Harmless treatment of municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash through shaft furnace.

Municipal solid waste incinerator fly ash (MSWI FA) is a type of waste that is harmful to the environment, and the melting treatment methods can treat MSWI FA, removing its potential negative impacts. However, special equipment is required for the FA melting process, which necessitates high costs. Metallurgical shaft furnaces (MSF) can melt MSWI FA efficiently. Therefore, the feasibility of using an MSF for FA treatment was studied herein. First, the fundamental physicochemical properties of the FA were analyzed. Then, the appearance and internal morphology of the FA were examined using a scanning electron microscope. Finally, melting experiments were designed according to the conditions of the MSF. The results show that slag changes into a glassy state under rapid cooling, which is beneficial to the solidification of harmful elements. These harmful elements, including Pb, Zn, and Cu, are thus reduced and volatilized into the flue gas under the MSF's reducing atmosphere. The harmful elements that enter the slag are solidified, causing its leaching toxicity to achieve the national standard requirements. Further, under the simulated MSF smelting conditions, the FA dioxin destroy removal efficiency realized more than 99.99% efficiency. Therefore, the harmless treatment of MAWI FA can be realized through MSF process.

[Efficacy and safety of № I Empirical Prescription for Chronic Prostatitis in the treatment of type ⠢ refractory chronic prostatitis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of № I Empirical Prescription for Chronic Prostatitis (№ I EPCP) in the treatment of type Ⅲ refractory chronic prostatitis. METHODS: We randomly assigned 53 cases of type Ⅲ refractory chronic prostatitis with damp-heat and blood stasis to an experimental and a control group to receive № I EPCP at 1 dose per day and saw palmetto extract at 160 mg bid), respectively, all for 8 weeks. Before and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, we obtained The National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) scores, Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Scores (TCMSS), maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax), average urinary flow rate (Qavg), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) scores and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA) scores, and compared them between the two groups of patients. RESULTS: Totally 48 of the patients completed the medication and follow-up, 25 in the experimental and 23 in the control group. Compared with the baseline, the NIH-CPSI scores after 8 weeks of treatment were significantly decreased in the experimental (27.82 ± 7.25 vs 15.46 ± 4.77, P <0.05) and the control group (25.98 ± 6.47 vs 21.06 ± 5.74, P <0.05), and so were the TCMSSs (24.64 ± 9.82 vs 16.42 ± 6.33 and 9.15 ± 3.74, P <0.05, and 23.67 ± 8.73 vs 18.55 ± 5.92 and 13.48 ± 4.45, P <0.05); the Qmax at 8 weeks were dramatically increased in the experimental group (ï¼»18.45 ± 7.81ï¼½ vs ï¼»23.44 ± 8.73ï¼½ ml/s, P <0.05) and the control (ï¼»17.58 ± 6.92ï¼½ vs ï¼»21.26 ± 8.32ï¼½ ml/s, P <0.05), and so was the Qavg (ï¼»11.27 ± 5.33ï¼½ vs ï¼»16.51 ± 7.36ï¼½ ml/s, P <0.05 and ï¼»10.66 ± 5.82ï¼½ vs ï¼»13.44 ± 6.16ï¼½ ml/s, P <0.05); the HAMD scores were remarkably reduced in the experimental group (22.74 ± 6.37 vs 17.62 ± 5.71 and 12.54 ± 5.22, P <0.05) and the control (23.55 ± 7.14 vs 22.34 ± 6.88 and 21.62 ± 5.63, P <0.05), and so were the HAMA scores (21.37 ± 7.15 vs 18.42 ± 6.35 and 14.63 ± 7.11, P <0.05 and 20.54 ± 6.77 vs 19.87 ± 6.24 and 19.42 ± 7.04, P <0.05). No obvious adverse reactions were observed in either of the two groups during the medication. CONCLUSIONS: № I EPCP deserves promotion and clinical application for its definite effectiveness and safety in the treatment of type Ⅲ refractory chronic prostatitis with damp-heat and blood stasis.

[Sertraline hydrochloride combined with four-spot caressing for primary premature ejaculation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effectiveness of sertraline hydrochloride combined with four-spot caress in the treatment of primary premature ejaculation (PE). METHODS: We randomly assigned 90 primary PE patients to three groups of equal number. The patients in group A (aged [28.1 ± 5.2] yr and with a disease course of [3.1 ± 1.9] yr) were treated with oral sertraline hydrochloride at 50 mg qd, those in B (aged [27.8 ± 4.1] yr and with a disease course of [3.2 ± 2.0] yr) by four-spot caressing (caressing the tongue, breasts, and vulva prior to intercourse), and those in C (aged [27.1 ± 4.7] yr and with a disease course of [3.1 ± 2.0] yr) by the combination of oral sertraline hydrochloride and four-spot caressing, all for 12 weeks. Before and after 4, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment, we obtained the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) and Chinese Index of Sexual Function for Premature Ejaculation-5 (CIPE-5) scores and compared them among the three groups of patients. RESULTS: The IELT was dramatically prolonged in groups A, B, and C after 4 weeks ([1.08 ± 0.29], [0.93 ± 0.28] and [1.21 ± 0.27] min), 8 weeks ([1.43 ± 0.30], [1.20 ± 0.33] and [1.72 ± 0.42] min) and 12 weeks of treatment ([2.12 ± 0.63], [1.90 ± 0.65] and [2.67 ± 0.82] min) as compared with the baseline ([0.63 ?0.14] , [0.60 ?0.14] and [0.62 ?0.11] min) (P < 0.05), even longer in group C than in A and B (P < 0.05). The CIPE-5 scores were markedly improved in groups A, B and C after 4 weeks ([15.17 ± 1.74], [14.57 ± 1.94] and [15.60 ± 1.63] min), 8 weeks ([17.13 ± 1.63], [16.37 ± 1.97] and [18.00 ± 1.05] min) and 12 weeks of intervention ([18.93 ± 1.57], [18.53 ± 1.67] and [20.00 ± 1.46] min ) as compared with the baseline ([12.57 ± 2.05], [13.20 ± 2.51] and [13.07 ± 2.01] min) (P < 0.05), even higher in group C than in A and B (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Sertraline hydrochloride combined with four-spot caressing, with its definite efficacy and rare adverse reactions, deserves wide clinical application in the treatment of primary PE.

[A correlation study of Tei index and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in patients with high-altitude heart disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the diagnostic value of Tei index of right ventricle and serum level of NT-proBNP in patients with high-altitude heart disease (HAHD). METHODS: Right ventricle Tei index and serum NT-proBN level were calculated and tested in 32 local healthy volunteers and 34 cases of HAHD patients hospitalized in our hospital in Golmud city (2808 meters above sea level) from 2008 to 2010, and a correlation study was conducted thereafter. RESULTS: The pulmonary arterial systolic pressure and right ventricle Tei index, elevated significantly in HAHD patients compared with the control group [(86.61 vs 9.72) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) and (0.90 vs 0.33) respectively, P < 0.05]. Patients diagnosed as mild pulmonary hypertension without alteration in cardiac structure showed higher pulmonary arterial systolic pressure and the Tei index compared with the control group [(57.1 vs 9.72) mm Hg and (0.78 vs 0.33) respectively, P < 0.05]. In addition, the level of serum NT-proBNP was significantly higher in HAHD group than that of control group [(1246.8 ± 512.6) ng/L and (98.6 ± 21.7) ng/L respectively, P < 0.05]. CONCLUSION: Right ventricle Tei index and serum NT-proBNP level are sensitive indicators for right ventricular function and thus of favorable clinical significance for the diagnosis of HAHD.