Effects of the seed sludge on the performance of UASB reactors for treatment of toxic wastewater

A comparative study of different sludges (anaerobic sewage sludge and anaerobic sewage sludge cultivated for 30 days) as the seed of UASB reactors for treatment of synthetic resin production wastewater was carried out on a laboratory scale. Significant differences in reactor performance were observed. With anaerobic sewage sludge seed, the reactor obtained a 71% COD removal efficiency and produced 2.94 dm3 biogas per dm3 wastewater under an organic loading rate of 4.5 kg COD m-3 day-1. The sludge in the reactor was diffuse and possessed poor settling ability, which led to effluent SS as high as 1200 mg dm-3. However, with anaerobic sewage sludge cultivated with synthetic substrate for 30 days as a seed, the same reactor gave 78% COD removal efficiency and produced 3.5 dm-3 biogas per dm3 wastewater at the same loading rate. Moreover, the sludge in the reactor was completely granulated and possessed good settling ability, which resulted in effluent SS as low as 200 mg dm-3. The granular sludge produced less biomass per gram COD removed than the diffused sludge. Anaerobic sewage sludge cultivated for a short time could form the nuclei of granules for the reactor, allowing granulation to proceed smoothly. Therefore, sludge nuclei are a prerequisite of sludge granulation in UASB reactors for treatment of toxic wastewater.

[A comparative study of homoharringtonine with 5-fluorouracil in filtering surgery]

With a prospective, randomized and double-masked control method, homoharringtonine(H.H) and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) were used in filtering surgery. We compared the effect and side effect of H.H with those of 5-FU. 24 eyes were in H.H group and 23 eyes in 5-FU group. An average follow-up of 18 months revealed: (1) the cumulative percentage of functioning bleb in H.H group (84.9%) was significantly higher than that in 5-FU group (62.2%) (P < 0.05); (2) the cumulative surgical success rate in H.H group (85.7%) was significantly higher than that in 5-FU group (61.1%) (P < 0.05); (3) the rate of corneal erosion in H.H group (20.8%) was significantly lower than that in 5-FU group (52.2%) (P < 0.05), the difference of other complications between H.H group and 5-FU group was not significant.

[Experimental study on cytoplasmic free calcium and antigen presentation function of peritoneal macrophage following severe scald]

A dynamic observation of cytoplasmic free calcium concentration (PM phi [Ca2+]i) and antigen presentation (AP) function was made in severely scalded mice. The results showed that [Ca2+]i of unstimulated PM phi in vitro increased significantly at 12, 24 and 72h postburn (PB), and the [Ca2+]i of PM phi stimulated by A23187 in vitro was also increased but not statistically significant at the same time points. These results suggested that PM phi was activated in vivo, even in a highly or over activated state. Severe scald caused the obvious depression of AP function of PM phi. This phenomenon, not only appearing very early but also persisting for a long time, might become the key factor of suppression of specific immune function PB. The changes in M phi activity in vivo might be the basic event of the M phi dysfunction after severe burns.

[Chemiluminescent immunoassay for anti-granulocyte antibody IgG]

In this paper is reported solid phase competitive chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) for anti-granulocyte antibody (AGAb) IgG with N-(4-amiobytul)-N-ethylisoluminol (ABEI) labelled rabbit antibody IgG against granulocyte competing with the analyte and ABEI-CoCl2-H2O2 as the chemiluminescent system. The absolute limit of detection was 3.0 x 10(-14) mol ABEI/tube. One hundred and thirty one individuals were divided into three groups: leukocytopenic group (n = 58), control group (n = 41) and normal group (n = 32). Chemiluminescent index (CLI) was used as the diagnostic criterion for AGAb in serum. The results showed that the positive rate of the leukocytopenic group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.005), and the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the method were 43.1%, 90.2% and 62.6%, respectively.

Site-directed mutagenesis of the genome of mouse hepatitis virus by targeted RNA recombination

We have genetically characterized a nucleocapsid (N) protein mutant of the coronavirus mouse hepatitis virus (MHV). This mutant, designated Alb4, is both temperature-sensitive and thermolabile, and its N protein is smaller than wild-type N. Sequence analysis of the Alb4 N gene revealed that it contains an internal deletion of 87 nucleotides, producing an in-frame deletion of 29 amino acids. All of these properties of Alb4 made it ideal for use as a recipient in a targeted RNA recombination experiment in which the deletion in Alb4 was repaired by recombination with synthetic RNA7, the smallest MHV subgenomic mRNA. Progeny from a cotransfection of Alb4 genomic RNA and synthetic RNA7 were selected for thermal stability. PCR analysis of candidate recombinants showed that they had regained the material that is deleted in the Alb4 mutant. They also had acquired a five nucleotide insertion in the 3' untranslated region, which had been incorporated into the synthetic RNA7 as a molecular tag. The presence of the tag was directly verified, as well, by sequencing the genomic RNA of purified recombinant viruses. This provided a clear genetic proof that the Alb4 phenotype was due to the observed deletion in the N gene. In addition, these results demonstrated that it is possible to obtain stable, independently replicating progeny from recombination between coronaviral genomic RNA and a tailored, synthetic RNA species. To date, we have constructed three additional mutants by this procedure. For two of these, a second-site point mutation that reverts the Alb4 phenotype has been transduced into a wild type background, which does not contain the Alb4 deletion.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Narrow angle type of chronic simple glaucoma: a report of 9 cases]

Nine patients (16 eyes) with narrow angle type of chronic simple glaucoma were evaluated. Besides the general definition, narrow angle type of chronic simple glaucoma is a special type of primary open angle glaucoma which has a narrow and open angle on goniogscopy, no obvious difference on angle configuration at low or high IOP. Laser peripheral iridectomy may be a method of differential diagnosis in this type of glaucoma and may be relatively effective in preventing further attacks of acute angle closure glaucoma which is due to the lens continues to enlarge with age and causes pupillary block. The medical treatment is the first choice to deal with this type of glaucoma, while it can not be controlled, the filtering operations should be used in time.

Temporal pattern of innervation in the developing mouse inner ear: an immunocytochemical study of a 66-kD subunit of mammalian neurofilaments

We have examined the expression of a 66-kD neurofilament protein (NF-66) in the developing inner ear. Mouse embryos, fetuses, and neonates were fixed in Methacarn, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned. A polyclonal antiserum raised specifically to NF-66 and unreactive to NF-L, -M, -H, and peripherin was used for immunocytochemical staining. NF-66 immunostaining was first detectable in the rhombencephalon at embryonic day (E) 9.5. Immunoreactivity was first detected in the statoacoustic ganglion (SAG) early on E10.5. By late E10.5, the first SAG axons were detectable within the intraepithelial spaces of the otocyst. At E12, NF-66 positivity was detectable in neurites that projected into areas of presumptive vestibular sensory epithelium. Neurites projecting into the presumptive acoustic sensory epithelium were negative. However, at E13, the projections from both the vestibular and the acoustic ganglion (i.e, cochlear duct) were both NF-66 positive. In the cell bodies, NF-66 expression appeared earlier in the vestibular than in the auditory neurons. By E16, neuronal somas in both ganglia were NF-66 positive.