The Selection of Treatment Modality for Breast Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: Experience From a Single Institution.

PURPOSE: Although breast conservation surgery(BCS) followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is now the mainstream treatment method for breast ductal carcinoma in situ(DCIS), mastectomy is still performed in some patients who refuse to undergo radiation. However, the most effective treatment method for these patients is still unknown. In the current study, we aimed to compare the survival rates between mastectomy and BCS plus adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with DCIS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 333 patients with DCIS from May 2004 to December 2016. There were 209 patents who were treated with BCS and adjuvant radiotherapy, while the remaining of 124 patients underwent mastectomy. The disease-free survival (DFS) and local recurrence-free survival(LRFS) rates were compared between the 2 treatment groups. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to explore factors associated with DFS and LRFS. RESULTS: The 10-year local recurrence(LR) rates in the mastectomy and BCS plus adjuvant radiotherapy groups were 2.6% and 7.5%, respectively. There was no difference in the LR rate between the 2 groups. Furthermore the DFS rate was also similar between the mastectomy and BCS plus adjuvant radiotherapy groups. Based on the multivariable analysis, age and tumor grade were significantly correlated with the LRFS and DFS rates. In the subgroup analysis based on the factors of age and tumor grade, patients with a tumor grade of III who underwent mastectomy had better LRFS and DFS rates compared to those who received BCS plus radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: In patients with DCIS, the long-term efficacy was similar between mastectomy and BCS followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. However, in the subgroup of patients with grade III tumors, mastectomy seems to offer a better LRFS and DFS than BCS plus radiotherapy.

Pore-Space Partition through an Embedding Metal-Carboxylate Chain-Induced Topology Upgrade Strategy for the Separation of Acetylene/Ethylene.

Ethylene (C2H4) is one of the most significant substances in the petrochemical industry; however, the capture of acetylene (C2H2) in about 1% from C2H2/C2H4 mixtures is a difficult task because of the similarity of their physical properties. With the aggravation of the energy crisis, using metal-organic framework (MOF) materials to purify C2H4 through adsorptive separation is a promising way to save energy and reduce emission. Pore-space partition (PSP) with the aim of enhancing the density of the binding sites and the strength of the host-guest interactions is an effective means to promote a solution for the challenging gas separation problems. Herein, we report a new embedding metal-carboxylate chain-induced topology upgrade strategy within a MOF to realize PSP and separation of C2H2/C2H4 mixtures. As a proof of concept, we construct a microporous MOF (NUM-12) utilizing the in situ insertion of cobalt terephthalic chains into a pretargeted ant-type framework during synthesis. Because of the attainment of an elaborately tuned aperture size and a specific pore environment through this strategy, NUM-12a (activated NUM-12) not only has a remarkable gas sorption capacity and strong interactions for C2H2 but also possesses an excellent purification performance for C2H2/C2H4 mixtures. Both experiments and simulation calculations clearly reveal that NUM-12 is a promising candidate for the separation of C2H2/C2H4, proving the feasibility of this new strategy for developing newly fashioned MOFs with adjustable structure and performance.

Serum from Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Promotes Growth and Proliferation via the IGF-II/IGF-IR/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (CHB) plays a central role in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Emerging evidence implicates insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II as a major risk factor for the growth and development of HCC. However, the relationship between HBV infection and IGF-II functions remains to be elucidated. METHODS: Levels of circulating IGF-II and IGF-I receptor (IGF-IR) in healthy donors (HDs) and CHB patients were tested by ELISA. Human HCC cell lines (HepG-2, SMMC-7721, MHCC97-H) were incubated with serum from HDs and CHB patients at various concentrations for 24, 48, and 72 h. MTT and plate colony formation assays, BrdU ELISA, ELISA, small-interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection, quantitative real-time PCR, and western blot were applied to assess the functional and molecular mechanisms in HCC cell lines. RESULTS: Serum levels of IGF-II and IGF-IR were significantly higher in CHB patients than in HDs. Additionally, serum from CHB patients directly induced cell growth, proliferation, IGF-II secretion, and HDGF-related protein-2 (HRP-2) and nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1) mRNA and protein expression in HCC cells. Moreover, serum from CHB patients increased IGF-II-induced cell growth, proliferation, and HRP-2 and NUPR1 mRNA and protein expression in HCC cells. Blockade of IGF-IR clearly inhibited the above effects. Most importantly, interference with IGF-II function markedly repressed the cell proliferation and HRP-2 and NUPR1 mRNA and protein expression induced by serum from CHB patients. Furthermore, serum from CHB patients induced ERK phosphorylation via IGF-IR, with the MEK inhibitor PD98059 significantly decreasing CHB patient serum-induced IGF-II secretion, cell proliferation, and HRP-2 and NUPR1 mRNA and protein expression. CONCLUSION: Serum from CHB patients increases cell growth and proliferation and enhances HRP-2 and NUPR1 expression in HCC cells via the IGF-II/IGF-IR/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. These findings help to explain the molecular mechanisms underlying HBV-related HCC and may lead to the development of effective therapies.

ß-Elemene Inhibits Human Sperm Function by Affecting Sperm Vitality and Intracellular Calcium.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: ß-Elemene is a bioactive sesquiterpene compound that exhibits a potent anti-tumor effect and is used in various clinical applications. However, little is known about its effect on the male reproductive system. The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro actions of ß-elemene on human sperm function and elucidate the underlying mechanism. METHODS: The cytotoxicity of ß-elemene toward MCF-10A, MDA-MD-231, and A549 cells was evaluated with cell proliferation and colony formation assays. Additionally, human sperm were treated with different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 µM) of ß-elemene in vitro. The characteristics in human sperm essential for fertilization, including vitality, motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, responsiveness to progesterone, and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) were examined with a computer-assisted sperm analysis system, chlortetracycline staining, and a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator. RESULTS: A comprehensive evaluation of sperm motility, especially hyperactivated motility, revealed that treatments with 40-320 µM ß-elemene decreased human sperm vitality, motility (total motility, progressive motility, and curvilinear velocity), and penetrating ability in a dose-dependent manner, but were non-toxic or minimally toxic toward MCF-10A, MDA-MD-231, and A549 cells. Although 10 and 20 µM ß-elemene did not affect sperm vitality and motility, these concentrations increased the spontaneous acrosome reaction and inhibited progesterone-induced sperm functions by affecting sperm [Ca2+]i. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ß-elemene inhibits human sperm function by affecting sperm vitality and [Ca2+]i. These observations must be considered when using ß-elemene to treat cancer patients who may wish to preserve their fertility.

The Selection of Time Interval Between Surgery and Adjuvant Therapy in Early Stage Cervical Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The optimal interval between surgery and adjuvant treatment has not yet been found in cervical cancer. And whether patients with different FIGO stage should choose different interval is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether interval has a different effect on oncologic outcome for patients with different tumor stages. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 226 cervical cancer patients who were treated by surgery and adjuvant therapy from May 2005 to August 2015. All patients were divided into 2 groups according to the interval of 5 weeks. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were compared between patients with interval shorter and longer than 5 weeks in the whole group and subgroups. Recurrence patterns were also analyzed. Multivariate analysis was performed to explore clinical factors significantly associated with DFS, local recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival for patients with stage IB2-IIA. RESULTS: For patients with stage IA2-IB1, the 5-year OS and DFS were similar between groups of short and long interval with also the comparable results of local and distant failure. For patients with IB2-IIA, both the OS and DFS in the short-interval group were higher than that in the long-interval group. Besides, the rates of local recurrence were found higher in the group of long interval compared with short interval. Multivariable analysis indicated that time interval was an independent predictor of DFS and local recurrence-free survival for patients with stage IB2-IIA. CONCLUSIONS: In cervical cancer patients, time interval between surgery and adjuvant therapy may have different effects on the prognosis in different FIGO stages.

Both endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial pathways are involved in oligodendrocyte apoptosis induced by capsular hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: The white matter injury caused by intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) includes demyelination and axonal injury. Oligodendrocyte apoptosis is reported to be involved in triggering demyelination. Experimental observations indicate that both endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial pathways could mediate cell apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the demyelination and the possible mechanisms in an autologous blood-injected rat model of internal capsule hemorrhage. METHODS: Transmission electron microscope was applied to examine the pathological changes of myelinated nerve fibers in internal capsule. Western blotting was used to detect the myelin basic protein (MBP) which was an important component of myelin sheath. Double immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to determine the apoptosis and apoptotic pathways. The levels of caspase-12 (a representative protein of endoplasmic reticulum stress) and cytochrome c (an apoptosis factor released from mitochondria) were assessed in this study. RESULTS: Demyelination occurred on day 1, 3, and 7 after ICH onset. Myelin sheaths of internal capsule nerve fibers were swollen and broken down in ICH groups. MBP expression showed a downregulation after ICH with its minimum value occurred on day 7 post-ICH. Besides, neuron and oligodendrocyte apoptosis were observed at different time intervals post-ICH accompanied with an upregulated caspase-12 expression and enhanced cytochrome c release. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that oligodendrocyte and neuron apoptosis may contribute to the demyelination induced by internal capsule hemorrhage and oligodendrocyte apoptosis is positively mediated through both endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondrial pathways.

Altered expression of long non-coding RNAs during genotoxic stress-induced cell death in human glioma cells.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a recently discovered class of non-coding genes, are transcribed throughout the genome. Emerging evidence suggests that lncRNAs may be involved in modulating various aspects of tumor biology, including regulating gene activity in response to external stimuli or DNA damage. No data are available regarding the expression of lncRNAs during genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis and/or necrosis in human glioma cells. In this study, we detected a change in the expression of specific candidate lncRNAs (neat1, GAS5, TUG1, BC200, Malat1, MEG3, MIR155HG, PAR5, and ST7OT1) during DNA damage-induced apoptosis in human glioma cell lines (U251 and U87) using doxorubicin (DOX) and resveratrol (RES). We also detected the expression pattern of these lncRNAs in human glioma cell lines under necrosis induced using an increased dose of DOX. Our results reveal that the lncRNA expression patterns are distinct between genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis and necrosis in human glioma cells. The sets of lncRNA expressed during genotoxic stress-induced apoptosis were DNA-damaging agent-specific. Generally, MEG3 and ST7OT1 are up-regulated in both cell lines under apoptosis induced using both agents. The induction of GAS5 is only clearly detected during DOX-induced apoptosis, whereas the up-regulation of neat1 and MIR155HG is only found during RES-induced apoptosis in both cell lines. However, TUG1, BC200 and MIR155HG are down regulated when necrosis is induced using a high dose of DOX in both cell lines. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the distinct regulation of lncRNAs may possibly involve in the process of cellular defense against genotoxic agents.

[Gene characterization of the VP1 region of Coxsackievirus A4 from herpangina cases in Shenzhen of China].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the phylogeny of the VP1 region of Coxsackie virus A4 (CVA4) from herpangina cases of Shenzhen in 2012 and 2014. METHODS: Real-time reverse transcription(RT)-PCR method was used to test virus such as human enterovirus71, coxsackievirus A16, coxsackievirus A4, coxsackievirus A6 and coxsackievirus A10. The VP1 gene of CVA4 positive samples were amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced. Then the homology and phylogeny analysis of the CVA4 VP1 region was performed. RESULTS: The six CVA4 isolates identified in the herpangina cases during 2012 and 2014 were mostly closed with GIb genotypes. The nucleotide and amino acid homology between them were 94.1% (nucleotide mutation rate was 5.9%) and 98.3%, five amino acid mutation were found in CVA4 strain 2014 of Shenzhen: aa22N-S, aa34T-A, aa63N-S, aa165A-D, aa200T-A. The phylogenetic analysis based on VP1 region demonstrates that CVA4 strain of Shenzhen in 2012 had the nearest genetic relationship with CVA4 strain of Shandong isolated in 2010 (KF150144). However, CVA4 strain of Shenzhen in 2014 had the nearest genetic relationship with CVA4 strain of Jilin (JQ715709) isolated in 2006. CONCLUSIONS: It reveals that all CVA4 strains from the two outbreak of herpangina belong to genotype GIb, the degree of variation in VP1 region of CVA4 strain of Shenzhen in 2014 is obvious compared with that in 2012.There is an obvious difference on internal trend of evolution lineage between the CVA4 strains from 2012 and 2014.

[Tetrahydrobiopterin Synthesis and Biological Function].

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an essential cofactor for aromatic amino acid hydroxylases and all three nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms. It has protective effects as an antioxidant and scavenger of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species. It also serves as a cofactor in both normal physiologic and pathological states. In conditions of BH4 deficiency, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) becomes 'uncoupled', which leads to endothelial dysfunction in diabetes, pulmonary hypertension and pathologic cardiac remodeling. In this review, we will discuss the pathophysiological role of BH4 in those diseases mentioned above.

2-Methylimidazole-modulated 2D Cu metal-organic framework for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural hydrodeoxygenation.

Preparation of the high value-added chemical 2,5-dimethylfuran (2,5-DMF) from the biomass-derived platform molecule 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is of great significance in the preparation of biofuels. Here, a bottom-up strategy was used to prepare a metal-organic framework (MOF) material with a two-dimensional nanosheet morphology, named CPM, in which an additive 2-methylimidazole was introduced into the hydrothermal process of Cu2+ ions and terephthalic acid. Subsequently, CPM-700 prepared by heat treatment under an inert atmosphere showed excellent catalytic performance in the reaction of HMF hydrodeoxygenation to 2,5-DMF. The materials before and after pyrogenation were characterized by PXRD, XPS, TEM, N2 adsorption and desorption and so on. It was confirmed that compared with the catalyst derived from the cubic MOF material self-assembled by Cu2+ and terephthalic acid, the morphology of 2D nanosheets was beneficial for the reaction of HMF to 2,5-DMF. Combined with the experimental data, the possible reaction path of 2,5-DMF preparation from HMF is that 2,5-dihydroxymethylfuran was formed by hydrogenation of the aldehyde group on the furan ring, and then 2,5-DMF was obtained by hydrogenolysis. This paper provides an effective route for 2D MOF-derived catalytic materials in the selective hydrogenation of HMF.

Hyperosmotic induction of aquaporin expression in rat astrocytes through a different MAPK pathway.

Water homeostasis of the nervous system is important during neural signal transduction. Astrocytes are crucial in water transport in the central nervous system under both physiological and pathological conditions. To date, five aquaporins (AQP) have been found in rat brain astrocytes. Most studies have focused on AQP4 and AQP9, however, little is known about the expression of AQP3, -5, and -8 as well as their regulating mechanism in astrocytes. The expression patterns of AQP3, -5, and -8 in astrocytes exposed to hyperosmotic solutions were examined to clarify the roles of AQP3, -5, and -8 in astrocyte water movement. The expression of AQP4 and AQP9 under the same hyperosmotic conditions was also investigated. The AQP4 and AQP9 expressions continuously increased until 12 h after hyperosmotic solution exposure, whereas the AQP3, -5, and -8 expressions continued to increase until 6 h after hyperosmotic solution exposure. The different AQPs decreased at corresponding time points (24 h for AQP4 and AQP9; 12 h for AQP3, -5, and -8 after hyperosmotic solution exposure). The ERK inhibitor can attenuate the expression of AQP3, -5, and -8 after hyperosmotic solution exposure. The p38 inhibitor can inhibit the AQP4 and AQP9 expressions in cultured astrocytes. AQP expression is directly related to the extracellular hyperosmotic stimuli. Moreover, different AQPs can be regulated by a distinct MAPK signal transduction pathway.

Treatment-related neuroendocrine prostate cancer managed with partial stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (P-SABR) for long-term survival: a case series.

Background: The amount of treatment-related neuroendocrine prostate cancer (t-NEPC) increases after hormonal therapy, especially novel androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs). T-NEPC is considered a hormone refractory [androgen receptor (AR)-negative] subtype of prostate cancer. Although tumors are initially responsive to platinum-based chemotherapy, the drugs are only effective for a short time. Therefore, whether or not local treatment can prolong survival is of great concern. Case Description: In this case series, we discuss 4 t-NEPC cases who were treated with partial stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (P-SABR) for bulky tumors. P-SABR is a radiotherapy regimen that is used in a SABR boost [such as 6 Gy × 4 fractions (f), 8 Gy × 3 f] prior to conventional radiotherapy to enhance the tumor biological effective dose (BED) without increasing the dose to organs at risk. All patients achieved good local control after P-SABR. For patient 1, P-SABR was used for the prostate tumor. After radiotherapy, pathological complete remission (pCR) was achieved, and the prostate lesion remained stable thus far. As of this writing, the patient has been in remission for 3 years after initial t-NEPC diagnosis. Conclusions: We describe 4 cases and indicate that P-SABR is safe and effective in the treatment of a large prostate mass and may prolong the survival of these patients.

[Whole brain radiation therapy plus temozolomide in the treatment of brain metastases from non small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy and safety of whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) plus temozolomide (TMZ) versus WBRT alone in the treatment of brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through a meta-analysis. METHODS: All previously published and some unpublished studies were comprehensively searched from the databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CBM, etc. The meta-analysis included all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to compare WBRT plus TMZ with WBRT alone in treatment of brain metastases from NSCLC. The primary meta-analysis was based upon objective remission (OR) and toxicity and the second overall survival (OS). RESULTS: Four RCTs identified by two reviewers were included. There was significant improvement for the WBRT + TMZ group in OR rate (RR = 1.55, P = 0.003); but without significant improvement in OS (P = 0.69). Meanwhile, WHO grade III/IV hematologic toxicity of myelosuppression increased in the WBRT + TMZ group (RR = 2.47, P = 0.008), but without significant difference in gastrointestinal toxicity (P = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: For the treatment of brain metastases from NSCLC, the combined therapy of WBRT plus TMZ improves OR, but without significant improvement in OS. And the incidence of myelosuppression is elevated. Future large-scale, high-quality and prospective phase III RCTs are needed to confirm the clinical efficacy and safety of WBRT plus TMZ.

Mid-infrared hyperchaos of interband cascade lasers.

Chaos in nonlinear dynamical systems is featured with irregular appearance and with high sensitivity to initial conditions. Near-infrared light chaos based on semiconductor lasers has been extensively studied and has enabled various applications. Here, we report a fully-developed hyperchaos in the mid-infrared regime, which is produced from interband cascade lasers subject to the external optical feedback. Lyapunov spectrum analysis demonstrates that the chaos exhibits three positive Lyapunov exponents. Particularly, the chaotic signal covers a broad frequency range up to the GHz level, which is two to three orders of magnitude broader than existed mid-infrared chaos solutions. The interband cascade lasers produce either periodic oscillations or low-frequency fluctuations before bifurcating to hyperchaos. This hyperchaos source is valuable for developing long-reach secure optical communication links and remote chaotic Lidar systems, taking advantage of the high-transmission windows of the atmosphere in the mid-infrared regime.

In Situ Construction of a Co/ZnO@C Heterojunction Catalyst for Efficient Hydrogenation of Biomass Derivative under Mild Conditions.

The efficient hydrogenation of biomass-derived levulinic acid (LA) to value-added γ-valerolactone (GVL) based on nonprecious metal catalysts under mild conditions is crucial challenge because of the intrinsic inactivity and instability of these catalysts. Herein, a series of highly active and stable carbon-encapsulated Co/ZnO@C-X (where X = 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, the molar ratios of Zn/(Co+Zn)) heterojunction catalysts were obtained by in situ pyrolysis of bimetal CoZn MOF-74. The optimal Co/ZnO@C-0.3 catalyst could achieve 100% conversion of LA and 98.35% selectivity to GVL under mild conditions (100 °C, 5 bar, 3 h), which outperformed most of the state-of-the-art catalysts reported so far. Detailed characterizations, experimental investigations, and theoretical calculations revealed that the interfacial interaction between Co and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) could promote the dispersibility and air stability of the active Co0 for the activation of H2. Moreover, the strong Co-ZnO interaction also enhanced the Lewis acidity of the Co/ZnO interface, contributing to the adsorption of LA and the esterification of intermediates. The synergy between the hydrogenation sites and the Lewis acid sites at the Co/ZnO interface enabled the conversion of LA to GVL with high efficiency. In addition, benefiting from the Co-ZnO interfacial interaction as well as the unique carbon-encapsulated structure of the heterojunction catalyst, the recyclability was also greatly improved and the yield of GVL was nearly unchanged even after six cycles.

Plasma Circulating Tumor Epstein-Barr Virus for the Surveillance of Cancer Progression in Bone-Only Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.

Background: Plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA (EBV-DNA) is a sensitive and specific biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We investigated whether longitudinal monitoring of EBV-DNA could accurately detect clinical disease progression in NPC patients with bone-only metastases. Methods: In this retrospective study, a total of 105 patients with bone-only metastatic NPC who were treated with platinum-based first-line chemotherapy were enrolled. Undetectable EBV-DNA after first-line chemotherapy was defined as a biochemical complete response (BCR). The correlation of the EBV-DNA dynamic status with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was determined by Cox regression. The correlation between non-normalized EBV-DNA period and PFS period was determined. Results: After a median follow-up time of 53.4 months [Interquartile range (IQR): 42.8-80.6], 64 patients had disease progression. Thirty-nine of 105 patients (37.1%) had a BCR at all follow-up time points, and none of these 39 patients had disease progression, corresponding to a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%. Sixty-six patients had a detectable EBV-DNA during surveillance, with 64 diagnosed as disease progression at the last follow-up, for a positive predictive value (PPV) of 97.0%. Actuarial 3-year OS rates were 45.0% for patients with detectable EBV-DNA during posttreatment surveillance and 100% for patients with undetectable EBV-DNA. Lastly, median lead time between non-normalized EBV-DNA and clinically proven progression was 5.87 ± 0.67 months. Conclusions: Taken together, EBV-DNA provided predictive value for the bone-only metastatic NPC patients. The results should be validated in prospective randomized studies.

Combined effects of fermentation starters and environmental factors on the microbial community assembly and flavor formation of Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar.

Microbial ecosystems of fermented foods are largely interfered by human activities in myriad ways. The aim of this study was to illuminate the impacts of various starters and environmental variables on the fermentation process of Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar (ZAV), one of the four representative cereal vinegars in China. The effects of environmental variables (e.g., ethanol, total acidity, temperature) and starters (e.g., jiuqu, maiqu, seed pei) on the profiles of microbiome and metabolome (e.g., organic acids, amino acids and volatiles) during fermentation process of ZAV were analyzed. Amongst the four fermentation stages, acetic acid fermentation was the main stage for the accumulation of flavor substances, and subsequently, the contents of acids (mainly acetic, lactic and citric acids) and volatile metabolites (e.g., 2,3-butanedione, acetoin, etc.) continued to enrich in sealed fermentation stage. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) and analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) showed that the fungal and bacterial community structures of four fermentation stages were significantly different. As for bacterial community, the dominant OTUs with average relative abundance over 10% in at least one fermentation stage were assigned to the genera Acetilactobacillus, Acetobacter, Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Lactobacillus, and Pseudomonas. The dominant fungal populations in each fermentation stage were obviously divergent, including Wickerhamomyces, Saccharomyces, Alternaria, Fusarium, etc. SourceTracker analysis demonstrated that jiuqu and seed pei provided microorganisms to initiate starch saccharification and acetic acid fermentation stages, respectively, and maiqu was mainly the donor of enzymes in alcohol fermentation. Spearman correlation coefficients revealed positive relationships between fungal community and various flavor metabolites, indicating the essential role of fungi in the flavor formation of ZAV. This study systematically reveals the effects of fermentation starters and environmental variables on vinegar production and deepens the understanding of the traditional production craft.

Diagnosis and molecular characterization of rabies virus from a buffalo in China: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Rabies virus (RABV) can infect many different species of warm-blooded animals. Glycoprotein G plays a key role in viral pathogenicity and neurotropism, and includes antigenic domains that are responsible for membrane fusion and host cell receptor recognition. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of buffalo rabies in China was diagnosed by direct fluorescent antibody test, G gene reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and RABV mouse inoculation test. Molecular characterization of the RABV was performed using DNA sequencing, phylogenetic analysis and amino acid sequence comparison based on the G gene from different species of animals. CONCLUSION: The results confirmed that the buffalo with suspected rabies was infected by RABV, which was genetically closely related to HNC (FJ602451) that was isolated from cattle in China in 2007. Comparison of the G gene among different species of animal showed that there were almost no amino acid changes among RABVs isolated from the same species of animals that distributed in a near region. However, there were many changes among RABVs that were isolated from different species of animal, or the same species from different geographic regions. This is believed to be the first case report of buffalo rabies in China, and the results may provide further information to understand the mechanism by which RABV breaks through the species barrier.

Encapsulation of Ultrafine Metal-Organic Framework Nanoparticles within Multichamber Carbon Spheres by a Two-Step Double-Solvent Strategy for High-Performance Catalysts.

Carbon-encapsulated metal-organic framework (MOF) composite is one kind of emerging new catalyst with high efficiency and has gained much attention. However, for this kind of composite catalyst, the key to improving its catalytic activity and durability is to realize the effective dispersion of MOF nanoparticles (NPs) and enhance the interaction between MOF NPs and the carbon matrix, which remain a significant challenge. Herein, ultrafine MOF NPs within multichamber carbon spheres (MOF@MCCS), for the first time, have been rationally synthesized by a two-step double-solvent strategy for high-performance catalysts. The precise loading of guest MOFs can be achieved by adjusting the multichamber structure and calcination extent of the multichamber polymer (MCP), and the particle size of MOFs can be as low as 13.2 nm. Due to the formation of abundant carbon defects in the pyrolysis process of MCPs, the special structure and synergistic effect make the material exhibit higher catalytic activity and durability. More importantly, this method is universal and can be extended to different MOF systems. The two-step double-solvent strategy not only prepares a unique structure of MOF@MCCS-type host-guest-encapsulated catalysts but also provides a new idea for the design of high-efficiency catalysts with better performance and higher durability.