Nitrogen removal performance and microbiological characteristics of a three-stage series of vertical flow constructed wetlands.

In this study, the treatment performance and underlying molecular mechanisms of nitrogen transformation in a three-stage series of vertical flow constructed wetlands (T-VFCWs) treating rural domestic sewage were investigated at three different hydraulic loading rates (HLRs). Specifi-cally, the T-VFCWs composed of three sequential vertical flow constructed wetlands (termed V-1, V-2 and V-3), which were built according to the topography. The results showed that high pollutant removal rates could be achieved when the T-VFCWs was operated to treat rural domestic sewage, even though the HLR increased from 0.10 to 0.20 m3·m-2·d-1. Effluent quality of the T-VFCWs could reach Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (GB 18918-2002) class A standard. Regarding to the T-VFCWs operated under the oxygen-limiting conditions, three different pathways for nitrogen transformation could be respectively formed in V-1, V-2 and V-3, owing to the specific influent quality of each subunit. Consequently, the T-VFCWs were effective in nitrogen removal as a result of the collaboration of the three subunits. When the T-VFCWs ran constantly during the test, nitrogen removal in V-1, V-2, and V-3 respectively relied on the nitritation/denitrification process, the completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process, and the denitrification process. The contributions of three subunits for total nitrogen (TN) and NH4+-N removal were (51.3±4.4)% and (63.7±2.6)%, (30.9±4.8)% and (35.5±4.5)%, (17.8±5.0)% and (0.8±0.1)%, respectively. This study could provide scientific basis and technical support for the research and the engineering application of hybrid constructed wetlands.

Clinical association between pre-treatment levels of plasma fibrinogen and bone metastatic burden in newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: Due to the different treatments for low-volume metastatic prostate cancer (PCa) as well as high-volume ones, evaluation of bone metastatic status is clinically significant. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between pre-treatment plasma fibrinogen and the burden of bone metastasis in newly diagnosed PCa patients. METHODS: A single-center retrospective analysis, focusing on prostate biopsies of newly diagnosed PCa patients, was performed. A total of 261 patients were enrolled in this study in a 4-year period. All subjects were submitted to single-photon emission computerized tomography-computed tomography to confirm the status of bone metastasis and, if present, the number of metastatic lesions would then be calculated. Clinical information such as age, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), fibrinogen, clinical T stage, and Gleason score were collected. Patients were divided into three groups: (i) a non-metastatic group, (ii) a high volume disease (HVD) group (>3 metastases with at least one lesion outside the spine), and (iii) a low volume disease (LVD) group (metastatic patients excluding HVD ones). The main statistical methods included non-parametric Mann-Whitney test, Spearman correlation, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and logistic regression. RESULTS: Fibrinogen positively correlated with Gleason score (r = 0.180, P = 0.003), PSA levels (r = 0.216, P < 0.001), and number of metastatic lesions (r = 0.296, P < 0.001). Compared with the non-metastatic and LVD groups, the HVD group showed the highest PSA (104.98 ng/mL, median) and fibrinogen levels (3.39 g/L, median), as well as the largest proportion of Gleason score >7 (86.8%). Both univariate (odds ratio [OR] = 2.16, 95% confidential interval [CI]: 1.536-3.038, P < 0.001) and multivariate (OR = 1.726, 95% CI: 1.206-2.472, P = 0.003) logistic regressions showed that fibrinogen was independently associated with HVD. The ROC curve suggested that fibrinogen acts as a predictor of HVD patients, yielding a cut-off of 3.08 g/L, with a sensitivity of 0.684 and a specificity of 0.760 (area under the curve = 0.739, 95% CI: 0.644-0.833, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pre-treatment plasma fibrinogen is positively associated with bone metastatic burden in PCa patients. Our results indicate that fibrinogen might be a potential predictor of HVD.

Use of porcine acellular dermal matrix following early dermabrasion reduces length of stay in extensive deep dermal burns.

OBJECTIVE: Extensive deep partial-thickness burns still seriously challenge the surgeon's abilities. This study aimed to assess the impact of early dermabrasion combined with porcine acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in extensive deep dermal burns. METHODS: From September 2009 to September 2013, a total of 60 adult patients sustained greater than 50% total body surface area (TBSA) burn by hot water or gas explosion were divided into three groups based on dermabrasion: group A (early dermabrasion and porcine ADM), group B (early dermabrasion and nano-silver dressings), and group C (conservative group). The wound healing time and length of hospital stay were analyzed. Scar assessment was performed at 3 and 12 months after the injury with a modified Vancouver Scar Scale linked with TBSA (mVSS-TBSA). RESULTS: No significant difference was found in mean burn size, burn depth, age, male-to-female ratio, or incidence of inhalation injury between the patients in the three groups (p>0.05). Compared with groups B and C, the patients that received early dermabrasion combined with porcine ADM had a shorter wound healing time (p<0.01). The burn patients treated with early dermabrasion and porcine ADM coverage had a mean length of hospital stay of 28.3 days (±7.2), which was significantly shorter than that of groups B and C (p<0.05-0.01). The mVSS-TBSA of patients in group A was significantly improved in comparison with groups B and C at 3 and 12 months after the injury. There was no significant difference in the mortality rate between the three groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Early dermabrasion combined with porcine ADM coverage facilitates wound healing, reduces the length of hospital stay, and improves esthetic and functional results in extensive deep dermal burns with burn size over 50% TBSA.

[Correlation of bilateral testicular volume discrepancy with semen parameters in men with varicocele].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of varicocele on the volume discrepancy of bilateral testes, and the relationship between testicular volume discrepancy and semen parameters. METHODS: This study included 181 varicocele patients and 102 normal fertile men without varicocele. We retrospectively analyzed their clinical data, including the grades and locations of varicocele, testis volume and semen parameters. RESULTS: Bilateral testicular volume discrepancy was found in 132 (72.9%) of the varicocele patients (including 117 cases of left testicular hypotrophy [88.6%]), and 35 (34.3%) of the non-varicocele fertile men. The rates of bilateral testicular volume discrepancy were 61.3%, 3.5%, 20.9% and 14.3% in the grade-III, grade-II, grade-I and non-varicocele groups, respectively (P < 0.05), with statistically significant differences among different age groups (P < 0.05). The percentage of morphologically normal sperm and sperm motility were reduced differently with different degrees of testicular volume discrepancy (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: Testicular volume discrepancy is more common in men with left varicocele, and its prevalence and degree are correlated with the grade of varicocele. Semen quality decreases with the increase of testicular volume discrepancy.