Burden of Kidney Disease in an Aging Population Living with HIV in the United States.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly improved mortality rates for individuals living with HIV, but kidney disease remains prevalent, especially among older adults. Our study analyzed the burden of kidney disease in individuals aged 65 and older at The Miriam Hospital Immunology Center in Rhode Island. We calculated estimated glomerular filtration rates using the last creatinine values from 2019 and identified chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages.

Effect of Temperature-Induced Aging on the Gas Permeation Behavior of Thin Film Composite Membranes of PIM-1 and Carboxylated PIM-1.

Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) are a class of promising gas separation materials due to their high membrane permeabilities and reasonable selectivities. When processed into thin film composite (TFC) membranes, their high gas throughput aligns closely with industrial requirements, but they are prone to physical aging and plasticization effects. TFC membranes based on the prototypical PIM-1 and its carboxylated derivative cPIM-1 exhibit temperature-dependent gas permeation behavior, which has not been extensively studied before.

Modulation of cream cheese physicochemical and functional properties with ultrafiltration and calcium reduction.

The production of cream cheese from ultrafiltered (UF) milk can reduce acid whey generation but the effect of altered protein and calcium concentration on the physicochemical properties of cream cheese is not well understood. In this study, the effect of skim milk concentration by UF (2.5 and 5 fold) was assessed both with and without calcium reduction using 2% (w/v) cation resin treatment.

Application of mechanistic modelling in membrane and fiber chromatography for purification of biotherapeutics - A review.

Mechanistic modelling is a simulation tool which has been effectively applied in downstream bioprocessing to model resin chromatography. Membrane and fiber chromatography are newer approaches that offer higher rates of mass transfer and consequently higher flow rates and reduced processing times. This review describes the key considerations in the development of mechanistic models for these unit operations.

The effect of calcium removal from skim milk by ion exchange on the properties of the ultrafiltration retentate.

New processes are needed to produce concentrated milk feedstocks with tailored calcium content, due to the direct link between calcium concentration and final product texture and functionality. Skim milk treatment with cation exchange resin 1% (w/v) or 2% (w/v) prior to ultrafiltration to a volumetric concentration factor (VCF) of 2.5 or 5 successfully decreased the calcium concentration by 20-30% and produced concentrates with solids content at ∼22-24 g 100 g at a VCF of 5.

Methanol Vapor Retards Aging of PIM-1 Thin Film Composite Membranes in Storage.

Physical aging of glassy polymers leads to a decrease in permeability over time when they are used in membranes. This hinders the industrial application of high free volume polymers, such as the archetypal polymer of intrinsic microporosity PIM-1, for membrane gas separation. In thin film composite (TFC) membranes, aging is much more rapid than in thicker self-standing membranes, as rearrangement within the thin active layer is relatively fast.

Industrial freezing and tempering for optimal functional properties in thawed Mozzarella cheese.

Mozzarella cheese was industrially frozen (-18 °C), stored for up to six months, tempered at 4 °C for one or three weeks and the structure and functionality compared to cheese stored at 4 °C and cheese aged at 4 °C for four weeks prior to freezing. When combined with ageing or tempering, the slow industrial freezing minimised changes to the protein network as detected by confocal microscopy and arrested proteolysis. Cheese functionality improved with three weeks of tempering, with properties similar to cheese refrigerated for one month, potentially due to increased proteolysis and protein rehydration.

Pan-Canadian consensus recommendations for proton beam therapy access in Canada.

Purpose: Proton Beam Therapy (PBT)is a treatment option for select cancer patients. It is currently not available in Canada. Assessment and referral processes for out-of-country treatment for eligible patients vary by jurisdiction, leading to variability in access to this treatment for Canadian cancer patients.

Synthesis of -Acetyllactosamine and -Acetyllactosamine-Based Bioactives.

-Acetyllactosamine (LacNAc) or more specifically β-d-galactopyranosyl-1,4--acetyl-d-glucosamine is a unique acyl-amino sugar and a key structural unit in human milk oligosaccharides, an antigen component of many glycoproteins, and an antiviral active component for the development of effective drugs against viruses. LacNAc is useful itself and as a basic building block for producing various bioactive oligosaccharides, notably because this synthesis may be used to add value to dairy lactose. Despite a significant amount of information in the literature on the benefits, structures, and types of different LacNAc-derived oligosaccharides, knowledge about their effective synthesis for large-scale production is still in its infancy.

Recovery of Sevoflurane Anesthetic Gas Using an Organosilica Membrane in Conjunction with a Scavenging System.

Approximately 95% of the anesthetic gas administered to a patient is exhaled and ultimately released into the atmosphere. Most anesthetic gases have high global warming potential and so this approach adds significantly to the global greenhouse gas footprint. In this work, we develop a feasible means to capture such an anesthetic gas (sevoflurane) before it is released to the hospital scavenging system so that it is retained within the anesthetic circuit.

Lactic Acid and Salt Separation Using Membrane Technology.

Acid whey is a by-product of cheese and yoghurt manufacture. The protein and lactose within acid whey can be recovered using nanofiltration and electrodialysis, but this leaves a waste stream that is a mixture of salts and lactic acid. To further add value to the acid whey treatment process, the possibility of recovering this lactic acid was investigated using either low energy reverse osmosis membranes or an electrodialysis process.

Pregnancy-related plasticity of gastric vagal afferent signals in mice.

Gastric vagal afferents (GVAs) sense food-related mechanical stimuli and signal to the central nervous system, to integrate control of meal termination. Pregnancy is characterized by increased maternal food intake, which is essential for normal fetal growth and to maximize progeny survival and health. However, it is unknown whether GVA function is altered during pregnancy to promote food intake.

The effect of pH on the fat and protein within cream cheese and their influence on textural and rheological properties.

The effect of variation in acid gel pH during cream cheese production was investigated. The gel microstructure was denser and cheese texture firmer, as the pH decreased from pH 5.0 to pH 4.

Heat induced denaturation, aggregation and gelation of almond proteins in skim and full fat almond milk.

The effect of thermal treatment (45-95 °C for 30 min) on the structure of almond milk proteins was assessed, as the unfolding and association of these proteins in response to heat is not well understood. Above 55 °C, protein surface hydrophobicity and particle size increased and alpha helical structure decreased, reducing the stability of skim or full fat milk. Fractal protein clusters were observed at 65-75 °C and weakly flocculated gels with a continuous protein network occurred at 85-95 °C, resulting in gels with high water holding capacity and a strength similar to dairy gels.

Single and binary ion sorption equilibria of monovalent and divalent ions in commercial ion exchange membranes.

The co-ion and counter-ion sorption of monovalent (Na, K, Cl and NO) and divalent ions (Ca and SO) in commercial Neosepta ion exchange membranes were systemically studied in both single and binary salt systems. The new generation of Neosepta cation exchange membrane (CSE) showed a significant difference in water uptake and co-ion sorption compared to the earlier generation (CMX). Use of the Manning model confirmed that there were significant differences between these membranes, with the estimated value of the Manning parameter changing from 1.

Disruption of the light cycle ablates diurnal rhythms in gastric vagal afferent mechanosensitivity.

Background: Gastric vagal afferents (GVAs) respond to mechanical stimulation, initiating satiety. These afferents exhibit diurnal fluctuations in mechanosensitivity, facilitating food intake during the dark phase in rodents. In humans, desynchrony of diurnal rhythms (eg, shift work) is associated with a higher risk of obesity.

The characterisation of Mozzarella cheese microstructure using high resolution synchrotron transmission and ATR-FTIR microspectroscopy.

Synchrotron Fourier transform infrared (S-FTIR) microspectroscopy allows the label-free examination of material microstructure but has not been widely applied to dairy products. Here, S-FTIR microspectroscopy was applied to observe the microstructure of Mozzarella cheese and assess the protein and lipid distribution within individual cheese blocks. High lipid and high protein areas were identified in transmission and attenuated total reflectance (ATR) analysis modes and the secondary structures of cheese proteins determined.

A novel role for the extracellular matrix glycoprotein-Tenascin-X in gastric function.

Key Points: Tenascin X (TNX) functions in the extracellular matrix of skin and joints where it maintains correct intercellular connections and tissue architecture TNX is associated exclusively with vagal-afferent endings and some myenteric neurones in mouse and human stomach, respectively. TNX-deficient mice have accelerated gastric emptying and hypersensitivity of gastric vagal mechanoreceptors that can be normalized by an inhibitor of vagal-afferent sensitivity. Cultured nodose ganglion neurones showed no changes in response to capsaicin, cholecystokinin and potassium chloride in TNX-deficient mice.

A rotating light cycle promotes weight gain and hepatic lipid storage in mice.

Processes involved in regulation of energy balance and intermediary metabolism are aligned to the light-dark cycle. Shift-work and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity disrupt circadian rhythmicity and are associated with increased risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This study aimed to determine the effect of simulating shift work on hepatic lipid accumulation in lean and HFD mice.

A review of salty waste stream management in the Australian dairy industry.

Saline wastewater is a by-product of cheese manufacturing and whey processing that can have serious environmental and economic consequences. Salty streams originating from dairy processing operations include chromatography wastes, clean-in-place wastewater, acid whey, salty whey and waste generated from whey demineralization processes such as nanofiltration, electrodialysis and ion exchange. With the participation of the major dairy companies in Australia, an industry wide survey was conducted to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the management strategies for these salty waste streams.

Apelin modulates murine gastric vagal afferent mechanosensitivity.

Gastric vagal afferents play an important role in the peripheral control of food intake. Apelin, a central appetite regulating hormone, is also abundantly released from the stomach. Whether apelin modulates gastric vagal afferent signalling is unknown.

Time-Restricted Feeding Prevents Ablation of Diurnal Rhythms in Gastric Vagal Afferent Mechanosensitivity Observed in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Mechanosensitive gastric vagal afferents (GVAs) are involved in the regulation of food intake. GVAs exhibit diurnal rhythmicity in their response to food-related stimuli, allowing time of day-specific satiety signaling. This diurnal rhythmicity is ablated in high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obesity.