Potential of low-enthalpy geothermal energy to degrade organic contaminants of emerging concern in urban groundwater.

Low-enthalpy geothermal energy (LEGE) is a carbon-free and renewable source to provide cooling and heating to infrastructures (e.g. buildings) by exchanging their temperature with that of the ground. The exchange of temperature modifies the groundwater temperature around LEGE installations, which may contribute to enhancing the capacity of aquifers to degrade organic contaminants of emerging concern (OCECs), whose presence is significantly increasing in urban aquifers. Here, we investigate the impact of LEGE on OCECs and their bioremediation potential through numerical modelling of synthetic and real-based cases. Simulation results demonstrate that: (i) LEGE facilities have the potential to noticeably modify the concentrations of OCECs; and (ii) the final impact depends on the design of the facility. This study suggests that optimized LEGE facility designs could contribute to the degradation of OCECs present in urban aquifers, thus improving groundwater quality and increasing its availability in urban areas.

Apnoeic ventilation for shared airway surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This report describes the care provided to a 64-year-old woman presenting with airway obstruction following recovery from COVID-19 pneumonitis, prolonged tracheal intubation and tracheostomy weaning. Her initial admission was with COVID-19 pneumonitis during the first surge of cases in early 2020, and was complicated by multiple bilateral segmental pulmonary emboli, a 28-day stay in intensive care, 16 days of mechanical ventilation and finally, a tracheostomy with subsequent weaning of respiratory support and rehabilitation. On presentation, her symptoms of airway obstruction were because of significant granuloma of the posterior glottis and subglottis, as well as a mild lambdoid deformity at the site of her previous tracheostomy. The key learning points described relate to the use of apnoeic oxygenation during the COVID-19 pandemic, managing the shared airway, as well as the management of post-intubation laryngotracheal complications.

Current status of routine post-mortem CT in Melbourne, Australia.

In May 2005, a multidetector computed tomography (CT) scanner was installed into the mortuary of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM). Since that time most biological material admitted to the institute has been scanned. This article provides an overview of the experience gained and difficulties encountered by participants in this project. Discussion is presented on the incorporation of routine CT imaging into autopsy procedures, application of CT in forensic research, and how we believe the use of cross-sectional imaging will evolve in forensic investigation of the deceased.

"Lytic" lesions in autologous bone grafts: demonstration of medullary air pockets on post mortem computed tomography.

Donor bone grafts are an important aspect of orthopaedic surgery. The use of plain film as a pathological screening tool before donor bone dispatch has revealed "lytic" lesions in proximal humeri. Donor demographics did not support the diagnosis of myeloma and subsequent computed tomography (CT) scans of these bones identified the lesions as air, not pathology. In total, 27 long bones were scanned and 100% (27/27 cases) exhibited air within the trabecular bone. Three distinct patterns were found: ovoid, linear/branching, and broad channel. A longitudinal course of CT scans was performed to identify at which stage air appeared within the bone. Pre-retrieval, preprocessing, and postprocessing scans revealed that air originated between the retrieval and preprocessing stages of donor bone preparation. There may be multiple aetiology of this phenomenon, including bone retrieval and natural decomposition.

Oral administration of insulin in solid form to nondiabetic and diabetic dogs.

It was previously demonstrated that a biologically active insulin could cross the mucosal membrane in the gut by using surface active substances. In this report we describe studies in which insulin administered orally, in a solid formulation, was effectively absorbed in the canine model. The insulin was mixed with cholate and soybean trypsin inhibitor. It was delivered orally, as enterocoated microtablets, to nondiabetic and diabetic (pancreatectomized) dogs in a fasting state. The time interval between the administration of the drug and the beginning of a decrease in the plasma glucose levels was 60-140 min. This decrease reached a minimum level of 20-40 % of the initial values and lasted for more than 90 min following administration of the drug. In this model a pronounced increment in plasma insulin levels was shown prior to the drop of plasma glucose concentrations. It is concluded that with this novel oral insulin formulation a beneficial biological effect can be achieved in the treatment of diabetes.

The crying of infants with colic: a controlled empirical description.

To obtain a controlled empirical description of some of the measurable clinical features of colic in a naturalistic context, 38 infants whose mothers considered crying a problem ("colic") and 38 pair-matched control infants were observed and videotaped at home 10 minutes before and after an evening feed. The parents kept a diary of infant behaviors (including crying and fussing) for 7 days following the visit. Following Wessel et al (Pediatrics. 1954;14:421-434), each "colic" infant was classified according to the number of days per week that crying and fussing duration was greater than 3 h/d. The distribution of infants with colic suggested that there were two subgroups: Wessel's colic infants, with 3 days or more per week of more than 3 hours of crying and fussing per day; and non-Wessel's colic infants, with fewer such days. Maternal measures of total daily crying/fussing duration, crying/fussing bout length, and infant temperament and objective analyses of facial activity showed a consistent pattern of differences in which Wessel's colic infants differed from both non-Wessel's colic and control infants, who in turn did not differ from each other. Both colic groups differed from control infants only in the perception of postfeed cries as being more "sick sounding." The results imply that the complaint of colic represents two (or more) groups and that there may be meaningfully distinct colic syndromes. They also provide the first independent empirical support for Wessel and colleagues' clinical distinction between "fussy" and "contented" babies.

Platelet aggregation abnormalities in idiopathic scoliosis.

Platelet aggregation studies were performed in 22 adolescent girls with idiopathic scoliosis. Impaired ADP-induced platelet aggregation was found in washed platelets of the 22 patients with idiopathic scoliosis when compared with the controls (76.5% of control values; p less than 0.01). Furthermore, platelets from patients with progressive curves showed a greater degree of abnormality than platelets from those with nonprogressive curves, e.g., 57.6 +/- 22% of control values (p less than 0.001). No significant differences in aggregation could be detected when platelets were aggregated with the ionophore A-23187 in either the absence or the presence of calcium. Platelet aggregation studies in patients with other spinal deformities did not differ from the healthy controls. Because platelets share similar contractile proteins as muscles, the present study suggests that a muscle disorder may play an important pathogenic role in idiopathic scoliosis.

Diacylglycerol in large alpha-actinin/actin complexes and in the cytoskeleton of activated platelets.

The interaction of the cytoskeleton with plasma membranes may be mediated by vinculin, alpha-actinin and other proteins; alpha-actinin can interact specifically with model membranes only if they contain diacylglycerol and palmitic acid. On stimulation of platelets by thrombin, which leads to a reorganization of the cytoskeleton, diacylglycerol is produced rapidly, simultaneously with the disappearance of phosphatidylinositol. One important function of the diacylglycerol produced in platelets may be the activation of the Ca2+-and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C. We show here that, in the presence of diacylglycerol and palmitic acid, a supramolecular complex between alpha-actinin and actin is formed in vitro. In the electron microscope, this complex displays substructures similar to those of microfilament bundles in vivo. Furthermore, such alpha-actinin/lipid complexes can also be formed in situ during the stimulation of blood platelet aggregation. Thus, alpha-actinin may be one of the proteins directly involved in structures connecting the cytoskeleton to cell membranes.

Receptor and non receptor-mediated activation of blood platelets. Effect on membrane-cytoskeleton interaction.

Platelets were activated by receptor and non receptor-mediated reagents. The effect of these reagents on aggregation, secretion, cytoskeleton formation, interaction of alpha-actinin and other membrane proteins with the cytoskeleton was studied. Results show that receptor-mediated activation (e.g. ADP or thrombin activation) leads to a high extent of association of alpha-actinin with the cytoskeleton while non receptor-mediated activation (e.g. ionophore A-23187, arachidonic acid) leads to a low association between the two species. The degrees of aggregation, secretion and total amount of protein in the two modes of activation were the same.

Blood platelets in psychopharmacological research.

Blood platelets are a very good model for nerve endings, for study of serotonin uptake and imipramine binding. The efficiency of various drugs, mainly antidepressants, can be evaluated using blood platelets instead of synaptosomes. A few neuronal active compounds are effective in inducing platelet secretion and shape change reaction. Platelet MAO and c-AMP levels are not yet established as useful in psychopharmacological studies.

Isolation and partial characterization of proteins from platelet pseudopods.

Isolated pseudopods of human platelets activated by ADP, thrombin, or low temperature contain, as a major constituent, a 70,000-dalton membrane protein. This protein, which is labeled in intact platelets by [125I]iodonaphthylazide, is either pushed out of the membrane plane during activation or undergoes a conformational change or, as a result of activation, is aggregated in the pseudopod region. The relative amount of actin present in the pseudopod fraction is higher in the case of thrombin activation than that of ADP- or temperature-induced activation. The relative amounts of glycoproteins IIb and III in these pseudopod fractions were found to be similar with each of the preparative methods used and also similar to their relative concentrations in whole platelets.

Dynamics of membrane-cytoskeleton interactions in activated blood platelets.

The dynamics of actin polymerization, cytoskeleton formation, and interaction with membrane and cytoplasmic proteins as a result of platelet activation by temperature. ADP, or thrombin were studied. The polymerization of about 30% of platelet DNase I available actin to a nonavailable state is rapid and complete within 10 s after platelet activation with ADP and thrombin. This polymerization might be related to shape change rather than to aggregation or secretion. A similar value of actin polymerization is obtained when platelets are induced to change shape by cooling. This polymerization is partially reversible upon deactivation of the platelets by apyrase, hirudin, or rewarming. Cycles of temperatures-mediated activation and deactivation show a cyclic variation in the state of actin, with a tendency to refractivity to further changes after a couple of cycles. No correlation is observed between microtubule integrity and actin polmerization when studies are performed with platelets pretreated with colchicine. Analysis of the Triton residue composition shows that the cytoskeleton of resting platelets is composed mainly of actin and myosin in a 4.5:1 ratio. Activation with ADP and thrombin leads to the association and incorporation of several other protein (actin binding protein, 95 000 daltons, three to four proteins in the 35 000-dalton region, and two proteins in the 17 000-dalton region with the cytoskeleton). The incorporation of these proteins has a dynamic nature that depends on both the state of aggregation and the reversibility of the activation. Activation leads to a significant increase in the total cytoskeletal proteins, and although low temperature also induces such an increase, the cytoskeletal pattern of cooled platelets is not different from that of resting platelets. A complete reversibility in morphology and amount of protein was observed with temperature cycling. In light of these results, the dynamic nature of the state of actin in platelets is discussed.

Association of membrane and cytoplasmic proteins with the cytoskeleton in blood platelets.

The association of membrane and cytoplasmic proteins with the cytoskeleton of resting and activated platelets was studied. Glycoproteins were identified by labeling with 125I-labeled lectins (concanavalin A, wheat germ agglutinin, and Lens culinaris). Polypeptides, which are embedded in the lipid bilayer, have been identified by their photolabeling with the lipid-soluble reagent 5-[125I]iodonaphthyl 1-azide (125INA). Cytoplasmic proteins were identified by their photolabeling with the intracellular probe azidofluorescein diacetate. Results indicate that the Triton X-100 residue contains the membrane-associated glycoprotein Ia, a 95 000-dalton protein, and two other acidic proteins of molecular weights of 35 000-40 000, one labeled with 125INA and the other with azidofluorescein diacetate. The presence of part of these proteins in the Triton residue is dependent upon the mode of platelet activation. Glycoproteins IIb and III are embedded in the membrane lipid bilayer but sedimented with the Triton residue only after thrombin activation. Another protein with Mr 70 000, which is highly labeled by 125INA in resting platelets, is found only in the Triton-soluble fraction.

Measurement of the intracellular pH of blood platelets using a photolabel fluorescent probe.

The internal pH of blood platelets using the intracellular photolabel probe azidofluorescein diacetate was determined. No change of intracellular pH during thrombin activation of human platelets was observed. Platelets were found to adjust themselves very quickly to the external pH. Quantitative subcellular localization of the attachment sites of this probe reveals that most of it is bound to low molecular weight proteins or peptides.

Photoaffinity labelling of the serotonin carrier protein in platelets and brain synaptosomes.

Azidoimipramine, a photoaffinity labelling reagent for the serotonin transport protein, was synthesized. This reagent, upon irradiation, binds covalently to brain synaptosomes preparation and to gel-filtered platelets. Two-dimensional SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-isoelectric focusing and tritium fluorography analysis indicate that two synaptosomal proteins and four platelets proteins were labelled by [3H]azidoimipramine.

The active uptake of serotonin by platelets of schizophrenic patients and their families: possibility of a genetic marker.

The active uptake of serotonin (5-HT) blood platelets of 20 schizophrenic patients and their families was studied. The uptake was studied over a wide range of 5-HT concentrations (0.1-20 microM), and Km and Vmax of the uptake process were calculated. Of 20 patients, 18 exhibited a lower rate of uptake than the family average at 5-HT concentrations lower than the Km value. At a 5-HT concentration of 0.1 microM, the average 5-HT uptake of patients was 2.15 pmol/10(8) platelets/min, while that of families was 2.99 pmol/10(8) platelets/min (33% difference). At a high 5-HT concentration, only the drug-treated patients had lower Vmax than the family average, and this might be attributed to the effect of the drugs. Km of patients and families were very similar. In eight families, one or more of the family members showed 5-HT uptake patterns very similar to that of the patient. We termed these healthy family members "schizophrenic risks". Our findings indicate the involvement of some genetic factors in this disease.

Increased uptake of serotonin by blood platelets from patients with bipolar primary affective disorder-bipolar type.

Active uptake of serotonin (5-HT) by blood platelets with bipolar primary affective disorder-bipolar type has been compared to that of their family members and healthy controls, and Km and Vmax values were calculated for each subject. The uptake of patients' platelets, as reflected by Vmax, was found to be significantly higher than that of healthy controls (P less than 0.05) and non significantly higher than that of family members (P less than 0.05). The average value obtained (in pmol/10(8) platelets/5 min) were 253.4 (patients), 199.7 (families), and 171.5 (controls). The increased uptake by patients' platelets was not dependent on the state of disease. In two families, daughters of the patients exhibited the same uptake pattern as their ill mothers. The Km values for patients, family members, and controls were all about 1.06 x 10(-6) M. This study raises the possibility that the differences between patients and healthy individuals might be attributed to genetic factors. The meaning and interpretation of the findings are discussed.