Treatment of membrane concentrates: phosphate removal and reduction of scaling potential.

The widespread application of nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes in wastewater reuse inevitably generates a concentrate stream. Due to high concentrations of phosphate and salts, disposal of membrane concentrates is a problem which seriously constrains the application of this technology, especially in inland applications. There is a need for technologies which facilitate an affordable and environmentally-safe disposal of membrane concentrates. The objectives of this study are to investigate appropriate treatment techniques to (1) increase the recovery of the membrane filtration thus minimising the volume of the concentrate stream, and (2) increase the concentrate quality to enable discharge into surface water bodies. The results show that both adsorption onto granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) and chemical precipitation are generally effective for phosphate removal from NF concentrates. Chemical precipitation by dosing of sodium hydroxide solution is rapid and removes more than 90% of phosphate and calcium ions. By the removal of calcium ions, chemical precipitation can significantly reduce the scaling potential of NF and RO concentrates. This may allow higher recoveries in the NF/RO process.

Characterization of dendritic cell subsets in patients undergoing renal transplantation.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in transplantation tolerance and immune reactions to transplants. In order to ascertain whether DC levels are predictive for rejection, we examined the levels and expression patterns of DCs of renal transplant patients following immunosuppressive and/or surgical interventions. Myeloid (HLA-DR+/CD11c+) and plasmacytoid (HLA-DR+/CD123+) DCs were characterized by flow cytometry over 28 days. We demonstrated that myeloid DCs and plasmacytoid DCs in peripheral blood were discernable and dramatically decreased following renal transplantation and immunosuppression. Furthermore, the expression of CD62L was significantly up-regulated (P=.032), while CD86 was significantly down-regulated (P=.008) on myeloid but not plasmacytoid DCs. Although DC levels alone were not predictive for the occurrence of a rejection episode, in combination with other factors they may be indicative of rejection, thereby sparing the patient a biopsy.

[Ticlopidine-induced acute cholestatic hepatitis]. / Ticlopidin-induzierte akute cholestatische Hepatitis.

HISTORY AND ADMISSION FINDINGS: A 52-year-old man who had sustained a cerebellar infarct was given the platelet inhibitor ticlopidine (2 x 250 mg/d) to prevent further thromboses. 28 days after starting the medication he complained of itchings, feeling unwell and diarrhoea. He had also noted darkened urine and faecal discoloration. Physical examination revealed marked jaundice and multiple scratch marks over the entire body. INVESTIGATIONS: The activities in serum of alkaline phosphatase (420 U/l) and of gamma-GT (470 U/l) were markedly elevated and total bilirubin concentration was maximally 26.4 mg/dl. Activities of GPT (197 U/l) and GOT (44 U/l) were slightly increased. No cause was found for any extra- or intrahepatic cholestasis with or without mechanical obstruction (e.g. viral or autoimmune hepatitis). A biopsy, which showed centro-acinar cholestasis also suggested drug-induced liver damage. TREATMENT AND COURSE: Despite discontinuing ticlopidine, the signs of cholestatic hepatitis had only disappeared 2 1/2 months after the onset of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Changes in the blood picture, allergic skin reactions and gastrointestinal disorders are among the significant clinical side effects of ticlopidine. As this drug is increasingly being prescribed world-wide, the possibility of toxic liver damage should be taken into account.

Production of immunoreactive insulin-like growth factor I and response to exogenous IGF-I in small cell lung cancer cell lines.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines were examined for the presence of insulin-like growth factor I-related protein (IGF-I) in cell pellets and culture media. IGF-I immunoreactivity was detected in 11/14 pellets, ranging from 12 to 76 mIU/mg soluble protein. The IGF-I levels in the cell pellets showed a correlation to the corresponding culture media. IGF-I binding sites were found in all tested cell lines. The maximum binding (Bmax) ranged from 131 to 1230 fmol/mg protein and the dissociation constant (KD) from 0.89 to 5.21 nM. The incorporation of [3H]thymidine in the presence of recombinant human IGF-I resulted in a clearly increased DNA synthesis in two of seven cell lines. Thus, IGF-I may be an important growth factor in SCLC.