A process to prepare a synthetic filter material containing nutrients for biofiltration.

In this study, an optimal process to prepare a synthetic filter material (poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/peat/KNO(3) composite bead) containing nutrients was developed for biofiltration. The optimal preparing condition was that each of the peat and PVA aqueous solutions contains 6.4 g KNO(3) and the nitrogen content in the boric and phosphate aqueous solutions must retain higher than 3.94 and 1.52 g N/l, respectively. The equilibrium amount of water-soluble nitrogen dissolved out of the prepared composite bead was between 7.95 and 8.21mg N/g dry solid. The path of water-soluble nitrogen dissolving out of the A-type bead was the water-soluble nitrogen dispersed in the peat phase initially diffused into the outer PVA phase and then it diffused out of the bead surface. And the path of water-soluble nitrogen dissolving out of the H-type bead was the water-soluble nitrogen dispersed in both the peat and PVA phases simultaneously diffused into the outer PVA phase and out of the bead surface, respectively. The microbial growth rate k(g) of the H-type composite bead was higher than that of the A-type composite bead approximately 1.09-1.58 times, and its value was between 0.100 and 0.417 day(-1) as the composite bead was immersed in 0-0.896 M KNO(3) solution. The maximum value of k(g) appeared at the composite bead immersed in 0.384 M KNO(3) solution and was higher than that of the compost by a factor approximately 1.49. The percentage of removed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) remained at more than 98% during the biofilter operating 230 days as the composite bead was immersed in KNO(3) aqueous solution before packing. This composite bed was without the further addition of nutrients during this operating period. It was proved that this composite bead was superior to the compost as a filter material.

One-year follow-up study of Helicobacter pylori eradication rate with 13C-urea breath test after 3-d and 7-d rabeprazole-based triple therapy.

AIM: To investigate the long-term role of a 3-d rabeprazole-based triple therapy in patients with Helicobacter pylori(H pylori)-infected active peptic ulcers. METHODS: We prospectively studied 115 consecutive patients with H pylori-infected active peptic ulcers. H pylori infection was confirmed if any two of H pylori DNA, histology, and rapid urease test were positive. Patients were assigned to either an open-labeled 3-d course of oral amoxicillin 1 000 mg b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., and rabeprazole 20 mg b.i.d., or 7-d course of oral amoxicillin 1 000 mg b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d., and rabeprazole 20 mg b.i.d. Subsequently, all patients received oral rabeprazole 20 mg once daily until the 8th wk. Three months after therapy, all patients were followed-up endoscopically for the peptic ulcer, H pylori DNA, histology, and rapid urease test. One year after therapy, H pylori infection was tested using the 13C-urea breath test. RESULTS: The ulcer healing rates 3 mo after therapy were 81.0% vs 75.4% for the 3-d and 7-d groups [intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, P = 0.47] respectively, and 90.4% vs 89.6% for the 3-d and 7-d groups [per-protocol (PP) analysis, P = 0.89] respectively. The eradication rates 3 mo after therapy were 75.9% vs 73.7% for the 3-d and 7-d groups (ITT, P = 0.79) respectively, and 84.6% vs 87.5% for the 3-d and 7-d groups (PP, P = 0.68) respectively. One year after therapy, seventy-five patients returned to receive the 13C-urea breath test, and the eradication rates were 78.4% vs 81.6% in 3-d and 7-d groups (PP, P = 0.73) respectively. CONCLUSION: Our study showed the eradication rates against H pylori infection 3 and 12 mo after triple therapy were not different between the 3-d and 7-d rabeprazole-based groups. Therefore, the 3-d rabeprazole-based triple therapy may be an alternative treatment for peptic ulcers with H pylori infection.

The mechanism of nutrients dissolved out of a synthetic composite bead filter material in a biofilter.

In this study, an optimal process to prepare a synthetic material having nutrient (PVA/peat/KNO(3) composite bead) is developed. The equilibrium water-soluble nitrogen content in the composite bead prepared by this process is 8.25-10.06 mg N/g dry solid. The mass-transport process for the water-soluble nitrogen dissolved out of the composite bead was also investigated. The dissolved out process occurs in two stages: external mass transport occurs in the early stage and the intraparticle diffusion process occurs in the long-term stage. The rate of water-soluble nitrogen dissolved out in both stages is concentration dependent. The path of nitrogen dissolved out is that the nitrogen dispersed in the peat and PVA phases simultaneously diffused into the outer PVA phase and out of the bead surface. The moisture holding capacity of the composite bead bed is better than the compost bed. The percentage of removed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can remain at levels higher than 99% for a longer time (about 230 d) as the composite bead immersed in a KNO(3) aqueous solution before packing with an optimal concentration of KNO(3) aqueous solution of 0.384 M. The rate of nitrogen dissolved out in the intraparticle diffusion process could be used as an index to predict the microbial growth rate in the biofilter.