Simultaneous production and separation of biohydrogen in mixed culture systems by continuous dark fermentation.

Hydrogen production by dark fermentation is one promising technology. However, there are challenges in improving the performance and efficiency of the process. The important factors that must be considered to obtain a suitable process are the source of the inoculum and its pre-treatment, types of substrates, the reactor configurations and the hydrogen partial pressure. Furthermore, to obtain high-quality hydrogen, it is necessary to integrate an effective separation procedure that is compatible with the intrinsic characteristics of a biological process. Recent studies have suggested that a stable and robust process could be established if there was an effective selection of a mixed microbial consortium with metabolic pathways directly targeted to high hydrogen yields. Additionally, the integration of membrane technology for the extraction and separation of the hydrogen produced has advantages for the upgrading step, because this technology could play an important role in reducing the negative effect of the hydrogen partial pressure. Using this technology, it has been possible to implement a production-purification system, the 'hydrogen-extractive membrane bioreactor'. This configuration has great potential for direct applications, such as fuel cells, but studies of new membrane materials, module designs and reactor configurations are required to achieve higher separation efficiencies.

Dysregulation in microRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of sepsis patients is associated with immunopathology.

Sepsis is a major cause of death worldwide. It triggers systemic inflammation, the role of which remains unclear. In the current study, we investigated the induction of microRNA (miRNA) during sepsis and their role in the regulation of inflammation. Patients, on days 1 and 5 following sepsis diagnosis, had reduced T cells but elevated monocytes. Plasma levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and MCP-1 dramatically increased in sepsis patients on day 1. T cells from sepsis patients differentiated primarily into Th2 cells, whereas regulatory T cells decreased. Analysis of 1163 miRNAs from PBMCs revealed that miR-182, miR-143, miR-145, miR-146a, miR-150, and miR-155 were dysregulated in sepsis patients. miR-146a downregulation correlated with increased IL-6 expression and monocyte proliferation. Bioinformatics analysis uncovered the immunological associations of dysregulated miRNAs with clinical disease. The current study demonstrates that miRNA dysregulation correlates with clinical manifestations and inflammation, and therefore remains a potential therapeutic target against sepsis.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a life-threatening disorder characterized clinically by the presence of hemoptysis, falling hematocrit, diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and hypoxemic respiratory failure. It refers to bleeding that originates in the pulmonary microvasculature instead of the parenchyma or bronchial circulation. DAH should be considered a medical emergency due to the morbidity and mortality associated with failure to treat the disorder promptly. Pulmonary renal syndromes, connective tissue disorders and drugs make up the majority of the cases of DAH. The treatment of DAH ranges from supportive care and withdrawal of offending drugs to high-dose steroids, immunosuppresents and plasmapharesis. The following review will discuss the clinical, radiographic and pathologic findings in a variety of disorders that cause DAH. Standard treatment options, as well as new treatment options will also be discussed.

Canabinoides: análogos y perspectivas terapéuticas II / Cannabinoids: analogues and therapeutical perspectivas II

Actualmente se han generado valiosísimas fuentes de información que correlacionan la especie botánica Cannabis sativa L y sus metabolitos secundarios con la medicina (tratamiento terapéutico), farmacología (modelos experimentales) y química sintética (diseño y generación de nuevas estructuras y análogos bioisósteres), que avalan la significación del estudio de esta planta, sus extractos, metabolitos, precursores y análogos naturales y sintéticos como fuente de agentes terapéuticos. Por tal motivo se presenta una revisión de la información existente sobre las potenciales implicaciones terapéuticas de sistemas moleculares canabinoidales (endógenos, naturales y sintéticos) en el tratamiento de diversas afecciones del sistema nervioso central, que incluye: conceptos de tipos de canabinoides; sistemas de receptores canabinoides CB1 y CB2 y sus ligandos así como evidencias preclínicas de los efectos terapéuticos de canabinoides desde 1970 hasta el 2006.

At present, a great amount of valuable information and experimental data has been generated that correlate Cannabis sativa and its secondary metabolites with medicine (therapeutic treatment), pharmacology (experimental animal models) and synthetic chemistry (design and generation of new structures and biososteric analogues), showing the importance of the study about this plant, its extracts, metabolite precursors and natural and synthetic analogues as therapeutic agents. Taking theses points into consideration, this article reviews the therapeutic implications of cannabinoid systems (endogenous, natural, and synthetic) on several pathologies of central nervous system, including: cannabinoid type concepts, cannabinoid receptor systems CB1 and CB2 and preclinical studies devoted to therapeutic effects of the cannabinoids since 1970 until 2006.

Canabinoides: análogos y perspectivas terapéuticas II / Cannabinoids: analogues and therapeutical perspectivas II

Actualmente se han generado valiosísimas fuentes de información que correlacionan la especie botánica Cannabis sativa L y sus metabolitos secundarios con la medicina (tratamiento terapéutico), farmacología (modelos experimentales) y química sintética (diseño y generación de nuevas estructuras y análogos bioisósteres), que avalan la significación del estudio de esta planta, sus extractos, metabolitos, precursores y análogos naturales y sintéticos como fuente de agentes terapéuticos. Por tal motivo se presenta una revisión de la información existente sobre las potenciales implicaciones terapéuticas de sistemas moleculares canabinoidales (endógenos, naturales y sintéticos) en el tratamiento de diversas afecciones del sistema nervioso central, que incluye: conceptos de tipos de canabinoides; sistemas de receptores canabinoides CB1 y CB2 y sus ligandos así como evidencias preclínicas de los efectos terapéuticos de canabinoides desde 1970 hasta el 2006(AU)

At present, a great amount of valuable information and experimental data has been generated that correlate Cannabis sativa and its secondary metabolites with medicine (therapeutic treatment), pharmacology (experimental animal models) and synthetic chemistry (design and generation of new structures and biososteric analogues), showing the importance of the study about this plant, its extracts, metabolite precursors and natural and synthetic analogues as therapeutic agents. Taking theses points into consideration, this article reviews the therapeutic implications of cannabinoid systems (endogenous, natural, and synthetic) on several pathologies of central nervous system, including: cannabinoid type concepts, cannabinoid receptor systems CB1 and CB2 and preclinical studies devoted to therapeutic effects of the cannabinoids since 1970 until 2006(AU)

Estudios de laboratorio sobre la acción molusquicida de la resina de pino, colofonia, sobre Biomphalaria havanensis / Lab studies on the mollusk action of pine tree resin, collophonia, on Biomphalaria havanensis

Introducción: la ausencia de poblaciones de moluscos en el entorno ecológico y natural de las pináceas, observada en estudios de campo, conllevó a estudiar la resina de pino, colofonia, como control del molusco Biomphalaria havanensis, hospedero intermediario de Schistosoma mansoni. Objetivo: determinar la acción molusquicida de la colofonia para su posible utilización en el control de Biomphalaria havanensis. Métodos: se utilizaron 7 concentraciones diferentes para determinar las dosis letales y los datos fueron analizados por un probit-log. Resultados: las dosis letales encontradas fueron: DL50= 44,33 mg/L y DL90= 141,76 mg/L. Conclusiones: con estos resultados se demostró el poder molusquicida de 2 de las pináceas cubanas, a través de la resina de colofonia, sobre Biomphalaria havanensis.

Background: Field studies have previously demonstrated that freshwater mollusk populations did not exist in the ecological and natural environment of pine trees, which led to study pine resin, colophony, as a controlling agent for Biomphalaria havanensis mollusk, an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni. Objective: to determine the molluscicidical action of colophony as possible use as a controlling agent for Biomphalaria havanensis. Methods: Seven different concentrations were used to determinate the lethal doses. Data were analyzed by probit-log program. Results: The lethal doses found were as follows: LD50 = 443.3 mg/L and LD90 = 1417.6 mg/L. Conclusions: These experiments showed the molluscicidical activity of the two Cuban pinaceas, through the colophony resin, on Biomphalaria havanensis.

Estudios de laboratorio sobre la acción molusquicida de la resina de pino, colofonia, sobre Biomphalaria havanensis / Lab studies on the mollusk action of pine tree resin, collophonia, on Biomphalaria havanensis

Introducción: la ausencia de poblaciones de moluscos en el entorno ecológico y natural de las pináceas, observada en estudios de campo, conllevó a estudiar la resina de pino, colofonia, como control del molusco Biomphalaria havanensis, hospedero intermediario de Schistosoma mansoni. Objetivo: determinar la acción molusquicida de la colofonia para su posible utilización en el control de Biomphalaria havanensis. Métodos: se utilizaron 7 concentraciones diferentes para determinar las dosis letales y los datos fueron analizados por un probit-log. Resultados: las dosis letales encontradas fueron: DL50= 44,33 mg/L y DL90= 141,76 mg/L. Conclusiones: con estos resultados se demostró el poder molusquicida de 2 de las pináceas cubanas, a través de la resina de colofonia, sobre Biomphalaria havanensis(AU)

Background: Field studies have previously demonstrated that freshwater mollusk populations did not exist in the ecological and natural environment of pine trees, which led to study pine resin, colophony, as a controlling agent for Biomphalaria havanensis mollusk, an intermediate host of Schistosoma mansoni. Objective: to determine the molluscicidical action of colophony as possible use as a controlling agent for Biomphalaria havanensis. Methods: Seven different concentrations were used to determinate the lethal doses. Data were analyzed by probit-log program. Results: The lethal doses found were as follows: LD50 = 443.3 mg/L and LD90 = 1417.6 mg/L. Conclusions: These experiments showed the molluscicidical activity of the two Cuban pinaceas, through the colophony resin, on Biomphalaria havanensis(AU)

The histopathologic spectrum of cryofibrinogenemia in four anatomic sites. Skin, lung, muscle, and kidney.

Although the histologic characteristics of cryofibrinogenemia have been described in skin lesions, the literature is largely devoid of descriptions of this disorder in other organs. This series is the first to document the histopathologic manifestations of intrapulmonary, intramuscular, and renal cryofibrinogenemia. We describe the histopathologic manifestations of cryofibrinogenemia in 10 cases with manifestations in 4 organ systems: skin in 7 cases, skeletal muscle in 2, lung in 2, and kidney in 1. Irrespective of anatomic site, all lesions showed an occlusive thrombotic diathesis comprising eosinophilic refractile deposits within vessel lumina with extension into the intima, with or without an accompanying characteristic granulomatous vasculitic component. Ultrastructural examination of the renal deposits showed fibrillary material within glomerular capillary lumina with unique morphologic features not previously described. Analysis of plasma from several cases revealed a cold-precipitable protein, which in most cases included a monoclonal paraprotein. The laboratory and histologic distinctions between cryofibrinogenemia and cryoglobulinemia are addressed. We provide guidelines for the proper handling of patient specimens in the workup of cryofibrinogenemia.