Assett (United States)

This study for the first time investigated the turnover of dissolved organic nitrogen in lab-scale thermal hydrolysis pretreatment at different temperatures with and without mesophilic anaerobic digestion at a solids retention time of 15 days.

The development of drugs to treat cancer is hampered by the inefficiency of translating pre-clinical in vitro monoculture and mouse studies into clinical benefit. There is a critical need to improve the accuracy of evaluating pre-clinical drug efficacy through the development of more physiologically relevant models. In this study, a human triculture 3D in vitro tumor microenvironment system (TMES) was engineered to accurately mimic the tumor microenvironment. The TMES recapitulates tumor hemodynamics and biological transport with co-cultured human microvascular endothelial cells, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and pancreatic stellate cells. We demonstrate that significant tumor cell transcriptomic changes occur in the TMES that correlate with the in vivo xenograft and patient transcriptome. Treatment with therapeutically relevant doses of chemotherapeutics yields responses paralleling the patients' clinical responses. Thus, this model provides a unique platform to rigorously evaluate novel therapies and is amenable to using patient tumor material directly, with applicability for patient avatars.

Editor: I just finished reading Dr. Edwin Leap's Second Opinion article in the August issue. (“Welcome to Café Emergency,” 2005;27[8]:12.) He has put in print the comments I have been making to my coworker for the past several years. I had a difficult time finishing the article with all my laughing. Unfortunately, the sad truth is that his comments are very true. Medical training and “appropriate” testing and treatment have become the lowest priority in patient care. However, it feels better to know I'm not alone in my frustration. One improvement to “Café Emergency” would be to make everything available though drive-thru windows; at the first window, place your order; at the second, submit your credit card; at the third window, pick up your order. Just think of the increased revenue and zero patient complaints! Walt Dixon, MD Manassas, VA

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The Flatlands Urban Industrial Park will be the first publicly sponsored industrial park in the city of New York. The site, occupying 93 acres in Brooklyn, will be reserved for high performance manufacturing uses and accessory uses which will be compatible with adjacent mixed development. The plan will permit industrial plants ranging in size from 20,000 sq ft to 35,000 sq ft at one level, on lots between 220 ft and 700 ft deep, each served by a street and a rail spur. Eighty per cent of the total area is planned for new industrial sites of which 60% will be covered by buildings. An employee density of about 75 persons per net acre is expected. Although the development will be far more dense than suburban industrial parks, the overall environment will be similar. The cost of land acquisition and site improvements is estimated at $100,000 per net acre. All improvements will be constructed by a private developer under a lease agreement with the New York City Industrial Development Corporation, a nonprofit corporation.