Podcasts about pretreatment

This week, Jonathan is joined by Dr Shahram Kordasti, Associate Professor in Applied Cancer Immunopathology at King's College London, UK. In this episode, Dr Kordasti discusses the immunobiology of Myelodysplastic syndrome and Aplastic anaemia, the role of CD4+ T cells in myeloid malignancies, and how cutting-edge computational tools are enhancing treatment strategies.   Timestamps:  (00:00)-Introduction  (01:23)-Hodgkin's lymphoma origin   (04:21)- Immunobiology of diseases  (08:55)-Plasticity of T cells   (13:42)-Computational biology and multiomics for patient stratification  (21:00)-Standardising immune monitoring  (25:41)- Pretreatment with systemic agents  (27:55)- Myeloproliferative neoplasms  (31:48)-Synthetic data generation   (36:22)-Exciting developments on the horizon   (39:16)-Three wishes for healthcare  

In this episode Daryl J. Gotham, PE, Senior Research Engineer at the Great Lakes Environmental Infrastructure Center interviews Anne Tavalire of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) about the national pretreatment program rules and implementation. Anne is a Regional Pretreatment Program Specialist with EGLE.  

JACC Associate Editor Seng Chan You, MD, and author Hiroki Ueyama, MD discuss this study presented at AHA and published in JACC. NCDR study finds a steady decline in P2Y12 inhibitor pretreatment for NSTE-ACS in the US, but significant variability persists among operators, institutions, and regions. This practice was not associated with any benefits but was linked to a longer length of stay among those undergoing CABG, underscoring the importance of maintaining efforts to integrate evidence into clinical practice.

In this episode we discuss fee schedules for fats, oils, and grease (FOG) Pretreatment programs. We discuss how fee schedules can be developed to effectively enforce Pretreatment regulations and how different strategies can be used for different Pretreatment programs. We also discuss how fees can be used as more than just a form of punishment, but also as a tool to encourage and help FOG producers protect their business and the community around them. Presenters: Dawn Nall & AJ Barney, Southewest Environmental Finance Center

Happy Careers Friday, Scaling UP! Nation! As we wrap up Industrial Water Week 2024, we want to thank you for celebrating with us. This week, we dove deep into Pretreatment, Boilers, Cooling, Wastewater, and now Careers. You can revisit all these episodes by visiting our Industrial Water Week Resources Page. Next Friday, we'll be back to our regular schedule, delivering fresh insights to help you scale up your water knowledge. Thank Someone Who Shaped Your Career Your success is built on the shoulders of those who helped you along the way. Today, take a moment to write a handwritten card to someone who impacted your career. It's amazing how a simple note of gratitude can brighten someone's day and create lasting bonds. Connect with the Scaling UP! Community Our podcast has built a global network of water professionals, and we're honored to be part of your journey. Whether you're driving from account to account or catching up on episodes, remember—you're not alone. The community we've built is here to support your growth, and so are our free online resources. Show Us How You Celebrate! Share your celebration! Post pictures of you with your team, mentor, client, or even your Industrial Water Week cake. Let's flood social media with photos using #IndustrialWaterWeek2024 and #IWW24 to show the world why we love this industry! Career Advice from Water Industry Leaders Dragan Savić FREng encourages you to jump into the water industry by simply asking professionals about their experiences. Don't wait—start that conversation today! Kalpna Solanki highlights the purpose and global reach of becoming an environmental operator: “What could be more purposeful than providing safe drinking water and wastewater management?” Blaine Nagao shares how mentorship launched his career in water treatment. Stay visible with technology, build client relationships, and keep sharing what makes this field great Join a Mastermind of Water Leaders Want to elevate your career even further? The Rising Tide Mastermind is your chance to connect with like-minded professionals, tackle challenges together, and grow your career. With four spots available, now's the time to join! Apply at www.ScalingUpH2O.com/Mastermind and be part of a supportive community that wants to see you succeed. Thank you for making Industrial Water Week 2024 unforgettable! Timestamps 0:01 - Welcome to Careers Friday! Trace Blackmore shares three key tasks as we conclude this spectacular week. 10:45 -  Dragan Savić FREng, the CEO of and Professor of Hydroinformatics at the KWR Water Research Institute 13:00 - Kalpna Solanki, Board Trustee of the Water Environment Federation (WEF) 14:09 - Blaine Nagao, Senior Director of Smart Release Technology at Dober 19:30 - Detective H2O - The Case of Hard Diagnosis Connect with the Scaling UP! H2O Team Email Executive Producer Corrine Drury: corrine@blackmore-enterprises.com Corrine Drury Phone: 224-828-9514 LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/ linkedin.com/in/corrinedrury Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea Connect with Blaine Nagao Phone: 817.913.8030 Email: bnagao@dober.com Website: www.dober.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/blaine-nagao-cwt-953822110/ linkedin.com/company/dober/ Connect with Dragan Savić FREng  Email: directiesecretariaatkwr@kwrwater.nl Website: www.kwrwater.nl/en/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dragansavic/ www.linkedin.com/company/kwr-water-research-institute/ Connect with Kalpna Solanki Phone: 778.688.9196 Email: kalpnasolanki1980@gmail.com Website: Water Environment Federation (WEF) LinkedIn: Kalpna Solanki, MBA Water Environment Federation (WEF) Links Mentioned Industrial Water Week Resources Page The Rising Tide Mastermind AWT Innovation Award, Scaling UP! H2O was the 2024 Recipient 367 Smart Solutions: How Solid Chemistry Can Transform Your Business 355 Backflow Prevention: Safeguarding Water Quality 356 Unlocking the Future: Collaborative Water Management 106 The One with the Agnostic Equipment Guy

The wait is over! It's time to celebrate the best job in the world and each other during Industrial Water Week! As part of the Scaling UP! Nation, we want to see you in action – take a selfie in front of your favorite water softener or RO unit and tag it with #IWW24, #IndustrialWaterWeek, and #ScalingUpH2O. It can be lonely driving from account to account, but this week reminds us that we're all part of a global community of water professionals. Let's come together to celebrate the incredible work we do and shine a light on the countless opportunities in water. Today is Pretreatment Monday, and we're kicking things off with an episode packed with insights on water softener calculations, elution studies, and a special visit from  Keith Karl, ICONX Chemicals, Inc. Equipment Division President, who's here to wish everyone a happy Pretreatment Monday! Tune in each day this week as we release a new episode highlighting the critical elements of industrial water treatment. Want to learn more about Industrial Water Week? Visit the free Resources dropdown at www.ScalingUpH2O.com to explore all things Pretreatment, Boilers, Cooling, Wastewater, and Careers in water. Have a show idea? Let us know! We're always looking for new ways to bring you the best educational content to help you scale up your water career. Happy Pretreatment Monday! Timestamps 0:01 - Trace Blackmore welcomes you to the Water Treaters podcast and the very first day of Industrial Water Week 2024 10:00 - Our friend Keith Karl, ICONX Chemicals, Inc. Equipment Division President stops by to wish everyone a happy Pretreatment Monday 11:15 - Additional water resources, water softener calculations, and elution studies   25:20 - Detective H2O - The Case of Normalization Connect with Keith Karl Phone: +1 732 715 1372 Email: keith@iconxchemicals.com Website: http://www.iconxchemicals.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keith-karl-4435a9249/ Links Mentioned Chloride Elution Study Procedure and Data Interpretation Industrial Water Week Resources Page Submit a Show Idea

Looking to unlock the secret to operational efficiency and instrument longevity in your Operating Room & Sterile Processing department? What if there was a comprehensive solution to streamline your workflow and extend the life of your instruments? In this week's Beyond Clean Vendor Spotlight™, we're joined by Jarrod Watson-Lewis, Brand Manager for OR Disposables and SPD Portfolio, and Brian Sidow, Staff Scientist at Stryker, to explore Stryker's innovative approach to instrument pretreatment and their clinically proven strategies for enhancing the lifespan of your SPD's power tools. Discover how Stryker's Speed Spray and detergent lineup—including Blu62, E62, and Auto62—are revolutionizing the way healthcare facilities like yours streamline operations and reduce costs, all while maintaining the highest standards of patient safety. Tune in today to learn how Stryker's game-changing solutions can transform your SPD reprocessing workflows, every instrument, every time! For deeper insights, don't miss the chance to explore the Blu62 Pretreatment White Paper and Cleaning Validation and Compatibility Study for Auto62, available as bonus content on the Beyond Clean mobile app. Ready to transform your OR/SPD experience? Head over to stryker.com for more details. For further information or inquiries, feel free to connect with your local Stryker Power Rep for more info. And don't forget to follow Stryker on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/stryker/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/strykercareers/) for the latest updates!

"Minute with Mayor Mike Wilson" News Director Greg Taylor talks with Red Wing Mayor Mike Wilson with a recap of the City Council meeting on Monday: Introduction of Jack Strusz, Public Works Field Lab Technician. Jack Strusz has completed his probationary period and will be introduced to City Council and the Mayor by his supervisor, Jerry Plein, Deputy Director of Utilities. Housing and Redevelopment Authority Director Kurt Keena provided an update on HRA activities. Approved the Private Use of Public Property (PUPP) Application for Walk to End Alzheimer's. The River Cities/Red Wing Walk to End Alzheimer's will hold their annual event on September 20 - 21, 2024, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Colvill Park. Organizers have reserved Colvill Courtyard for the event and will utilize the area around the Courtyard, the walking paths within Colvill Park, and the parking lot. Passed motion for the City of Red Wing Letter to the Public Utilities Commission Regarding the IRP. Passed motion to Introduce Ordinance, Amending Chapter 3 of the Red Wing City Code, Controls on Use of Public Sewers and Pretreatment of Industrial Wastewater

Huzzah! Another week, another solosode and more research to delve into and learn from. Just what the doctor ordered...​​But before we cover research, I thought it would be worth our while to learn from the Finnish biohacking experts  — one of which is previous TRLR guest, Dr. Olli Sovijärvi  — in their massive tome, Biohacker's Handbook. Specifically, I thought it would be great provide you with some strategies and tactics for your sauna sessions via a sauna protocol they provide in the book. It's a protocol I've used myself over the years and works wonders for detoxing.On the research side of things, we first dive into an interesting study that looks at pretreatment with methylene blue in neonatals to reduce toxin-induced brain and cognitive deficits. While it may not seem like the most relatable topic, there are a lot of great take away points from the article that I discuss. The second article thoroughly addresses how the combination of our gut microbiome and dybiosis along with dysfunctional mitochondria and suppressed NAD+ levels set the stage for the dreaded milieu of chronic symptoms associated with Long COVID. While they don't provide solutions for the issues they highlight, it's safe to say that both red light therapy and methylene blue have a major role to play with the road to recovery from Long COVID, based on the root causes outlined in the article. I hope you enjoy the information in today's solosode. Please share this episode with family, friends and colleagues if you find the content especially interesting and/or impactful.As always, light up your health! - Key points: Introduction (00:00:01 - 00:00:28): Dr. Mike Belkowski introduces Red Light Report, focusing on red light therapy for health. Listener Engagement and Infrared Saunas (00:00:28 - 00:00:54): Acknowledgment of December episodes, interest in photobiomodulation, and previous episode on infrared saunas. Techniques for Infrared Sauna Users (00:00:54 - 00:01:22): Response to listener requests, teasing techniques, and reference to "The Biohackers Handbook." Insights from "The Biohackers Handbook" (00:01:22 - 00:01:49): Introduction of Dr. Olli Sovijärvi, overview of the book, and comprehensive information. Sauna Types and Health Benefits (00:02:16 - 00:02:37): Discussion on traditional and infrared saunas, benefits, and Finnish tradition. Infrared Sauna Overview (00:03:36 - 00:04:11): Introduction to infrared saunas, far infrared's impact, and comparison to red and near-infrared light. Methylene Blue Introduction (00:06:24 - 00:07:02): Introduction to methylene blue, historical background, and primary target in brain protection. Methylene Blue Protocol (00:08:05 - 00:08:34): Introduction to the protocol, brisk movement, infrared sauna, and consumption of mineral-rich fluids. Methylene Blue Study Introduction (00:10:00 - 00:10:27): Discussion on the vulnerability of the developing brain to anesthesia and investigating methylene blue's effects. Study Findings on Methylene Blue Pretreatment (00:25:28 - 00:26:17): Comprehensive study methods and impact on mitochondrial health and cognitive deficits. Methylene Blue Dosage Recommendations (00:24:18 - 00:24:52): General health dose considerations, Mark Sloan's recommendation, and advocacy for ten milligrams twice a day. Methylene Blue and Red Light Therapy Synergy (00:28:06 - 00:28:30): Discussion on the synergy between methylene blue and red light therapy. Study Reflection and Implications (00:28:30 - 00:28:56): Reflection on study outcomes, reduction of negative effects, and potential applications. Conclusion and Article Recommendation (00:32:53 - 00:33:28): Wrap-up with focus on methylene blue's benefits and encouragement to read the detailed article on long COVID. Closing Thoughts on Methylene Blue (00:37:33 - 00:38:02): Recap of key points, importance for mitochondrial health, and assurance of Bio Blue's quality. Research Validation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction (38:02:21 - 38:31:01): Emphasizes validating methylene blue's use. Connects illnesses, including long COVID, to mitochondrial dysfunction. Advocates for NAD+ precursor in methylene blue for optimal mitochondrial function. Deleterious Effects of Long COVID on Energy Production (38:31:04 - 39:16:04): Highlights long COVID's impact on energy production. Stresses the importance of addressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Role of NAD+ in Metabolic Stress (39:16:07 - 39:48:04): Discusses NAD+'s role in metabolic stress. Explores intricate molecular mechanisms in long COVID. NAD+ Depletion and Abnormalities in Long COVID (39:48:06 - 40:24:07): Focuses on NAD+ depletion and abnormalities in long COVID. Points out potential triggers for long COVID pathogenesis. Interplay of Dysregulation and Mitochondria (40:24:12 - 40:49:03): Emphasizes interconnected dysregulation phases. Discusses connections between dysbiosis, leaky electron transport chain, and long COVID. Conclusion: Key Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunction (40:49:05 - 41:27:14): Stresses mitochondrial dysfunction's key role in long COVID. Calls for follow-up and individualized health programs for post-COVID patients. Cheeky Phases of Mitochondria and Dysbiosis (41:27:14 - 41:58:26): Discusses cheeky references to mitochondria phases. Highlights systemic inflammation, dysfunctional mitochondria, and red light therapy's potential. Leaky Gut, Electron Transport Chain, and Oxidative Stress (41:58:28 - 42:21:11): Explores connections between dysbiosis, leaky electron transport chain, and oxidative stress. Advocates for red light therapy in addressing these issues. Conclusion on Modern Mitochondrial Dysfunction (42:21:11 - 42:54:16): Summarizes modern mitochondrial dysfunction's role in long COVID. Emphasizes reciprocal actions between infection, dysbiosis, and inflammation. Conclusion on Dysbiosis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction (42:54:18 - 43:48:03): Highlights dysbiosis's role in long COVID. Advocates for further study and individualized health programs. Role of Dysbiosis in Long COVID (43:48:05 - 44:17:00): Discusses dysbiosis and its impact. Highlights effects of pandemic stress on intestinal dysbiosis and mental health. Persistence of SARS-CoV-2 and Dysfunctional Mitochondria (44:17:03 - 44:51:21): Explores SARS-CoV-2 remnants and dysfunctional mitochondria in long COVID. Advocates for follow-up and assistance through individualized health programs. Oral Microbiome and Red/Blue Light Therapy (44:51:26 - 45:18:29): Discusses oral microbiome, harmful bacteria, and red/blue light therapy. Emphasizes potential impact on the gut-brain axis. Targeting Specific Organs with Red Light Therapy (45:19:02 - 45:55:03): Discusses red light therapy's targeted benefits. Advocates for a holistic approach to health. Red Light Therapy for Long COVID Recovery (45:55:05 - 46:18:11): Explores red light therapy's potential in long COVID recovery. Advocates for ongoing research. Holistic Therapies and Societal Impact (46:18:14 - 46:43:17): Reflects on the societal impact of holistic therapies. Emphasizes a shift toward holistic, individualized healthcare. Addressing Dysbiosis and Mitochondrial Dysfunction (46:43:20 - 47:08:16): Stresses the need to address dysbiosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. Highlights the role of personalized health programs and holistic therapies. Impact of Modern Lifestyles on Health (47:08:18 - 47:42:23): Reflects on modern lifestyles' impact on health. Emphasizes lifestyle modifications and individualized approaches. Empowering Individuals with Holistic Approaches (47:42:26 - 48:11:05): Advocates for empowering individuals with holistic approaches. Stresses the role of education and awareness. NAD+ as a Key Player in Health Optimization (48:11:07 - 48:51:03): Highlights NAD+'s significance in health optimization. Advocates for a holistic approach and targeted therapies. Promoting Well-Being Through Holistic Approaches (48:51:10 - 49:18:03): Discusses the broader implications of holistic approaches. Advocates for a paradigm shift toward preventive healthcare. Closing Thoughts and Invitation to Share (49:18:05 - 49:40:19): Shares closing thoughts on holistic approaches. Invites listeners to share feedback and explore holistic modalities. Reflecting on an Exciting Episode (49:40:21 - 50:23:01): Reflects on the excitement and impact of the episode. Summarizes topics, including infrared sauna, methylene blue, quantum health, and long COVID. Closing Remarks and Gratitude (50:23:01 - 51:30:09): Encourages exploration of topics covered in the episode. - Book & Articles Referenced in Episode:   Biohackers Handbook - Olli Sovijärvi, Teemu Arina, Jaakko Halmetoja   Methylene Blue Pretreatment Protects Against Repeated Neonatal Isoflurane Exposure-Induced Brain Injury and Memory Loss Gut Microbiota and Mitochondria: Health and Pathophysiological Aspects of Long COVID - Methylene blue is considered to be one of the —  if not THE  —  best antiviral around. Especially during the winter season, proactively using methylene blue could be one of the best options to ward off viruses and illness. It should be in everyone's toolkit!BioBlue not only utilizes the purest-sourced pharmaceutical grade methylene blue available, but it also includes NMN (the precursor to NAD+) to boost mitochondrial support and silver and gold colloidal for photodynamic properties with red light therapy, amongst other benefits. Save 15% on your BioBlue order! Use coupon code "BioBlue15" - Kindle version of Red Light Therapy Treatment Protocols eBook, 4th Edition - To learn more about red light therapy and shop for the highest-quality red light therapy products, visit https://www.biolight.shop - Dr. Mike's #1 recommendations: Grounding products: Earthing.com EMF-mitigating products: Somavedic Blue light-blocking glasses: Ra Optics - Stay up-to-date on social media: Dr. Mike Belkowski: Instagram LinkedIn   BioLight: Instagram YouTube Facebook

In this episode, we dive into collection systems. We discuss the basic components that make-up collection systems and their objectives. Wastewater starts at your homes, then travels to the wastewater treatment plant, and we will discuss all the parts that get it there. Finally, we talk about what it takes to maintain that system and what is done to protect it. Please join us for this in-depth journey from your drains through the sewers!

BUFFALO, NY- December 5, 2023 – A new #researchpaper was #published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 15, Issue 22, entitled, “Contribution of membrane raft redox signalling to visfatin-induced inflammasome activation and podocyte injury.” The number of obese patients with end stage renal disease has increased significantly worldwide in the last few decades. Obesity results in an increased risk for chronic kidney diseases like diabetes and hypertension which consequently result in chronic kidney disease or even end-stage renal disease. However, the exact mechanism of how obesity increases the advancement of chronic kidney disease is still uncertain. Recently, researchers Saisudha Koka, Sreenidhi Surineni, Gurinder Bir Singh, and Krishna M. Boini from the University of Houston, Texas A&M University and the University of California Riverside have shown that adipokine visfatin-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation contributes to podocyte injury. However, the molecular mechanisms of how visfatin induces the Nlrp3 inflammasome activation and podocyte damage is still unknown. The present study tested whether the membrane raft (MR) redox signaling pathway plays a central role in visfatin-induced NLRP3 inflammasomes formation and activation in podocytes. “In this study, it is proposed that visfatin induces the NLRP3 inflammasome activation in podocytes, leading to glomerular inflammatory injury in the kidney and the development of CKD, may be primarily driven by NADPH oxidase-mediated membrane raft redox signalling.” Upon visfatin stimulation, an aggregation of NADPH oxidase subunits, gp91phox and p47phox, was observed in the MR clusters, forming an MR redox signaling platform in podocytes. The formation of this signaling platform was blocked by prior treatment with MR disruptor MCD or NADPH oxidase inhibitor DPI. In addition, visfatin stimulation significantly increased the colocalization of Nlrp3 with Asc or Nlrp3 with caspase-1, IL-β production, cell permeability in podocytes compared to control cells. Pretreatment with MCD, DPI, WEHD significantly abolished the visfatin-induced colocalization of NLRP3 with Asc or NLRP3 with caspase-1, IL-1β production and cell permeability in podocytes. Furthermore, Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that visfatin treatment significantly decreased the podocin and nephrin expression (podocyte damage) and prior treatments with DPI, WEHD, MCD attenuated this visfatin-induced podocin and nephrin reduction. In conclusion, their results suggest that visfatin stimulates membrane raft clustering in the membrane of podocytes to form redox signaling platforms by aggregation and activation of NADPH oxidase subunits enhancing O2·− production, leading to NLRP3 inflammasome activation in podocytes and ultimate podocyte injury. “Through experiments conducted on cultured podocytes, we have demonstrated, for the first time that membrane raft-associated redox signalling is essential for the NLRP3 inflammasomes assembly and activation in response to visfatin, subsequently resulting in podocyte dysfunction and injury. These findings shed light on a novel mechanism underlying inflammasome activation and injury of podocytes triggered by visfatin.” DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.205243 Corresponding author - Krishna M. Boini - kmboini@uh.edu Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIzaHj31GBo Visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us: SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/Aging-Us Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/ X - https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agingjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AgingJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aging/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/AgingUS/ MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM

Welcome to a special episode of Wastewater Thursday, part of this year's Industrial Water Week celebration. I'm your host, Trace Blackmore, and today, we're revisiting an enlightening conversation from earlier this year with the distinguished Dr. Rakesh Govind. In this episode, Dr. Govind delves into the pressing issues and the future of wastewater treatment. He highlights the challenge of our current centralized wastewater treatment systems, where vast networks of sewer lines transport water to centralized plants. Unfortunately, most of these plants discharge their treated water into rivers that ultimately lead to the ocean, resulting in a loss of precious groundwater resources. The consequences of this unsustainable practice are far-reaching and could have severe repercussions for future generations. Dr. Govind advocates for a paradigm shift towards decentralized wastewater treatment. By treating water locally and returning it to the ground where it originates, we can restore and regenerate groundwater tables. This proactive approach is not just an environmental necessity; it's vital for our survival. Without a sustainable water supply, we jeopardize not only our environment but also our economies and societies. But what about the return on investment (ROI) for transitioning to decentralized systems? Dr. Govind asserts that the ROI is compelling. Decentralized treatment offers a more resilient and reliable solution, especially in the face of natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, or rising sea levels. Unlike centralized systems that can leave entire communities without wastewater treatment during such events, decentralized systems provide a more robust safety net for everyone. As Dr. Govind emphasizes, the technology and water sensing capabilities for effective wastewater treatment exist today. It's time for industries and individuals to seriously consider reducing their net water consumption. Freshwater is a finite resource, and its scarcity threatens our way of life. The responsibility falls on all of us to safeguard our water resources for the generations to come. Join us in exploring these crucial topics and more as we unlock the potential of wastewater, an often overlooked resource. Be sure to check out our Industrial Water Week Resources page for additional insights into Pretreatment, Boilers, Cooling, Wastewater, and Careers. Don't forget to tune in tomorrow as we wrap up this year's Industrial Water Week with Careers Friday. Your roadside friend as you drive from client to client, Trace Blackmore, CWT   Timestamps 0:01- Trace Blackmore welcomes you to Industrial Water Week's Wastewater Thursday 7:45 - Dr. Rakesh Govind on The Future of Wastewater 13:30 - Detective H2O in The Case of Seeing the Dead    Quotes “I want to leave the listeners with the idea: that the technology of wastewater treatment is advanced enough today and the technology of water sensing is advanced enough today to be able to do a very good job on a local level, thereby reducing the net water consumption. They should seriously look at reducing their net water consumption because freshwater on the planet is running out. If freshwater runs out at the location where they have their plant, their company cannot operate as they are operating right now; their existence is at stake.” - Dr. Rakesh Govind   Connect with Scaling UP! H2O Email Producer: corrine@blackmore-enterprises.com Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/ YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O   Links Mentioned Free Industrial Water Week Resources Industrial Water Week  Episode 303 with Dr. Rakesh Govind NextGen Septic  

Welcome to the Scaling UP! H2O podcast, your go-to source for all things industrial water treatment. I'm your host, Trace Blackmore, and I'm thrilled to kick off this year's Industrial Water Week 2023 with a bang! This year marks our 6th year celebrating our industry's favorite holiday, and we're making it extra special by bringing you a brand new episode every single day this week. We're raising the bar of the water treatment industry on this Pretreatment Monday with past guest, Wes Bryne, the esteemed author of "Reverse Osmosis." As Wes shares, "The particular Pretreatment, of course, will have a lot to do with the quality of the incoming water and how bad it is for that RO system if we had to put it in the RO system." The importance of proper Pretreatment cannot be understated, and Wes provides invaluable insights into its impact on system efficiency and longevity. But that's not all! We've got an exclusive Detective H2O story titled The Case of Normalization written and presented by industry favorite, James McDonald. In the entertaining and educational story, James reminds us that, “Reverse Osmosis systems are a  great technology, they can save a ton of money in boiler fuel costs and water costs.” At Scaling UP! H2O, our mission goes beyond merely expanding your knowledge; we're dedicated to kindling enthusiasm and inquisitiveness about the diverse careers and professional possibilities within industrial water treatment. As we mark Pretreatment Monday, we invite you, our listeners, to unite with us in amplifying awareness about this amazing industry. Whether you're considering a fresh career path or you've recently donned the graduation cap, the realm of industrial water promises boundless avenues for professional advancement. And here's a challenge for all you wonderful listeners: Take a moment today to reflect on your career journey and send a heartfelt thank-you card to the people who helped you get to where you are today. Because just like the world of industrial water, gratitude flows in all directions. Join us in celebrating Industrial Water Week 2023, and get ready for an enriching week ahead.  Your roadside friend as you drive from client to client, -Trace Blackmore, CWT   Timestamps 00:01- Trace Blackmore welcomes you to Industrial Water Week's Pretreatment Monday 07:30 - Clip with Wes Bryne from Episode 35 about Pretreatment   11:15 - Detective H2O in The Case of Normalization    Connect with Scaling UP! H2O Email Producer: corrine@blackmore-enterprises.com Submit a show idea: Submit a Show Idea LinkedIn: in/traceblackmore/ YouTube: @ScalingUpH2O   Links Mentioned Free Industrial Water Week Resources Industrial Water Week  317 Cracking the Code of the Workforce Crisis: Understanding the Demographic Drought with Ron Hetrick  300 Building the Best Multigenerational Workforce, Part 1 with Chris Yee 301 Building the Best Multigenerational Workforce, Part 2 with Chris Yee 035 The One with RO Expert, Wes Byrne Reverse Osmosis: A Practical Guide for Industrial Users by Wes Bryne

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2023.04.13.536749v1?rss=1 Authors: Rodriguez-Perez, L. M., Ojeda-Perez, B., Garcia-Bonilla, M., Lopez-de-San-Sebastian, J., Gonzalez-Garcia, M., Fernandez-Munoz, B., Sanchez-Pernaute, R., Garcia-Martin, M. L., Dominguez-Pino, D., Cardenas-Garcia, C., Jimenez-Lara, A. J., Paez-Gonzalez, P. Abstract: Germinal matrix hemorrhages (GMH) and the consequent posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus (PHH) are among the most common and severe neurological complications of preterm birth that require lifelong complex neurosurgical care. GMH and PHH provoke disruption of neuroepithelium/ependyma development, a key structure implicated in brain development and homeostasis. Neuroepithelial/ependymal damage causes lifelong cognitive and motor deficits; however, no therapy is directed to recover the damaged ependyma. This study is aimed to test the possibilities of ependymal repair in GMH/PHH using neural stem cells (NSCs) or ependymal progenitors (EpPs). Thus, it sets the basis for a therapeutic approach to treating ependymal damage and preventing brain developmental deficits. GMH/PHH was induced in 4-day-old mice using different experimental procedures involving collagenase, blood, or blood serum injections. PHH severity was characterized using magnetic resonance, immunofluorescence, and protein expression quantification with mass spectrometry. Additionally, a new exvivo approach using ventricular walls from mice developing moderate and severe GMH/PHH was generated to study ependymal restoration and wall regeneration after stem cell treatments. NSCs or EpPs obtained from newborn mice were transplanted in the explants, and pretreatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was tested. Ependymal differentiation and the effect of MSC-conditioned microenvironment were investigated in both explants and primary cultures. In the animals, PHH severity was correlated with the extension of GMH, ependymal disruption, astroglial/microglial reactions, and ventriculomegaly. In the explants, the severity and extension of GMH hindered the survival rates of the transplanted NSCs/EpPs. In the explants affected with GMH, new multiciliated ependymal cells could be generated from transplanted NSCs and, more efficiently, from EpPs. Blood and TNF negatively affected ciliogenesis in cells expressing Foxj1. Pretreatment with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) improved the survival rates of EpPs and ependymal differentiation while reducing the edematous and inflammatory conditions in the explants. In conclusion, in GMH/PHH, the ependyma can be restored from either NSC or EpP transplantation, being EpPs in an MSC-conditioned microenvironment more efficient for this purpose. Modifying the neuroinflammatory microenvironment by MSC pretreatment positively influenced the success of the ependymal restoration. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

  Today, you will be meeting Paul. A 71-year-old gentleman and a penile injection user for more than 4 years! A very satisfied one at that.

در قسمت صد و یک دنتکست در مورد یکی از پروتکلهای باند به دنتین ریشه صحبت میکنیم .اگر به دندانپزشکی و درمان های ادهزیو علاقه دارید این دنتکست میتونه براتون جذاب باشه

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2022.11.24.517788v1?rss=1 Authors: Lai, S.-f., Huang, W.-Y., Wang, W.-H., Hong, J.-B., Kuo, S.-H., Lin, S.-J. Abstract: Growing hair follicles (HFs) harbor actively dividing transit amplifying cells (TACs), rendering them highly sensitive to radiotherapy (RT). Clinically, there is still a lack of effective treatment for radiotherapy-induced alopecia (RIA). We aimed to dissect the effect and mechanism of local prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) pretreatment in RIA prevention. We found that PGE2 pretreatment reduced RIA by preventing premature termination of anagen through enhancing HF self-repair. Mechanistically, PGE2 did not activate HF stem cells, but preserved more TACs for regenerative attempts. Pretreatment of PGE2 lessened radiosensitivity of TACs by transiently arresting them in the G1 phase, thereby reducing TAC apoptosis and mitigating HF dystrophy. The preservation of more TACs accelerated HF self-repair and bypassed RT-induced premature catagen entry. Promoting G1 arrest by systemic administration of palbociclib isethionate (PD0332991), a CDK4/6 inhibitor, offered a similar protective effect against RT. Therefore, PGE2 protects HF TACs from RT by transiently inducing G1 arrest, and the regeneration of HF structures lost from RT is accelerated to resume anagen growth, thus bypassing the long downtime of hair loss. PGE2 has the potential to be repurposed as a preventive treatment for RIA. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

When the wash bay stops, production stops. No one knows this better than Brandon Stivers, whose time at Calvary Chemical has proven to him over and over that you simply cannot put out a good coating without proper pretreatment.

In this year's Industrial Water Week, Trace Blackmore invited Semra Gül, Technical Manager at Syntec Corporation to answer Scaling UP! Nation's Pretreatment questions. This week, Trace Blackmore welcomes her back to talk about her career, how she got her start in the water treatment industry, volunteering, troubleshooting. Semra Gül is originally from Turkey and had worked in Turkey and Europe before coming to the United States. She is an active member of the Association of Water Technologies (AWT), serving as a member of the cooling committee and chair of the Pretreatment committee. Aside from AWT, Semra is also a member of the American Chemical Society (ACS), American Water Work Association (AWWA, Water Environment Federation (WEF), International Water Association (IWA), and Water Quality Association (WQA). In this Episode, Trace asks Semra: Why do European countries want to source their water treatment chemicals from the USA? Why get involved with a professional organization and serve on a committee? What are the ways a water treater can stay up-to-date on new water technologies? What should someone consider when joining a professional organization? How can Industrial Water Treaters save the environment? How can we be better stewards of water? Whose responsibility is it to conserve water? What are the unseen repercussions of ‘cheap water'? How does Semra decide what to learn next? How to improve your troubleshooting? What should Water Treaters stop doing? Where will the Water Industry be 20 years from now? What can Water Treatment companies do to attract new hires? Bottom line: Semra Gül is a passionate Water Treater, and today, she will share with us how bad water quality pushes us to find creative solutions.  Your roadside friend, as you travel from client to client.   -Trace    Timestamps:  How Trace narrows down episode topics [01:01]  Trace Blackmore interviews Semra Gül, Technical Manager at Syntec Corporation [07:06] Lightning Round Question [37:37] Upcoming Events for Water Treatment Professionals and closing thoughts [40:30] Thinking On Water With James [43:43]   Thinking On Water With James: In this week's episode, we're thinking about other uses for reverse osmosis concentrate or reject.  What is the quality of the RO concentrate? Is it softened or was antiscalant used to protect the RO from scale formation? What is the volume of RO concentrate available? Is the RO located close enough to another possible use to make it feasible? Could the RO concentrate be used in a cooling tower? If so, could it provide 100% of the makeup throughout the day or would a secondary makeup be required? What would the quality of that secondary makeup need to be? Could the RO concentrate be used as a wash water for a process? Could the RO concentrate be used as a water source for a process itself? Take this week to think about the RO units you may have, and if the concentrate waste stream could become a treasure instead.   Quotes: “How can I help?” - Semra Gül “We have to give back to nature.” - Semra Gül “Be sure to share your experience with other people.” - Semra Gül “Besides networking, joining different organizations will help you to be up-to-date with new water technologies.” - Semra Gül “The best chemist is the one who uses fewer chemicals.” - Semra Gül “Education changes everything” - Semra Gül “If you want to be successful, you have to be a life-long learner.” - Semra Gül “We have to learn how to conserve water. Every single person has the personal responsibility to conserve or reuse water.”  - Semra Gül   Connect with Semra Gül: Phone: 646-988-7081 Email: semra.gl@gmail.com  Website: www.syntec.com  LinkedIn: in/semra-gul-2a572541 company/syntec-corporation   Links Mentioned:  American Chemical Society (ACS) American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Environment Federation (WEF) US Energy Information Administration Audible The Rising Tide Mastermind Submit a Show Idea AWT (Association of Water Technologies)   Events:  Check out our Scaling UP! H2O Events Calendar where we've listed every event Water Treaters should be aware of by clicking HERE  or using the dropdown menu.   Books Mentioned:  Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki Atomic Habits by James Clear The Best Thomas Jefferson Biographies  

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2022.11.18.517075v1?rss=1 Authors: Park, E., Kao, H.-Y., Jourdi, H., van Dijk, M., Carrillo-Segura, S., Tunnell, K. W., Gutierrez, J., Wallace, E. J., Troy-Regier, M., Radwan, B., Lesburgueres, E., Alarcon, J. M., Fenton, A. A. Abstract: Phencyclidine (PCP) causes psychosis, is abused with increasing frequency, and was extensively used in antipsychotic drug discovery, but how this uncompetitive NMDA-receptor antagonist impairs cognition remains unknown. Using rats and mice, we report that, consistent with ionotropic actions, PCP discoordinated hippocampus CA1 action potential discharge and impaired a well-learned hippocampus-dependent active place avoidance that requires cognitive control. However, consistent with metabotropic actions, PCP exaggerated protein-synthesis dependent DHPG-induced mGluR-LTD. Pretreatment with anisomycin or the group I mGluR antagonist MPEP, both of which repress translation, prevented the discoordination and PCP-induced cognitive and sensorimotor impairments. Both PCP and the NR2A-containing NMDA-receptor antagonist NVP-AAM077 unbalanced translation that engages the AKT, mTOR and 4EBP1 translation machinery and increased protein synthesis, whereas the NR2B-containing antagonist Ro25-6981 did not. We conclude that PCP dysregulates translation acting through NR2A receptor subtypes recruiting group 1 mGluR signaling pathways, leading to the neural discoordination that is central to the cognitive and sensorimotor impairments. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info Podcast created by Paper Player, LLC

Starting fertility treatment often takes longer than we would expect, it is not the case that you see your fertility specialist and start the next week.  We talk through step by step, day by day what to expect including: Preparing for an IVF cycle  Pretreatment investigations  Optimising health of gametes(egg and sperm) for IVF Legislative requirements Pretreatment clinical preparation and education  Starting a cycle: with period versus scheduled What is the time line of an IVF cycle 2 weeks prep, monitoring The OPU Luteal phase support The Embryo Transfer The two week wait  Related episodes:  OHSS Ectopic Pregnancies This episode is brought to you by Lovers - Lubricants and intimate care to meet your needs created by women's health authority and Gynaecologist Dr Raelia Lew.Website: https://loversproducts.com.au/Instagram: @loversproducts Find us on Instagram - @knockeduppodcast Join our community! Follow Women's Health Melbourne on Facebook and Instagram (@womenshealthmelbourne), and follow Dr Raelia Lew on Instagram (@drraelialew). Have a question about women's health? Is there a specific topic you'd like us to cover? Email podcast@womenshealthmelbourne.com.au. We keep all requests anonymous. Women's Health Melbourne is a holistic care precinct, for more information about the work we do click here. Hosts: Dr Raelia Lew and Jordi MorrisonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finally, the time has come. We are kicking off Industrial Water Week, and this year, we are going to do something special. We are sharing Water Treater stories about things they wished they knew on their first day as a Water Treater. As is our tradition here at Scaling UP! H2O,  I've invited experts to talk about Pretreatment, Boilers, Cooling Towers, Wastewater, and Careers in Industrial Water Treatment this week.  Starting this Industrial Water Week series is a chemical engineer and the technical manager at Syntec Corporation, Semra Gül. Semra is an active member of the Association of Water Technologies (AWT), serving as a member of the cooling committee and chair of the Pretreatment committee.  What is Pretreatment? How does the AWT Pretreatment Committee contribute to the water industry? Why is Pretreatment important? What should you share with customers who are not interested in Pretreatment? What is the future of Pretreatment? Those are just some of the questions that Semra will answer in this episode. A native of Turkey, Semra will also talk about the differences in how her native country and the United States differ in handling Pretreatment.  Join me, Trace Blackmore, the host of the Scaling UP! H2O Podcast and Semra Gül, as we celebrate Pretreatment Monday together. Bottom line: Semra Gül will introduce Pretreatment to students and recent graduates considering careers in water treatment.  Your roadside friend, as you travel from client to client.  -Trace    Timestamps:  Kicking off the 5th Industrial Water Week [0:01] Trace Blackmore welcomes you to Pretreatment Monday [05:35] James McDonald's Pretreatment Water Story [10:16] Pretreatment Monday interview with Semra Gül [14:24] What I wish I knew on my first day as a water treater with Jeff Garratt [26:32] Detective H2O: The Case of Normalization [31:15]   Quotes: “Pretreatment will be more and more critical. Our water sources are not getting any better, it's becoming worse due to the increasing population, global warming, pollution, and other reasons caused by humans.” - Semra Gül   Connect with Semra Gül : Phone: 646-988-7081 Email: semra.gl@gmail.com  Website: www.syntec.com  LinkedIn: in/semra-gul-2a572541 company/syntec-corporation   Links Mentioned:  001 A New Podcast for Water Treaters Association of Water Technologies (AWT) Resources (Members-Only Access) Water Cake Recipe   Rising Tide Mastermind  

On this week's edition of the Beyond Clean Expert Series On-The-Go, tune in for the conversation entitled, "Why Use Enzymes for Pretreatment, Transport, and Holding?". To hear more from this expert, follow us on Facebook and Linkedin, or subscribe to the Beyond Clean mailing list by visiting: https://educate.beyondclean.net/cleanfreaks or text BEYONDCLEAN to 22828 Do you know a #SterileProcessing expert who you'd love to hear from on our series? Or do you have a question for one of our current experts? Contact us at any time via email at: info@beyondclean.net Until next time, keep fighting dirty! #SterileProcessing #BeyondClean #ExpertSeries #Podcast

Broccoli may beneficially affect microbiota diversity: Study University of Illinois Consuming broccoli may change the diversity and composition of the microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract, says a new study. Two hundred grams per day of broccoli for 17 days resulted in 37% increase in the proportion of Bacteroidetes relative to Firmicutes, according to data presented at the Experimental Biology meeting in Chicago this week by scientists from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ARS-USDA, and the National Cancer Institute. “These novel results reveal that broccoli consumption affects the diversity and composition of the GI microbiota of healthy adults,” they wrote in the FASEB Journal . “These data help fill the gap in knowledge related to the role of bacterial hydrolysis of phytonutrients. “The increase in Bacteroides spp. is particularly relevant because Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron has been shown in vitro to utilize glucosinolates.”   Acupuncture possible treatment for dental anxiety University of York Researchers have found evidence that acupuncture could help people who experience dental anxiety. Dental anxiety affects up to an estimated 30% of the adult population in countries world-wide. Patients can experience nausea, difficulty breathing and dizziness at the thought of going to the dentist, during an examination, and following treatment. In a review of six trials with 800 patients, researchers used a points scale to measure anxiety and studies show that anxiety reduced by eight points when dental patients were given acupuncture as a treatment. This level of reduction is considered to be clinically relevant, which means that acupuncture could be a possibility for tackling dental anxiety. Studies that compared anxiety levels between patients that received acupuncture and those that did not, showed a significant difference in anxiety scores during dental treatment. A clinically relevant reduction in anxiety was found when acupuncture was compared with not receiving acupuncture.   Omega-3 may help protect against adverse cardiovascular effects of pollution Case Western University An article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reported a protective effect for supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids against some of the harmful cardiovascular effects of exposure to air pollution in China. The randomized, double-blinded trial included 65 healthy college students in Shanghai, China who received 2.5 grams fish oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids or a placebo daily. During the last two months of the trial, the subjects participated in four health examinations that included blood pressure assessment and measurement of blood markers of inflammation, coagulation, endothelial function, oxidative stress, antioxidant activity, cardiometabolism and neuroendocrine stress response. Campus levels of fine particulate matter air pollution (PM 2.5) measured during the course of the trial averaged 38 micrograms per cubic meter. The researchers observed greater stability of most biomarker levels in responses to changes in fine particulate matter exposure in the fish oil-treated group in comparison with the placebo group. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was associated with beneficial effects for five blood biomarkers of inflammation, coagulation, endothelial function, oxidative stress, and neuroendocrine stress response.      Snoring causes injuries and prevention of healing in the upper airways Umea University (Sweden) The recurrent vibrations caused by snoring can lead to injuries in the upper airways of people who snore heavily. This in turn, can cause swallowing dysfunction and render individuals more vulnerable for developing the severe condition obstructive sleep apnea. These findings are reported by researchers at Umeå University, Sweden. Their on-going research focuses on the processes behind vibratory damage and healing of the upper airway tract. The data generated will help identify people at high risk of developing sleep apnea and to find novel treatment strategies. Researchers in Umeå have shown that snorers and sleep apnea patients have neuromuscular injuries in the upper respiratory tract. The injuries can be seen at both the structural and molecular level. Researchers could also observe a correlation between snoring and swallowing dysfunction as well as a relation between nerve damage and obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by repeated collapse of the upper respiratory tract leading to respiratory arrest during sleep, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The studies show that people who constantly snore heavily and have sleep apnea displayed a loss of nerves and muscle mass in the soft palate. Furthermore, the attempts by the body to heal damaged tissue were disturbed resulting in an abnormal muscle structure. Another interesting finding was that muscle fibres in the soft palate lacked or had a disturbed organization of certain structural proteins. These proteins stabilize the organelles of the muscle cell and support cellular structures related to energy production and muscle fibre contraction. The researchers also found that a neurotransmitter that is normally associated with healing and regeneration of neurons was present in the muscle cells. This finding suggests that the body is trying to heal the injuries, but the recurrent snoring vibrations prevent proper healing. It becomes a vicious circle where snoring causes damage and at the same time disturb healing of injuries, which can lead to swallowing dysfunction and sleep apnea.   Study: Tai chi can reduce hypertension symptoms in young and middle-aged in-service staff Zhei-jian Hospital (China) Researchers from Zhejiang Hospital in China reported that practicing t'ai chi can help with hypertension.  The treatment group practiced simplified t'ai chi for three months. On the other hand, the control group underwent general daily lifestyle intervention. After one month of exercise, the participants who practiced t'ai chi experienced significant reductions in their systolic blood pressure, heart rate, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. At the end of the intervention period, the t'ai chi group experienced substantial decreases in their BMI, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Practicing t'ai chi also improved their quality of life.   Lemongrass essential oil protects the liver from acetaminophen-induced injury State University of Maringa (Brazil) A study published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that the essential oil extracted from lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) can protect the liver from damage caused by acetaminophen intake.  They pretreated mice with 125, 250, or 500 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of lemongrass essential oil or 200 mg/kg of a standard drug per day for seven days. Then, they induced liver toxicity by administering 250 mg/kg dose of acetaminophen. The researchers found that pretreatment with lemongrass essential oil significantly reduced the levels of liver disease markers alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Inflammation in the liver was also reduced by lemongrass essential oil. Liver lesions in mice were also improved after pretreatment with lemongrass essential oil. Pretreatment with lemongrass essential oil increased antioxidant activity in the liver.

Broccoli may beneficially affect microbiota diversity: Study University of Illinois Consuming broccoli may change the diversity and composition of the microbiota in the gastrointestinal tract, says a new study. Two hundred grams per day of broccoli for 17 days resulted in 37% increase in the proportion of Bacteroidetes relative to Firmicutes, according to data presented at the Experimental Biology meeting in Chicago this week by scientists from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, ARS-USDA, and the National Cancer Institute. “These novel results reveal that broccoli consumption affects the diversity and composition of the GI microbiota of healthy adults,” they wrote in the FASEB Journal . “These data help fill the gap in knowledge related to the role of bacterial hydrolysis of phytonutrients. “The increase in Bacteroides spp. is particularly relevant because Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron has been shown in vitro to utilize glucosinolates.”   Acupuncture possible treatment for dental anxiety University of York Researchers have found evidence that acupuncture could help people who experience dental anxiety. Dental anxiety affects up to an estimated 30% of the adult population in countries world-wide. Patients can experience nausea, difficulty breathing and dizziness at the thought of going to the dentist, during an examination, and following treatment. In a review of six trials with 800 patients, researchers used a points scale to measure anxiety and studies show that anxiety reduced by eight points when dental patients were given acupuncture as a treatment. This level of reduction is considered to be clinically relevant, which means that acupuncture could be a possibility for tackling dental anxiety. Studies that compared anxiety levels between patients that received acupuncture and those that did not, showed a significant difference in anxiety scores during dental treatment. A clinically relevant reduction in anxiety was found when acupuncture was compared with not receiving acupuncture.   Omega-3 may help protect against adverse cardiovascular effects of pollution Case Western University An article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology reported a protective effect for supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids against some of the harmful cardiovascular effects of exposure to air pollution in China. The randomized, double-blinded trial included 65 healthy college students in Shanghai, China who received 2.5 grams fish oil as a source of omega-3 fatty acids or a placebo daily. During the last two months of the trial, the subjects participated in four health examinations that included blood pressure assessment and measurement of blood markers of inflammation, coagulation, endothelial function, oxidative stress, antioxidant activity, cardiometabolism and neuroendocrine stress response. Campus levels of fine particulate matter air pollution (PM 2.5) measured during the course of the trial averaged 38 micrograms per cubic meter. The researchers observed greater stability of most biomarker levels in responses to changes in fine particulate matter exposure in the fish oil-treated group in comparison with the placebo group. Omega-3 fatty acid supplementation was associated with beneficial effects for five blood biomarkers of inflammation, coagulation, endothelial function, oxidative stress, and neuroendocrine stress response.      Snoring causes injuries and prevention of healing in the upper airways Umea University (Sweden) The recurrent vibrations caused by snoring can lead to injuries in the upper airways of people who snore heavily. This in turn, can cause swallowing dysfunction and render individuals more vulnerable for developing the severe condition obstructive sleep apnea. These findings are reported by researchers at Umeå University, Sweden. Their on-going research focuses on the processes behind vibratory damage and healing of the upper airway tract. The data generated will help identify people at high risk of developing sleep apnea and to find novel treatment strategies. Researchers in Umeå have shown that snorers and sleep apnea patients have neuromuscular injuries in the upper respiratory tract. The injuries can be seen at both the structural and molecular level. Researchers could also observe a correlation between snoring and swallowing dysfunction as well as a relation between nerve damage and obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is characterized by repeated collapse of the upper respiratory tract leading to respiratory arrest during sleep, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The studies show that people who constantly snore heavily and have sleep apnea displayed a loss of nerves and muscle mass in the soft palate. Furthermore, the attempts by the body to heal damaged tissue were disturbed resulting in an abnormal muscle structure. Another interesting finding was that muscle fibres in the soft palate lacked or had a disturbed organization of certain structural proteins. These proteins stabilize the organelles of the muscle cell and support cellular structures related to energy production and muscle fibre contraction. The researchers also found that a neurotransmitter that is normally associated with healing and regeneration of neurons was present in the muscle cells. This finding suggests that the body is trying to heal the injuries, but the recurrent snoring vibrations prevent proper healing. It becomes a vicious circle where snoring causes damage and at the same time disturb healing of injuries, which can lead to swallowing dysfunction and sleep apnea.   Study: Tai chi can reduce hypertension symptoms in young and middle-aged in-service staff Zhei-jian Hospital (China) Researchers from Zhejiang Hospital in China reported that practicing t'ai chi can help with hypertension.  The treatment group practiced simplified t'ai chi for three months. On the other hand, the control group underwent general daily lifestyle intervention. After one month of exercise, the participants who practiced t'ai chi experienced significant reductions in their systolic blood pressure, heart rate, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. At the end of the intervention period, the t'ai chi group experienced substantial decreases in their BMI, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. Practicing t'ai chi also improved their quality of life.   Lemongrass essential oil protects the liver from acetaminophen-induced injury State University of Maringa (Brazil) A study published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine found that the essential oil extracted from lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) can protect the liver from damage caused by acetaminophen intake.  They pretreated mice with 125, 250, or 500 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of lemongrass essential oil or 200 mg/kg of a standard drug per day for seven days. Then, they induced liver toxicity by administering 250 mg/kg dose of acetaminophen. The researchers found that pretreatment with lemongrass essential oil significantly reduced the levels of liver disease markers alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Inflammation in the liver was also reduced by lemongrass essential oil. Liver lesions in mice were also improved after pretreatment with lemongrass essential oil. Pretreatment with lemongrass essential oil increased antioxidant activity in the liver. Videos:  2022.05.05 Zelensky Is Trapped (8:07)  

Kelly McCabe is the Director of Sales and Operations at PEM, Inc (which just happens to be one of Jase's all-time favorite suppliers). We talk about sales, education, and the invention of the best spray wand on the market.

I asked Michael Loewenstein on the podcast today to talk about his trailblazing presentation at AWT on Legionella Testing, and thankfully, he generously agreed to come on the podcast as my lab partner today. After listening to our cutting-edge conversation, I have a feeling you are going to want to learn more about the Cultural Method vs. the Rapid Method and submit Legionella samples to Michael for the next phase of his study so we've linked his contact information below. You know as well as I that when water treaters come together to share what we know, we can raise the bar for our entire industry, so I encourage everyone to further advance our industry by submitting samples as soon as they can. Buckle your seatbelts because this is going to be one groundbreaking conversation! For those of you who missed his presentation at AWT, Michael Loewenstein is the Vice President of Scientific Consulting at Q Labs LLC in Cincinnati, OH. He earned his B.S. in Microbiology, with a research focus in Molecular Genetics and Cellular Physiology from The Ohio State University. After graduation, Michael obtained a position in Corporate R&D Microbiology at Procter & Gamble where he focused on the development and validation of rapid/alternative microbial test methods and developed and launched preservative systems across a broad range of P&G products.   Throughout the course of his career, Michael has developed a substantial depth of expertise in “end-to-end” Microbiology - from product development and formulation through microbiological control of manufacturing, and he has published several articles on this subject. Michael worked as Site Microbiology Manager for a P&G drug manufacturing facility just prior to accepting the position with Q Labs in December 2018.   Michael currently serves in a volunteer capacity for several professional associations, including the AOAC Microbial Contaminants Expert Review Panel, and both the Microbiology Committee and Manufacturing Hygiene Task Force of the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC). Michael is also looking forward to becoming more involved with the Cooling Water subcommittee of AWT.    Bottom line: Michael Loewenstein is on the show to share the revolutionary results of his most recent scientific study on Legionella testing. Your roadside friend, as you travel from client to client.  -Trace    Timestamps:  Upcoming events [0:30] Thinking On Water With James: Are you stuck in a rut? [4:06] Getting to know Michael Loewenstein [6:15] Why the “Gold Standard” Method for Legionella testing isn't standardized  [8:50] The new/modern Rapid Method's capabilities [10:50] The Cultural Method vs. Rapid Method [11:40] Understanding Quantitative vs. Qualitative Legionella analysis [17:50] Potential pre-treatment problems with the Cultural Method [20:50] How COVID-19 increased public knowledge on PCR testing [ 23:08] What you need to know when switching from the Cultural Method to the Rapid Method [24:30] How to make a Hazard Strategy [29:00]  Advantages to the PCR Method [30:40] Lightning round questions [37:50]   Thinking On Water With James: Are you stuck in a rut? In this week's episode, we're thinking about being stuck in a rut. Are you stuck in a rut in your industrial water treatment career? Are you running the same old pinks and blues in the same accounts day after day? If so and you feel stuck in a rut, what are you missing by just going through the motions at each account? What other water parameters should you be testing? What other value-added projects are just waiting to be done that you currently cannot see while stuck in a rut? What equipment needs to be repaired or replaced? What new things can you learn? How can you take a fresh look at your accounts, testing habits, control equipment, daily routine, and knowledge base to mix things up a little and make you an even more valuable partner for your customers? If you feel stuck in a rut, take this next week to think about it and possibly reach out to someone else within your company and network to help get you out.   Quotes: “In reality, the “Gold Standard” of Legionella testing methods are not the same.” - Michael Loewenstein “Today, the Rapid Methods can distinguish live from dead cells, they are quantitative, and can characterize the Legionella to some degree.” - Michael Loewenstein “Modern technologies have found ways to discount the genetic materials from dead cells, so they now only count the genetic materials from live Legionella in the water sample.” - Michael Loewenstein “PCR is much more sensitive than the Cultural Method, so it puts the water treater in a proactive position rather than reactive.” - Michael Loewenstein “At low levels, the Cultural Method is highly variable and not particularly sensitive.” - Michael Loewenstein “Quantitative - how much Legionella is there? vs. Qualitative - is Legionella there or not?” - Michael Loewenstein “The limits for the Cultural Method are set semi-arbitrarily. There is nothing magic about less than 1 CFU/mL (1,000 CFU/L), except that it's what somebody picked.” - Michael Loewenstein “What would be great is more frequent testing and then set statistically-based action limits. Figure out for your system what is normal.” - Michael Loewenstein “PCR far out-performed the Cultural Method for Legionella testing.” - Michael Loewenstein   Michael Loewenstein's Presentation of Phase 1 of his method study presented at AWT: Technical Paper Presentation   Interested in submitting Legionella samples?  Please connect with Michael Loewenstein to help advance future studies Phone: (513) 207-4943 Email: MLoewenstein@qlaboratories.com Website: qlaboratories.com LinkedIn: in/michael-loewenstein-09693944   Links Mentioned: The Rising Tide Mastermind Submit a Show Idea Q Labs LLC Procter & Gamble AOAC INTERNATIONAL Personal Care Products Council (PCPC)  AWT (Association of Water Technologies) Centers For Disease Control And Prevention: Toolkit ISO 11731:2017 ASHRAE   Events:  National GroundWater Association's Hydrogeology of States Webinar Series: Vermont – February 9  AWT Technical Training Seminar - Feb 23-26 in Seattle, Washington AWT Technical Training Seminar  - March 30-April 2 in Cleveland, Ohio  

It turns out the coating you can't see (conversion) is just as important as the coating you can see (powder). Chemical expert Bill Townsend explains why.

The time has come, we are kicking off Industrial Water Week 2021 with Pretreatment Monday!  Join us every day this week as we bring you a new podcast episode and a new mini-challenge from the man who started this holiday for us, James McDonald.  Don't forget to post your daily mini-challenge photos by tagging them with #IndustrialWaterWeek or #IWW21. Your roadside friend, as you travel from client to client.  -Trace  Timestamps:  Industrial Water Week celebration kicks off [0:01] James McDonald's Industrial Water Week Welcome [2:08] Pretreatment tips [6:30] Interviewing James McDonald at the AWT conference [10:33] Pretreatment Jeopardy Questions [12:58] Detective H2O [15:40] James' mini-challenge: post a picture online of a softener valve assembly or RO membrane housings [26:41] Quotes: “It's every industrial water treater's favorite holiday, Industrial Water Week 2021!” -Trace Blackmore “Industrial Water Week is about YOU working in this noble profession.” - James McDonald “Use this is an opportunity to share themselves and share what they can do for your clients.”  - James McDonald “This holiday is awesome because it is OUR holiday!”  -Trace Blackmore   Events: Raw Materials Supply Chain Update - October 14 @5pm EST   Links Mentioned: Industrial Water Week Website  Episode 50 -2018 Pretreatment Episode 107 - 2019 Pretreatment Episode 159 - 2020 Pretreatment Episode 182 - How We Make The Podcast The Rising Tide Mastermind        

Clinical Significance of Micronutrient Supplementation in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients with Severe ARDS  University Hospital Wuerzburg (Germany), June 12, 2021 Abstract The interplay between inflammation and oxidative stress is a vicious circle, potentially resulting in organ damage. Essential micronutrients such as selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) support anti-oxidative defense systems and are commonly depleted in severe disease. This single-center retrospective study investigated micronutrient levels under Se and Zn supplementation in critically ill patients with COVID-19 induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and explored potential relationships with immunological and clinical parameters. According to intensive care unit (ICU) standard operating procedures, patients received 1.0 mg of intravenous Se daily on top of artificial nutrition, which contained various amounts of Se and Zn. Micronutrients, inflammatory cytokines, lymphocyte subsets and clinical data were extracted from the patient data management system on admission and after 10 to 14 days of treatment. Forty-six patients were screened for eligibility and 22 patients were included in the study. Twenty-one patients (95%) suffered from severe ARDS and 14 patients (64%) survived to ICU discharge. On admission, the majority of patients had low Se status biomarkers and Zn levels, along with elevated inflammatory parameters. Se supplementation significantly elevated Se (p = 0.027) and selenoprotein P levels (SELENOP; p = 0.016) to normal range. Accordingly, glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) activity increased over time (p = 0.021). Se biomarkers, most notably SELENOP, were inversely correlated with CRP (rs = −0.495), PCT (rs = −0.413), IL-6 (rs = −0.429), IL-1β (rs = −0.440) and IL-10 (rs = −0.461). Positive associations were found for CD8+ T cells (rs = 0.636), NK cells (rs = 0.772), total IgG (rs = 0.493) and PaO2/FiO2ratios (rs = 0.504). In addition, survivors tended to have higher Se levels after 10 to 14 days compared to non-survivors (p = 0.075). Sufficient Se and Zn levels may potentially be of clinical significance for an adequate immune response in critically ill patients with severe COVID-19 ARDS.       Pilot Study of the Tart Cherry Juice for the Treatment of Insomnia and Investigation of Mechanisms Louisiana State University, June 20, 2021 Insomnia is common in the elderly and is associated with chronic disease, but use of hypnotics increases the incidence of falls. Montmorency tart cherry juice has improved insomnia by self-report questionnaire. Study Question:  Is insomnia confirmed by polysomnography and is tryptophan availability a potential mechanism for treating insomnia? Study Design:  A placebo-controlled balanced crossover study with subjects older than 50 years and insomnia were randomized to placebo (2 weeks) or cherry juice (2 weeks) (240 mL 2 times/d) separated by a 2-week washout. Measures and Outcomes:  Sleep was evaluated by polysomnography and 5 validated questionnaires. Serum indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), the kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio, and prostaglandin E2 were measured. In vitro, Caco-2 cells were stimulated with interferon-gamma, and the ability of cherry juice procyanidin to inhibit IDO which degrades tryptophan and stimulates inflammation was measured. The content of procyanidin B-2 and other major anthocyanins in cherry juice were determined. Results:  Eleven subjects were randomized; 3 with sleep apnea were excluded and referred. The 8 completers with insomnia increased sleep time by 84 minutes on polysomnography (P = 0.0182) and sleep efficiency increased on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (P = 0.03). Other questionnaires showed no significant differences. The serum kynurenine-to-tryptophan ratio decreased, as did the level of prostaglandin E2 (both P < 0.05). In vitro, cherry juice procyanidin B-2 dose-dependently inhibited IDO. Conclusions:  Cherry juice increased sleep time and sleep efficiency. Cherry juice procyanidin B-2 inhibited IDO, increased tryptophan availability, reduced inflammation, and may be partially responsible for improvement in insomnia.         Many with migraines have vitamin deficiencies, says study   Cincinnati Children's Hospital, June 10, 2021    A high percentage of children, teens and young adults with migraines appear to have mild deficiencies in vitamin D, riboflavin and coenzyme Q10—a vitamin-like substance found in every cell of the body that is used to produce energy for cell growth and maintenance.   These deficiencies may be involved in patients who experience migraines, but that is unclear based on existing studies.   "Further studies are needed to elucidate whether vitamin supplementation is effective in migraine patients in general, and whether patients with mild deficiency are more likely to benefit from supplementation," says Suzanne Hagler, MD, a Headache Medicine fellow in the division of Neurology at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and lead author of the study.   Dr. Hagler and colleagues at Cincinnati Children's conducted the study among patients at the Cincinnati Children's Headache Center. She will present her findings at 9:55 am Pacific time Friday, June 10, 2016 at the 58th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society in San Diego.   Dr. Hagler's study drew from a database that included patients with migraines who, according to Headache Center practice, had baseline blood levels checked for vitamin D, riboflavin, coenzyme Q10 and folate, all of which were implicated in migraines, to some degree, by previous and sometimes conflicting studies. Many were put on preventive migraine medications and received vitamin supplementation, if levels were low. Because few received vitamins alone, the researchers were unable to determine vitamin effectiveness in preventing migraines.   She found that girls and young woman were more likely than boys and young men to have coenzyme Q10 deficiencies at baseline. Boys and young men were more likely to have vitamin D deficiency. It was unclear whether there were folate deficiencies. Patients with chronic migraines were more likely to have coenzyme Q10 and riboflavin deficiencies than those with episodic migraines.   Previous studies have indicated that certain vitamins and vitamin deficiencies may be important in the migraine process. Studies using vitamins to prevent migraines, however, have had conflicting success.     Research suggests mask-wearing can increase struggles with social anxiety University of Waterloo (Canada), June 21, 2021 People who struggle with social anxiety might experience increased distress related to mask-wearing during and even after the COVID-19 pandemic. A paper authored by researchers from the University of Waterloo's Department of Psychology and Centre for Mental Health Research and Treatment also has implications for those who haven't necessarily suffered from social anxiety in the past. "The adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health outcomes, including anxiety and depression, have been well-documented," said David Moscovitch, professor of clinical psychology and co-author of the paper. "However, little is known about effects of increased mask-wearing on social interactions, social anxiety, or overall mental health. "It is also possible that many people who didn't struggle with social anxiety before the pandemic may find themselves feeling more anxious than usual as we emerge out of the pandemic and into a more uncertain future -- especially within social situations where our social skills are rusty and the new rules for social engagement are yet to be written." Social anxiety is characterized by negative self-perception and fear that one's appearance or behaviour will fail to conform with social expectations and norms. Social anxiety disorder is an extreme manifestation that affects up to 13 per cent of the population.  The researchers reviewed existing literature addressing three factors that they hypothesized might contribute to social anxiety associated with mask-wearing: hypersensitivity to social norms, bias in the detection of social and emotional facial cues, and propensity for self-concealment as a form of safety behaviour. "We found that mask-wearing by people with social anxiety is likely to be influenced by their perception of social norms and expectations, which may or may not be consistent with public-health guidelines and can vary widely by region and context," said Sidney Saint, an undergraduate psychology student at Waterloo and lead author of the paper. The paper also highlights that people with social anxiety have difficulty detecting ambiguous social cues and are likely to interpret them negatively. These individuals also tend to worry about sounding incomprehensible or awkward. "We believe that both issues are likely to be magnified during interactions with masks," Saint said. Another highlighted impact is that masks can function as a type of self-concealment strategy that enables people with social anxiety to hide their self-perceived flaws. Therefore, the desire for self-concealment may motivate their use of masks over and above their desire to protect themselves from contagion. "Due to their self-concealing function, masks may be difficult for some people to discard even when mask-wearing is no longer required by public health mandates," Saint said.  In addition to contributing insights to guide clinicians toward effective assessment and treatment, the paper shows that people with social anxiety may be particularly vulnerable to periods of norm transitions where expectations for mask-wearing are in flux or become a matter of personal choice.       Going with your gut can result in better decision-making than using detailed data methods, study shows City University London, June 21, 2021 Managers who use their gut instinct together with simple decision-making strategies may make equally good, but faster, decisions as those who use data to reach an outcome, a new study has found. The report, co-authored by academics at the Business School (formerly Cass), King's Business School, and the University of Malta, finds that the reliance on data analysis in decision-making might be counterproductive as this reduces decision-making speed without ensuring more accuracy. The research, based on information from 122 advertising, digital, publishing, and software companies, finds that using data to inform decision making under high uncertainty is often not optimal. This may explain why 12 different publishers initially rejected the opportunity to publish "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' – because it had no data to inform its potential. A recent survey revealed that 92 percent of Fortune 1000 companies were reporting increased investment in data initiatives, although it appears this may not always be necessary. The authors asked managers how they made decisions on their most recent innovation project, including the extent to which they used data, instinct, and other simple heuristics (mental strategies). The findings outlined that among those decision-making methods were: Majority—choosing what the most people wanted Tallying—picking the choice with the greatest quantity of positive points Experience—selecting the option that the most experienced individual on the team wanted. Managers were asked whether they think they made the right decision and how fast they were in reaching that decision. Results showed that managers relied on their own instinct as much as data, using 'tallying' more than any other metric. Dr. Oguz A. Acar, Reader in Marketing at the Business School and co-author of the report, said: "This research shows that data-driven decision-making is not the panacea in all situations and may not result in increased accuracy when facing uncertainty. "Under extreme uncertainty, managers, particularly those with more experience, should trust the expertise and instincts that have propelled them to such a position. The nous developed over years as a leader can be a more effective than an analytical tool which, in situations of extreme uncertainty, could act as a hindrance rather than a driver of success." "Choosing among alternative new product development projects: The role of heuristics" is published in Psychology and Marketing.   Pretreatment by rosemary extract or cell transplantation improves memory deficits of Parkinson disease Damghan University (Iran) June 21 2021 According to news originating from Damghan, Iran, research stated, “The therapeutic effect of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) or RE on hippocampal neurogenesis and memory in Parkinsonian rats were investigated. Male rats were lesioned by bilateral intra-nigral injections of 6-OHDA and divided into six groups: 1. Lesion 2 and 3: RE and water groups were lesioned rats pretreated with RE or water, from 2weeks before neurotoxin injection and treated once a day for 8weeks post lesion. 4&5: Cell and alpha-MEM (alpha-minimal essential medium) received intravenous injection of BrdU-labeled ADSCs or medium, respectively from 10days post lesion until 8weeks later. 6: Sham was injected by saline instead of neurotoxin.” Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Damghan University, “Memory was assessed using Morris water Maze (MWM), one week before and at 1, 4 and 8weeks post 6-OHDA lesion. After the last probe, the animals were sacrificed and brain tissue obtained. Paraffin sections were stained using cresyl violet, anti-BrdU (Bromodeoxyuridine / 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine), anti-GFAP (Glial fibrillary acidic protein) and anti-TH antibodies. There was a significant difference of time spent in the target quadrant between groups during probe trial at 4 and 8 weeks' post-lesion. Cell and RE groups spent a significantly longer period in the target quadrant and had lower latency as compared with lesion. Treated groups have a significantly higher neuronal density in hippocampus compared to water, alpha-MEM and lesion groups. BrdU positive cells were presented in lesioned sites. The GFAP (Glial fibrillary acidic protein) positive cells were reduced in treated and sham groups compared to the water, alpha-MEM and lesion groups.” According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Oral administration of RE (Rosemary extract) or ADSCs injection could improve memory deficit in the Parkinsonian rat by neuroprotection.”     Inadequate vitamin D levels associated with interstitial lung disease Johns Hopkins University, June 20 2021.    An article appearing in the Journal of Nutrition documents a link between decreased vitamin D levels and a greater risk of early signs of interstitial lung disease (ILD), a group of disorders characterized by inflammation and scarring that can lead to lung damage. Although ILD can be caused by environmental and other factors, some cases have unknown causes. The investigation included 6,302 participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who had information available concerning their initial serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and computed tomography (CT) imaging that included partial views of the lungs. Ten years after enrollment, 2,668 participants had full lung CT scans that were evaluated for presence of scar tissue and other abnormalities. Subjects who had deficient vitamin D levels of less than 20 ng/mL had more spots on their lungs that were suggestive of damage in comparison with subjects whose vitamin D was adequate. Among those who had full lung CT scans, deficient or intermediate (between 20-30 ng/mL) vitamin D levels were associated with a 50-60% greater risk of abnormalities suggestive of ILD. "We knew that the activated vitamin D hormone has anti-inflammatory properties and helps regulate the immune system, which goes awry in ILD," commented senior author Erin Michos, MD, MHS. “There was also evidence in the literature that vitamin D plays a role in obstructive lung diseases such as asthma and COPD, and we now found that the association exists with this scarring form of lung disease too." "Our study suggests that adequate levels of vitamin D may be important for lung health,” she concluded. “We might now consider adding vitamin D deficiency to the list of factors involved in disease processes, along with the known ILD risk factors such as environmental toxins and smoking.”

Episode Notes: In this episode The role of Industrial Pretreatment is discussed. Long-time Pretreatment Administrator Dave Louch talks about what pretreatment is and why it is so important to wastewater plants and the environment. Dave also tells listeners about some interesting things he has seen during his career in industrial pretreatment. Find out more at https://streaming-water.pinecast.co

The January 2021 issue of Materials Performance magazine featured the article, “Enabling Manufacturing and Fuel Efficiencies with Novel Pretreatment,” written by John D. Watkins, senior scientist, and Crystal G. Morrison, leader of business development, both with LumiShield Technologies, Inc. In this episode, they join the MP Interview Series to discuss the subject of their article in greater detail. Topics include next-generation pretreatment technologies; material lightweighting; their research findings; and the corrosion resistance of aluminum oxide.

Show notes at pharmacyjoe.com/episode577. In this episode, I ll compare succinylcholine vs rocuronium with magnesium pretreatment. The post 577: Succinylcholine vs rocuronium with magnesium pretreatment appeared first on Pharmacy Joe.

Pre-treatment of oils and fats is an established technology with several units up and running. But how does pre-treatment work? What does it take to implement the technology in a biofuels production, and how does the financial ballpark figures look? Topsoe's Sylvain hosts Global Commercial Director at Crown Iron Works, Bill Morphew and Market Unit Manager for Oils and Fats at Alpha Laval, William Younggreen. They discuss how pre-treatment works, the possibilities for refiners and what it takes to integrate the technology.

Today we are kicking off Industrial Water Week, and I couldn’t be more excited! This week is truly one of the best weeks of the year. We have created a week of episodes to help you celebrate this wonderful holiday! James McDonald, Mr. Industrial Water Week himself, will be sharing with us each day. You do not want to miss hearing what Detective H2O has been up to.   Today is what we are calling Pretreatment Monday. In this episode, we will celebrate water softeners, reverse osmosis, demineralizers, dealkalizers, filters, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, cold lime softeners, hot lime softeners, clarifiers, deaerators, electrodeionization, water chemistries, water analysis, and much more!   Don’t forget to use the hashtag #IWW20 and try the water cake recipe today!   Be sure to check out our new Scaling Up! H2O shop to see our new water treatment merchandise.    Key Points:  James McDonald welcomes us to Industrial Water Week [3:27]   Industrial Water Treatment Jeopardy [5:20]  Importance of pretreatment [7:05]  Detective H2O [8:55]  Water Cake recipe [19:42]  Links:  Industrial Water Week  Episode 97  Scaling Up! Shop  Water Cake Recipe 

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.09.04.283465v1?rss=1 Authors: Holstein, S. E., Barkell, G. A., Young, M. R. Abstract: The rising popularity of alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmEDs) has become a significant public health concern, with AmED users reporting higher levels of alcohol intake than non-AmED users. One mechanism proposed to explain heightened levels of alcohol intake in AmED users is that the high levels of caffeine found in energy drinks may increase the reinforcing properties of alcohol, an effect which may be dependent on interactions between adenosine signaling pathways and the dopamine D2 receptor. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to confirm whether caffeine increases the reinforcing efficacy of alcohol using both fixed ratio (FR) and progressive ratio (PR) designs, and to investigate a potential role of the dopamine D2 receptor in caffeine's reinforcement-enhancing effects. Male Long Evans rats were trained to self-administer a sweetened alcohol or sucrose solution on an FR2 schedule of reinforcement. Pretreatment with caffeine (5-10 mg/kg) significantly increased operant responding for the sweetened alcohol reinforcer, but not sucrose. PR tests of motivation for alcohol or sucrose likewise confirmed a caffeine-dependent increase in motivation for a sweetened alcohol solution, but not sucrose. However, the D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride did not block the reinforcement-enhancing effects of caffeine using either an FR or PR schedule of reinforcement. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that caffeine increases the reinforcing efficacy of alcohol, which may explain caffeine-induced increases in alcohol intake. However, the reinforcement-enhancing effects of caffeine appear to be independent of D2 receptor function. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.08.12.248229v1?rss=1 Authors: Jones, N. T., Zahid, Z., Grady, S. M., Sultan, Z. W., Zheng, Z., Banks, M. I., WENTHUR, C. J. Abstract: Psilocybin has shown positive preliminary signals in small-scale clinical trials for psychiatric disorders that exhibit maladaptive stress responses as a major component of their presentation. However, there are relatively few assessments of whether an acute administration of psilocybin exhibits reproducible effects in rodent models useful for the study of stress-associated psychiatric disorders. Here, we measured the responses of male C57BL/6J mice to this compound in a battery of relevant behavioral tests. These tests included the open-field test, forced swim test, sucrose preference test, and novelty suppressed feeding test. Furthermore, these tests were presented in either the absence or presence of chronic corticosterone administration, as a chemically induced model of ongoing stress burden. Our results indicate that the effects of psilocybin within these tests are dependent on the chronic hormonal stress burden of the mice: psilocybin alone promotes anxiolytic and hedonic responses, but promotes anxiogenic and anhedonic responses when pre-treated with chronic corticosterone. This identified interaction between stress hormone burden and psilocybin behavioral effects in mice suggests the possibility of further developing rodent behavioral models that can assess additional context-dependent effects of psychedelic administration that are deemed clinically-relevant, but are otherwise difficult to control for, in human studies. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info

Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.05.31.126227v1?rss=1 Authors: Li, Q., Li, Q.-Q., Jia, J.-N., Liu, Z.-Q., Zhou, H.-H., Jin, W.-L., Mao, X.-Y. Abstract: Background and purpose: Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disease that is characterized by repetitive seizures. Seizures-related complications such as cognitive deficits, anxiety and sleep disorders seriously impact the life quality of patients. Antiepileptic drugs are widely used for the treatment of epilepsy. Sodium valproate is served as the first-line antiepileptic drugs and possesses various pharmacological effects on the brain. Sodium valproate exerts neuroprotective effects in acute nervous system diseases such as ischemic brain damage by inhibiting oxidative stress. However, the mechanism of neuroprotection of sodium valproate in epilepsy is unclear. Lysyl oxidase (Lox) is a monoamine oxidase that acts on extracellular matrix collagen and elastin and it can promote accumulation of oxidative stress. Our previous studies have confirmed that Lox is involved in ferroptosis, a novel iron-dependent and lipid peroxidation-mediated cell death pathway, during epilepsy. In this study, we would like to investigate whether sodium valproate can exert neuroprotective effects on kainic acid-induced epileptic seizures by inhibiting Lox-mediated ferroptosis. Methods: Epileptic mouse models were established by intracranial injection of 250 ng/l kainic acid on right hippocampus. Sodium valproate and ferroptosis inhibitors were administrated by intraperitoneal injecting. The epileptic behavior of the mice within 4 hours was recorded after intracranial injection of kainic acid. Mouse hippocampus was acquired to analyze the mRNA expression of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and the production of 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). In vitro, the protective effects of sodium valproate on glutamate-induced HT22 cell damage model was assessed by PI/Hoechst staining; The levels of PTGS2, 4-HNE and lipid ROS were analyzed by RT-qPCR, western blot and flow cytometry, respectively. RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis the mRNA and protein expression of Lox in the glutamate-induced HT22 cell damage model. The Lox overexpression model was established by intracranial injection of AAV on right hippocampus. Results: Pretreatment with sodium valproate and ferroptosis inhibitors could significantly alleviate the epileptic seizures in the kainic acid induced epilepsy mouse model. Western blot and RT-qPCR results showed that sodium valproate and ferroptosis inhibitors significantly inhibited the levels of 4-HNE and PTGS2. PI/Hoechst staining showed that 1 mM sodium valproate exerted protective effect on glutamate-induced HT22 cell injury model. There was no significant difference observed between sodium valproate and ferroptosis inhibitors co-intervention group and sodium valproate intervention group on glutamate-induced cell injury model. And sodium valproate could significantly inhibit the production of lipid reactive oxygen species and 4-HNE. The expression of Lox was significantly increased in the glutamate-induced HT22 cell injury model, which could be reversed by pretreatment of sodium valproate. And {beta}-aminopropionitrile (a specific inhibitor of Lox) could inhibit ferroptosis induced by glutamate, as well as ameliorate the epileptic seizures in the kainic acid induced epilepsy mouse model. Pretreatment with sodium valproate could not ameliorate the epileptic behavior in the Lox-overexpression mice. Western blot analysis showed that sodium valproate could not suppress the production of 4-HNE in kainic acid induced epileptic mice model. Conclusions: The neuroprotective effect of sodium valproate in epileptic seizures is closely related to the inhibition of ferroptosis. The inhibition of ferroptosis is involved in the neuroprotective effect of sodium valproate on glutamate-induced HT22 cell damage model. Sodium valproate may exert neuroprotective effects in kainic acid-induced epileptic seizures by abrogating Lox-mediated ferroptosis. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info

In last week's post entitled "", I laid out a fully comprehensive, novel, and alternative health strategy to tackle health issues related to viruses and immune system enhancement—strategies that often go beyond simple pharmaceutical pill-popping or conventional medicine (similar to my previous posts on issues I've personally dealt with in the past, such as and ). In that article, I dove into natural ways I've been strengthening my immune system for my hefty amount of airline travel, even in the face of recent viral outbreaks that have made me have to be even more careful and thorough in my approach. Two friends of mine, Dr. Matthew Cook and Dr. Matthew Dawson, are true experts in the realms of functional and precision medicine, and both were kind enough to offer me their advice when it comes to boosting immunity and fighting viruses. I've included their audio in this podcast for your listening and learning pleasure. My first guest, Dr. Matthew Cook, has been on the following podcasts: Dr. Cook founded BioReset Medical Corporation and, as acting President, operates a regenerative and pain medicine practice that offers leading-edge non-surgical solutions in orthopedic medicine, sports medicine, regenerative pain medicine, and stem cell medicine. He is a board-certified anesthesiologist with over 20 years of experience in medical practice. Currently, Dr. Cook is president of California Anesthesia and medical director of the National Surgery Center, Los Gatos, CA. In addition, he sits on the scientific advisory board of several high profile medical companies including BM Doc, FREmedica & Vasper Systems. Dr. Cook’s early career as an anesthesiologist and medical director of an outpatient surgery center that specializes in sports medicine and orthopedic procedures provided invaluable training in the skills that are needed to become a leader in the emerging fields of musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging, nerve hydrodissection, and stem cell medicine. My second pair of guests, Dr's Matt Dawson and Michael Mallin of WildHealthMD, have been on the following podcasts: Dr. Matt Dawson is a precision medicine physician in Lexington, KY, co-host of the and has been obsessed with performance optimization as long as he can remember. He received scholarships to play two sports in college even with “minimal talent” because of his voracious reading and implementation of any fitness or nutritional techniques that would give him an edge. Dr. Dawson continued that obsession in medical school, and as a physician, he has won national awards for education, innovation, and leadership. He has lectured in over 20 countries and trained thousands of other physicians through live lectures, online education, two textbooks, and an educational app. Dr. Dawson combines his training in genomics and functional medicine to give personalized, precise medical guidance. His obsession with performance optimization has morphed from, initially athletic, to now mental performance and longevity. Whether it's a professional athlete or a grandparent optimizing their mental clarity and mobility to keep up with their grandkids, Dr. Dawson is passionate about helping everyone perform at their absolute peak. Dr. Mike Mallin is a physician in Bend, OR who is obsessed with health performance and precision medicine and is co-founder of the . He completed medical school in South Carolina and trained in Emergency Medicine in Salt Lake City, UT where he competed in several ultramarathons and found his love for the mountains and performance. Mike currently practices in Bend, OR and Lexington, KY in his precision medicine clinics. He is also co-founder of the , an educational podcast that has taught thousands of physicians all over the world how to use ultrasound. During this podcast, you'll discover: Part 1 w/ Dr. Matt Cook of BioReset Medical (Begins at 5:25) -Dr. Cook's history w/ virology...7:10 Studied feline immunodeficiency virus, a model for HIV Anesthesiologist w/ an interesting approach to pain management Began to successfully treat patients w/ complex illnesses Many patients have viral infections, chronic illnesses w/ a viral overlight -A brief history of viral epidemics..9:08 Influenza pandemic from 1918-1920 (Spanish flu) infected over 500 million people worldwide; 17-50 million people died Fear of affecting morale of WWI soldiers; publicity was censored in Germany, U.S., U.K. The virus created an extreme inflammatory response Young people were especially susceptible SARS and MERS occurred more recently Both respiratory viruses Mortality rate from SARS was 9.6%; MERS was 34.4% Current mortality rate of COVID-19 is unclear right now Pattern of viral infections that create an exaggerated response, particularly in the lungs 3 categories of patients: 80% will get the virus and recover w/ no complications Patients w/ preexisting conditions are at greater risk Healthy patients get a viral infection, have an overreactive immune response -What is a "coronavirus?"...15:00 Viruses are extremely small Cold climates are ideal for viruses; they are very rare in tropical climates How are viruses transmitted? Respiratory droplets and other bodily fluids Stringent approach to maintaining cleanliness for prevention and treatment Pneumonia, fever, cough, shortness of breath; affects both lungs Symptoms can be in GI tract, low white blood cell counts Most common symptoms: fever, dry cough, tiredness; often there are no symptoms Most common complication is pneumonia Best practices for avoiding the virus: Avoid traveling to infected places Careful hand washing Avoid touching T zones Avoid crowded areas Keep your living area clean Majority of cases are relatively mild Small number can have complex problems Common symptoms: Fever Coughing Muscle pain Confusion Shortness of breath -What is the cytokine storm?...22:30 Primary target is the respiratory system Virus can't replicate itself w/out getting into a cell Body responds by making chemical messengers to create inflammatory response to fight the virus Inflammatory process is out of control; doesn't take effect -Immunology 101...25:30 Best known inflammatory cytokine is tumor necrosis factor A (TNF-A) Turns on other cytokines, promote an exaggerated inflammatory response Factors that drive the cytokine storm: Nuclear factor kappa beta (nuclear factor kappa bad) Block nuclear factor kappa beta, turn on NrF2 (helps modulate inflammatory response to a stress) Status of testing: Quest diagnostics will offer a test for the current viral outbreak Gates Foundation working on an at-home test How to treat influenza: Hand-washing is one of the greatest medical concepts of our time Patients w/ mild illnesses can self-quarantine -Treatment options for viruses...33:45 Most important factor is containment Improve your hygiene A great job done w/ the 80% of mild cases gives hope that it will be beat Steroids have done more harm than good in the past Be aware of anti-viral medications Remdisivir Kelapra Antioxidants: NAC (antiviral effects) Vitamin C Glycyrrhizin Plant-derived antioxidants w/ antiviral effects Upregulate NrF2 Ozone therapy may be an activator -A functional medicine approach to wellness...40:18 Plato: "The part can never be well unless the whole is well" Systems approach is the best way to optimize immune system Immune system is centered in the gut Problems come with age because diversity in microbiome goes down SIBO leads to leaky gut Difficulties in fighting chronic illness is due to multiple systems in the body dysfunctioning Increasing overall wellness provides the best defense against viruses Effective supplements for immune system wellness: Vitamin C administered intravenously Vitamin D (pro-survival molecule) helps dampen chronic reactions Curcumin and quercetin has been found to inhibit kappa b Probiotics may balance the GI tract X-Viromin Apex Energetics Life Extensions Zinc Lozenges Quercetin Vitamin C combo Vitamin A helpful to immune system, Vitamin D offsets some of the toxicity (cod liver oil) Quicksilver "The One" Lauricidin Apex Energetics Turmero NAD Gold from Quicksilver Royal jelly Raw honey Oleuropein (derivative of olive leaf) -About ozone therapy...1:06:35 Used by naturopaths and more and more doctors Nikola Tesla patented first ozone generator in 1896 Ozone has antiviral, anti fungal, antiparasitic effects Stimulates NrF2 Decreases cytokines Ozone is an oxidative therapy (helpful used w/ anti-oxidative treatments) Ozone can oxidize sulfhydryl groups on the virus (may block ability of the virus to get into the cell) "Oxidative preconditioning" Pretreatment w/ ozone could be beneficial before exposure to a chronic infection How is it administered: Ozone generator Ozone enema Sauna treatment Mix w/ blood, reinsert into body Ozone dialysis Proponents of ozone therapy: Dr. Frank Schallenberger, world's foremost authority on ozone therapy Dr. Johann Lahodny (high dose ozone therapy) Dr. Robert Rowen Longevity ozone generators -How exosomes affect the immune system...1:28:30 Exosomes are the secretion of stem cells The person who invented the term "stem cell" changed it to "medicinal signaling cell" Exosomes have TGF beta Patients w/ COPD have had exosome treatments Can be administered via IV or nebulizer Trial: Stem cells grown in a lab given to patients with the current virus Part 2 w/ Drs. Dawson and Mallin of  (Begins at 1:48:12) -What we know about COVID-19 at the time of recording (12 March 2020)...1:50:00 COVID-19 is the illness not the virus (SARS 2) COVID-2 is the virus "Coronavirus" is a family of viruses Lower respiratory health is affected Virus is spread w/out feeling symptoms Case fatality rate reported as 3.4%; varies by country Transmissibility rate is the number of people you'll infect on average (2.2 currently) Worse on the elderly, mild on children The data is changing by the hour -How COVID-19 compares with pandemics from the past...1:53:47 2009 H1N1 infected 25% of global population 1918 Spanish flu infected 1/3 of the pop. Mortality rate of COVID-19 is 3.4% currently; predicted to be lower H1N1 was very low Spanish flu was the highest mortality rate on record COVID-19 has a higher mortality rate than common flu and H1N1 Higher mortality rate than Spanish flu currently It's difficult to test for COVID-19, knowledge of how to quarantine It's not if it will be a big deal; it will be a big deal Exponential growth: Without containment measures, the virus would double every 6 days How to test for COVID-19 Quest Diagnostics Lab Corp Genome Send in tests to avoid exposure to infected people Watch website for updates -Ways to improve your immune system...1:59:03 Standard hygiene Wash hands Don't touch face Avoid public contact (self-quarantine) Flatten out the curve Government interventions (St. Louis vs. Philadelphia w/ the Spanish flu) No approved FDA treatments currently Focus on your immune system No better time to clean up your diet Smoking and obesity is a factor for mortality Get more and better sleep Exercise without overdoing it Green smoothies Supplements: Vitamin D Zinc Olive leaf extract Four Sigmatic mushroom extract Vitamin C Quercetin Peptides: Thymosin A LL-37 Pentosan polysulfate Ceylon cinnamon -What to do if you start to feel ill...2:14:19 Follow and guidelines You're best served at home Telemedicine (phone consults) Don't go to the clinic unless there is a tangible benefit for doing so Children are not affected as severely but there is a high risk of communicating it to others (grandparents for example) Closing schools may be important for public health -Specific advice to health care workers...2:21:12 Have appropriate personal protective gear N95 masks Understand how to properly don and doff the gear Protect yourself first Isolate infected patients Nebulizers may spread the infection Understand intubation procedures Shave facial hair for the mask to fit Elderly are the most vulnerable We don't know how well current tests are performing Resources from this episode: - BGF Article: - -  website - - - - Episode sponsors: -: After using the Joovv for close to 2 years, it's the only light therapy device I'd ever recommend. Give it a try: you won't be disappointed. Order using and receive my brand new book, Boundless absolutely free! -: You can be sure that I researched all the saunas before I bought mine and Clearlight was the one that stood out from all the rest because of their EMF and ELF Shielding and their Lifetime Warranty. Use discount code: BENGREENFIELD to get $500 off your sauna and a free bonus gift! -: The best solution for clean and safe drinking water. Water and Wellness also offers an amazing line of essential water additives such as Quinton Marine plasma which contain over 78 trace minerals and elements from the ocean to help restore your biological-terrain. Get 15% off your order when you use discount code: GREENFIELD Do you have questions, thoughts or feedback for Dr. Dawson, Dr. Cook, Dr. Mallin or me? Leave your comments below and one of us will reply!

Story 1: New Bioboiler in Finland. Story 2: USDA seeks to improve biofuel blending mandate under the Trump administration. Story 3: Crown releases new biodiesel pretreatment tech.

It’s known that there’s a relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and a higher rate of opioid abuse. What isn’t understood, though, is what that relationship is. Does PTSD cause people to turn to opioids in particular among all the potential drugs of abuse, or is there something about opioid use that makes users particularly sensitive to trauma?This is just what Michael Fanselow, professor in the psychology and psychiatry departments at UCLA, and his colleagues investigated for a recent study in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

107 Day 1 Of Industrial Water Week (Pretreatment) Episode 107: Show Notes Industrial Water Week, Day 1: Pretreatment   Happy Industrial Water Week Nation! We have an entire week that is devoted just for us, the Industrial Water Treater. Last year, a friend of the show, James McDonald launched this holiday to help us celebrate how awesome our job is. Industrial Water Week is always the first full week in October. Here is what we celebrate:   Pretreatment Monday   Boiler Tuesday   Cooling Wednesday   Wastewater Thursday   Careers Friday   There is just so much to do in our job, our holiday requires more than just one day to celebrate. We get a whole week!  Today we celebrate pretreatment. Pretreatment is anything that we do to improve water quality to make it more acceptable for a specific end use. That means filters, water softeners, dealkalizers, and the list goes on. Today, as we celebrate industrial water week, think of all the things we use in our pretreatment processes.   To help us celebrate this awesome holiday week, we took our recording gear to the Association of Water Technologies Annual Convention to take you right into the action. Please enjoy.  Key Points From This Episode:  Industrial Water Week Celebration [0:00:30]   Pretreatment Monday [0:01:35]   Who is Responsible For IWW Holiday? [0:05:06]   AWT Online Training Modules [0:07:22]   The Youngest CWT [0:10:45]   Advantage Controls [0:13:45]   Young Professional Happy Hours [0:18:08]   Random Interviews [0:24:04]  And a lot more!  Tweetables: "Get here however you can! Show up. Be involved. Be part of the AWT. You won't regret it!" - Jason Turcsanyi @traceblackmore #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast #scalingupnation #Pretreatment #IndustrialWaterWeek #pretreatmentmonday #AWT #CWT #ScalingUPto100  "Industrial water treaters are awesome! Industrial water treatment is awesome! And it just makes sense that we have an entire week to celebrate! " @traceblackmore #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast #scalingupnation #Pretreatment #IndustrialWaterWeek #pretreatmentmonday #AWT #CWT #ScalingUPto100  “We have the best job and the best industry in the world. We all need to celebrate it!” @traceblackmore #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast #scalingupnation #Pretreatment #IndustrialWaterWeek #pretreatmentmonday #AWT #CWT #ScalingUPto100  Links Mentioned on this episode: Ep 21: The One with James McDonald 049 The One with James McDonald, Again   064 The One with the Youngest CWT   Dan Morris on LinkedIn  Michelle Farmerie on LinkedIn  Brady Benson on LinkedIn Jason Turcsanyi on LinkedIn Mauricio Nieto on LinkedIn  Griffin Rial on LinkedIn  Peter Myers on LinkedIn Bill Hildebrand on LinkedIn

How and why to prewash fibers & fabric

Volume 109, Issue 3 - Clinical Issues Key words: instrumentation, pretreatment product, aerosols, biofilm, microorganisms. [https://aornjournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aorn.12627]

Commentary by Dr. Valentin Fuster

050 Day 1 of Industrial Water Week (Pretreatment) Episode 50: Show Notes     Happy Pretreatment Monday! Today we will be starting off Industrial Water Week with Pretreatment questions for the Scaling UP! Nation!     Here is the question I answer today: What can make a water softener pass hard water sooner than expected? Happy Industrial Water Week! Industry Water Week.  Join me each and every day this week for a special themed episode.    Key Points From This Episode: Water Treatment Holiday [0:00:31] Celebrating Industrial Water Week [0:00:35] Message from James McDonald [0:01:00] Question of the day (QODD) [0:04:35] And much more! Tweetables: Here is the question I answer today: What can make a water softener pass hard water sooner than expected? @traceblackmore @JamesMcDonald89 #IndustrialWaterTreatment #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast #scalingupnation #IWWpretreatmentmonday How are you folks out there celebrate your #IndustrialWaterWeek Holiday? @traceblackmore @JamesMcDonald89 #IndustrialWaterTreatment #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast #scalingupnation #IWWpretreatmentmonday Welcome to the special holiday episode of Scaling UP! H2O. @traceblackmore @JamesMcDonald89 #IndustrialWaterTreatment #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast #scalingupnation #IWWpretreatmentmonday Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Episode 035 The One with RO Expert, Wes Byrne

047 The One with the Guy Who Writes About Water   Episode 47: Show Notes   I think it is safe to say that the majority of the Scaling UP! Nation! is on one or more social media platforms. I try to post news about my upcoming podcast on social media, mainly LinkedIn. Social Media is how we stay connected in today’s world. In fact, many of you found out about the Scaling UP! podcast from LinkedIn.     In an effort to stay sharp for the Scaling UP! Nation!, I try to read as much as I can. From books to articles, you just never know what fodder is out there that you can turn into a good episode. During my assimilation of this data, I ran across Jim Lauria on LinkedIn. Jim wrote a very intriguing article about Leonardo DaVinci and water. It was fascinating. I enjoyed not only the article but the way that in which Jim wrote it. This led me to start reading other articles written by Jim. If you are connected with me on LinkedIn, you have seen me share many of them.   Since connecting on LinkedIn, Jim and I have shared several insights and conversations. Jim is a renaissance man when it comes to water, in his own right. On today’s episode Jim shares with us not only his passion for writing about water but also some tips about promoting yourself on LinkedIn. We even sneak in a few words on “Mind Mapping.” Do you even know what that is? I though I was the only one…   Please enjoy my interview with Jim Lauria.  More about Jim:   Jim Lauria is Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Mazzei Injector, a fluid design company that manufactures mixing and contacting systems. He is a leader in the water treatment field with a proven track record of revenue growth, profit improvement and new business development. Since graduating with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering degree from Manhattan College, Jim has traveled the world benchmarking the best water management practices.  He lives in San Francisco with his wife Laurie Lauria, who fills his life with love, laughter, and alliteration.  Key Points From This Episode:       Michelle Farmerie's come back and AWT news [0:03:00]     What to expect at the AWT convention 2018 [0:03:30]   Russell Baskin on the Legionella presentation [0:09:50]   Overview on Trace and Nathan Hardy's presentation [0:17:23]   Scaling UP! H2O on Social Media [0:22:05]   How we can do it better on Social Media? [0:23:22]   Benchmark practices in Water Industry [0:27:19]   Why LinkedIn is the best [0:28:05]   How you should present yourself on Social Media [0:30:15]   Why Water is so important [0:33:00]   Lessons from Leonardo Da Vinci [0:38:10]   Understanding the Science of Water [0:39:45]   Mind Mapping [0:43:35]   Venturi Injectors [0:49:53]   How we treat and value Water? [0:53:35]   How to learn new things about Water [0:54:40]  And a lot more!  Tweetables:  "How best deal with young professionals in our industry today?" @mrf5061 #awtannualconventionexpo #awtconvention #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast  #TheOnewiththeGuyWhoWritesAboutWater   #watertreatmentindustry #watertreatment  "We all need to help our industry to grow and thrive because it is such an awesome industry. Help each other up so we all win!" @mrf5061 #awtannualconventionexpo #awtconvention #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast  #TheOnewiththeGuyWhoWritesAboutWater   #watertreatmentindustry #watertreatment  “This is going to be one of the most influential presentations during the upcoming AWT Convention.” - Russel Baskin #awtannualconventionexpo #awtconvention #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast  #TheOnewiththeGuyWhoWritesAboutWater   #watertreatmentindustry #watertreatment  "In this new world, It's not who you know, It's who knows you! And who's willing to say that they know you and that you're good at something." - @peopleforwater @traceblackmore #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast  #IndustrialWaterWeek #watertreatmentindustry #watertreatment #TheOnewiththeGuyWhoWritesAboutWater "I want water professionals to be out there promoting water." - @peopleforwater @traceblackmore  #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast  #TheOnewiththeGuyWhoWritesAboutWater #IndustrialWaterWeek #watertreatmentindustry #watertreatment  Q: Why am I training my competition?   A: A rising tide lifts all ships! - @traceblackmore #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast  #IndustrialWaterWeek #watertreatmentindustry #watertreatment #TheOnewiththeGuyWhoWritesAboutWater “Anything I see, anything I do. I relate it to water.” -@peopleforwater @traceblackmore  #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast  #IndustrialWaterWeek #watertreatmentindustry #watertreatment #TheOnewiththeGuyWhoWritesAboutWater "If you really want to write about water, you almost have to be an investigative reporter." - @peopleforwater @traceblackmore   #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast  #IndustrialWaterWeek #watertreatmentindustry #watertreatment #TheOnewiththeGuyWhoWritesAboutWater "There's a lot of ways to treat water and we have to look at different parts of the world who are doing it right." -@peopleforwater @traceblackmore  #scalinguph2o #scalingup #scalinguppodcast  #IndustrialWaterWeek #watertreatmentindustry #watertreatment #TheOnewiththeGuyWhoWritesAboutWater Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:    Mazzei Injector Company Jim Lauria on LinkedIn Jim Lauria on Twitter Jim Lauria Book Website Jim Lauria on Huffpost Jim Lauria's Articles on LinkedIn   Jim Lauria's Articles on Water Online Top 2 Articles from Jim Lauria: Using LinkedIn to Position Your Company as a Thought Leader   Lessons From Leonardo: What Leonardo da Vinci Can Teach Us About Water  Tools Mentioned Mind Jet - Mind Manager   Recommended Books: The Mind Map Book   The Big Thirst The Blue Death Unquenchable When the rivers run dry Leonardo Da Vinci The Great Bridge  Do I Make Myself Clear? Upcoming events:   AWT annual Convention September 26 –29 in Orlando Fl   Here are some times you want to mark on your schedule.   Scaling UP! Meet UP! at the AWT convention  10:00 AM Thursday (Immediately following the Keynote) We will hold a Scaling UP! MeetUP! In Chiller Lounge (located in the exhibit hall).  9:00 AM – 10:30 AM - Friday, Water Management Plan from the Water Treaters Prospective. The One with Conor Parrish The One with Michelle Farmerie 3:30 PM -4:30 PM - Friday, Understanding Young Professionals: The What’s, How’s and Why’s for Our Industry.  I will be moderating (not a young professional…)  8:00 AM – 9:30 AM - Saturday, (The field evaluation of using Polyamines in Closed Loop and cooling systems)  I will also be walking around the exhibit hall reporting on who is exhibiting and all the cool stuff you need to know about to help your water treatment business.  I’d love it if you see me, come up and say hi!  You may even get on the air.  And the craze in the Scaling UP! Nation! is all about “how do I get a Scaling UP! Button?”  Well, come find me and I will give you one.  Select vendors in the exhibit hall will also be giving those out.  As you can see, I am going to be very busy at this year’s convention.  If that didn’t get you excited enough, we have even more coming up on the water treatment calendar”. Industrial Water Week October 1-5, 2018       Since this is our holiday and the first time it has ever been offered, I want to do something special. I will be doing an episode each day during industrial water week!  I know what you are thinking, that’s a lot of work, wow Trace you are awesome…  Well... I am… but I can’t do it without you. So here is my ask:  I need you to go to Scalinguph2o.com and click on the “Send Voicemail” button on the right side of the screen. You can leave a question for me to answer on the air during Industrial Water Week.  I’m looking for questions on: Pretreatment  Boilers  Cooling  Wastewater And Careers  I will either answer your question or have somebody who is a leader in that particular field answer your question. I’ve never done anything like this, so thanks for helping me make it happen!  Now let me leave you with this thought: Are you doing water treatment to the best of your ability or our you doing water treatment the best it can be done?  Think about that, have you plateaued?   Many of us get to a certain point and then settle. Don’t’ settle, push yourself to be better. You deserves it, your company deserves it, your customers deserve it and most of all the industry deserves it.    It’s my hope that this podcast helps motivate you to get there and let’s all Scale UP! On information so we don’t scale up our systems.  Have a great week folks!   

Please find some links and notes from the 2 Regular Guys Podcast. This week, our guest will be Brian Walker, a pioneer in direct to garment pretreatment and inks. Brian has been in the industry since 1986 and will talk to us about where pretreatment and DTG printing is going. Brian will also be sharing his latest venture, garments that are pretreated when you buy them. Sponsored by: Equipment Zone and Siser N.A. Our regular listeners know this, but 2 Regular Guys are all about garment decorating, a bit of fun, and no rants or lectures or selling. We are not doing this for our employers, but rather for our industry. Since February 2013, The 2 Regular Guys have been the first and the most listened to garment decorating industry podcast on this planet! We are humbled by all of you tuning in each week. We work hard to bring you information that will make your business better, and our industry better. Take a look at our incredible weekly guest list and you'll understand where this industry goes for news, interviews and the heartbeat of garment decorating. Thanks for listening!! News Neenah Paper has revolutionary screen prep paper called Exostencil™ that eliminates the chemicals, time and equipment currently needed to make screens. They recommend the OKI Data 831-TS as the printer of choice with the paper, and they will be showing it in the OKI Data Booth at the upcoming NBM Indy Trade Show. Stop by booth 1007 in Indianapolis between June 1st to the 3rd to learn more about the Exostencil™ process. OKI Data will also be showing other digital solutions for garment decoration that is revolutionizing the market. Make sure to stop by booth 1007 and tell them that the 2 Regular Guys sent you and they will have free samples shipped to you so you can test the product for your business. Direct to Garment Pretreatment Let's start with how you got started in this industry. Tell us about your journey into direct to garment pretreatment and inks. You've done more experimenting with printing on polyester than anyone we know. Talk to us about the process and what kind of progress you're making. What's on the horizon in ink and pretreat products. Any secrets you want to share with our listeners? So you have a fairly new product category that I know you're very excited about. Tell us about your new venture RTP Apparel. Isn't this new venture basically putting yourself out of business in the direct to garment pretreatments Private Label show with Marci Kinter Brian Walker: Has been in the industry since 1986, as a screen printer and then got involved with DTG in the mid-2000s. In 2008 he founded the I-Group Technologies, LLC to bring the industry the Viper Pre-Treatment Machine. Next came the addition of Image Armour to provide pretreatment and inks and now as we will discuss more soon, in 2016 he started RTP Apparel. Image Armour RTP Apparel 877-673-4377 Other Events Water based Screen Printing Class – Atlas Screen Supply in Chicago – May 20 Complete Screen Printing Business Course – Atlas Screen Supply in Chicago – June 10-11 Complete Screen Printing Business Course – Workhorse Products in Phoenix – June 24-25 Trade Shows ISS Nashville May 18 – 20 NBM Indianapolis – Jun 1 – 3 ASI Chicago – Jul 12 – 13 NBM Long Beach – Jul 20 – 22 Terry's Books Screen Printing: A Practical Guide to Starting Your Own T-Shirt Business Just $4.95 as an e-book. Direct to Garment: A Practical Guide to Starting Your Own T-Shirt Business Just $4.95 as an e-book. Scheduling and Estimating Production Time for Garment Screen Printing Just $2.99 as an e-book This show is brought to you for a full hour by: Equipment Zone, with 20 years experience selling garment printing equipment nationwide. Equipment Zone offers the new Epson F2000 SureColor direct-to-garment printer, their own VelociJet-XL DTG printer, and the all new SpeedTreater-TX automatic pretreat machine with a full 16”x24” pre...

1) Pretreatment cognitive deficits and treatment effects in childhood epilepsy and 2) Topic of the month: Multiple sclerosis therapy and treatment. This podcast for the Neurology Journal begins and closes with Dr. Robert Gross, Editor-in-Chief, briefly discussing highlighted articles from the print issue of Neurology. In the second segment Dr. Nick Brenton interviews Dr. Tracy Glauser about his paper on pretreatment cognitive deficits and treatment effects in childhood epilepsy. Lara Marcuse talks about being diagnosed with cancer after listening to Ted Burns discuss his diagnosis in our September 3 podcast. Dr. Adam Numis is reading our e-Pearl of the week about ophthalmologic findings in neurocysticercosis. In the next part of the podcast Dr. Mark Keegan interviews Dr. Douglas Goodin about interferons and copaxone in multiple sclerosis. The participants had nothing to disclose except Drs. Glauser, Numis, Keegan, and Goodin.Dr. Glauser serves on the scientific advisory board for AssureRx Health, Inc.; serves on the speakers' bureau and receives honoraria from Supernus Pharmaceuticals; receives royalties from the publication of the book Pediatric Epilepsy; receives royalty payments for optimization of drug selection software algorithms, AssureRx Health, Inc.; holds stock options in AssureRx Health, Inc.; has patents for optimization of drug selection software algorithms, neurocognitive computing algorithms and suicide prediction algorithms; is a consultant for Supernus Pharmaceuticals, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eisai, Inc., UCB, Lundbeck Inc., Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Upsher-Smith, AssureRx Health, Inc.; receives license fees from AssureRx Health, Inc. for optimization of drug selection software algorithms and receives research support from the NIH.Dr. Numis serves on the editorial team for the Neurology® Resident and Fellow Section. Dr. Keegan serves as Chief Editor of eMedicine and receives research support from Terumo BCT.Dr. Goodin receives research support from Novartis; had travel costs reimbursed for occasional community lectures, symposia and/or academic talks sponsored by Bayer Schering Pharma, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Merck Serono. Genzyme and Novartis.

Purpose: Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases including glaucoma. Astrocytes are supposed to play a role in glaucoma pathogenesis. This study investigates the antiapoptotic and cytoprotective effects of idebenone on optic nerve head astrocytes (ONHA) under oxidative stress.Methods: ONHA were treated with 1 to 150 mu M idebenone. Cell viability (MTT assay and live-dead assay), induction of intracellular reactive oxygen species, senescence-associated -galactosidase activity were investigated. In addition, apoptosis (detection of histone-associated DNA fragmentation), and expression of BAX and Bcl-2, and their mRNA were determined after 48 hours and after hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment.Results: Idebenone concentrations from 1 to 50 mu M showed no effects on ONHA viability. Pretreatment with 10 mu M idebenone led to an increase in viability of ONHA after H2O2 treatment. In addition, idebenone pretreatment significantly attenuated the increase of histone-associated DNA fragmentation, induction of senescence-associated -galactosidase, and intracellular reactive oxygen species after treatment with H2O2. When ONHA cells were treated with idebenone and H2O2, real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis yielded an increased expression of Bcl-2 and a decrease of BAX compared with those cells that were treated with H2O2 only.Conclusions: Idebenone reduced senescence, oxidative stress, and apoptotic cell death in cultured ONHA in vitro. Our results suggest that idebenone may help to protect ONHA in vivo, and therefore might be helpful in preventing the progression of glaucomatous degeneration.

Interview with Gilles Montalescot, MD, PhD, author of Association of Clopidogrel Pretreatment With Mortality, Cardiovascular Events, and Major Bleeding Among Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background/Aims: The goal of the present study was to determine whether transforming growth factor-beta(2) (TGF-beta(2))- and oxidative stress-induced cellular changes in cultured human optic nerve head (ONH) astrocytes could be reduced by pretreatment with the antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid (LA). Methods: Cultured ONH astrocytes were treated with 1.0 ng/ml TGF-beta(2) for 24 h or 200 mu M hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 1 h. Lipid peroxidation was measured by a decrease in cis-pari-naric acid fluorescence. Additionally, cells were pretreated with different concentrations of LA before TGF-beta 2 or H2O2 exposure. Expressions of the heat shock protein (Hsp) alpha B-crystallin and Hsp27, the extracellular matrix (ECM) component fibronectin and the ECM-modulating protein connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were examined with immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR analysis. Results: Both TGF-beta(2) and H2O2 increased lipid peroxidation. Treatment of astrocytes with TGF-beta(2) and H2O2 upregulated the expression of alpha B-crystallin, Hsp27, fibronectin and CTGF. Pretreatment with different concentrations of LA reduced the TGF-beta(2)- and H2O2-stimulated gene expressions. Conclusion: We showed that TGF-beta(2)- and H2O2-stimulated gene expressions could be prevented by pretreatment with the antioxidant LA in cultured human ONH astrocytes. Therefore, it is tempting to speculate that the use of antioxidants could have protective effects in glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel

Background/Aims: Laminar shear stress is an important stimulus in the endothelium-dependent control of vascular tone and of vascular remodeling processes. Based on previous studies demonstrating integrin-mediated release of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2), we investigated whether shear stress-induced integrin activation requires the involvement of an extracellular protease. Methods: Cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAEC) were exposed to laminar shear stress (16 dyn/cm(2)), whereas static cells served as controls. Results: Exposure of PAEC to shear stress led to an increased activity of a protease in supernatants. This protease could be characterized as elastase but was different from neutrophil and pancreatic elastases. The enhanced activity was accompanied by the activation of integrin alpha(v)beta(3) and p38 MAPK, and followed by an increased FGF-2 concentration in the supernatant. Pretreatment with inhibitors of either elastase or integrin alpha(v)beta(3) resulted in a reduction of FGF-2 release. The observed effects of shear stress on integrin alpha(v)beta(3) and p38 MAPK activation, as well as on FGF-2 release could be mimicked by application of pancreatic elastase to static endothelial cells. Conclusion: By inducing the release of an endothelial elastase, shear stress induces an integrin-dependent release of FGF-2 from endothelial cells. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a key role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Growth factors (GFs) capable of antagonizing the catabolic actions of cytokines may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of OA. Herein, we investigated the potential synergistic effects of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-bb) on different mechanisms participating in IL-1β-induced activation of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) and apoptosis in chondrocytes. Primary chondrocytes were treated with IL-1β to induce dedifferentiation and co-treated with either IGF-1 or/and PDGF-bb and evaluated by immunoblotting and electron microscopy. Pretreatment of chondrocytes with IGF-1 or/and PDGF-bb suppressed IL-1β-induced NF-κB activation via inhibition of IκB-α kinase. Inhibition of IκB-α kinase by GFs led to the suppression of IκB-α phosphorylation and degradation, p65 nuclear translocation and NF-κB-regulated gene products involved in inflammation and cartilage degradation (COX-2, MMPs) and apoptosis (caspase-3). GFs or BMS-345541 (specific inhibitor of the IKK) reversed the IL-1β-induced down-regulation of collagen type II, cartilage specific proteoglycans, β1-integrin, Shc, activated MAPKinase, Sox-9 and up-regulation of active caspase-3. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of IGF-1 or/and PDGF-bb on IL-1β-induced NF-κB activation were sensitive to inhibitors of Src (PP1), PI-3K (wortmannin) and Akt (SH-5), suggesting that the pathway consisting of non-receptor tyrosine kinase (Src), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase B must be involved in IL-1β signaling. The results presented suggest that IGF-1 and PDGF-bb are potent inhibitors of IL-1β-mediated activation of NF-κB and apoptosis in chondrocytes, may be mediated in part through suppression of Src/PI-3K/AKT pathway, which may contribute to their anti-inflammatory effects.

# Homelessness defined, # Current services available and lack of, # Is homelessness a choice? # Necessity of a pretreatment approach, # Health issues and high risk of death, # Availability of funding.

Inhalational anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by exposure of the lungs to B. anthracis spores. Alveolar macrophages engulf spores causing them to germinate to the vegetative form of B. anthracis, which secretes edema toxin (ET)and lethal toxin (LT). The pathogenesis of inhalational anthrax is characterized by flu-like symptoms, respiratory distress, meningitis and shock, which is fatal in almost all cases. The mechanism behind the respiratory distress is not well understood. Therefore, our goal was to determine the effects of lethal toxin in the human lung epithelium. To study alterations in a more physiological setting, we developed a differentiated, polarized lung epithelial system. Lethal toxin exposure disrupted the lung barrier function and wound healing. Assembly defects of junction proteins and additional multicellular junction sites resulted in a higher permeability. Pretreatment with keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) and dexamethasone increased the viability, resulting in the rescue of the permeability changes. Upon LT treatment, a more rigid cytoskeleton was observed, evidenced by enhanced actin stress fiber formations and tubulin stabilization. Cytoskeleton and adhesion alterations prevented the epithelial cells from polarization, directed migration, and wound healing. The MAPK pathway and Cdc42 activity might be partially responsible for these motility defects. Lethal toxin is known to induce rapid cell death in murine macrophages. In contrast, human epithelial cells are more resistant to the cytotoxic effect of LT. By following the growth of epithelial cells after LT treatment, we observed inhibited cell proliferation due to a cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. Surprisingly, biotinylated lethal factor did not induce cytotoxicity in murine macrophages. This is not due to an internalization or proteolytic activity defect; instead changes in the mitochondrial potential and proteasome activity were observed. Biotinylated LT did not reduce proteasome activity as seen in LT treated cells and caused hypopolarization of the mitochondria. However, it is possible that biotinylation of lethal toxin could prevent interaction of LT with proteins that induce cell death. The major challenge for anthrax treatment is to find a treatment, which can act faster, is easy to use and can bring patient out of the dangerous physiological state in late pathogenesis. Our study has implications in saving the viability and barrier function of lung epithelial cells. One can devise better dosage and delivery of KGF and dexamethasone as treatment modality for post anthrax exposure to reduce respiratory distress. Furthermore, overcoming the cell cycle arrest by the development of a drug would reduce the damage of lung epithelial cells and induce proliferation. The discovery that biotinylated LT is non-toxic to murine macrophages could revolutionize treatment of anthrax infection. Exploring the types of posttranslational modifications of LT that decrease toxicity and finding the mechanism behind it might, lead to therapies that directly counteract the effects of the lethal toxin in vivo.

02/25/2008 | Optimizing Pretreatment Imaging of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma- Part 2

02/18/2008 | Optimizing Pretreatment Imaging of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma- Part 1

Background: The carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is currently the most widely used serum tumor marker in pancreatic cancer (PC). CA 19-9 pretreatment levels as well as CA 19-9 kinetics during systemic chemotherapy can provide prognostic information regarding survival of patients with metastatic PC. Case Reports: We report the clinical course of 2 patients with metastatic PC who underwent palliative chemotherapy with gemcitabine. Both patients showed a significant elevation of pretreatment CA 19-9 levels (7,505 and 150,000 U/ml, respectively), however, subsequently they experienced a highly significant reduction (> 90%) of CA 19-9 kinetics under gemcitabine chemotherapy. A good disease control and a clinical benefit response were achieved in both patients. Time to tumor progression was 30 weeks and 28 weeks, overall survival 14 months and 11 months, respectively. Conclusion: These data indicate that CA 19-9 kinetics under chemotherapy may possibly serve as a useful surrogate marker for time to tumor progression and survival in advanced PC.

Background: There is growing evidence that platelets accumulate in the lung and contribute to the pathogenesis of acute lung injury during endotoxemia. The aims of the present study were to localize platelet sequestration in the pulmonary microcirculation and to investigate the role of P-selectin as a molecular mechanism of platelet endothelial cell interaction. Methods: We used in vivo fluorescence microscopy to quantify the kinetics of fluorescently labeled erythrocytes and platelets in alveolar capillary networks in rabbit lungs. Results: Six hours after onset of endotoxin infusion we observed a massive rolling along and firm adherence of platelets to lung capillary endothelial cells whereas under control conditions no platelet sequestration was detected. P-selectin was expressed on the surface of separated platelets which were incubated with endotoxin and in lung tissue. Pretreatment of platelets with fucoidin, a P-selectin antagonist, significantly attenuated the endotoxin-induced platelet rolling and adherence. In contrast, intravenous infusion of fucoidin in endotoxin-treated rabbits did not inhibit platelet sequestration in pulmonary capillaries. Conclusion: We conclude that platelets accumulate in alveolar capillaries following endotoxemia. P-selectin expressed on the surface of platelets seems to play an important role in mediating this platelet-endothelial cell interaction. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Various stimuli like thrombin induce endothelial cell shape change and stress fiber formation via Rho/Rho-kinase-mediated reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. LIM-kinases regulate actin cytoskeletal reorganization through phosphorylation of cofilin at Ser3. The LIMK family kinases possess characteristic structural features, consisting of two LIM domains, a PDZ domain and a C-terminal kinase domain. In cell transfection studies it has been shown that LIMK2 is phosphorylated at Thr505 by Rho-kinase thereby activating the enzyme. Recently it has been reported that nuclear LIMKs suppress cyclin D1 expression in a manner independent of cofilin phosphorylation and actin polymerization. In this study, we found that endothelial cells express both LIMK1 and LIMK2. By using live cell imaging, we confirm previous findings that thrombin induces stress fiber formation, ruffle formation and cell contraction. Furthermore, the cell-cell contacts were disrupted and F-actin fibers connecting two cells were broken. Thrombin induced a rapid and sustained Rho-kinase activation and subsequent phosphorylation of LIM-kinase and cofilin. Pretreatment of endothelial cells with the specific Rho-kinase inhibitor Y27632 inhibited MYPT1 phosphorylation, LIM-kinase and cofilin phosphorylation and blocked stress fiber formation in thrombin-stimulated cells. Notably, thrombin induced actin stress fiber formation was abolished in cells transfected with dominant negative LIMK2. LIMK2 was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. By using Leptomycin B (a specific inhibitor of CRM-1 dependent nuclear export) and FRAP and FLIP analysis, we demonstrate that LIMK2 in resting endothelial cells shuttles between the nucleus and cytoplasm. The LIM domains of LIMK2, but not of LIMK1 inhibited its nuclear import thereby keeping LIMK2 mainly in the cytoplasm. Mutational analysis of the unique basic amino acid-rich motif (amino acids 480-503) indicated that this motif regulates the nuclear and nucleolar localization of LIMK2. Activation of PKC in PMA-stimulated endothelial cells stimulated the phosphorylation of LIMK2 at Ser283 and the translocation of LIMK2 and the PDZ-kinase construct of LIMK2 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Of the various PKC isoforms, PKC- and PKC- were found to be mainly responsible for Ser283 phosphorylation and the regulation of translocation of LIMK2. Mutational analysis indicated that LIMK2 phosphorylation at Ser283 and Thr494 play a role in the regulation of nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of LIMK2 by PKC. These results show that LIM-kinase activation is mediated by Rho-kinase in stimulated endothelial cells, and that LIM-kinase-mediated cofilin phosphorylation plays an essential role in thrombin-induced stress fiber formation. LIMK2 shuttles between nucleus and cytoplasm in resting endothelial cells. Phosphorylation of LIMK2 at Ser283 and Thr494 by PKC regulates nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and suggests that LIMK2 might also have a function in the nucleus such as the suppression of cyclin D1 expression.

Treatment of alcohol-dependent patients was primarily focused on inpatient settings in the past decades. The efficacy of these treatment programs has been evaluated in several studies and proven to be sufficient. However, with regard to the increasing costs in public healthcare systems, questions about alternative treatment strategies have been raised. Meanwhile, there is growing evidence that outpatient treatment might be comparably effective as inpatient treatment, at least for subgroups of alcohol dependents. On that background, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a high-structured outpatient treatment program in 103 alcohol-dependent patients. 74 patients (72%) terminated the outpatient treatment regularly. At 6 months' follow-up, 95% patients were successfully located and personally re-interviewed. Analyses revealed that 65 patients (64%) were abstinent at the 6-month follow-up evaluation and 37 patients ( 36%) were judged to be non-abstinent. Pretreatment variables which were found to have a negative impact (non-abstinence) on the 6-month outcome after treatment were a higher severity of alcohol dependence measured by a longer duration of alcohol dependence, a higher number of prior treatments and a stronger alcohol craving (measured by the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale). Further patients with a higher degree of psychopathology measured by the Beck Depression Inventory (depression) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (anxiety) relapsed more often. In summary, results of this study indicate a favorable outcome of socially stable alcohol-dependent patients and patients with a lower degree of depression, anxiety and craving in an intensive outpatient rehabilitation program.

Glucocorticoid hormones suppress the secretion of ACTH evoked by secretagogues such as CRF and arginine vasopressin. In this study, we investigated the effects of glucocorticoids on ACTH release induced by oxytocin (OT) and on intracellular free calcium ion levels in corticotropes prepared from the adenohypophyses of female Wistar rats. Pulsatile additions of physiological concentration of OT (10 nM) to superfused anterior pituitary cells caused pulsatile ACTH release about 4-fold above basal secretion with similar peak amounts of ACTH during subsequent OT pulses. Exposure of the cells to corticosterone (100 nM) or to a selective glucocorticoid receptor agonist RU 28362 (100 nM) for 30 min suppressed OT-stimulated but not basal ACTH release by approximately 60%. Inhibition gradually disappeared during subsequent pulses of OT in the absence of corticosterone. Pretreatment with the selective antagonist RU 38486 (1 microM) completely blocked the inhibitory effect of corticosterone on OT-induced ACTH secretion. Changes in free cytosolic calcium levels in single cultured pituitary cells were measured using the calcium indicator Fura-2. OT caused calcium transients in corticotropes, which were identified by immunocytochemistry. They responded in a similar manner to a second OT stimulus when preincubated for 30 min with corticosterone (1 microM) or with RU 28362 (1 microM). Our data indicate that glucocorticoids, via glucocorticoid receptors, rapidly inhibit OT-stimulated ACTH secretion by corticotropes without affecting intracellular calcium transients due to OT. Therefore, we conclude that rapid inhibition of ACTH release by glucocorticoids interferes with cellular signal transduction beyond the step of calcium mobilization.

1. In bovine adrenal chromaffin cells made permeable either to molecules less than or equal to 3 kDa with alphatoxin or to proteins less than or equal to 150 kDa with streptolysin O, the GTP analogues guanosine 5'-[beta gamma-imido]triphosphate (p[NH]ppG) and guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S]) differently modulated Ca(2+)-stimulated exocytosis. 2. In alphatoxin-permeabilized cells, p[NH]ppG up to 20 microM activated Ca(2+)-stimulated exocytosis. Higher concentrations had little or no effect. At a free Ca2+ concentration of 5 microM, 7 microM-p[NH]ppG stimulated exocytosis 6-fold. Increasing the free Ca2+ concentration reduced the effect of p[NH]ppG. Pretreatment of the cells with pertussis toxin prevented the activation of the Ca(2+)-stimulated exocytosis by p[NH]ppG. 3. In streptolysin O-permeabilized cells, p[NH]ppG did not activate, but rather inhibited Ca(2+)-dependent catecholamine release under all conditions studied. In the soluble cytoplasmic material that escaped during permeabilization with streptolysin O, different G-protein alpha-subunits were detected using an appropriate antibody. Around 15% of the cellular alpha-subunits were detected in the supernatant of permeabilized control cells. p[NH]ppG or GTP[S] stimulated the release of alpha-subunits 2-fold, causing a loss of about 30% of the cellular G-protein alpha-subunits under these conditions. Two of the alpha-subunits in the supernatant belonged to the G(o) type, as revealed by an antibody specific for G(o) alpha. 4. GTP[S], when present alone during stimulation with Ca2+, activated exocytosis in a similar manner to p[NH]ppG. Upon prolonged incubation, GTP[S], in contrast to p[NH]ppG, inhibited Ca(2+)-induced exocytosis from cells permeabilized by either of the pore-forming toxins. This effect was resistant to pertussin toxin. 5. The p[NH]ppG-induced activation of Ca(2+)-stimulated release from alphatoxin-permeabilized chromaffin cells may be attributed to one of the heterotrimeric G-proteins lost during permeabilization with streptolysin O. The inhibitory effect of GTP[S] on exocytosis is apparently not mediated by G-protein alpha-subunits, but by another GTP-dependent process still occurring after permeabilization with streptolysin O.

The expression of an antigen on porcine T lymphocytes detected by murine monoclonal antibody (mAb) 8/1 was investigated by functional studies and dual-parameter immunofluorescence. mAb 8/1 reacts with greater than 95% of thymocytes and in peripheral blood with all T lymphocytes and with cells of the monocyte/macrophage lineage, but not with B cells, erythrocytes, and platelets. Pretreatment of peripheral blood lymphocytes with mAb 8/1 plus complement abrogated the proliferative response in vitro to mitogen, soluble antigen, and MHC determinants. Dual-parameter immunofluorescence revealed that resting porcine T8+ as well as T4+ lymphocytes express the 8/1 antigen, whereas after in vitro activation, cell surface expression of the antigen was low or absent in both T cell subsets. Thus, the 8/1 antigen represents a marker that discriminates between resting and activated T lymphocytes. Distribution and functional criteria indicate that 8/1 represents a novel marker not described before for any other mammalian species.