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Electrodegradation of methylene blue dye in water and wastewater using lead oxide/titanium modified electrode.

A modified electrode was prepared by the electrodeposition of a lead oxide layer on a titanium substrate. This electrode was used as an anode for electrocatalytic oxidation process of dyestuff in aqueous solution. The modified electrode was used for electrochemical degradation of methylene blue dye. The results of the electrocatalytic oxidation process of the dyestuff solutions were expressed in terms of the remaining dye concentration and chemical oxygen demand (COD) values. Different operating conditions and factors that affected the treatment process including current density, pH, initial dye concentration, conductive electrolyte and time of electrolysis were studied. The optimum operating conditions for the dye and modified electrode were investigated. This has resulted in complete removal of the dye and COD. The optimum conditions were applied to the treatment of methylene blue dye in real wastewater solutions. These results indicate that the suggested modified electrode was highly efficient in the treatment of effluents containing methylene blue dye with very slight effect of matrix. This electrochemical system is robust in structure and simple in operation. It has the potential to be developed as a feasible and an effective wastewater treatment process.

Electrodes↗

Lipid-modified proteins as biomarkers for cardiovascular disease: a review.

Lipid-modified proteins are classified based on the identity of the attached lipid, a post- or co-translational modification required for their biological function. At least five different lipid modifications of cysteines, glycines and other residues on the COOH- and NH(2)-terminal domains have been described. Cysteine residues may be modified by the addition of a 16-carbon saturated fatty acyl group by a labile thioester bond (palmitoylation) or by prenylation processes that catalyze the formation of thioether bond with mevalonate derived isoprenoids, farnesol and geranylgeraniol. The NH(2)-terminal glycine residues may undergo a quite distinct process involving the formation of an amide bond with a 14-carbon saturated acyl group (myristoylation), while glycine residues in the COOH-terminal may be covalently attached with a cholesterol moiety by an ester bond. Finally, cell surface proteins can be anchored to the membrane through the addition of glycosylphosphatidylinositol moiety. Several lines of evidence suggest that lipid-modified proteins are directly involved in different steps of the development of lesions of atherosclerosis, from leukocyte recruitment to plaque rupture, and their expression or lipid modification are likely altered during atherogenesis. This review will briefly summarize the different enzymatic pathways of lipid modification and propose a series of lipid-modified proteins that can be used as biomarkers for cardiovascular disease.

Acyltransferases↗

The relationship between the rigidity of the liposomal membrane and the absorption of insulin after nasal administration of liposomes modified with an enhancer containing insulin in rabbits.

The relationship between the rigidity of the liposomal membrane and the absorption of insulin after nasal administration of liposomes modified with an enhancer containing insulin was investigated for the nasal delivery of peptide drugs in rabbits. The rigid liposomal membrane makes liposomes stable, protecting insulin from enzymatic degradation. Soybean-derived sterol (SS) or its sterylglucoside (SG) was used as an enhancer. Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes modified with SG had increased fluidity of the hydrophobic group of the liposome bilayer compared with the liposomes modified with cholesterol (Ch) or SS, as shown by measurements of the steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5,-hexatriene (DPH); however, the fluidity of the polar group of the liposome bilayer was decreased according to measurements of steady-state fluorescence anisotropy of dansylhexadecylamine (DSHA) at 37 degrees C. These findings suggest that the fluidity of the hydrophobic group of the liposome bilayer is responsible for the increase of liposomal leakage and instability of the liposomes. When insulin was administered nasally to rabbits as a solution, no hypoglycemic effect was observed. The administration of insulin contained in DPPC/SG (7/4, mole) liposomes with high fluidity caused a high glucose reduction of long duration (8 hr). DPPC/SS and DPPC/Ch (7/4) liposomes with low fluidity caused low glucose reductions. These results demonstrated that liposomes modified with SG can be useful as carriers of insulin administered nasally.

1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine↗

Development of modified release diltiazem HCl tablets using composite index to identify optimal formulation.

This article reports the preparation of tartaric acid treated ispaghula husk powder for the development of modified release tablets of diltiazem HCl by adopting direct compression technique and a 32 full factorial design. The modified ispaghula husk powder showed superior swelling and gelling as compared to untreated powder. Addition of compaction augmenting agent such as dicalcium phosphate was found to be essential for obtaining tablets with adequate crushing strength. In order to improve the crushing strength of diltiazem HCl tablets, to modulate drug release pattern, and to obtain similarity of dissolution profiles in distilled water and simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2), modified guar gum was used along with modified ispaghula husk powder and tartaric acid. A novel composite index, which considers a positive or a negative deviation from an ideal value, was calculated considering percentage drug release in 60, 300, and 540 min as dependent variables for the selection of a most appropriate batch. Polynomial equation and contour plots are presented. The concept of similarity factor (f2) was used to prove similarity of dissolution in water and simulated gastric fluid (pH 1.2).

Compressive Strength↗

Natural and modified nanomaterials as sorbents of environmental contaminants.

Nanotechnology is a revolutionary scientific and engineering concept that will have a large impact on our life. A core piece of this technology is the production of nanomaterials for electronic, chemical, medical, pharmaceutical, and environmental applications. In the last case, natural and modified natural nanomaterials would be good reference points for comparison of the functionality, cost, and potential ecological implications of synthetic nanomaterials. Here we investigated the performance of natural and modified nanomaterials (an allophane and a surface-modified smectite) in adsorbing copper (a common heavy metal contaminant), naphthalene (a representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon), or 17beta-estradiol (an endocrine-disrupting chemical). Allophane is an effective sorbent of copper (Cu): at pH 5.5 it can take up 4448 mg Cu/kg at the equilibrium concentration of 10mg Cu/L. On the other hand, the surface-modified smectite is an excellent sorbent for naphthalene and 17beta-estradiol. It can sorb 1180mg naphthalene/kg at the equilibrium concentration of 1 mg/L or remove 98% of 17beta-estradiol from a solution after 4h of reaction. While the environmental impact and health effects of synthetic nanomaterials are essentially unknown and their use is of concern, natural nanomaterials (e.g., allophane and smectites) have been part of human existence since antiquity. As such, they do not pose much risk either to the physical environment or to human health.

Adsorption↗

Genetic control of cytolytic t-lymphocyte responses. II. The role of the host genotype in parental leads to F1 radiation chimeras in the control of the specificity of cytolytic T-lymphocyte responses to trinitrophenyl-modified syngeneic cells.

Bone marrow cells from C3H (H-2k) mice, a strain that does not exhibit cross-reactive lysis of trinitrophenyl (TNP)-modified allogeneic targets, were allowed to mature in heavily irradiated (B6 times C3H)F1 (H-2b/k) recipients, an F1 hybrid that does demonstrate cross-reactive lysis. Spleen cells from these chimeric mice were removed after 3-4 mo and by H-2 typing shown to be of C3H origin. These cells were found to be tolerant to B6 alloantigens by mixed lymphocyte reaction and cell-mediated cytotoxicity and, when stimulated in vitro with TNP-modified syngeneic cells, now cross-reactively lysed TNP-modified allogeneic targets. These studies demonstrate that the host environment where T cells differentiate influences the specificity of the primary cytolytic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response to TNP-modified syngeneic antigens.

Animals↗

Novel macrophage receptor for glucose-modified proteins is distinct from previously described scavenger receptors.

A high-affinity macrophage receptor has been identified that recognizes proteins modified by a common in vivo process, long-term nonenzymatic reaction of glucose with proteins (AGE proteins). This receptor for glucose-modified proteins is now shown to be distinct from previously described scavenger receptors, using competition and crosscompetition experiments between AGE-modified protein and a variety of in vitro-modified scavenger receptor ligands, including unmodified BSA, unmodified low-density lipoproteins (LDL), acetyl-LDL, maleyl-BSA, and formaldehyde-treated BSA. Furthermore, the specific pattern of AGE-protein receptor inhibition by the polyanionic compounds polyinosinic acid, polyadenylic acid, polyglutamic acid, polycytidylic acid, fucoidin, and heparin was distinctly different from that of acetyl-LDL. By thus selectively recognizing a time-dependent in vivo protein modification, macrophages may preferentially degrade senescent macromolecules, thereby having an important role in the regulation of extracellular protein turnover.

Aging↗

Titration of transport and modifier sites in the red cell anion transport system.

This work demonstrates the existence of titratable transport and modifier sites in the anion transport system of human red cells. Effects of alkaline extracellular pH on chloride exchange were studied up to pH 13 at 0 degrees C. The studies revealed two sets of reversible titratable groups. One set, having a pK of or approximately 11, appeared to be identical with the inhibitory halide-binding modifier site. Deprotonation of this site stimulated anion transport. The apparent dissociation constants of chloride and iodide at this modifier site were 0.3 and 0.06 M, respectively, and it was confirmed that the organic sulfonate NAP-taurine inhibits anion transport reversibly by a high-affinity interaction with halide-binding modifier sites at the extracellular side of the membrane. Other groups, with apparent pK of or approximately 12 at chloride concentrations above 0.1 M, were named as "transport sites" because transport function depended totally on their protonation. The apparent pK decreased when extracellular halide concentrations was lowered below 0.1 M. It was dependent of the intracellular chloride concentration, and was equally sensitive to extracellular pH of 13, was fully reversible. Hydroxyl ions were not transported to an appreciable extent by the anion exchange system. The pK values of both sets of groups make it likely that they are both arginyl residues, functioning as anion recognition sites similar to the role of functionally essential arginyl residues observed with numerous enzymes.

Biological Transport↗

Comment on the modified Beer-Lambert law for scattering media.

We present a concise overview of the modified Beer-Lambert law, which has been extensively used in the literature of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) of scattering media. In particular, we discuss one form of the modified Beer-Lambert law that is commonly found in the literature and that is not strictly correct. However, this incorrect form of the modified Beer-Lambert law still leads to the correct expression for the changes in the continuous wave optical signal associated with changes in the absorption coefficient of the investigated medium. Here we propose a notation for the modified Beer-Lambert law that keeps the typical form commonly found in the literature without introducing any incorrect assumptions.

Biophysics↗

Serum 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-modified albumin is elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) is one of the major lipid peroxidation products with cytotoxic and mutagenic activity. It further reacts with protein residues such as histidine to generate stable Michael adducts. To evaluate the status of oxidative stress in the serum of type 2 diabetes mellitus, we constructed a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure serum HNE-modified albumin by the use of a specific monoclonal antibody (HNEJ-2) against HNE-histidine adducts as well as an antibody against human serum albumin. Serum of type 2 diabetes outpatients revealed significantly higher levels of HNE-modified albumin (736.1 +/- 34.2 pmol/ml, n = 54) than the matched nondiabetics (611.4 +/- 39.1 pmol/ml, n = 30; means +/- SEM; p = 0.018). However, no significant correlation was observed in diabetic outpatients between the levels of HNE-modified albumin and clinical parameters such as fasted blood glucose, HbA1c, diabetes duration, or complications. Our data demonstrated the increased formation of serum HNE-modified albumin in type 2 diabetic outpatients in the milieu between liver and vascular lumina, indicating the presence of oxidative stress.

Aged↗

Targeted killing of migrating glioma cells by injection of HTK-modified glioma cells.

The "bystander effect" describes the killing of nearby unmodified cells and herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HTK)-transduced cells by ganciclovir (GCV) treatment. This effect is thought to be produced by contact between these cells. In this study, we showed that injected glioma cells migrated rapidly to a place distant from the injection point whereas injected virus-producing fibroblast cells did not migrate in a murine brain model. Moreover, the initially injected glioma cells and glioma cells injected at a later time mix very well, even at a place distant from the injection point. This suggested that glioma cells migrating after injection could be targeted by HTK-modified glioma cells introduced in a second injection and be killed together by GCV treatment. Therefore, we injected HTK-modified glioma cells 3 days after injection of wild glioma cells to investigate whether wild-type glioma cells that migrated to a place distant from the injection point could also be killed by GCV treatment. Tumor growth was suppressed after the GCV treatment. Suppression of tumor growth of wild glioma cells is not solely mediated by the immune response, which may be triggered by the killing of HTK-modified glioma cells with GCV, because inoculation of HTK-modified glioma to the contralateral side followed by GCV treatment did not cure the initial wild glioma. Moreover, the migration of the second inoculum of glioma cells is necessary for effective killing, because early administration of GCV resulted in insufficient killing.

Animals↗

A modified ion-selective electrode method for measurement of chloride in sweat.

A modified method of analysis of sweat chloride concentration with an ion-selective electrode is presented. The original method of sweat chloride analysis proposed by the Orion Research Corporation (Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139) is inadequate because it produces erratic and misleading results. The modified method was compared with the reference quantitative method of Gibson and Cooke. In the modified method, individual electrode pads are cut and placed in the electrodes rather than using the pads supplied by the company; pilocarpine nitrate (2,000 mg/l) is used in place of pilocarpine HCl (640 mg/l); sodium bicarbonate as the weak electrolyte is used instead of K2SO4. A 10-minute period for sweat accumulation is employed rather than a zero-time collection as in the original Orion method. The modification has been studied for reproducibility in individuals, reproducibility between right and left arm in individuals; it has been compared extensively with the quantitative method of Gibson and Cooke, both in normal individuals and in patients with cystic fibrosis. There is excellent agreement between the modified method and the quantitative reference method. There appears to be a slight bias toward higher concentrations of chloride from the right arm compared with the left arm, but this difference is not medically significant.

Adolescent↗

A modified, solid phase radioimmunoassay for the differential diagnosis of acute and convalescent phases of hepatitis A infection.

The commercial assays for diagnosing the presence of hepatitis A antibodies (HAVAB; Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL) or the presence of IgM class anti-hepatitis A virus antibodies (HAVAB-M; Abbott) do not provide precise information as to the timing of the acute infection. IgM class antibodies are detected as late as six months after the acute infection. In this study the authors describe a modified HAVAB test that inactivates the IgM class antibodies. It thus measures the proportion of IgG antibodies out of the total anti-hepatitis A virus antibodies. In a study of 139 patients with impaired liver function, the available and modified tests showed good agreement except for the convalescent phase of hepatitis A. During serial testing for three months after the acute infection, the commercial tests continuously detected IgM class antibodies. The modified test detected predominantly IgG class antibodies from four weeks on. By six weeks, 85% of the patients had predominantly IgG class antibodies. The modified test thus provides information on the timing of recent hepatitis A infection.

Acute Disease↗

Comparison of the formation of proteins modified by direct and indirect ethanol metabolites in the liver and blood of rats fed the Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet.

It has been proposed that proteins modified by ethanol metabolites, such as acetaldehyde (AcH) or alpha-hydroxyethyl radicals (HER) may be an important step in the aetiology of alcoholic liver disease. Furthermore, it has also been suggested that these modified proteins may act as a marker of ethanol intake. In this study, we have measured the generation of various types of modified proteins in the liver and blood of ethanol-fed rats. Multiple types of protein modification were observed in the livers of the ethanol-fed rats. In each case, the level of modification increased over the first 6 weeks of ethanol feeding, but reached a plateau by 10 weeks. In contrast to the liver, elevated levels of proteins modified by malondialdehyde were not seen in the plasma of ethanol-fed animals, whereas elevated levels of modification due to AcH and HER were observed. In haemolysates from these animals, only modification due to AcH was seen. Further investigation of the modification of plasma proteins showed that albumin, a protein produced in the liver, carried all the types of modification investigated, whereas immunoglobulin G, a protein derived from an extra-hepatic source, only carried modifications due to acetaldehyde. This study demonstrates for the first time that modification of plasma proteins by ethanol metabolites can occur at both intra- and extra-hepatic sites.

Acetaldehyde↗

The interaction of asbestos and smoking in lung cancer: a modified measure of effect.

OBJECTIVES: The ratio of the relative risk of lung cancer due to asbestos exposure in non-smokers to that in smokers has been termed the relative asbestos effect (RAE). In a review, Liddell [Liddell FDK (2001) Ann Occup Hyg; 45: 341-56] estimated that the RAE was approximately 2. This measure is satisfactory when there is an appreciable relative risk due to asbestos but does not generalize to lower levels of exposure. A modified measure is proposed to overcome this difficulty. The modified measure, RAEm, is defined as the ratio of the excess relative risk (RR - 1) in non-smokers to that in smokers. METHODS: The cohort studies combined in Liddell's 2001 analysis have been used to give a combined estimate of the modified measure. RESULTS: The combined value of RAEm is 3.19 with 95% confidence interval 1.67-6.13. CONCLUSION: The excess relative risk of lung cancer from asbestos exposure is about three times higher in non-smokers than in smokers. The modified measure has been placed within a more versatile model of interaction. If interaction is present the relative risk from asbestos exposure changes only slightly between light and heavy smokers, but is higher in very light smokers and non-smokers. The relative risk estimated from epidemiological studies of a mixed population of non-smokers and smokers applies to smokers.

Asbestos↗

Release of chloroethyl ethyl sulfide-modified DNA bases by bacterial 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylases I and II.

Treatment with chloroethyl ethyl sulfide introduces the following modified bases into DNA: 7-ethylthioethylguanine, 3-ethylthioethyladenine, and O6-ethylthioethylguanine. Using the ethylthioethylated bases as models for DNA modifications involving relatively bulky alkyl groups, we have investigated the release of these bases by Escherichia coli 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylases I and II. 3-Methyladenine-DNA glycosylase I releases only 3-ethylthioethyladenine from chloroethyl ethyl sulfide-modified DNA, but does so at a rate which exceeds the rate of release of 3-methyladenine (m3A) from methyl nitrosourea-modified DNA under these conditions. 3-Methyladenine-DNA glycosylase II releases both 3-ethylthioethyladenine and 7-ethylthioethylguanine at rates approximating or exceeding the rate of release of m3A from methylnitrosourea-modified DNA. We conclude that these glycosylases may offer some protection against the toxicity of agents which introduce bulky groups into E. coli DNA.

Adenine↗

Preparation and characterization of antibodies against 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl-modified DNA.

Polyclonal antibodies for 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB)-DNA adducts were obtained from the sera of rabbits immunized with N-OH-DMAB-modified DNA. Using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), these antibodies were shown to recognize DNA modified by N-OH-DMAB and N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl, but not unmodified DNA, 2-acetylaminofluorene- or 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide-modified DNA, free aminobiphenyl or DMAB derivatives. Using competitive ELISA with DMAB-modified denatured DNA, a 50% inhibition of antibody antigen binding was caused by 7 fmol of DMAB adducts applied to each assay well as an inhibitor. Native DNA bearing adducts was associated with 50% inhibition in the range of 22-90 fmol/asay well, depending on the levels of modification. The adducts recognized by the antibody were shown to be stable against treatment of heat or alkali denaturation. Optimal conditions for the detection of adducts in DNA from the rat organs exposed to DMAB were established by means of competitive ELISA, using alkaline-denatured DNA as an inhibitor. Thus, as little as 5 fmol adducts in 1 microgram of DNA could be detected. Indirect immunofluorescence staining indicated that anti-DMAB-DNA antibodies bound specifically to nuclear components of rat fibroblast 3Y1 cells treated with N-OH-DMAB. The intensity of the fluorescence was proportional to the dose of carcinogen administered. The antibodies should be helpful for use in studies on the formation of adducts and their removal in cells and tissues after DMAB administration.

Aminobiphenyl Compounds↗

Differences in transformation of repair-deficient mutants of E. coli with BPDE- or chlorozotocin-modified plasmid DNA.

Plasmid pBR322 was alkylated with either chlorozotocin or with r-7,t-8-dihydroxy-t-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo-[a]pyrene (BPDE) before it was transformed into various strains of Escherichia coli. Plasmid survival was determined as ability to convert the bacteria to tetracycline and ampicillin resistance. Increased levels of alkylation caused a decrease in transforming activity in all strains studied. This decrease did not seem to be a result of alkylation induced strand scission, but rather some other biochemical or conformational change induced by the alkylating event. In E. coli AB1157 transformation was decreased by 50% with 6 alkylations/plasmid molecule for BPDE and 8-9 alkylations for chlorozotocin. At these levels of alkylation the loss in supercoiled DNA due to strand scission was less than 5%. Alkylated pBR322 was also transformed into repair-deficient strains of E. coli. In strain JC2924 (recA6) the survival of both BPDE- and chlorozotocin-modified DNA was similar to survival in the repair proficient strain AB1157, which would indicate that postreplicational repair of BPDE- or chlorozotocin-modified plasmid DNA was not significant under these conditions. Chlorozotocin-modified pBR322 did not seem to be repaired by the bacterial uvr-endonucleases as determined by plasmid survival in strains AB1884 (uvrC34), AB1885 (uvrB5) and AB1886 (uvrA6). With BPDE-alkylated plasmid DNA the results were strikingly different. Strains AB1884 and AB1886 were more sensitive to BPDE modified DNA than the wild type strain AB1157. Strain AB1885 was similar to AB1157 in sensitivity to BPDE-alkylated plasmid. These findings suggest that bacterial uvr-endonucleases may be able to recognize and repair BPDE-alkylated pBR322. The role of the uvrB protein in repair of alkylated DNA needs to be further investigated.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

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