Noninvasive Diagnosis of Hepatic Steatosis Using Fat Attenuation Parameter Measured by FibroTouch and a New Algorithm in CHB Patients.

BACKGROUND: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) remains a major public health problem worldwide, and the prevalence of CHB patients with hepatic steatosis is gradually increasing. Noninvasive approaches for the assessment of hepatic steatosis have been developed as alternatives to liver biopsy. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of the fat attenuation parameter (FAP) measured by transient elastography (FibroTouch) and a new algorithm to assess hepatic steatosis in CHB patients, in comparison to liver biopsy as the gold standard. METHODS: Two hundred fifty-four CHB patients underwent simultaneous liver biopsy, biochemical blood testing, and FibroTouch examination. A new algorithm based on four factors (FAP; body mass index, BMI; high-density lipoprotein, HDL; apolipoprotein B, APOB) was defined as follows: fatty index = 10*ep/ (1+ep), and P = -2.75 + 0.028 ln FAP (dB/m) + 0.409 ln BMI (Kg/m2) - 2.482 ln HDL (mmol/L) + 1.979 ln APOB (g/L). The performances of FAP and fatty index were assessed by area under the ROC curve (AUROC). RESULTS: The difference in FAP was significant (P < 0.001) between CHB-only patients and CHB patients with hepatic steatosis. The cytokeratin 18 fragment (CK18-M65) level was significantly higher in CHB patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) compared with CHB patients without NASH (P < 0.05). The optimal cutoff FAP values for hepatic steatosis of > 0, ≥ 5%, ≥ 10%, ≥ 20%, and ≥ 30% were 224.1, 230.6, 235.5, 246.9, and 261.1 dB/m, and AUROCs were 0.833, 0.801, 0.915, 0.917, and 0.972, respectively. The optimal cutoff value of fatty index for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis was 1.5 and the AUROC was 0.807. CONCLUSIONS: FAP is an accurate, reliable, and noninvasive approach that can also be combined with other metabolic biomarkers to comprehensively detect and quantify hepatic steatosis.

Expression of MicroRNA-155 is Downregulated in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Chronic Hepatitis B Patients.

BACKGROUND: Persistent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is sustained by inadequate immune responses, either natural or acquired. Recent studies have suggested that immune responses to viral infection may be affected by microRNA (miR)-155, via its involvement in immune cell differentiation and maturation. However, little is known on the specific interaction between miR-155 and HBV in host antiviral immunity. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the levels of miR-155 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, relative to that of healthy subjects, and investigated an association between miR-155 levels and HBV DNA or alanine aminotransferase (ALT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Total RNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood samples of 90 treatment-naive patients with chronic HBV infection and 20 healthy volunteers. The levels of miR-155 in the PBMCs were measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Serum HBV DNA and liver enzymes were estimated using standard clinical laboratory methods. RESULTS: In the HBV-infected patients, the miR-155 levels were significantly lower than in the healthy controls (P = 0.001). Chronic HBV-infected patients with elevated ALT had higher levels of miR-155 compared with patients with normal ALT (P = 0.014). No correlations were found between miR-155 and ALT or HBV DNA. CONCLUSIONS: The miR-155 appeared to be suppressed during HBV infection. The significantly higher miR-155 levels in ALT-elevated patients infected with HBV suggest that miR-155 levels in PBMCs correlate with the immune state of patients with chronic HBV infection.

[Study on chlorinated disinfection byproducts and the relevant health risk in tap water of J City].

J City lies in the downstream of Taihu Lake and its water source was micro-polluted by the well-developed industry and agriculture inside the city and in the upper stream. Tap water of J City is characterized as high concentrations of organics and ammonia nitrogen, and chlorinated disinfection byproducts (CDBPs), which has drawn many public concerns for the health risk. Tap water was sampled in May, August, October of 2012 and January of 2013. Four trihalomethanes (THMs) and five haloacetic acids (HAAs) were determined with the gas chromatography. Results revealed that THMs accounted for 88.1% of the sum of THMs and HAAs, with higher concentrations in May, August and January (39.34, 50.37 and 28.02 microg x L(-1), respectively) while obviously lower in October (19.19 microg x L(-1)), which were significantly higher than that of HAAs (2.58-4.02 microg x L(-1)). After boiled for three minutes, THMs were removed over 92.3% but HAAs were largely increased. The health risk of CDBPs was then calculated based on the health risk assessment model recommended by the USEPA. The health risk caused by carcinogenic CDBPs was within a range of 3.1 x 10(-6) - 7. 3 x 10(-6) in the tap water, all over the recommended level of 1 x 10(-6), but after boiled, the value significantly decreased to 7.9 x 10(-7), which is below the recommended level. The health risk caused by non-carcinogenic CDBPs absolutely increased from 2.1 x 10(-11) to 3.4 x 10(-9) after boiled, which is below the reference value of 10(-5).

[Mechanism of membrane fouling and filtration characteristics in a membrane bioreactor for industrial wastewater treatment].

The influence of mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), soluble microbial product (SMP), extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), colloidal particles and other factors contributed to membrane fouling was analyzed in this pilot test by membrane bioreactor (MBR) process for the leather printing and dyeing industrial park mixed wastewater treatment. The results showed that slight membrane fouling occurred after 120-day experiment with an observable increase in membrane resistance R20 from 1.5 x 10(12) m(-1) to 1.8 x 10(12) m(-1). Also, a linear correlation was found between the proportion of colloidal particles concentration in TOC of MBR former solution and membrane filtration resistance change. However, the change of MLSS, SMP, EPS and other factors was not correlated with the membrane filtration resistance change. Therefore, the colloidal particle was considered to be the main factor causing membrane fouling, which attached to the membrane surface and deposited to block the membrane pore.

[Study on equilibrium adsorption of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons on humid soils].

Adsorption is one of the principal mechanisms for soil contamination by volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons (VCHs). Dynamic adsorption experiments were carried out to study the equilibrium adsorption of four common VCHs pollutants onto eight typical soils in China. Results showed that dry soils had far greater adsorption capacity than humid soils. The soil adsorption capacity sharply decreased with the increase in the soil water content, and then reached a plateau as the water content rose to 10% or above. The adsorption isotherms of trichloroethylene (TCE), tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and 1,1,1-trichloroethane (MC) could be fitted with Henry's equation, while the adsorption isotherms of 1,1,2-trichloroethane (1,1,2-TCA) could be fitted with Freundlich model. The adsorption capacities of VCHs on humid soils were principally influenced by the content of soil organic carbon (SOC), but sometimes also impacted by the composition of SOC and the polarities of the VCHs molecules. Low polar molecules such as TCE and PCE showed adsorption capacities positively dependent on the SOC content. High polar molecules such as MC and 1,1,2-TCA displayed adsorption behavior not only influenced by SOC content but also by the SOC composition of high SOC content soils such as black soil. An adsorption equilibrium simulation model was developed for TCE and PCE on humid soils, the predicted values correlating well with the measured values (n = 80, R2 = 0.98).

[Study on equilibrium adsorption of volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons on dry soils].

Adsorption is one of the principal mechanisms of soil contamination by volatile chlorinated hydrocarbons (VCHs). Three typical paddy soils were collected from Yangtze Delta Region, onto which the equilibrium adsorption of six VCHs was studied under dry conditions using static equilibrium adsorption experiments. Results showed that the equilibrium adsorption isotherms of dry soils did not fit the Langmuir equation or BET equation, but could be well fitted the Dubinin-Astakhov equation (R2 > 0.95). Parameters of the Dubinin-Astakhov equation were influenced by the characteristics of soils and VCHs. The affinity coefficients (beta) were not significant influenced by the molecular volumes of VCHs but tended to increase along with the increase in the molecular polarities. The adsorption energies (E0) of the reference compound (tetrachloroethylene) positively correlated to the pore volume with radius below the average (V(< average pore radius)), while poorly related to the average pore radius of the soil. The maximum adsorption volumes of VCHs onto dry soils (W0) showed linear relationship to the pore volume with radius less than 10 nm (V(< 10nm)), while poorly correlated to the specific surface area of the soil. The Dubinin-Astakhov equation, a function of V < average pore radius), V(<10nm) and beta, could be used to predict the equilibrium adsorbed amounts of VCHs onto the dry soils. The predicted values strongly correlated with the measured values (R2 = 0.98).

Gradient decrement of annealing time can improve PCR with fluorescent-labeled primers.

The influences of fluorescence labeling on PCR amplification and T-RFLP analysis were examined by the analyses of a soil bacterial and archaeal community using both clone library and T-RFLP methods. The PCR amplification and microbial community structure patterns were compared among the primers labeled with and without fluorescent groups. PCR amplification was negatively affected by the labeling groups of the primers, which may be caused by the increment of primer molecular weight. It is known that thermodynamic movement of molecules will be slowed as molecular weight increased. Therefore it is understandable that the reaction of primer-DNA template hybridization will be inhibited with the fluorescent groups added to the primer(s). An effective "Gradient-Decreasing Annealing Time Program," in which the annealing time was initially set long and reduced cycle by cycle, can improve PCR efficiency under comparable amplification specificity with the fluorescent-labeled primers. No significant negative impact was observed in the altered conditions.

Filomicrobium insigne sp. nov., isolated from an oil-polluted saline soil.

Strain SLG5B-19(T), isolated from an oil-polluted saline soil in Gudao in the coastal Shengli Oilfield, eastern China, was Gram-negative with monoprosthecae or bipolar prosthecae and buds on the prosthecal tips. Growth occurred at NaCl concentrations between 0 and 7 % (w/v), at temperatures between 4 and 45 degrees C, and at pH 6.0-9.0. Strain SLG5B-19(T) had Q-9 as the major respiratory quinone and unsaturated C(18 : 1)omega7c as the predominant cellular fatty acid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 59.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SLG5B-19(T) belonged to a clade with the genera Filomicrobium and Hyphomicrobium in the class Alphaproteobacteria. However, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of strain SLG5B-19(T) to the phylogenetically most closely related strains, i.e. the type strains of Filomicrobium fusiforme and Hyphomicrobium zavarzinii, were 95.8 and 94.5 %, respectively. In addition, the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain SLG5B-19(T) had 24 signature nucleotides that were identical to those of the type strain of F. fusiforme. Based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain SLG5B-19(T) could be allocated to the genus Filomicrobium. However, distinct phenotypic differences were observed between strain SLG5B-19(T) and the type strain of F. fusiforme. It is therefore proposed that strain SLG5B-19(T) represents a novel species in the genus Filomicrobium, Filomicrobium insigne sp. nov. The type strain is SLG5B-19(T) (=CGMCC 1.6497(T)=LMG 23927(T)).

Halomonas gudaonensis sp. nov., isolated from a saline soil contaminated by crude oil.

Two moderately halophilic strains, SL014B-69(T) and SL014B-62A2, were isolated from a saline soil contaminated with crude oil in Gudao in the coastal Shengli oilfield in China; the isolates were Gram-negative, rod-shaped and carried lateral flagella. Growth occurred at NaCl concentrations of 1-20 % (w/v), at temperatures of 10-42 degrees C and at pH 8.0-9.0. Strain SL014B-69(T) had C(18 : 1)omega7c (28.61 %), C(19 : 1) cyclo omega7c (27.97 %), C(16 : 0) (19.66 %) and C(12 : 0) 3-OH (8.87 %) as the predominant fatty acids and Q9 as the major ubiquinone, with the G+C content of genomic DNA being 64.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two strains belonged to genus of Halomonas in the Gammaproteobacteria, with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 96.4 % with Halomonas campisalis ATCC 700597(T) and 96.0 % with Halomonas desiderata FB2(T). DNA-DNA relatedness of strain SL014B-69(T) with strain SL014B-62A2, H. campisalis ATCC 700597(T) and H. desiderata DSM 9502(T) was 97.4, 42.9 and 36.8 %, respectively. On the basis of these data, a novel species of the genus Halomonas, Halomonas gudaonensis sp. nov., is proposed for strain SL014B-69(T) and SL014B-62A2. The type strain is SL014B-69(T) (=LMG 23610(T)=CGMCC 1.6133(T)).

Marinobacter gudaonensis sp. nov., isolated from an oil-polluted saline soil in a Chinese oilfield.

Two novel strains, SL014B61A(T) and SL014B11A, were isolated from an oil-polluted saline soil from Gudao in the coastal Shengli Oilfield, eastern China. Cells of strains SL014B61A(T) and SL014B11A were motile, Gram-negative and rod-shaped. Growth occurred at NaCl concentrations of between 0 and 15 % and at temperatures of between 10 and 45 degrees C. Strain SL014B61A(T) had Q9 as the major respiratory quinone and C16 : 0 (21.2 %), C18 : 1omega9c (20.3 %), C16 : 1omega7c (7.3 %) and C16 : 1omega9c (6.4 %) as predominant fatty acids. The G+C content of the DNA was 57.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SL014B61A(T) belonged to the genus Marinobacter in the class Gammaproteobacteria. Strain SL014B61A(T) showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Marinobacter bryozoorum (97.9 %) and showed 97.8 % sequence similarity to Marinobacter lipolyticus. DNA-DNA relatedness to the reference strains Marinobacter bryozoorum and Marinobacter lipolyticus was 35.5 % and 33.8 %, respectively. On the basis of these data, it is proposed that strains SL014B61A(T) and SL014B11A represent a novel species, Marinobacter gudaonensis sp. nov. The type strain is strain SL014B61A(T) (=DSM 18066(T)=LMG 23509(T)=CGMCC 1.6294(T)).

Oceanicola nanhaiensis sp. nov., isolated from sediments of the South China Sea.

A Gram-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, strain SS011B1-20(T), was isolated from sediments of the South China Sea. Growth occurred at NaCl concentrations between 0 and 10 % and at temperatures between 10 and 37 degrees C. Strain SS011B1-20(T) contained Q-10 as the major respiratory quinone and C(18 : 1)omega7c (81.2 %), C(16 : 0) (7.0 %) and C(18 : 1) methyl (4.3 %) as the predominant fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.7 mol%. A phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain SS011B1-20(T) belonged to a clade within the genus Oceanicola in the Alphaproteobacteria, the highest sequence similarities being found with respect to Oceanicola batsensis (96.3 %) and with Oceanicola granulosus (94.9 %). Strain SS011B1-20(T) could be clearly distinguished from other Oceanicola species on the basis of the genotypic, phenotypic and phylogenetic data. Thus, it is proposed that strain SS011B1-20(T) represents a novel species of the genus Oceanicola, with the name Oceanicola nanhaiensis sp. nov. The type strain is SS011B1-20(T) (=LMG 23508(T)=CGMCC 1.6293(T)).