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Herein, kitchen waste hydrolysis residue (KWHR) was utilized as the precursor to fabricate nitrogen/oxygen co-doped microporous biocarbons (NOMBs) with ultrahigh specific surface area via KOH activation. Activation temperature was found to be crucial for heteroatom doping and pore structure construction. Attractively, the obtained NOMB with high surface area (2417 m 2 /g) and microporosity (~ 90%) displayed an outstanding capacity of Cr(VI) removal (526.1 mg/g at pH 2). The kinetics and isotherm studies showed that the adsorption of Cr(VI) onto NOMB was well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm. Moreover, it was found that Cr(VI) was partly reduced to Cr(III) during the removal process as the nitrogen/oxygen functionalities and unsaturated carbon bond played crucial roles of electron-donors, which revealed the fact that the removal of Cr(VI) by NOMB was attributed to the coupling of adsorption and reduction reaction. Overall, this study has demonstrated the possibility of preparing microporous biocarbons using KWHR as a renewable material and the resultant NOMB is of great potential to detoxify Cr(VI).

Background: Microalgal starch is regarded as a promising alternative to crop-based starch for biorefinery such as the production of biofuels and bio-based chemicals. The single or separate use of inorganic carbon source, e.g., CO 2 and NaHCO 3 , caused aberrant pH, which restricts the biomass and starch production. The present study applied an in situ CO 2 -NaHCO 3 system to regulate photosynthetic biomass and starch production along with starch quality in a marine green microalga Tetraselmis subcordiformis under nitrogen-depletion (-N) and nitrogen-limitation (±N) conditions., Results: The CO 2 (2%)-NaHCO 3 (1 g L -1 ) system stabilized the pH at 7.7 in the -N cultivation, under which the optimal biomass and starch accumulation were achieved. The biomass and starch productivity under -N were improved by 2.1-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively, with 1 g L -1 NaHCO 3 addition compared with the one without NaHCO 3 addition. NaHCO 3 addition alleviated the high-dCO 2 inhibition caused by the single CO 2 aeration, and provided sufficient effective carbon source HCO 3 - for the maintenance of adequate photosynthetic efficiency and increase in photoprotection to facilitate the biomass and starch production. The amylose content was also increased by 44% under this CO 2 -bicarbonate system compared to the single use of CO 2 . The highest starch productivity of 0.73 g L -1  day -1 under -N cultivation and highest starch concentration of 4.14 g L -1 under ±N cultivation were both achieved with the addition of 1 g L -1 NaHCO 3 . These levels were comparable to or exceeded the current achievements reported in studies. The addition of 5 g L -1 NaHCO 3 under ±N cultivation led to a production of high-amylose starch (59.3% of total starch), which could be used as a source of functional food., Conclusions: The in situ CO 2 -NaHCO 3 system significantly improved the biomass and starch production in T. subcordiformis . It could also regulate the starch quality with varied relative amylose content under different cultivation modes for diverse downstream applications that could promote the economic feasibility of microalgal starch-based biofuel production. Adoption of this system in T. subcordiformis would facilitate the CO 2 mitigation couple with its starch-based biorefinery., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Microorganisms in nature have been suggested as effective synthetic platform for functional materials construction. In this study, we cultured a typical white rot fungus of Phanerochaete chrysosporium in iron-containing medium to obtain iron-rich biomass, serving as sole precursor for magnetic biocarbon synthesis. The accumulated iron in biomass reached to 4.6 wt%. After carbonization and activation, microporous magnetic biocarbon (Fe/BC) with high specific surface area of 1986 m 2  g -1 was obtained. When applied as adsorbent for a model pharmaceutical (diclofenac sodium, DCF) removal from aqueous solution, a high adsorption capacity of 361.25 mg g -1 was found for the developed Fe/BC. Systematic isotherm, kinetic, thermodynamic and recycle studies were conducted to investigate adsorption behaviors of DCF onto Fe/BC. This work not only provides a novel strategy for magnetic biocarbon construction, but also envisions new perspective on the utilization of a variety of microorganisms in nature for functional materials preparation., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A considerable amount of excess sludge, a kind of hazardous waste, is produced from the conventional wastewater treatment systems such as activated sludge process, and efficient sludge reduction processes are needed. A new chemical method for sludge reduction was proposed by using manganese dioxide as oxidant in this study. A favorable condition for sludge reduction is determined as manganese dioxide dosage of 0.165 g g -1 wet sludge, sulfuric acid concentration of 3 mol L -1 , and reduction temperature of 90 °C for 90 min, where the sludge reduction efficiency can reach 73.30%. Reaction kinetic study revealed that the sludge reduction rate was controlled by the surface chemical reaction and the reaction followed a shrinking core kinetic model with apparent activation energy of 37.76 kJ mol -1 . Furthermore, reaction process analysis indicated that the sludge hydrolysis included two steps, i.e., floc destruction and microbial cell disruption. Considering the high efficiency and short treatment time, manganese dioxide oxidation is suggested to be a feasible method for disintegration of excess activated sludge.

Kitchen waste hydrolysis residue (KWHR), which is produced in the bioproduction process from kitchen waste (KW), is usually wasted with potential threats to the environment. Herein, experiments were carried out to evaluate the potential of KWHR as adsorbent for dye (methylene blue, MB) removal from aqueous solution. The adsorbent was characterized using FT-IR and SEM. Adsorption results showed that the operating variables had great effects on the removal efficiency of MB. Kinetic study indicated pseudo-second-order model was suitable to describe the adsorption process. Afterwards, the equilibrium data were well fitted by using Langmuir isotherm model, suggesting a monolayer adsorption. The Langmuir monolayer adsorption capacity was calculated to be 110.13 mg/g, a level comparable to some other low-cost adsorbents. It was found that the adsorption process of MB onto KWHR was spontaneous and exothermic through the estimation of thermodynamic parameters. Thus, KWHR was of great potential to be an alternative adsorbent material to improve the utilization efficiency of bioresource (KW) and lower the cost of adsorbent for color treatment.

Background: The solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) is a common and challenging clinical problem, especially solid SPN. The object of this study was to explore the predictive factors of SPN appearing as pure solid with malignance and to establish a clinical prediction model of solid SPNs., Methods: We had a retrospective review of 317 solid SPNs (group A) having a final diagnosis in the department of thoracic surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital from January 2015 to December 2015, and analyzed their clinical data and computed tomography (CT) images, including age, gender, smoking history, family history of cancer, previous cancer history, diameter of nodule, nodule location (upper lobe or non-upper lobe, left or right), clear border, smooth margin, lobulation, spiculation, vascular convergence, pleural retraction sign, air bronchogram sign, vocule sign, cavity and calcification. By using univariate and multivariate analysis, we found the independent predictors of malignancy of solid SPNs and subsequently established a clinical prediction model. Then, another 139 solid SPNs with a final diagnosis were chosen in department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated Zhoushan Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University as group B, and used to verify the accuracy of the prediction model. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed using the prediction model., Results: Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify eight clinical characteristics (age, family history of cancer, previous cancer history, clear border, lobulation, spiculation, air bronchogram sign, calcification) as independent predictors of malignancy of in solid SPNs. The area under the ROC curve for our model (0.922; 95%CI: 0.865-0.961). In our model, diagnosis accuration rate was 84.89%. Sensitivity was 90.41%, and specificity was 78.79%, and positive predictive value was 80.50%, and negative predictive value was 88.14%., Conclusions: Our prediction model could accurately identify malignancy in patients with solid SPNs, thereby it can provide help for diagnosis of solid SPNs.

Professor HE Tianyou's unique understanding and treatment characteristics for intractahle facial paralysis are introduced. In clinical practice professor HE highly values acupoint selection and manipulation application, and integrates Chinese and western medicine to flexibly choose acupoints and formulate prescriptions according to syndrome differentiation and location differentiation, besides, he creates several specialized manipulation methods including "tug-of war opposite acupuncture method" and "tractive flash cupping". Based on strengthening body and dredging collaterals. more attention is given on stimulation to local paralyzed facial nerves; meanwhile acupuncture and medication are combined to improve clinical efficacy. During the treatment, the important role of psychological counseling on patient's anxiety is emphasized, and comprehensive treatment is given physically and psychologically in order to achieve the purpose of total rehabilitation.

Microalgal biofuel production from wastewater has economic and environmental advantages. This article investigates the lipid production from high chemical oxygen demand (COD) bioethanol wastewater without dilution or additional nutrients, using a newly isolated heterotrophic microalga, Chlorella vulgaris LAM-Q. To enhance lipid accumulation, the combined effects of important operational parameters were studied via response surface methodology. The optimal conditions were found to be temperature of 22.8℃, initial pH of 6.7, and inoculum density of 1.2 × 10(8) cells/ml. Under these conditions, the lipid productivity reached 195.96 mg/l/d, which was markedly higher than previously reported values in similar systems. According to the fatty acid composition, the obtained lipids were suitable feedstock for biodiesel production. Meanwhile, 61.40% of COD, 51.24% of total nitrogen, and 58.76% of total phosphorus were removed from the bioethanol wastewater during microalgal growth. In addition, 19.17% of the energy contained in the wastewater was transferred to the microalgal biomass in the fermentation process. These findings suggest that C. vulgaris LAMQ can efficiently produce lipids from high-concentration bioethanol wastewater, and simultaneously performs wastewater treatment.

Objective: To investigate the nutritional status of iodine and the prevalence of thyroid carcinoma of residents in Zhoushan Archipelago, and to explore the related factors influencing the prevalence of thyroid carcinoma., Methods: The residents in Zhoushan Archipelago were selected by cluster random sampling. The subjects were surveyed by questionnaire, their thyroids were examined by B-ultrasonography, the thyroid function and the levels of urine iodine were analyzed. Pathological diagnosis was conducted to the patients suspected of thyroid carcinoma., Results: The median levels of urine iodine in urban residents, famers, salt-makers, fishermen from Zhoushan and buddhists from Putuoshan were 320.7, 188.9, 122.2, 193.6 and 271.7 microg/L respectively, while the prevalence rates of thyroid carcinoma were 215/100 000, 398/100 000 0, 407/100 000, 829/100 000,340/100 000, respectively; The age or a higher level of hTSH of a person were risk factors for suffering from thyroid carcinoma., Conclusion: The iodine intake of residents in ZhouShan Archipelago is adequate and the prevalence rate of thyroid carcinoma is high. Serum hTSH could be used as a predictor for the risk of thyroid carcinoma.

Previous clinical studies have shown the safety and efficacy of the traditional Chinese medicinal herbal aqueous extract Chan-Yu-Bao-Yuan-Tang (CYBYT) for the treatment of lung and cervical cancer patients. Used in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), CYBYT has been observed to be particularly effective in cancer treatment. Herein, the combined anticancer effect and the underlying mechanisms of 5-Fu and CYBYT in the human lung cancer cell line A549 and the human cervical cancer cell line HeLa were investigated in vitro. The MTT assay, Annexin V-FITC staining and Western blotting were applied to identify cell viability, the stages of apoptosis and the expression of signaling proteins, respectively. The results indicated that CYBYT and 5-Fu, alone or in combination, significantly inhibited proliferation and induced marked apoptosis in A549 and HeLa cells, but had no significant inhibitory effects on normal human IMR-90 fibroblasts. The rate of mid and late apoptosis or necrosis was greater after 5-Fu treatment compared to treatment with CYBYT or the combination of agents; however, the early apoptotic rate showed opposite results. CYBYT and 5-Fu, alone or in combination, up-regulated cleaved caspase-3 expression in a time-dependent manner, with CYBYT being more effective than 5-Fu. Taken together, our data show that the pro-apoptotic activity of the two-drug combination was much stronger than that of CYBYT or 5-Fu alone; CYBYT combined with 5-Fu had synergistic effects at lower concentrations and promoted apoptosis, while the combined treatment also decreased the cytotoxic side effects of 5-Fu.

Primarily, Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) is a specific receptor for microbial DNA in human immune cells. TLR9 has been found to be a promising target in tumor immunotherapy but the direct effect of its activation on tumor cells remains unknown. In this study, we examined the effect of TLR9 ligation on estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha)-mediated transactivation of breast cancer. Luciferase report gene assays, RNA interference of TLR9 and Chromatin immunoprecipitation were performed to measure the effect of TLR9 ligation on ERalpha-mediated transactivity of T47D and MCF-7 cells. Bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assay was used to examine the effect of TLR9 ligation on estrogen (E2)-induced proliferation of breast cancer cells. We also investigated the mechanism for the effect of TLR9 ligation on ERalpha-mediated transactivity. We found that ERalpha-mediated transcription via estrogen response element of human breast cancer cells line T47D was significantly suppressed when treated with 17beta-estradiol in combination with TLR9 agonist CpG oligonucleotides and this effect of CpG was dependent on TLR9. Furthermore, nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) inhibitor BAY 11-7082 could abolish the inhibitory effect of CpG oligonucleotides on ERalpha-mediated transactivation. We also confirmed the effect of CpG oligonucleotides on ERalpha-mediated transactivation in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 forced to stably overexpress TLR9. Finally, we observed that CpG oligonucleotides were also able to inhibit estrogen-induced proliferation of breast cancer cells as a consequence of decreased ERalpha-mediated transactivation. Taken together, our data suggest that TLR9 signal pathway, by activating NF-kappaB, negatively regulates ERalpha-mediated transactivation of breast cancer. Thus, TLR9 agonist inhibits the proliferation of breast cancer cells in response to estrogen.

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) overexpression and tumor stem cells are thought to be important factors in the cross-resistance of cancer cells. There have been no studies on whether diallyl trisulfide (DATS) can reverse drug resistance in human osteosarcoma cells. In the present study, we demonstrated that DATS down-regulated P-gp expression and reversed drug resistance. DATS and methotrexate (MTX) decreased the ratio of drug-resistant human osteosarcoma cells positive for CD133 (a tumor stem cell marker). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evidence that DATS can reverse drug resistance and lower the ratio of CD133+ cells in human osteosarcoma cells in conjunction with MTX.

Background: At present, it has been known that the bronchogenic artery participates in the blood supply of primary bronchogenic carcinoma, but there is controversy about the blood supply from pulmonary artery in primary bronchogenic carcinoma. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between the blood supply from pulmonary artery and pathological characteristis of patients with primary bronchogenic carcinoma., Methods: The pulmonary arteries in 43 surgical samples of bronchogenic carcinoma were marked, then the iopromide was used to selective pulmonary arteriography in digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The relationship between tumor with blood supply from pulmonary artery and the pathologic characteristics was observed., Results: There were 34 samples with blood supply from pulmonary artery ( 79.07%) , and 9 samples without blood supply from pulmonary artery (20.93%). The development rate of peripheral lung cancer (100.00%) was significantly higher than that of central lung cancer (64.00%) (P < 0.01) . The development rate of squamous cell carcinoma (91.30%) was remarkably higher than that of adenocarcinoma (61.11%) (P < 0.05). The development rate of poorly differentiated lung cancer (95.00%) was remarkably higher than that of well and moderately differentiated lung cancer (65.22%) (P < 0.05). There was a positive relationship between the tumor size and the development rate (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: In primary bronchogenic carcinoma, the pulmonary artery blood supply exists in most of tumors. There is relationship between the blood supply from pulmonary artery and general type, histopathology, cell differentiation and tumor size of lung cancer. The blood supply from pulmonary artery doesn't relate to tumor stage.

The desufurization in dilute sulfuric acid solution, acidic ferric solution, and microbial solution (Thiobacillus ferrooxidans) was studied in this paper. The concentration of ferric, pH value and time all affect the rate of desulfurization. The experimental results showed that in dilute sulfuric acid solution the absorption of SO2 was a physical absorption. In acidic ferric solution, the ion of ferric can not only catalyze but also oxidize SO2. The effects of desulfurization became obvious along with high concentration of ferric and pH value. Desulfurization rate was up to 90% when pH value was 2.0 and the concentration of ferric was 1.5 g/L. In microbial solution, the effects were also influenced by the concentration of ferric and pH value. Thiobacillus ferrooxidans had an ability of oxiding the ion of ferrous and S(IV). The results of desulfurization was the best at the concentration of ferric 1.5 g/L and pH 2.0.