Pilot scale nanofiltration treatment of olive mill wastewater: a technical and economical evaluation.

The treatment of large volumes of olive mill wastewater is presently a challenge. This study reports the technical and economical feasibility of a sequential treatment of olive mill wastewater comprising a dissolved air flotation pre-treatment and nanofiltration. Different pilot nanofiltration assays were conducted in a concentration mode up to different volume reduction factors (29, 45, 58, and 81). Data attained demonstrated that nanofiltration can be operated at considerably high volume reduction factors and still be effective towards the removal of several components. A flux decline of approximately 50% was observed at the highest volume reduction factor, mainly due to increase of the osmotic pressure. Considerably high rejections were obtained across all experiments for total suspended solids (83 to >99%), total organic carbon (64 to 99%), chemical oxygen demand (53 to 77%), and oil and grease (67 to >82%). Treated water was in compliance with European legal limits for discharge regarding total suspended solids and oil and grease. The potential recovery of phenolic compounds was evaluated and found not relevant. It was demonstrated that nanofiltration is economically feasible, involving operation costs of approximately 2.56-3.08 €/m3, depending on the working plan schedule and volume reduction factor, and requiring a footprint of approximately 52 m2 to treat 1000 m3 of olive mill wastewater.

Exposure to nicotine increases dopamine receptor content in the mesocorticolimbic pathway of rat dams and offspring during lactation.

Nicotine exposure causes the release of dopamine from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) to the nucleus accumbens (NAc). We have previously shown that maternal exposure to nicotine during lactation causes hyperleptinemia in dams and pups, and leptin is known to decrease dopamine release from the VTA. Here we evaluated whether maternal exposure to nicotine during lactation causes changes in dopamine and leptin signaling pathways at the end of exposure and after 5days of withdrawal in the: VTA, NAc, arcuate nucleus (ARC) and dorsal striatum (DS). On postnatal day (PN) 2, lactating Wistar rats were implanted with minipumps releasing nicotine (NIC; 6mg/kg/day, s.c.) or saline (C) for 14days. Offspring were tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field on PN14 or PN20, and euthanized on PN15 or PN21. Entries into the open arms and head dips in the EPM were reduced in NIC pups at P20. At weaning (PN21), NIC dams had: lower tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), higher OBRb and SOCS3 contents in VTA; lower TH, higher D1R, D2R and DAT contents in NAc; higher TH content in DS; and higher D2R and SOCS3 contents in ARC. On PN15, NIC offspring had higher D1R, D2R and lower DAT contents in NAc, while on PN21, they had lower DAT in DS, and lower pSTAT3 content in ARC. We evidenced that postnatal nicotine exposure induces relevant changes in the brain reward system of dams and pups, possibly associated with changes in leptinemia and increased offspring anxiety-like behavior.

Concurrent maternal and pup postnatal tobacco smoke exposure in Wistar rats changes food preference and dopaminergic reward system parameters in the adult male offspring.

Children from pregnant smokers are more susceptible to become obese adults and to become drug or food addicts. Drugs and food activate the mesolimbic reward pathway, causing a sense of pleasure that induces further consumption. Here, we studied the relationship between tobacco smoke exposure during lactation with feeding, behavior and brain dopaminergic reward system parameters at adulthood. Nursing Wistar rats and their pups were divided into two groups: tobacco smoke-exposed (S: 4times/day, from the 3rd to the 21th day of lactation), and ambient air-exposed (C). On PN175, both offspring groups were subdivided for a food challenge: S and C that received standard chow (SC) or that chose between high-fat (HFD) and high-sucrose diets (HSDs). Food intake was recorded after 30min and 12h. Offspring were tested in the elevated plus maze and open field on PN178-179; they were euthanized for dopaminergic analysis on PN180. SSD (self-selected diet) animals presented a higher food intake compared to SC ones. S-SSD animals ate more than C-SSD ones at 30min and 12h. Both groups preferred the HFD. However, S-SSD animals consumed relatively more HFD than C-SSD at 30min. No behavioral differences were observed between groups. S animals presented lower tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) content in the ventral tegmental area, lower TH, dopaminergic receptor 2, higher dopaminergic receptor 1 contents in the nucleus accumbens and lower OBRb in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus. Tobacco-smoke exposure during lactation increases preference for fat in the adult progeny possibly due to alterations in the dopaminergic system.

Maternal nicotine exposure during lactation alters food preference, anxiety-like behavior and the brain dopaminergic reward system in the adult rat offspring.

The mesolimbic reward pathway is activated by drugs of abuse and palatable food, causing a sense of pleasure, which promotes further consumption of these substances. Children whose parents smoke are more vulnerable to present addictive-like behavior to drugs and food.We evaluated the association between maternal nicotine exposure during lactation with changes in feeding, behavior and in the dopaminergic reward system. On postnatal day (PN) 2,Wistar rat dams were implanted with minipumps releasing nicotine (N; 6 mg/kg/day, s.c.) or saline (C) for 14 days. On PN150 and PN160, offspring were divided into 4 groups for a food challenge: N and C that received standard chow(SC); and N and C that could freely self-select (SSD) between high-fat and high-sugar diets (HFD and HSD, respectively). Offspring were tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field (OF) arena on PN152­153. On PN170, offspring were euthanized for central dopaminergic analysis. SSD animals showed an increased food intake compared to SC ones and a preference for HFD. However, N-SSD animals consumed relatively more HSD than C-SSD ones. Regarding behavior, N animals showed an increase in the time spent in the EPM center and a reduction in relative activity in the OF center. N offspring presented lower dopamine receptor (D2R) and transporter (DAT) contents in the nucleus accumbens, and lower D2R in the arcuate nucleus. Postnatal exposure to nicotine increases preference for sugar and anxiety levels in the adult progeny possibly due to a decrease in dopaminergic action in the nucleus accumbens and arcuate nucleus.

Maternal prolactin inhibition causes changes in leptin at 22- and 30-day-old pups.

Breastfeeding is associated with obesity prevention. We showed previously that prolactin inhibition at the end of lactation causes hyperleptinemia at weaning (PN21) and programs for obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and leptin resistance (PN180). Here, we evaluate the source of neonatal hyperleptinemia and how it develops during the nutritional transition from milk through solid food. Lactating rats were treated with bromocriptine (BRO), a prolactin inhibitor, 0.5 mg twice a day, or saline (CON) for the last 3 days of lactation. All parameters were studied at PN22 and PN30. At PN22, BRO-treated rats showed lower food intake, body mass, and body length. At PN30, only body length and mesenteric fat mass were lower. Despite normal plasma leptin levels at PN22, the adipose tissue leptin mRNA expression was lower, while plasma leptin was higher in PN30, possibly due to a higher adipose mesenteric tissue production. At PN22, the hypothalamus seems to be more sensitive to leptin, since OBR and STAT3 are higher. Conversely, at PN30 leptin signaling pathway is suggestive of leptin resistance with lower STAT3 and higher SOCS3 in hypothalamus and consequently higher NPY. Glycemia was lower at PN22 and higher at PN30, without changes in plasma insulin levels. At PN30, BRO-treated rats had other metabolic changes such as higher plasma cholesterol, lower HDL-c, higher hepatic cholesterol and AST, suggesting a liver dysfunction. Our data show that milk supply can exert a crucial role in the imprinting of a second leptin peak, which is important for survival adaptation to adverse nutritional conditions.

Toxicological reproductive study of Cassia occidentalis L. in female Wistar rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cassia occidentalis L. (Leguminosae) has long been used as natural medicine in rainforests and other tropical regions for the treatment of inflammation, fever, liver disorders, constipation, worms, fungal infections, ulcers, respiratory infections, snakebite and as a potent abortifacient. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study has investigated the effects of oral sub-acute administration of Cassia occidentalis during pregnancy in female Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three groups of pregnant rats were treated orally from the 1st to the 6th day (pre-implantation period) and from the 7th to the 14th day (organogenic period) of pregnancy, with doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg. On the 20th day of pregnancy, the animals were euthanized and reproductive parameters evaluated. RESULTS: The results revealed no statistically significant differences between the control and treated groups in terms of offspring/dam relationship; fetuses, placentae and ovaries weights; number of implantation and resorption sites; number of corpora lutea in the ovaries and pre- and post-implantation loss rates. However, the presence of dead fetuses was registered in both doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg of Cassia occidentalis. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies should therefore be conducted to obtain more detailed characteristics of the toxic effects of this species, the use of which is not recommended during pregnancy.

Acute and subacute toxicity of the Carapa guianensis Aublet (Meliaceae) seed oil.

Carapa guianensis (Meliaceae), known as Andiroba in Brazil, has been used by Amazon Rainforest indigenous communities for treatment of coughs, convulsions, skin diseases, arthritis, rheumatism, ear infections, to heal wounds and bruises and as an insect repellent. Carapa guianensis seed oil (SO) was evaluated for its acute and subacute toxicity (30 days) by the oral route in Wistar rats. In the acute toxicity test, SO (0.625-5.0g/kg, n=5/sex) did not produce any hazardous symptoms or deaths. The subacute treatment with SO (0.375, 0.75 and 1.5g/kg, n=10/group) failed to change body weight gain, food and water consumption. Hematological analysis showed no significant differences in any of the parameters examined. However, in the biochemical parameters, there was an increase in the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) serum level (29%) in the group SO 1.5g/kg. In addition, absolute and relative liver weights were increased at the doses of 0.75g/kg (23.4 and 19.1%) and 1.5g/kg (18.7 and 33.1%). In conclusion, acute and subacute administration of Carapa guianensis seed oil did not produce toxic effects in male Wistar rats. However, the increase in the ALT serum level and in both absolute and relative liver weights may indicate a possible hepatic toxicity.

A toxicological evaluation of the effect of Carapa guianensis Aublet on pregnancy in Wistar rats.

The effects of the administration of Carapa guianensis Aublet (Meliaceae) seed oil were investigated during pregnancy in female Wistar rats. Five groups of pregnant rats (n=5-9 per group) were treated orally from the 7th to the 14th day of pregnancy (organogenic period), at doses of: 0, 0.375, 0.75, 1.5 and 3.0gkg(-1). On the 20th day of pregnancy, the animals were sacrificed and laparotomized to evaluate reproductive parameters. The results showed that there was no difference between the control and treated groups in terms of the number of live and dead fetuses, the dam-offspring relationship, the weight of the fetus, the weight of the placentae and ovaries, the number of implantation sites, the number of resorption sites, the number of corpora lutea in the ovaries, and the pre- and post-implantation loss rates. It is therefore concluded that administration of Carapa guianensis seed oil did not bring about any toxic effect on pregnancy in Wistar rats.

Avaliação do tratamento subcrônico com o extrato hidroalcoólico de Calendula officinalis L. sobre os parâmetros bioquímicos e hematológicos em ratas Wistar / Evaluation of the hydroalcoholic extract of Calendula officinalis L. on biochemical and hematological parameters in female Wistar rats

Os efeitos da administração oral subcrônica do extrato hidroalcoólico (EHA) preparado de flores de Calendula officinalis L. foram investigados sobre os parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos em ratas Wistar adultas. Quarenta ratas (n=10/grupo) foram tratadas durante 30 dias consecutivos com EHA por via oral nas doses de 0,25, 0,5, e 1,0 g/kg de peso e, em seguida, determinados os perfis bioquímico e hematológico e a massa dos órgãos. Os resultados mostram que durante o período do tratamento não se observou sinais de toxicidade ou morte. Os parâmetros bioquímicos e hematológicos, assim como a massa dos órgãos não foram modificados pela administração subcrônica do EHA, excetuando-se aumento significativo de 24,2 por cento para uréia na maior dose estudada e aumento, respectivamente, de 62,3, 30,2 e 44,4 por cento, para ALT. Na hematologia, registrou-se flutuação dentro dos valores de referência na contagem diferencial de neutrófilos, linfócitos e monócitos. Dessa forma, a administração subcrônica do extrato hidroalcoólico de Calendula officinalis não produz efeitos tóxicos sobre a maioria dos parâmetros bioquímicos e hematológicos estudados em ratas Wistar adultas. Entretanto, o aumento dos níveis séricos de uréia e alanina aminotransferase (ALT) em doses elevadas sugere sobrecargas renal e hepática, respectivamente, as quais devem ser investigadas em maiores detalhes.

The effects of the subchronic oral administration of the hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) prepared from flowers of Calendula officinalis L. were investigated on biochemical and hematological parameters in female adult Wistar rats. Forty female rats (n=10/group) were orally treated daily for 30 days with HAE at the doses of 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg body weight and the biochemical and hematological parameters and organ weight evaluated. The treatment did not cause any deaths or toxicity in the animals. The administration of HAE failed to change biochemical and hematological parameters and organ weight, except for an increase of 24.2 percent in blood urea nitrogen and 62.3, 30.2, and 44.4 percent, respectively, in alanine transaminase (ALT) plasma level. For the hematological parameters, there were slight changes in which neutrophil, lymphocyte and monocyte counts were not different from the reference values. In conclusion, the subchronic administration of HAE of Calendula officinalis did not induce any harzadous effects on most of the biochemical and hematological parameters studied in female adult Wistar rats. However, the increase in the levels in blood urea nitrogen and ALT in high doses, suggests a possible renal and hepatic overload which should be investigated in more detail.

Antiinflammatory and chronic toxicity study of the leaves of Ageratum conyzoides L. in rats.

The hydroalcoholic extract (HAE) of Ageratum conyzoides leaves was studied for its antiinflammatory effect on subacute (cotton pellet-induced granuloma) and chronic (formaldehyde-induced arthritis) models of inflammation in rats. The absence or presence of toxicity by prolonged use of HAE was also evaluated through biochemical and hematological analysis of rats blood samples using daily oral doses of 250 or 500 mg/kg body wt., during 90 days. The results showed that the group of rats treated with HAE (250 mg/kg body wt.; p.o.) had a 38.7% (p < 0.05) reduction in cotton-pellet granuloma. The development of chronically induced paw edema was also reduced significantly (p < 0.05) by the plant extract. The toxicity study did not show any treatment-related abnormalities in biochemical and hematological parameters. The biochemical analysis from blood samples drawn from group of rats treated orally with 500 mg/kg body wt. did, however, present 30.2% (p < 0.05) reduction of SGPT activity as compared to the corresponding control group. These results confirm the antiinflammatory properties of A. conyzoides, with no apparent hepatotoxicity.

[The partial inhibition of the growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing hormone after the administration of the calcium antagonist verapamil]. / Inhibición parcial de la respuesta de hormona de crecimiento a la hormona liberadora de hormona de crecimiento tras la administración del antagonista del calcio verapamil.

The changes produced by administering a calcium channel antagonist on the releasing of growth hormone (GH) induced by the growth hormone-releasing factor (GHRF), are studied. The study was performed on 7 healthy males between 25 and 35 years old, fasting and in bed. We measured the release of GH after the intravenous administration of 250 micrograms of GHRF on 2 successive occasions; one baseline and the second after 3 previous continuous days of 240 mg/day of verapamil. There were no statistically significant differences between the basal concentrations of GH before and after the administration of verapamil. However, the response of GH to GHRF, measured as maximum increase (before verapamil: 12.5 +/- 5.3; after verapamil: 9.5 +/- 3.9 ng/ml and total increase (before verapamil: 29.6 +/- 12.4; after verapamil: 21.6 +/- 11.9 ng/ml) was significantly lower after verapamil produces a partial blockade of GH release induced by GHRF.