[Minimally invasive osteotomy with absorbable screws in treating hallux valgus deformity].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clnical effect of minimally invasive osteotomy with absorbable screws in treating hallux valgus deformity. METHODS: Clnical data of 31 patients with hallux valgus deformity were retrospective analyzed from January 2019 to December 2020, and divided into absorbable screws group (17 patients) and titanium cannulated screw group (14 patients). In absorbable screws group, there were 1 male and 16 females aged from 32 to 72 years old with an average of (54.53±12.12) years old;6 patients on the left side, 5 on bilateral and 6 on the right side;1 patient was mild, 11 moderate and 5 severe;treated with minimally invasive osteotomy and fixation of absorbable screws. In titanium cannulated screw group, there were 2 males and 12 females aged from 18 to 71 years old with an average of (47.57±15.68) years old;4 patients on the left side, 4 on bilateral and 6 on the right side;1 patient was mild, 9 moderate and 4severe;treated with minimally invasive osteotomy and fixation of titanium cannulated screw. Complications between two groups were observed, changes of hallux valgus angle (HVA)and intermetatarsal angle (IMA)were detected and compared before and after operation at 12 months, American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society(AOFAS) and visual analogue scale(VAS) before and after operation at 12 months were also compared. RESULTS: All 31 patients were followed up from 13 to 20 months with an average of (16.61±2.47) months. Patients in absorbable screws group were followed up from 14 to 20 months with an average of (16.88±2.80) months, while patients in titanium cannulated screw group were followed up from 13 to 19 months with an average of (16.29±2.05) months;there was no difference between two groups(P>0.05). One patient in absorbable screws group occurred numbness around incision, 3 patients in titanium cannulated screw group occurred complications, including numbness around incision in 1 patient, skin irritation due to internal fixation in 1 patient, and recurrence in 1 case;there was no statistic difference between two groups (χ2=1.651, P=0.199). There were no statistic difference in HVA and IMA between two groups before and after operation at 12 months(P>0.05). There were no statistic difference between two groups in AOFAS and VAS before and after operation at 12 months(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Compare with mainstream fixation with titanium hollow screw after minmally invasive osteotomy, fixation with absorbable screw could achieve comparable clinical outcome on the basis of images and function evaluation.

[Performance of Bio-zeolite Constructed Wetland in Dispersed Swine Wastewater Treatment].

The anaerobically digested effluent of the dispersed swine wastewater was treated by a three-stage bio-zeolite constructed wetland, and the performance of the wetland, the variation of pollutants concentration in effluent and ORP distribution in the bio-zeolite layer were studied. The results showed that COD, N and P in the digested effluent could be efficiently removed by the wetland, and the wetland also had resistance to ammonia impact load. When the hydraulic loading rate was 0.047 m3·(m2·d)-1, COD, NH4+-N and TN (the average mass concentrations in inflow were 477.7, 155.3 and 176.4 mg·L-1) were mainly removed in the district 1 of the wetland, and the average removal rates were 80.6%, 55.3% and 58.1%, respectively. There was obvious enhancement of nitrification in the bio-zeolite, and the major nitrification product was nitrate. The mass concentrations of NO3--N in the district 1, district 2 and district 3 of the wetland were 85.85, 91.06 and 82.41 mg·L-1, respectively. The nitrate produced in bio-zeolite layer of the district 1 could be denitrified by microorganisms in the slag brick layer using the residual organic substances in water as the substrate. TP was mainly removed by adsorption in the slag brick layer, and the role of microbe assimilation was relatively small. The reaeration of the bio-zeolite layer in the three-stage wetland was good. Most of the ORP values remained over 400 mV in the bio-zeolite layer.

[Application of Micro-aerobic Hydrolysis Acidification in the Pretreatment of Petrochemical Wastewater].

Micro-aerobic hydrolysis acidification technology was applied in the reconstruction of ananaerobic hydrolysis acidification tank in a north petrochemical wastewater treatment plant. After put into operation, the monitoring results showed that the average removal rate of COD was 11.7% when influent COD was 490.3-673.2 mg x L(-1), hydraulic retention time (HRT) was 24 and the dissolved oxygen (DO) was 0.2-0.35 mg x L(-1). In addition, the BOD5/COD value was increased by 12.4%, the UV254 removal rate reached 11.2%, and the VFA concentration was increased by 23.0%. The relative molecular weight distribution (MWD) results showed that the small molecule organic matter (< 1 x 10(3)) percentage was increased from 59.5% to 82.1% and the high molecular organic matter ( > 100 x 10(3)) percentage was decreased from 31.8% to 14.0% after micro-aerobic hydrolysis acidification. The aerobic biodegradation batch test showed that the degradation of petrochemical wastewater was significantly improved by the pretreatment of micro-aerobic hydrolysis acidification. The COD of influent can be degraded to 102.2 mg x L(-1) by 48h aerobic treatment while the micro-aerobic hydrolysis acidification effluent COD can be degraded to 71.5 mg x L(-1) on the same condition. The effluent sulfate concentration of micro-aerobic hydrolysis acidification tank [(930.7 ± 60.1) mg x L(-1)] was higher than that of the influent [(854.3 ± 41.5) mg x L(-1)], indicating that sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) was inhibited. The toxic and malodorous gases generation was reduced with the improvement of environment.

[The Study on the Characteristics of Organic Pollution in Typical Herbicide Plant Wastewater].

Herbicide wastewater is one of tne industrial wastewater, it has high salt content, poor biodegradability, biodegradable characteristics. Nitrogen-containing organic compounds are dominated in dissolved organic matter and dissolved organic matter of wastewater, BOD: COD = 0.045, C:N:P = 692:426:1. Applying static headspace, purg and trap, solid-phase extraction, solid-phase microextraction and liquid-liquid extraction as pretreatment methods combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which qualitatively analyzed the organic components of the Atrazine, acetochlor herbicide production wastewater and researched the UV spectrum, three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy of the wastewater and its major pollutants. The study of GC/MS indicated that Wastewater contained chlorinated hydrocarbons, BTEX and triazines, amides herbicides etc. 38 kinds of volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds, atrazine and acetochlor herbicides accounted for 87. 99%. Affected monocyclic or heterocyclic substances, the ultraviolet absorption spectrum of the wastewater in 210-230 and 250-270 nm in that the amino group lead to the UV absorption red shift 20 nm. Wastewater generated 5 fluorescence peak in λ(ex)/λ(em) = 200-280/300-400 nm, such as a(225/305 nm), b(265/365 nm), c(275/305 nm), d(285/390 nm), e(320/375 nm). Based on three-dimensional fluorescence results of the different functional groups of the characteristics organic, fluorescent area of unsaturated bond is in λ(ex)/λ(em) = 215-230/290-340 nm, the main contribution of the fluorescent substance in the region were olefins, benzene, heterocyclic in the wastewater; fluorescent area of Phenolic hydroxyl and carbonyl is in λ(ex)/λ(em) = 270/300 nm, the main contribution of the fluorescent substance in the region were phenols, ketones.

[Research on the threshold of Chl-a in Lake Taihu based on microcystins].

Water samples were collected in Lake Taihu from June to October in 2013 in order to investigate the threshold of chlorophyll a (Chl-a). The concentrations of three microcystins isomers (MC-LR, MC-RR, MC-YR) were detected by means of solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The correlations between various MCs and eutrophication factors, for instance of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), chlorophyll a, permanganate index etc were analyzed. The threshold of Chl-a was studied based on the relationships between MC-LR, MCs and Chl-a. The results showed that Lake Taihu was severely polluted by MCs and its spatial distribution could be described as follows: the concentration in Meiliang Bay was the highest, followed by Gonghu Bay and Western Lake, and Lake Center; the least polluted areas were in Lake Xuhu and Southern Lake. The concentration of MC-LR was the highest among the 3 MCs. The correlation analysis indicated that MC-LR, MC-RR, MC-YR and MCs had very positive correlation with permanganate index, TN, TP and Chl-a (P < 0.01). The threshold value of Chl-a was 12.26 mg x m(-3) according to the standard thresholds of MC-LR and MCs in drinking water. The threshold value of Chl-a in Lake Taihu was very close to the standard in the State of North Carolina, which demonstrated that the threshold value provided in this study was reasonable.

[Source identification of toxic wastewaters in a petrochemical industrial park].

Petrochemical wastewaters have toxic impacts on the microorganisms in biotreatment processes, which are prone to cause deterioration of effluent quality of the wastewater treatment plants. In this study, the inhibition effects of activated sludge's oxygen consumption were tested to evaluate the toxicity of production wastewaters in a petrochemical industrial park. The evaluation covered the wastewaters from not only different production units in the park, but also different production nodes in each unit. No direct correlation was observed between the toxicity effects and the organic contents, suggesting that the toxic properties of the effluents could not be predicted by the organic contents. In view of the variation of activated sludge sensitivity among different tests, the toxicity data were standardized according to the concentration-effect relationships of the standard toxic substance 3, 5-dichlorophenol on each day, in order to improve the comparability among the toxicity data. Furthermore, the Quality Emission Load (QEL) of corresponding standard toxic substance was calculated by multiplying the corresponding 3, 5-dichlorophenol concentration and the wastewater flow quantity, to indicate the toxicity emission contribution of each wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant. According to the rank list of the toxicity contribution of wastewater from different units and nodes, the sources of toxic wastewater in the petrochemical industrial park were clearly identified. This study provides effective guidance for source control of wastewater toxicity in the large industrial park.

[Comparative studies on vermicomposting of sewage sludge with two epigeic earthworms].

A comparative study was conducted two epigeic species earthworms (Bimastus parvus and Eisenia foetida) for the evaluation of their efficacy in vermicomposting of sewage sludge. The various changes studied during pot experiments were the physiochemical properties of the sewage sludge, sludge reduction and earthworm biomass. Vermicomposting resulted that both epigeic species earthworms showed same capability among sewage sludge mineralization and decomposition rate and reduction. By the end of experiment, the pH value declined to 6.27 with B. parvus and 7.07 with E. foetida, but both epigeic species earthworms showed same mineralization and decomposition rate. B. parvus produced 31.96%, 5.76% and 17.91% increases in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as well as 44.14% and 30.69% decreases in C/N and C/P ratios as compared to initial after 30 days of inoculation. In contrast, E. foetida produced 35.48% and 11.58% increases in nitrogen and potassium as well as 10.12%, 46.73% and 20.50% decreases in phosphorus, C/N and C/P ratios as compared to initial after 30 days of earthworm activity. At the same time, both epigeic species earthworms resulted in significant reduction in heavy metal content. The reduction in heavy metal content for B. parvus and E. foetida was found in the order: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr and Cu > Zn > Ph > Cr. At the end of experiment, the weight and cocoons of B. parvus and E. foetida showed significant increase, which the growth rate and the reproductive rate were 76%-86% and 156%-131% respectively.

The role of p28GANK in rat oval cells activation and proliferation.

BACKGROUND: Human gankyrin gene product (p28GANK) is a novel oncogenic protein ubiquitously overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma and also plays a role in cell cycle progression in normal hepatocytes and liver regeneration. However, little is known about the physiological role of p28GANK in the liver oval cell activation and proliferation. We investigated the possible involvement of p28GANK in oval cell-mediated liver regeneration and cell cycle progression. METHODS: We examined the different p28GANK expression in 2-acetylaminofuorene/partial heptectomy (2-AAF/PH) rats, as a model of oval cell activation, and PH rats by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Oval cells isolated from 2-AAF/PH rat model were cultured in our study. p28GANK expression was examined in the oval cells after mitogenic stimulation. RESULTS: In 2-AAF/PH rats, p28GANK was expressed in the activated oval cells and located in the nucleus. p28GANK protein expression was increased in 2-AFF/PH rats after hepatectomy lasting for 96 h when retinoblastoma maintained hyperphosphorylation status at Ser-795. The isolated oval cells express AFP, OV6, CK19, CD34, CD45, c-kit and albumin. After epidermal growth factor stimulation, p28GANK protein was up-regulated in oval cells from 24 to 72 h, which coincided with increased expression of CyclinD1, CDK4 and decreased of Rb protein. CONCLUSIONS: p28GANK expression was increased in oval cell-mediated liver regeneration and oval cells after mitogenic stimulation. Thus, p28GANK may play a role in oval cell-mediated liver regeneration and liver oval cell cycle progression.

Expression of p28GANK and its correlation with RB in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Aberrance of retinoblastoma protein (RB) signal pathway is known to play an important role in the carcinogenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). p28GANK, originally purified from human 26S proteasome as a non-ATPase subunit, was recently found in HCC and shown to interact with RB. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profile of p28GANK and its correlation with RB in HCC. METHODS: The expression of p28GANK was evaluated in 55 surgically resected HCCs by immunohistochemistry (IHC), and the associations were explored between p28GANK level and clinicopathologic features as well as tumor suppressor RB. Western blotting was performed to determine p28GANK expression level in 12 HCCs. Immunofluorescence stainings of p28GANK and RB in U2-OS cells were examined by confocal microscopy. RESULTS: Positive p28GANK cytoplasmic staining was recognized in 55 HCCs. Nuclear positive occurrence of p28(GANK) in HCCs was more frequent than paracancerous hepatic tissues (P < 0.05). The overexpression probability of p28GANK was inversely associated with Edmonson's grade: overexpression occurred in nine out of 11 (81.8%), 22 out of 35 (62.9%) and two out of nine (22.2%) in I-II, III and IV graded cases, respectively (P = 0.004). Total cellular expression of p28GANK had curvilinear correlation with the nuclear expression of RB (r = 0.475, P = 0.019), while the nuclear expression of p28GANK had not. Western blot analysis showed that up-regulation of p28GANK expression was found in nine out of 12 HCCs compared with paracancerous liver tissues. Exogenously expressed p28GANK colocalized with RB in cytoplasm of U2-OS cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the role of p28GANK as a highly expressed oncoprotein in HCC by in situ examination. Its overexpression correlates with the differentiation status of HCC. The whole cellular p28GANK activation, not nuclear portion only, influences the alteration of RB. Underlying nuclear translocation of p28GANK may contribute to the counteraction against RB through a feed back loop. These data provide new evidence for p28GANK to be used as a promising drug target of a therapeutic agent against HCC.

Awakening concentration of desflurane is decreased in patients with obstructive jaundice.

BACKGROUND: Some studies suggest that behavioral complications of cholestasis, such as fatigue and pruritus, may be associated with altered neurotransmission in the brain. Because inhaled anesthetics primarily act on ion channels and receptors on the neuronal cell membrane and alter synaptic transmission in the central nervous system, it is possible that altered sensitivity to inhaled anesthetics may occur in cholestatic patients. Therefore, the authors compared the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC)-awake of desflurane in obstructive jaundiced patients with the MACawake in nonjaundiced patients. METHODS: Patients underwent inhalational induction of anesthesia with desflurane. MACawake was determined in each patient by observing the response to a verbal command (open eyes on request). An end-tidal anesthetic concentration was maintained at an initial target level of 1.4% for 15 min before a command. If a positive response was observed, the concentration of desflurane was increased by 0.1% and again kept constant for 15 min. The verbal command was then continued. This process was repeated until an end-tidal concentration was reached at which the patient did not respond to command. The anesthetic concentration midway between the value permitting the response and that just preventing the response was defined as MACawake for each patient. RESULTS: The MACawake of desflurane for patients with obstructive jaundice (1.78 +/- 0.19%) was significantly less than those observed for the control group (2.17 +/- 0.25%; P < 0.001) and correlated significantly with serum total bilirubin (r = -0.67, P = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: The MACawake of desflurane is reduced in obstructive jaundiced patients compared with nonjaundiced controls.

Gene and protein expressions of p28GANK in rat with liver regeneration.

AIM: To observe the gene and protein expression changes of p28GANK in regenerating liver tissues, and to reveal the biological function of p28GANK on the regulation of liver regeneration. METHODS: One hundred and thirty two adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected, weighing 200-250 g, and divided randomly into sham operation (SO) group and partial hepatectomy (PH) group. Each group had eleven time points: 0, 2, 6, 12, 24, 30, 48, 72, 120, 168 and 240 h, six rats were in each time point. The rats were undergone 70% PH under methoxyflurane anesthesia by resection of the anterior and left lateral lobes of the liver. SO was conducted by laparotomy plus slight mobilization of the liver without resection. Liver specimens were collected at the indicated time points after PH or SO. The expression level of p28GANK mRNA was determined by Northern blot as well as at protein level via immunohistochemical staining. The expressions of p28GANK mRNA in these tissues were analyzed by imaging analysis system of FLA-2000 FUJIFILM and one way analysis of variance. The protein expressions of p28GANK in these tissues were analyzed with Fromowitz' method and Rank sum test. RESULTS: The expression of p28GANK mRNA in the regenerating liver tissues possessed two transcripts, which were 1.5 kb and 1.0 kb. There was a significantly different expression patterns of p28GANK mRNA between SO and PH groups (P<0.01). The expression of p28GANK mRNA increased 2 h after PH, the peak time was 72 h (SO group: 163.83+/-1.4720; PH group: 510.5+/-17.0499, P<0.01). There was a significant difference in the 1.5 kb transcript, which decreased gradually after 72 hours. The protein expression of p28GANK was mainly in the cytoplasm of regenerating hepatocytes, and increased near the central region 24 h after PH, and became strongly positive at 48 h (+++, vs the other time points P<0.05), but decreased 72 h after PH. CONCLUSION: The expression of p28GANK mRNA increases in the early stage of rat liver regeneration, the protein expression of p28GANK is mainly in the cytoplasm of regenerating liver cells. It suggests that the gene of p28GANK may be an important regulatory and controlled factor involved in hepatocyte proliferation during liver regeneration.

Overexpression of p28/gankyrin in human hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical significance.

AIM: To investigate the expression of p28/gankyrin gene and its role in the carcinogenetic process of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: 64 specimens of HCC and para-carcinoma tissues, 22 specimens of non-tumor liver tissues (7 normal, 15 cirrhosis), 10 specimens of normal human tissues and 5 hepatoma cell lines were studied for the expression of p28/gankyrin by Northern blot. The expression of p28/gankyrin protein was detected immunohistochemically by using the specific polyclonal antibody. RESULTS: Northern blot analysis indicated that the expression of p28/gankyrin mRNA was intensively distributed in brain and heart, weakly in lung, spleen and muscle, undetectable in digestive system including liver, pancreas, stomach, small and large intestines. p28/gankyrin mRNA was absent in normal liver, weakly detected in liver cirrhosis and in 18 of 64 para-carcinoma liver tissues. In contrast, the expression of p28/gankyrin mRNA was intensively detected in all 5 hepatoma cell lines tested, markedly increased in 57 of 64 and moderately increased in 5 of 64 HCC samples. In comparison with liver cirrhosis and para-carcinoma liver tissues, the average expression of p28/gankyrin mRNA in HCC was increased 3.6- (2.901+/-0.507 vs 0.805+/-0.252, P<0.05) and 5.2-fold (2.901+/-0.507 vs 0.557+/-0.203, P<0.01), respectively. In addition, p28/gankyrin mRNA expression level was higher in HCC with portal vein tumor thrombus and microscopic hepatic vein involvement (P=0.021 and P=0.047, respectively). The overexpression of p28/gankyrin protein in HCC was targeted in hepatic tumor cells, not in bile duct cells and other interstitial cells. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of p28/gankyrin in HCC plays an important role and contributes to the metastasis potential in the process of carcinogenesis. p28/gankyrin may become a specific biological tissue marker for the pathological diagnosis of HCC.