Processing dewatered sewage sludge using electrokinetic technology.

High content of heavy metals and presence of pathogens in the dewatered sewage sludge have been the main obstacles for land application of sewage sludge-made fertilizer. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the innovative electrokinetic (EK) technology on removal of heavy metals from sewage sludge, on the reduction of pathogens, and on sludge chemical characteristics. The results showed that the removal efficiencies for Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, As and Pb were 94.9%, 95.4%, 89.7%, 67.8%, 31.2% and 18.7%, respectively. Acidification pretreatment of the dewatered sludge for 29 h decreased the content of heterotrophic bacteria from 1.5 x 10(8) c.f.u./g of wet sludge to 1.1 x 10(4) c.f.u./g of wet sludge. Although the initial content of total coliforms and fecal coliforms in sewage sludge were 5.8 x 10(5) c.f.u./g of wet sludge and 4.0 x 10(5) c.f.u./g of wet sludge, respectively, no viable cells were detected. Minor losses of K and N were detected, but the loss of P was found to be significant in EK treated sewage sludge. The treated sludge was technically considered as very stable based on the carbon dioxide evolution rate.

[A pharmacological analysis of the amino acid components of Cordyceps sinensis Sacc].

An artificial complex of amino acids (C I) was made by mixing 18 synthetic amino acids, according to the kinds and contents the amino acid contained in the natural Cordyceps sinensis Sacc., It showed the same sedative action as the natural C. sinensis, as indicated by the spontaneous activity inhibition in mice (photocell method). However, the action of commercial complex amino acid injection (12 X, total amino acid components are similar to C I) was more attenuated than that of C I. Comparing amino acid components of 12 X with C I, the latter was found to contain 5 times as much glutamic acid, tryptophan and tyrosine as those of 12 X. Another artificial amino acid complex (C II) consisting of the above mentioned 3 amino acids, also showed the same sedative action. This suggests that tryptophan is the principal component by orthogonal test. However, C II did not enhance the phagocytic action of mononucleophagocyte as the natural C. Sinensis did in the clear rate test of carbon granule from mice serum.

A study of the immunofunction in patients of coronary heart disease with the fundamental deficiency and outward excess syndrome.

The fundamental deficiency and outward excess syndrome of coronary heart disease can be classified into Qi Yang deficiency with blood stasis (QYD) and Yin deficiency with blood stasis (YD). The patients showed disturbances in immunofunction manifested as marked increase of serum IgG, CIC, IC-IgG and IC-C3 levels and the percentage of B cells in the peripheral blood, while the percentages of OKT3+, OKT4+ and OKT8+ cells markedly decreased, especially the percentage of OKT8+ cells, resulting in an increase of the ratio of T4/8 and imbalance between TS and TH. The authors deem that the fundamental deficiency of coronary heart disease is related to the low cellular immunity, especially the imbalance between TS and TH cells, while outward excess of coronary heart disease is related to hyperactivity of humoral immunity.

[Effects of kuo guan powder on immunologic functions in patients with ben-xu biao-shi syndrome in ischemic heart disease].

Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is correlated with the Immunodisturbances. In this study, the immunological effects of Kuo Guan No 1, a powder for aiding Qi and activating the blood, in 17 cases of Qi Yang Xu Xue Yu (QYXXY, ) syndrome, Kuo Guan No 2, powder for nourishing the Yin and activating the blood, in 14 cases of Yin-Xu Xue-Yu (YXXY, ) syndrome had been observed in one month treatment. After treatment with both powder of Kuo Guan No 1 and Kuo Guan No 2, the increased levels of IgG, CIC, IC-IgG and IC-C3 in serum and the numbers of B cells in peripheral blood lymphocyte (PBL) of the patients with Ben-Xu Biao-Shi (BXBS, ) syndrome of IHD angina were markedly decreased and showed no significant difference while compared with the normal controls (P greater than 0.05); the numbers of OKT+3, OKT+4 and OKT+8 cells in PBL, which were lower before treatment in both groups, were obviously increased and showed no marked difference with the controls (P greater than 0.05); the higher ratio of T4/T8 was lowered in group of YXXY syndrome, and showed no difference while compared with the controls (P greater than 0.05), but the ratio in QYXXY syndrome group was lowered than that in the controls (P less than 0.05). After the treatment with Kuo Guan No 1, the increased level of C3 in serum in QYXXY group was lowered down to that of the controls (P greater than 0.05). The results indicated that it is reasonable to consider that "Kuo Guan" powder is an immunoregulative preparation for patients with BXBS syndrome of IHD angina.

[Route and preparation of 5-Fu administration as preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer. II. Morphologic, ultrastructural and histochemical changes of the cancer cells after intrarectal and intravenous 5-Fu administration].

From March 1981 to October 1985, 5-Fu was preoperatively given to 65 Dukes B and C rectal cancer patients (intrarectal suppository 40 and emulsion 20, intravenous 5). The results indicated that after intrarectal administration, marked changes and destruction of the cancer cells in morphology were observed in 40% of the resected rectal specimens for suppository and in 45% for emulsion; marked retrograde degeneration in ultrastructure was found in 47.5% for suppository and in 50% for emulsion; DNA synthesis was obviously reduced in 63% for suppository and in 75% for emulsion. It is suggested that the emulsion be a better preparation. No obvious changes or destruction in morphology and ultrastructure were observed in cancer cells treated by intravenous drip of high dose 5-Fu though leukopenia below 4000 was found in 2/5. However, it was 0/60 by rectal administration. This implies that the intrarectal route is more rational than the conventional intravenous route. This study presents an alternate supplementary treatment in addition to radiotherapy for the reduction of postoperative local recurrence of Dukes B and C rectal cancers.

[Route and preparation of 5-Fu administration as preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer. I. Concentration and distribution of 5-Fu in tissues monitored by 14C-isotopically tagged 5-Fu].

Experimental studies on more rational route and preparation of preoperative administration of 5-Fu were undertaken from March 1981 to June 1985. The experimental observation shows that intrarectal administration of radioisotope 14C tagged 5-Fu (suppository and emulsion) produces a much higher concentration in the rectal wall and mesenteric lymph nodes compared with its intravenous administration (40 rabbits) and produces a much higher concentration in cancer tissue than in surrounding tissues and in mesenteric lymph nodes than in the inferior mesenteric veins (4 patients). These findings favor the attenuation or destruction of cancer cells in the tumor and regional lymph nodes-the main route of spread. Also, after intrarectal administration of 14C tagged 5-Fu, its concentration in the lung, liver and bone marrow is much lower than that after intravenous administration (40 rabbits), and hence systemic toxicity is decreased. The above results indicate that the intrarectal route stands better than the conventional intravenous route for 5-Fu preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy in rectal cancer. Administration of 5-Fu emulsion produces a higher concentration in the rectal wall and mesenteric lymph nodes than that of 5-Fu suppository and peak concentration also appears earlier, i.e. 2 hours after the administration of 5-Fu emulsion. This will lessen the interference of 5-Fu absorption owing to its premature evacuation, indicating that emulsion is a better form for intrarectal 5-Fu.