Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling and Flap Inverting under Air in Large Idiopathic Macular Hole Surgery.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling combined with modified flap inverting under air in the treatment of large idiopathic macular hole (MH). METHODS: Eyes with a large idiopathic MH (minimum diameter >550 µm) were included in this study. The surgical procedure included standard 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), ILM peeling, complete fluid-gas exchange, and ILM flap inversion under air. The patients underwent follow-up exam including optical coherence tomography (OCT) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) measurement. RESULTS: Sixteen eyes from 16 patients were included. Mean MH diameter was 681.43 ± 112.12 µm. After a mean follow-up time of 6.25 ± 2.65 months, in all cases, the MH was closed, and the ILM flap could be seen at the inner surface of the fovea. U-shaped and V-shaped MH closure was achieved in 11 and 5 cases, respectively. The BCVA improved significantly from 1.49 ± 0.35 logMAR to 0.89 ± 0.35 logMAR (p < 0.05), and visual acuity of 20/100 or better was achieved in 8 eyes. CONCLUSION: ILM flap inverting under air was helpful in improving the functional and anatomic outcomes of vitrectomy for large idiopathic MH.

Measurement of Iris Thickness at Different Regions in Healthy Chinese Adults.

PURPOSE: To study the variation of iris thicknesses in different regions and explore the possible correlations with age and gender. METHODS: Healthy Chinese adults were recruited; the anterior segment of their eyes was imaged by swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). The horizontal scan of the right eye was selected, and the thicknesses of both the nasal and temporal irises were measured at 199 evenly spaced points. RESULTS: A total of 233 subjects with an average age of 36.79 ± 10.04 years (range 19 to 62) were included in the final analysis. The mean iris thicknesses of the temporal and nasal sides were 364.79 ± 47.58 µm and 372.44 ± 43.75 µm, respectively. The mean nasal iris thickness was positively correlated with age (ß = 0.9 µm/year; P = 0.002), but the temporal one was not (ß = 0.077 µm/year; P = 0.806). At 139 points of the nasal iris and 146 points of the temporal iris, the iris thickness was significantly correlated with age (P < 0.05). The thicknesses of the peripheral and pupillary parts were positively correlated with age, while the middle part was negatively correlated with age. No significant difference was observed in the mean iris thickness between genders (temporal: t = 1.597, P = 0.112; nasal: t = 1.870, P = 0.063), but females had a thicker iris than males at 50 points in the temporal side and 49 points in the nasal side (P < 0.05); no point in males was observed to have thicker iris compared to females. CONCLUSION: Using SS-OCT and the novel method, thicknesses of the iris at different regions were measured. The thicknesses of the peripheral and pupillary irises increase with age, while the thicknesses of the middle part decrease.

Aging of solidified/stabilized electrolytic manganese solid waste with accelerated carbonation and aging inhibition.

High concentrations of soluble Mn in electrolytic manganese solid waste (EMSW) in soil cause the severe contamination in China. Calcium oxide and magnesium oxide-dominated stabilizers are suitable for the solidification/stabilization (s/s) of EMSW. However, the long-term performance of s/s using those two types of stabilizer is problematic. The aim of this study was to develop an accelerated aging method to simulate the long-term natural carbonation of solidified/stabilized EMSW. The joint use of accelerated carbonation, leaching test, mineralogical analysis, and microstructural observation was applied to assess the long-term performance of the s/s EMSW system. On an accelerated carbonation test for solidified/stabilized EMSW, an increase in Mn leaching from 13.6 to 408 mg/kg and a 1.5-2.3 decrease in pH was achieved by using CaO-dominated stabilizers, while an increase in manganese (Mn) from 30 to 266 mg/kg and a decrease in pH of 0.17-0.68 was seen using MgO-dominated stabilizers. CaO+Na3PO4 and CaO+CaCO3 were exceptions in that the leaching value of soluble Mn was lower after carbonation. Mineralogical analysis showed that rhodochrosite in the carbonated s/s system was generated not only from the reduction of hausmannite but also from the reversible reaction between Mn(OH)2 and MnCO3. Carbonation destroyed the tight particle structure resulting in a porous and loose structure. As for s/s EMSW treated by MgO-dominated stabilizers, carbonation affected the agglomerating structure and mineralogical composition by increasing magnesium (Mg) migration, thereby forming hydromagnesite that had weak binding ability and a nested porous shape. Therefore, carbonation by itself does not cause deterioration to s/s products of the soluble Mn but does have significant effects on the microstructure and mineralogical composition. It is recommended to add Na3PO4 or CaCO3 into a single CaO stabilized EMSW system to prevent aging of the system, allow formation of Mn phosphate precipitates, and improve the absorption and oxidation of soluble Mn(II).

Morphology characteristics and mode of CaO encapsulation during treatment of electrolytic manganese solid waste.

Electrolytic manganese solid waste (EMSW) is composed of manganese, calcium, and other sulfates. Common practice in China is to treat EMSW with quicklime (CaO); however, the per unit mass treatment efficiency of CaO is low. Studies of the interface between the CaO and EMSW particle and their microstructural characteristics are limited; these interactions may explain the low treatment efficiency. We conducted leaching experiments and measurements of the secondary heat generated by hydration of CaO to assess the extent of excess CaO in EMSW. The microstructure of CaO was also analyzed. It was determined that excess CaO particles in the EMSW were encapsulated, which influenced CaO hydration and morphology. The outer layer of the encapsulated CaO contained high levels of calcium and sulfur, which postulated to be caused by CaSO4 precipitates formed from the reaction of CaO hydration products with soluble sulfate. Three types of CaO encapsulation were identified: fully encapsulated CaO (55 % of the total CaO), partly encapsulated CaO (32 %), and self-encapsulated CaO (13 %). High concentrations of soluble sulfates in EMSW cause CaO encapsulation. These react to form CaSO4, which could negatively influence mass transfer and result in low treatment efficiency of EMSW by CaO.

MiR-142-3p Suppresses SOCS6 Expression and Promotes Cell Proliferation in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: An increasing number of studies show that microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) tumorigenesis. The aim of our study was to investigate the biological roles and mechanisms of miR-142-3p in NPC. METHODS: miR- 142-3p expression was examined in NPC specimens and nasopharyngitis biopsy samples by quantitative real-time PCR. The biological functions of miR-142-3p were studied using a series of in vitro and in vivo approaches. RESULTS: miR-142-3p is over-expressed in NPC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown of miR-142-3p significantly inhibited cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in vitro, and suppressed tumor growth in a mouse model. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 6 (SOCS6) was identified as a direct target of miR-142-3p, and miR- 142-3p down-regulated the expression of SOCS6 by directly binding to its 3'untranslated region (UTR). Knockdown of SOCS6 abrogated the effects of miR-142-3p down-regulation. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that miR-142-3p regulates NPC development by down-regulating SOCS6 expression and suggest that modulation of miR-142-3p expression could be a therapeutic strategy for NPC.

Immobilization of high concentrations of soluble Mn(II) from electrolytic manganese solid waste using inorganic chemicals.

Electrolytic manganese solid waste (EMSW) is a by-product of electrolytic manganese production and generally contains a high concentration of soluble Mn(II) (2000-3000 mg/L). Millions of tons of EMSW are stored in China, and the environmental pollution caused by manganese in this waste product is concerning. Unfortunately, little attention has been paid to the immobilization of manganese from industrial solid waste because manganese is absent from toxicological identification standards, and there is a lack of relevant quality standards in China. The objectives of this study were to immobilize soluble Mn(II) using chemical reagents, to analyze the immobilization mechanism, and to identify the most economical reagents. We investigated the immobilization degrees of soluble Mn(II) achieved by the reagents quicklime (CaO), carbonates (NaHCO3 and Na2CO3), phosphates (Na3PO4, Na2HPO4, NH4H2PO4, and Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2), and caustic magnesia (MgO) both individually and in combination. Our results showed that the use of 9% CaO+ 5% NaHCO3, 9% CaO+ 5% Na3PO4, 10% MgO alone, or with 1-5% NaHCO3 or 1-5% Na2CO3 can reduce the amount of Mn(II) leached to 100 mg/kg when the eluate pH was in the range of 6-9. The most economical reagent treatments were determined using K-means cluster analysis. Analysis of the immobilization mechanism showed that CaO + NaHCO3 may be favorable for immobilizing soluble Mn(II) as precipitation and oxidation products because the addition of NaHCO3 releases OH(-) and buffers the system.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in sediments of Liaohe River: levels, spatial and temporal distribution, possible sources, and inventory.

Spatial and seasonal variations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the sediment of Liaohe River were investigated in this study. A total of 29 surface sediment samples were collected in May and September in 2013. Results showed that levels of the two classes of compounds were higher in September than in May. The total concentration of PBDEs (∑8PBDEs) ranged from 0.30 to 5.09 ng g(-1) in May and from 0.17 to 13.73 ng g(-1) in September, respectively, and BDE 209 was the dominant compound. The total concentration of PCBs (∑33PCBs) was in the range of 4.92-76.86 and 11.69-179.61 ng g(-1) in May and September, respectively, with tri- and tetra-CBs dominated in the total PCBs in the sediments. According to the congener profiles and the principal component analysis, the major sources of PCBs and PBDEs in sediments of Liaohe River were from the usage of commercial products and industrial activities, and the degradation of high brominated BDEs also contributed to the current PBDEs in the sediments. The mass inventories of PBDEs and PCBs in the sediments of Liaohe River were 1.74 and 21.96 t, respectively, indicating that Liaohe River sediments may act as the potential sources of PBDEs and PCBs to the downstream coastal areas.

MicroRNA-320a inhibits cell proliferation, migration and invasion by targeting BMI-1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

In the present study, we investigated the roles and molecular mechanisms of miR-320a in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). miR-320a expression was strongly reduced in NPC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of miR-320a significantly suppressed NPC cell growth, migration, invasion and tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. A luciferase reporter assay revealed that miR-320a could directly bind to the 3' UTR of BMI-1. Overexpression of BMI-1 rescued miR-320a-mediated biological function. BMI-1 expression was found to be up-regulated and inversely correlated with miR-320a expression in NPC. Collectively, our data indicate that miR-320a plays a tumor suppressor role in the development and progression of NPC and may be a novel therapeutic target against NPC.

Distribution, sources and composition of antibiotics in sediment, overlying water and pore water from Taihu Lake, China.

The occurrence of 15 antibiotics classified as sulphonamides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, tetracyclines and trimethoprim in sediment, overlying water, and pore water matrices in Taihu Lake, China was studied. The total concentrations were from 4.1 µg/kg to 731 µg/kg, from 127 ng/L to 1210 ng/L, and from 1.5 ng/L to 216 ng/L in sediment, overlying water and pore water, respectively. Antibiotics in different locations originated from various sources, depending on human, agricultural and aquacultural activities. Composition analysis indicated that human-derived and animal-derived drugs significantly contributed to the total contamination of antibiotics in the lake, indicating the high complexity of contamination sources in Taihu Lake Basin. The in situ sediment-pore water partitioning coefficients were generally greater than sediment-overlying water partitioning coefficients, suggesting continuous inputs into the lake water. This study shows that antibiotics are ubiquitous in all compartments in Taihu Lake, and their potential hazards to the aquatic ecosystem need further investigation.

[Postauricular primary dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: a case report].

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberan is a maligant tumor with low malignancy. The major clinical manifestation is a hard nodule increasing slowly from skin surface, pale purple. Pathological feature as a wheel shape or a multilayer aligned fibroblast.

Extraction of manganese from electrolytic manganese residue by bioleaching.

Extraction of manganese from electrolytic manganese residues using bioleaching was investigated in this paper. The maximum extraction efficiency of Mn was 93% by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria at 4.0 g/l sulfur after bioleaching of 9days, while the maximum extraction efficiency of Mn was 81% by pyrite-leaching bacteria at 4.0 g/l pyrite. The series bioleaching first by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and followed by pyrite-leaching bacteria evidently promoted the extraction of manganese, witnessing the maximum extraction efficiency of 98.1%. In the case of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, the strong dissolution of bio-generated sulfuric acid resulted in extraction of soluble Mn2+, while both the Fe2+ catalyzed reduction of Mn4+ and weak acidic dissolution of Mn2+ accounted for the extraction of manganese with pyrite-leaching bacteria. The chemical simulation of bioleaching process further confirmed that the acid dissolution of Mn2+ and Fe2+ catalyzed reduction of Mn4+ were the bioleaching mechanisms involved for Mn extraction from electrolytic manganese residues.

[Investigation of the H2S contamination in cabin causing fishermen's eye burns].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the H(2)S pollution in cabins which caused the fishermen's eye burns. METHODS: Fifty-six fishing boats' H(2)S concentration was surveyed and 56 fishermen's eyes were inspected. The air samples were collected from 21 fishing boats' cabins, where the eye burns took place and the monitoring conditions met the inspection requirement, in order to confirm the concentration of H(2)S when eye burns and the systemic poisoning happened. Thirty fishing boats were divided into two groups: one was using air ventilating and spraying, the other was using naturally ventilation to find out the effective method of dispersing H(2)S. Five fishing boats were surveyed in which the fishermen had slight symptom of bulbar conjunctiva hyperemia and cough to find out the minimum concentration of H(2)S which caused the eye burns and respiratory mucosa. RESULTS: Among 56 fishermen who were surveyed, 46 fishermen's eyes (92 eyes) burnt and they were from 21 vessels, 10 of them (20 eyes) were moderate, 36 of them (72 eyes) were light. The concentration of H(2)S in the 21 fishing boats' cabins which caused eye burns was (99 ± 38) mg/m(3). The first measuring of the concentration of H(2)S in the 30 fishing boats in which fish were not discharged yet was (219 ± 31) mg/m(3). Air ventilating and spraying group's concentration of H(2)S was (213 ± 24) mg/m(3), while that of naturally ventilation group's was (225 ± 36) mg/m(3). Dispersing after 1 hour, the concentration of H(2)S of air ventilating and spraying group was (21 ± 3) mg/m(3), the decreased concentration was (192 ± 21) mg/m(3), fell 90%; the concentration of naturally ventilation group was (184 ± 36) mg/m(3), the decreased concentration was (41 ± 8) mg/m(3), fell 18%. The difference between the two groups' decreased concentration was significant (t = 25.627, P < 0.05). The threshold value of H(2)S concentration that could cause the eye burns was 38 mg/m(3)(exposure time 120 min). In 7 vessels, the concentration of H(2)S in the cabins was (123 ± 9) mg/m(3) where 10 fishermen's moderate eye burns happened. In other 7 vessels, the concentration of H(2)S in the cabins was (54 ± 7) mg/m(3) where 19 fishermen's light eye burns happened. The difference of H(2)S concentration between the two groups was significant (t = 14.236, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: High H(2)S concentration and long exposure time in cabin can cause serious eye burns. The bilge air ventilation and inner cabin spraying are the effective method to clear the H(2)S in cabin within short time.

[Pilot study on the biochemical treatment of mother liquid of polyvinyl chloride produced by suspension polymerization].

In the pilot study on the treatment of mother liquid of polyvinyl chloride produced by suspension polymerization (SPVC) by using a novel aerobic treatment system-4 cascade aerobic biofilm reactors with internal circulation, the removal efficiencies of the COD and turbidity at different HRT together with the resistance impact of the system were researched. The laws of the biological growth and the development were observed. Some primary factors (suspended solids, chironomidae larvae, nutrition) influencing the steady operation of the reactor were studied and their controlling methods were suggested. The experiment results show that the start-up period was very short and the total COD removal rate was over 75% at HRT of 14 h, the effluent less than 50 mg/L can steadily meet the requirement of wastewater discharge standard and also be reused after advanced treatment.