Water containing cyanide was biologically detoxified with the bacterial strain
Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 in a batch reactor. Volatilization of toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) was avoided by ...using an alkaline medium for the treatment. The operational procedure was optimized to assess cyanide biodegradation at variable pH values and dissolved oxygen concentrations. Using an initial pH of 10 without subsequent adjustment allowed total cyanide to be consumed at a mean rate of approximately 2.81
mg CN
−
L
−1 O.D.
−1
h
−1; however, these conditions posed a high risk of HCN formation. Cyanide consumption was found to be pH-dependent. Thus, no bacterial growth was observed with a controlled pH of 10; on the other hand, pH 9.5 allowed up to 2.31
mg CN
−
L
−1 O.D.
−1
h
−1 to be converted. The combination of a high pH and a low dissolved oxygen saturation (10%) minimized the release of HCN. This study contributes new basic knowledge about this biological treatment, which constitutes an effective alternative to available physico-chemical methods for the purification of wastewater containing cyanide or cyano–metal complexes.
Background
The emotional state of parents of babies with Down syndrome affects their babies' development and their parent–child bonding. The aim for this study was to conduct a pilot randomised ...controlled evaluation of the effect of infant massage on parents of babies with Down syndrome.
Methods
This pilot study compared two groups (intervention and control), each with 16 parents of babies with Down syndrome. Indices of acceptance, engagement and awareness of influence were measured at two different time points (pre‐test and after 5 weeks) using the ‘This Is My Baby’ Interview. The allocation of families to each group was randomised. The experimental group performed infant massage, applied by the parents, for 5 weeks, every day for at least 10 min. The massage protocol was based on the methodology created by Vimala McClure. Parents in the control group received the intervention after completion of the study.
Results
The indices of acceptance, commitment and awareness of influence improved in the experimental group and in the control group. The 2 × 2 mixed‐model analysis of variance indicates a statistically significant group‐by‐time interaction for all indices (P < 0.001), which was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group.
Conclusions
The application of infant massage, by parents to their babies, improves the rates of acceptance, commitment and awareness of influence of parents of babies with Down syndrome in the short term.
•Studies on cyanotrophic microorganisms have been focused on specific genes and/or proteins required for cyanide degradation.•A global analysis of the cyanotrophic P. pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 in ...response to cyanide by DNA microarrays is described.•This transcriptomic analysis may be of great relevance for bioremediation of mining and jewelry cyanide-containing residues.
Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 is an alkaliphilic bacterium that can use cyanide as nitrogen source for growth, becoming a suitable candidate to be applied in biological treatment of cyanide-containing wastewaters. The assessment of the whole genome sequence of the strain CECT5344 has allowed the generation of DNA microarrays to analyze the response to different nitrogen sources. The mRNA of P. pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 cells grown under nitrogen limiting conditions showed considerable changes when compared against the transcripts from cells grown with ammonium; up-regulated genes were, among others, the glnK gene encoding the nitrogen regulatory protein PII, the two-component ntrBC system involved in global nitrogen regulation, and the ammonium transporter-encoding amtB gene. The protein coding transcripts of P. pseudoalcaligenes CECT5344 cells grown with sodium cyanide or an industrial jewelry wastewater that contains high concentration of cyanide and metals like iron, copper and zinc, were also compared against the transcripts of cells grown with ammonium as nitrogen source. This analysis revealed the induction by cyanide and the cyanide-rich wastewater of four nitrilase-encoding genes, including the nitC gene that is essential for cyanide assimilation, the cyanase cynS gene involved in cyanate assimilation, the cioAB genes required for the cyanide-insensitive respiration, and the ahpC gene coding for an alkyl-hydroperoxide reductase that could be related with iron homeostasis and oxidative stress. The nitC and cynS genes were also induced in cells grown under nitrogen starvation conditions.
In cells grown with the jewelry wastewater, a malate quinone:oxidoreductase mqoB gene and several genes coding for metal extrusion systems were specifically induced.
The development of two different immunoassays for the determination of fumonisin B1 in wheat samples is reported. A previously described mimopeptide for fumonisin B1 (FB1) was used to produce fusion ...proteins in combination with two different luciferases: Gaussia luciferase (GLuc) and NanoLuc luciferase (NLuc). The production, expression and the development of two immunoassays based on these fusion proteins (A2‐GLuc and A2‐NLuc) is detailed. The assay showing the best performance, A2‐NLuc, with a limit of detection of 0.61 ng mL−1 and a dynamic range from 1.9 to 95 ng mL−1, was employed for the analysis of spiked wheat samples, a reference matrix material, as well as naturally contaminated wheat samples. The recoveries obtained in the spiked samples were acceptable, between 81.5 and 109 %, with relative standard deviations lower than 14 %. The analysis of naturally contaminated wheat was validated by a liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass detection method.
A comparative study of the performance of two different luciferases, Gaussia and NanoLuc Luciferase, expressed in combination with a fumonisin mimopeptide was carried out in this work. The fusion protein showing the best performance was used for the analysis of fumonisin B1 in wheat samples in combination with a bead‐based immunoassay.
To develop a Spanish version of the Rett Syndrome Motor Evaluation Scale (RESMES) for the locomotor function of Rett Syndrome (RTT) using a transcultural methodology.
The RESMES was cross-culturally ...adaptated and validated in the Spanish language (RESMES-sp). This study was divided into two well-differentiated phases: 1) a cross-cultural translation and adaptation; 2) psychometric characteristics analysis of the RESMES-sp (reliability, test-retest, construct validity, criteria validity, error measurements). For criteria validity, PAINAD questionnaire, the scoliosis values and PedsQL™, were used.
A total of 63 girls and women diagnosed with RTT participated in this validation study. The total value of the RESMES-sp correlates significantly with all its dimensions, with the correlation value oscillating between 0.645 and 0.939. The correlation value with PAINAD ranges between 0.439 and 0.805; the scoliosis values ranges between 0.245 and 0.564; with PedsQOL™ questionnaire, the correlation values range between 0.273 and 0.663 for the PedsQL™ dimensions, and between 0.447 and 0.648 for the total value of PedsQOL™ questionnaire. The reliability values of Crombach's alpha ranged between 0.897 and 0.998 for the intra-observer analyses and between 0.904 and 0.998 for the inter-observer reliability. The SEM showed a value of 2,829, while the MDC90 showed a value of 6601. The Exploratory Factor Analysis showed 6 factors and values of variance of 86.163%.
The Spanish version of the RESMES is a reliable and valid tool for the functional assessment and follow-up of patients with RTT.
•In Rett syndrome it is essential to assess locomotor impairment with appropriate tools.•As The phenotype of rett syndrome is varied, both girls and adult women have been evaluated.•The outcome from any study or research design should be measured by validated instruments.
This article is part of the Focus Theme of Methods of Information in Medicine on "Methodologies, Models and Algorithms for Patients Rehabilitation".
To identify support of a virtual reality system in ...the kinematic assessment and physiotherapy approach to gait disorders in individuals with stroke.
We adapt Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS), software widely used in the functional recovery of the upper limb, for its use on the lower limb of hemiplegic patients. Clinical scales have been used to relate them with the kinematic assessment provided by the system. A description of the use of reinforced feedback provided by the system on the recovery of deficits in several real cases in the field of physiotherapy is performed. Specific examples of functional tasks have been detailed, to be considered in creating intelligent health technologies to improve post-stroke gait.
Both participants improved scores on the clinical scales, the kinematic parameters in leg stance on plegic lower extremity and walking speed > Minimally Clinically Important Difference (MCID).
The use of the VRRS software attached to a motion tracking capture system showed their practical utility and safety in enriching physiotherapeutic assessment and treatment in post-stroke gait disorders.
Strains of Penicillium spp. are used for fungi-ripened cheeses and Aspergillus spp. routinely contaminate maize and other crops. Some of these strains can produce toxic secondary metabolites ...(mycotoxins), including the neurotoxin α-cyclopiazonic acid (CPA). In this work, we developed a homogeneous upconversion-resonance energy transfer (UC-RET) immunoassay for the detection of CPA using a novel epitope mimicking peptide, or mimotope, selected by phage display. CPA-specific antibody was used to isolate mimotopes from a cyclic 7-mer peptide library in consecutive selection rounds. Enrichment of antibody binding phages was achieved, and the analysis of individual phage clones revealed four different mimotope peptide sequences. The mimotope sequence, ACNWWDLTLC, performed best in phage-based immunoassays, surface plasmon resonance binding analyses, and UC-RET-based immunoassays. To develop a homogeneous assay, upconversion nanoparticles (UCNP, type NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+) were used as energy donors and coated with streptavidin to anchor the synthetic biotinylated mimotope. Alexa Fluor 555, used as an energy acceptor, was conjugated to the anti-CPA antibody fragment. The homogeneous single-step immunoassay could detect CPA in just 5 min and enabled a limit of detection (LOD) of 30 pg mL−1 (1.5 μg kg−1) and an IC50 value of 0.36 ng mL−1. No significant cross-reactivity was observed with other co-produced mycotoxins. Finally, we applied the novel method for the detection of CPA in spiked maize samples using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) as a reference method.
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•Isolation of mimotopes of the neurotoxin cyclopiazonic acid by phage display.•Detection of cyclopiazonic acid using an ultrafast homogeneous immunoassay.•Upconversion-resonance energy transfer (UC-RET) in combination with mimotopes.•Analysis of cyclopiazonic acid in maize samples.
A genomic HABP2 variant was proposed to be responsible for familial nonmedullary thyroid carcinoma (FNMTC). However, its involvement has been questioned in subsequent studies. We aimed to identify ...genetic HABP2 mutations in a series of FNMTC patients and investigate their involvement in the disease.
HABP2 was sequenced from 6 index patients. Presence of the variants was investigated in all members of one family. Somatic BRAF and RAS "hotspot" mutations were investigated by the IdyllaTM BRAF Mutation Test and/or Sanger sequencing.
Two HABP2 variants (p.E393Q and p.G534E) were identified in the index patient from one family with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (follicular variant). The prevalence of p.E393Q in Spanish control alleles was 0.5% and that of p.G534E was 5.1%. However, neither change cosegregated with the phenotype in 3 affected members and 5 healthy members of the kindred. Interestingly, all 3 members affected by PTC harbored the p.V600E somatic mutation in BRAF.
The variant G534E is prevalent in the Spanish population (5.1%); however, p.E393Q is rare (< 1%) and none cosegregated with the FNMTC phenotype. The presence of the noninheritable V600E BRAF mutation in this family supports Knudson's "double-hit" hypothesis for cancer development and suggests the involvement of more than 1 gene in the clinical expression of FNMTC.
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