Effects of nanoscale zero-valent iron particles on biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal and microorganisms in activated sludge.

The use of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) particles in environmental remediation and wastewater treatment has recently increased. The effects of NZVI on nitrogen and phosphorus removal were examined under continuous aerobic/anaerobic conditions by employing activated sludge. NZVI did not display any measurable effect on nitrogen removal at the concentration of 50mg/L and below. However, 200mg/L of NZVI inhibited NH4(+)-N removal. The addition of NZVI at 20mg/L and above significantly (p<0.05) improved the phosphorous removal. The microbial activities were inhibited upon exposure to NZVI according to the ATP and reactive oxygen species (ROS) results. In comparison to control, the ATP content decreased by around 13%, 31% and 43% at the NZVI doses of 20, 50, and 200mg/L, respectively, probably due to ROS production under NZVI exposure. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay suggested that NZVI concentration of 200mg/L cast adverse effects on microorganisms. Interestingly, lower concentrations of NZVI (20 and 50mg/L) boosted the dehydrogenase activity; however, approximately 19% depression in dehydrogenase activity was detected at 200mg/L. The high throughput 16S rDNA pyrosequencing results indicated that uncultured bacterial genera Sinobacteraceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Alcaligenaceae and Propionivibrio were sensitive to NZVI particles.

[Effect of stiletto needle intervention combined with massage on dysfunction and pain of knee-joints in patients with knee osteoarthrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effectiveness of stiletto needle stimulation combined with massage in the treatment of dysfunction and pain of knee joints in knee osteoarthrosis (KOA) patients. METHODS: One hundred KOA outpatients and inpatients were randomly and equally divided into treatment and control groups. Patients of the treatment group were treated by using stiletto needle stimulation of 5-10 tender-points (at the medial collateral ligament, internal condyle of femur, medial condyle of femur, etc.) in combination with massage on the bilateral sides of the patella ligament, digital pressing of Liangqiu (ST 34), Xuehai (SP 10), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Weizhong (BL 40), etc. Patients of the control group were treated by using massage therapy alone (the same to those mentioned above). Elasticity of the soft tissue[displacement value under 500 g pressure exerted on the tender-point surface; the banana area, i. e. , the absorbed energy of the soft tissue] was measured by using Soft-tissue Tension Detector. Dysfunction scores of the knee-joint (cure:91 -99 points; marked improvement: 75-90 points; improvement: 60- 74 points; invalid: no improvement) were assessed according to Jiang's method, and the therapeutic effect was evaluated in the light of "Criteria for Diagnosis and Therapeutic Effect Assessment of Illnesses or Clinical Conditions of Chinese Medicine" issued in 1994 in China. RESULTS: Comparison between pre- and post-treatment in the same one group showed that the displacement values and scores of pain, joint-movement and malformation, and total scores were increased significantly and the banana area reduced considerably in these two groups after the treatment (P < 0. 05), and the effects of the treatment group were apparently superior to those of the control group (P < 0. 05). Of the two 50 cases in the control and treatment groups, 10 (20%) and 33 (66%) had marked improvement, 33 (66%) and 14 (28%) were improved, and 7 (14%) and 3 (6%) invalid, with the effective rates being 86% and 94% , respectively. The markedly effective rate of the treatment group was apparently higher than that of the control group (P< 0. 05). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the scores of initiative extension range, walking abi-lity and daily life activities (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Stiletto needle intervention in combination with massage can effectively relieve dysfunction and pain of the knee joint in KOA patients.

[Treatment of lumbar disc herniation combine with buttock tender node with Pizhen].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effects of Pizhen in treating lumbar disc herniation combined with buttock tender node. METHODS: From August 2009 to February 2010,83 patients (29 males and 54 females) with lumbar disc herniation combined with buttock tender node were randomly divided into the Pizhen group and acupuncture group. Pizhen group were treated with Pizhen manipulation, inserting needle by vertical prick with quacking inserting and quick withdrawing the needle, no rotating and the depth was through the surface of fascia, two times as a course of treatment; acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture, inserting Ashi-point, retaining the needle 20 min, ten times as a course of treatment. VAS scoring at the end of treatment and B ultrasonic image at 3d after treatment was carried out to observe the therapeutic effects. RESULTS: B ultrasonic image of buttock tender node showed inflammation reaction or ellipse. The width of the inflammation reaction decreased after treatment, but there has no statistical significance (P=0.635). There was no significant difference between two groups (P=0.813). CONCLUSION: Pizhen manipulation is better than acupuncture. B ultrasonic image gives morphological performance of buttock tender node, the content is inflammatory infiltrates. B ultrasound has certainly significance in diagnosing, treating and evaluating the clinical effect of Pizhen manipulation on treating buttock tender node.

[Effect of Chinese medicinal massage on endocrinal function in women with climacteric syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic effect of Chinese medicinal massage with nourishing-Shen and activating-blood manipulation in treating women with climacteric syndrome and its influence on endocrinal function. METHODS: Sixty patients were assigned to two groups, the 40 patients in the treated group were treated by Chinese medicinal massage for 20 min once every other day; the 20 patients in the control group were treated by hormone replacement therapy with Premarin 0.625 g, once daily by oral taking. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated after two-month treatment by changes of serum levels of estradiol (E2), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and Kupperman index before and after treatment. RESULTS: Kupperman index showed that the total symptom score in the treated group was improved from 30.71 +/- 8.43 scores before treatment to 8.21 +/- 5.14 scores after treatment, with a decrement of 22.50 +/- 8.14 scores, which was higher than that in the control group, from 24.32 +/- 5.44 scores to 5.92 +/- 3.58 scores, with a decrement of 18.40 +/- 4.50 scores, the difference between them was statistically significant (t = 2.52, P = 0.014). The serum level of E2 increased in both groups significantly after treatment, from 20.23 +/- 20.78 ng/L to 54.34 +/- 24.26 ng/L in the treated group (t= -2.73, P = 0.006), and from 16.15 +/- 24.40 ng/L to 40.61 +/- 81.54 ng/L in the control group (t = -1.72, P = 0.086), but the difference between groups was statistical insignificant (t= -1.120, P = 0.263). As for levels of FSH and LH, their decrements in the control group (13.16 +/- 11.29 mlU/mL and 10.37 +/- 9.21 mlU/mL) were larger than those in the treated group (4.92 +/- 4.26 mlU/mL and 0.17 +/- 2.42 mlU/mL), respectively (t = - 2.49, P = 0.013; t = - 2.38, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Chinese medicinal massage manipulation could improve the Kupperman index of all the 13 symptoms in women with climacteric syndrome, and increase the E2 level in serum.