Massive seasonal high-altitude migrations of nocturnal insects above the agricultural plains of East China.

Long-distance migrations of insects contribute to ecosystem functioning but also have important economic impacts when the migrants are pests or provide ecosystem services. We combined radar monitoring, aerial sampling, and searchlight trapping, to quantify the annual pattern of nocturnal insect migration above the densely populated agricultural lands of East China. A total of ~9.3 trillion nocturnal insect migrants (15,000 t of biomass), predominantly Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Diptera, including many crop pests and disease vectors, fly at heights up to 1 km above this 600 km-wide region every year. Larger migrants (>10 mg) exhibited seasonal reversal of movement directions, comprising northward expansion during spring and summer, followed by southward movements during fall. This north-south transfer was not balanced, however, with southward movement in fall 0.66× that of northward movement in spring and summer. Spring and summer migrations were strongest when the wind had a northward component, while in fall, stronger movements occurred on winds that allowed movement with a southward component; heading directions of larger insects were generally close to the track direction. These findings indicate adaptations leading to movement in seasonally favorable directions. We compare our results from China with similar studies in Europe and North America and conclude that ecological patterns and behavioral adaptations are similar across the Northern Hemisphere. The predominance of pests among these nocturnal migrants has severe implications for food security and grower prosperity throughout this heavily populated region, and knowledge of their migrations is potentially valuable for forecasting pest impacts and planning timely management actions.

A Clinic Study on Long-term Efficacy and Safety of Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Decompensated Hepatitis B Cirrhosis.

Objective: To investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) in treating decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis. Methods: In this study, a retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 84 patients diagnosed with decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis between January 2011 and December 2012. The patients were categorized into two groups based on their treatment approach: the transplantation group, consisting of 34 cases who received APBSCT in addition to medical treatment, and the comprehensive medical treatment (CMT) group, comprising 50 cases who solely received CMT. EPI Data software was used for data input and verification. Survival curves were drawn by Kaplan-Meier method and analyzed by log-rank test. Paired t test and independent sample t test were used for intra-group and inter-group mean comparison of measurement data, respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test is used for non-normally distributed data. Results: After the ten-year follow-up period, it was found that overall survival (OS) in the transplantation group was markedly higher than that in the CMT (56% vs. 16%, P < .001). Albumin (ALB), prothrombin time (PT), and indocyanine green retention at 15 min (ICG R15) were significantly improved in sequence at 4 to 12 weeks of early treatment in APBSCT group; subsequently, the Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) index and spleen length significantly decreased at 48 weeks. Compared with the CMT group, ALB and PT levels in the APBSCT group continued to recover and eventually stabilize at normal or low-risk levels at subsequent follow-ups up to 8 years. The ten-year prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the APBSCT group was markedly lower than that in the CMT group (26% vs. 62%; P = .025). Moreover, APBSCT significantly reduced ascites (χ2 = 6.997, P = .041) and was not associated with any significant adverse events during APBSCT. Based on clinical evidence, APBSCT is a safe and effective treatment for decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis, resulting in a favorable long-term prognosis with no significant adverse events. Conclusions: APBSCT is a relatively safe and effective treatment for decompensated hepatitis B cirrhosis.

Metabolic Performance and Fate of Electrons during Nitrate-Reducing Fe(II) Oxidation by the Autotrophic Enrichment Culture KS Grown at Different Initial Fe/N Ratios.

Autotrophic nitrate-reducing Fe(II)-oxidizing (NRFeOx) microorganisms fix CO2 and oxidize Fe(II) coupled to denitrification, influencing carbon, iron, and nitrogen cycles in pH-neutral, anoxic environments. However, the distribution of electrons from Fe(II) oxidation to either biomass production (CO2 fixation) or energy generation (nitrate reduction) in autotrophic NRFeOx microorganisms has not been quantified. We therefore cultivated the autotrophic NRFeOx culture KS at different initial Fe/N ratios, followed geochemical parameters, identified minerals, analyzed N isotopes, and applied numerical modeling. We found that at all initial Fe/N ratios, the ratios of Fe(II)oxidized to nitratereduced were slightly higher (5.11 to 5.94 at Fe/N ratios of 10:1 and 10:0.5) or lower (4.27 to 4.59 at Fe/N ratios of 10:4, 10:2, 5:2, and 5:1) than the theoretical ratio for 100% Fe(II) oxidation being coupled to nitrate reduction (5:1). The main N denitrification product was N2O (71.88 to 96.29% at Fe/15N ratios of 10:4 and 5:1; 43.13 to 66.26% at an Fe/15N ratio of 10:1), implying that denitrification during NRFeOx was incomplete in culture KS. Based on the reaction model, on average 12% of electrons from Fe(II) oxidation were used for CO2 fixation while 88% of electrons were used for reduction of NO3- to N2O at Fe/N ratios of 10:4, 10:2, 5:2, and 5:1. With 10 mM Fe(II) (and 4, 2, 1, or 0.5 mM nitrate), most cells were closely associated with and partially encrusted by the Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxide minerals, whereas at 5 mM Fe(II), most cells were free of cell surface mineral precipitates. The genus Gallionella (>80%) dominated culture KS regardless of the initial Fe/N ratios. Our results showed that Fe/N ratios play a key role in regulating N2O emissions, for distributing electrons between nitrate reduction and CO2 fixation, and for the degree of cell-mineral interactions in the autotrophic NRFeOx culture KS. IMPORTANCE Autotrophic NRFeOx microorganisms that oxidize Fe(II), reduce nitrate, and produce biomass play a key role in carbon, iron, and nitrogen cycles in pH-neutral, anoxic environments. Electrons from Fe(II) oxidation are used for the reduction of both carbon dioxide and nitrate. However, the question is how many electrons go into biomass production versus energy generation during autotrophic growth. Here, we demonstrated that in the autotrophic NRFeOx culture KS cultivated at Fe/N ratios of 10:4, 10:2, 5:2, and 5:1, ca. 12% of electrons went into biomass formation, while 88% of electrons were used for reduction of NO3- to N2O. Isotope analysis also showed that denitrification during NRFeOx was incomplete in culture KS and the main N denitrification product was N2O. Therefore, most electrons stemming from Fe(II) oxidation seemed to be used for N2O formation in culture KS. This is environmentally important for the greenhouse gas budget.

A novel nomogram to predict 90-day mortality in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: a single-center retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a critical illness with high mortality. Herein, we developed and validated a new and simple prognostic nomogram to predict 90-day mortality in hepatitis B virus-related ACLF (HBV-ACLF) patients. METHODS: This single-center retrospective study collected data from 181 HBV-ACLF patients treated between June 2018 and March 2020. The correlation between clinical data and 90-day mortality in patients with HBV-ACLF was assessed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (p = 0.011), hepatic encephalopathy (p = 0.001), total bilirubin (p = 0.007), international normalized ratio (p = 0.006), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.011) were independent predictors of 90-day mortality in HBV-ACLF patients. A nomogram was created to predict 90-day mortality using these risk factors. The C-index for the prognostic nomogram was calculated as 0.866, and confirmed to be 0.854 via bootstrapping verification. The area under the curve was 0.870 in the external validation cohort. The predictive value of the nomogram was similar to that of the Chinese Group on the Study of Severe Hepatitis B score, and exceeded the performance of other prognostic scores. CONCLUSION: The prognostic nomogram constructed using the factors identified in multivariate regression analysis might serve as a beneficial tool to predict 90-day mortality in HBV-ACLF patients.

Urolithin A ameliorates obesity-induced metabolic cardiomyopathy in mice via mitophagy activation.

Metabolic cardiomyopathy (MC) is characterized by intracellular lipid accumulation and utilizing fatty acids as a foremost energy source, thereby leading to excess oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. There is no effective therapy available yet. In this study we investigated whether defective mitophagy contributed to MC and whether urolithin A (UA), a naturally occurring microflora-derived metabolite, could protect against MC in experimental obese mice. Mice were fed high fat diet for 20 weeks to establish a diet-induced obese model. We showed that mitochondrial autophagy or mitophagy was significantly downregulated in the heart of experimental obese mice. UA (50 mg·kg-1·d-1, for 4 weeks) markedly activated mitophagy and ameliorated MC in obese mice by gavage. In PA-challenged H9C2 cardiomyocytes, UA (5 µM) significantly increased autophagosomes and decreased autolysosomes. Furthermore, UA administration rescued PINK1/Parkin-dependent mitophagy and relieved mitochondrial defects in the heart of obese mice, which led to improving cardiac diastolic function and ameliorating cardiac remodelling. In PA-challenged primarily isolated cardiomyocytes, both application of mitophagy inhibitor Mdivi-1 (15 µM) and silencing of mitophagy gene Parkin blunted the myocardial protective effect of UA. In summary, our data suggest that restoration of mitophagy with UA ameliorates symptoms of MC, which highlights a therapeutic potential of UA in the treatment of MC.

Impact of cirrhosis-related complications on posttransplant survival in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure.

BACKGROUND: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a life-threatening syndrome defined as acute decompensation in patients with chronic liver disease. Liver transplantation (LT) is the most effective treatment. We aimed to assess the impact of cirrhosis-related complications pre-LT on the posttransplant prognosis of patients with ACLF. METHODS: This was an observational cohort study conducted between January 2018 and December 2020. Clinical characteristics, cirrhosis-related complications at LT and patient survival post-LT were collected. All liver recipients with ACLF were followed for 1 year post-LT. RESULTS: A total of 212 LT recipients with ACLF were enrolled, including 75 (35.4%) patients with ACLF-1, 64 (30.2%) with ACLF-2, and 73 (34.4%) with ACLF-3. The median waiting time for LT was 11 (4-24) days. The most prevalent cirrhosis-related complication was ascites (78.8%), followed by hepatic encephalopathy (57.1%), bacterial infections (48.1%), hepatorenal syndrome (22.2%) and gastrointestinal bleeding (11.3%). Survival analyses showed that patients with complications at LT had a significantly lower survival probability at both 3 months and 1 year after LT than those without complications (all P < 0.05). A simplified model was developed by assigning one point to each complication: transplantation for ACLF with cirrhosis-related complication (TACC) model. Risk stratification of TACC model identified 3 strata (≥ 4, = 3, and ≤ 2) with high, median and low risk of death after LT (P < 0.001). Moreover, the TACC model showed a comparable ability for predicting the outcome post-LT to the other four prognostic models (chronic liver failure-consortium ACLF score, Chinese Group on the Study of Severe Hepatitis B-ACLF score, model for end-stage liver disease score and Child-Turcotte-Pugh score). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of cirrhosis-related complications pre-LT increases the risk of death post-LT in patients with ACLF. The TACC model based on the number of cirrhosis-related complications pre-LT could stratify posttransplant survival, which might help to determine transplant timing for ACLF.

PBMC transcriptomics identifies immune-metabolism disorder during the development of HBV-ACLF.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) pathophysiology remains unclear. This study aims to characterise the molecular basis of HBV-ACLF using transcriptomics. METHODS: Four hundred subjects with HBV-ACLF, acute-on-chronic hepatic dysfunction (ACHD), liver cirrhosis (LC) or chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and normal controls (NC) from a prospective multicentre cohort were studied, and 65 subjects (ACLF, 20; ACHD, 10; LC, 10; CHB, 10; NC, 15) among them underwent mRNA sequencing using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). RESULTS: The functional synergy analysis focusing on seven bioprocesses related to the PBMC response and the top 500 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed that viral processes were associated with all disease stages. Immune dysregulation, as the most prominent change and disorder triggered by HBV exacerbation, drove CHB or LC to ACHD and ACLF. Metabolic disruption was significant in ACHD and severe in ACLF. The analysis of 62 overlapping DEGs further linked the HBV-based immune-metabolism disorder to ACLF progression. The signatures of interferon-related, neutrophil-related and monocyte-related pathways related to the innate immune response were significantly upregulated. Signatures linked to the adaptive immune response were downregulated. Disruptions of lipid and fatty acid metabolism were observed during ACLF development. External validation of four DEGs underlying the aforementioned molecular mechanism in patients and experimental rats confirmed their specificity and potential as biomarkers for HBV-ACLF pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights immune-metabolism disorder triggered by HBV exacerbation as a potential mechanism of HBV-ACLF and may indicate a novel diagnostic and treatment target to reduce HBV-ACLF-related mortality.

Salinity Impact on Composition and Activity of Nitrate-Reducing Fe(II)-Oxidizing Microorganisms in Saline Lakes.

Nitrate-reducing Fe(II)-oxidizing (NRFeOx) microorganisms contribute to nitrogen, carbon, and iron cycling in freshwater and marine ecosystems. However, NRFeOx microorganisms have not been investigated in hypersaline lakes, and their identity, as well as their activity in response to salinity, is unknown. In this study, we combined cultivation-based most probable number (MPN) counts with Illumina MiSeq sequencing to analyze the abundance and community compositions of NRFeOx microorganisms enriched from five lake sediments with different salinities (ranging from 0.67 g/L to 346 g/L). MPN results showed that the abundance of NRFeOx microorganisms significantly (P < 0.05) decreased with increasing lake salinity, from 7.55 × 103 to 8.09 cells/g dry sediment. The community composition of the NRFeOx enrichment cultures obtained from the MPNs differed distinctly among the five lakes and clustered with lake salinity. Two stable enrichment cultures, named FeN-EHL and FeN-CKL, were obtained from microcosm incubations of sediment from freshwater Lake Erhai and hypersaline Lake Chaka. The culture FeN-EHL was dominated by genus Gallionella (68.4%), while the culture FeN-CKL was dominated by genus Marinobacter (71.2%), with the former growing autotrophically and the latter requiring an additional organic substrate (acetate) and Fe(II) oxidation, caused to a large extent by chemodenitrification [reaction of nitrite with Fe(II)]. Short-range ordered Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides were the product of Fe(II) oxidation, and the cells were partially attached to or encrusted by the formed iron minerals in both cultures. In summary, different types of interactions between Fe(II) and nitrate-reducing bacteria may exist in freshwater and hypersaline lakes, i.e., autotrophic NRFeOx and chemodenitrification in freshwater and hypersaline environments, respectively. IMPORTANCE NRFeOx microorganisms are globally distributed in various types of environments and play a vital role in iron transformation and nitrate and heavy metal removal. However, most known NRFeOx microorganisms were isolated from freshwater and marine environments, while their identity and activity under hypersaline conditions remain unknown. Here, we demonstrated that salinity may affect the abundance, identity, and nutrition modes of NRFeOx microorganisms. Autotrophy was only detectable in a freshwater lake but not in the saline lake investigated. We enriched a mixotrophic culture capable of nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation from hypersaline lake sediments. However, Fe(II) oxidation was probably caused by abiotic nitrite reduction (chemodenitrification) rather than by a biologically mediated process. Consequently, our study suggests that in hypersaline environments, Fe(II) oxidation is largely caused by chemodentrification initiated by nitrite formation by chemoheterotrophic bacteria, and additional experiments are needed to demonstrate whether or to what extent Fe(II) is enzymatically oxidized.

Spatial metabolomics on liver cirrhosis to hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers and is mainly developed from chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis-B infection-associated liver cirrhosis (LC). The progression from LC to HCC makes the detection of diagnostic biomarkers to be challenging. Hence, there have been constant efforts to improve on identifying the critical and predictive changes accompanying the disease progression. METHODS: In this study, we looked to using the mass spectrometry mediated spatial metabolomics technique to simultaneous examine hundreds of metabolites in an untargeted fashion. Additionally, metabolic profiles were compared between six subregions within the HCC tissue to collect spatial information. RESULTS: Through those metabolites, altered metabolic pathways in LC and HCC were identified. Specifically, the amino acid metabolisms and the glycerophospholipid metabolisms experienced the most changes. Many of the altered metabolites and metabolic pathways were able to be connected through the urea cycle. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of the key metabolites and pathways can expand our knowledge on HCC metabolic reprogramming and help us exam potential biomarkers for earlier detection of the malignant disease progression.

AlepPBP2, but not AlepPBP3, may involve in the recognition of sex pheromones and maize volatiles in Athetis lepigone.

Athetis lepigone Möschler (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) is a common maize pest in Europe and Asia. However, there is no long-term effective management strategy is available yet to suppress its population. Adults rely heavily on olfactory cues to locate their optimal host plants and oviposition sites. Pheromone-binding proteins (PBPs) are believed to be responsible for recognizing and transporting different odorant molecules to interact with receptor membrane proteins. In this study, the ligand-binding specificities of two AlepPBPs (AlepPBP2 and AlepPBP3) for sex pheromone components and host plant (maize) volatiles were measured by fluorescence ligand-binding assay. The results demonstrated that AlepPBP2 had a high affinity with two pheromones [(Z)-7-dodecenyl acetate, Ki = 1.11 ± 0.1 µM, (Z)-9-tetradecenyl acetate, Ki = 1.32 ± 0.15 µM] and ten plant volatiles, including (-)-limonene, α-pinene, myrcene, linalool, benzaldehyde, nonanal, 2-hexanone, 3-hexanone, 2-heptanone and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one. In contrast, we found that none of these chemicals could bind to AlepPBP3. Our results clearly show no significant differences in the functional characterization of the binding properties between AlepPBP2 and AlepPBP3 to sex pheromones and host plant volatiles. Furthermore, molecular docking was employed for further detail on some crucial amino acid residues involved in the ligand-binding of AlepPBP2. These findings will provide valuable information about the potential protein binding sites necessary for protein-ligand interactions which appear as attractive targets for the development of novel technologies and management strategies for insect pests.

Suctioning Flexible Ureteroscopy with Automatic Control of Renal Pelvic Pressure versus Mini PCNL for the Treatment of 2-3-cm Kidney Stones in Patients with a Solitary Kidney.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to compare the treatment outcomes between suctioning flexible ureteroscopic lithotomy (SF-URL) with automatic control of renal pelvic pressure and minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy (MPCNL) for the management of 2-3-cm renal stones in patients with a solitary kidney. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 127 patients with a solitary kidney who underwent SF-URL (n = 57) or MPCNL (n = 70) for large renal stones (>2 cm) between June 2015 and October 2020 were consecutively analyzed. The stone characteristics, operative times, stone-free rate (SFR), hospital stays, and incidences of complications were compared. RESULTS: There was a significantly shorter operative time with MPCNL than with SF-URL (43.4 ± 18.9 min vs. 61.8 ± 21.1 min, p = 0.012). SFR at 30 days were 80.7% (46/57) and 90.0% (63/70) for SF-URL and MPCNL, respectively (p > 0.05). The SFR at the 3-month follow-up was comparable in both groups (91.2% vs. 95.7%, p > 0.05). The hemoglobin decline value, hospital stay, serum cystatin C, and percentage of patients requiring blood transfusions in the SF-URL group were obviously better than those in the MPCNL group: (0.8 ± 0.4) versus (3.9 ± 2.7) g/dL (p = 0.007), (3.6 ± 1.5) versus (6.9 ± 3.1) days (p = 0.013), (1.02 ± 0.48) versus (2.54 ± 0.69) mg/L (p = 0.011), and 0 (0.0%) versus 7 (10.0%) (p = 0.016), respectively. The percentages of patients with thrombosis and perirenal hematoma in the MPCNL group were higher than those in the SF-URL group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: For the treatment of 2-3-cm renal stones in patients with a solitary kidney, both SF-URL and MPCNL are effective. MPCNL has the advantage of a shorter operation time. However, SF-URL is characterized by less bleeding, shorter hospital stay, and less damage to kidney function.

Transcriptome analysis of the spleen provides insight into the immunoregulation of Scortum barcoo under Streptococcus agalactiae infection.

Jade perch (Scortum barcoo) is a freshwater fish with substantial economic value, which has been widely cultivated all over the world. However, with the intensification and expansion of farming, several bacterial and viral diseases have occurred in jade perch. To understand the immune response of jade perch against Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS), we performed a histopathological examination and transcriptome sequencing of jade perch spleen after artificial bacterial infection. GBS infection can cause structural changes and even necrosis of the jade perch spleen, which may affect the survival of infected individuals. A total of 144,458 unigenes were obtained through de novo assembly of spleen transcriptome. Among them, 1821 unigenes were identified as DEGs, including 1415 up-regulated and 406 down-regulated unigenes in the infection group. Moreover, the analysis of GO and KEGG revealed that many GO terms and pathways were involved in the host immune response, such as Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and TNF signaling pathway. In addition, according to transcriptome data and qRT-PCR analysis, the expression levels of many cytokines that participate in the inflammatory response changed a lot after GBS infection. Overall, this transcriptomic analysis provided valuable information for studying the immune response of jade perch against bacterial infection.

Encapsulation of lipases by nucleotide/metal ion coordination polymers: enzymatic properties and their applications in glycerolysis and esterification studies.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, lipases of TLL (lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus), AOL (lipase from Aspergillus oryzae), RML (lipase from Rhizomucor miehei), BCL (lipase from Burkholderia cepacia), CALA (Candida antarctica lipase A) and LU (Lecitase® Ultra) were encapsulated into nucleotide-hybrid metal coordination polymers (CPs). Enzyme concentration was optimized for encapsulation and the enzymatic properties of the obtained lipases were investigated. In addition, their performance in glycerolysis and esterification was evaluated, and glycerolysis conditions (water content, temperature and time) were optimized. RESULTS: Hydrolysis activity over 10 000 U g-1 and activity recovery over 90% were observed from AOL@GMP/Tb, TLL@GMP/Tb and RML@GMP/Tb. GMP/Tb encapsulation (of AOL, TLL, RML and LU) improved their thermostability when incubated in air. The encapsulated lipases exhibited moderate [triacylglycerols (TAG) conversion 30-50%] and considerable glycerolysis activity (TAG conversion over 60%). TAG conversions from 69.37% to 82.35% and diacylglycerols (DAG) contents from 58.62% to 64.88% were obtained from CALA@GMP/metal samples (except for CALA@GMP/Cu). Interestingly, none of the encapsulated lipases initiated the esterification reaction. AOL@GMP/Tb, TLL@GMP/Tb, RML@GMP/Tb and CALA@GMP/Tb showed good reusability in glycerolysis, with 88.80%, 94.67%, 89.85% and 78.16% of their initial glycerolysis activity, respectively, remaining after five cycles of reuse. The relationships between temperature and TAG conversion were LnV0  = 6.5364-3.7943/T and LnV0  = 13.8820-6.4684/T for AOL@GMP/Tb and CALA@GMP/Tb, respectively; in addition, their activation energies were 31.55 and 53.78 kJ mol-1 , respectively. CONCLUSION: Most of the present encapsulated lipases exhibited moderate and considerable glycerolysis activity. In addition, AOL@GMP/Tb, TLL@GMP/Tb, RML@GMP/Tb and CALA@GMP/Tb exhibited good reusability in glycerolysis reactions and potential in practical applications. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Aquiflexum lacus sp. nov., isolated from a lake sediment sample.

A novel Gram-staining negative, crescent-like or rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium, designated strain CUG 91378 T, was isolated from a sediment sample of Qinghai Lake, Qinghai Province, China. The strain was red-colored, and catalase- and oxidase-positive. Strain CUG 91378 T was able to grow at 15-37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 7-9 (pH 7.0) and in the presence of up to 3.0% (w/v) NaCl (0-2%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CUG 91378 T formed a well-supported monophyletic clade with Aquiflexum balticum DSM 16537 T (95.4%) and Aquiflexum aquatile Z0201T (93.2%). The DNA G + C content of CUG 91378 T was 39.0%. Low (< 87%) average nucleotide identity (ANI) and (< 26%) digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were observed between strain CUG 91378 T and its closest species on the phylogenetic trees. The sole respiratory quinone of strain CUG 91378 T was MK-7. The predominant fatty acids (> 5.0%) were iso-C15:0 (19.1%), iso-C16:0 (12.0%), iso-C16:1 H (10.9%), iso-C16:0 3OH (9.2%), iso-C17:0 3OH (7.7%), C17:1ω6c (6.1%) and anteiso-C15:0 (5.8%). Strain CUG 91378 T contained as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and four unidentified lipids (L1, L2, L3 and L4). Based on the data from the current polyphasic study, the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Aquiflexum for which the name Aquiflexum lacus is proposed. The type strain of the proposed new taxon is CUG 91378 T (= KCTC 62637 T = CGMCC 1.13988 T).

Lunatibacter salilacus gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Cyclobacteriaceae, isolated from a saline and alkaline lake sediment.

A non-motile, Gram-staining negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, crescent-rod shaped bacterium, designated strain CUG 91308T, was isolated from a sediment sample of Qinghai Lake, Qinghai Province, China. Colonies on OSM agar were round, smooth, flat and pinkish-orange in colour. Strain CUG 91308T could grow at 15-37 °C, pH 6-12 and in the presence of up to 7.0 % NaCl (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CUG 91308T belonged to the family Cyclobacteriaceae and formed a clade with the genus Lunatimonas in the phylogenetic tree, but separated from any species of the known genera within the family. The genomic DNA G+C content is about 42.1 %. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C15 : 0 (21.1 %), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c / C16 : 1 ω6c / iso-C15 : 0 2OH) (14.3 %), iso-C17 : 0 3OH (12.3 %) and summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1 ω9c / C16 : 0 10-methyl) (10.6 %). The polar lipids of strain CUG 91308T were phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and four unidentified polar lipids. Strain CUG 91308T contained MK-7 as the major respiratory quinone. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, strain CUG 91308T represents a novel species of a novel genus in the family Cyclobacteriaceae, for which the name Lunatibacter salilacus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the proposed new isolate is CUG 91308T (=KCTC 62636T=CGMCC 1.13593T).

Inhibition of transient receptor potential canonical 6 attenuates fibroblast-like synoviocytes mediated synovial inflammation and joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to define the importance of transient receptor potential canonical 6 (TRPC6) expression and function in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) and to investigate the contribution of TRPC6 in the model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We compared TRPC6 expression levels in FLSs from RA patients (RA-FLSs), and in FLSs from osteoarthritis (OA) patients (OA-FLSs). By using vitro functional assays which united with small interfering RNA-induced knockdown and functional modulation of TRPC6 in RA-FLSs. Finally, we confirmed the effectiveness of regulating TRPC6 in a collagen induced arthritis (CIA) mice model. RESULTS: We found that FLSs expressed the TRPC6 as their major Transient receptor potential canonical channel. Both mRNA and protein expression of TRPC6 were found somewhat higher levels in RA-FLSs than in OA-FLSs. Moreover, inhibiting expression of TRPC6 in vitro reduced proliferation of, as well as inflammatory mediator and protease production by, RA-FLSs, whereas opening native TRPC6 enhanced both proliferation and inflammatory mediator of RA-FLSs. Additionally, a TRPC6 deficiency in mice blunted the development of experimental RA, CIA models, reduced joint and bone damage, and inhibited FLS invasiveness and proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated a critical role of TRPC6 in regulating FLSs mediated inflammation. Therefore, TRPC6 represents potential therapeutic targets in RA.

Efficiency of Double Plasma Molecular Absorption System on the Acute Severe Cholestatic Hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Cholestasis may lead to hepatic cirrhosis and a longer hospital stay. A part of the patients with cholestasis requires liver transplantation. However, most of the treatment efficiency of cholestatic hepatitis (CH) is not satisfactory. For the patients with severe CH after artificial liver support, there was a lack of systemic evaluation on the treatment efficiency of double plasma molecular absorption system (DPMAS) for acute severe CH. OBJECTIVE: We aim to investigate the treatment efficiency of DPMAS on acute severe CH. METHODS: This retrospective study involved 309 cases diagnosed with acute severe CH admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University. We compared the prognosis of patients received standard medical therapy (SMT) and SMT + DPMAS. Besides, the effects of DPMAS on total bilirubin (TBIL) and prothrombin time (PT) were investigated. RESULTS: DPMAS could significantly reduce the requirements for liver transplantation in the CH patients. After DPMAS therapy, significant decline was noticed in the TBIL, direct bilirubin (DBIL), total bile acid, and cholesterol. The baseline ratio of neutrophil showed significant elevation in the patients received 4 or more DPMAS compared with those received less DPMAS. CONCLUSIONS: DPMAS could significantly eliminate the necessity of liver transplantation. The artificial liver support system should be conducted to bring down the bilirubin level and the ratio of cases with severe conditions. In general, DPMAS should be preferred as an artificial liver support therapy for the patients with acute severe CH.

Progress in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure treatment in China: A large, multicenter, retrospective cohort study using a propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) has a high short-term mortality. However, the treatment progression for HBV-ACLF in China in the past decade has not been well characterized. The present study aimed to determine whether the HBV-ACLF treatment has significantly improved during the past decade. METHODS: This study retrospectively compared short-term (28/56 days) survival rates of two different nationwide cohorts (cohort I: 2008-2011 and cohort II: 2012-2015). Eligible HBV-ACLF patients were enrolled retrospectively. Patients in the cohorts I and II were assigned either to the standard medical therapy (SMT) group (cohort I-SMT, cohort II-SMT) or artificial liver support system (ALSS) group (cohort I-ALSS, cohort II-ALSS). Propensity score matching analysis was conducted to eliminate baseline differences, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the independent factors for 28-day survival. RESULTS: Short-term (28/56 days) survival rates were significantly higher in the ALSS group than those in the SMT group (P < 0.05) and were higher in the cohort II than those in the cohort I (P < 0.001). After propensity score matching, short-term (28/56 days) survival rates were higher in the cohort II than those in the cohort I for both SMT (60.7% vs. 53.0%, 50.0% vs. 39.8%, P < 0.05) and ALSS (66.1% vs. 56.5%, 53.0% vs. 44.4%, P < 0.05) treatments. The 28-day survival rate was higher in patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogs than in patients without such treatments (P = 0.046). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that ALSS (OR = 0.962, 95% CI: 0.951-0.973, P = 0.038), nucleos(t)ide analogs (OR = 0.927, 95% CI: 0.871-0.983, P = 0.046), old age (OR = 1.028, 95% CI: 1.015-1.041, P < 0.001), total bilirubin (OR = 1.002, 95% CI: 1.001-1.003, P = 0.004), INR (OR = 1.569, 95% CI: 1.044-2.358, P < 0.001), COSSH-ACLF grade (OR = 2.683, 95% CI: 1.792-4.017, P < 0.001), and albumin (OR = 0.952, 95% CI: 0.924-0.982, P = 0.002) were independent factors for 28-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment for patients with HBV-ACLF has improved in the past decade.

Epidemiological, clinical and virological characteristics of 74 cases of coronavirus-infected disease 2019 (COVID-19) with gastrointestinal symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: The SARS-CoV-2-infected disease (COVID-19) outbreak is a major threat to human beings. Previous studies mainly focused on Wuhan and typical symptoms. We analysed 74 confirmed COVID-19 cases with GI symptoms in the Zhejiang province to determine epidemiological, clinical and virological characteristics. DESIGN: COVID-19 hospital patients were admitted in the Zhejiang province from 17 January 2020 to 8 February 2020. Epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, management and outcome data of patients with GI symptoms were analysed using multivariate analysis for risk of severe/critical type. Bioinformatics were used to analyse features of SARS-CoV-2 from Zhejiang province. RESULTS: Among enrolled 651 patients, 74 (11.4%) presented with at least one GI symptom (nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea), average age of 46.14 years, 4-day incubation period and 10.8% had pre-existing liver disease. Of patients with COVID-19 with GI symptoms, 17 (22.97%) and 23 (31.08%) had severe/critical types and family clustering, respectively, significantly higher than those without GI symptoms, 47 (8.14%) and 118 (20.45%). Of patients with COVID-19 with GI symptoms, 29 (39.19%), 23 (31.08%), 8 (10.81%) and 16 (21.62%) had significantly higher rates of fever >38.5°C, fatigue, shortness of breath and headache, respectively. Low-dose glucocorticoids and antibiotics were administered to 14.86% and 41.89% of patients, respectively. Sputum production and increased lactate dehydrogenase/glucose levels were risk factors for severe/critical type. Bioinformatics showed sequence mutation of SARS-CoV-2 with m6A methylation and changed binding capacity with ACE2. CONCLUSION: We report COVID-19 cases with GI symptoms with novel features outside Wuhan. Attention to patients with COVID-19 with non-classic symptoms should increase to protect health providers.

Artificial liver treatment improves survival in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure: A case-control matched analysis.

AIM: The artificial liver support system (ALSS) is recognized as a bridge to liver transplantation in hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) patients. However, patient survival remains unknown. We aim to assess the effects of ALSS on survival in HBV-ACLF patients. METHODS: The clinical data of HBV-ACLF patients receiving standard medical treatment (SMT) plus ALSS (ALSS group, n = 507) or only SMT (SMT group, n = 417) were collected for survival assessment. The main end-points were cumulative survival rates at days 21, 28, and 90. Four different rigorous analyses were carried out to reduce bias and confounding. RESULTS: In the entire cohort, the cumulative survival rates at days 21, 28, and 90 were significantly higher in patients who underwent ALSS treatment (73.3% vs. 59.6%, 69.2% vs. 56.6%, 56.5% vs. 49.1%, respectively, P < 0.01) than in those who underwent SMT only. In the 276-pair case-control matched cohort, a significantly higher survival rate was also observed in the ALSS group than in the SMT group on days 21, 28, and 90 (72.5% vs. 60.3%, 68.3% vs. 57.4%, 55.9% vs. 48.5%, respectively, P < 0.05), especially in patients with ACLF-1 and -2. By a multivariable-adjusted analysis, ALSS treatment was associated with a significantly lower risk of mortality, especially for ACLF-2 at days 21, 28, and 90. These findings were also confirmed through propensity score matching and inverse probability treatment weighting analysis. CONCLUSIONS: ALSS treatment can improve short-term survival and is associated with a significantly lower risk of short-term mortality in patients with HBV-ACLF, especially ACLF-2.