Research on heterogeneous compound flooding system based on dispersed particle gel

Aiming at the problem that the heterogeneity of the reservoir became strong, the remaining oil distributed universally after polymer flooding and the existing chemical compound flooding systems had limited application, a heterogeneous compound flooding system based on gel dispersion particles (DPG) was proposed as a substitution technology for further enhanced recovery of reservoirs after polymer flooding. This paper has carried out the design and characterization of heterogeneous compound flooding system, influencing factors, and application performance. With the system viscosity and oil-water interfacial tension as evaluation indicators, the application performance of the optimized heterogeneous polymer flooding system based on DPG was examined. The results showed that the system viscosity was 12.1 to 17.3 mPa•s while the interfacial tension was maintained at 10-3 mN/m magnitude. At 80 °C, with 60 days aging, the viscosity retention ratio of the system is over 83.5%, and the interfacial tension between oil and water was still maintained at 10-3 mN/m. The core flow experiment shows that, the heterogeneous compound flooding system has good injection performance, moving characteristics of plugging, breakthrough migration and re-plugging. After high-temperature aging, subsequent water flooding still maintained at a high pressure with good resistance to erosion. Through the selective high and low permeability layers, the water absorption profile was improved, and finally enhanced oil recovery to 20.61% after polymer flooding.Cited as: Li, H., Wang, K., Han, X., Zheng, J. Research on heterogeneous compound flooding system based on dispersed particle gel. Advances in Geo-Energy Research, 2019, 3(2): 156-164, doi: 10.26804/ager.2019.02.0

Research on heterogeneous compound flooding system based on dispersed particle gel

Aiming at the problem that the heterogeneity of the reservoir became strong, the remaining oil distributed universally after polymer flooding and the existing chemical compound flooding systems had limited application, a heterogeneous compound flooding system based on gel dispersion particles (DPG) was proposed as a substitution technology for further enhanced recovery of reservoirs after polymer flooding. This paper has carried out the design and characterization of heterogeneous compound flooding system, influencing factors, and application performance. With the system viscosity and oil-water interfacial tension as evaluation indicators, the application performance of the optimized heterogeneous polymer flooding system based on DPG was examined. The results showed that the system viscosity was 12.1 to 17.3 mPa•s while the interfacial tension was maintained at 10-3 mN/m magnitude. At 80 °C, with 60 days aging, the viscosity retention ratio of the system is over 83.5%, and the interfacial tension between oil and water was still maintained at 10-3 mN/m. The core flow experiment shows that, the heterogeneous compound flooding system has good injection performance, moving characteristics of plugging, breakthrough migration and re-plugging. After high-temperature aging, subsequent water flooding still maintained at a high pressure with good resistance to erosion. Through the selective high and low permeability layers, the water absorption profile was improved, and finally enhanced oil recovery to 20.61% after polymer flooding

A Clinical Study of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Associated <i>Penicillium Marneffei</i> Infection from a Non-Endemic Area in China

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of penicilliosis among the patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in non-endemic areas of China, and then to discuss its incubation period and the diagnostic performance of serum galactomannan test for penicilliosis. Methods: Medical records and travel histories of penicilliosis patients in Zhongnan hospital from January 2006 to December 2013, and the interval from when the patients left the endemic area to the onset of the disease was analyzed. Serum galactomannan levels of penicilliosis patients and AIDS patients with fever were measured by the Platelia Aspergillus Enzyme Immunoassay Kit. Results: A total of 47 AIDS-associated penicilliosis were confirmed by fungal culture, which accounted for 4.8% of 981 AIDS-related admissions. The sensitivity and specificity of serum galactomannan test for penicilliosis were 95.8% (23/24) and 90.9% (30/33), respectively, (cutoff index = 1.0). Two independent predictors for early mortality (death within 12 weeks) of the patients (21.3%, 10/47) were a delayed diagnosis and no treatment with antifungal therapy. Among 14 patients who became ill after leaving endemic areas, ten patients presented with the onset symptoms within 12 months (from 11 days to 360 days). We found a patient living with asymptomatic P. marneffei fungemia who had not received any antifungal therapy until 18 months’ follow up. Conclusions: The co-infection of P. marneffei and HIV was not uncommon in the non-endemic areas of penicilliosis in China. There exists a latent form of infection for P. marneffei. The incubation period of penicilliosis may be quite different from one patient to another. In AIDS patients, the serum galactomannan test has utility for the diagnosis of penicilliosis. When patients with penicilliosis/AIDS were diagnosed early and treated with standardized antifungal therapy and combined antiretroviral therapy, their prognosis improved.</p

A Clinical Study of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Associated Penicillium Marneffei Infection from a Non-Endemic Area in China.

To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of penicilliosis among the patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in non-endemic areas of China, and then to discuss its incubation period and the diagnostic performance of serum galactomannan test for penicilliosis.Medical records and travel histories of penicilliosis patients in Zhongnan hospital from January 2006 to December 2013, and the interval from when the patients left the endemic area to the onset of the disease was analyzed. Serum galactomannan levels of penicilliosis patients and AIDS patients with fever were measured by the Platelia Aspergillus Enzyme Immunoassay Kit.A total of 47 AIDS-associated penicilliosis were confirmed by fungal culture, which accounted for 4.8% of 981 AIDS-related admissions. The sensitivity and specificity of serum galactomannan test for penicilliosis were 95.8% (23/24) and 90.9% (30/33), respectively, (cutoff index = 1.0). Two independent predictors for early mortality (death within 12 weeks) of the patients (21.3%, 10/47) were a delayed diagnosis and no treatment with antifungal therapy. Among 14 patients who became ill after leaving endemic areas, ten patients presented with the onset symptoms within 12 months (from 11 days to 360 days). We found a patient living with asymptomatic P. marneffei fungemia who had not received any antifungal therapy until 18 months' follow up.The co-infection of P. marneffei and HIV was not uncommon in the non-endemic areas of penicilliosis in China. There exists a latent form of infection for P. marneffei. The incubation period of penicilliosis may be quite different from one patient to another. In AIDS patients, the serum galactomannan test has utility for the diagnosis of penicilliosis. When patients with penicilliosis/AIDS were diagnosed early and treated with standardized antifungal therapy and combined antiretroviral therapy, their prognosis improved

Chest CT scan findings of 44 penicilliosis patients.

<p>Chest CT scan findings of 44 penicilliosis patients.</p

Factors associated with death within 12 weeks of penicilliosis patients.

<p>¹ The clinical features and laboratory data of patients are from the first examination upon admission to hospital. IQR, interquartile range; cART, combined antiretroviral therapy; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; BUN, blood urea nitrogen; Cr, creatinine.</p><p>^2,6 We could not calculate the OR value and the factors were not entered into the multivariate analysis since the frequency was zero.</p><p>³ Respiratory symptoms: including cough, sputum production, dyspnea.</p><p>⁴ Digestive symptoms: including nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea.</p><p>⁵ NS: No statistics.</p><p>⁷ Other concurrent opportunistic infections including: <i>Pneumocystis jirovecii</i> pneumonia, cytomegalovirus retinitis, tuberculosis, pulmonary mucormycosis, septicemia of <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Nocardia</i>.</p><p>Factors associated with death within 12 weeks of penicilliosis patients.</p

CD4+ T cell count and GM test positive rate of patients with penicilliosis and without penicilliosis.

<p>^1,2 The serum samples were obtained before treated with amphotericin B.</p><p>³ OIs: opportunistic infections.</p><p>CD4+ T cell count and GM test positive rate of patients with penicilliosis and without penicilliosis.</p

The interval from 14 patients leaving endemic areas to onset of penicilliosis.

<p>¹Patient #6 was an asymptomatic carrier with fungemia of <i>P</i>. <i>marneffei</i>.</p><p>The interval from 14 patients leaving endemic areas to onset of penicilliosis.</p

PM2.5 promotes human bronchial smooth muscle cell migration via the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway

Abstract Background The contribution of airway remodeling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been well documented, with airway smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration playing a role in the remodeling process. Here, we aimed to verify the effects of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on human bronchial smooth muscle cell (HBSMC) migration and to explore the underlying signaling pathways. Methods HBSMC apoptosis, proliferation and migration were measured using flow cytometry, cell counting and transwell migration assays, respectively. The role of the hedgehog pathway in cell migration was assessed by western blotting to measure the expression of Sonic hedgehog (Shh), Gli1 and Snail. Furthermore, siRNA was used to knock down Gli1 or Snail expression. Results PM2.5 induced HBSMC apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, although certain concentrations of PM2.5 did not induce HBSMC proliferation or apoptosis. Interestingly, cell migration was stimulated by PM2.5 doses far below those that induced apoptosis. Additional experiments revealed that these PM2.5 doses enhanced the expression of Shh, Gli1 and Snail in HBSMCs. Furthermore, PM2.5-induced cell migration and protein expression were enhanced by recombinant Shh and attenuated by cyclopamine. Similar results were obtained by knocking down Gli1 or Snail. Conclusions These findings suggest that PM2.5, which may exert its effects through the Shh signaling pathway, is necessary for the migration of HBSMCs. These data define a novel role for PM2.5 in airway remodeling in COPD

Nicotine-Induced Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation Involves TRPC6-Dependent Calcium Influx Via α7 nAChR

Background/Aims: The proliferation of human bronchial smooth muscle cells (HBSMCs) is a key pathophysiological component of airway remodeling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for which pharmacotherapy is limited, and only slight improvements in survival have been achieved in recent decades. Cigarette smoke is a well-recognized risk factor for COPD; however, the pathogenesis of cigarette smoke-induced COPD remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which nicotine affects HBSMC proliferation. Methods: Cell viability was assessed with a CCK-8 assay. Proliferation was measured by cell counting and EdU immunostaining. Fluorescence calcium imaging was performed to measure intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). Results: The results showed that nicotine promotes HBSMC proliferation, which is accompanied by elevated store-operated calcium entry (SOCE), receptor-operated calcium entry (ROCE) and basal [Ca2+]i in HBSMCs. Moreover, we also confirmed that canonical transient receptor potential protein 6 (TRPC6) and α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAChR) are involved in nicotine-induced upregulation of cell proliferation. Furthermore, we verified that activation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in nicotine-enhanced proliferation and calcium influx in HBSMCs. Inhibition of α7 nAChR significantly decreased Akt phosphorylation levels, and LY294002 inhibited the protein expression levels of TRPC6. Conclusion: Herein, these data provide compelling evidence that calcium entry via the α7 nAChR-PI3K/Akt-TRPC6 signaling pathway plays an important role in the physiological regulation of airway smooth muscle cell proliferation, representing an important target for augmenting airway remodeling