[Metagenomic Analysis of Resistance Genes in Membrane Cleaning Sludge].

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are considered important reservoirs of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and function as the main sources of ARGs in the environment. Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have been recognized as effective tools for removing ARGs in WWTPs.There are a large number of pathogens and resistance genes in colloids, particulate matter, suspended matter, and microbial metabolites in intercepted wastewater by MBR. However, the distribution characteristics of resistance genes in membrane cleaning sludge remains unclear. In this study, resistance genes of membrane cleaning sludge were analyzed using a metagenomic technique. The results showed that there were 39 phyla in the membrane cleaning sludge. Proteobacteria, Nitrospirae, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla. The dominant genera were Nitrospira, Pseudomonas, and Bradyrhizobium. The pathogens accounted for 10.54% of all bacteria in the sample, among which Pseudomonas had the highest abundance, accounting for 3.94%. A total of 17 types of antibiotic resistance genes and 16 types of metal resistance genes (MRGs) (15 types of single metal resistance genes and 1 types of multi-heavy metal resistance gene) were identified. Multidrug resistance genes had the highest abundance, accounting for 49.08%. Multi-heavy metal resistance genes were the most abundant, accounting for 34.58%. The copper resistance genes were the most abundant of the single metal resistance genes, accounting for 19.99%. The most important functional pathway of microbial community in the membrane cleaning sludge was metabolic related, and many genes identified were related to human diseases. The numbers of genes related to bacterial resistance and bacterial infectious diseases were the largest, accounting for 34.50% and 16.62%, respectively. These results indicate that there were abundant ARGs, MRGs, and pathogens in the membrane cleaning sludge, which has potential environmental health risks. It is necessary to strengthen the control of ARGs, MRGs, and pathogens in membrane cleaning sludge to provide guidance for selecting appropriate technologies for effectively removing ARGs, MRGs, and pathogens.

Esophageal/gastric cancer screening in high-risk populations in Henan Province, China.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the endoscopic screening findings in high-risk population of esophageal and gastric carcinoma and analyze influential factors related to screening. METHODS: In seven selected cities and counties with high incidences of esophageal carcinoma, people at age of 40-69 were set as the target population. Those with gastroscopy contradictions were excluded, and all who were voluntary and willing to comply with the medical requirements were subjected to endoscopic screening and histological examination for esophageal, gastric cardia and gastric carcinoma in accordance with national technical manual for early detection and treatment of cancer. RESULTS: In three years, 36,154 people were screened, and 16,847 (46.60%) cases were found to have precancerous lesions. A total of 875 cases were found to have cancers (2.42%), and among them 739 cases had early stage with an early diagnosis rate is 84.5%. Some 715 patients underwent prompt treatment and the success rate was 81.8%. CONCLUSIONS: In a high-risk population of esophageal and gastric carcinoma, it is feasible to implement early detection and treatment by endoscopic screening. Screening can identify potential invasive carcinoma, early stage carcinoma and precancerous lesions, improving efficacy through early detection and treatment. The exploratory analysis of related influential factors will help broad implementation of early detection and treatment for esophageal and gastric carcinoma.

[Adsorption of Cd2+ ions in aqueous by diamine-modified ordered mesoporous SBA-15 particles].

Highly ordered channel structure SBA-15 was widely concerned as new adsorbents in environmental protection, in order to increase its heavy metal ions adsorption ability from aqueous solution, the diamine -modified porous silicate SBA-15 was synthesized by a hydrothermal grafting method and characterized by TEM, X-ray diffraction, FTIR and N2 adsorption-desorption. The SBA-15 and modified SBA-15 samples were used as sorbents to adsorb Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution. The effect of experimental parameters, such as pH, contact time, sorbent dosage and temperature were examined, and the maximum adsorption amount was also calculated. The results showed that under same conditions, the Cd(II) removal rate was higher for 2N-SBA-15 than that of the unmodified SBA-15. The adsorption process was controlled by system pH. The highest removal rate could reached about 95% after pH was higher than 4. Adsorption equilibrium was reached within 30 minutes,and more than 95% Cd2+ was adsorbed when 7.5-20 mg sorbent was added into 100 mL solution contained 25 mg x L(-1) Cd2+. The adsorption capacity increased from 94.73% to 98.22% with temperature increased from 25 degrees C to 35 degrees C. The Langmuir model can be used to describe adsorption isotherms. The adsorption capacity of Cd2+ was 0.9 mmol x g(-1) which is comparable to the adsorption capacity of various adsorbents reported in the literature, and 0.1 mol x L(-1) HCl could remove nearly 93% Cd2+ from 2N-SBA-15 particles. Based on the thermodynamic, pH, XPS and Zeta potential analysis results in this study, it could be concluded that the adsorption process was an endothermic and spontaneous reaction which contained physical adsorption, ion exchange and chelating reaction etc. The study indicated that the diamine -modified ordered mesoporous material SBA-15 is a potential sorbent which could be used for the aqueous Cd2+ removal.

[Application of HPLC-ESI-ITMS in the quality control of carboxyterminal sequence confirmation for insulin and insulin chain B].

Application of HPLC-ESI-ITMS in the quality control of carboxyterminal sequence confirmation for insulin and insulin chain B was studied. The solution of intact insulin or insulin chain B was added to the solution of carboxypeptidase P (CPP) and carboxypeptidase Y (CPY). Fractions of appropriate volume were removed at some appointed time points, acidified with the same amount of 1% formic acid to stop the digestion, and then briefly vortexed for HPLC-ESI-ITMS analysis. Mobile phase A consisted of 0.02% TFA in 98% ultra-pure water and 2% acetonitrile. Mobile phase B consisted of 0.02% TFA in 98% acetonitrile and 2% ultra-pure water. The solution used for post-column fix consisted of propionic acid and isopropyl alcohol (20 : 80, v/v). Chromatographic separation was carried out on a reversed-phase column (Zorbax Prosphere C18, 300A, 5 microm, 2.1 mm ID x 150 mm length). The molecular weights of the multiply charged ions representing consecutive truncated losses of carboxyterminal amino acids were determined by the use of HPLC-ESI-ITMS. The differences between the consecutive truncated peptides are the experimental weights of the carboxyterminal amino acid residues. The carboxyterminal amino acid residue Ala, which released from chain B of intact insulin, was confirmed in the nanomolar concentration range by analyzing the molecular weight of the truncated peptides. Another one carboxyterminal amino acid Ala was confirmed in the nanomolar concentration range of insulin chain B. In the quality control for recombinant DNA product or natural protein, the confirmation of 1 - 3 carboxyterminal amino acid residues is regarded to be up to standard. One amino acid residue of insulin or insulin chain B could be confirmed accurately in the nanomolar concentration range. The results showed that intact insulin could be directly sequenced in the quality control without separating chain B from chain A. There would be no need to separate chain A from chain B to identify carboxyterminal of intact insulin. Furthermore, the method saved us a lot of trouble from the preparation and purification of insulin chain A and chain B.

Structural characterization of chlorobenzylidine.

AIM: To study the structure and crystal forms of chlorobenzylidine. METHODS: Karl Fischer titrimetry, FTIR, thermal analysis, single and powder X-ray diffraction were used for the studies of the structure of chlorobenzylidine and for the identification of two forms of chlorobenzylidine. RESULTS: Chlorobenzylidine and its diastereoisomer have been studied in this article. They can be distinguished by their different melting points. Two crystal forms of chlorobenzylidine (form A and form B) have also been detected and studied. Form A was studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, it crystallized in the triclinic system, space group P1(-), with two formula units per cell, is monohydrate. Karl Fischer titrimetry, FTIR, thermal analysis and powder X-ray diffraction were used for identification of the two forms. CONCLUSION: The studies of structure and crystal forms of chlorobenzylidine are very useful for the clinical research and the selection of recrystallization process.

[Clinical analysis of acute coronary infarction patients with roughly normal coronary arteriographic findings].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the detection rate and possible causes of acute coronary infarction (AMI) patients with roughly normal coronary arteriographic (CAG) findings. METHOD: A retrospective analysis was conducted in 311 cases of AMI undergoing CAG examination. RESULT: Of these 311 patients, 16 patients, whose age averaged 47.6 years, had roughly normal findings in CAG, including 9 below the age of 45 years, 10 with smoking history, and 5 with successful thrombolysis. CONCLUSION: Patients with normal or roughly normal CAG finding might also have AMI likely induced by coronary artery thrombosis and spasm.