Fate and behavior of ZnO- and Ag-engineered nanoparticles and a bacterial viability assessment in a simulated wastewater treatment plant.

The fate and behaviour assessment of ZnO- and Ag-engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) and bacterial viability in a simulated wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) fed with municipal wastewater was investigated through determination of ENPs stability at varying pH and continuous exposure of ENPs to wastewater, respectively. The ENPs were introduced to a 3-L bioreactor (simulated WWTP) with a hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 6 h at a dose rate of 0.83 mg/min for 240 h.

Purification and characterization of mouse soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE).

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell surface proteins that has been implicated as a progression factor in a number of pathologic conditions from chronic inflammation to cancer to Alzheimer's disease. In such conditions, RAGE acts to facilitate pathogenic processes. Its secreted isoform, soluble RAGE or sRAGE, has the ability to prevent RAGE signaling by acting as a decoy.

Extracellular superoxide dismutase in biology and medicine.

Accumulated evidence has shown that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important mediators of cell signaling events such as inflammatory reactions (superoxide) and the maintenance of vascular tone (nitric oxide). However, overproduction of ROS such as superoxide has been associated with the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases including cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, and pulmonary diseases. Antioxidant enzymes are, in part, responsible for maintaining low levels of these oxygen metabolites in tissues and may play key roles in controlling or preventing these conditions.

Depletion of pulmonary EC-SOD after exposure to hyperoxia.

Extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is highly expressed in lung tissue. EC-SOD contains a heparin-binding domain that is sensitive to proteolysis. This heparin-binding domain is important in allowing EC-SOD to exist in relatively high concentrations in specific regions of the extracellular matrix and on cell surfaces.