Biodegradation and decolourization of methyl red by Aspergillus versicolor LH1.

Azo dyes constitute a significant environmental burden due to its toxicity, carcinogenicity, and hard biodegradation. The report here is focused on the decolorization and degradation treatment of azo dye methyl red (MR). Decolorization of MR using Aspergillus versicolor LH1 isolated from activated sludge was investigated. The maximum decolorization rate of 92.3% was obtained under the optimized conditions of sucrose as carbon source, 5d incubation age, pH 6.0, 140 mg/L initial concentration of MR and 2.5 g/L initial concentration of NaNO3. Biodegradation products of MR were investigated using HPLC-MS, FTIR, and GC-MS assays. It was revealed the three bonds of -C-N = in MR aromatic nucleus were disrupted, and benzoic acid was detected. Micronucleus test with Glycine max L. and Vicia faba L. demonstrated that MCN‰ (micronucleus permillage) of MR metabolites was less than MR solution. These findings provided evidence that A. versicolor LH1 is a candidate for MR degradation in industrial wastewater treatment.

Efficacy of thymosin alpha-1 and interferon alpha in treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B: a randomized controlled study.

AIM: To observe the efficiency and safety of thymosin-alpha1 treatment in patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and HBV DNA positive chronic hepatitis. METHODS: Sixty-two patients were randomly divided into groups A and B. The patients in group A received subcutaneous injection of 1.6 mg thymosin-alpha1, twice a week (T-alpha1 group) for six months, and the patients in group B received 5 MU interferon alpha (IFN-alpha) each day for fifteen days, then three times weekly (IFN-alpha group) for six months. The results between two groups treated with and the group untreated with IFN-alpha which was followed up for 12 mo (historical control group consisting of 30 patients) were compared, and three groups were comparable between each other (P>0.05) at baseline (age, sex, clinical history, biochemical, and serological parameters). RESULTS: At the end of treatment, complete response, which was defined as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization and HBV DNA and HBeAg loss, occurred in 9 of 29 (31.0%) patients in the T-alpha1 group and in 15 of 33 (45.5%) patients in the IFN-alpha group (chi2=1.36, P>0.05). After a follow-up period of six months, a complete response was observed in 14 of 29 (48.3%) patients in the T-alpha1 group and in 9 of 33 (27.3%) patients in the IFN-alpha group (chi2=2.93, P>0.05). Compared with the results observed in the historical control (HC) group untreated with IFN-alpha which was followed up for 12 mo, the rate of complete response was significantly higher in IFN-alpha group at the end of therapy (1 of 30 vs 15 of 33, chi2=14.72, P<0.001) and in the T-alpha1 group at the end of follow-up (1 of 30 vs 14 of 29, chi2=15.71, P<0.001). In T-alpha1 and IFN-alpha treatment groups, the area under (the plasma concentration time) curve (AUC) of negative HBV DNA and HBeAg was 34%, 17%, 31% and 19% smaller than that in the HC group. By the end of the follow-up period, the proportions of ALT normalization and negative HBV DNA in the T-alpha1 group were significantly higher than those in the IFN-alpha and HC groups. The odds of ALT normalization and negative HBV DNA at the end of the follow-up was three-fold higher in the T-alpha1 group than in the IFN-alpha group. Unlike IFN-alpha, T-alpha1 was well tolerated by all patients, and no side effects appeared in T-alpha1 group. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that a 6-mo course of T-alpha1 therapy is effective and safe in patients with chronic hepatitis B. T-alpha1 is able to reduce HBV replication in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Furthermore, T-alpha1 is better tolerated than IFN-alpha and can gradually induce more sustained ALT normalization and HBV DNA and HBeAg loss. However, a response rate of 48.3% is still less ideal. A more effective therapeutic approach warrants further study.

A randomized, controlled, clinical study of thymosin alpha-1 versus interferon-alpha in [corrected] patients with chronic hepatitis B lacking HBeAg in China [corrected].

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of thymosin-alphal (T-alpha1) with that of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) in patients with chronic hepatitis B who were positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis B envelope antibody (anti-HBe). METHODS: Fifty-six patients were randomly divided into groups A and B. Both groups were comparable (p > 0.05) at baseline regarding age, sex, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Group A patients received T-alpha1 1.6 mg subcutaneously twice weekly, while group B patients received IFN-alpha 5 million IU daily for 15 days, then thrice weekly for 6 months. Results from the 2 groups were compared with data from a group of 30 patients never treated with IFN-alpha and who were followed-up for 12 months (historical control [HC] group); the 3 groups were comparable (p > 0.05). RESULTS: After treatment, a complete response (ALT normalization and HBV DNA loss) occurred in 8 of 26 patients in group A (30.8%) and 14 of 30 in group B (46.7%; chi2 = 1.476, p = 0.224). After a follow-up period of 6 months, a complete response was observed in 11 of 26 patients in group A (42.3%) and 7 of 30 in group B (23.3%; chi2 = 2.299, p = 0.129). The rate of complete response was significantly greater in the IFN-alpha than HC group at the end of therapy (46.7% vs 3.3%; chi2 = 15.022, p = 0.0001), and in the T-alphal than HC group at the end of follow-up (42.3% vs 3.3%; chi2 = 12.566, p = 0.0001). Ten of the 12 T-alphal responders (i.e. partial responders; 83.3%) experienced sustained, non-detectable HBV DNA after 6 months' treatment; 6 of the 14 T-alphal non-responders (42.9%) showed a delayed response of non-detectable HBV DNA during the follow-up period. Corresponding values for group B patients were 50% (9/18) and 0% (0/12). The rate of delayed response was significantly higher in group A than the other 2 groups (chi2 = 6.686, p = 0.010; chi2 = 4.964, p = 0.038), whereas the rate of flare was higher in group B than in the other 2 groups (chi2 = 3.445, p = 0.063; chi2 = 7.668, p = 0.006), during the follow-up period. Unlike IFN-alpha, T-alphal was well tolerated, i.e. no adverse effects were noted in group A. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a 6-month course of T-alpha1 therapy is effective and safe in patients with anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B; T-alpha1 can reduce HBV replication in such patients. Compared with IFN-alpha, T-alpha1 is better tolerated and seems to induce a gradual and more sustained normalization of ALT and loss of HBV DNA. Combination therapy with T-alpha1 and IFN-alpha or nucleoside analogs for hepatitis B warrants further study.