Detection of chromosomal DNA imbalance in medulloblastoma by comparative genomic hybridization / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between chromosomal genomic DNA imbalance in medulloblastoma (MB), and the age and gender.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The gains and losses of chromosomal genomic DNA in 16 MBs were analyzed using comparative genomic hybridization.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The gains and(or) losses were found in 15 of the 16 cases. There was not significant difference (P > 0.05) between the total gains (10/16) and losses (11/16). Both of their differences had also no significance between different age and gender groups (P > 0.05). In 15 cases with gains and(or) losses, single-, two-, three- and multi-chromosome genomic DNA imbalances were 3/15, 4/15, 1/15 and 7/15 respectively. Eleven gain zones (+5q, +6q, +7q, +11q, +15q, +17p, +17q, +19q, +20q, +21q, +Xp) and twenty-five loss zones (-1p, -1q, -2p, -2q, -3q, -4p, -6p, -6q, -8p, -8q, -10p, -10q, -11p, -14q, -16p, -16q, -17p, -18p, -18q, -19p, -19q, -20p, -20q, -Xp, -Xq) were detected in those tumors. +7q (6/16), +17q (6/16), -14q (5/16) and -10q (3/16) were the most frequent, but -14q only occurred in the cases of > 10-year-old.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Most MBs have chromosomal genomic DNA imbalances. The frequent imbalance zones are mainly at the long arms of some chromosomes. +7q, +17q, -14q and -10q correlate closely to development of the tumors. -14q is important factor to result in MBs of > 10-year-old group. MB has possibly different molecular genetics subtype.</p>

Detection of chromosomal imbalance in ependymoma by comparative genomic hybridization / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate genomic DNA imbalances in ependymomas (EDMs) and their correlations with the tumor histological types, grades, locations, patients' gender and age.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Chromosomal gains and losses in 16 cases of EDM were analyzed using comparative genomic hybridization.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Chromosomal regional gain and loss were found in 15 and 13 of 16 EDM cases respectively including totally 24 regional gains and 19 regional losses in all the tumors studied. Both regional gains and losses were mostly seen in myxopapillary EDMs (MPE, WHO grade I), more commonly seen in cellular EDMs (CE, WHO grade II) and tanycytic EDMs (TE, WHO grade II) than in anaplastic EDMs (AE, WHO grade III). Some of the regional gains and losses appeared only in one subtype of MPE, CE, TE and AE cases resulting in development of specific imbalance profiles of certain subtype in these cases. MPE, CE and TE often had +7. Chromosomal +5 occurred only in MPE and CE, and -22q was only seen in CE and TE. AE frequently had +1q, but none had +5, +7, -4q, -19q and -22q. The frequencies of any regional gain or loss were not affected by patients' genders (P > 0.05). Chromosomal +1q and +7p happened predominantly in intracranial EDMs with an averagely onset age of <or= 30 years, and +7 was only detected in spinal EDMs of patients over 30 years old, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The frequencies of chromosomal imbalances in EDMs decrease as the tumor grade increases. Characteristic chromosomal imbalances in each subtype may play an important role in determination of histological phenotypes and tumor grades. Chromosomal +1q, +5, +7p, +7, -4q, -19q and -22q are alterations which may dictate the biological behaviors of these tumors and the patients' prognosis.</p>

Struvite recovery from swine waste biogas digester effluent through a stainless steel device under constant pH conditions / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the struvite precipitation under constant and non-constant pH conditions and to test a stainless steel device under different operating regimes to maximize the recovery of struvite.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The molar ratio of NH4+: Mg2+: PO4(3-) was adjusted to 1: 1.2: 1.2 and pH was elevated to 9.0. The absorbance measurement was used to trace the process of struvite crystallization. Wastewater and precipitate analysis was done by standard analytical methods.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pH constant experiment reported a significantly higher struvite precipitation (24.6 +/- 0.86 g) than the non-constant pH experiment (19.8 +/- 1.86 g). The SAR ranged from 5.6 to 8.2 g m(-2) h(-1) to 3.6-4.8 g m(-2) h(-1) in pH constant and non-constant experiments, respectively. The highest struvite deposit on the device was found in regime 3 followed by in regimes 2 and 4. The highest PO4(3-) (97.2%) and NH4+ (71%) removal was reported in the R1 regime. None of the influent Cu2+ or Zn2+ was precipitated on the device.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A higher struvite yield is evident in pH constant experiments. Moreover, the stainless steel device facilitates the isolation of heavy metal free pure (around 96%) struvite from swine waste biogas digester effluent contaminated with cu2+ and Zn2+ and the highest yield is attainable with the device operating at 50 rpm with agitation by a magnetic stirrer.</p>

Heavy metals and PAHs in sewage sludge from twelve wastewater treatment plants in Zhejiang province / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the heavy metals (HMs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sludge of twelve wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Zhejiang province of China, and to assess their potential for land application.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sludge was collected from 12 WWTPs within the province. GC-MS and AAS were used to measure PAHs and HMs contents in sludge.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Concentrations of HMs in most of the sludge samples were below the regulatory limits for the sludge to be used in agriculture in China with the exception of Zn in 2 sludge samples and Cd in 1 sample. All 16 PAHs, targeted by the USEPA agency, were found in the sludge from the twelve plants with a total concentration ranging from 33.73 mg kg(-1) to 82.58 mg kg(-1) (dry weight, d.w.). The levels of Sigma9 PAHs varied from 13.87 mg kg(-1) to 61.86 mg kg(-1) (d.w.) in the sludge, far exceeding the limitation value recommended by the Europe Union. The concentration and composition of PAHs in sewage sludge varied and depended mainly on the quantity and type of industrial wastewater accepted by the WWTPs. A significant relationship between the proportion of industrial wastewater received by WWTPs and the total content of 16 PAHs in the sludge was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PAHs have become one of the primary pollutants in sludge of Zhejiang WWTPs instead of HMs. It is, therefore, essential to reduce the contents of PAHs before the sludge can be used in agriculture through proper treatment.</p>

Recovery of nitrogen and phosphorous as struvite from swine waste biogas digester effluent / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the feasibility of nitrogen and phosphorus recovery from swine waste biogas digester effluent and the effects of pH and NH4+: Mg2+: PO4(3-) molar ratio on its precipitation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Precipitation experiments with swine waste biogas digester effluent were conducted at pH 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, and 9.0 together with NH4+: Mg2+: PO4(3-) molar ratios 1: 0.2: 0.08, 1: 1: 1, and 1: 1.5: 1.5. Chemical and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were done to determine the composition of the precipitate.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The highest removal and recovery of NH4+ and PO4(3-) were achieved at pH 9.0 in each experiment. The elevation of pH to 9.0 alone could decrease the initial PO4(3-) concentration from 42 mg L(-1) to 4.7 mg L(-1) and 89.2% PO4(3-) recovery was achieved. The pH-molar ratio combination 9.0-1: 1.5: 1.5 effected 76.5% NH4+ and 68.5% PO4(3-) recovery. The molar ratio of 1: 1: 1 together with pH elevation to 9.0 was determined to be the optimum combination for both NH4+ and PO4(3-) removal as it recovered over 70% and 97% of the initial NH4+ and PO4(3-), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Nitrogen and phosphorus can be recovered from biogas digester effluent as struvite.</p>