Migration of phosphorus in pig manure during pyrolysis process and slow-release mechanism of biochar in hydroponic application

Pyrolysis is an effective method for treating of livestock and poultry manure developed in recent years. It can completely decompose pathogens and antibiotics, stabilize heavy metals, and enrich phosphorus (P) in biochar. To elucidate the P migration mechanism under different pig manure pyrolysis temperatures, sequential fractionation, solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure techniques were used to analyze the P species in pig manure biochar (PMB). The results indicated that most of the organic P in the pig manure was converted to inorganic P during pyrolysis. Moreover, the transformation to different P groups pathways was clarified. The phase transition from amorphous to crystalline calcium phosphate was promoted when the temperature was above 600 °C. The content of P extracted by hydrochloric acid, which was the long-term available P for plant uptake, increased significantly. PMB pyrolyzed at 600 °C can be used as a highly effective substitute for P source. It provides the necessary P species (e.g. water-soluble P.) and metal elements for the growth of water spinach plants, and which are slow-release comparing with the Hogland nutrient solution.

[Epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis in Tongliao city of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 2004-2018]

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of human brucellosis (HB), evolution and origin feature of Brucella strains in Tongliao city, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region during 2004-2018, and to provide evidence for strategy development against the disease. Methods: Data from the reports on HB in Tongliao during 2004-2018 were extracted from the China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention before being analyzed with software Excel 2016. Epidemiologic feature was described, using the number of cases, constituent ratio and related rates. Conventional biotypes methods were used for identification of species/biovars strains while species of six Brucella strains were further verified by AMOS-PCR. Cluster analyze on six Brucella strains were performed with Bio-Numerics 5.0 software and for examining and revealing the genetic characteristics of the related strains. Results: During 2004-2018, a total of 16 704 HB cases were reported, with the incidence rate as 35.41/100 000. The incidence rates appeared as 110.51/100 000 in Jarud Banner and 67.84/100 000 in Kulun flag, which were both higher than the other areas. Most of the cases were reported in the 40-54 year olds, which accounted for 48.75% (8 143/16 704). The number of HB in farmers appeared as 14 873, which counted for 89.04% (14 873/16 704) of all the cases. Male to female ratio of incidence was 2.40∶1. Most of the reported cases appeared between March to May, which accounted for 56.30% (9 405/16 704). Peak of the disease was seen in April. Using the conventional identification method, results showed that the available six strains all belonged to B. melitensis, including three of them as B. melitensis bv.1 and others three strains as B. melitensis bv. 3. Results from the amplified AMOS-PCR showed that all the strains were B. melitensis. The six strains clustered in two MLVA-11 genotypes (111 and 116) and all belonged to the Eastern Mediterranean lineage. Based on the MLVA-16 cluster analysis, results suggested that strains from this study were having close genetic relationship with B. melitensis strains that were from Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces. Conclusions: Human brucellosis identified in Tongliao area was with greater risk in spreading the disease to the vicinity. Our findings indicated that the programs on detection and control of the disease should be strengthened.

Protective effects of a novel drug RC28-E blocking both VEGF and FGF2 on early diabetic rat retina

AIM

To investigate protective effects of a novel recombinant decoy receptor drug RC28-E on retinal damage in early diabetic rats.

METHODS

The streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: diabetes mellitus (DM) group (saline, 3 µL/eye); RC28-E at low (0.33 µg/µL, 3 µL), medium (1 µg/µL, 3 µL), and high (3 µg/µL, 3 µL) dose groups; vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) Trap group (1 µg/µL, 3 µL); fibroblast growth factor (FGF) Trap group (1 µg/µL, 3 µL). Normal control group was included. At week 1 and 4 following diabetic induction, the rats were intravitreally injected with the corresponding solutions. At week 6 following the induction, apoptosis in retinal vessels was detected by TUNEL staining. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression was examined by immunofluorescence. Blood-retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown was assessed by Evans blue assay. Ultrastructural changes in choroidal and retinal vessels were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Content of VEGF and FGF proteins in retina was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The retinal expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), VEGF and FGF genes was examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

RESULTS

TUNEL staining showed that the aberrantly increased apoptotic cells death in diabetic retinal vascular network was significantly reduced by treatments of medium and high dose RC28-E, VEGF Trap, and FGF Trap (all P<0.05), the effects of medium and high dose RC28-E or FGF Trap were greater than VEGF Trap (P<0.01). GFAP staining suggested that reactive gliosis was substantially inhibited in all RC28-E and VEGF Trap groups, but the inhibition in FGF Trap group was not as prominent. Evans blue assay demonstrated that only high dose RC28-E could significantly reduce vascular leakage in early diabetic retina (P<0.01). TEM revealed that the ultrastructures in choroidal and retinal vessels were damaged in early diabetic retina, which was ameliorated to differential extents by each drug. The expression of VEGF and FGF2 proteins was significantly upregulated in early diabetic retina, and normalized by RC28-E at all dosages and by the corresponding Traps. The upregulation of ICAM-1 and TNF-α in diabetic retina was substantially suppressed by RC28-E and positive control drugs.

CONCLUSION

Dual blockade of VEGF and FGF2 by RC28-E generates remarkable protective effects, including anti-apoptosis, anti-gliosis, anti-leakage, and improving ultrastructures and proinflammatory microenvironment, in early diabetic retina, thereby supporting further development of RC28-E into a novel and effective drug to diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Study of ciprofloxacin biodegradation by a Thermus sp. isolated from pharmaceutical sludge

Ciprofloxacin (CIP) is an antibiotic drug frequently detected in manure compost and is difficult to decompose at high temperatures, resulting in a potential threat to the environment. Microbial degradation is an effective and environmentally friendly method to degrade CIP. In this study, a thermophilic bacterium that can degrade CIP was isolated from sludge sampled from an antibiotics pharmaceutical factory. This strain is closely related to Thermus thermophilus based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and is designated C419. The optimal temperature and pH values for CIP degradation are 70°C and 6.5, respectively, and an appropriate sodium acetate concentration promotes CIP degradation. Seven major biodegradation metabolites were identified by an ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. In addition, strain C419 degraded other fluoroquinolones, including ofloxacin, norfloxacin and enrofloxacin. The supernatant from the C419 culture grown in fluoroquinolone-containing media showed attenuated antibacterial activity. These results indicate that strain C419 might be a new auxiliary bacterial resource for the biodegradation of fluoroquinolone residue in thermal environments.

[Preparation of Adsorption Ceramsite Derived from Sludge Biochar]

Adsorption ceramsite (SKC) was prepared with biochar (BC) derived from municipal sludge and kaolin (KL) based on the optimized processing parameters to adsorb ciprofloxacin (CIP) in aqueous solutions. The CIP adsorption mechanism of SKC was investigated by adsorption kinetics and isotherm adsorption models, combined with the analysis of microstructure, pore structure, phase composition, and zeta potential. Furthermore, the heavy metal leaching toxicity was assessed using the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) method. The results showed that SKC, with 60% BC and 40% KL calcining at 1,050℃ for 5 min, showed an outstanding removal efficiency of CIP (65.34%). The pseudo-second-order equation agreed with the adsorption behavior and the Freundlich model described the adsorption process well. The adsorption process was a multilayer adsorption controlled by physical and chemical reactions. The leaching concentration of heavy metals, trapped by the mineral phases in SKC was much lower than that in BC, indicating low ecotoxicological risk. SKC possessed the ability to adsorb CIP with its developed porosity and characteristic mineralogical phases, including silicon aluminum oxide and iron oxide. This work provides a low-cost recyclable sorbing material to remove high concentration CIP from wastewater and offers a new idea for the large-scale safe use of BC.

Effect of supersaturation on hillock of directional Growth of KDP crystals

KDP single crystals were grown in aqueous solution by using “point seeds” with a defined crystallographic direction of 59° to the Z axis. When hillock slopes on the (100) face of KDP crystals were measured within the supersaturation (σ) range of 0 < σ ≤ 0.06, the slope of hillocks with hollow cores depended nonlinearly on supersaturation. Below σ = 0.02, the hillock slope depended on supersaturation, but when σ was ≥ 0.02, the hillock slope increased more gradually and was less dependent on supersaturation. Hollow funnel-shaped growth dislocation on the (100) face of KDP crystals was observed at σ = 0.04, characterized by large holes with micro-steps and step bunching inside, the formation of which were analyzed. The result verified that the reversed growth appears to occur within hollow channels found on growth hillocks.

[Difference of P content in different area substrate of constructed wetland]

Adsorption of substrate is the main removal mechanisms of phosphorus in constructed wetland. It is easily impacted by various environmental factors existing in the wetland bed. The contents of substrate TP and the main inorganic P in different areas of both horizontal sub-surface flow constructed wetland with plant and one without plant were measured after treating wastewater five months. Different areas of the wetland with plant differed greatly in the substrate TP. Rhizosphere substrate in front area had the highest TP content and achieved 0.75 g x kg(-1), and the TP content of non-rhizosphere substrate in back area was only 0.21 g x kg(-1). The TP content of substrate in different areas of the wetland without plant had a little variety and ranged only between 0.21 and 0.27 g x kg(-1). Averagely, the substrate TP content in the wetland with plant was higher than the one in the wetland without plant. The phosphorous with Fe-bound (Fe-P), Al-bound (Al-P), and Ca-bound (Ca-P) were main inorganic phosphorous existing in the substrate in both wetlands, their contents in different areas substrate all increased, compared with the one before experiment. Fe-P and Al-P in different substrates in both wetlands had a similar variety. Their content between rhizosphere and intermediate substrate of front area in the wetland with plant and other area substrate in both wetlands differed greatly because the former increased greatly. Compared with Fe-P and Al-P, the variety of Ca-P in different substrates in both wetlands was low. But the content of Ca-P in rhizosphere substrate in wetland with plant was higher than other two parts respectively in front and back areas. Obviously, the plant root had an impact on the phosphorous content of substrate in constructed wetland. For TP, Fe-P, Al-P, Ca-P and loosely sorbed phosphorous in substrate, it increased with distance of the root.

Anomalous line shape of the cross section for e{+}e{-}--> hadrons in the center-of-mass energy region between 3.650 and 3.872 GeV

We observe an obvious anomalous line shape of the e;{+}e;{-}--> hadrons total cross sections in the energy region between 3.700 and 3.872 GeV. It is inconsistent with the explanation for only one simple psi(3770) resonance with a statistical significance of 7sigma. The anomalous line shape may be explained by two possible enhancements of the inclusive hadron production near the center-of-mass energies of 3.764 and 3.779 GeV, indicating that either there is likely a new structure in addition to the psi(3770) resonance around 3.773 GeV, or there are some physics effects reflecting the DD[over ] production dynamics.

Search for the invisible decay of J/psi in psi(2S) --> pi(+)pi(-) J/psi

Using psi(2S) --> pi(+)pi(-) J/psi events in a sample of 14.0 x 10(6) psi(2S) decays collected with the BES-II detector, a search for the decay of the J/psi to invisible final states is performed. No signal is found, and an upper limit at the 90% confidence level is determined to be 1.2 x 10(-2) for the ratio B(J/psi --> invisible)/B(J/psi-->mu(+)mu(-)). This is the first search for J/psi decays to invisible final states.

Observation of Y(2175) in J/psi --> etaphif0 (980)

The decays of J/psi --> etaphif(0)(980)[eta --> gammagamma, phi --> K(+) K(-), f(0)(980) --> pi(+)pi(-)] are analyzed using a sample of 5.8 x 10(7) J/psi events collected with the BESII detector at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider. A structure at around 2.18 GeV/c(2) with about 5 sigma significance is observed in the phif(0)(980) invariant mass spectrum. A fit with a Breit-Wigner function gives the peak mass and width of m = 2.186+/-0.010(stat)+/-0.006(syst) GeV/c(2) and Gamma = 0.065+/-0.023(stat)+/-0.017(syst) GeV/c(2), respectively, which are consistent with those of Y(2175), observed by the BABAR Collaboration in the initial-state radiation process e(+)e(-) --> gamma(ISR) phif(0)(980). The production branching ratio is determined to be Br(J/psi --> etaY(2175))Br(Y(2175)- -> phif(0)(980))Br(f(0)(980) --> pi(+)pi(-)) = [3.23+/-0.75(stat)+/-0.73(syst)] x 10(-4), assuming that the Y(2175) is a 1(--) state.

Measurement of psi2S radiative decays

Using 14 x 10(6) psi(2S) events accumulated at the BESII detector, we report first measurements of branching fractions or upper limits for psi(2S) decays into gammapp, gamma2(pi+pi-), gammaKS0K+pi-+c.c., gammaK+K-pi+pi-, gammaK*0K-pi++c.c., gammaK*0K*0, gammapi+pi-pp, gamma2(K+K-), gamma3(pi+pi-), and gamma2(pi+pi-)K+K- with the invariant mass of hadrons below 2.9 GeV/c2. We also report branching fractions of psi(2S) decays into 2(pi+pi-)pi0, omegapi+pi-, omegaf2(1270), b1+/-pi-/+, and pi02(pi+pi-)K+K-.

Measurements of the continuum R(uds) and R values in e(+)e(-) annihilation in the energy region between 3.650 and 3.872 GeV

We report measurements of the continuum R(uds) near the center-of-mass energy of 3.70 GeV, the R[uds(c)+psi(3770)](s) and the R(had)(s) values in e(+)e(-) annihilation at 68 energy points in the energy region between 3.650 and 3.872 GeV with the BES-II detector at the BEPC Collider. We obtain the R(uds) for the continuum light hadron (containing u, d, and s quarks) production near the DD threshold to be R(uds)=2.141+/-0.025+/-0.085.

Search for invisible decays of eta and eta' in J/psi --> phi eta and phi eta'

Using a data sample of 58 x 10(6) J/psi decays collected with the Beijing Spectrometer II detector at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider, searches for invisible decays of eta and eta' in J/psi to phi eta and phi eta' are performed. The phi signals, which are reconstructed in K+K- final states, are used to tag the eta and eta' decays. No signals are found for the invisible decays of either eta or eta', and upper limits at the 90% confidence level are determined to be 1.65 x 10(-3) for the ratio B(eta-->invisible)/B(eta --> gamma gamma) and 6.69 x 10(-2) for B(eta' --> invisible)/B(eta' --> gammagamma). These are the first searches for eta and eta' decays into invisible final states.

Observation of a broad 1-- resonant structure around 1.5 GeV/c2 in the K+K- mass spectrum in J/psi-->K+K-pi0

A broad peak is observed at low K+K- invariant mass in J/psi-->K+K-pi(0) decays found in a sample of 5.8x10(7) J/psi events collected with the BESII detector. The statistical significance of the broad resonance is much larger than 5sigma. A partial wave analysis shows that the J;{PC} of this structure is 1--. Its pole position is determined to be [1576(-55)(+49)(stat)-91+98(syst)] MeV/c(2)-i/2[818(-23)(+22)(stat)-133+64(syst)] MeV/c(2). These parameters are not compatible with any known meson resonances.

Measurements of the branching fractions for psi(3770)-->D(0)D[over ](0), D+D-, DD[over ], and the resonance parameters of psi(3770) and psi(2S)

We measure the branching fractions for psi(3770)-->D(0)D[over ](0), D+D-, DD[over ], and non-DD[over ] to be (46.7+/-4.7+/-2.3)%, (36.9+/-3.7+/-2.8)%, (83.6+/-7.3+/-4.2)%, and (16.4+/-7.3+/-4.2)%, respectively. The resonance parameters of psi(3770) and psi(2S) are measured to be M_(psi(3770))=3772.2+/-0.7+/-0.3 MeV, Gamma_(psi(3770))(tot)=26.9+/-2.4+/-0.3 MeV, and Gamma_(psi(3770))(ee)=251+/-26+/-11 eV; M_(psi(2S))=3685.5+/-0.0+/-0.3 MeV, Gamma_(psi(2S))(tot)=331+/-58+/-2 keV, and Gamma_(psi(2S))(ee)=2.330+/-0.036+/-0.110 keV. We also measure the light hadron R value to be R(uds)=2.262+/-0.054+/-0.109 in the energy region from 3.660 to 3.872 GeV.

Observation of two new N* peaks in J/psi-->ppi-n and ppi+n decays

The decay J/psi-->NNpi provides an effective isospin 1/2 filter for the piN system due to isospin conservation. Using 58x10(6) J/psi decays collected with the Beijing Electromagnetic Spectrometer at the Beijing Electron Positron Collider, more than 100 thousand J/psi-->ppi-n+c.c. events are obtained. Besides the two well-known N* peaks at around 1500 MeV/c2 and 1670 MeV/c2, there are two new, clear N* peaks in the ppi invariant mass spectrum around 1360 MeV/c2 and 2030 MeV/c2 with statistical significance of 11sigma and 13sigma, respectively. We identify these as the first direct observation of the N*(1440) peak and a long-sought missing N* peak above 2 GeV/c2 in the piN invariant mass spectrum.

Observation of a near-threshold enhancement in the omega(phi) mass spectrum from the doubly OZI-suppressed decay J/psi-->gamma(omega)phi

An enhancement near threshold is observed in the omega(phi) invariant mass spectrum from the doubly Okubo-Zweig-Iizuka-suppressed decays of J/psi-->gamma(omega)phi, based on a sample of 5.8 x 10(7) J/psi events collected with the BESII detector. A partial wave analysis shows that this enhancement favors JP=0+, and its mass and width are M=1812(+19)(-26)(stat)+/-18(syst) MeV/c2 and Gamma=105+/-20(stat)+/-28(syst) MeV/c2. The product branching fraction is determined to be B(J/psi-->gammaX)B(X-->omega(phi))=[2.61+/-0.27(stat)+/-0.65(syst)]x10(-4).

Observation of a resonance in Chi(1835) in J/psi --> gammapi+ pi- eta-

The decay channel J/psi --> gamma(pi)(+)pi(-)eta is analyzed using a sample of 5.8 x 10(7) J/psi events collected with the BESII detector. A resonance, the Chi(1835), is observed in the pi(+)pi(-)eta invariant-mass spectrum with a statistical significance of 7.7 sigma. A fit with a Breit-Wigner function yields a mass M = 1833.7 +/- 6.1(stat) +/- 2.7(syst) MeV/c(2), a width Tau = 67.7 +/- 20.3(stat) +/- 7.7(syst) MeV/c(2), and a product branching fraction B(J/psi --> gammaChi) . B(Chi --> pi(+)pi(-)eta) = [2.2 +/- 0.4(stat) +/- 0.4(syst)] x 10(-4). The mass and width of the Chi(1835) are not compatible with any known meson resonance. Its properties are consistent with expectations for the state that produces the strong pp mass threshold enhancement observed in the J/psi --> gammapp process at BESII.

[Evaluation of three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy based on dose distribution]

In this paper, we briefly introduce 3 methods of evaluation for a treatment plan, and mainly discuss the criteria of the plan's optimization based on dose distribution. The elaboratively-designed treatment plan is capable of having the tumor receive higher dose level while the normal tissues and organs receive minimum dose level.

Observation of a threshold enhancement in the plambda invariant-mass spectrum

An enhancement near the m(p)+M(Lambda) mass threshold is observed in the combined pLambda and pLambda invariant-mass spectrum from J/psi-->pK(-)Lambda;+c.c. decays. It can be fit with an S-wave Breit-Wigner resonance with a mass m=2075+/-12(stat)+/-5(syst) MeV and a width of Gamma=90+/-35(stat)+/-9(syst) MeV; it can also be fit with a P-wave Breit-Wigner resonance. Evidence for a similar enhancement is also observed in psi(')-->pK(-)Lambda;+c.c. decays. The analysis is based on samples of 5.8x10(7)J/psi and 1.4x10(7)psi(') decays accumulated in the BES II detector at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider.

Observation of the decay psi(2S)-->K0SK0L

The decay psi(2S)-->K(0)(S)K(0)(L) is observed using psi(2S) data collected with the Beijing Spectrometer at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider; the branching fraction is determined to be B(psi(2S)-->K(0)(S)K(0)(L))=(5.24+/-0.47+/-0.48)x10(-5). Compared with J/psi-->K(0)(S)K(0)(L), the psi(2S) branching fraction is enhanced relative to the prediction of the perturbative QCD "12%" rule. The result, together with the branching fractions of psi(2S) decays to other pseudoscalar meson pairs (pi(+)pi(-) and K+K-), is used to investigate the relative phase between the three-gluon and the one-photon annihilation amplitudes of psi(2S) decays.

Observation of a near-threshold enhancement in the pp mass spectrum from radiative J/psi-->gammapp decays

We observe a narrow enhancement near 2m(p) in the invariant mass spectrum of pp pairs from radiative J/psi-->gammapp decays. No similar structure is seen in J/psi-->pi(0)pp decays. The results are based on an analysis of a 58 x 10(6) event sample of J/psi decays accumulated with the BESII detector at the Beijing electron-positron collider. The enhancement can be fit with either an S- or P-wave Breit-Wigner resonance function. In the case of the S-wave fit, the peak mass is below 2m(p) at M=1859(+3)(-10) (stat)+5-25(syst) MeV/c(2) and the total width is Gamma<30 MeV/c(2) at the 90% confidence level. These mass and width values are not consistent with the properties of any known particle.

Measurements of the cross section for e(+)e(-) --> hadrons at center-of-mass energies from 2 to 5 GeV

We report values of R = sigma(e(+)e(-)-->hadrons)/sigma(e(+)e(-)-->mu(+)mu(-)) for 85 center-of-mass energies between 2 and 5 GeV measured with the upgraded Beijing Spectrometer at the Beijing Electron-Positron Collider.

The patterns of dental caries of preschool children in Kaohsiung City Taiwan

In order to understand caries patterns, we investigated the severity of caries and the distribution of decayed teeth in 1,654 preschool children aged 3-6 years old in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The results of our investigation were as follows: the lower second molars had the highest percentage of caries followed by the upper central incisors in the deciduous teeth. The distribution of decayed surfaces in the upper dentition indicated that the occlusal surface of molars, the labial surface of canines, and the mesial and labial surfaces of incisors had relatively high percentages of caries in all age groups. In the 3 year-old children, labial caries on the four upper anterior teeth and no caries in the lower anterior teeth is basically similar to baby bottle tooth decay. Most caries remained in the enamel at this stage. Dentin caries and pulp involved caries became more complex and multiple surfaces were involved in both 5 and 6 year-old children. We therefore suggest that 6, 18, and 30 month-old babies, at the time of vaccination, should have an oral examination as well, and the prevention program for baby bottle tooth decay plus oral hygiene instructions should also be given to the parents. Dentists, pediatricians, gynecologists, and family doctors should all participate in the prevention program against baby bottle tooth decay. For 3 year-old children who already have caries, increasing the filling rate for them should be a very important thing to do for pedodontic specialists and general dental practitioners alike.

Vascular interventions for impotence: lessons learned

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of vascular interventions for impotence in men with this complaint.

METHODS

Between September 1983 and March 1993, 1094 men with the chief complaint of impotence (average age 54.5 years) were screened by use of penile plethysmography and penile brachial indexes: 635 were considered to have normal flow, and 459 were considered to have abnormal arterial flow, 12.2% of whom were found to have aortoiliac disease. Based on negative neural screening results, absence of erectile responses on increasing doses of intracavernously injected papaverine or prostaglandin E1 (ICI), surgical candidates for microvascular procedures were referred for dynamic infusion cavernosography (DICC) and pudendal arteriography. Operations for men discovered to have aortoiliac disease were based on conventional indications including aneurysm size or limb ischemia. None of the subjects had diabetes. Only those patients without diabetes and those not requiring blood pressure medications were selected for microvascular procedures. We report our experience and surgical outcomes at average follow-ups of 33 to 48 months. Four types of operations were performed on 67 men (age 18 to 79 years). These included 17 aortoiliac reconstructions, 11 dorsal penile artery bypasses, 12 dorsal vein arterializations, and 27 venous interruptions. Follow-up data were obtained by direct examination and noninvasive Doppler examinations; repeat arteriography (4 of 11); repeat DICC after venous ablation procedures (18 of 27) and postoperative ICI response. Mail questionnaires completed postoperative surveillance.

RESULTS

Among 17 men undergoing aortoiliac intervention for aneurysms in eight and occlusive disease in nine, 58% functioned spontaneously after operation and 18% used ICI or vacuum constrictor devices at an average follow-up time of 38 months. Among 11 men with dorsal penile artery bypasses, 27% functioned spontaneously and 45% used ICI at an average follow-up time of 34.5 months. Among 12 men with dorsal vein arterialization, 33% functioned spontaneously, and 47% used ICI at an average follow-up time of 48 months. Among 27 with venous interruption, 33% functioned spontaneously and 44% used ICI. In seven of eight aneurysms of 4.5 to 6.0 cm in size, impotence workup led to discovery; probable embolic mechanisms existed in three. Venous interruption efficacy correlated with postoperative DICC results when flow to maintain erection was 40 ml or less. Apart from two cases of glans hyperemia, no surgical complications occurred in the microvascular procedures. There was one episode of bleeding caused by DICC after aortic reconstruction. There were no deaths.

CONCLUSIONS

With prospective screening criteria, 6% to 7% of impotent men became candidates for vascular intervention. Including those functioning with ICI or vacuum constriction devices, about 70% of these men were functional after operation. Men undergoing aortoiliac reconstruction has a significantly higher rate (58%) of spontaneous function as compared with those undergoing microvascular procedures.

Preoperative and postoperative dynamic cavernosography and cavernosometry: objective assessment of venous ligation for impotence

A total of 11 men (mean age 51.4 years, 1-year followup) with venous leakage impotence underwent surgical venous ligation. Of the men 8 had erections twice per week immediately after the procedure but at 3 months only 2 remained potent. Dynamic pharmacological cavernosography and cavernosometry were repeated 3 months postoperatively and 6 of the 11 men had venous leakage. These men with venous leakage underwent percutaneous embolization with platinum coils and 4 had successful results. Three additional men became potent after embolization. Of the 11 men 9 are documented to have normal dynamic cavernosography and cavernosometry findings after the combination of an operation and embolization, and 5 are potent. The postoperative and post-embolization dynamic cavernosometry data show that all 11 men have a marked decrease in the flow to maintain erection. Eight men have erections with papaverine or prostaglandin E1 intracorporeal injections. Postoperative dynamic cavernosography and cavernosometry can be diagnostic as well as therapeutic with embolization.

The characterization of a newly identified, highly metastatic variety of Dunning R 3327 rat prostatic adenocarcinoma system: the MAT LyLu tumor

The Dunning R 3327 AT tumor is a rapidly growing, androgen insensitive, serially transplantable rat tumor of prostatic origin. In early passages, the AT tumor had a very low rate of distant metastases (less than 1 per cent); however, after 60 serial subcutaneous passages, the AT tumor has given rise to a new tumor line which has an extremely high metastatic rate. Greater then 75 per cent of all animals inoculated with this late passage tumor develop lymph node metastases alone or in combination with lung metastases. This high passage tumor seems to be distinct from the original AT tumor since it has a substantially faster doubling time and a massively increased metastatic potential; it has therefore been named the Dunning R 3327 MAT LyLu tumor (metastatic AT tumor able to disseminate to lymph nodes and lung). The MAT LyLu tumor, like the parent nonmetastatic AT tumor, is androgen insensitive with regard to its growth rate, rate of distant metastases and mean survival time. This newly characterized MAT LyLu tumor provides an appropriate animal model system for testing the potential effectiveness of a variety of therapeutic approaches specifically aimed at limiting the metastatic spread of prostatic cancer.

Ovarian involvement in neuroblastoma

A case of neuroblastoma involving the ovaries bilaterally at diagnosis is reported. A review of previous cases of neuroblastoma at Johns Hopkins Hospital revealed no previous occurrence of ovarian metastatic disease at diagnosis, but involvement in about one-third of cases at autopsy. This appears to be a more common site of metastatic disease than has been previously recognized. The significance of this site of metastases in neuroblastoma is unknown.