Experience of valve replacement under mild hypothermia on pump-beating heart: an analysis of 800 cases

Objective: To assess the outcome of valve replacement under mild hypothermia on pump-beating heart and to discuss the risk factors of cardiac valve surgery. Methods: In the period from November 1997 to May 2003, a total of 800 cases of valve replacement were carried out in our institute. The clinical data were reviewed and the technique of mild hypothermia and pump-beating heart to replace cardiac valve was described in detail. Results: 800 patients, 308 male and 492 female, with age range from 8 to 66 years, weighing 19 to 88 kg, underwent operation. The average cardiopulmonary bypass time was (109.38± 40.64) min, the average clamping time of the vena cava was (77.87±27.99) min and the average mechanical ventilation time was (17.78±12.21) h. There were 17 patients died in the early postoperative stage with an early mortality rate of 2.13%. The causes of death were failure in the weaning of extracorporeal circulation in 2 cases, severe low output syndrome in 3 cases, ventricular fibrillation in 3 cases, obstruction of coronary ostium of mechanical prosthetic valve in 1 case, hepatic failure in 2 cases, pulmonary failure in 1 case, multiorgan failure in 4 cases, and prosthetic valve dysfunction in 1 case. Severe postopertive complications occurred in 51 cases (6.375%), which included reexploration because of excessive bleeding in 16 cases (2.0%), lavage of poststernal infection in 2 cases (0.25%), postoperative strike in 7 cases (0.875%), pulmonary failure in 5 cases (0.625%), hepatic failure in 4 cases (0.5%), multiorgan failure in 11 cases (1.375%), ventricular arrhythmia in 5 cases (0.625%) and peripheral circulation failure in 1 case (0.125%). Conclusion: Mild hypothermia and pump-beating heart result in satisfying clinical outcome in patients undergoing valve replacement. The integrated sequenced deairing procedure ensures the avoidance of air embolism during operation. Pump-beating heart technique offers a safe and practical option especially in patients with severe critical valvular disorder.

The age measures and its layer sequence tratigraphy of Late Quaternary sediment in Lushan Dajiaochang of China

Through the scientific investigation on Lushan for a long time, detailed studies have been carried out on the geologic stratum section of Late Quaternary in Dajiaochang. The series age data of complete stratigraphic section and full time formation since 400 kaBP were based on the results of the analyses using the dating methods with various instruments such as the ancient geomagnetism, electronics spin resonance （ESR）, 36C1 and lumines- cence dating, etc. Corresponding to these data, it identified the paleomagnetic polarity events including Biwa- III event （320 kaBP）, Biwa- 1I event （260 kaBP）, Biwa- I event （180 kaBP, scarcity due to the disturbance of the iron dish）, Blake event （100 kaBP） and Laschamp event （20 kaBP, didn＇t grow due to the activities of the surface）, etc. Combined with the sequence stratigraphy, layer type characteristics and its sediment environment, the strati- graphic can be divided into 4 stages of development respectively ： Stage [ is the climate period of glacial epoch （200-400 kaBP）; stage 11 is the climate period of interglacial epoch （100-200 kaBP）; stage llI is the climate peri- od of periglacial epoch （10-100 kaBP）; stage IV is the climate period ofpostglacial epoch （0-10 kaBP）.

Continuous desulfurization and bacterial community structure of an integrated bioreactor developed to treat SO_2 from a gas stream

Sulfide dioxide（SO2） is often released during the combustion processes of fossil fuels. An integrated bioreactor with two sections, namely, a suspended zone（SZ） and immobilized zone（IZ）, was applied to treat SO2 for 6 months. Sampling ports were set in both sections to investigate the performance and microbial characteristics of the integrated bioreactor. SO2 was effectively removed by the synergistic effect of the SZ and IZ, and more than 85%removal efficiency was achieved at steady state. The average elimination capacity of SO2 in the bioreactor was 2.80 g/（m3·hr） for the SZ and 1.50 g/（m3· hr） for the IZ. Most SO2 was eliminated in the SZ. The liquid level of the SZ and the water content ratio of the packing material in the IZ affected SO2 removal efficiency. The SZ served a key function not only in SO2 elimination, but also in moisture maintenance for the IZ. The desired water content in IZ could be feasibly maintained without any additional pre-humidification facilities. Clone libraries of 16 S r DNA directly amplified from the DNA of each sample were constructed and sequenced to analyze the community composition and diversity in the individual zones.The desulfurization bacteria dominated both zones. Paenibacillus sp. was present in both zones, whereas Ralstonia sp. existed only in the SZ. The transfer of SO2 to the SZ involved dissolution in the nutrient solution and biodegradation by the sulfur-oxidizing bacteria.This work presents a potential biological treatment method for waste gases containing hydrophilic compounds.