Effect on sperm quality of asthenospermia and oligospermia treated with grain-moxibustion combined with medicine therapy / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the clinical effect of grain-moxibustion combined with medicine therapy for asthenospermia and oligospermia.@*METHODS@#A tatal of 60 patients were randomized into an observation group (30 cases) and a control group (30 cases) according to 1︰1 ratio. In the control group, vitamin E capsules were taken orally one capsule each time, twice a day, and pills 6 g each time, three times a day for a total of 3 months. In the observation group, grain-moxibustion was applied at Guanyuan (CV 4)，Shenshu (BL 23) and Zusanli (ST 36) based on the control group, once a week for 3 months, with a total of 12 times. The sperm concentration and sperm progressive motility were measured by automatic sperm quality analysis system in the two groups, and the clinical effects were compared. Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) in the observation group was measured by sperm nucleus chromosome structure assay (SCSA).@*RESULTS@#①The sperm concentrations and sperm progressive motilities after 1-month, 2-month and 3-month of treatment were increased compared with those before treatment in the two groups (<0.01), and they were increased with time. In the two groups, 2-month and 1-month of treatment, 3-month and 2-month of treatment were compared, the sperm concentrations and sperm progressive motilities were significantly increased (<0.01). The sperm concentrations after 1-month, 2-month and 3-month of treatment in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (<0.01), the sperm progressive motility after 3-month of treatment in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (<0.05). ②After 3-month of treatment，the DFI in the observation group was significantly reduced compared with that before treatment (<0.01). ③The total effective rate in the observation group after 3-month of treatment was 86.7% (26/30), which was superior to 63.3% (19/30) in the control group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#Grain-moxibustion combined with medicine therapy can improve sperm concentration and sperm progressive motility, enhance the integrity of sperm DNA.

Low temperature degradation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans over a VOx-CeOx/TiO2 catalyst with addition of ozone.

In order to find a catalyst to destroy polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) with high efficiency, a homemade VOx-CeOx/TiO2 catalyst was prepared, and then tested in the flue gas of a waste incinerator at temperatures of 180-240 °C. The results shows the best removal efficiency (93.4%) was attained already at 200 °C, yet degradation efficiency further raised with temperature, until 240 °C. Ozone (500 ppm) was also introduced into the system to increase the activity of catalyst, and removal efficiency of PCDD/Fs increased further to 97.4% and 98.8% at 200 and 240 °C, respectively. In addition, a lab-scale reaction system was installed to study the degradation mechanism of PCDD/Fs. Octa-chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (OCDD) was selected as the study object due to the most stable structure and maximum chlorine atom number. The intermediate products resulting from the conversion of OCDD were monitored using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and a possible reaction pathway was proposed. Dechlorination persists until the complete conversion of OCDD. Oxidation decomposes OCDD-molecules mainly into organic substances having one, two or more benzene rings, yet also alkanes, cycloalkanes and heterocompounds of sulphur, nitrogen, and halogens appear. However, more work is still needed to fit those trace products into mechanistic schemes.

Development of new transition metal oxide catalysts for the destruction of PCDD/Fs.

Various transition metal oxide and vanadium-containing multi-metallic oxide catalysts were developed for the destruction of PCDD/Fs (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans). A stable PCDD/Fs generating system was installed to support the catalytic destruction tests in this study. Nano-titania supported vanadium catalyst (VOx/TiO2) showed the highest activity, followed by CeOx, MnOx, WOx and finally MoOx. Multi-metallic oxide catalysts, prepared by doping WOx, MoOx, MnOx and CeOx into VOx/TiO2 catalysts, showed different activities on the decomposition of PCDD/Fs. The highest destruction efficiency of 92.5% was observed from the destruction test over VOxCeOx/TiO2 catalyst. However, the addition of WOx and MoOx even played a negative role in multi-metallic VOx/TiO2 catalysts. Characterizations of transition metal oxides and multi-metallic VOx/TiO2 catalysts were also investigated with XRD and TPR. After the catalysts were used, the conversion from high valent metals to low valence states was observed by XPS.

Catalytic destruction of PCDD/Fs over vanadium oxide-based catalysts.

Vanadium oxide-based catalysts were developed for the destruction of vapour phase PCDD/Fs (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans). A vapour phase PCDD/Fs generating system was designed to supply stable PCDD/Fs steam with initial concentration of 3.2 ng I-TEQ Nm(-3). Two kinds of titania (nano-TiO2 and conventional TiO2) and alumina were used as catalyst supports. For vanadium-based catalysts supported on nano-TiO2, catalyst activity is enhanced with operating temperature increasing from 160 to 300 °C and then reduces with temperature rising further to 350 °C. It is mainly due to the fact that high volatility of organic compounds at 350 °C suppresses adsorption of PCDD/Fs on catalysts surface and then further inhibits the reaction between catalyst and PCDD/Fs. The optimum loading of vanadium on nano-TiO2 support is 5 wt.% where vanadium oxide presents highly dispersed amorphous state according to the Raman spectra and XRD patterns. Excessive vanadium will block the pore space and form microcrystalline V2O5 on the support surface. At the vanadium loading of 5 wt.%, nano-TiO2-supported catalyst performs best on PCDD/Fs destruction compared to Al2O3 and conventional TiO2. Chemical states of vanadium in the fresh, used and reoxidized VOx(5 %)/TiO2 catalysts at different operating temperature are also analysed by XPS.

Low temperature destruction of PCDD/Fs over V2O5-CeO2/TiO2 catalyst with ozone.

Catalytic destruction of PCDD/Fs (polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans) over V2O5-CeO2/TiO2 catalyst was investigated at a low temperature range of 140-180 °C, in the absence and presence of ozone (200 ppm). Nano-TiO2 support was used to prepare the catalyst by step impregnation method. A stable PCDD/Fs-generating system was established to support the catalytic destruction tests. In the presence of ozone alone, destruction efficiencies of PCDD/Fs are between 32.2 and 43.1 % with temperature increasing from 140 to 180 °C. The activity of V2O5-CeO2/TiO2 catalyst alone on PCDD/Fs destruction is also studied. The increase of temperature from 140 to 180 °C enhances the activity of catalyst with destruction efficiencies increasing from 54.7 to 73.4 %. However, ozone addition greatly enhances the catalytic activity of V2O5-CeO2/TiO2 catalyst on PCDD/Fs decomposition. At 180 °C, the destruction efficiency of PCDD/Fs achieved with V2O5-CeO2/TiO2 catalyst and ozone is above 86.0 %. It indicates that the combined use of ozone and catalyst reduces the reaction temperature of PCDD/Fs oxidation and offers a new method to destroy PCDD/Fs with high destruction efficiency at a low temperature. Furthermore, the destruction efficiencies of 17 toxic PCDD/F congeners, achieved with ozone alone, catalyst alone, and catalyst/ozone are analyzed.

Low temperature destruction of PCDD/Fs by catalysis coupled with activated carbon.

In order to enhance the oxidation and adsorption capacity of catalyst, two kinds of activated carbon (AC) are mechanically mixed with V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalyst respectively. In this study, the mixtures (M-1: catalyst mixing with AC based on lignite; M-2: the one on coconut shell) are investigated to destroy high concentration (9.8 ng I-TEQ Nm(-3)) PCDD/Fs at low temperature (160 °C). Adding AC into the catalyst obviously increases removal efficiency (RE) and destruction efficiency (DE). However, M-2 presents higher RE value and lower DE value compared with M-1 at the same conditions as the stronger adsorption capacity of AC based on coconut shell. For the M-2 mixture, RE values are decreasing while DE values show an opposite trend with the ratios of catalyst to AC increasing. Oxygen plays a positive role on the destruction of PCDD/Fs by accelerating the conversion of V(4+)Ox and V(5+)Ox. Adjusting oxygen content from 0 to 20 % could increase the DE value from 27.4 to 82.2 % for the M-1 and from 15.8 to 68.9 % for the M-2. In the presence of ozone, a dark brown flock will be generated when the ratio of AC and catalyst is 4:1 due to the reaction between AC and ozone, which results in the lower RE and DE values. The RE and DE values reach the maximum of 96.3 %, 90.6 % in this paper, respectively, when the ratio of AC and catalyst is 1:1 with ozone. Finally, the regenerating of mixture is investigated. Most of dioxin residues in the mixture are desorbed and oxidized by catalysis at 200 °C in the presence of oxygen.

[Degradation of PCDD/Fs by the Mixture of V2O5-WO3/TiO2 Catalyst and Activated Carbon].

The mixture of V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalyst and two kinds of Activated Carbons (AC) (AC-1: based on lignite; AC-2: based on coconut shell) was used to destroy gas phase PCDD/Fs with high concentration (9. 80 ng.m-3, evaluated by international toxic equivalence quantity (I-TEQ) under low thermal temperature (160°C) based on a dioxin generating system. After mixing with AC, removal efficiency (RE) and destruction efficiency (DE) of PCDD/Fs increased by 20% compared with only catalyst condition. In comparison with mixture of AC based on coconut shell, mixture of AC based on lignite had lower RE-values and higher DE-values. The adjustments of the ratio of catalyst and AC could cause the different degradation effects, and RE-values increased and DE-values decreased with increasing proportions of catalyst. When the volume fraction of oxygen was 0% in experimental atmosphere, catalyst could lose its activity and most PCDD/Fs were not oxidized but adsorbed by the mixture. RE and DE-values increased with increasing content of oxygen. The addition of ozone (concentration of 200 mg.m-3) could improve catalytic oxidation effects to a certain degree. However, ozone might react with AC, which could influence the lifetime of the mixture. Under 200°C, the mixture with proportion of AC: catalyst = 1:1 and in the present of 200 mg.m-3 ozone conditions, the highest RE and DE-value were obtained with 98. 0% and 94. 8% respectively, and the concentration of PCDD/Fs residual in off-gas was only 0. 51 ng.m-3 evaluated by I-TEQ.

Nasogastric placement of sump tube through the leak for the treatment of esophagogastric anastomotic leak after esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We seek to retrospectively analyze the nasogastric placement of sump tube through the leak for the treatment of intra-thoracic esophagastric anastomotic leak after esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Esophagectomy with intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomotic procedures were performed in 2954 patients who suffered from esophageal carcinoma in our hospital between May 2004 and July 2008. Anastomotic leak had developed in 38 patients, of whom four patients were treated by reoperations. Stent insertion, the traditional "three-tube method" and the nasogastric placement of sump tube through the leak were applied in two, seven, and 25 patients, respectively. RESULTS: The presence of anastomotic leak was proven by radiographic contrast examinations in 38 patients (1.3%). Among them, four received reoperations and recovered. Two patients were treated with the placement of self-expanding metallic coated stents and both died 10 and 13 d after placement due to uncontrollable hematemesis. Seven and 25 patients were managed by the traditional "three-tube method" and the nasogastric placement of sump tube through the leak, respectively. The mean time interval of the leak treatment was 42 d in the traditional "three-tube method" group and 31.2 d in the nasogastric placement of sump tube through the leak group, and the relatively average hospital mortality rates were 14.3% and 12%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The nasogastric placement of sump tube through the leak appears to be an effective, technically feasible, and minimally invasive option for the treatment of intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomotic leak.

Experimental observation on the yellow mice(Citellus undulatus) infected with Yersinia pestis over the winter / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To analysis and determine the possibility of the Citellus undulatus infected with Yersinia pestis surviving the winter in an experimental study, and to provide scientific experimental basis for the study on the mechanism of Yersinia pestis preservation. Method In 2006,09 to 2007,04 and 2007,09 to 2008,04 in Xinjiang Wusu-Gurtu natural foci of plague, under natural conditions, the over the winter process of Citellus undulatus carrying the plague bacteria was simulated, and 178 Citellus undulatus were infected with Yersinia pestis (1×107 Bacteria/mouse) using artificial injection method. One hundred seventy-eight Citellus undulatus infected with Yersinia pestis were kept into a construction of the black (1-5 ℃) basement (2 meters under the ground) in the plague focus. In doing so, these Citellus undulatuses almost simultaneously stepped into hibernation. After waking up from hibernation in following year in April, the survived mice carrying the plague bacteria were observed. Results Sixty-eight mice survived among the 178 infected with Yersinia pestis after 6 months of hibernation (through October to the following year in April), and the remaining 110 were all dead without pulling through the hibernation period. The survival rate was 38.2% (68/178). The organ culture of Yersinia pestis of the 110 dead mice(Citellus undnlatus) were tested, 67 were negative(-), 43 positive(+), with a positive rate of 39.1%(43/110). Among the rats with positive plague bacteria, the congestive pulmonary edema and the pathological changes of the hemorrhagic inflammation of the heart, liver, spleen, kidney and injection site could be seen clearly; the plague-free mice were not found to have any pathological changes. The survived 68 mice over the winter were autopsied and observed after being fed up for 20 days. No any pathological changes were found among these mice, and culturing of Yersinia pestis of the heart, liver, spleen, lungs and the tissue of injection site of these mice were all negative (-). Conclusions Citellus undulatus can carry Yersinia pestis during hibernation, but some fail to carry the bacteria through the entire process of hibernation persistently. Yersinia pestis was negative in the survived mice at the end of hibernation. The results showed that Citellus undulatus can not carry Yersinia pestis over the winter.

Molecular biological survey of tick-born arboviruses in southern part of Xinjiang / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>To disclose the species and distribution of tick-borne arboviruses in the southern part of Xinjiang.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Totally 5045 ticks were collected from 36 collecting sites of 23 places in the southern Xinjiang, which were made into cDNA pools with pd(N)6 primer through RT-PCR method. Then PCR was used to detect viral nucleotide sequence from cDNA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All 34 cDNAs showed negative to flavivirus and California serogroup virus primers; but nairovirus and primers derived from Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever virus had amplified and yielded some obvious bands corresponding to the nucleotide sequences of Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever virus. A phylogenetic analysis was done to the obtained partial sequences of L and S segments.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Nucleotide sequences of Neither flaviviruses nor California serogroup viruses were detected from the samples. However partial L segment sequence was first reported in China. Phylogenetic analysis of partial L and S segments disclosed the molecular characteristic of Xinjiang hemorrhagic fever virus.</p>