation of the platinum surface with adsorbed hydrogen can be achieved either electrolytically or by passing hydrogen gas through the solution in which the platinum is immersed. The method of electrosorption has been successfully applied to determination of trace levels of silver in copper metal.

[A case of segmental spinal cord necrosis in the area supplied by the sulcocommissural artery]. / Przypadek odcinkowej martwicy rdzenia w obszarze unaczynionym przez tetnice rowkowo-spoidlowe.

A case of segmental spinal necrosis is described involving the area of supply of the sulcocommissural artery. The location of the necrosis and recurrent course of the disease suggest a vasogenic mechanism of the disease in the patient with atherosclerosis and hypertension.