Jer-Yiing Houng

Real-time control of an immobilized-cell reactor for wastewater treatment using ORP

The performance of an immobilized-cell reactor for simultaneous carbon nitrogen removal in synthetic wastewater with an intermittent aeration (IA) process under real-time control of oxygen supply was investigated. The oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) was monitored during operation. The ORP-time profile showed distinctive turning points. which directly correlated with the changes in the system chemistry and biological activity. The reactor was conducted by cyclic fixed-time aeration nonaeration operation at the beginning, followed by real-time control technology using ORP setpoint. A moving window along the slope of the ORP curve was employed to search for the nitrate breakpoint of the aeration cycle. Once the breakpoint was found, the reactor was aerated for a fixed period. The treatment process could effectively avoid the anoxic fermentation state under the real-time control. The cycle time was reduced around 30%. The duration of aeration period was found to be optimum at 3 h under the consideration of the removal efficiencies of COD and total nitrogen. The real-time control system not only exhibited a better nitrogen removal efficiency than the fixed-time control operation, but it also showed a stable effluent quality during the change of HRT from 3 to 8 h. Good operation stability was demonstrated even when a very high disturbance of the influent loading occurred.

Serum levels of total p-cresylsulphate are associated with angiographic coronary atherosclerosis severity in stable angina patients with early stage of renal failure

OBJECTIVE p-Cresylsulphate (PCS), a protein-bound uraemic retention solute, is known to cause endothelial dysfunction and possibly plays a role in coronary atherosclerosis. We aimed to investigate the relationship of total PCS with traditional biomarkers associated with chronic coronary atherosclerosis. In addition, the relationship between serum total PCS levels and the severity of coronary artery stenosis was also explored. METHODS AND RESULTS Serum total PCS concentrations were measured by using the Ultra Performance LC System in 202 consecutive stable angina patients, and their associations with angiographic indexes of the number of diseased vessels and modified Gensini score were estimated. Patients with significant coronary artery stenosis have higher median serum total PCS levels than patients with normal coronary arteries. Statistically significant associations were observed between the serum total PCS levels and the number of diseased vessels (beta=0.261, p=0.0002), and modified Gensini score (beta=0.171, p=0.016). Using multivariate analysis, serum total PCS level was independently associated with the presence and severity of CAD. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that serum total PCS levels are significantly higher in the presence of CAD and are correlated with the severity of the disease, which suggest that increased serum total PCS may be involved in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis.

Effect of conjugated linoleic acid supplementation on weight loss and body fat composition in a Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has several benefits, including body fat reduction, as proved in animals. However, the results of CLA-induced body composition alterations in humans are inconsistent, and no related data are available for Chinese populations. This study aimed to determine whether CLA affects body weight (BW) loss and body composition of overweight and obese Chinese subjects. METHODS In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, subjects with a body mass index (BMI) of 24 to 35 kg/m(2) randomly received 1.7 g of cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 CLA (n = 30) or placebo (salad oil; n = 33) in 200 mL of sterilized milk twice daily for 12 wk. Changes in body composition were determined by bioimpedance measurements. RESULTS Sixty-three subjects completed the study (CLA, n = 30). After 12 wk, compared with the baseline, the BW, BMI, total fat mass, fat percentage, subcutaneous fat mass, and waist-to-hip ratio decreased in the CLA group (P < 0.05). The CLA group was stratified by BMI and gender. The BW, BMI, subcutaneous fat mass, and waist-to-hip ratio decreased in 27 subjects with a BMI ≥ 27, and these indices, except subcutaneous fat mass, were lower in female subjects. The levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein, and plasma fasting glucose increased, whereas those of high-density lipoprotein decreased after 3 mo of CLA treatment. The changes were not significantly different from the baseline values. CONCLUSION The supplementation of CLA for 12 wk in overweight and grade I obese Chinese subjects yielded lower obesity indices, with no obvious adverse effects.

Typhonium blumei extract inhibits proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells via induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Typhonium blumei Nicolson & Sivadasan is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb endowing with detumescence, detoxification, anti-inflammation activities, and has been used as a folk prescription on anticancer in Taiwan. AIM OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of Typhonium blumei (Tb) extract on the viability of different cancer cells and the apoptotic effect of this extract on A549 lung cancer cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human A549 cell line and other cancer cell lines were treated with different concentrations of Tb extract at different time intervals. Growth inhibition was determined by MTT assay. Apoptosis was detected by cell morphologic observation, cell cycle analysis, and immunoblot analysis on the expression of protein associated with cell death. GC-MS were used to determine the chemical constituents of this extract. RESULTS The Tb extract had cytotoxicity toward A549 lung cancer cells (IC(50)=97.7 μg/ml), LNCaP prostate cancer cells (IC(50)=124.5 μg/ml) and MCF-7 breast cancer cells (IC(50)=125.8 μg/ml). Conversely, the adverse effects of Tb extract on normal embryonic lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells (IC(50)=245.5 μg/ml) and embryonic kidney fibroblast HEK293 cells (IC(50)=251.1 μg/ml) were comparatively low. Cytometric analysis results demonstrate that A549 cells were arrested at the G2/M phase by treatment with Tb extract. The extract induced A549 cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway by down-regulating Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL protein expression, up-regulating Bax, Bad and Bak protein expression, and activating caspase-9 and caspase-3. Experimental results of bioactive compound analysis indicate that dibutyl phthalate, α-linolenic acid, phytol, campesterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol were the major bioactive ingredients of Tb extract. Although all these compounds had good anti-proliferative effects on A549 cells, campesterol (IC(50)=2.2 μM for 24h treatment) and β-sitosterol (IC(50)=1.9 μM for 24h treatment) displayed the greatest inhibitory activity. CONCLUSIONS Experimental results of this study suggest that the Tb extract exerts potential anticancer activity through the growth inhibition and the apoptosis on A549 cells.

Pretreatment circulating monocyte count associated with poor prognosis in patients with oral cavity cancer

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the pretreatment total and differential leukocyte counts can predict the prognosis of patients with oral cavity cancer.

Surgical results of single-incision transumbilical laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

BACKGROUND Conventional laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) has been the reference standard for bariatric surgery but requires 5-7 trocar incisions. We have developed a new procedure-single-incision transumbilical LRYGB (SITU-LRYGB)-that results in minimal scarring and is more cosmetically acceptable. To compare the surgical results and patient satisfaction between 5-port LRYGB and the novel SITU-LRYGB at a university hospital. METHODS We performed 5-port or SITU-LRYGB on 140 morbidly obese patients; the patients chose the operation method. We used a novel liver traction method and omega-umbilicoplasty specifically designed for SITU-LRYGB. RESULTS Before surgery, the patients in the 5-port surgery group were more obese than those in the SITU group (120.8 kg versus 108.9 kg, P = .013). The rate of hypertension was also greater in the former group. The operative time was longer for SITU-LRYGB (101.1 versus 81.1 min, P = .001) without increased intraoperative complications. The total morphine dose for the SITU group seemed to be greater but the difference was not statistically significant. No difference in complications was observed. Postoperatively, the percentage of excess body weight lost the SITU and 5-port surgery groups was 21.2% and 20.9%, 40.4% and 39.4%, 55.0% and 55.2%, 64.8% and 75.2%, and 75.4% and 78.2% at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively. The SITU-LRYGB patients reported greater satisfaction related to scarring than those who had undergone 5-port surgery (score 4.57 versus 3.96, respectively, P = .005). No patient died. CONCLUSION Compared with conventional LRYGB, SITU-LRYGB resulted in acceptable complications, the same recovery, comparative weight loss, and better patient satisfaction related to scarring.

Associations among chronic kidney disease, high total p-cresylsulfate and major adverse cardiac events

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease is prevalent among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients with CKD have elevated levels of p-cresylsulfate (PCS), which has been linked with cardiovascular mortality in this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of CKD in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and to investigate whether a significant correlation exists between CKD, total PCS and poor clinical outcomes in CAD patients. METHODS We assessed the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) among 340 consecutive CAD patients who enrolled in a disease management program after the patients were discharged from the hospital. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). RESULTS Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that CKD and high total PCS levels (>1.66 mg/L) were significantly associated with the occurrence of MACE. A multivariate Cox hazard regression model revealed that the predictive independent risk factor for the occurrence of MACE was high total PCS level (relative risk = 1.387). We divided the patients with or without CKD and high or low total PCS levels into 4 groups according to their eGFR and total PCS levels, respectively. The hazard ratio for MACE in the group with both CKD and high total PCS level was 1.721, relative to the group without CKD that had low total PCS level (p=0.005). CONCLUSIONS A high serum level of total PCS may be a predictor of elevated risk of MACE in CAD patients with low eGFR.

Optimizing Dynamic Multiresponse Problems Using the Dual-Response-Surface Method

Simultaneously optimizing a multiple-response problem in a dynamic system has taken on new significance due to the increasing complexity of product design. A procedure is proposed that initially uses the desirability function to measure the overall..

Improvement of nitrogen-removal efficiency using immobilized microorganisms with oxidation–reduction potential monitoring

The use of an immobilized-cell reactor for simultaneous carbon–nitrogen removal in wastewater with the monitoring of oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) in an intermittent aeration (IA) process was investigated. Under alternating aerated and nonaerated conditions, the ORP-time profile showed distinctive turning points that directly correlated with changes in the system chemistry and biological activity. The aeration ratio, defined as aeration time/cycle time, was optimum at 50% for obtaining the maximum efficiency of denitrification accompanied by sufficient nitrification. High simultaneous carbon–nitrogen removal efficiency could be achieved using the immobilized-cell reactor by applying the IA process. More than 90% of COD-removal efficiency and over 80% of total-nitrogen-removal efficiency were obtained using three aerobic–anoxic cycles per day at an aeration ratio of 50% and with a hydraulic retention time of 10 h. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 25, 229–234.

Polymorphism of angiotensin I-converting enzyme gene is related to oral cancer and lymph node metastasis in male betel quid chewers

OBJECTIVES Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), a type I cell surface zinc metallopeptidase, is differentially expressed in several malignancies and plays a role in tumor cell proliferation, tumor cell migration, angiogenesis, and metastatic behavior. We aimed to investigate the effects of ACE gene (rs1799752) variants on oral cancer risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) 32 was used to measure ACE gene polymorphisms in 88 patients with oral precancerous lesion (OPL), 186 33 patients with oral cancer, and 120 control subjects without any oral lesions. All study subjects were male 34 betel quid chewers. RESULTS Patients with oral cancer or OPL had a higher frequency of the DD genotype than the control patients did. Oral cancer patients with the DD genotype had a significantly higher prevalence of lymph node metastases than patients with the II/ID genotype did. After adjusting for age, smoking, drinking, and betel quid chewing status, we found that individuals with the DD genotype of the ACE gene had a 5.46-fold and 3.13-fold higher risk of developing oral cancer or OPL, respectively, than those with the II genotype did. Furthermore, oral cancer patients with the DD genotype of the ACE gene had a 2.16-fold higher likelihood of lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that the ACE gene polymorphisms may be associated with increased susceptibility to OPL and oral cancer and lymph node metastasis from oral cancer.