Metagenomic analysis reveals the microbial response to petroleum contamination in oilfield soils.

The response of the microbes to total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in three types of oilfield soils was researched using metagenomic analysis. The ranges of TPH concentrations in the grassland, abandoned well, working well soils were 1.16 × 102-3.50 × 102 mg/kg, 1.14 × 103-1.62 × 104 mg/kg, and 5.57 × 103-3.33 × 104 mg/kg, respectively. The highest concentration of n-alkanes and 16 PAHs were found in the working well soil of Shengli (SL) oilfield compared with those in Nanyang (NY) and Yanchang (YC) oilfields. The abandoned well soils showed a greater extent of petroleum biodegradation than the grassland and working well soils. Α-diversity indexes based on metagenomic taxonomy showed higher microbial diversity in grassland soils, whereas petroleum-degrading microbes Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were more abundant in working and abandoned well soils. RDA demonstrated that low moisture content (MOI) in YC oilfield inhibited the accumulation of the petroleum-degrading microbes. Synergistic networks of functional genes and Spearman's correlation analysis showed that heavy petroleum contamination (over 2.10 × 104 mg/kg) negatively correlated with the abundance of the nitrogen fixation genes nifHK, however, in grassland soils, low petroleum content facilitated the accumulation of nitrogen fixation genes. A positive correlation was observed between the abundance of petroleum-degrading genes and denitrification genes (bphAa vs. nirD, todC vs. nirS, and nahB vs. nosZ), whereas a negative correlation was observed between alkB (alkane- degrading genes) and amo (ammonia oxidation), hao (nitrification). The ecotoxicity of petroleum contamination, coupled with petroleum hydrocarbons (PH) degradation competing with nitrifiers for ammonia inhibited ammonia oxidation and nitrification, whereas PH metabolism promoted the denitrification process. Moreover, positive correlations were observed between the abundance of amo gene and MOI, as well as between the abundance of the dissimilatory nitrate reduction gene nirA and clay content. Thus, improving the soil physicochemical properties is a promising approach for decreasing nitrogen loss and alleviating petroleum contamination in oilfield soils.

Development and application of a ruthenium(II) complex-based photoluminescent and electrochemiluminescent dual-signaling probe for nitric oxide.

A ruthenium(II) complex, [Ru(bpy)2(DA-phen)](PF6)2 (bpy: 2,2'-bipyridine; DA-phen: 5,6-diamino-1,10-phenanthroline), has been developed as a photoluminescent (PL) and electrochemiluminescent (ECL) dual-signaling probe for the highly sensitive and selective detection of nitric oxide (NO) in aqueous and biological samples. Due to the presence of electron transfer process from diamino group to the excited-state of the Ru(II) complex, the PL and ECL intensities of the probe are very weak. After the probe was reacted with NO in physiological pH aqueous media under aerobic conditions to afford its triazole derivative, [Ru(bpy)2(TA-phen)](2+) (TA-phen: 5,6-triazole-1,10-phenanthroline), the electron transfer process was inhibited, so that the PL and ECL efficiency of the Ru(II) complex was remarkably increased. The PL and ECL responses of the probe to NO in physiological pH media are highly sensitive with the detection limits at low micromolar concentration level, and highly specific without the interferences of other reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) and metal ions. Moreover, the probe has good cell-membrane permeability, and can be rapidly transferred into living cells for trapping the intracellular NO molecules. These features enabled the probe to be successfully used for the monitoring of the endogenous NO production in living biological cell and tissue samples with PL and ECL dual-modes.

[Multi-central randomized controlled trials of electroacupunture at Zhigou (TE 6) for treatment of constipation induced by stagnation or deficiency of qi].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the therapeutic effect and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zhigou (TE 6) on constipation induced by stagnation or deficiency of qi. METHODS: Multi-central randomized controlled trials were adopted and the patients conforming to the criteria for diagnosis, enrolling and excluding were divided into an observation group and a control group according to random number table. The observation group were treated with EA at Zhigou (TE 6) and the control group with EA at non-acupoint for 4 weeks. The cumulative score of clinical symptoms, colon transmission test and various safety indexes were assessed. The following-up was carried out 1 and 3 months after the end of treatment. RESULTS: EA at Zhigou (TE 6) could obviously improve clinical symptoms and colon transmission time, decrease using rate of Kaisailu and cathartics, with an effective rate of 94.4%, which was better than 61.3% in the control group (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: EA at Zhigou (TE 6) has a function of regulating qi and relaxing the bowels and it is an effective method for treatment of constipation with safety and no adverse effect.

A clinical study on the treatment of urinary infection with Zishen Tongli Jiaonang.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effects of Zishen Tongli Jiaonang (capsules for nourishing the kidney and promoting urination) for treatment of urinary infection. METHOD: The treatment group with a control group were randomly set up. 120 patients in the control group were given antibiotics according to drug sensitive tests for orally taking or intravenous drip, while 136 patients in the treatment group were additionally given the capsules on the basis of the above-mentioned treatment. One course of treatment lasted 2 weeks. Statistical analysis on the therapeutic effects was conducted after a two-course treatment. The recurrence rates of the two groups were compared one year later. RESULTS: The total remission rates were respectively 96.3% in the treatment group and 81.7% in the control group (P<0.05). The recurrence rates one year later were respectively 4.4% in the treatment group and 30.0% in the control group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The capsules show good effects for urinary infection, especially in the long-term effect.

Treatment of chronic renal failure by supplementing the kidney and invigorating blood flow.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of treatment of chronic renal failure by supplementing the kidney and invigorating blood flow. METHOD: The eligible patients were assigned to a treatment group (N = 120) treated with the above principle and a control group (N = 128) treated with western drugs, and the effectiveness was evaluated when the study was completed in one year. RESULTS: The total effective rate of 92.5% was achieved in the treatment group, better than that in the control group (49.2%); the difference was significant (P<0.01), especially in patients of stage I and II. CONCLUSION: The treatment of chronic renal failure by supplementing the kidney and invigorating blood flow proved to be very effective.

[Determination of scutellarin and rutin in Shenfukang capsules by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography].

A rapid and simple method for the determination of scutellarin and rutin in Shenfukang capsules has been developed using reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Scutellarin and rutin were first extracted by ultrasonic extraction with methanol-water (1:1, v/v). The resulting extracts were separated on a C18 column (4.6 mm i.d. x 150 mm, 5 microm). The mobile phase consisting of 0.02 mol/L KH2PO4 solution containing 1.0% glacial acetic acid-methanol (63:37, v/v) was run at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The detection wavelength was 330 nm and the injection volume was 20 microL. Good linearity in the range of 10 mg/L to 300 mg/L was obtained for scutellarin and rutin. The method was successfully used for the quantification of scutellarin and rutin of Shenfukang capsules.