The hydrogen peroxide low temperature plasma sterilization technology solved the problems of thermo-sensitive materials' disinfection and sterilization based on its development and unique characteristics. This paper introduced the researches of clinical application quality control, and showed the hydrogen peroxide low temperature plasma sterilizers were being widely used in hospitals and highly recognized. According to the clinical data and the literatures of the domestic equipment in preliminary application, it could be concluded that the technology maturity of domestic hydrogen peroxide low temperature plasma sterilizers was in a high level. The advantages of using domestic hydrogen peroxide low temperature plasma sterilizers to do disinfection and sterilization included lower cost, safer, faster and non-toxic, etc. Also the management system should be improved and the clinical staff should master the technical essentials, obey the procedures strictly, verify periodically and offer full monitoring to upgrade the quality of sterilization.
Cold Temperature ; Disinfection ; instrumentation ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; chemistry ; Plasma Gases ; chemistry

OBJECTIVES: We established a Wistar rat model of asthma caused by toluene diisocyanate (TDI) exposure, and investigated the relationship between TDI exposure concentrations and respiratory hypersensitivity, airway inflammation, and cytokine secretions in animals, to better understand the mechanism of TDI induced occupational asthma. METHODS: Wistar rats were exposed to two different concentrations of TDI vapor four hours a day for five consecutive days. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed, and differential leucocytes from the BAL fluid were analyzed. Lung histopathological examination was carried out to investigate the inflammatory status in the airways. Production of cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 productions in the BAL fluid in vivo was determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. RESULTS: The TDI-exposed rats exhibited greater airway hypersensitivity symptoms than the control rats. The BAL differential cell count and lung histopathological examination demonstrated that inflammation reactions were present in both the central and peripheral airways, characterized with marked infiltration of eosinophils in the TDI-exposed rats. The cytokine assay showed that IL-4 and IL-5 were predominantly produced in the BAL fluid in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: These findings imply that TDI exposure concentrations may greatly affect the occurrence and extent of inflammatory events and that Th2 type cytokines may play an important role in the immunopathogenesis of TDI-induced occupational respiratory hypersensitivity.
Animals ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/chemistry/cytology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Eosinophils/cytology/immunology ; Female ; Gases/chemistry ; Hypersensitivity/pathology ; Interleukin-4/*analysis ; Interleukin-5/*analysis ; Lung/*drug effects/pathology/secretion ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate/*toxicity

In order to lower the cost of lipid production of microalgae and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, microalgae Chlorococcum alkaliphilus MC-1 with the characteristics of rapid pH drift and high pH adaptability, was cultivated with bubbling of flue gas. The experiment was first performed in the photobioreactor (15 L) in three groups (control group, CO2 group and flue gas group), then, in the open raceway pond (24 m2). The adaptability of microalgae MC-1 to the cultivation with flue gas was studied. The results showed that the maximum biomass concentration, growth rate, total lipid content and CO2 fixation rate were (1.02+/-0.07) g/L, (0.12+/-0.02) g/(L.d), (37.84+/-0.58)% and (0.20+/-0.02) g/(L.d) in the photobioreactor treated with flue gas, 36%, 33.33%, 15.34% and 33.33% higher than those of the CO2 group, respectively. In the open raceway pond with aeration of flue gas, the maximum biomass concentration, growth rate, total lipid content and CO2 fixation rate were 147.40 g/m2, 14.73 g/(m2.d), 35.72% and 24.01 g/(m2.d), respectively, which were similar to the cultivation with pure CO2. The toxic heavy metal contents (Pb, As, Cd and Cr) in the biomass of MC-1 treated with flue gas were all below the legal limits. Additionally, the absorptive effect of CO2, NO and SO2 were determined. In the photobioreactor and open raceway pond, the average absorption ratios of these gases were all higher than previous studies. Therefore, our study showed that MC-1 can adapt to the cultivation with flue gas, and it is feasible to enlarge the outdoor cultivation of MC-1 for lipid production coupling with emissions reduction of flue gas.
Adaptation, Physiological ; physiology ; Carbon Dioxide ; chemistry ; Chlorophyta ; classification ; growth & development ; physiology ; Culture Media ; metabolism ; Culture Techniques ; methods ; Gases ; chemistry ; Microalgae ; classification ; growth & development ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide ; chemistry ; Sulfur Dioxide ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the corrosion resistance of casted titanium by plasma nitriding and TiN-coated compound treatments in the artificial saliva with different fluoride concentrations and to investigate whether compound treatments can increase the corrosion resistance of casted titanium.

METHODSPotentiodynamic polarization technique was used to depict polarization curve and to measured the current density of corrosion (Icorr) and the electric potential of corrosion (Ecorr) of casted titanium (Group A) and casted titanium by compound treatments (Group B) in the artificial saliva with different fluoride concentrations. After electrochemical experiment, the microstructure was observed by scanning electron microscope (SEM).

RESULTSThe Icorrs of Group A and B in the artificial saliva of different fluoride concentrations were (1530.23 ± 340.12), (2290.36 ± 320.10), (4130.52 ± 230.17) nA and (2.62 ± 0.64), (7.37 ± 3.59), (10.76 ± 6.05) nA, respectively. The Ecorrs were (-0.93 ± 0.10), (-0.89 ± 0.21), (-0.57 ± 0.09) V and (-0.21 ± 0.04), (-0.17 ± 0.03), (-0.22 ± 0.03) V, respectively.The Icorrs of Group B were significantly lower (P < 0.01)than that of Group A. The Icorrs increased significantly with the increasing of fluoride concentrations (P < 0.01). The Ecorrs of Group B were significantly higher than that of Group A (P < 0.01). The SEM confirmed the microstructure in the casted titanium was much severely than that in Group B, the microstructure in Group A and B corroded more and more heavily with increasing of fluoride concentrations.

CONCLUSIONSThe increase of fluoride concentrations influence the corrosion resistance of both treated and untreated casted titanium negatively, but plasma nitriding and TiN-coated compound treatments can significantly increase the corrosion resistance of casted titanium.

Corrosion ; Fluorides ; chemistry ; Materials Testing ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nitrogen Compounds ; chemistry ; Plasma Gases ; chemistry ; Saliva, Artificial ; chemistry ; Surface Properties ; Titanium ; chemistry

BACKGROUND: We developed a new disposable anaerobic culture system, namely, the Quick anaero-system, for easy culturing of obligate anaerobes. METHODS: Our system consists of 3 components: 1) new disposable anaerobic gas pack, 2) disposable culture-envelope and sealer, and 3) reusable stainless plate rack with mesh containing 10 g of palladium catalyst pellets. To evaluate the efficiency of our system, we used 12 anaerobic bacteria. We prepared 2 sets of ten-fold serial dilutions of the 12 anaerobes, and inoculated these samples on Luria-Bertani (LB) broth and LB blood agar plate (LB-BAP) (BD Diagnostic Systems, USA). Each set was incubated in the Quick anaero-system (DAS Tech, Korea) and BBL GasPak jar with BD GasPak EZ Anaerobe Container System (BD Diagnostic Systems) at 35-37degrees C for 48 hr. The minimal inoculum size showing visible growth of 12 anaerobes when incubated in both the systems was compared. RESULTS: The minimal inoculum size showing visible growth for 2 out of the 12 anaerobes in the LB broth and 9 out of the 12 anaerobes on LB-BAP was lower for the Quick anaero-system than in the BD GasPak EZ Anaerobe Container System. The mean time (+/-SD) required to achieve absolute anaerobic conditions of the Quick anaero-system was 17 min and 56 sec (+/-3 min and 25 sec). CONCLUSIONS: The Quick anaero-system is a simple and effective method of culturing obligate anaerobes, and its performance is superior to that of the BD GasPak EZ Anaerobe Container System.
Bacteria, Anaerobic/*growth &development ; Bacteriological Techniques/instrumentation/methods ; Culture Media/chemistry ; Gases/chemistry ; Palladium/chemistry ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the hemocompatibility of a small-caliber expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vessel with silk fibroin coating sulfonated by low temperature plasma treatment.

METHODSThe composite blood vessel was prepared by first coating the small-caliber expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vessel with silk fibroin followed by sulfonation by low temperature plasma treatment. After hemolysis test in vitro, dynamic coagulation time test, blood platelet adhesion test, and recalcification time test were performed to evaluate the hemocompatibility of the composite blood vessel.

RESULTSScanning electronic microscopy revealed obvious platelets adhesion on the conventional artificial (control) vessel, which seldom occurred on the composite vessel. The curve of absorbance-clotting time of the composite vessel declined more slowly than that of the control vessel. The recalcification time of the composite blood vessel averaged 603 s, significantly longer than that of the control vessel (480 s, P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONThe composite blood vessel has good antithrombotic activity and hemocompatibility as a promising vascular prosthesis.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Coated Materials, Biocompatible ; chemistry ; Cold Temperature ; Fibroins ; chemistry ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Plasma Gases ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; chemistry ; Sulfonic Acids ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the photocatalytic degradation of gaseous ammonia in static state by using nano-TiO2 as photocatalyst supported on latex paint film under UV-irradiation.

METHODSExperiments were conducted to study the relationship between the initial concentration of ammonia and the degradation products competing to be adsorbed on catalyst surface. Degradation of ammonia and its products were detected by spectrophotometry and catalytic kinetic spectrophotometry, respectively.

RESULTSOn the one hand, TiO2 catalyst was excellent for degradation of ammonia, and the crystal phase of TiO2, anatase or rutile, had little effect on degradation of ammonia, but the conversion of ammonia grew with the increase of catalyst content. On the other hand, apparent rate constant and conversion of ammonia decreased with the increase of initial concentration of ammonia, and the photocatalytic degradation reaction followed a pseudo-first-order expression due to the evidence of linear correlation between -lnC/C0 vs. irradiation time t, but the relationship between initial concentration and the degradation products was not linear in low initial concentration.

CONCLUSIONWhether the photocatalytic degradation of ammonia in static state follows a first-order reaction depends on the initial ammonia concentration due to competition in adsorption between reactant and the degradation products.

Ammonia ; chemistry ; Catalysis ; Gases ; Kinetics ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Paint ; Photochemistry ; Titanium ; chemistry

The characteristics of gas-liquid mass transfer of three-phase system comprising air, tap water/wastewater, and hollow glass beads were studied in a laboratory-scale inverse turbulent bed reactor. The influence of operational factors and liquid property on volumetric liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient kLa was investigated under the conditions of superficial gas velocity (0.53mm xs(-1) - 10mx s(-1) solid hold-up (0 - 0.3), and superficial liquid velocity (0 - 0.2mm x s(-1)). The results showed that the coefficient value was 0.0456 - 1. 414min -, which increased with superficial gas velocity and liquid velocity. The coefficient attained the maximum value at solid hold-up of 0.05 - 0.08. Compared with the coefficient value in tap water, that in synthetic wastewater and industrial wastewater is decreased by 39.0% and 50.9%, respectively. These data have provided a basis for the process analysis and mathematical simulation of inverse turbulent bed reactor.
Algorithms ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Bioreactors ; Computer Simulation ; Gases ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Models, Chemical ; Reproducibility of Results ; Temperature ; Waste Disposal, Fluid ; instrumentation ; methods ; Water ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Water Microbiology ; Water Pollutants, Chemical ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Water Purification ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVEThe present study was designed to observe the plasma concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) and homocysteine (HCY) in hypertensive patients with different blood pressure levels and complications.

METHODSA total of 165 outpatients with essential hypertension were involved in this study (84 males, 81 females, mean age 59.81 +/- 10.60 years old). There were 28 new-onset untreated, 137 ever-treated patients. Among ever-treated patients, blood pressure was normal in 38, grade 1 hypertension in 43, grade 2 and 3 hypertension in 56 patients. Thirty-two patients were accompanied with coronary heart disease (CAD), and 42 patients were accompanied with stroke. A total of 32 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (18 males) were also recruited. Plasma H(2)S and HCY concentrations were determined in all patients and controls.

RESULTS(1) Plasma H(2)S levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and HCY levels were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in ever-treated hypertensive patients compared with controls. (2) Plasma HCY levels were significantly higher in patients with hypertension history > 6 months and complicated with CAD compared to patients without CAD. (3) Plasma H(2)S concentrations in patients with stroke history > 5 years were significantly lower than that in patients without stroke (P < 0.01). Plasma HCY concentrations were increased in proportion to stroke history. (4) In ever-treated hypertensive patients, plasma H(2)S concentrations in patients with grade 2 and 3 hypertension were significantly lower (P < 0.05) and HCY levels significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that in patients with well-controlled blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONHyperhomocysteinemia and the novel signaling gasotransmitter H(2)S might play important roles in the pathogenesis and development of hypertension.

Adult ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gases ; blood ; Homocysteine ; blood ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; blood ; Hypertension ; blood ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasma ; chemistry

This paper describes measurement of vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data of methyldichlorosilane-methyltrichlorosilane-dimethyldichlorosilane system and that of the three binary systems at 101.325 kPa with a new pump-ebulliometer. The equilibrium composition of the vapor phase was calculated from pTx by indirect method. The model parameters of the liquid activity coefficient of the Wilson, NRTL, Margules and van Laar equations was corrected by the least square method. The ternary system VLE data were predicted by the Wilson equation, with the calculated boiling points showing good agreement with the experimental data.
Computer Simulation ; Gases ; chemistry ; Models, Chemical ; Phase Transition ; Pressure ; Silanes ; chemistry ; Volatilization