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Pediatric follicular lymphoma (PTFL) is one of the rare pediatric-type indolent B-cell lymphomas that clinicopathologically differs from adult lymphoma. Accurate diagnosis of PTFL is essential to avoid leak-diagnosis, misdiagnosis and overtreatment, but it is often challenging. To improve the understanding of PTFL, we collected four cases of PTFL, and analyzed the clinicopathological features, differential diagnosis and molecular mutation characteristics of PTFL by hematoxylin‑eosin stain, immunohistochemistry, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). The relevant literature review was also performed. Four PTFL patients were all male, aged 6, 18, 13 and 15 years, and St. Jude were staged III. and I.. Microscopic results showed that the lymph node structure was destroyed; the tumor follicles were enlarged and irregular; medium-large blast-like cells with a consistent shape were visible in tumor follicles, and the nucleus was round or oval; the “starry sky” phenomenon was easy to discover. Tumor cells expressed CD20, PAX-5, Bcl-6, CD10. None of the tumor cells expressed Bcl-2, CD3, CD5, MUM-1, and CyclinD1. CD21 showed dilated growth of follicular dendritic cell (FDC) mesh in tumor follicles. EBER were all negative. FISH testing also showed negative Bcl-2 gene breaks in four cases. A total of 12 related mutant genes including KMT2D, CD79B, GNA13, MYD88, PCLO, TCF3, IRF8, MAP2K1, FOXO1, POLE, INPP5D and FAT4 were detected by NGS. Two of the four cases had IRF8 gene mutation, and one case detected a dual mutation of the MAP2K1 gene. Our data reviewed the unique clinicopathological features and molecular mutational characteristics of PTFL, consolidated the understanding of PTFL, and identified other rare mutant genes, which may further contribute to the study of the molecular mechanism and differential diagnosis of PTFL.

A lab-scale sequencing batch reactor was employed to study simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal (SNDPR) when treating municipal wastewater at 10 °C for 158 days. An anaerobic/aerobic configuration that had previously been effective when treating synthetic wastewater was explored, however, these conditions were relatively ineffective for real municipal wastewater. Incorporation of a post-anoxic phase (i.e., anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic) improved nitrogen and phosphorus removals to 91.1 % and 92.4 %, respectively while achieving a simultaneous nitrification and denitrification efficiency of 28.5 %. Activity tests indicated that 15.8 % and 56.0 % of nitrogen were removed by denitrifying phosphorus accumulating organisms in the aerobic phase and heterotrophs using hydrolyzed carbon in the post-anoxic phase, respectively. 16S rRNA gene analysis and stoichiometric ratios indicated the system was rich in phosphorus accumulating organisms (Dechloromonas and Ca. Accumulibacter). Overall, implementation of the post-anoxic phase eliminated carbon uptake for denitrification in the anaerobic phase and was essential to maintaining SNDPR at low temperatures.

This study investigated the potential benefit of co-digesting sewage sludge (SS) and settled/mixed fat, oil, and grease (FOG) with BioAmp pretreatment, a bio-additive product, for a utility. BioAmp was found to increase the soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD)/COD ratio of FOG (from 4.19 to 4.49), consequently enhancing volatile solid (VS) reduction (from 75.9 to 84.8%). The ratio of SS and FOG for co-digestion was based on their actual daily production volume, resulting in FOG content ranging between 15 and 20% VS for co-digestion assays. Co-digestion of SS and mixed FOG waste after BioAmp pretreatment produced the highest cumulative methane yield (CMY) of 400 mL/g VSadded, which is 98% higher than that of mono-digestion of SS (202 mL/g VSadded). Kinetic analysis demonstrated a synergistic effect in co-digestion of FOG and SS with both increased CMY and degradation rate constant. For the utility, co-digestion can increase methane yield by 141%; however, 7.77% more biosolids are produced and 6% more total nitrogen will return to mainstream, a potential burden to nutrient management. Overall, the results of batch test demonstrated the benefits of co-digestion of SS and FOG with BioAmp pretreatment in terms of increased CMY, degradation rate constant, and VS reduction. The analysis of the utility showed that co-digestion can produce more biogas but also increase more biosolids and total nitrogen return.

Nitrogen removal pathways of simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal (SNDPR) at low dissolved oxygen (0.3 mg/L) and temperature (10℃) were explored to understand nitrogen removal mechanisms. Biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal was sustained with total inorganic nitrogen removal, phosphorus removal, and simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) efficiencies of 62.6%, 97.3%, and 31.2%, respectively. The SND was observed in the first 2 h of the aerobic phase and was attributed to denitrifying ordinary heterotrophic organisms using readily biodegradable chemical oxygen demand and denitrifying phosphorus accumulating organisms (DPAOs), which removed 15.1% and 12.2% of influent nitrogen, respectively. A phosphorus accumulating organism (PAO)-rich community was indicated by stoichiometric ratios and supported by 16S rRNA gene analysis, with Dechloromonas, Zoogloea, and Paracoccus as DPAOs, and Ca. Accumulibacter and Tetrasphaera as PAOs. Even though Ca. Competibacter (10.4%) was detected, limited denitrifying glycogen accumulating organism denitrification was observed.

The degradation kinetics of anaerobic co-digestion of pig manure (PM) and sewage sludge (SS) were investigated for a utility that has concerns on nitrogen in the digestate return stream. In this study, batch-scale anaerobic reactors were set up with SS/PM volatile solids (VS) ratios at 7:1, 14:1, 21:1, and mono-digestions of SS and PM. PM (239 mL/g VSadded) produced more methane than SS (182 mL/g VSadded). As a result, increasing PM in co-digestion also increased methane yield. Kinetic models indicated synergistic effects by co-digestion with a faster degradation rate, an increased cumulative methane yield, and a shortened digestion time. Despite total nitrogen increased in digestate, the total nitrogen in co-digestion supernatant was lowered, which interprets to a nominal impact to the mainstream treatment with the additional PM loading. Nitrogen content in dewatered biosolids is expected to increase between 39.5%–53.5% thus benefiting land application.