Effects of chronic HBV infection on lipid metabolism in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A lipidomic analysis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection exerts an impact on lipid metabolism, but its interaction with dysmetabolism-based non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains uncertain. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of HBV infection on lipid metabolism, hepatic steatosis and related impairments of NAFLD patients. METHODS: Biopsy-proven Chinese NAFLD patients with (NAFLD-HBV group, n = 21) or without chronic HBV infection (NAFLD group, n = 41) were enrolled in the case-control study. Their serum lipidomics was subjected to individual investigation by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Steatosis, activity, and fibrosis (SAF) scoring revealed the NAFLD-specific pathological characteristics. RESULTS: Chronic HBV infection was associated with global alteration of serum lipidomics in NAFLD patients. Upregulation of phosphatidylcholine (PCs), choline plasmalogen (PC-Os) and downregulation of free fatty acids (FFAs), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPCs) dominated the HBV-related lipidomic characteristics. Compared to those of NAFLD group, the levels of serum hepatoxic lipids (FFA16:0, FFA16: 1, FFA18:1, FFA18:2) were significantly lowered in the NAFLD-HBV group. These low-level FFAs demonstrated correlation to statistical improvements in aspartate aminotransferase activity (FFA16:0, r = 0.33; FFA16:1, r = 0.37; FFA18:1, r = 0.32; FFA18:2, r = 0.42), hepatocyte steatosis (FFA16: 1, r = 0.39; FFA18:1, r = 0.39; FFA18:2, r = 0.32), and ballooning (FFA16:0, r = 0.30; FFA16:1, r = 0.45; FFA18:1, r = 0.36; FFA18:2, r = 0.30) (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Chronic HBV infection may impact on the serum lipidomics and steatosis-related pathological characteristics of NAFLD.

A solution-processed bathocuproine cathode interfacial layer for high-performance bromine-iodine perovskite solar cells.

Perovskite film generally has rough surface morphology due to the voids between the grain domains. Smoothed interface contact between the perovskite layer and the top electrode is critical for planar perovskite solar cells. We reported high efficiency bromine-iodine based perovskite solar cells with a flattening cathode interface by incorporating a solution-processed bathocuproine (sBCP) interfacial layer at the cathode side. Compared with vacuum evaporated bathocuproine (eBCP), sBCP demonstrated an excellent surface modification effect at the cathode side with very smaller charge transfer resistance. Accordingly, a high fill factor exceeding 85% and a power conversion efficiency exceeding 13% in CH3NH3PbI3-xBrx based perovskite solar cells were achieved. The largely improved fill factor was attributed to the smooth film morphology and full surface coverage of perovskite films modified by the solution-processed BCP layer.

[Traceability Analysis and Environmental Quality Assessment of Soil Heavy Metal Pollution in West Hunan Province].

In order to explore the status of soil heavy metal pollution and environmental quality in west Hunan, relevant areas of Phoenix County were selected as the study area. Using data from 440 soil samples collected in the study area from June to August 2022, the pH value of the soil and contents of eight heavy metal elements, namely, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn, were analyzed. The PMF model was used for traceability analysis and geochemical evaluation of soil environmental quality. The results showed that the average values of soil heavy metals ω(Zn), ω(Cr), ω(Pb), ω(Ni), ω(Cu), ω(As), ω(Cd), and ω(Hg) were 81.02, 64.67, 31.63, 29.27, 25.52, 9.93, 0.28, and 0.13 mg·kg-1, respectively. The soil in the study area was mainly weakly acidic, and the contents of the Cd and Hg elements were relatively high compared to the national soil background values and were highly variable. The contents of the Hg and Cd elements in forest land were higher than that in other land uses. The PMF model results showed that the contribution rates of heavy metal pollution sources in the study area were mining sources (37.4%), atmospheric sedimentation sources (7.7%), natural sources (41.1%), and agricultural activity sources (13.8%) and provided suggestions on pollution control measures according to the spatial distribution of the four types of pollution sources. Through the comprehensive assessment of soil environmental geochemistry, the study area was divided into three types of plots, namely, non-risk areas (94.27 km2), accounting for 76.38%; risk-controllable areas (27.45 km2), accounting for 22.24%; and high-risk areas (1.7 km2), accounting for 1.38%. This study provided data support for the prevention and control measures of land pollution in the research area, as well as the delineation of the prevention and control scope.

Ultra-compact and fabrication-tolerant polarization rotator based on a bend asymmetric-slab waveguide.

We propose and analyze a polarization rotator based on a bend asymmetric-slab waveguide on the silicon-on-insulator platform. The device can be fabricated using standard complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor process involving only two dry etching steps. Compared with the formerly reported polarization rotators based on two-step etching, our introduced device demonstrates a significant improvement for fabrication tolerance. Furthermore, an ultra compact structure of ~5 µm conversion length, an insertion loss of only 0.5 dB, and an extinction ratio of >40 dB for both TE to TM polarization conversion and TM to TE polarization conversion are exhibited. Operation wavelength and the influence of environmental temperature on our device are also discussed.

Strategy for pH control and pH feedback-controlled substrate feeding for high-level production of L-tryptophan by Escherichia coli.

Optimum production of L-tryptophan by Escherichia coli depends on pH. Here, we established conditions for optimizing the production of L-tryptophan. The optimum pH range was 6.5-7.2, and pH was controlled using a three-stage strategy [pH 6.5 (0-12 h), pH 6.8 (12-24 h), and pH 7.2 (24-38 h)]. Specifically, ammonium hydroxide was used to adjust pH during the initial 24 h, and potassium hydroxide and ammonium hydroxide (1:2, v/v) were used to adjust pH during 24-38 h. Under these conditions, NH4 (+) and K(+) concentrations were kept below the threshold for inhibiting L-tryptophan production. Optimization was also accomplished using ratios (v/v) of glucose to alkali solutions equal to 4:1 (5-24 h) and 6:1 (24-38 h). The concentration of glucose and the pH were controlled by adjusting the pH automatically. Applying a pH-feedback feeding method, the steady-state concentration of glucose was maintained at approximately 0.2 ± 0.02 g/l, and acetic acid accumulated to a concentration of 1.15 ± 0.03 g/l, and the plasmid stability was 98 ± 0.5 %. The final, optimized concentration of L-tryptophan was 43.65 ± 0.29 g/l from 52.43 ± 0.38 g/l dry cell weight.

[Geochemical Characteristics of Cd in Different Parent Soils in Karst Area and Prediction of Cd Content in Maize].

The naturally high background value region of Cd derived from the weathering of carbonate has received wide attention. Due to the significant difference in soil physicochemical properties, soil Cd content, and bioavailability of different parent materials in the karst area, there are certain limitations in using the total soil Cd content to classify the environmental quality of cultivated land. In this study, surface soil and maize samples of eluvium and alluvial parent material in typical karst areas were collected systematically; the contents of maize Cd, soil Cd, pH, and oxides were analyzed, the Cd geochemical characteristics of different parent soils and the influencing factors of their bioavailability were revealed, and scientific and effective arable land use zoning suggestions based on the prediction model were suggested. The results showed that the physicochemical properties of different parent material soils in the karst area were obviously different. The alluvial parent material soil had low Cd content but high bioavailability, and the maize Cd exceeding rate was high. The maize Cd bioaccumulation factor was significantly negatively correlated with soil CaO, pH, Mn, and TC, and the correlation coefficients were -0.385, -0.620, -0.484, and -0.384, respectively. Compared with the multiple linear regression prediction model, using the random forest model to predict the maize Cd enrichment coefficient had higher accuracy and precision. Furthermore, a new scheme for the safe utilization of cultivated land at the plot scale based on soil Cd and predicted crop Cd content was proposed in this study, making full use of arable land resources to ensure crop safety.

[Metformin improves epididymal sperm quality and antioxidant function of the testis in diet-induced obesity rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of metformin on epididymal sperm quality and antioxidant function of the testis in diet-induced obesity rats. METHODS: Thirty-two male SD rats were fed on high-fat food for 8 weeks to make obesity models, and another 8 were included as normal controls. Twenty-four of the model rats were equally randomized into a model control group to be fed continuously on high-fat food, a metformin group to be fed on normal food with metformin, and a normal food group. By the end of the 12th week, all the rats were killed for the determination of Lee's index, the organ coefficients of the testis and epididymis, epididymal sperm concentration, sperm motility, grade a + b sperm percentage, and the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the testicular homogenate. RESULTS: Lee's index was significantly increased in the model control group (P < 0.01) as compared with the other three. Lee's index was markedly higher in the normal control than in the metformin group (P < 0.05). The organ coefficients of the testis and epididymis were significantly decreased in the model control group (P < 0.01) as compared with the other three. Sperm concentration and motility and the percentage of a + b sperm were significantly decreased in the model control in comparison with the other three groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Sperm concentration was remarkably higher in the normal control than in the metformin and normal food groups (P < 0.05). The content of SOD (U/mg prot) was significantly lower in the model control (90.92 +/- 4.06) than in the normal control and metformin groups (101.69 +/- 8.49 and 102.04 +/- 10.67) (P < 0.05); that of GSH-Px (U) obviously higher in the normal control (28.32 +/- 2.28) than in the model control (23.49 +/- 1.08, P < 0.01), the metformin (25.73 +/- 2.14, P < 0.05) and the normal food group (25.77 +/- 2.19, P < 0.05), but evidently lower in the model control than in the metformin group (P < 0.05); and that of MDA (nmol/mg prot) significantly higher in the model control (2.68 +/- 0.76) than in the normal control (1.84 +/- 0.31, P < 0.01), the metformin (1.88 +/- 0.33, P < 0.01), and the normal food group (2.14 +/- 0.35, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Metformin therapy and improved diet could improve sperm quality and promote the antioxidant ability of the testis in diet-induced obesity rats.

Profile analysis and functional modeling identify circular RNAs in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease as regulators of hepatic lipid metabolism.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the leading cause of chronic liver disease, associated with an outcome of hepatic fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, limited exploration of the underlying mechanisms hinders its prevention and treatment. To investigate the mechanisms of epigenetic regulation in NAFLD, the expression profile of circular RNA (circRNA) of rodents in which NAFLD was induced by a high-fat, high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet was studied. Modeling of the circRNA-microRNA (miRNA) -mRNA regulatory network revealed the functional characteristics of NAFLD-specific circRNAs. The targets and effects in the liver of such NAFLD-specific circRNAs were further assessed. Our results uncovered that the downregulation of 28 annotated circRNAs characterizes HFHC diet-induced NAFLD. Among the downregulated circRNAs, long intergenic non-protein coding RNA, P53 induced transcript (LNCPINT) -derived circRNAs (circ_0001452, circ_0001453, and circ_0001454) targeted both miR-466i-3p and miR-669c-3p. Their deficiency in NAFLD abrogated the circRNA-based inhibitory effect on both miRNAs, which further inactivated the AMPK signaling pathway via AMPK-α1 suppression. Inhibition of the AMPK signaling pathway promotes hepatic steatosis, depending on the transcriptional and translational upregulation of lipogenic genes, such as those encoding sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and fatty acid synthase (FASN) in hepatocytes. The levels of LNCPINT-derived circRNAs displayed a negative association with hepatic triglyceride (TG) concentration. These findings suggest that loss of LNCPINT-derived circRNAs may underlie NAFLD via miR-466i-3p- and miR-669c-3p-dependent inactivation of the AMPK signaling pathway.

APOC3 rs2070667 Associates with Serum Triglyceride Profile and Hepatic Inflammation in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) play important role in lipid metabolism, and dyslipidemia underlies nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). But the correlation of serum lipidomics, APOC3 SNPs, and NAFLD remains limited understood. Enrolling thirty-four biopsy-proven NAFLD patients from Tianjin, Shanghai, Fujian, we investigated their APOC3 genotype and serum lipid profile by DNA sequencing and ultraperformance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), respectively. Scoring of hepatocyte steatosis, ballooning, lobular inflammation, and liver fibrosis was then performed to reveal the role of lipidomics-affecting APOC3 SNPs in NAFLD-specific pathological alterations. Here, we reported that APOC3 SNPs (rs4225, rs4520, rs5128, rs2070666, and rs2070667) intimately correlated to serum lipidomics in NAFLD patients. A allele instead of G allele at rs2070667, which dominated the SNPs underlying lipidomic alteration, exhibited downregulatory effect on triacylglycerols (TGs: TG 54 : 7, TG 54 : 8, and TG 56 : 9) containing polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). Moreover, subjects with low-level PUFA-containing TGs were predisposed to high-grade lobular inflammation (TG 54 : 7, rho = -0.454 and P = 0.007; TG 54 : 8, rho = -0.411 and P =0.016; TG 56 : 9, rho = -0.481 and P = 0.004). The significant correlation of APOC3 rs2070667 and inflammation grading [G/G vs. G/A+A/A: 0.00 (0.00 and 1.00) vs. 1.50 (0.75 and 2.00), P = 0.022] further confirmed its pathological action on the basis of lipidomics-impacting activity. These findings suggest an inhibitory effect of A allele at APOC3 rs2070667 on serum levels of PUFA-containing TGs, which are associated with high-grade lobular inflammation in NAFLD patients.

miR-16 integrates signal pathways in myofibroblasts: determinant of cell fate necessary for fibrosis resolution.

Liver fibrosis is characterized by the transdifferentiation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to myofibroblasts and poor response to treatment. This can be attributed to the myofibroblast-specific resistance to phenotype reversal. In this study, we complemented miR-16 into miR-16-deficient myofibroblasts and analyzed the global role of miR-16 using transcriptome profiling and generating a pathway-based action model underlying transcriptomic regulation. Phenotypic analysis of myofibroblasts and fibrogenic characterization were used to understand the effect of miR-16 on phenotypic remodeling of myofibroblasts. miR-16 expression altered the transcriptome of myofibroblasts to resemble that of HSCs. Simultaneous targeting of Smad2 and Wnt3a, etc. by miR-16 integrated signaling pathways of TGF-ß and Wnt, etc., which underlay the comprehensive regulation of transcriptome. The synergistic effect of miR-16 on the signaling pathways abolished the phenotypic characteristics of myofibroblasts, including collagen production and inhibition of adipogenesis. In vivo, myofibroblast-specific expression of miR-16 not only eliminated mesenchymal cells with myofibroblast characteristics but also restored the phenotype of HSCs in perisinusoidal space. This phenotypic remodeling resolved liver fibrosis induced by chronic wound healing. Therefore, miR-16 may integrate signaling pathways crucial for the fate determination of myofibroblasts. Its global effect induces the reversal of HSC-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation and, subsequently, the resolution of fibrogenesis. Taken together, these findings highlight the potential of miR-16 as a promising therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.

[Relationship of nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase with varicocele infertility].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with varicocele (VC) infertility. METHODS: Fifty-three infertile men, 21 with varicocele and 32 with subvaricocele, were enrolled as Group 1, 29 infertile patients with oligoasthenozoospermia but without varicocele as Group 2 and 28 normal fertile controls as Group 3. The NO content and NOS activity in the seminal plasma and peripheral blood were measured by nitric acid reductase method, and the semen parameters of VC determined by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA). RESULTS: Significant differences were noted between Group 1 and the other two in the NO content and NOS activity in the seminal plasma (P < 0.05) but not in the peripheral blood (P > 0.05). In Group 1, the NO content and NOS activity were increased in both the seminal plasma and peripheral blood with the enhanced diameter of the varicose spermatic vein, with a significant difference only in the seminal plasma between the varicocele and subvaricocele patients (P < 0.05), and the same increase was observed with decreased sperm concentration (> or = 20 x 10(6)/ml and < or = 10 x 10(6)/ml) and motility (> or = 50% and < or = 25%), with significant differences (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: NO plays an important role in the VC-induced decrease of seminal quality. For the diagnosis of VC, the determination of the NO content and NOS activity in the seminal plasma is of more significance than that in the peripheral blood, and the earlier the determination, the greater its clinical value for both the diagnosis and treatment of VC.

Efficiency Enhancement of Perovskite Solar Cells by Pumping Away the Solvent of Precursor Film Before Annealing.

A new approach to improve the quality of MAPbI3 - x Cl x perovskite film was demonstrated. It involves annealing the precursor film after pumping away the solvent, which can decrease the influence of solvent evaporation rate for the growth of the MAPbI3 - x Cl x perovskite film. The resulting film showed improved morphology, stronger absorption, fewer crystal defects, and smaller charge transfer resistance. The corresponding device demonstrated enhanced performance when compared with a reference device. The averaged value of power conversion efficiency increased from 10.61 to 12.56 %, and a champion efficiency of 14.0 % was achieved. This work paves a new way to improve the efficiency of perovskite solar cells.

Optimization of fermentation conditions for the biosynthesis of L-threonine by Escherichia coli.

In this study, the fed-batch fermentation technique was applied to improve the yield of L-threonine produced by Escherichia coli TRFC. Various fermentation substrates and conditions were investigated to identify the optimal carbon source, its concentration and C/N ratio in the production of L-threonine. Sucrose was found to be the optimal initial carbon source and its optimal concentration was determined to be 70 g/L based on the results of fermentations conducted in a 5-L jar fermentor using a series of fed-batch cultures of E. coli TRFC. The effects of glucose concentration and three different feeding methods on the production of L-threonine were also investigated in this work. Our results showed that the production of L-threonine by E. coli was enhanced when glucose concentration varied between 5 and 20 g/L with DO-control pulse fed-batch method. Furthermore, the C/N ratio was a more predominant factor than nitrogen concentration for L-threonine overproduction and the optimal ratio of ammonium sulfate to sucrose (g/g) was 30. Under the optimal conditions, a final L-threonine concentration of 118 g/L was achieved after 38 h with the productivity of 3.1 g/L/h (46% conversion ratio from glucose to threonine).