Two lab-scale expanded granular sludge bed reactors were operated using granular sludge and river sediments as seed sludge respectively, through gradually lowering down the inner pH values, acid-tolerant methanogenic granular sludge with good methanogenic activity were acquired and formed. Two EGSB reactors could be operated steadily under the condition of pH 5.8～6.2, and their volumetric loading rates were about 5.5～7.5 kg COD/(m3/d), the COD removal efficiencies were about 90%. The granular sludges taken from two reactors could maintain relatively higher methanogenic activity under low pH, and the relative activities of the granular could be 51.78% and 55.6% of the value with the condition of pH 7.0 when pH was 5.5. Studies on the diameter distribution, settling velocities, concentrations of different metal elements and microbiological characteristics of these acid-tolerant granular sludges were also conducted.

Objective To compare the relative efficacy and quality of extraction of human fecal DNA using four methods.Methods Real-time PCR were utilized for analysis both quantification and quality of the fecal targeted bacteria(including gut all eubaeterium,Bacteriodes-PrevoteUa group,Bifidobacterium spp Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus spp)by using 16s rRNA gene-targeted genus or group-specific primer sets.Results The negative rat of PCR product from method 3(phenol-chloroform plus bead-beating) was about 40%(4/10)by using universal primers,the PCR inhibition disappeared after fecal DNA purified with column.The total fecal 16s rRNA gene copy numbers(per gram of wet weight of feces)as well as the numbers of Bacteriodes-Prevotella group from method 1(QIAamp~DNA stool mini kit)and 4(QIAamp~ DNA stool mini kit combined with bead-beating)was higher significantly than that from method 2(FastDNA ~Kit,Biol01)and 3(P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) in the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma.

METHODS1H MRS was performed in normal volunteers and in patients with pathologically confirmed HCC and cholangiocarcinomas using a whole-body 1.5-T scanner. The choline-to-lipid ratios were measured by dividing the peak area of choline at 3.2 ppm and lipid at 1.3 ppm.

RESULTSThe ratio of choline-to-lipid for normal liver, cholangiocarcinomas, and HCC were 0.07 +/- 0.04, 0.11 +/- 0.06, and 0.52 +/- 0.15, respectively. The ratio of choline-to-lipid was significantly higher in HCC compared than those in cholangiocarcinomas or normal livers (P < 0.05). However, it was not significantly different between cholangiocarcinomas and normal livers (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn vivo 1H MRS can reflect the pathological changes of HCC and cholangiocarcinomas at metabolic level and thus is useful in the diagnosis of these two cancers.

Adult ; Aged ; Bile Duct Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protons ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effectiveness of early treatment with the Twin-block appliance for the developing Class II division 1 malocclusion.

METHODSA Total of 30 children with Class II division 1 malocclusion, 18 (8 male, 10 female) out of which received treatment with the Twin-block appliance, the other 12 cases (6 male, 6 female) without treatment served as control group. Cephalometric data were collected at the start and the end of the study and statistical analysis were applied.

RESULTSExcept the factor of growth, treatment with the Twin-block appliance resulted in reduction of ANB (1.55 degrees), overjet (5.46 mm) and correction of molar relationship (4.07 mm). These changes were due to the change of Pg/OLp, Co/OLp and mandibular length. The change of A/OLp was not significant. The skeletal effect contributing to the change on overjet and molar relation were 58% and 78% respectively.

CONCLUSIONEarly treatment with the Twin-block appliance was effective in reducing ANB angle, overjet and correction of molar relationship. The changes were mainly profit from the favorable skeletal change of mandible, especially from its length, while the effect on maxillary was not significant.

Cephalometry ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malocclusion, Angle Class II ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Orthodontic Appliances, Functional ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of HBsAg pulsed dendritic vaccination on anti-HBs production in immunosuppressed rats after liver transplantation (LT).

METHODSBrown-Norway liver allografts were transplanted into Lewis recipients. The transplanted Lewis rats were injected with EK506 (2 mg/kg) and randomly divided into two groups: rats in HBsAg-DCs group (n = 15) were intraperitoneally injected with HBsAg pulsed DCs at 14 d and 28 d after LT, and rats in the HBsAg group (n = 15) were injected with HBsAg (200 mul) once a week for 12 weeks. Rats without any immunosuppressive treatment after LT served as controls (n = 5). IL-2 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression in spleen were analyzed by RT-PCR, serum IL-2, IFN-gamma and anti-HBs were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSHigh dose of FK506 resulted in the immunosuppressed in LT rats, as evident by low production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, and without liver rejection compared to rats in the control group. HBsAg-DCs induced high titer of anti-HBs antibody, however, titer of anti-HBs were seldom detectable in the HBsAg group at 1, 2 and 3 mouth after vaccination.

CONCLUSIONThe capacity of HBsAg-DCs to induce anti-HBs in immunosuppressed rats suggested that DC vaccine may prevent HBV recurrence in liver transplanted patients.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cytokines ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; Immunosuppression ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Liver Transplantation ; immunology ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred BN ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Secondary Prevention ; Spleen ; immunology ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy and safety of percutaneous cryoablation (PCC) and (125)I seed implantation combined with chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer.

METHODSSixty-seven patients with advanced pancreatic cancer (6 in stage III, 61 in stage IV) received PCC and (125)I seed implantation combined with concomitant gemcitabine hydrochloride and DDP chemotherapy. The clinical benefit response (CBR), survival rate and therapy-related complications were assessed.

RESULTSAll patients except one were followed up over 1 year. The 6-month and 1-year survival rates were 84.8% and 33.4%, respectively. The median progression free survival were 6.3 months and 5.5 months in the group stage III and group stage IV (P > 0.05), respectively, while the overall survival was 9.1 months in the group stage III and 11.0 months in the group stage IV (P > 0.05). CR,PR and SD were achieved in 5, 8, 54 patients, respectively. Fifty-four and 50 in the 67 patients experienced a ≥ 50% reduction of pain score and analgesic consumption, respectively, 18 patients experienced a ≥ 2 kg weight gaining, and KPS was increasing from 71.2 ± 0.4 to (90.0 ± 0.3, P < 0.05), the overall benefit rate was 80.6%. No serious therapy-related complications except pancreatic fistula accompanied abdominal hemorrhage, bile leakage, acute pancreatitis and needle track seeding in 1, 1, 2 and 1 case, respectively.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous cryoablation and (125)I seed implantation combined with chemotherapy are effective and safe for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Brachytherapy ; methods ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Cryosurgery ; methods ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

Objective To establish the animal model for the study of children with moderate blood lead levels in young rabbits,for the study of the ideal therapy for moderate lead poisoning in children.Methods Sixteen 45-day-old male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into control and lead-exposed group,8 in each group.Rabbits in the lead-exposed group were treated with 5 mg/(kg?d)lead acetate in their forage for 6 weeks to establish moderate lead poisoning animal model.The blood lead levels(BLLs)were determined by atomic absorption spectrometer(AAS),and the urine lead levels and the lead concentrations of tissue and organ were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(ICP-MS).Histopathology in tissue and organ was observed under the light microscope.Results The BLLs and the urine lead levels in lead-exposed group step up rapidly in primal weeks,then retained at a steady levels.The BLLs exhibited moderate level BLLs during the lead exposure period.Compared with control group,the body weight gain,testis and hippocampus wet coefficient of the lead-exposed group significantly decreased(P_a

Objective To investigate the expressions of human telomerase reverse transcriptase(hTERT) mRNA and protein in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma and their significance as diagnostic markers in predicting the biological behaviour of these tumours.Methods Expression of hTERT mRNA was determined by in situ hybridization in 45 pheochromocytomas/paragangliomas(31 benign,7 suspected malignant and 7 malignant) and 9 normal adrenal medulla samples,hTERT protein was determined by immunohistoebemistry.Results hTERT mRNA was expressed in 5/7 malignant turnouts and 5/7 suspected malignant tumours as compared with 3/31 benign tumours(P

Objective To assess the value of brain protection measures in carotid angioplasty and stenting(CAS)for carotid stenosis and contralateral occlusion in reducing the perioperative cerebral isehemic events.Methods Twelve patients undergoing CAS in our department were included in this analysis.All the patients received balloon occlusion test(BOT)of the carotid artery preoperatively.Two patients who were intolerant to BOT received extracranial-intracranial vascular anastomosis,and another 2 patients relatively intolerant to BOT received CAS under general anesthesia.The brain protection measures including reduction of the cerebral blood flow occlusion time and prophylactic management of thrombosis were administered to prevent the ischemic events.The efficacy of the brain protection measures was evaluated by diffusion-weighted imaging(DWI)and observation of the clinical ischemic neurological symptoms.Results Three patients suffered transient ischemic attacks(TIAs),1 patient had temporary vision loss,and 1 had permanent ischemic neurological deficits after the operation.DWI yielded positive results in 50% of the patients after the operation,characterized mostly by small local lesions of 1-2 ram.Eight patients presented with carotid artery dilation by over 90%,and 4 by 70% to 90% after the operation.Conclusion The brain protection measures including precise preoperative evaluation of the ischemic tolerance and blood flow and reduction of cerebral blood flow occlusion time and prevention of thrombosis during the operation can effectively reduce the incidence of perioperative ischemic events in high-risk patients with carotid stenosis and contralateral occlusion.

OBJECTIVETo repair the whole auricular defects with implant-plasty and prosthesis technique. The indications, complications and implant sites of this method were discussed.

METHODSIn reconstruction of the whole auricular defect, the self-developed pure titanium implants, specialized for plastic surgery, were used for intra-osseous fixation for retaining the artificial ear. 10 cases were treated with this method.

RESULTSFollow-up of three years demonstrated that this implant system, with stable function, could generate osseointegration and be used as an abutment of intra-osseous fixation to retain the auricular prosthesis for a long time.

CONCLUSIONThe operation is simple and convenient with little trauma and short-term of treatment. The artificial ear has lifelike appearance, proper color and satisfactory effects. This technique has wide indications and is worth popularization.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Ear ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Ear Deformities, Acquired ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prostheses and Implants ; Surgery, Plastic ; methods ; Treatment Outcome