Biodegradability of tetrabromobisphenol A and tribromophenol by activated sludge.

Laboratory reactor systems based on the conventional (aerobic) activated sludge process and on the contact (anaerobic) process were operated almost one year in order to develop a biological process for the degradation of the fire retardant tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and to find out if its degradation might result in the formation of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA). The reactors were fed a TBBPA waste mixture containing also tribromophenol (TBP), and added with contaminated sediments that might have contained indigenous bacteria exposed to these compounds. Various organic compounds were used as potential electron donors to enhance growth of halorespiring bacteria that would debrominate the TBBPA and make it available for further aerobic mineralization. In spite of the various operating strategies applied and the different carbon sources added, no TBBPA biodegradation has been observed and no accumulation of intermediates such as BPA in any of the aerobic or anaerobic reactors has been detected. TBP on the other hand, was found to be easily biodegraded by aerobic cultures simulating the activated sludge process. This was linked to consistent accumulation of bromides, released to the liquid following TBP breakdown.

Involvement of adenosine in the antiinflammatory action of ketamine.

BACKGROUND: Ketamine is an anesthetic drug. Subanesthetic doses of ketamine have been shown to reduce interleukin-6 concentrations after surgery and to reduce mortality and the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 in septic animals. Similarly, adenosine was shown to reduce tumor necrosis factor alpha and mortality of septic animals. The aim of this study was to determine whether adenosine mediates the antiinflammatory effects of ketamine. METHODS: Sepsis was induced in mice by lipopolysaccharide or Escherichia coli inoculation. Leukocyte recruitment and cytokine concentrations were used as inflammation markers. Adenosine concentrations were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and the involvement of adenosine in the effects of ketamine was demonstrated by adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists. RESULTS: Ketamine markedly reduced mortality from sepsis, leukocyte recruitment, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 concentrations. Ketamine administration in mice and rats was associated with a surge at 20-35 min of adenosine in serum (up to 5 microm) and peritoneal fluid. The adenosine A2A receptor agonist CGS-21680 mimicked the effect of ketamine in peritonitis, whereas the A2A receptor antagonists DMPX and ZM 241385 blocked its antiinflammatory effects. In contrast, A1 and A3 receptor antagonists had no effect. ZM 241385 reversed the beneficial effect of ketamine on survival from bacterial sepsis. CONCLUSIONS: The current data suggest that the sepsis-protective antiinflammatory effects of ketamine are mediated by the release of adenosine acting through the A2A receptor.