In order to simultaneously remove carbon and nitrogen from organic-rich wastewater, we used an up-flow anaerobic sludge bed/blanket (UASB) reactor that was started up with anammox with high concentration of carbon and nitrogen by gradually raising the organic loading of influent. We optimized the removal of nitrogen and carbon when the chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration varied from 172 to 620 mg/L. During the entire experiment, the ammonium and total nitrogen removal efficiency was higher than 85%, while the average COD removal efficiency was 56.6%. The high concentration of organic matter did not restrain the activity of anammox bacteria. Based on polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) and tapping sequencing analyses, the Planctomycete, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Chlorobi bacteria are detected in the UASB reactor, which indicated complex removal pathway of carbon and nitrogen coexisted in the reactor. However, a part of Planctomycete which referred to anammox bacteria could tolerate a high content of organic carbon, and it provided help for high performance of nitrogen removal in UASB reactor.
Ammonia ; chemistry ; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis ; Bioreactors ; Carbon ; chemistry ; Nitrogen ; chemistry ; Sewage ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; methods ; Waste Water ; chemistry

Objective To investigate the expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in tumor microenvironment of natural killer/T cell lymphoma (NKTCL) and its relationship with clinical characteristics and prognosis. Methods From January 2005 to December 2012, 93 patients with NKTCL and available paraffin-embedded tissue in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were included. The expression or IL-6 in tumor microenvironment was investigated by immunohistochemistry. The positive IL-6 expression was identified as≥10 cells/HP. The enumeration data and measurement data were compared by t test andχ2 test, respectively. Overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Survival rates were compared by the Log-rank test. Statistical significance was determined at a level of P<0.05. Results The median count of IL-6 positive cell number was 21 cells/HPF (range, 0-150 cells/HP), and 61.29%(57/93) patients were positive. Positive IL-6 expression was mostly associated with fever and high Korean prognostic index (KPI) score (both P< 0.05). The serum c-reactive protein (CRP) level was (29.28 ± 2.62) mg/L in IL-6 positive patients and (11.14±2.77) mg/L in IL-6 negative patients (t= -2.276, P= 0.025). Patients with negative IL-6 expression had better survival, with 52.7 % of 5-year PFS rate,and 60.0 % of 5-year OS rate; the 5-year PFS and OS rates in those with IL-6 positive were 23.6 % and 27.1 %, respectively (both P= 0.001). Conclusion The high expression of IL-6 in patients with NKTCL might be associated with adverse clinical feature and poor survival.

One hundred and thirty general practitioners ( GP ) who received standard training ( training group ) and 189 GPs who did not receive standard training ( non-training group ) were selected with cluster random sampling method from five districts in Beijing.A questionnaire survey was conducted from April to May 2013, including basic information , working condition , professional competency and continuing education of the interviewees.The survey showed that 72.3%(94/130) in training group had physician titles;89.3%(116/130 )had work experience <10 y;97.0%(126/130)of them had bachelor degree or above;82.3%(107/130) expressed their interest in scientific research , but the 95.4% of them had no research projects;and 96% had no teaching appointment.GPs in non-training group were in a favorite position of education level and professional competency over those in training groups ; however , the latter were highly enthusiastic in further training and scientific research , and had strong potential for career development.

To study the enrichment regulation of anammox bacteria during the whole start-up process of anammox reaction, two reactors with addition of carries of Spherical Plastic (SP) and Bamboo Charcoal (BC) and one without carrier (CK) were used to start anammox reaction. Then FISH and q-PCR analyses for the growth of all anammox bacteria were conducted during the operational process. The results indicate that the number of anammox bacteria in all reactors increased with time during the whole start-up process, which was consistent with the removal rate of ammonium and nitrite. On day 123 of stable phase, the percent of anammox cells in the sludge of CK, SP and BC accounted for 23.3%, 32.6% and 43.7%, respectively. The number of anammox bacteria 16S rRNA gene copies was (25.64 +/- 2.76) x 10(7), (47.12 +/- 2.76) x 10(7) and (577.99 +/- 27.25) x 10(7) copies g(-1) VSS in the sludge of CK, SP and BC, respectively. Carrier addition could dramatically increase enrichment of anammox bacteria. BC addition significantly increased the anammox bacteria number in the UASB reactor which resulted in the acceleration of the anammox start-up process. In addition, the max specific growth rate and the minimum doubling time were 0.064 d(-1) and 10.8 d in BC reactor. The max specific growth rate of anammox bacteria in BC reactor was 1.78 times and 1.88 times greater than that in CK and SP reactor, respectively. Therefore, the FISH and q-PCR analyses were suitable for determining the enrichment regulation of anammox bacteria during the start-up time, while a bit of differences in results existed between the two analytical methods due to the difference in analysis targets.
Ammonia ; metabolism ; Bacteria ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Bioreactors ; Industrial Microbiology ; Nitrites ; metabolism ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sewage ; microbiology

Objective: To investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and constipation using Mendelian randomization (MR) method. Methods: Genetic variation data of gut microbiota were obtained from the MiBioGen Consortium database. The genetic variation data of constipation were sourced from the IEU Open GWAS database. A forward MR analysis was performed using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method with 2 511 SNPs associated with gut microbiota as instrumental variables, and constipation as study outcome, and a reverse MR analysis was performed with 13 microbiota-associated SNPs as instrumental variables and gut microbiota as study outcome. The heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran test, reverse causation of SNP were examined using MR Steiger test, and the horizontal pleiotropy was assessed using the MR-PRESSO test and MR-Egger regression. In addition, the robustness of the results was verified with the leave-one-out. Results: Forward MR analysis results showed that an increased abundance of genus Coprococcus1 driven by host genetics was associated with a decreased risk of constipation (OR=0.791, 95%CI: 0.709-0.884), and increased abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes driven by host genetics was associated with an increased risk of constipation (OR=1.240, 95%CI: 1.102-1.394). Cochran test detected no heterogeneity (both P>0.05), MR Steiger test was not revealed reverse causation of SNP, and neither the MR-PRESSO test nor the MR-Egger regression revealed horizontal pleiotropy of instrumental variables (all P>0.05), and the leave-one-out method confirmed the robustness of results. Reverse MR analysis showed no association between gut microbiota and constipation (both P>0.05). Conclusion Genus Coprococcus1 and phylum Bacteroidetes in the gut microbiota are associated with constipation.

Objective To assess the value of acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging in the pathological damage of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis on children by comparison with renal biopsy.Methods 50 cases of healthy control group as group A; 58 children with HSPN were divided into three groups according to pathological grading:Ⅰ ～ Ⅱ class (group B),Ⅲ class (group C) and Ⅳ ～ Ⅵ class (group D).ARFI was then used to measure the shear wave velocities(SWV) of renal cortex of each group,compared the differences SWV of each group.Results SWV values of children's renal cortex with HSPN were significantly higher (t =5.883,P =0.017) than those in the group A.Pairwise comparisons found that there were statistically significant differences between group D and the other three groups (P ＜0.05).According the ROC curve,the cut-off value of SWV was 2.59 m/s when the maximum area under the curve equal to 0.719,the sensitivity and specificity were 63％ and 67％.Conclusions ARFI technology can quantify the elastic properties of the kidney,which is expected as an important indicator to evaluate the pathological extent of damage of the HSPN.

Objective To evaluate efficacy and mechanism of Anluohuaxian pilule combined with interferon-γ in the treatment of schistosomal liver fibrosis. To preliminarily study on the relationship of pigment deposition in liver and schistosomal liver fibrosis. Methods Thirty Kunming mice were divided into the normal control group, the infection control group and the combination of Anluohuaxian pilule and Interferon-γ treated group. Schistosomal liver fibrosis model was established by infection with 40 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae. The treated group was treated by combination of Anluohuaxian pilule and Interferon-γ for 8 weeks. The changes of pigment deposition and hepatic egg granuloma in Schistosoma japonicum infected mice were observed. Expressions of collagen Ⅰ and Ⅲ were detected by immunohistochemistry. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 was detected by fluorescent polymerase chain reaetion(PCR). Histopathology and computer image analysis were applied to evaluate the change in the liver tissues. Results The amount of pigment deposition in liver was related to the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA (correlation coefficient = 0. 8). Compared to the infection control group, combination of Anluohuaxian pilule and Interferon-γ can lessen hepatic fibrosis(P<0.05). The combination therapy can also make pigment deposition less and hepatic granuloma smaller than the infection control group(P<0. 05). Conclusions Pigment deposition in liver is related to the expression of TGF-β 1. Combination of Anluohuaxian pilule and Interferon-γ can lessen hepatic fibrosis in mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum. It's one mechanism to of the combination therapy down-regulate the expression of collagen Ⅰ, Ⅲ and TGF-β 1.

Objective: To establish a method for determining the content of bear bile powder in Longze Xiongdan capsules with taursodeoxycholic acid（TUDCA） and taurchenodeoxycholic acid（TCDCA） as indexes.
Methods: HPLC series evaporation photodetector was adopted on Chrom Core AQ C₁₈ column(4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm), with the mobile phase comprising of acetonitrile ( A ) and 5 mmol·L^-1 ammonium acetate solution (B) in a gradient elution (0-40 min, 25%A; 40-50 min, 25%A→29%A; 50-80 min, 29%A; 80-100 min, 29%A→40%A) at the flow rate of 1.0 mL·min^-1. The column temperature was 30 ℃. The ELSD was used, of which the drift tube temperature was 110 ℃ and the flow rate of carrier gas（N₂） was 2.5 L·min^-1.
Results: In the ranges of 1.069-9.57 μg and 0.740 46-7.404 64 μg, logarithms of the injected amount of TUDCA and TCDCA presented good linear relationships with logarithms of the peak area, respectively. The RSDs of precision, repeatability and stability tests were all lower than 2.0%. At three concentration levels the recoveries of TUDCA and TCDCA were 95.2%-97.7% and 91.9%-95.9%, respectively. Samples of 42 batches showed that the contents of TUDCA and TCDCA were 0.18-0.43 and 0.10-0.44 mg·granule^-1, respectively.
Conclusion: This method can be used for the quality control of bear bile powder in Longze Xiongdan capsules, thus provides a scientific basis for improving its quality standard.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of curcumin on proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) of rats and the mechanism. METHODS NSCs derived from the forebrain of rat E15 embryos were cultured in vitro and identified by neuroepithelial stem cell protein ( nestin and SOX2) staining. NSCs were treated with curcumin 0.1, 0.5, 2.5, 12.5 and 62.5 μmol.L-1 for 24 h, respectively. The cyto-toxicity was estimated by measuring the release of lactate dehydrogenase(LDH). Cell viability and prolif-eration were analyzed respectively by MTT and BrdU assay. The mRNA expression levels of glucocorti-coid receptor (GR), Stat3, Notch1 and p21 were detected by qRT-PCR. The protein expression levels of total GR, Stat3 and phosphorylated Stat3 were measured by Western blotting. RESULTS The primary neural stem cells were identified as NSCs. Curcumin 12.5 and 62.5 μmol.L-1 had cell cytotoxicity( P<0.05). Cell viability assay indicated that curcumin 0.5 and 2.5 μmol.L-1 enhanced NSCs viability( P <0.05), but in 62.5 μmol.L-1 group the cell cytotoxicity was inhibited(P<0.05). Curcumin 0.1, 0.5 and 2.5 μmol.L-1 increased NSCs proliferation ( P < 0. 05), whereas 12. 5 and 62. 5 μmol.L-1 caused a decrease in NSCs proliferation(P<0.05). The mRNA expression level of GR in 0.5 μmol.L-1 group was significantly reduced( P<0.05). Western blotting analysis revealed that the protein expression of GR, Stat3 and p-Stat3 was inhibited by curcumin in 0.5 μmol.L-1 group(P<0.05). CONCLUSION Curcumin stimulates NSCs proliferation, possibly by inhibiting GR mRNA and related protein expression.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of SMILE regimen for NK/T-cell lymphoma. Methods From November 2006 to February 2008, 5 patients with relapsed and 5 with first treatment NK/T-cell lymphoma were involved in this study. These patients were treated with SMILE regimen including methotrexate, isofosfamide, L-asparaginase and etoposide.1 patient were treated with autolognus hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), and 2 patients received local regional radiation following SMILE. Results Among 10 patients, 8 were eligible to response evaluation. The overall response rate for whole group was 50 %(4/8) without complete remission. The overall response rate for both previously untreated and relapsed patients were 50 %(2/4). Major toxicity were bone marrow supression and transient transaminase elevation, the incidence of grade Ⅲ -Ⅳ neutroponia was 65 %, and febrile neutropenia was 25 %, Grade Ⅲ transaminase elevation was 10 %. Other toxicities were mild, no treatment-related mortality occurred. 26.1% cycles discontinued due to severe side effect. Conclusion SMILE may be an effective regimen for relapsed or refractory NK/T-cell lymphoma while significant toxicities were observed. Further investigation is requried before SMILE become a standard combination for relapsed or refractory NK/T-cell lymphoma.