Activated sludge is a complicated microbial ecosystem that has diversity. Based on the diversity,microorganisms are selected by acclimation condition:the survival of the fittest,otherwise eliminate through selection or contest. Moreover,microorganisms in activated sludge acclimatize themselves to acclimation conditions. In the process the ecosystem distributes and adjusts microbial niche over again. The theory of "selection and acclimatization" may be used to explain the mechanism of activated sludge acclimation. So then,original sludge,wastewater quality and treating process are major influencing factors for activated sludge acclimation.

Cancer, a group of various diseases involving unregulated cell growth, still imposes a global threat to public health. Ginseng plants, which contains a wide variety of saponins, known as ginsenosides, is an age-old remedy for human ailments, including cancer.This review sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the cancer chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic activity of ginsenosides and their metabolites with particular focus on the modulation of cell signaling pathways associated with cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, inflammation and the metastasis of cancer cells.The review could enhance the understanding of the anticancer mechanisms of ginsenosides, provide directions for clinical practice and give more information for developing novel an-ticancer agents with high efficiency, low toxicity and weak resistance.

Animals ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation ; Lung ; enzymology ; Oxygen ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Rats

OBJECTIVETo explore a technique for the treatment of severe hypospadias.

METHODSAt the first stage, the proximal end of the urethra plate was divided and the chordee was corrected, followed by skin graft at the ventral surface of penis. The urethroplasty was performed at the second stage half a year later.

RESULTSFrom Feb. 2004 to Mar. 2005, 17 cases were treated successfully without any complication. After one year of following up, the appearance of glan and the urethral meatus was good and the chordee was corrected completely. The appearance of penis and scrotum was also satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONSThe technique is easily performed and very suitable for penile and penoscrotal junction hypospadias with severe chordee.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Infant ; Male ; Penis ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Skin Transplantation ; methods ; Urethra ; surgery ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the long-term apparent and structural change of the neo-urethra inner wall reconstructed with different kinds of tissue. To compare the difference between normal and reconstructed urethra for urethra reconstruction with more appropriate materials.

METHODSThe neo-urethra inner wall was observed during operation, through urography and urethroscope. The tissue section of neo-urethra inner wall was observed through light microscope and electron microscope.

RESULTSWith unchanged structure, the appearance of neo-urethra reconstructed with skin or mucosa could be close to normal urethra after a long time. Neo-urethra made of buccal mucosa possesses some of the most important basic structures for normal urethral microenvironment to form. The structure of neo-urethra made of bladder could be close to normal urethra after a long time.

CONCLUSIONSBuccal and bladder mucosa may be a better material than skin for urethra reconstruction.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biocompatible Materials ; Child ; Female ; Graft Survival ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; surgery ; Male ; Mouth Mucosa ; transplantation ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Surgical Flaps ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Transplantation ; methods ; Urethra ; surgery ; Young Adult

Three sesquiterpenoids and nine iridoids were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Valeriana jatamansi by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties, NMR and MS data. Among them, valeriananoid G (1) was a new patchoulol-type sesquiterpenoid, and compound 3 was isolated from the genus Valeriana for the first time. Compounds 3 and 10 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 macrophages, with IC₅₀ values of 19.00 and 3.66 μmol·L^-1, respectively. In addition, compounds 4, 6 and 12 showed anti-influenza virus activity with IC₅₀ values of 51.75, 51.40 and 102.08 μmol·L^-1, respectively.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway in erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by the absence of testosterone (T).

METHODSWe randomly divided 30 eight-week-old healthy male SD rats into groups A (control) , B (castration), and C (castration + androgen replacement). The rats in groups B and C were castrated surgically, and those in C injected with T undecanoate (100 mg/kg) at 1 week after castration, while the others with 0.9% normal saline instead. At 1 month after treatment, we determined the serum T level, intracavernous pressure (ICP), and mean carotid arterial pressure (MAP) of the rats, and detected the expressions of ERK1/2 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by Western blot.

RESULTSThe serum T level was significantly lower in group B ([1.27 ± 0.48] nmol/L) than in A ([17.14 ± 1.07] nmol/L) and C ([16.24 ± 1.90] nmol/L) (P < 0.05), and so were ICP and MAP (P < 0.05). The expression of ERK1/2 showed no statistically significant differences among the three groups (P > 0.05), that of phosphatase ERK1/2 was markedly higher while that of eNOS remarkably lower in group B than in A and C (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAndrogen replacement may improve the erectile function of castrated rats by regulating the ERK1/2 pathway.

Androgens ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Orchiectomy ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo assess the functional result of a "Two in One" urethroplasty which combined oral mucosa graft and local flap.

METHODS17 patients with hypospadias underwent a "Two in One" urethroplasty, which combined buccal mucosa and local flap for urethral reconstruction. Uroflowmetry was performed 1 day before and 1 year after operation. The urine flow rate, voided volume and urine flow curves were detected using a rotating sensor. The results of maximum urine flow rate (Qmax) were expressed as percentiles and compared to the Toguri value from normal children.

RESULTSBefore corrective operation, 12 of 17 patients (70.6%) produced a plateau urine flow curve. 5 patients (29.4%) produced a very low flow curve. The average maximum flow rate was (7.89 +/- 2.29) ml/s per second compared to Toguri values, 12 of 17 patients (70.6%) had a Qmax below the normal 5th percentile. After a "Two in One" urethroplasty, a hell-shaped curve was obtained in 10 patients (58.8%). The maximum flow rate was (11.30 +/- 3.01) mL/s per second. 7 of 17 patients (41.2%) had a Qmax above the normal 25th percentile, 8 patients (47.1%) had a Qmax between the normal 25th percentile and 5th percentile, only 2 patients (11.8%) had a Qmax below the 5th percentile.

CONCLUSIONSThe functional result of the "Two in One" urethroplasty is ideal. The maximum urine flow rate of the patients increases after the operation.

Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Hypospadias ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Male ; Treatment Outcome ; Urethra ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo observe the microvascular distribution of the transmidline scapular flap supplied by the contralateral circumflex scapular artery.

METHODSThe integument and deep tissues of 6 fresh cadavers were dissected and radiographed after vermilion mixture was injected to the unilateral circumflex scapular artery.

RESULTSThe vascular tree passed the midline and reached to the contralateral acromion. The vessel density was the highest in the irrigating side of the back, which was higher in the middle area. In the contralateral side,the high vessel density concentrated in the upper part of the back.

CONCLUSIONSThe result revealed the direct evidence for the clinical application of the transmidline scapular flap. In design and elevating of the transmidline scapular flap, it should be slanting to the upper part of the contralateral back.

Arteries ; anatomy & histology ; Cadaver ; Diagnostic Imaging ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Scapula ; transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hemodynamic changes of an over-midline axial flap.

METHODSAn over-midline axial flap, based on the iliac artery and veins, was raised on the back of each selected Wistar rat (n = 30), vascularied by contralateral. The flap size is 7 cm x 3 cm. The over-midline part is 3 cm x 3 cm. A laser doppler flowmetry (LDF) was used to evaluate the hemodynamic changes preoperatively, and 6 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours, 72 hours, 7 days, and 14 days after the operation respectively.

RESULTSAll of the flaps survived well. But, in the first three days after the operation, the blood perfusion of the flap in the areas of the midline and the distal part was significantly lower than the preoperation's level. Thereafter, the values of the blood perfusion started to increase till to the maximum 7 days after the operation. On the 14 days after the operation, the vascular structures was axially matched to the base of the flap. In the distal part of the flap, the choke vessels were gradually opened and resulted in the blood perfusion to the normal level.

CONCLUSIONThe hemodynamic changes of the over-midline axial flap transmidline flap could occur to match the need of the base of the flap.

Animals ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Surgical Flaps ; blood supply ; Time Factors