Methanogenic capacity and robustness of hydrogenotrophic cultures based on closed nutrient recycling via microbial catabolism: Impact of temperature and microbial attachment.

A biological methanation system based on nutrient recycling via mixed culture microbial catabolism was investigated at mesophilic (37 °C) and thermophilic (55 °C) temperatures. At mesophilic temperatures, the formation of biofilms on two different types of material was assessed. Results showed that with intense mixing the biofilm reactors presented methanogenic capacities (per working volume) 50% higher than the ones operated with suspended cultures.

Integration of Power to Methane in a waste water treatment plant - A feasibility study.

The integration of a biomethanation system within a wastewater treatment plant for conversion of CO and H to CH has been studied. Results indicate that the CO could be utilised to produce an additional 13,420m/day of CH, equivalent to approximately 133,826kWh of energy. The whole conversion process including electrolysis was found to have an energetic efficiency of 66.

Closed nutrient recycling via microbial catabolism in an eco-engineered self regenerating mixed anaerobic microbiome for hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis.

A novel eco-engineered mixed anaerobic culture was successfully demonstrated for the first time to be capable of continuous regeneration in nutrient limiting conditions. Microbial catabolism has been found to support a closed system of nutrients able to enrich a culture of lithotrophic methanogens and provide microbial cell recycling. After enrichment, the hydrogenotrophic species was the dominating methanogens while a bacterial substratum was responsible for the redistribution of nutrients.

Interferon alpha-induced hashimoto thyroiditis followed by transient graves disease in a patient with chronic HCV infection.

The case of a 37-year-old man with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is presented. The patient had received a 6-month course of antiviral therapy with peg interferon alpha-2a and ribavirin, with concomitant clearance of hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid (HCV-RNA) from serum at the end of treatment. Three months after the treatment course he developed clinical and laboratory features of hypothyroidism along with high titers of thyroid peroxidase antibodies.

Circulating and liver tissue levels of retinol-binding protein-4 in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Aim: Retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4) has been proposed as a new adipokine that regulates insulin action in muscles and the liver, and contributes to the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. As non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is related to insulin resistance, we aimed to evaluate RBP4 levels in the serum and liver of patients with NAFLD.

Methods: Serum RBP4 was measured in 30 NAFLD patients and 30 matched healthy controls.

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor in HCV genotype-1 patients who develop Peg-IFN-alpha2b related severe neutropenia: a preliminary report on treatment, safety and efficacy.

Dose reductions of Peg-IFNa because of severe neutropenia may affect the virologic response in patients with hepatitis C infection (HCV). Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been used occasionally but studies addressing its safety and efficacy in the current treatment of HCV infection are missing. The database of 232 naïve patients with HCV genotype-1 who received PEG-IFNalpha2b 1.

Changes of liver and muscle enzymes activity in patients with rigor.

Aim: We investigated whether changes of liver and muscle enzymes activity are associated with rigor of several causes and have any prognostic significance.

Methods: Seventy-five patients with rigor were prospectively evaluated. Serum enzymes were measured at the onset of rigor and during the three following days.

Hepatic steatosis in genotype 4 chronic hepatitis C is mainly because of metabolic factors.

Background/aim: Hepatic steatosis is considered to be mostly associated with viral factors in genotype 3 and metabolic factors in genotype 1 chronic hepatitis C, while there are rather few data for genotype 4. We determined the parameters associated with steatosis in 350 chronic hepatitis C patients, focusing on genotype 4.

Methods: Histological lesions were evaluated according to Ishak's classification and steatosis was semiquantitatively graded.

Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index for fibrosis evaluation in chronic viral hepatitis.

Objective: We assessed the value of the recently developed aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) for predicting significant fibrosis or cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C or HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Methods: In total, 489 patients (chronic hepatitis C, 284 patients; HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B, 205 patients) were included. APRI values of 0.

Pseudohyperkalemia in patients with increased cellular components of blood.

Objective: We performed a study to investigate the difference between serum and plasma potassium concentration in patients with increase in one or more of the cellular components of blood.

Design And Methods: This study was performed in two phases. During the first phase, we performed a cross-sectional comparison of the difference between serum and plasma potassium concentration (Dk) in 341 patients with the various clinical conditions where pseudohyperkalemia has been described, as well as with secondary or spurious erythrocytosis and in 30 normal controls.

Cholestasis in acute stroke: an investigation on its prevalence and etiology.

Objective: Liver cholestatic enzymes and/or bilirubin occasionally occur in acute stroke and are usually, but not always, ascribed to comorbid conditions. We investigated the frequency and possible etiology of this phenomenon.

Material And Methods: Prospective evaluation of post-admission biochemical cholestasis of all patients hospitalized with acute stroke was conducted during a 21-month period.