Landscape and prognostic values of lymphocytes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial embolization.

Transarterial embolization (TACE), the first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), does not always lead to promising outcomes in all patients. A better understanding of how the immune lymphocytes changes after TACE might be the key to improve the efficacy of TACE. However, there are few studies evaluating immune lymphocytes in TACE patients. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of TACE on lymphocyte subsets in patients with HCC to identify those that predict TACE prognosis. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 44 HCC patients at the following time points: one day before the initial TACE, three days after the initial TACE, and one month after the initial TACE and subjected to peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolation and flow cytometry. Dynamic changes in 75 lymphocyte subsets were recorded and their absolute counts were calculated. Tumor assessments were made every 4-6 weeks via computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Our results revealed that almost all lymphocyte subsets fluctuated three days after TACE, but only Tfh and B cells decreased one month after TACE. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression showed that high levels of Th2 and conventional killer Vδ2 cells were associated with longer progressive-free survival (PFS) after TACE. Longer overall survival (OS) after TACE was associated with high levels of Th17 and viral infection-specific Vδ1 cells, and low levels of immature NK cells. In conclusion, TACE has a dynamic influence on the status of lymphocytes. Accordingly, several lymphocyte subsets can be used as prognostic markers for TACE.

Mechanical pretreatment of typical agricultural biomass on shape characterization and NO emissions during combustion.

The impact of mechanical pretreatment of corn straw (CS), pea straw (PS), and wheat straw (WS), on shape characterization and NO emissions during combustion were investigated in this research. Particle size ranges were obtained and characterized their shape factors using Image J correction. The thermal properties and NO emissions of the different-sized particles were investigated by TG-MS and fixed-bed reactor. Compared with CS and PS, WS is more likely to break into smaller particles due to its moderate strength. Amine-N completely disappeared after pyrolysis, whereas pyrrolic-N and pyridinic-N were the main N functionalities in char-N. During the volatile burning stage, the maximum peak of NO concentration was 270, 354 and 311 ppm for CS, PS and WS, respectively. NO was detected at a steady level during the semicoke combustion stage, and the duration increased with particle size. The NO concentration decreased sharply in a short duration during the fixed carbon combustion stage.

Spatial-temporal evolution and driving force analysis of eco-quality in urban agglomerations in China.

Urban agglomerations are important spatial carriers of regional economic development, and their ecological quality (EQ) is closely related to economic growth and human development. However, the rapid urbanization in China has generated a series of EQ problems that threaten the sustainable development of the country. Therefore, it is essential to explore changes in EQ for the development of sustainable "human-land" relations in urban agglomerations. Using GIS, GeoDetector, Stepwise multiple regression, and Sen'trend analysis, to reveal the spatial-temporal evolution of EQ in urban agglomerations along with the spatial heterogeneity of its driving forces in China. Results show that: (1) The annual change rate of EQ of urban agglomerations ranges from -0.0312 to 0.0334. Taking the Hu-line as a boundary, the EQ of urban agglomerations is spatially high in the east and low in the west. (2) The Global Moran's I index ranged from 0.740 to 0.687 during the study period, indicating a positive correlation in the EQ spatial distribution. The EQ of urban agglomerations has significant spatial agglomeration, with hot spots concentrated in the eastern region and cold spots in the northwestern region. (3) Main drivers of EQ of urban agglomerations are elevation, population density, nighttime light index, arable land area, real GDP per capita, precipitation, and built-up urban area (q > 10 %). (4) The stepwise multiple regression model spatially reveals that the nighttime light index, built-up urban area land and GDP per capita dominate the ecological quality changes of urban agglomerations, accounting for 73.68 % of the total number of urban agglomerations. This study provides an effective method for assessing spatial-temporal changes of EQ in urban agglomerations, supports scientific decision-making support for the construction of ecological civilization and the development of human-land harmony in urban agglomerations, and promotes the development and construction of "Beautiful China."

[Establishment and Spatial Distribution of Anthropogenic Ammonia Emission Inventory in Zhejiang Province].

The ammonia emissions inventory of Zhejiang Province was established in 2017 using the activity data of various ammonia emission sources, emission factors, and an estimation method. Ammonia emissions for each source and city in Zhejiang Province were analyzed. The spatial distribution and intensity of ammonia emissions in 2017 were mapped using ArcGIS software. The total anthropogenic ammonia emissions in Zhejiang Province in 2017 were 122.00 kt. The farmland ecosystem was the major source of total ammonia emissions (36.06 kt), and nitrogen fertilizer applications was the largest contributor in this category (87.12%), followed by the livestock and poultry source (29.44%). The waste and human-activity sources were the two major non-agricultural sources, accounting for 44.07% and 28.49%, respectively. Hangzhou City had the highest ammonia emissions in 2017, accounting for 17.83% of the total ammonia emissions in Zhejiang Province. However, the ammonia emission intensity in Jiaxing City was the highest, reaching 3.82 t ·km-2. The spatial distribution map revealed that ammonia emissions in the northern and southeastern Zhejiang were relatively higher, while ammonia emission intensity was higher in the northern and northeastern region.

Experimental study on co-combustion of low rank coal semicoke and oil sludge by TG-FTIR.

Co-combustion was proposed as an effective and complementary means for the co-treatment of low rank coal semicoke (LRCS) and oil sludge. The combustion, kinetics and gaseous pollutants emission characteristics during co-combustion of LRCS and oil sludge were investigated by thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (TG-FTIR). Results showed oil sludge had more complex weight loss characteristics than LRCS. Proper addition of oil sludge could effectively improve the ignition, burnout and comprehensive combustion performance of blends and 60% was a recommended oil sludge blend ratio. High heating rates could also enhance the combustion performance of blends. The activation energy determined by Coats-Redfern method gradually decreased with the increase of oil sludge blend ratio. DAEM kinetic analysis results showed the maximum activation energy of 113.4 kJ/mol was obtained when conversion rate was 0.4 due to the poor ignition performance of LRCS. All of the CO, CO2, NOx and SO2 emission gradually decreased with the increasing oil sludge blend ratio. LRCS had suppression effect on NOx emission during co-combustion while oil sludge was just the opposite. The low sulfur release rate of oil sludge resulted in the decreasing SO2 emission of blends although oil sludge had promotion effect on SO2 emission.

Preparation and evaluation of novel multi-channel orally disintegrating tablets.

In this study, novel orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs) with multi-channel structure were designed to provide a rapid disintegration and subsequently drug dissolution. The ODTs were prepared using conventional wet compression through perforating channels with a special multi-channel mold. A modified sieve method was used in disintegration test as a quick screening tool during formulation evaluation. Moreover, physical properties, in vitro and in vivo disintegration time, dissolution rate and mouthfeel were also evaluated. The results demonstrated that developed multi-channel ODTs had good physical parameters, in vitro/in vivo correlation (IVIVC) of disintegration time and acceptable mouthfeel and dissolution. It also revealed that the presence of channels could accelerate the disintegration of ODTs because the channels could shorten the distance of water penetration and increased the specific surface area, resulting in a significant reduction in disintegration time. Above all, the introduction of novel multi-channel ODTs provided an alternative preparation method for ODTs and achieved good disintegration characteristics.

[Establishment and Characteristics of an Artificial Ammonia Emissions Inventory in Jiangsu Province from 2013 to 2017].

According to activity level data of various ammonia emission sources in Jiangsu Province, using a reasonable inventory calculation method and emission factor, an ammonia emission inventory in Jiangsu Province from 2013 to 2017 was established, and the trend of anthropogenic ammonia emissions over these years was analyzed. The distribution characteristics of anthropogenic ammonia emissions and emission intensity in Jiangsu Province were analyzed using ArcGIS software. The results showed that the ammonia emissions in Jiangsu Province decreased from 624.84 kt in 2013 to 562.47 kt in 2017 with an average annual rate of decline of approximately 2.6%. Agricultural has always been the most important source of ammonia emissions in Jiangsu Province and accounted for 82.4% of the total ammonia emissions in 2017. Laying hens are the largest source of ammonia emissions from livestock and poultry sources, accounting for 49.3% of the ammonia emissions from livestock and poultry. The average ammonia emission intensity in Jiangsu Province was 5.3 t·km-2 in 2017. Yancheng and Xuzhou are two cities with the largest anthropogenic ammonia emissions and emission intensity in Jiangsu Province. Zhenjiang City has the lowest ammonia emission and emission intensity.

Plasma-assisted CO2 methanation: effects on the low-temperature activity of an Ni-Ce catalyst and reaction performance.

Ni-Ce three-dimensional material with macropore diameter of 146.6 ± 8.4 nm was synthesized and used as a methanation catalyst. Firstly, H2 reduction of the catalyst was conducted in the thermal fixed bed and plasma reactor, respectively, then X-ray diffraction (XRD) and CO2 temperature programmed desorption experiments on the two reduced samples were carried out to reveal the plasma effect on the catalyst's physico-chemical properties. It was found that plasma reduction created more abundant basic sites for CO2 adsorption, in particular the medium basic sites were even doubled compared with the thermal-reduced catalysts. The plasma-reduced catalyst exhibited excellent low-temperature activity, ca 50-60°C lower than the thermal catalyst (the maximum CO2 conversion point). Based on the optimum reduced catalyst, plasma effect in the reactor level was further investigated under high gas hour space velocity of approximately 50 000 h-1. The plasma reactor showed higher CO2 conversion capacity and efficiency than the thermal reactor.

Immunity Enhancement in Immunocompromised Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients with Allogeneic Umbilical Cord Blood Mononuclear Cell Transfusion.

Objectives. In order to enhance the immunity of cancer patients to prevent relapse or to prolong survival time, umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells (UCMCs) were transplanted to cancer patients. Patients and Methods. UCMCs were transfused to 63 immunocompromised gastrointestinal cancer patients with nonmyeloablative (NMA) conditioning regimen. Results. The clinical study showed that the number of both T and B cells increased much more rapidly after transfusion of UCMCs than that of the control group without transplantation (p < 0.01). Proinflammation cytokines IFNγ and TNFα in serum increased to or above the normal range in 80.9% of patients at 12 weeks after UCMC transfusion. However, they recovered to the normal range in 21.7% of patients at the same time point in the control group only. In addition, the clinical investigation also showed that the transfusion of UCMC increased stable disease (SD) and reduced progressive disease (PD) significantly (p < 0.01); however, it did not have significant effects on complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or mortality rates compared with the control group (p > 0.05). Conclusions. UCMCs have powerful repairing effects on damaged cells and tissues and may reconstruct the impaired immunity. Transfusion of UCMCs could reconstruct the immunity of cancer patients with immunosuppression.

Combination of cytokine-induced killer and dendritic cells pulsed with antigenic α-1,3-galactosyl epitope-enhanced lymphoma cell membrane for effective B-cell lymphoma immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Refractory B-cell lymphomas are difficult to successfully treat with current chemotherapeutic regimens; however, immunotherapy may be an effective form of treatment for these patients. METHODS: Fourteen refractory lymphoma patients (age, 29-74 y) were enrolled in the trial. α-1,3-galactosyl (α-Gal) epitopes were synthesized on lymphoma cell membranes with the use of bovine recombinant α-1,3-galactosyltransferase (α-GT) and neuraminidase to enhance tumor immunogenicity. Subsequent incubation of processed cell membranes with autologous dendritic cells (DCs) in the presence of human serum containing abundant natural anti-α-Gal immunoglobulin G led to the effective phagocytosis of tumor membranes by DCs. The pulsed DCs and autologous cytokine-induced killer cells were then co-cultured to promote maximum cytotoxicity to lymphoma cells and were infused back into the donor lymphoma patients. Therapeutic responses were assessed by clinical observation, laboratory tests and a computed tomography scan at 6 months after treatment. RESULTS: Complete and partial remission occurred in four and three patients, respectively. The disease status remained unchanged in five patients, and disease progression was observed in two patients. No serious side effects or autoimmune diseases were observed in any participants. Serum lactate dehydrogenase and ß2-macroglobulin decreased in 11 and 14 patients, respectively. All patients showed robust systemic cytotoxicity in response to tumor lysate as measured by interferon-γ expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells after treatment (P < 0.001). The number of peripheral immune effector cells (CD3(+)/CD4(+), CD8(+)/CD28(+) and CD16(+)/CD56(+) cells) increased significantly (P < 0.05) 3 months after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphoma cell-specific α-Gal immunotherapy is safe, effective and has great potential for the treatment of refractory B-cell lymphoma.

Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells suppress MHC class II expression on rat vascular endothelium and prolong survival time of cardiac allograft.

BACKGROUND: Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs) have low immunogenicity and immune regulation. To investigate immunomodulatory effects of human UC-MSCs on MHC class II expression and allograft, we transplanted heart of transgenic rats with MHC class II expression on vascular endothelium. METHODS: UC-MSCs were obtained from human umbilical cords and confirmed with flow cytometry analysis. Transgenic rat line was established using the construct of human MHC class II transactivator gene (CIITA) under mouse ICAM-2 promoter control. The induced MHC class II expression on transgenic rat vascular endothelial cells (VECs) was assessed with immunohistological staining. And the survival time of cardiac allograft was compared between the recipients with and without UC-MSC transfusion. RESULTS: Flow cytometry confirmed that the human UC-MSCs were positive for CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, CD271, and negative for CD34 and HLA-DR. Repeated infusion of human UC-MSCs reduced MHC class II expression on vascular endothelia of transplanted hearts, and increased survival time of allograft. The UC-MSCs increased regulatory cytokines IL10, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 and suppressed proinflammatory cytokines IL2 and IFN-γ in vivo. The UC-MSC culture supernatant had similar effects on cytokine expression, and decreased lymphocyte proliferation in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated transfusion of the human UC-MSCs reduced MHC class II expression on vascular endothelia and prolonged the survival time of rat cardiac allograft.

[Scl1 of M41-type group A streptococcus binds low-density lipoprotein].

OBJECTIVE: To study the interaction of streptococcal collagen-like protein 1 (Scl1) of M41-type group A streptococcus (GAS) ATCC12373 with low-density lipoprotein (LDL). METHODS: We cloned, expressed and purified the recombinant proteins rScl1 and its V region rScl1-V, designated as C176 and C176V, derived from Scl1. 41 of M41-type GAS. The binding of rScl1 to LDL was detected with affinity chromatography-binding assay, Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and whole cell binding assays were used to detect the interactions of whole GAS cells with LDL. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that C176 and C176V could specifically bind purified LDL, and M41-type GAS cells expressing native Sell could bind LDL whereas M6-type GAS could not. CONCLUSION: The Sell of M41-type GAS specifically binds LDL.

The Scl1 of M41-type group A Streptococcus binds the high-density lipoprotein.

Streptococcal collagen-like protein 1 (Scl1) is a virulence factor on the surface of group A Streptococcus (GAS). We have reported previously that several Scl1 proteins derived from various M-type GAS strains, including M41, can bind to low-density lipoprotein, but the Scl1 protein derived from the M6-type GAS strain cannot. Here, we demonstrated that recombinant protein, designated C176, derived from Scl1.41 of the GAS M41-type strain also binds both plasma and purified high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Next, we determined that the intact noncollagenous region of C176 was necessary and sufficient for HDL binding. C176-HDL interaction could be eliminated by the presence of low concentrations of the nonionic detergent, Tween 20, indicating the hydrophobic nature of this interaction. We finally showed that whole GAS cells expressing native Scl1.41 protein absorbed HDL from human plasma in the absence of Tween 20, but M6-type GAS cells did not. Altogether, our results add further evidence to the importance of GAS-lipoprotein binding.