[Association between short-term exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide and the risk of heart failure hospitalization].

Objective: To assess the association between short-term exposure level of nitrogen dioxide and the hospitalization risk of heart failure. Methods: Based on China-PEACE Retrospective Heart Failure Study, 117 364 hospitalized patients with heart failure were recruited from 92 hospitals in 62 cities throughout China between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015. The daily exposure level of nitrogen dioxide, temperature, and humidity in the same cities during the same period were also collected. We applied the generalized additive model and Bayesian hierarchical model to quantify the lagged effect and cumulative effect of short-term (0-3 days) exposure to ambient nitrogen dioxide on the hospitalization risk of heart failure. We further conducted stratified analyses by age, region, and season to identify any difference in the associations between short-term nitrogen dioxide exposure and heart failure among subgroups. Results: The mean age for participants in the analysis was (70.32±12.22) years. The median, minimum and maximum of daily nitrogen dioxide concentration in 62 cities from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015 was 26.4 µg/m3, 2.33 µg/m3 and 150.25 µg/m3, respectively. The exposure level of nitrogen dioxide at the same day was associated with the hospitalization risk of heart failure (OR=1.022, 95%CI: 1.012, 1.031). Significant effects were also observed in the moving average concentrations from lag 0-1 to lag 0-3 day (OR=1.020, 95%CI: 1.009, 1.030; OR=1.016, 95%CI: 1.004, 1.028; OR=1.013, 95%CI: 1.001, 1.026). Moreover, all of the associations between short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide and the risk of heart failure hospitalization were statistically significant, with no significant difference in all subgroups stratified by age, region, and season. Conclusion: A higher level of short-term exposure to nitrogen dioxide could trigger more hospitalizations with heart failure.

[Comparison of the clinical application of three-dimensional and two-dimensional laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy].

Objective: To compare the clinical application of three-dimensional laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy (3D-LPD) with that of two-dimensional laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy (2D-LPD), and to explore the safety and feasibility of 3D-LPD. Methods: A retrospective analysis was made from the data of 45 patients with 3D-LPD and 45 patients with 2D-LPD who underwent total laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy from March 2017 to August 2018 at Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, the First People's Hospital of Changzhou.The differences of intraoperative conditions, postoperative complications and postoperative pathological findings between the two methods were compared.Measurement data were compared with independent sample t-test, enumeration data were statistically analyzed with Chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Results: The operation time of 3D-LPD group was shorter than that of 2D-LPD group ((335±95) min vs. (419±113) min, t=-3.817, P=0.000), which mainly showed that the time of digestive tract reconstruction was reduced ((92±26) min vs. (131±46) min, t=-4.951, P=0.000). The intraoperative blood loss in the 3D-LPD group was significantly less than that in the 2D-LPD group ((242±124) ml vs. (350±176) ml, t=-3.365, P=0.001), and the perioperative blood transfusion in the 3D-LPD group was significantly less than that in the 2D-LPD group (χ(2)=4.444, P=0.035). Postoperative hospitalization days and ICU stay time were not significantly different between the two groups(both P>0.05). Postoperative complications such as pancreatic fistula, biliary fistula, postoperative bleeding, gastric emptying disorders, abdominal infection, were not significantly different between the two groups(all P>0.05). Conclusions: The operation time of 3D-LPD is shorter than that of 2D-LPD, and the amount of bleeding is less. Short-term clinical data showed that, 3D-LPD is effective, safe and worth popularizing.

Hemerythrin is required for Aeromonas hydraphlia to survive in the macrophages of Anguilla japonica.

Survival in host phagocytes is an effective strategy for pathogenic microbes to spread. To understand the mechanisms of Aeromonas hydrophila survival within host macrophages, a library of mini-Tn10 transposon insertion mutants was constructed. The M85 mutant, whose survival in host macrophages was only 23.1% of that of the wild-type (WT) strain, was utilized for further study. Molecular analysis showed that a 756-bp open reading frame (ORF) (GenBank accession No. CP007576) in the M85 mutant was interrupted by mini-Tn10. This ORF encodes for a 183-amino acid protein and displays the highest sequence identity (99%) with the hemerythrin (Hr) protein of A. hydrophila subspecies hydrophila ATCC 7966. The survival of the WT, M85 mutant, and complemented M85 (Hr) strains were compared in host macrophages in vitro, and the results showed that M85 exhibited defective survival, while that of M85 (Hr) was restored. To investigate the possible mechanisms of A. hydrophila survival in host macrophages, the expression of Hr under hyperoxic and hypoxic conditions was evaluated. The results revealed that the expression of this protein was higher under hyperoxic conditions than under hypoxic conditions, which indicates that Hr protein expression is sensitive to O2 concentration. Hydrogen peroxide sensitivity tests further suggested that the M85 mutant was more sensitive to oxidative stress than the WT and M85 (Hr) strains. Taken together, these results suggest that the Hr protein may act as an O2 sensor and as a detoxifier of reactive oxygen species, and is required for A. hydrophila survival within host macrophages.

[The prenatal genetic diagnosis of a family with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome].

Objective: To identify the Androgen Receptor (AR) gene mutation of one family with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) and to establish the methods of prenatal genetic diagnosis for CAIS. Methods: The AR gene exons of the family were amplified by PCR and sequenced directly. Linkage analysis was performed by using the CAG repeats in the exon1 of AR gene to assure accuracy of the prenatal diagnosis. Results: We found a frameshift mutation c. 2546del A (p. Asn849Ile fsX34) in the exon7 of AR gene in the proband.The mutation had not been reported before.The mother of the proband went through two times prenatal genetic diagnosis for her next pregnancies, both fetuses were male and did not get the mutation.The results of the linkage analysis were consistent with the sequencing results. Conclusion: A novel AR mutations in a CAIS family have been confirmed. The method of prenatal genetic diagnosis was established, and worked effectively in the CAIS family.

Intracellular survival of virulence and low-virulence strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Epinephelus awoara macrophages and peripheral leukocytes.

In this study, we examined the virulence factors and pathogenesis of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Epinephelus awoara. The chemotactic motility of V. parahaemolyticus for phagocytosis and intracellular survival in fish macrophages was determined using virulence strains and low-virulence strains of V. parahaemolyticus. We found that the intracellular mean number of virulence strains of V. parahaemolyticus ranged from 0-180 min after co-incubation with macrophages and peripheral leukocytes, was relatively low, and decreased steadily over the observation period. Low-virulence strains of V. parahaemolyticus were unable to survive in peripheral leukocytes and macrophages. Cell viability in response to V. parahaemolyticus was assessed using the MTT assay. Low-virulence V. parahaemolyticus strains exhibited lower cytotoxicity compared to virulent strains. The average percent of live macrophages and peripheral leukocytes infected by V. parahaemolyticus ranged from 13.50-79.20%. These results indicate that V. parahaemolyticus in E. awoara is a facultative intracellular bacterium that may be involved in virulence.

Valproate versus diazepam for generalized convulsive status epilepticus: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Evidence-based data to guide the management of status epilepticus (SE) after failure of primary treatment are still scarce and the alternate needs to be found when phenytoin (PHT) is not available or contraindicated. Comparison of intravenous (IV) valproate (VPA) and diazepam (DZP) infusion has not been conducted in adults with SE. This prospective randomized controlled trial is thus designed to evaluate the relative efficacy and safety of IV VPA and continuous DZP infusion as second-line anticonvulsants. METHODS: After failure of first-line anticonvulsants treatment, patients with generalized convulsive status epilepticus (GCSE) were randomized to receive either IV VPA or continuous DZP infusion. Primary outcome was the proportion of patients with effective control. Side effects were also evaluated. RESULTS: There were 66 cases enrolled, with the mean age of 41 ± 21 years. Seizure was controlled in 56% (20/36) of the DZP group and 50% (15/30) of the VPA group (P = 0.652). No patient in the VPA group developed respiratory depression, hypotension, or hepatic dysfunction, whereas in the DZP group, 5.5% required ventilation and 5.5% developed hypotension. Time (hour) for regaining consciousness after control was near-significantly longer in the DZP group [13(3.15-21.5)] than in the VPA group [3(0.75-11)] (P = 0.057). Virus encephalitis and long duration of GCSE were independent risk factors of drug resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Both IV VPA and continuous DZP infusion are effective second-line anticonvulsants for GCSE. IV VPA was well tolerated and free of respiratory depression and hypotension, which may develop in the DZP group. Outcome parameters were not significantly different between groups.

Integrative analysis of the characteristics of lipid metabolism-related genes as prognostic prediction markers for hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Dysregulated lipid metabolism has been reported in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we investigated the molecular characteristics of lipid-metabolism-related genes (IMRGs) as prognostic markers for HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multi-dimensional bioinformatics analyses were performed to comprehensively analyze IMRGs, and to construct prognostic prediction signatures. RESULTS: Data of 770 HCC patients and their corresponding 776 IMRGs were downloaded from three databases. Patients were classified into 2 molecular clusters that were associated with overall survival, clinical characteristics, and immune cells. The biological functions of the IMRGs differentially expressed between the 2 clusters were associated with tumor-related metabolic pathways. A 6 IMRG signature (6-IS), consisting of FMO3, SLC11A1, RNF10, KCNH2, ME1, and ZIC2, was established as an independent prognostic factor for HCC. The performance of the signature of 6-IS prognostic was verified in a validation set and compared to an external data set. It was revealed that the 6-IS could effectively predict the prognosis of patients with HCC. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides new insights into the role of IMRGs in the pathogenesis of HCC, and presents a novel signature (6-IS) to predict the prognosis of HCC.

Effects of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide in diet on growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, and biochemistry of broilers.

In the present study, we analyzed the effects of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide (GCP) on growth performance, serum antioxidant capacity, and biochemistry of broilers. A total of 600, one-day-old AA broilers randomly divided into 5 treatment groups with 6 replicate pens of 20 birds per cage received dietary supplementation with GCP (0, 200, 500, 1,000, and 1,500 mg/kg) for 42 d. The supplementation of GCP linearly decreased (P < 0.05) feed conversion rate on day 22 to 42. Dietary supplementation with GCP reduced (P < 0.05) serum total cholesterol on day 21 and 42 and linearly improved (P < 0.05) albumin and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Dietary supplementation with 1,000 or 1,500 mg/kg GCP significantly increased (P < 0.05) serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity on day 21 and 42 and reduced (P < 0.05) serum malondialdehyde content on 21 d. Dietary supplementation with 1,000 or 1,500 mg/kg GCP significantly improved (P < 0.05) interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) expressions in liver on day 21 and 42. At the end of the experiment, we randomly selected 20 broilers from 3 treatment groups (0, 1,000, and 1,500 mg/kg), respectively, to perform an lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute stress experiment. The 60 broilers were divided into 6 treatment groups with 10 birds per cage. The experiment was designed as a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement with GCP (0, 1,000, or 1,500 mg/kg) and LPS (injection of saline or 1 mg/kg body weight) levels as treatments. When the grouping was finished, the broilers were immediately intraperitoneally injected with LPS or normal saline. Six hours after challenged, serum antioxidant and liver immunity were analyzed. The results showed that dietary GCP prevented LPS-induced reductions in T-SOD activity and increases in malonaldehyde content (P < 0.05). Also, dietary GCP supplementation mitigated the LPS-induced increase in IL-1ß and IFN-γ in the liver. Supplementation with 1,500 mg/kg GCP showed the most optimal effect in broilers. GCP has the potential to be used as feed additive in broilers.

[Study progress of intraoperative neuro-monitoring of recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroidectomy].

Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury is a serious complication of thyroidectomy. Intraoperative neuro-monitoring(IONM) is a technology for identifying the integrity of nerves during operation by electrophysiological means, which included the intermitted IONM and the continuous IONM.This paper aims to compare the superiorities and defects of both IONM methods and summarize the current state and progress of IONM.

[A case of esophageal tracheal fistula caused by button cell].

Summary Button batteries are a common emergency in children with esophageal foreign bodies, which need to be removed in time,otherwise serious complications will occur. This article reports a case of esophageal tracheal fistula caused by button cell. It is helpful for differential diagnosis and clinical treatment of esophageal foreign bodies in children caused by button cell.

[Analysis of related factors of coins foreign bodies crossing the esophagus in 204 cases of children].

Objective:To analyze the related factors of coins crossing the esophagus by themselves in children. Method:Two hundred and four cases with coin esophageal foreign bodies in our hospital from April 2016 to June 2017 were selected,the sex, age, size and texture of foreign body and the time of foreign body insertion were analyzed.Result:Of the 204 children, 46 had esophageal foreign bodies falling off the digestive tract below the esophagus,44 cases were discharged by themselves，2 children were removed under digestive endoscopy，1 coins formed diverticulum at the entrance of esophagus.Conclusion:Coins pass over the esophagus, basically seen within 24 hours，unrelated to age，sex or coin size，but related to the quality of the coin.

Calcium propionate supplementation improves development of rumen epithelium in calves via stimulating G protein-coupled receptors.

In the present study, calcium propionate (CaP) was used as feed additive in the diet of calves to investigate their effects on rumen fermentation and the development of rumen epithelium in calves. To elucidate the mechanism in which CaP improves development of calf rumen epithelium via stimulating the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of G protein-coupled receptors, a total of 54 male Jersey calves (age=7±1 days, BW=23.1±1.2 kg) were randomly divided into three treatment groups: control without CaP supplementation (Con), 5% CaP supplementation (5% CaP) and 10% CaP supplementation (10% CaP). The experiment lasted 160 days and was divided into three feeding stages: Stage 1 (days 0 to 30), Stage 2 (days 31 to 90) and Stage 3 (days 91 to 160). Calcium propionate supplementation percentages were calculated on a dry matter basis. In total, six calves from each group were randomly selected and slaughtered on days 30, 90 and 160 at the conclusion of each experimental feeding stage. Rumen fermentation was improved with increasing concentration of CaP supplementation in calves through the first 30 days (Stage 1). No effects of CaP supplementation were observed on rumen fermentation in calves during Stage 2 (days 31 to 90). Supplementation with 5% CaP increased propionate concentration, but not acetate and butyrate in calves during Stage 3 (days 91 to 160). The rumen papillae length of calves in the 5% CaP supplementation group was greater than that of Con groups in calves after 160 days feeding. The mRNA expression of G protein-coupled receptor 41 (GPR41) and GPR43 supplemented with 5% CaP were greater than the control group and 10% CaP group in feeding 160 days calves. 5% CaP supplementation increased the mRNA expression of cyclin D1, whereas did not increase the mRNA expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 compared with the control group in feeding 160-day calves. These results indicate that propionate may act as a signaling molecule to improve rumen epithelium development through stimulating mRNA expression of GPR41 and GPR43.

Adult diaphyseal both-bone forearm fractures: A clinical and biomechanical comparison of four different fixations.

BACKGROUND: Although there have been a small number of studies reporting single bone fixation of either radius or ulna as well as hybrid fixation, the paucity of data for the hybrid fixation method still remains. HYPOTHESIS: Hybrid fixation with plate and IM nailing would achieve good fixation and functional outcome, minimal damage to soft tissues and lower re-fracture risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty cadavers (20 males, 20 females; mean age 68.06, SD 1.58years) were selected in biomechanical study under axial loading, bending loading, and torsional loading. Eighty-seven patients (47 males, 40 females; mean age 38.03±0.88years) were enrolled in the clinical study and randomly received different fixation: both-bone plate fixation or both-bone intramedullary nailing, plate fixation of ulna and intramedullary nailing of radius and intramedullary nailing of ulna and plate fixation of radius. RESULTS: In the biomechanical study, intramedullary nailing of ulna and plate fixation of radius had similar results with that using both-bone plate method under axial, bending and torsional loading (All P>0.05), suggesting the more stable fixation compared with the other two groups (All P<0.05). In clinical research, both-bone intramedullary nailing was related to shortest operative time, smallest wound size and periosteal stripping area compared with other three groups (P<0.05). Patients receiving intramedullary nailing of ulna and plate fixation of radius showed the lowest incidence of postoperative complications and the best functional recovery outcome comparing with other three groups of patients (Both P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The hybrid fixation method of intramedullary nailing of ulna and plate fixation of radius showed good stability in biomechanics, fewer complications and better functional clinical outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, prospective randomised study.

Inhibition of miR-141 reverses cisplatin resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells via upregulation of programmed cell death protein 4.

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNAs are a class of essential regulators in cancer, and previous studies have shown that miR-141 is a tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, it is still unknown whether it regulates chemosensitivity. We aimed to investigate the role of miR-141 in cisplatin resistance in NSCLC cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MiR-141 expression in A549 and A549/DDP cell lines have been quantified by real-time PCR. Protein level of PDCD4 and caspase-3 have been determined by Western blot analysis. Drug sensitivity and apoptosis have been determined by MTT assay and TUNEL assay, respectively. Luciferase activity assay was employed to validate the relationship between 3'UTR of PDCD4 mRNA and miR-141. RESULTS: We observed that miR-141 expression was significantly up-regulated in cisplatin-resistant A549/DDP cells compared with the parental cell line A549; and PDCD4, an important apoptosis regulator, was found to be down-regulated. Luciferase activity assay and Western blot analysis confirmed that PDCD4 is a direct target of miR-141. Inhibition of miR-141 in A549/DDP cells markedly increased cisplatin sensitivity and apoptosis, which was partially abrogated by PDCD4 inhibition, indicating that PDCD4 is a functional target of miR-141 in of the regulation of cisplatin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Our data showed that miR-141 participates in regulating cisplatin sensitivity in non-small lung cancer cells via PDCD4 inhibition, and suppression of miR-141 might be a therapeutic method to overcome cisplatin resistance in clinical practice.

[The efficacy of sublingual specific immunotherapy in children with allergic rhinitis].

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of single-allergen sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in children with allergic rhinitis and the potential relationship between sensitization status and efficacy and analyze the possible relationships between sensitized state and clinical efficacy. Method:One hundred and thirty children, aged 4-15 years old, with mites-induced respiratory allergic diseases had been arranged into the treatment group (n=70) or control group (n=50) and received SLIT with standardized dermatophagoides farinae extracts and pharmacotherapy for 1 year. Rhinitis and asthma symptoms and medications, visual analogue scale (VAS), skin prick test (SPT) and peak expiratory flows (PEF) were evaluated. After treatment, patients in the poly-sensitized group who completed the study had been analyzed as subgroup 1 (n=33) and subgroup 2 (n=37) according to the number of coexist allergens. Result:The global clinical parameters had been significantly improved after treatment. The treatment and control group rhinitis symptom score, symptomatic medication score and VAS scores were significantly reduced after 52 weeks treatment (all P<0.05). SLIT group dust mite grade skin reactions decreased after 52 weeks treatment (P<0.05). Dust mite skin reactions grade was greater than before treatment in the control group (P>0.05). Between the two groups, SLIT group rhinitis symptom score at 24 weeks, 36 weeks, 52 weeks were lower than the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). SLIT group symptomatic medication score and VAS scores at 36 weeks and 52 weeks compared with the control group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Dust mite SLIT group grade skin reactions grade was lower than the control group at 52 weeks, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In addition to the 36 weeks poly-sensitized group symptoms of allergic rhinitis score was lower than mono-sensitized group (P＜0.05) and at 24 weeks poly-sensitized group VAS score was lower than single allergy group (P<0.05), the comparison between subgroup 1 and subgroup 2 indicated that, there was no significant difference in symptoms scores, SPT, PEF and VAS at each scheduled follow-up visit. Conclusion:This study shows that SLIT can significantly reduce rhinitis symptoms and drug use, and improve the children with allergies. An equivalent efficacy of single-allergen SLIT is found in poly-sensitized and mono-sensitized children. The number of coexist positive allergens has a limited impact on the efficacy from a long-term perspective.

Quantitative proteomic profiling of renal tissue in human chronic rejection biopsy samples after renal transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic rejection (CR) is the leading cause of late renal transplant failure and is characterized by a relatively slow but progressive loss of renal function in combination with proteinuria and hypertension >3 months after transplantation. To identify and quantify the protein profiles in renal tissues of CR patients, we used isotope tagging for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ)-based proteomic technology to perform global protein expression analyses in CR patients and control subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After protein extraction, quantitation, and digestion, samples were labeled with iTRAQ reagents and then separated by strong cation exchange and high-performance liquid chromatography. The fractions were further analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry. ProteinPilot version 4.0 software and the Swiss-Prot human database were applied for statistical analysis and database searching, respectively. Differentially expressed proteins were subjected to bioinformatic analysis by using the Gene Ontology database and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database to further characterize their potential functional roles and related pathways in CR. RESULTS: In total, 1857 distinct proteins (confidence >95%, ρ < .05) were identified and quantified. Using a strict cutoff value of 1.5-fold for expressed variation, 87 proteins showed significant differences in expression between the CR and control groups; 53 were up-regulated and 34 were down-regulated. The differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in protein binding, structural molecule activity, and extracellular matrix structural constituent. Several proteins, such as the alpha-1 chain of collagen type IV and integrin alpha-1, may play roles in the pathogenesis of CR and were implicated in the extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to focus on iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic characterization of renal tissue in CR. These insights may broaden our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying CR and provide potential biomarker candidates for future diagnostics.

Synthesis and properties of a naproxen polymeric prodrug.

A water-soluble polymeric prodrug containing a naproxen moiety was synthesized. The carboxylic groups of naproxen were condensed with the hydroxyl groups of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) to produce a drug-linked monomer, denoted HN. The polymeric prodrug was prepared by copolymerization of HN with methacrylic acid. The molar percentage of HN in the polymeric prodrug was 26 mol%, as determined by 1H NMR. To investigate the pertinence of this polymeric prodrug, the hydrolysis was studied in-vitro with or without esterase or lipase. The kinetics of enzymatic catalysis was calculated from a Lineweaver-Burk plot. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using the carrageenan-induced oedema test. The polymeric prodrug released a major fraction of the free naproxen and a significant fraction of the hydroxyethyl ester derived-naproxen. The maximum hydrolysis rate Vmax, and the Michaelis constant Km were calculated to be 2.16 x 10(-5) equiv. mol L-1 min-1 and 5.11 x 10(-2) equiv. mol L-1. The maximum anti-inflammatory inhibition of free naproxen appeared at 2 h and quickly decreased thereafter. In contrast, the polymeric prodrug showed a maximum at around 2-3 h and then slowly decreased. This indicates that the polymeric prodrug displays greater potency than free naproxen in the inhibition of acute inflammatory processes over long periods.

Measurement of serum transferrin by the gamma-gamma perturbed angular correlation method. Differences between normal and cancer serum.

In this work, the average perturbed angular correlation integral attenuation factor G2 of the transferrin in the serums from the normals and the patients with liver cancer were determined using time integral perturbed angular correlation method (PAC). The average values of G2 were 0.1945 +/- 0.0155 for the cancer serum transferrin and 0.2865 +/- 0.0411 for the normal serum transferrin. The difference between these two groups is significant. Mathematical deduction and theoretical analysis suggested that the equivalent radius of the transferrin molecules in the serum of cancer patients becomes smaller than normal, because of a change in the molecular conformation. Similar results were also observed in experiments with rat serum transferrin.

Ozonation of domestic secondary effluent for recycling and reuse--a pilot plant study.

In this study, a pilot plant combined ozonation with sand filtration is established. Wastewater from the secondary effluent was taken as the sample for looking into the feasibility of domestic wastewater recovery and recycling. At the beginning, a series of hydraulic analysis and ozone transfer tests was conducted in the bubble column reactor. From these tests, it was found that when the gas flow is controlled to within 0.2 to approximately 1.0 L/min and liquid flow within 0.5 to approximately 2.5 L/min, using series connected mixing tank model for our calculation, the result J (CSTR) is 1 to approximately 2. From the ozone transfer test it is known that the smaller the gas flow, the better the transfer rate, and the same pattern occurs on ozone gas concentration. After sand filtration and ozone treatment, the G/L ratio within the ozone column reactor can be maintained within 0.2 to approximately 0.4 and the ozone dosage within 8 to approximately 12 mg/L. The removal rate for coliform bacillus, BOD, turbidity and color is 99.96%, 62.2%, 89.6% and 67% respectively. After ozonation treatment, coliform bacillus content can be controlled under 10 CFU/mL, BOD under 10 mg/L, turbidity within 2.0 to approximately 2.5 (NTU), and color within 10.3 to approximately 13.7 degree. The recycled water is almost colorless and odorless, and is capable of reaching the reference standard for recycled water.

[Clinical and pathologic comparison of adult respiratory distress syndrome and infant respiratory distress syndrome].

The authors compared the clinical and pathological findings between adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and infant respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS). In ARDS, the most common causes were injury, infection, shock and acidosis. The clinical course was longer. The weight of the lungs increased markedly, the hyaline membrane formation in the alveoli was late in the clinical course, and the degree of edema in the interstitium of the lungs and microthrombosis within the blood vessels was more serious. The pathogenesis of ARDS was related to the activation of the complements and neutrophils by inflammation in which proteinase, oxygen radical, thromboxane, leukotriene and prostaglandin were released. Thus the endothelial cells of the blood vessels and capillary-alveoli membrane were damaged by these mediators. On the other hand, the main contributory factors of IRDS were suffocation of premature fetus by various reasons in the uterus and aspiration of meconium during delivery by the infant. The clinical course was shorter, alveolar hemorrhage and collapse were severe and hyaline membrane in alveoli was formed in early stage of the clinical course. Insufficiency of surfactant in premature fetus, damage of the surfactant system by hypoxia, aspiration of foreign materials and defect of the epithelial cells of infant were the pathogenic factors of IRDS, they resulted in increase of permeability of fluid and, as a result, led to pulmonary edema and atelectasis.