News on alginate recovery by forward osmosis: Reverse solute diffusion is useful.

The water content in the recycled alginate solutions from aerobic granular sludge was nearly 100%. Forward osmosis (FO) has become an innovative dewatering technology. In this study, the FO concentration of sodium alginate (SA) was investigated using calcium chloride as a draw solute. The reverse solute flux (RSF) of calcium ions in FO had a beneficial effect, contrary to the findings of previous literature. The properties of the concentrated substances formed on the FO membrane on the feed side were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, verifying that calcium alginate (Ca-Alg), which can be used as a recycled material, was formed on the FO membrane on the feed side owing to the interaction between SA and permeable calcium ions. Water flux increased significantly with the increase in calcium chloride concentration, while the concentration of SA had little influence on the water flux in FO. Based on this discovery, we propose a novel method for the concentration and recovery of alginate, in which the RSF of calcium ions is utilized for recovering Ca-Alg by FO, with calcium chloride as a draw solute.

Prognostic analysis for Chinese patients with stage I ovarian endometrioid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify the clinical and pathological characteristics and the possible prognostic factors for Chinese patients with early-stage ovarian endometrioid carcinoma. METHODS: The present study reviewed the medical records of patients who received initial treatment and a postoperative pathological diagnosis of ovarian endometrioid carcinoma at our center. In all, 78 patients had stage I ovarian endometrioid carcinoma. RESULTS: In this series, the 5-year overall survival rate and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates of patients with stage I ovarian endometrioid carcinoma was 98.7% and 87.2%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed the factors that influence the DFS rates include menopausal status, FIGO stage, histological grade, lymphadenectomy, cytology of ascites. Multivariate analysis showed that grade 3 and lymphadenectomy were the independent prognostic factors of DFS for Stage I ovarian endometrioid carcinoma (P = 0.0259, 0.0276 respectively). However, the coexisting endometriosis, concomitant endometrial disorders, dissection of para-aortic lymph node and more courses of thermotherapy had no influence on DFS. Besides, it was found that 19.3% of patients in this series had synchronous early stage and well-to-moderate differentiated endometrial carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Grade 3 and lymphadenectomy were indicated as the independent factors of DFS for stage I patients with ovarian endometrioid carcinoma. The endometrial changes should be considered seriously when fertility-sparing surgery was planned.