Clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes for parapharyngeal metastases of well-differentiated thyroid cancer during 131 I therapy and follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Parapharyngeal metastases (PPM) are rarely observed in patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC). Radioiodine (131 I) therapy has been the main treatment for metastatic and recurrent DTC after thyroidectomy. This study was performed to evaluate the clinicopathological features and long-term outcomes associated with survival of patients with PPM at the end of follow-up. DESIGN: In total, 14,984 consecutive patients with DTC who underwent 131 I therapy after total or near-total thyroidectomy from 2004 to 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours v1.1 and logistic regression analysis. The disease status was determined using dynamic risk stratification. Disease-specific survival (DSS) was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and a Cox proportional hazards model. PATIENTS: Seventy-five patients with PPM from WDTC were enroled in this study. Their median age at the initial diagnosis of PPM was 40.2 ± 14.1 years, and the patients comprised 32 men and 43 women (male:female ratio, 1.00:1.34). Of the 75 patients, 43 (57.33%) presented with combined distant metastases. Fifty-seven (76.00%) patients had 131 I avidity and 18 had non-131 I avidity. At the end of follow-up, 22 (29.33%) patients showed progressive disease. Sixteen of the 75 patients died; of the remaining 59 patients, 6 (8.00%) had an excellent response, 6 (8.00%) had an indeterminate response, 10 (13.33%) had an biochemical incomplete response, and 37 (49.33%) had a structural incomplete response. Multivariate analysis confirmed that age at initial PPM diagnosis, the maximal size of PPM, and 131 I avidity had significant effects on progressive disease of PPM lesions (p = .03, p= .02, and p < .01, respectively). The 5- and 10-year DSS rates were 98.49% and 62.10%, respectively. Age of ≥55 years at initial diagnosis of PPM and the presence of concomitant distant metastasis were independently associated with a poor prognosis (p = .03 and p = .04, respectively). CONCLUSION: The therapeutic effect for PPM was closely associated with 131 I avidity, age at initial PPM diagnosis, and maximal size of PPM at the end of follow-up. Age of ≥55 years at initial diagnosis of PPM and the presence of concomitant distant metastasis were independently associated with poor survival.

The MAPK Kinase Kinase GmMEKK1 Regulates Cell Death and Defense Responses.

MAPK signaling pathways play critical roles in plant immunity. Here, we silenced multiple genes encoding MAPKs using virus-induced gene silencing mediated by Bean pod mottle virus to identify MAPK genes involved in soybean (Glycine max) immunity. Surprisingly, a strong hypersensitive response (HR) cell death was observed when soybean MAPK KINASE KINASE1 (GmMEKK1), a homolog of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) MEKK1, was silenced. The HR was accompanied by the overaccumulation of defense signaling molecules, salicylic acid (SA) and hydrogen peroxide. Genes involved in primary metabolism, translation/transcription, photosynthesis, and growth/development were down-regulated in GmMEKK1-silenced plants, while the expression of defense-related genes was activated. Accordingly, GmMEKK1-silenced plants were more resistant to downy mildew (Peronospora manshurica) and Soybean mosaic virus compared with control plants. Silencing GmMEKK1 reduced the activation of GmMPK6 but enhanced the activation of GmMPK3 in response to flg22 peptide. Unlike Arabidopsis MPK4, GmMPK4 was not activated by either flg22 or SA. Interestingly, transient overexpression of GmMEKK1 in Nicotiana benthamiana also induced HR. Our results indicate that GmMEKK1 plays both positive and negative roles in immunity and appears to differentially activate downstream MPKs by promoting GmMPK6 activation but suppressing GmMPK3 activation in response to flg22. The involvement of GmMPK4 kinase activity in cell death and in flg22- or SA-triggered defense responses in soybean requires further investigation.

[Differentiation Study of Chinese Medical Syndrome Typing for Diarrhea-predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome Based on Information of Four Chinese Medical Diagnostic Methods and Brain-gut Peptides].

OBJECTIVE: To establish discriminant functions of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) by studying it from quantitative diagnosis angle, hoping to reduce interference of subjective factors in diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D. METHODS: A Chinese medical clinical epidemiological survey was carried out in 439 IBS-D patients using Clinical Information Collection Table of IBS. Initial syndromes were obtained by cluster analysis. They were analyzed using step-by-step discrimination by taking information of four Chinese medical diagnostic methods and serum brain-gut peptides (BGP) as variables. RESULTS: Clustering results were Gan stagnation Pi deficiency syndrome (GSPDS), Pi-Wei weakness syndrome (PWWS), Gan stagnation qi stasis syndrome (GSQSS), Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (PSYDS), Pi-Wei damp-heat syndrome (PWDHS), cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome (CDDPS). Of them, GSPDS was mostly often seen with effective percentage of 34. 2%, while CDDPS was the least often seen with effective percentage of 5.5%. A total of 5 discriminant functions for GSPDS, PWWS, GSQSS, PSYDS, and PWDHS were obtained by step-by-step dis- crimination method. The retrospective misjudgment rate was 4.1% (16/390), while the cross-validation misjudgment rate was 15.4% (60/390). CONCLUSION: The establishment of discriminant functions is of value in objectively diagnosing and differentially diagnosing Chinese medical syndromes of IBS-D.

Clinical Research on Brain Natriuretic Peptide Guiding the Application of ß1 Receptor Blocker in Patients with Moderate to Severe Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the feasibility of guiding the application of metoprolol succinate in patients with moderate to severe heart failure (HF) through monitoring plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels. METHODS: A total of 195 patients with moderate to severe HF (NYHA Functional Class III to IV) were selected and randomized into two groups: an observation group and a BNP group. The groups were established to observe the clinical conditions and establish plasma BNP levels to guide the application of metoprolol succinate. The average start-up of metoprolol succinate and average dose of metoprolol succinate after one month, as well as the recurrence rate and mortality of HF during hospital stay were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Start-up of metoprolol succinate was shorter in the BNP group than in the observation group [(5.89 ± 1.76) d vs. (7.03 ± 2.08) d, p < 0.01], but no significant differences in recurrence rate (26.60% vs. 23.91%, p > 0.05) and mortality (6.38% vs. 5.43%, p > 0.05) of HF were observed between the two groups. The average dose of metoprolol succinate after one month was higher in the BNP group compared with that of the observation group [(47.65 ± 13.09) mg/d vs. (35.08 ± 11.08) mg/d, p < 0.01]. CONCLUSIONS: Although monitoring plasma BNP might have limited the clinical impact on the change of left ventricular ejection fraction, recurrence of HF or mortality within 1 month, it could safely facilitate early use and up-titration of the metoprolol succinate in patients with moderate to severe HF. KEY WORDS: BNP; Heart failure; ß receptor blocker.

Positive and negative roles for soybean MPK6 in regulating defense responses.

It has been well established that MPK6 is a positive regulator of defense responses in model plants such as Arabidopsis and tobacco. However, the functional importance of soybean MPK6 in disease resistance has not been investigated. Here, we showed that silencing of GmMPK6 in soybean using virus-induced gene silencing mediated by Bean pod mottle virus (BPMV) caused stunted growth and spontaneous cell death on the leaves, a typical phenotype of activated defense responses. Consistent with this phenotype, expression of pathogenesis-related (PR) genes and the conjugated form of salicylic acid were significantly increased in GmMPK6-silenced plants. As expected, GmMPK6-silenced plants were more resistant to downy mildew and Soybean mosaic virus compared with vector control plants, indicating a negative role of GmMPK6 in disease resistance. Interestingly, overexpression of GmMPK6, either transiently in Nicotiana benthamiana or stably in Arabidopsis, resulted in hypersensitive response (HR)-like cell death. The HR-like cell death was accompanied by increased PR gene expression, suggesting that GmMPK6, like its counterpart in other plant species, also plays a positive role in cell death induction and defense response. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation analysis, we determined that GmMKK4 might function upstream of GmMPK6 and GmMKK4 could interact with GmMPK6 independent of its phosphorylation status. Taken together, our results indicate that GmMPK6 functions as both repressor and activator in defense responses of soybean.

[Litter decomposition and its effects on soil microbial community in Shapotou area, China]. / æ²™å¡å¤´åœ°åŒºå‡‹è½ç‰©åˆ†è§£åŠå ¶å¯¹åœŸå£¤å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©ç¾¤è½çš„å½±å“.

We investigated the decomposition characteristics of Eragrostis minor, mosses, and leaves of Artemisia ordosica with litterbag method in the sand-binding revegetation area, southeastern edge of the Tengger Desert, and further examined their effects on soil microbial communities using the Illumina MiSeq sequencing method. The results showed that the decomposition duration and litter types significantly affected litter decomposition rate. Mosses had the lowest decomposition rate, with a mass loss ratio of only 15.4% after decomposition for 13 months. The average decomposition rates of E. minor and leaves of A. ordosica were 4.9 and 3.4-fold of that of mosses, respectively. During decomposition for 11 months, the dominant bacterial phyla were Actinomycota and Proteobacteria, while that of the fungal community was Ascomycota. Moss decomposition significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Chloroflexi, but remarkedly decreased the abundance of Basidiomycetes. The diversity and richness of bacterial and fungal communities significantly increased after litter decomposition. The compositional changes of fungal community were significant among litters, but that of bacterial community was not. There was a negative correlation between decomposition rate and the diversity and richness of bacterial and fungal communities. Plant polysaccharides, total phosphorus, soil pH, microbial biomass nitrogen, and soil ammonium content were the main factors affecting microbial community structure. Litter decomposition changed the composition and interspecific similarity within microbial communities, as well as increased the diversity and richness of soil microbial communities, and thus would promote the restoration of soil habitat.

Correction: Bushen-Yizhi formula ameliorates cognitive dysfunction through SIRT1/ER stress pathway in SAMP8 mice.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17638.].

Screening for Susceptibility-Related Factors and Biomarkers of Xianling Gubao Capsule-Induced Liver Injury.

Although increasing reports from the literature on herbal-related hepatotoxicity, the identification of susceptibility-related factors and biomarkers remains challenging due to idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI). As a well-known Chinese medicine prescription, Xianling Gubao Capsule (XLGB) has attracted great attention due to reports of potential liver toxicity. But the mechanism behind it is difficult to determine. In this paper, we found that XLGB-induced liver injury belongs to IDILI through the analysis of clinical liver injury cases. In toxicological experiment assessment, co-exposure to XLGB and non-toxic dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) could cause evident liver injury as manifested by significantly increased plasma alanine aminotransferase activity and obvious liver histological damage. However, it failed to induce observable liver injury in normal rats, suggesting that mild immune stress may be a susceptibility factor for XLGB-induced idiosyncratic liver injury. Furthermore, plasma cytokines were determined and 15 cytokines (such as IL-1ß, IFN-γ, and MIP-2α etc) were acquired by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves analysis. The expression of these 15 cytokines in LPS group was significantly up-regulated in contrast to the normal group. Meanwhile, the metabolomics profile showed that mild immune stress caused metabolic reprogramming, including sphingolipid metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. 8 potential biomarkers (such as sphinganine, glycerophosphoethanolamine, and phenylalanine etc.) were identified by correlation analysis. Therefore, these results suggested that intracellular metabolism and immune changes induced by mild immune stress may be important susceptibility mechanisms for XLGB IDILI.

[Analysis on adolescent depression treated with acupuncture based on the theory of "taking shaoyang as the pivot"].

Depression is related to qi stagnation in the body. At present, the treatment with acupuncture for depression focuses on the theories of the governor vessel, liver, spleen, stomach and the entity of five zang organs, especially for the adult group. However, the attention to adolescent depression is insufficient. It is recorded in Internal Classic that shaoyang meridian is taken as the pivot of three yang meridians, dominates the regulating of the ascending and dispersing of yang qi and plays the key role in treatment. The authors believe that yang qi starts growing at the period of youth, to which shaoyang meridian is corresponded. It is viewed that adolescent depression is closely related to the pivot function of shaoyang. In this paper, based on the theory of "taking shaoyang as the pivot", the mechanism of adolescent depression and the acupoint selection in acupuncture treatment are explored so as to utilize this theory in the treatment of adolescent depression with acupuncture.

[Effect of Jiawei Sini Decoction on HPA function of rats with restraint psychological stress].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of Jiawei Sini Decoction (JWSND) on HPA function of rats with restraint psychological stress and the pathway of thymus immunosuppressive function. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, control group (C), model group (M), group treated by JWSND ( C1) and ginsenosides ( C2). Hypothalamus CRH, blood plasma ACTH and CORT, the numberofthy moeyte GCR sites and the GCR nuclear translocation rate were detected by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Compared with C, in M, Hypothalamus CRH, blood plasma ACTH and CORT increased significantly (P < 0.01), but all these of C1 and C2 lowered significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with C, the GCR nuclear translocation rate was increased significantly(P < 0. 01). Compared with M, the GCR nuclear translocation rate lowered significantly ( P < 0.01). Moreover, no significant difference was found in all indexes between C1 and C. CONCLUSION: JWSND participates effectively in the adjustment of HPA of the rats with restraint psychological stress, and relieves significantly the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoid on the thymus, the pathway closely relates to the translocation of GCR.

Discovering Associations of Adverse Events with Pharmacotherapy in Patients with Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using Modified Apriori Algorithm.

AIM: To explore the associations between adverse events and pharmacotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. METHODS: 16,527 patients with non-small cell lung cancer admitted to the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016, were included in the study. Their medication and laboratory examinations data were extracted from the medical records. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events Version 4.03 were utilized for adverse events reporting. A new association algorithm was developed based on Apriori algorithm and used to investigate the associations between drugs and adverse events. In addition, a statistical comparison was conducted to compare the modified Apriori algorithm with the conventional Apriori algorithm. RESULTS: Different types and levels of adverse events were identified from the abnormal laboratory findings. The three most common adverse events were hypocalcemia, elevated creatine phosphokinase, and hypertriglyceridemia. In addition, using the modified Apriori algorithm, 380 association rules were found between adverse events and chemotherapy. Moreover, the statistical comparison of the two methods demonstrated that the modified Apriori algorithm was more advantageous in analyzing the correlation between drugs and adverse events than the conventional Apriori algorithm. CONCLUSIONS: The modified Apriori algorithm can be used to more efficiently associate pharmacotherapy with adverse events. Based on the modified Apriori algorithm, meaningful association rules between drugs and adverse events were found, demonstrating a promising way to reveal the risk factors of adverse events during cancer treatment.

Excessive Cellular S-nitrosothiol Impairs Endocytosis of Auxin Efflux Transporter PIN2.

S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR1) is the key enzyme that regulates cellular levels of S-nitrosylation across kingdoms. We have previously reported that loss of GSNOR1 resulted in impaired auxin signaling and compromised auxin transport in Arabidopsis, leading to the auxin-related morphological phenotypes. However, the molecular mechanism underpinning the compromised auxin transport in gsnor1-3 mutant is still unknown. Endocytosis of plasma-membrane (PM)-localized efflux PIN proteins play critical roles in auxin transport. Therefore, we investigate whether loss of GSNOR1 function has any effects on the endocytosis of PIN-FORMED (PIN) proteins. It was found that the endocytosis of either the endogenous PIN2 or the transgenically expressed PIN2-GFP was compromised in the root cells of gsnor1-3 seedlings relative to Col-0. The internalization of PM-associated PIN2 or PIN2-GFP into Brefeldin A (BFA) bodies was significantly reduced in gsnor1-3 upon BFA treatment in a manner independent of de novo protein synthesis. In addition, the exogenously applied GSNO not only compromised the endocytosis of PIN2-GFP but also inhibited the root elongation in a concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, our results indicate that, besides the reduced PIN2 level, one or more compromised components in the endocytosis pathway could account for the reduced endocytosis of PIN2 in gsnor1-3.

Bushen-Yizhi formula ameliorates cognitive dysfunction through SIRT1/ER stress pathway in SAMP8 mice.

The Chinese formula Bushen-Yizhi (BSYZ) has been reported to ameliorate cognitive dysfunction. However the mechanism is still unclear. In this study, we employ an aging model, SAMP8 mice, to explore whether BSYZ could protect dementia through SIRT1/endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway. Morris water maze and the fearing condition test results show that oral administration of BSYZ (1.46 g/kg/d, 2.92 g/kg/d and 5.84 g/kg/d) and donepezil (3 mg/kg/d) shorten the escape latency, increase the crossing times of the original position of the platform and the time spent in the target quadrant, and increase the freezing time. BSYZ decreases the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and increases the activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the concentration of acetylcholine (Ach) in both hippocampus and cortex. In addition, western blot results (Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3) and TUNEL staining show that BSYZ prevents neuron from apoptosis, and elevates the expression of neurotrophic factors, including nerve growth factor (NGF), postsynapticdensity 95 (PSD95) and synaptophysin (SYN), in both hippocampus and cortex. BSYZ also increases the protein expression of SIRT1 and alleviates ER stress-associated proteins (PERK, IRE-1α, eIF-2α, BIP, PDI and CHOP). These results indicate that the neuroprotective mechanism of BSYZ might be related with SIRT1/ER stress pathway.

[Species composition and population structure of plant communities on semi-fixed dunes of the Gurbantongut Desert, China.] / å¤å°”ç­é€šå¤ç‰¹æ²™æ¼ åŠå›ºå®šæ²™ä¸˜æ¤ç‰©ç¾¤è½ç‰©ç§ç»„æˆå’Œç§ç¾¤ç»“æž„.

The objective of this study was to investigate species composition, and predict future development of dominant species on semi-fixed sand dunes in the Gurbantongut Desert. Using the plant height, crown area and volume instead of age structure, the growth and development condition of dominant shrub populations were analyzed. The results showed that totally 23 species were observed, of which Chenopodiaceae occurred the most with 6 genera 8 species, followed by Asteraceae with 5 genera 6 species. The vegetation community of Gurbantunggut Desert was characterized by few species, and simple structure. As a dominant species, Haloxylon persicum was distributed mainly on the top of the dunes and was a stable increasing population. However, the number of H. ammodendron was small. Artemisia ordosica, as an exotic species introduced by vegetation restoration after construction, covered mainly in the windward and the top of dunes. The po-pulation of A. ordosica had an increasing age structure with a strongly increasing potential, which has affected local species composition. The populations of Calligonum leucocladum and Ephedra distachya were lack of seedlings and had few saplings, resulting in the declining age structure. Due to the same distribution habitat, C. leucocladum might be replaced by A. ordosica in the future.

[Influence of the Application of Activated Persulfate on Municipal Sludge Conditioning].

The water content of dewatered sewage sludge can decrease at about 80% by traditional sludge dewatering technologies. High water content has negative impacts on the sequent sludge disposal with a stricter standard. The sulfate free radical SO4(*-), generated by activated persulfate, is a powerful oxidant. This article found that it could improve sludge dewatering properties by using the Fe2+ activated sodium persulfate (SPS). The results showed that when using Fe2+ 25.88 mg x g(-1) (based on dry sludge solid) and S2 O8(2-) 80 mg x g(-1) (the mole ratio of Fe2+ to S2 O8(2-) was 1.1 : 1) for sludge conditioning, it could reduce the capillary suction time (CST) and specific resistance to filtration (RSF) of sludge, increased the protein and ploysaccharide as well as the COD concentration in the filtrate. The further research showed that this method could change the zeta potential of sludge, increased the sludge particle specific surface area, and made flocs become a loose layered structure from dense clusters, which was beneficial to improve the sludge dewaterability.

Loss of GSNOR1 Function Leads to Compromised Auxin Signaling and Polar Auxin Transport.

Cross talk between phytohormones, nitric oxide (NO), and auxin has been implicated in the control of plant growth and development. Two recent reports indicate that NO promoted auxin signaling but inhibited auxin transport probably through S-nitrosylation. However, genetic evidence for the effect of S-nitrosylation on auxin physiology has been lacking. In this study, we used a genetic approach to understand the broader role of S-nitrosylation in auxin physiology in Arabidopsis. We compared auxin signaling and transport in Col-0 and gsnor1-3, a loss-of-function GSNOR1 mutant defective in protein de-nitrosylation. Our results showed that auxin signaling was impaired in the gsnor1-3 mutant as revealed by significantly reduced DR5-GUS/DR5-GFP accumulation and compromised degradation of AXR3NT-GUS, a useful reporter in interrogating auxin-mediated degradation of Aux/IAA by auxin receptors. In addition, polar auxin transport was compromised in gsnor1-3, which was correlated with universally reduced levels of PIN or GFP-PIN proteins in the roots of the mutant in a manner independent of transcription and 26S proteasome degradation. Our results suggest that S-nitrosylation and GSNOR1-mediated de-nitrosylation contribute to auxin physiology, and impaired auxin signaling and compromised auxin transport are responsible for the auxin-related morphological phenotypes displayed by the gsnor1-3 mutant.

The stability of aerobic granular sludge treating municipal sludge deep dewatering filtrate in a bench scale sequencing batch reactor.

Inoculated with mature aerobic granular sludge in a sequencing batch reactor, gradually increasing the proportion of municipal sludge deep dewatering filtrate in influent, aerobic granular sludge was domesticated after 84 days and maintained its structure during the operation. The domesticated AGS was yellowish-brown, dense and irregular spherical shape, average size was 1.49 mm, water content and specific density were 98.13% and 1.0114, the SVI and settling velocity were 40 ml/g and 46.5m/h. After 38 days, NO3(-)-N accumulated obviously in the reactor as lack of carbon sources. When adding 1-3g solid CH3COONa at 4.5 and 5.5h of each cycle from the 57th day, the removal rate of TN rose to above 90% after 20 days, where effective COD removal and denitrification were realized in a single bioreactor. Finally, the removal rates of COD, TP, TN and NH4(+)-N were higher than 95%, 88%, 96% and 99%.

Effects of rosuvastatin on the production and activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and migration of cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells induced by homocysteine.

OBJECTIVE: To test the influence of homocysteine on the production and activation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) and on cell migration of cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Also, to explore whether rosuvastatin can alter the abnormal secretion and activation of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 and migration of VSMCs induced by homocysteine. METHODS: Rat VSMCs were incubated with different concentrations of homocysteine (50-5000 µmol/L). Western blotting and gelatin zymography were used to investigate the expressions and activities of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in VSMCs in culture medium when induced with homocysteine for 24, 48, and 72 h. Transwell chambers were employed to test the migratory ability of VSMCs when incubated with homocysteine for 48 h. Different concentrations of rosuvastatin (10(-9)-10(-5) mol/L) were added when VSMCs were induced with 1000 µmol/L homocysteine. The expressions and activities of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were examined after incubating for 24, 48, and 72 h, and the migration of VSMCs was also examined after incubating for 48 h. RESULTS: Homocysteine (50-1000 µmol/L) increased the production and activation of MMP-2 and expression of TIMP-2 in a dose-dependent manner. However, when incubated with 5000 µmol/L homocysteine, the expression of MMP-2 was up-regulated, but its activity was down-regulated. Increased homocysteine-induced production and activation of MMP-2 were reduced by rosuvastatin in a dose-dependent manner whereas secretion of TIMP-2 was not significantly altered by rosuvastatin. Homocysteine (50-5000 µmol/L) stimulated the migration of VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner, but this effect was eliminated by rosuvastatin. CONCLUSIONS: Homocysteine (50-1000 µmol/L) significantly increased the production and activation of MMP-2, the expression of TIMP-2, and the migration of VSMCs in a dose-dependent manner. Additional extracellular rosuvastatin can decrease the excessive expression and activation of MMP-2 and abnormal migration of VSMCs induced by homocysteine.

[Influence of non-ionic surfactants on sludge dewaterability].

The water content of dewatered sludge cake decreases to about 80% by current sludge dewatering technologies, which hardly satisfies the stricter standards of sludge disposal. In order to evaluate the effects of non-ionic surfactants on sludge dewaterability, two kinds of non-ionic surfactants (OPEO and APG) were studied by using two evaluation indexes, i. e. , specific resistance to filtration (SRF) and dewatering efficiency. Moreover, morphologies of conditioned sewage sludge and raw sludge were comparatively investigated. Results showed that non-ionic surfactants can decrease the particle size of sewage sludge floc and generate more homogenous and regular shape, and then improve the dewatering efficiency. APG has better effect on sewage sludge dewatering than OPEO. SRF of conditioned sludge with APG dosage of 0.05% DS decreased to 42% of SRF of raw sludge, and its dewatering efficiency was as high as 93%. Plate-frame pressure filter experiment demonstrated that, the water content of dewatered cake conditioned with APG dosage of 0.05% DS was lower by about 10% than that of dewatered cake without APG, and its dewatering efficiency reached 97%. Therefore, this research provides some reference for the application of APG in sludge dewatering.

[Relationship of evaluation indexes of sludge dewatering performance under different conditioning programs].

Performances of different sludge conditioners are difficult to evaluate due to the use of various evaluation indexes. Taking several traditional sludge conditioners, e.g. PAM, FeCl3 and inorganic composite conditioners as examples and five evaluation indexes include specific resistance to filtration (SRF), capillary suction time (CST), sludge settling performance, water content of sludge cake and dewatering efficiency, were investigated respectively in order to study the correlation among those indexes. The results indicate a significant positive linear correlation between SRF and CST (R2 values are 0.96 and 0.93, respectively) after adding different types of conditioners or different amount of conditioners. While they can precisely reflect plate and frame filter press efficiency, but they fail to predict the effects of centrifugal dewatering. Sludge settling performance presents the similar tendencies with SRF and CST. Since there is only limited correlation rather than strict correspondence between water content of sludge cake and dewatering efficiency. Thus, both factors should be considered synthetically in optimizing dosage performances.