Comparison of the characteristics of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from sputum and lung lesions in chronic tuberculosis patients.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in sputum originates from lung cavities in tuberculosis (TB) patients. But drug susceptibility testing (DST) of sputum Mtb can not be conducted the same as in the lung because mutagenesis of bacilli may be happening in the lung during treatment and result in the possibility of the presence of heterogeneous drug-resistant subpopulations in the different lung lesions. This could be one of the reasons for low cure rates for multi-drug resistant (MDR)-TB. We studied the resected lungs of nine surgery patients with chronic TB. The isolates isolated from the sputum and different lung lesions of each patient were tested for phenotypic DST and genotyped using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) typing method. Genetic analysis to resistance to first and second line drugs was also performed. Five of nine patients were MDR-TB and three XDR-TB. DST results for ten anti-TB drugs were in accordance among different lung lesions in eight patients. However, only three of these eight patients showed the concordance of DST with sputum. Even though the isolates were heteroresistant, genotyping them by RFLP showed the clonal population in each individual patient. Six of eight followed-up patients achieved successful cure. In conclusion, the heteroresistance between sputum and lung lesions and a clonal population without mixed infection might provide useful information in establishing treatment regimen and surgery decision for MDR- and XDR-TB.

Evaluation of phosphorus adsorption capacity of sesame straw biochar on aqueous solution: influence of activation methods and pyrolysis temperatures.

The phosphorus (P) adsorption characteristic of sesame straw biochar prepared with different activation agents and pyrolysis temperatures was evaluated. Between 0.109 and 0.300 mg L(-1) in the form of inorganic phosphate was released from raw sesame straw biochar in the first 1 h. The release of phosphate was significantly enhanced from 62.6 to 168.2 mg g(-1) as the pyrolysis temperature increased. Therefore, sesame straw biochar cannot be used as an adsorbent for P removal without change in the physicochemical characteristics. To increase the P adsorption of biochar in aqueous solution, various activation agents and pyrolysis temperatures were applied. The amount of P adsorbed from aqueous solution by biochar activated using different activation agents appeared in the order ZnCl2 (9.675 mg g(-1)) > MgO (8.669 mg g(-1)) ⋙ 0.1N-HCl > 0.1N-H2SO4 > K2SO4 ≥ KOH ≥ 0.1N-H3PO4, showing ZnCl2 to be the optimum activation agent. Higher P was adsorbed by the biochar activated using ZnCl2 under different pyrolysis temperatures in the order 600 °C > 500 °C > 400 °C > 300 °C. Finally, the amount of adsorbed P by activated biochar at different ratios of biochar to ZnCl2 appeared in the order 1:3 ≒ 1:1 > 3:1. As a result, the optimum ratio of biochar to ZnCl2 and pyrolysis temperature were found to be 1:1 and 600 °C for P adsorption, respectively. The maximum P adsorption capacity by activated biochar using ZnCl2 (15,460 mg kg(-1)) was higher than that of typical biochar, as determined by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Therefore, the ZnCl2 activation of sesame straw biochar was suitable for the preparation of activated biochar for P adsorption.

Treatment of non-biodegradable cutting oil wastewater by ultrasonication-Fenton oxidation process.

To treat cutting oil wastewater produced in metal surface treatment industry, Ultrasonication (US)-Fenton process, which is one of the advanced oxidation processes, was used. The optimum conditions to treat non-biodegradable pollutants using the US-Fenton process were that the application rates of H2O2 and FeSO4 were 10% and 3 g/L, respectively, the value of pH was 3, and the ultrasonication time was 30 min. It identified non-degradable pollutants such as ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and Triethanolamine (TEA) in the cutting oil wastewater. TLC analysis of two compounds of treated water by the coagulation process was similar to that of raw water. However, TLC analysis of two compounds of US-Fenton process was different from that of raw water, meaning that US-Fenton process decomposed the EDTA and TEA. To study the possibility of application with the US-Fenton process to pilot plant, the pollutants treatment efficiency of three different methods, such as US-Fenton process, activated sludge process and coagulation process, in continuous experiments were compared. The removal rate of pollutants by the US-Fenton process according to the effluent time was higher than any other processes. The removal rates of COD, SS, T-N and T-P by US-Fenton process were 98, 93, 75 and 95%, respectively.

Electrical stimulation and biofeedback exercise of pelvic floor muscle for children with faecal incontinence after surgery for anorectal malformation.

We report our experience of electrical stimulation and biofeedback exercise of pelvic floor muscle for children with faecal incontinence after surgery for anorectal malformation (ARM). Electrical stimulation and biofeedback exercise of pelvic floor muscle were performed on children with post-operative faecal soiling following repair of intermediate or high type ARM. Children under the age of 5 years or with learning difficulties were excluded. They had 6 months supervised programme in the Department of Physiotherapy followed by 6 months home based programme. Bowel management including toilet training, dietary advice, medications and enemas were started before the pelvic floor muscle exercise and continued throughout the programme. Soiling frequency rank, Rintala continence score, sphincter muscle electromyography (EMG) and anorectal manometry were assessed before and after the programme. Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed for statistical analysis. From March 2001 to May 2006, 17 children were referred to the programme. Twelve patients (M:F = 10:2; age = 5-17 years) completed the programme. There was a trend of improvement in Rintala score at sixth month (p = 0.206) and at the end of programme (p = 0.061). Faecal soiling was significantly improved at sixth month (p = 0.01) and at the end of the programme (p = 0.004). Mean sphincter muscle EMG before treatment was 1.699 microV. Mean EMG at sixth month and after the programme was 3.308 microV (p = 0.034) and 3.309 microV (p = 0.002) respectively. After the programme, there was a mean increase in anal sphincter squeeze pressure of 29.9 mmHg (p = 0.007). Electrical stimulation and biofeedback exercise of pelvic floor muscle is an effective adjunct for the treatment of faecal incontinence in children following surgery for anorectal malformation.

Synergistic effect of irradiation and hyperthermia on established cell lines derived from maxillary carcinoma. Report I.

Cultured tumor cells of an established cell line derived from cancer of the head and neck (maxillary and lingual cancer) were irradiated with X-rays (5 or 10 Gy). This treatment inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent way. Cell cycle analysis showed that the ratio of cells in the S phase to the population of viable cells was higher than that in a non-irradiated control group. Thus, the S phase was prolonged by exposure to X-rays. Cell proliferation was also inhibited by 1 h of heat treatment at 43 degrees C. However, movement through the cell cycle was slowed down overall and no cell aggregation in any phase of the cell cycle was found. Proliferation of not only radioresistant but also radiosensitive cells was inhibited by this treatment. Hyperthermia at 43 degrees C for 1 h did not affect cell proliferation, nor did it influence the pattern of cell cycle distribution. However, it caused a decrease in intracellular polyamine amount. The combination of irradiation and hyperthermia caused a stronger inhibition than either treatment alone. The synergistic effect of the two treatments probably arose from the S-phase cells being heat-labile although radioresistant.