Biological Treatment Research Articles

Application of fertigation using biotreated agro-industrial wastewater (with Bacillus paramycoides MT477810) on the growth of two vegetables Capsicum annuum (var. Astra) and Lycopersicon esculentum (var. Kristina)

ABSTRACT This research explored the use of the fertigation technique with treated agro-industrial wastewater to enhance the growth of Capsicum annuum (var. Astra) and Lycopersicon esculentum (var. Kristina). The wastewater, collected from Bajwa Agro Industries in Lahore, was biotreated using the bacterial strain Bacillus paramycoides MT477810, with a 10% inoculum incubated at 37 °C for 48 h. The bacterial strain achieved an 87% decolorization of the wastewater. Physicochemical analysis before and after biotreatment showed reductions in pH (60%), EC (22%), salinity (16%), turbidity (48%), COD (40%), BOD (73%), TDS (62%), and TSS (25%). The two vegetable varieties were fertigated with both biotreated and untreated wastewater to assess their effects on seed germination and plant growth. Results indicated a significant reduction in phytotoxicity (over 50%) in plants grown with biotreated wastewater. Additionally, plants irrigated with biotreated wastewater showed a 9–30% increase in fresh and dry weights compared to those irrigated with untreated wastewater. Nutritional analysis revealed that crops irrigated with treated wastewater had 12–48% higher nutrient content. These findings emphasize the effectiveness of biological wastewater treatment and fertigation in reducing pollutants and enhancing nutrient availability for vegetable crops.

New complete genome insights into Enterobacter roggenkampii FACU2: a potential player in cadmium bio-removal.

Industrial workplaces, particularly those involved in ore processing or smelting, pose a high risk of exposure to cadmium, a highly toxic metal. This study isolated and identified eight cadmium-resistant strains from industrial wastewater for their ability to resist cadmium. Enterobacter roggenkampii FACU2 demonstrated exceptional cadmium removal capabilities during our analysis, successfully eliminating 62% of the cadmium. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was utilized to examine the morphological change between the most and least efficient strains that responded to cadmium stress at the cellular level. Compared to the control bacteria, the treated bacteria exhibited notably higher levels of cadmium adsorption and accumulation within their cells. A complete genome analysis revealed that E. roggenkampii FACU2 has one chromosome and one plasmid with a size of 4,856,454bp and 80,926bp, respectively, in addition to harboring numerous heavy metal-resistant genes related to cadmium and other heavy metals. Moreover, the gene expression of four cadmium-resistant genes (czcA, cadA, czcC and czcD) showed that the high cadmium concentration led to a significant increase in czcA and cadA mRNA levels, thus indicating the activation of cadmium-resistant genes in the E. roggenkampii FACU2 compared to Enterobacter sp. strain FACU. Due to its ability to remove cadmium and other heavy metals, this strain holds promise as a source of genes for biological treatment methods. This application could contribute to environmental purification, ultimately benefiting human health.

Engineering bacteria for cancer immunotherapy by inhibiting IDO activity and reprogramming CD8+ T cell response

Inhibiting indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) for anticancer therapy has garnered significant attention in recent years. However, current IDO inhibitors face significant challenges which limit their clinical application. Here, we genetically engineered a high tryptophan-expressing Clostridium butyricum (L-Trp CB) strain that can colonize tumors strictly following systemic administration. We revealed that butyrate produced by L-Trp CB can inhibit IDO activity, preventing tryptophan catabolism and kynurenine accumulation in tumors. In addition, the large released tryptophan by L-Trp CB can provide discrete signals that support CD8+ T cell activation and energy metabolism within the tumor microenvironment. We observed that L-Trp CB significantly restored the proportion and function of CD8+ T cells, leading to significantly delayed tumor growth in both mouse and rabbit multiple tumor models with limited side effects. We here provide a synthetic biology treatment strategy for enhanced tumor immunotherapy by inhibiting IDO activity and reprogramming CD8+ T cell response in tumors.

Comparative analysis of hospital laboratory wastewater treatment techniques in Syrian Arab Republic

Background: Hospital wastewater poses a significant threat to human health due to the presence of difficult-to-degrade organic compounds, active pharmaceutical ingredients and multiple inorganic substances that can pollute water resources and ecosystems. Aim: To compare the effectiveness of different techniques for removing organic load from hospital laboratory wastewater in Aleppo, Syria. Methods: We treated wastewater samples from hospital laboratories at Aleppo University Hospital, Syria, using several techniques, including biological treatment with the rotating biological contactor, adsorption with Syrian natural clay, coagulation with aluminium sulphate, advanced oxidation with ultrasound, and a combined treatment using natural clay and ultrasound. We assessed the organic load removal efficiency for each technique under different conditions. Results: The most effective technique was the combination of natural clay and ultrasound. Applying natural clay at a concentration of 1 g/L of wastewater along with ultrasound at 40 kHz for 30 minutes achieved chemical oxygen demand and biochemical oxygen demand values suitable for irrigation, in accordance with the Syrian standard. The chemical oxygen demand value decreased to 212 mg/L with 94% removal rate, and the biochemical oxygen demand value decreased to 82 mg/L with 87% removal rate. Conclusion: Based on our findings, techniques that combine different methods of hospital wastewater treatment, such as combining adsorption with advanced methods like ultrasound, are more effective than those that use single methods. Such techniques should be promoted.

Rheumatic Manifestations of Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous inflammatory disorder, of unknown aetiology, which causes a wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes. It can present at any age, most commonly between 20 and 60 years, with a roughly equal sex distribution. Diagnosis is often delayed due to multiple diagnostic mimics, particularly joint disease. Common presenting features include pulmonary disease, with bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy and pulmonary infiltrates, cutaneous lesions, and ocular disease. Musculoskeletal manifestations are reported in 10–40% of patients with sarcoidosis and include bone lesions, acute arthritis, chronic arthritis, axial disease, dactylitis, and sarcoid myopathy, which are explored in detail in this review article. Diagnosis is confirmed through histological evidence of non-caseating granuloma on tissue biopsy. Newer imaging modalities, including 18FFDG PET/CT, can help identify the extent of musculoskeletal involvement, and biomarkers can provide weight to a diagnosis, but there is no single biomarker with prognostic value for disease monitoring. The mainstay of treatment remains corticosteroids, followed by disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs such as methotrexate and antimalarials. More recently, biologic treatments have been used successfully in the treatment of sarcoidosis with rheumatic involvement.

Demographics, Disease Characteristics, and Treatment Patterns of Patients with Plaque Psoriasis Treated with Biological Drugs: The Experience of a Single-Centre Study in Poland

Objectives: This study is a retrospective analysis of patients with plaque psoriasis treated with biological drugs at a single center in Poland. We sought to evaluate patient demographics, disease characteristics, comorbidity burden, and treatment patterns in this cohort. Methods: Data were collected from the medical records of patients with plaque psoriasis who received biological treatments. In total, data from 1 January 2013 to 2 August 2024 were analyzed, encompassing 159 patients. The variables analyzed included age, disease duration, affected areas, prior treatments, and treatment outcomes. Results: The mean age at the start of biological treatment was 48 years (range: 10–73 years), with an average psoriasis duration of 18.2 years (range: 1–51 years). Obesity was noted in 39% of patients. Psoriasis lesions commonly affected the scalp (74.66%) and nails (64.38%). Methotrexate was the most commonly used systemic therapy prior to biologics (86.30%). Risankizumab and adalimumab were the most frequently prescribed biologics. Secondary treatment failure led to the highest discontinuation rates with tildrakizumab, whereas bimekizumab, guselkumab, risankizumab, and secukinumab showed the lowest rates. Conclusions: Biological drugs play a pivotal role in managing plaque psoriasis, particularly for patients with comorbidities and in treating challenging areas such as the scalp and nails. Risankizumab and adalimumab were prominent in prescription patterns. Future research involving larger cohorts and prospective designs is needed to deepen understanding and optimize treatment strategies for plaque psoriasis in Poland.

Influence of technological parameters of biological wastewater treatment using lemnaceae on the degree of antibiotic removal

The article is devoted to the study of the effectiveness of the removal of chloramphenicol, a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is often found in the wastewater of pharmaceutical and medical institutions. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of chloramphenicol removal from model solutions using Lemna minor (duckweed) depending on the initial concentration of the antibiotic, time of cleaning and specific biomass of duckweed. Model solutions of chloramphenicol with concentrations of 2, 5, 10 and 20 mg/L were used in the study. The cleaning time ranged from 1 to 72 hours, and the chloramphenicol content was determined by liquid chromatography. It was established that the efficiency of cleaning depends not only on the time and initial concentration of the antibiotic, but also on the specific biomass of L. minor. In particular, the greatest efficiency was observed in the interval from 24 to 48 hours, after which the removal of the antibiotic markedly decreased, and the content remained stable until the end of the 72-hour period. At chloramphenicol concentrations of 2 and 5 mg/L with a specific duckweed biomass of 36 g/L, the cleaning efficiency gradually increased and reached maximum values in 72 hours of 23.2% and 26.8%, respectively. For a larger biomass – 50 g/L – these indicators were 17% and 19%, which indicates the possible optimization of the cleaning process when reducing the specific biomass of duckweed. At higher initial concentrations of chloramphenicol (10 and 20 mg/L), the use of duckweed with a specific biomass of 36 g/L provided the maximum antibiotic removal of 33.0% and 29.5%, respectively, in 72 hours of purification. As the biomass increased to 50 g/L, the efficiency decreased and amounted to 23.6% and 21% for these concentrations, which indicates the dependence of the process on the amount of L. minor. The results confirm that the use of Lemna minor is promising for the removal of chloramphenicol from wastewater. The highest efficiency was achieved with a process time of 48 hours and a specific duckweed biomass of 36 g/L, which ensured a decrease in the concentration of chloramphenicol to 29.4% at the initial level of 10 mg/L. The use of duckweed contributes to reducing the environmental burden and reduces the risk of the spread of antibiotic resistance in natural waters.

Analysis of domestic wastewater disinfection methods using chlorine dioxide and sodium hypochlorite

Pollution of surface water bodies poses a threat to the environment and human health. After improper wastewater treatment at municipal enterprises, mineral and organic pollutants gradually accumulate in water bodies, which in turn worsens the ecological situation and leads to outbreaks of infectious diseases. The reason for periodic violations of the operation of treatment plants is the imperfection of the technological regime. Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve the efficiency of existing biological treatment facilities by means of measures that ensure compliance with environmental requirements for urban wastewater treatment. Chlorine or its compounds are used as disinfectants: chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, calcium hypochlorite and others. Methods of wastewater disinfection using chlorine dioxide and sodium hypochlorite are considered in the work. The main advantages and problems of using these methods in comparison with the traditional use of chlorine are highlighted.

Multi-Omics Biomarkers for Predicting Efficacy of Biologic and Small-Molecule Therapies in Adults With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review.

The heterogeneity and suboptimal efficacy of biological treatments and small molecule drugs necessitate their precise selection based on biomarkers that predict therapeutic responses in inflammatory bowel disease. Recent studies have identified numerous novel biomarkers predictive of responses to biologics and small molecule modulators, utilizing a variety of omics approaches in inflammatory bowel disease. In this review, we systematically examine baseline omics biomarkers that predict responses to biological therapies and small molecule drugs, drawing on literature from PubMed. Our analysis spans multiple omics disciplines, including genomics, transcriptomics (both bulk RNA and single-cell RNA sequencing), proteomics, microbiomics, and metabolomics, with particular emphasis on the impact of models integrating multiple omics datasets. Additionally, to further the field of precision medicine, we evaluated specific biomarkers that may exhibit distinct effects on responses to multiple therapeutic interventions.

Greenhouse gas and volatile organic compound emissions of additive-treated whole-plant maize silage: part B—aerobic storage period and carbon footprint of silage additive use

BackgroundSilage emits climate- and environment-relevant gases during anaerobic fermentation and aerobic feed-out periods. This trial should determine the unknown CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, ethanol and ethyl acetate emissions of constant maize silage over both periods. The results will be published in two consecutive articles (Part A: anaerobic fermentation period; Part B: aerobic storage period).MethodsThree silage treatments were observed (n = 4): The untreated control (CON) was compared to the chemical additive treatment (CHE; 0.5 g sodium benzoate and 0.3 g potassium sorbate per kg fresh matter) and the biological additive treatment (BIO; 1 × 108 colony-forming units Lentilactobacillus buchneri and 1 × 107 colony-forming units Lactiplantibacillus plantarum per kg fresh matter). During the two aerobic emission measurement periods (AEMP), the silos were ventilated mechanically to supply 2–6 (L air) min–1 to the two faces of the material (150.6 kg dry matter m–3). AEMP1 (duration 14 days) began on ensiling day 30, AEMP2 (19 days) on day 135.ResultsIn AEMP1, aerobic stability differed among the treatments (p < 0.05): 5.17 ± 0.75 days for CON, 6.33 ± 0.15 days for BIO, and 7.33 ± 0.57 days for CHE. In AEMP2, only CON showed a temperature increase of 2 K above ambient temperature after 7.75 ± 0.31 days. BIO and CHE indicated higher ethanol and ethyl acetate emission rates during the first period of the heating process. Furthermore, 20.0%–70.4% of ethanol and 169.0%–953.6% of ethyl acetate quantities present in the material at the silo opening emitted as gases.ConclusionMethane and nitrous oxide emissions during anaerobic fermentation exceeded the quantities during aerobic storage in all treatments. However, compared with those of crop production, the total climate-relevant CO2eq emissions are small. Microbial respiration during heating leads to climate-neutral CO2 emissions and dry matter losses. Minimising these losses is promising for mitigating climate-relevant emissions directly during silage storage and indirectly during crop production since less forage input is needed. Thus, silage additives can help improve the silage carbon footprint by improving aerobic stability and silage deterioration.Graphical

Effect of Differentially Charged Polystyrene Nanoplastics on the Performance of Biological Denitrification in Wastewater Treatment

Nanoplastics are widely distributed in the environment and can accumulate in organisms. Increasing attention has been paid to the toxic effects of nanoplastics in wastewater biological treatment processes. In this study, polystyrene nanoplastics with different charges were synthesized and used in sequencing batch activated sludge reactors for short-term nanoplastic exposure experiments. Both positively and negatively charged nanoplastics inhibited the nitrogen removal efficiency and gene expressions of nitrification and denitrification-related genes of activated sludge. The inhibiting effect on nitrification of both nanoplastics was enhanced with increasing concentration. The study further evaluated the molecular mechanisms by which differently charged nanoplastics affect denitrification efficiency using the model denitrifying bacterium Pseudomonas stutzeri （P. stutzeri）. The results showed that both positively and negatively charged nanoplastics affected the efficiency of biological denitrification by P. stutzeri, mainly including the promotion of NO3- to NO2- conversion and the significant acceleration of N2O production. Meanwhile, negatively charged nanoplastics inhibited the growth of P. stutzeri and disrupted the cell membrane of the bacterium； however, no change was observed in the expression of denitrification-related functional genes and the nanoplastics might have affected the enzymatic activities of Nir and Nos, which in turn affected the bioprocessing efficiency. This study can provide a certain reference for the evaluation of the biosafety of nanoplastics and provide a certain support for the stable operation of wastewater treatment plants.

Histological, But Neither Clinical Nor Endoscopic Activity Predicts the Risk of Colectomy in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis Treated With Biologics.

Biological treatment failure is common in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), but the predictive value of baseline histological activity is unknown. We aimed to investigate the associations between baseline histological activity and outcomes after biological treatment in patients with UC. Adult biological-naïve patients with UC (n = 150) were followed prospectively during biological treatment. Histological activity was assessed using the Nancy Index and Geboes score. Endoscopic activity was assessed using the Mayo Endoscopic Subscore (MES). Associations with outcomes were assessed in multivariable models. Associations between histological, endoscopic, and biochemical activity were assessed using Spearman's correlation. In biological-treated patients with UC, severe histological activity at baseline was independently associated with colectomy risk during the induction period (Nancy 2 vs 4: odds ratio [OR] 0.18, 95% CI 0.01-0.61, P = 0.024; Nancy 3 vs 4: OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.63, P = .019; Geboes 3 vs 5: OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.00-0.57, P = .033; Geboes 4 vs 5: OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.01-0.69, P = 0.032) and total follow-up (Nancy 2 vs 4: HR 0.23, 95% CI 0.06-0.98, P = 0.046; Nancy 3 vs 4: HR 0.13, 95% CI 0.04-0.47, P = 0.002; Geboes 4 vs 5: HR 0.28, 95% CI 0.08-0.93, P = 0.038). Meanwhile, baseline MES was not independently associated with colectomy risk. Histological activity was correlated with MES and the levels of C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, and albumin, but not calprotectin. Severe histological activity at baseline as characterized by a higher Nancy Index or Geboes score independently predicted colectomy risk in biological-treated UC patients, whereas MES did not. Thus, histological assessment should be encouraged before initiating biological treatment.

Understanding the role of oxidants for enhanced remediation of groundwater nitrate: An insight into surface modification

Rapid urbanization and excessive agricultural runoff caused nitrate levels in groundwater to exceed permissible limits, making drinking water toxic and unsafe for consumption. Numerous physicochemical and biological treatment methods have been explored to remove nitrate from water; however, adsorption, a surface phenomenon, has a wide range of applications because of its rapid rate of reaction, recyclability, and environmentally friendly synthesis method. In this direction, this study aimed to unravel the role of oxidants in the facile synthesis of a competent zirconium-based adsorbent to remove nitrate from groundwater. The wet oxidative method, a facile chemical synthesis process requires an oxidant, which adds the oxidative functionalities on the surface of the adsorbent, which offers excessive anchorage to the transition metal on the surface of the adsorbent during synthesis. The batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the adsorbents in treating nitrate. The maximum adsorption capacity of competent adsorbent was 113.97 mg/g at 300 K, which is considerably high compared to 62.83 mg/g of raw activated carbon and other existing adsorbents. The sorption capacity is reduced with an increase in temperature, which favors adsorption at lower temperatures. Adsorbents were successfully applied to test the groundwater samples showing increased removal efficiency. About 97 % desorption was obtained using 0.5 M NaOH, which facilitates the adsorbents for reuse. The developed adsorbent shows promising effectiveness in removing nitrate and could be used at a large scale.

Efficacy and safety of biological treatment for inflammatory bowel disease in elderly patients: Results from a GETECCU cohort

IntroductionBiological therapies used for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have shown to be effective and safe, although these results were obtained from studies involving mostly a young population, who are generally included in clinical trials. The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy and safety of the different biological treatments in the elderly population. MethodsMulticenter study was carried out in the GETECCU group. Patients diagnosed with IBD and aged over 65 years at the time of initiating biological therapy (infliximab, adalimumab, golimumab, ustekinumab or vedolizumab) were retrospectively included.Among the patients included, clinical response was assessed after drug induction (12 weeks of treatment) and at 52 weeks. Patients’ colonoscopy data in week 52 were assessment, where available. Regarding complications, development of oncological events during follow-up and infectious processes occurring during biological treatment were collected (excluding bowel infection by cytomegalovirus). ResultsA total of 1090 patients were included. After induction, at approximately 12–14 weeks of treatment, 419 patients (39.6%) were in clinical remission, 502 patients (47.4%) had responded without remission and 137 patients (12.9%) had no response.At 52 weeks of treatment 442 patients (57.1%) had achieved clinical remission, 249 patients had responded without remission (32.2%) and 53 patients had no response to the treatment (6.8%). Before 52 weeks, 129 patients (14.8%) had discontinued treatment due to inefficacy, this being significantly higher (p<0.0001) for Golimumab – 9 patients (37.5%) – compared to the other biological treatments analyzed.With respect to tumor development, an oncological event was observed in 74 patients (6.9%): 30 patients (8%) on infliximab, 23 (7.14%) on adalimumab, 3 (11.1%) on golimumab, 10 (6.4%) on ustekinumab, and 8 (3.8%) on vedolizumab. The incidence was significantly lower (p=0.04) for the vedolizumab group compared to other treatments.As regards infections, these occurred in 160 patients during treatment (14.9%), with no differences between the different biologicals used (p=0.61): 61 patients (19.4%) on infliximab, 39 (12.5%) on adalimumab, 5 (17.8%) on golimumab, 22 (14.1%) on ustekinumab, and 34 (16.5%) on vedolizumab. ConclusionsBiological drug therapies have response rates in elderly patients similar to those described in the general population, Golimumab was the drug that was discontinued most frequently due to inefficacy.In our experience, tumor development was more frequent in patients who used anti-TNF therapies compared to other targets, although its incidence was generally low and that this is in line with younger patients based on previous literature.

Giant Cell Arteritis: A review of current knowledge and new biological treatment options

Introduction and objective Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most common primary systemic vasculitis in Europe. It mainly affects individuals over the age of fifty, its incidence increases with age. The most common clinical manifestation is bilateral headache accompanied by systemic symptoms. The disease may be associated with serious complications, such as permanent vision loss, stroke or rupture of aortic aneurysm. The aim of this study is to discuss the current knowledge about giant cell arteritis and new possibilities of biological treatment. Review methodsTo prepare this review, PubMed and Google Scholar databases were used, searching the following terms: “giant cell arteritis,” “temporal arteritis,” “giant cell arteritis biological treatment,” “giant cell arteritis biological therapy,” “giant cell arteritis treatment,” “giant cell arteritis epidemiology.” The search results were limited to publications from 2007 to 2024, as well as key studies from earlier years, including original papers and randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Brief description of the state of knowledgeThe pathogenesis of GCA remains unclear. Since inflammatory factors appear to play an important role, new therapeutic strategies are aimed in direction to interfere these pathways. Setting a diagnosis of GCA requires imaging studies or a temporal artery biopsy. The results of current treatment with high doses of glucocorticoids are unsatisfying, which has led to ongoing research into new therapeutic options. SummaryEarly diagnosis and initiation of treatment are crucial for preventing occurrence of complications. Although the current treatment regimen is effective, it leads to many side effects and does not prevent relapses. This highlights the need to better understand the pathomechanism of the disease to develop more precise therapeutic strategies, including biological treatment.

Determinants of Cost-Effectiveness results of Biological Therapies for Severe Asthma: a systematic methodological assessment

Objective: to assess the associations between cost-effectiveness analysis’ (CEA) methodological characteristics and Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) outcomes and conclusions, in biological treatments for asthma. Study design and settingWe included CEAs comparing biological treatments to standard care, in adults with severe asthma. We performed a search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science (Sep 2022). We extracted and summarised CEA’s characteristics and critically appraised the studies using the extended Consensus Health Economic Criteria (e-CHEC). In those reporting benefits as quality-adjusted life years (QALY), we conducted bivariate and regression analyses. ResultsWe identified 33 CEAs that showed overall good quality (above 66.6% of compliance) with variable results across e-CHEC sections. We included 28 cost-utility analysis (CUA) on biological treatments in asthma in our analysis. Only industry sponsorship showed significant differences in the bivariate analysis (p=0.021 for the difference in ICER medians, and p=0.027 for the different percentage in reported cost-effectiveness). In the regression adopting a non-lifetime horizon and non-use of a model (β = 4.25 and β = 0.16, p<0.05), significantly associated in the multivariate ananlysis. Only non industry sponsorship showed a significant association with the drug being reported as not cost-effective, both in the bivariate and multivariate analysis (OR = 13.2, and OR = 20.15 p<0.05). ConclusionOur study identified significant limitations, including poor reporting practices and the impact of industry sponsorship on outcomes, with notable effects on cost-effectiveness conclusions.These findings highlight the need for policymakers and healthcare decision-makers to meticulously consider methodological rigour and potential biases in economic evaluations.

Longitudinal multi-trajectory phenotypes of severe eosinophilic asthma on type 2 biologics treatment

BackgroundLimited understanding exists regarding the progression trajectory of severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) patients on type 2 biologics therapies. ObjectiveWe aim to explore distinct longitudinal phenotypes of these patients based on crucial asthma biomarkers. MethodsWe enrolled 101 adult patients with SEA. Of these, 51 were treated with anti-IL5/IL5Rα or anti-IL5/IL5RαR antibody, and 50 with anti-IL-4Rα antibody. Multi-trajectory analysis, an extension of univariate group-based trajectory modeling, was used to categorize patients based on their trajectories of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), blood eosinophil counts (BEC), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels at baseline, and after 1, 6, and 12 months of treatment. Associations between trajectory-based clusters and clinical parameters were examined. ResultsAmong anti-IL5/IL5Rα antibody-treated patients, 2 clusters were identified. The cluster characterized by higher baseline BEC and lower FEV1 showed a better response, with improvements in FEV1 and reductions in BEC over time. Among anti-IL-4Rα antibody-treated, 3 clusters were identified. Clusters with moderate BEC and FeNO at baseline demonstrated better improvements in FEV1 and reductions in FeNO, despite increased BEC during follow-up. Conversely, individuals with extremely low FeNO and high BEC at baseline were more likely to experience poorer progression, demonstrating an increase in FeNO and a reduction in FEV1. ConclusionTo optimally monitor treatment response in SEA patients on type 2 biologics, integrating longitudinal biomarker features is essential.

Study Explores Sustainable Solutions for Managing Contaminants in Produced Water

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 221002, “Sustainable Solutions for Contaminant Management in Produced Water,” by Nick Nicholas, Genesis Water Technologies, and Andrea Bautista-Gomez, SPE, UniXporter. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ The primary objectives of this paper include identifying key challenges in managing produced water, assessing current produced-water treatment practices, identifying areas for improvement, and establishing an approach focusing on innovative sustainable solutions that benefit both the industry and the environment. In the case-studies section of the complete paper, the authors include detailed application case studies from Colombia and India (the latter is included in this synopsis). Key Challenges in Managing Produced Water Produced-water management presents a complex set of challenges that spans environmental, technical, economic, and regulatory areas, often requiring multifaceted treatment solutions. The following primary impediments faced in produced-water management are detailed in the complete paper: - Variability in water composition - High treatment costs - Large flow volumes - Environmental risks - Regulatory compliance - Limited disposal options - Technological limitations - Beneficial reuse obstacles - Climate change considerations Current treatment technologies include physical separation, chemical treatment, membrane filtration, thermal technologies, and biological treatment. Current disposal methods for produced water management in the US are diversified, with 46% of the water being disposed of, 41% reinjected, and 13% recycled. Various disposal and recycling methods, detailed in the complete paper, include deep well injection, surface discharge, evaporation ponds, and reuse and recycling. Transportation and storage methods include pipeline networks, trucking, and storage facilities, while monitoring and compliance methods include water-quality testing and reporting systems. Waste minimization strategies include downhole water separation and various water-shutoff techniques.

TREATMENT METHODS FOR BITUMEN POLLUTED WATER(BPW) - A REVIEW

This review is set to answer the question about current and alternative treatment methods available for treating Bitumen000. 12021Polluted Water (BPW). Bitumen is a complex form of hydrocarbon with a higher viscosity than crude oil preventing it from flowing under natural conditions. BPW is formed due to bitumen seepage from underground reservoirs causing contamination of land and waterbodies in areas where the deposit is untapped. Another wastewater from bitumen is the Bitumen Wastewater (BWW) which is formed from bitumen extraction and processing, though this review centered on bitumen-polluted water BPW, studies revealed that BWW exhibits similar characteristics of floatable solids, high levels of salt and taste, colour, hardness of water, high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) levels, toxic metals: lead, cadmium and dissolved petroleum hydrocarbons: Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylene (BTEX). It has been reported that these pollutants were recalcitrant, persistent in biodegradation, and required many years to denature. This review summarized treatment methods for bitumen polluted water and by extension BWW from five aspects, which contain flotation, filtration, coagulation, biological treatment, and combined technology. Further, it addressed modifying the existing Bitumen Polluted Water Treatment System (BPWTS) with the possibility of scaling it up to treat more volume of BPW to meet water treatment demand in the bitumen-rich areas.

Cost and Cost Effectiveness of Treatments for Psoriatic Arthritis: An Updated Systematic Literature Review.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory disease characterised by a variety of clinical manifestations. Considering the economic burden posed by PsA and the increasing number of treatment options, economic evaluations are required to better allocate available resources. This work aims to update a previous published literature review on PsA cost-of-illness and cost-effectiveness analysis. A search was performed of English-language literature between January 2017 and March 20, 2024 in Medline/PubMed, Embase and Cochrane library using the terms 'psoriatic arthritis', 'cost of illness' and 'cost effectiveness'. Data on decision model, time horizon, population, treatment options, perspective, type of costs, relevant results and authors' conclusion were extracted from the reviewed articles. Finally, the quality of the included studies was evaluated. Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria: 16 cost-of-illness and 11 cost-effectiveness/cost-utility analyses. PsA is characterised by high direct and indirect costs. Drug costs as well as hospitalisation and absenteeism were the major drivers of the observed costs. The cost-effectiveness analyses reported the dominance or the cost effectiveness of biologic therapies compared with non-biologic PsA treatment. Biological options like bimekizumab and ixekizumab have demonstrated a better cost-effectiveness profile in PsA patients compared with other treatments (i.e., other biological treatments). There was an increased number of economic evaluations compared with the previous review. PsA is still associated with significant economic burden worldwide. The main cost was represented by therapies, specifically biological therapies. Amongst the biological therapies, bimekizumab and ixekizumab appear to provide the most economic benefit. Finally, new economic studies are needed to enrich knowledge on the economic burden of subgroups of PsA patients as well as early treatment of PsA with new therapies.