Arcicella gelida sp. nov. and Arcicella lustrica sp. nov., isolated from streams in China and re-examining the taxonomic status of all the genera within the families Spirosomataceae and Cytophagaceae.

Three Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile strains (DC2WT, DC25WT, and LKC2W) were isolated from streams in China. Comparisons based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that these three strains share 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values over 97.0 % with the species of genus Arcicella. There was confusion due to the fact that all species of genera Flectobacillus, Aquirufa, and Sandaracinomonas show 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of over 90.0 % to the above three strains, but the genus Flectobacillus belongs to the family Spirosomataceae and the genera Aquirufa and Sandaracinomonas belong to the family Cytophagaceae. Observing the phylogenetic trees, strains DC2WT, DC25WT, and LKC2W cluster closely with the species of genus Arcicella, but some species within the families Spirosomataceae and Cytophagaceae are not monophyletic. The phylogenomic tree also showed a confused phylogenetic relationships among these non-monophyletic species. Combining the phylogenetic relationships and average nucleotide identity values, the current taxonomic status of all the genera within the families Spirosomataceae and Cytophagaceae were re-examined. The genera 'Chryseosolibacter', 'Dawidia', and Chryseotalea should belong to the new family Chryseotaleaceae fam. nov., the genera Arcicella, Flectobacillus, Pseudarcicella, Aquirufa, and Sandaracinomonas should belong to the new family Flectobacillaceae fam. nov., the genera Fluviimonas, Taeseokella, Arcticibacterium, Emticicia, Jiulongibacter, Marinilongibacter, Lacihabitans, and Leadbetterella should belong to the new family Leadbetterellaceae fam. nov., the genus Litoribacter should be reassigned to the family Cyclobacteriaceae, and the genera Arundinibacter and Tellurirhabdus should be reassigned to the family Spirosomataceae. Strains DC2WT and DC25WT are reported to represent two novel species of the genus Arcicella, for which the names Arcicella gelida sp. nov. (type strain DC2WT=GDMCC 1.3209T=KCTC 92559T) and Arcicella lustrica sp. nov. (type strain DC25WT=GDMCC 1.3210T=KCTC 92557T) are proposed.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using CalliSpheres beads loaded with arsenic trioxide for unresectable large or huge hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the safety and efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with CalliSpheres® beads loaded with arsenic trioxide (CBATO-TACE) in the first-line treatment of patients with large (5 cm ≤ maximum diameter < 10 cm) or huge (maximum diameter ≥ 10 cm) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Patients were randomly allocated to the CBATO-TACE group and the conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (cTACE) group. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). The secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS), treatment response, and treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs). The extrahepatic collateral arteries, liver function, and liver fibrosis after the first TACE were also evaluated. RESULTS: From September 2018 to September 2020, a total of 207 patients who underwent TACE were consecutively enrolled in this study. The median PFS was 9.5 months (range: 8.0 - 11.0) in the CBATO group, which was significantly longer than that in the cTACE group (6.0 months, range: 4.0-6.0) (p < 0.0001). Patients in the CBATO group had a median OS of 22 months (range: 20.0 - 27.0) compared with 16 months (range: 15.0 - 20.0) in the cTACE group (p = 0.0084). The most common TRAEs were fever (p = 0.043), and nausea and vomiting (p = 0.002), which were more observed in the cTACE group. In addition, the progressive disease time, pulmonary metastasis rate (p = 0.01), the mean number of extrahepatic collateral arteries (p = 0.01), and average number of TACE sessions (p = 0.025) were significantly decreased in the CBATO group. CONCLUSIONS: CBATO-TACE achieved better therapeutic outcomes and similar safety profile compared to cTACE in large or huge HCC patients. Furthermore, CBATO-TACE was able to reduce extrahepatic collateral arteries production and extrahepatic lung metastasis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT: Our study showed that CalliSpheres® beads loaded with arsenic trioxide (CBATO-TACE) were effective and safe for the treatment of large and giant HCC. In addition, CBATO-TACE can reduce lateral hepatic branch artery formation and extrahepatic pulmonary metastasis, which provides a new treatment approach for unresectable HCC. KEY POINTS: • We compare long-term efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with CalliSpheres® beads loaded with arsenic trioxide (CBATO-TACE) and conventional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (cTACE) in patients with large (5 cm ≤ maximum diameter < 10 cm) or huge HCC (maximum diameter ≥ 10 cm). • Compared with cTACE, CBATO-TACE significantly improved therapeutic outcomes, overall survival, and progression-free survival in patients with large or huge HCC. The safety assessment suggested that CBATO-TACE is a safe treatment that improves the quality of life and has good treatment adherence.

Flectobacillus longus sp. nov. and Flectobacillus rivi sp. nov., isolated from streams in China and reclassification of Flectobacillus rhizosphaerae as a synonym of Flectobacillus roseus.

Three Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile strains (LYT7WT, DC10W and LFS242WT) were isolated from streams in PR China. Comparisons based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that these three strains showed high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Flectobacillus roseus GFA-11T (99.2, 98.8 and 99.8 %, respectively) and Flectobacillus rhizosphaerae JC289T (98.8, 98.6 and 99.4 %, respectively), and less than 96.6 % to other species of the genus Flectobacillus. The phylogenetic tree reconstructed based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains LYT7WT, DC10W, LFS242WT, F. roseus GFA-11T and F. rhizosphaerae JC289T formed a tight cluster. The phylogenomic tree also supported the above robust phylogenetic relationships. The calculated OrthoANIu and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strains LYT7WT and DC10W were 95.2 % and 61.9 %, respectively. Although these values are located in the transition region for species demarcation, the similar physiological and genotypic characteristics supported that strains LYT7WT and DC10W should belong to the same species. The pairwise OrthoANIu and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain LFS242WT and its related strains were less than 91.8 and 45.3 %, respectively, indicating that strain LFS242WT should represent an independent novel species of the genus Flectobacillus. It should be noticed that the pairwise OrthoANIu and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strains F. roseus LMG 24501T and F. rhizosphaerae KCTC 42575T were 96.9 and 73.1 %, respectively. The similar physiological and genotypic characteristics also supported that F. rhizosphaerae Ramaprasad et al. 2015 should be a synonym of F. roseus Sheu et al. 2009. Combining the above descriptions, strains LYT7WT, DC10W and LFS242WT should represent two novel species of the genus Flectobacillus, for which the names Flectobacillus longus sp. nov. (type strain LYT7WT=GDMCC 1.3222T=KCTC 92561T) and Flectobacillus rivi sp. nov. (type strain LFS242WT=GDMCC 1.3223T=KCTC 92562T) are proposed.

Vogesella aquatica sp. nov. and Vogesella margarita sp. nov., isolated from rivers in Southwest China.

Eight Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short rod-shaped and motile strains (DC21WT, LYT5WT, LYT10W, LYT16W, LYT22W, LYT23W, LYT24W and SH7W) were isolated from rivers in Southwest China. Comparisons based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain DC21WT shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (99.6 %) with Vogesella mureinivorans 389T, strain LYT5WT shared 99.2 % with Vogesella fluminis Npb-07T, and the other isolated strains took Vogesella indigofera DSM 3303T as their most similar strain, respectively. The phylogenetic trees reconstructed based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences also supported that strains V. mureinivorans 389T, V. fluminis Npb-07T and V. indigofera DSM 3303T were the closest neighbours of the isolated strains. The phylogenomic tree showed similar phylogenetic relationships among these strains. The calculated OrthoANIu and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values among strains DC21WT, LYT5WT and other related strains were less than 93.7 and 53.7 %, respectively. The calculated OrthoANIu and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values among strains LYT10W, LYT16W, LYT22W, LYT23W, LYT24W, SH7W and V. indigofera DSM 3303T ranged from 94.8 to 97.2 % and from 59.8 to 74.9 %, respectively. Although these values were located in the transition region of species demarcation, their similar phenotypic, biochemical and genotypic characteristics supported that these six strains should be assigned to the species V. indigofera. Comparative genomic analyses showed that only V. indigofera DSM 3303T harboured 19 genes encoding the Type VI secretion system. Combining above descriptions, strains DC21WT and LYT5WT should represent two independent novel species of the genus Vogesella, for which the names Vogesella aquatica sp. nov. (type strain DC21WT=GDMCC 1.3220T=KCTC 92556T) and Vogesella margarita sp. nov. (type strains LYT5WT=GDMCC 1.3213T=KCTC 92549T) are proposed, respectively.

Asticcacaulis aquaticus sp. nov., Asticcacaulis currens sp. nov. and Asticcacaulis machinosus sp. nov., isolated from streams in PR China.

Three Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, stalked and motile strains with a polar flagellum (BYS171WT, DXS10WT and LKC15WT) were isolated from streams in PR China. Comparisons based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains BYS171WT and DXS10WT had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (98.1 and 98.6 %, respectively) to Asticcacaulis excentricus CB 48T, and strain LKC15WT showed 99.6 % similarity to Asticcacaulis endophyticus ZFGT-14T. These three strains showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of less than 96.9 % to other species of the genus Asticcacaulis. A phylogenetic tree reconstructed based on 16S rRNA gene sequences also showed that strains BYS171WT and DXS10WT took A. excentricus CB 48T as their closest neighbour, and strain LKC15WT formed a tight cluster with A. endophyticus ZFGT-14T. The phylogenomic tree also showed that these three strains belong to the genus Asticcacaulis and form a distinct clade with the species of the genus Asticcacaulis. The major cellular fatty acids of these three strains were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0 and 11-methyl C18 : 1 ω7c. Their polar lipids mainly consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, unidentified glycolipids and nitrogen-containing phosphoglycolipids. The calculated OrthoANIu and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values among strains BYS171WT, DXS10WT, LKC15WT and other related strains were less than 87.2 % and 34.0 %, respectively, indicating that these three strains should represent three independent novel species of the genus Asticcacaulis, for which the names Asticcacaulis aquaticus sp. nov. (type strain BYS171WT=GDMCC 1.3226T=KCTC 92612T), Asticcacaulis currens sp. nov. (type strain DXS10WT=GDMCC 1.3224T=KCTC 92543T) and Asticcacaulis machinosus sp. nov. (type strain LKC15WT=GDMCC 1.3225T=KCTC 92544T) are proposed.

Covered SEMS failed to cure airway fistula closed by an amplatzer device.

BACKGROUND: Airway fistula is a rare but threatening complication associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. We report the experience of Amplatzer device application in airway fistulae that failed to be cured with a covered self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who failed occlusion with a covered self-expandable metallic stent and received Amplatzer device placement from Jan 2015 to Jan 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. A total of 14 patients aged 42 to 66 years (55.14 ± 7.87) were enrolled in this study. The primary diseases, types of fistula, types of stents, duration, size of fistula, and follow-up were recorded. RESULTS: All 14 patients with airway fistula failed to be occluded with a covered metallic stent and received Amplatzer device placement. Among the 14 patients, 6 had BPF, 3 had TEF and 5 had GBF. The average stent time was 141.93 ± 65.83 days. The sizes of the fistulae ranged from 3 to 6 mm. After Amplatzer device placement, the KPS score improved from 62.14 ± 4.26 to 75.71 ± 5.13 (P < 0.05). No procedure-related complications occurred. During the 1-month, 3-month and 6-month follow-ups, all the Amplatzer devices were partially surrounded with granulation. Only 1 patient with BPF failed with Amplatzer device occlusion due to the recurrence of lung cancer. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the application of the Amplatzer device is a safe and effective option in the treatment of airway fistula that failed to be occluded with SEMSs.

Which Multivariate Multi-Scale Entropy Algorithm Is More Suitable for Analyzing the EEG Characteristics of Mild Cognitive Impairment?

So far, most articles using the multivariate multi-scale entropy algorithm mainly use algorithms to analyze the multivariable signal complexity without clearly describing what characteristics of signals these algorithms measure and what factors affect these algorithms. This paper analyzes six commonly used multivariate multi-scale entropy algorithms from a new perspective. It clarifies for the first time what characteristics of signals these algorithms measure and which factors affect them. It also studies which algorithm is more suitable for analyzing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) electroencephalograph (EEG) signals. The simulation results show that the multivariate multi-scale sample entropy (mvMSE), multivariate multi-scale fuzzy entropy (mvMFE), and refined composite multivariate multi-scale fuzzy entropy (RCmvMFE) algorithms can measure intra- and inter-channel correlation and multivariable signal complexity. In the joint analysis of coupling and complexity, they all decrease with the decrease in signal complexity and coupling strength, highlighting their advantages in processing related multi-channel signals, which is a discovery in the simulation. Among them, the RCmvMFE algorithm can better distinguish different complexity signals and correlations between channels. It also performs well in anti-noise and length analysis of multi-channel data simultaneously. Therefore, we use the RCmvMFE algorithm to analyze EEG signals from twenty subjects (eight control subjects and twelve MCI subjects). The results show that the MCI group had lower entropy than the control group on the short scale and the opposite on the long scale. Moreover, frontal entropy correlates significantly positively with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score and Auditory Verbal Learning Test delayed recall score on the short scale.

Proposal to reclassify Aquiflexum aquatile into a novel genus as Cognataquiflexum aquatile gen. nov., comb. nov., and description of Cognataquiflexum nitidum sp. nov. and Cognataquiflexum rubidum sp. nov., isolated from freshwater lakes on the Tibetan Plateau.

Thousands of lakes harbouring different characteristics (pH, salinity, temperature) are located on the Tibetan Plateau, and the mining of microbial resources inhabited in these lakes has great value. Two Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile strains (LQ15WT and AIY15WT) were isolated from freshwater lakes on the Tibetan Plateau. Comparisons based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that both strains LQ15WT and AIY15WT share 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities 98.4 % with Aquiflexum aquatile Z0201T, but only about 95.0 % with Aquiflexum balticum DSM 16537T. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains LQ15WT and AIY15WT was 98.9 %. The phylogenetic tree reconstructed based on 16S rRNA gene sequences also showed that strains LQ15WT and AIY15WT take A. aquatile Z0201T as their closest neighbour and these three strains form a tight cluster. In the phylogenomic tree, the genus Aquiflexum was splited into two clusters by Mariniradius saccharolyticus. Strains LQ15WT, AIY15WT and A. aquatile Z0201T still formed a close cluster, and A. balticum DSM 16537T and Aquiflexum lacus CUG 91378T formed another cluster. The calculated OrthoANIu, average amino acid identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values among strains LQ15WT, AIY15WT, A. aquatile Z0201T, A. balticum DSM 16537T and A. lacus CUG 91378T were less than 91.0, 92.9 and 42.1 %, respectively. The major respiratory quinones of both strains LQ15WT and AIY15WT were MK-7 (32 %) and MK-8 (68 %), and their major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C18 : 1 ω9c, summed feature 3 and summed feature 9. The predominant polar lipids of both strains were phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified aminophospholipids, unidentified phospholipids and lipids. Strain AIY15WT also contained phosphatidylglycerol and unidentified glycolipid. Considering the distinct phylogenetic relationships and chemotaxonomic characteristics between strains A. aquatile Z0201T and A. balticum DSM 16537T, it is proposed to reclassify A. aquatile into a novel genus Cognataquiflexum gen. nov. as Cognataquiflexum aquatile comb. nov., and strains LQ15WT and AIY15WT should represent two independent novel species of the genus Cognataquiflexum, for which the names Cognataquiflexum nitidum sp. nov. (type strain: LQ15WT=CICC 24711T=JCM 34222T) and Cognataquiflexum rubidum sp. nov. (type strain: AIY15WT=CICC 24708T=JCM 34612T) are proposed.

Salegentibacter lacus sp. nov. and Salegentibacter tibetensis sp. nov., isolated from hypersaline lakes on the Tibetan Plateau.

Two Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped and non-motile strains (LM13ST and JZCK2T) were isolated from hypersaline lakes in China. The colonies of both strains were yellow-pigmented and convex. Both strains could grow at 4-34 °C, pH 6.5-9.0 and with 1.0-13.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Comparisons based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains LM13ST and JZCK2T share less than 98.3 % similarity with species of the genus Salegentibacter. The phylogenetic tree reconstructed based on 16S rRNA gene sequences also showed that Salegentibacter species are the most closely related neighbours of strains LM13ST and JZCK2T. The sequenced draft genome sizes of strains LM13ST and JZCK2T are 4.06 and 4.22 Mbp with G+C contents of 37.0 and 37.8 mol%, respectively. The phylogenomic tree reconstructed using the Up-to-date Bacterial Core Gene set pipeline also demonstrated that both strains belong to the genus Salegentibacter. The calculated pairwise average nucleotide identity values and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strains LM13ST and JZCK2T and Salegentibacter species were less than 86.4 and 32.0 %, respectively. The respiratory quinone in both strains was MK-6. Their major fatty acids were iso-C12 : 0, iso-C14 : 0, C15 : 1 ω10c, iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C17 : 1 ω10c. Their major polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified lipid and one unidentified aminolipid, but strain LM13ST also contained one more unidentified aminolipid, one more unidentified lipid and one unidentified phospholipid. Combining the above descriptions, strains LM13ST and JZCK2T should represent two independent novel species of the genus Salegentibacter, for which the names Salegentibacter lacus sp. nov. (type strain LM13ST=GDMCC 1.2643T=KCTC 82861T) and Salegentibacter tibetensis sp. nov. (type strain JZCK2T=GDMCC 1.2621T=KCTC 82862T) are proposed.

Psychroflexus curvus sp. nov., Psychroflexus longus sp. nov. and Psychroflexus montanilacus sp. nov., isolated from salt lakes on the Tibetan Plateau.

Four Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped and non-motile strains (CAK1WT, CAK8WT, CAK57W and CCL10WT) were isolated from salt lakes in China. Comparisons based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the four strains show less than 98.9% similarity to species of the genus Psychroflexus. The phylogenetic tree reconstructed based on 16S rRNA gene sequences also showed that Psychroflexus species are the most closely related neighbours of the four strains. The sequenced draft genome sizes of strains CAK1WT, CAK8WT, CAK57W and CCL10WT were 3.01, 2.95, 3.01 and 3.04 Mbp with G+C contents of 37.3, 35.8, 37.5 and 36.6 %, respectively. The phylogenomic trees reconstructed based on the UBCG and GET_PHYLOMARKERS pipelines all demonstrated that the four strains belong to the genus Psychroflexus. The calculated pairwise orthologous average nucleotide identity based on usearch, digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average amino acid sequence identity values among strains CAK1WT, CAK8WT, CAK57W, CCL10WT and other species of the genus Psychroflexus were equal or lower than 91.1, 43.5 and 92.2%; the values between strains CAK1WT and CAK57W were 98.8, 90.2 and 99.0 %, respectively. The respiratory quinone of the four strains was MK-6. Their major fatty acids were iso-C14 : 0, C15 : 1 ω10c, iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The major polar lipids of the four strains included phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminolipid and two kinds of unidentified lipids, and only strain CCL10WT contained diphosphatidylglycerol. Based on the above descriptions, strains CAK1WT, CAK8WT, CAK57W and CCL10WT should belong to the genus Psychroflexus and represent three independent novel species, for which the names Psychroflexus curvus sp. nov. (type strain CAK1WT=GDMCC 1.2644T=KCTC 82857T), Psychroflexus longus sp. nov. (type strain CAK8WT=GDMCC 1.2646T=KCTC 82859T) and Psychroflexus montanilacus sp. nov. (type strain CCL10WT=GDMCC 1.2631T=KCTC 82860T) are proposed.

Novosphingobium percolationis sp. nov. and Novosphingobium huizhouense sp. nov., isolated from landfill leachate of a domestic waste treatment plant.

Two strains designated as c1T and c7T, were isolated from the landfill leachate of a domestic waste treatment plant in Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, PR China. The cells of both strains were aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile and formed yellow colonies on Reasoner's 2A agar plates. Strain c1T grew at 10-42 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 4.5-10.5 (optimum, pH 7.0) and 0-2.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0-0.5 %). Strain c7T grew at 10-42 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 4.5-10.5 (optimum, pH 6.0) and 0-2.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0-0.5 %). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strains c1T and c7T belong to the genus Novosphingobium. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of strains c1T and c7T to the type strains of Novosphingobium species were 94.5-98.2 % and 94.3-99.1 %, respectively. The calculated pairwise average nucleotide identity values among strains c1T, c7T and the reference strains were in the range of 75.2-85.9 % and the calculated pairwise average amino acid identity values among strains c1T, c7T and reference strains were in the range of 72.0-88.3 %. Their major respiratory quinone was Q-10, and the major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c, C18 : 0, C16 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 0 and C14 : 0 2OH. The major polar lipids of strains c1T and c7T were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipid, unidentified lipids and unidentified phospholipid. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and genomic results from this study, strains c1T and c7T should represent two independent novel species of Novosphingobium, for which the names Novosphingobium percolationis sp. nov. (type strain c1T=GDMCC 1.2555T=KCTC 82826T) and Novosphingobium huizhouense sp. nov. (type strain c7T=GDMCC 1.2556T=KCTC 82827T) are proposed. The gene function annotation results of strains c1T and c7T suggest that they could play an important role in the degradation of organic pollutants.

Drug-Eluting Embolics Chemoembolization for the Management of Recurrent or Advanced Head and Neck Cancer.

PURPOSE: To characterize the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of chemoembolization using drug-eluting embolic (DEE) microspheres in patients with recurrent and advanced head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 32 patients (mean age, 57.2 years ± 2.8; 17 women) with recurrent (n = 16) and advanced (n = 16) head and neck cancer were treated with chemoembolization using DEE microspheres loaded with doxorubicin. Treatment response, overall survival, local progression-free survival, and adverse events were evaluated. RESULTS: At 6 months after the procedure, the objective response and disease control rates were 25% and 69%, respectively. The median overall survival and local progression-free survival were 14.5 and 13.6 months, respectively. Seven (22%) patients experienced adverse events after the chemoembolization procedure. All the adverse events were related to postembolization syndrome, including vomiting and nausea (n = 1), pyrexia (n = 2), and localized pain (n = 7). No severe adverse events or procedure-related deaths were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Chemoembolization using DEE microspheres was safe and tolerable in patients with recurrent and advanced head and neck cancer.

Metformin attenuates synergic effect of diabetes mellitus and Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric cancer cells proliferation by suppressing PTEN expression.

It has been reported that CagA of Helicobacter pylori reduced PTEN expression by enhancing its promoter methylation. Furthermore, diabetes mellitus (DM) may also promote the methylation status of PTEN, a tumour suppressor gene in gastric cancer (GC). It is intriguing to explore whether DM may strengthen the tumorigenic effect of H pylori (HP) by promoting the methylation of PTEN promoter and whether the administration of metformin may reduce the risk of GC by suppressing the methylation of PTEN promoter. In this study, we enrolled 107 GC patients and grouped them as HP(-)DM(-) group, HP(+)DM(-) group and HP(+)DM(+) group. Bisulphite sequencing PCR evaluated methylation of PTEN promoter. Quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and Western blot, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and MTT assay were performed accordingly. DNA methylation of PTEN promoter was synergistically enhanced in HP(+)DM(+) patients, and the expression of PTEN was suppressed in HP(+)DM(+) patients. Cell apoptosis was decreased in HP(+)DM(+) group. Metformin showed an apparent effect on restoring CagA-induced elevation of PTEN promoter methylation, thus attenuating the PTEN expression. The reduced PTEN level led to increased proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of HGC-27 cells. In this study, we collected GC tumour tissues from GC patients with or without DM/HP to compare their PTEN methylation and expression while testing the effect of metformin on the methylation of PTEN promoter. In summary, our study suggested that DM could strengthen the tumorigenic effect of HP by promoting the PTEN promoter methylation, while metformin reduces GC risk by suppressing PTEN promoter methylation.

Undibacterium baiyunense sp. nov., Undibacterium curvum sp. nov., Undibacterium fentianense sp. nov., Undibacterium flavidum sp. nov., Undibacterium griseum sp. nov., Undibacterium hunanense sp. nov., Undibacterium luofuense sp. nov., Undibacterium nitidum sp. nov., Undibacterium rivi sp. nov., Undibacterium rugosum sp. nov. and Undibacterium umbellatum sp. nov., isolated from streams in China.

Twelve Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped and motile strains (CY7WT, CY18WT, CY22WT, FT31WT, FT137WT, FT147WT, BYS50W, BYS107WT, LFS511WT, LX15WT, LX22WT and NL8WT) were isolated from streams in China. Comparisons based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these strains take species of genus Undibacterium as close neighbours. The reconstructed phylogenetic and phylogenomic trees also showed that these strains cluster with species of genus Undibacterium together. The genome G+C contents of these strains were in the range of 45.3 to 53.3 mol%. The calculated pairwise OrthoANIu values and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values among these strains and related strains were in the range of 70.4 to 94.1% and 19.3 to 55.3% except that the values between strains CY7WT and BYS50W were 99.0 and 91.8 %, respectively. Q-8 was their predominant respiratory quinone. C16 : 1 ω7c and C16 : 0 were their major fatty acids. Their polar lipids profiles were similar, including phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid and two kinds of unidentified aminolipids. Combining polyphasic taxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic relationships, twelve strains should represent eleven independent novel species of genus Undibacterium, for which the names Undibacterium baiyunense sp. nov. (type strain BYS107WT=GDMCC 1.2453T=KCTC 82653T), Undibacterium curvum sp. nov. (type strain CY22WT=GDMCC 1.1906T=KACC 21951T), Undibacterium fentianense sp. nov. (type strain FT137WT=GDMCC 1.2456T=KCTC 82656T), Undibacterium flavidum sp. nov. (type strain LX15WT=GDMCC 1.1910T=JCM 34286T), Undibacterium griseum sp. nov. (type strain FT31WT=GDMCC 1.1908T=KACC 21953T), Undibacterium hunanense sp. nov. (type strain CY18WT=GDMCC 1.1904T=KACC 21949T), Undibacterium luofuense sp. nov. (type strain LFS511WT=GDMCC 1.2458T=KCTC 82658T), Undibacterium nitidum sp. nov. (type strain LX22WT=GDMCC 1.1912T=KACC 21957T), Undibacterium rivi sp. nov. (type strain FT147WT=GDMCC 1.2457T=KCTC 82657T), Undibacterium rugosum sp. nov. (type strain CY7WT=GDMCC 1.1903T=KACC 21961T) and Undibacterium umbellatum sp. nov. (type strain NL8WT=GDMCC 1.1915T=KACC 21960T) are proposed.

Algoriphagus pacificus sp. nov. and Algoriphagus oliviformis sp. nov., isolated from a mariculture fishpond.

Two Gram-stain-negative, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, rod-shaped, non-flagellated, non-spore-forming and non-motile strains (YJ13CT and H41T) were isolated from a mariculture fishpond in PR China. Comparisons based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that YJ13CT and H41T shared 16S rRNA gene sequences similarities between 92.6 and 99.2 % with species of the genus Algoriphagus. YJ13CT only shared 93.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with H41T. The reconstructed phylogenetic and phylogenomic trees indicated that YJ13CT and H41T clustered closely with species of the genus Algoriphagus. The calculated pairwise orthologous average nucleotide identity with usearch (OrthoANIu) values between strains YJ13CT and H41T and other related strains were all less than 79.5 %. The OrthoANIu value between YJ13CT and H41T was only 69.9 %. MK-7 was the predominant respiratory quinone of YJ13CT and H41T and their major cellular fatty acids contained iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1 ω7c and C17 : 1 ω9c. The polar lipids profiles of YJ13CT and H41T consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine and several kinds of unidentified lipids. Combining the above descriptions, strains YJ13CT and H41T represent two distinct novel species of the genus Algoriphagus, for which the names Algoriphagus pacificus sp. nov. (type strain YJ13CT=GDMCC 1.2178T=KCTC 82450T) and Algoriphagus oliviformis sp. nov. (type strain H41T=GDMCC 1.2179T=KCTC 82451T) are proposed.

Bowmanella yangjiangensis sp. nov. and Amphritea pacifica sp. nov., isolated from mariculture fishponds in China.

Four Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped and motile strains (Y26, Y57T, ZJ14WT and RP18W) were isolated from mariculture fishponds in PR China. Comparisons based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains Y26 and Y57T share 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities in the range of 95.1-98.5 % with species of the genus Bowmanella, and strains ZJ14WT and RP18W share 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities in the range of 96.7 -98.8 % with species of the genus Amphritea, respectively. The genome sizes of strains Y26, Y57T, ZJ14WT and RP18W were about 4.85, 5.40, 4.70 and 4.70 Mbp with 49.5, 51.7, 51.2 and 51.3 mol% G+C content, respectively. The calculated pairwise OrthoANIu values among strains Y26, Y57T and species of the genus Bowmanella were in the range of 72.6-83.1 %, but the value between strains Y26 and Y57T was 96.2 %. The pairwise OrthoANIu values among strains ZJ14WT, RP18W and other species of the genus Amphritea were all less than 93.9 %, but the value between strains ZJ14WT and RP18W was 99.3 %. Q-8 was the major respiratory quinone of strains Y26, Y57T, ZJ14WT and RP18W, and the major fatty acids of these strains were all C16 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω7c. The predominant polar lipids of strains Y26 and Y57T included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol, but strains ZJ14WT and RP18W only contained phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Combining phenotypic, biochemical and genotypic characteristics, strains Y26 and Y57T should belong to the same species and represent a novel member of the genus Bowmanella, and strains ZJ14WT and RP18W should belong to the same species and represent a novel member of the genus Amphritea, for which the names Bowmanella yangjiangensis sp. nov. (type strain Y57T=GDMCC 1.2180T=KCTC 82439T) and Amphritea pacifica sp. nov. (type strain ZJ14WT=GDMCC 1.2203T=KCTC 82438T) are proposed.

Rugamonas aquatica sp. nov. and Rugamonas rivuli sp. nov., isolated from a subtropical stream in PR China.

Two Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped, motile strains (FT29WT and FT103WT) were isolated from a subtropical stream in PR China. Comparisons based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains FT29WT and FT103WT showed 98.7 and 98.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Rugamonas rubra CCM 3730T as their closest neighbour, respectively. The calculated pairwise OrthoANIu values between strain R. rubra CCM 3730T and strains FT29WT and FT103WT were all 81.4 %. The respiratory quinone of strains FT29WT and FT103WT was determined to be Q-8. The major fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 0 and C12 : 0. The polar lipids of strain FT103WT included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified phospholipid, but strain FT29WT did not contain phosphatidylglycerol. The genome sizes of strains FT29WT and FT103WT were 7.23 and 6.84 Mbp with G+C contents of 63.8 and 63.9 %, respectively. Although the pairwise OrthoANIu value between strains FT29WT and FT103WT was 95.2 % which located in the transition region of species demarcation, the dissimilarities in the aspects of phenotypic, biochemical and genotypic characteristics supported these two strains should belong to the different species within genus Rugamonas, for which the names Rugamonas aquatica sp. nov. (type strain FT29WT=GDMCC 1.1643T=KACC 21316T) and Rugamonas rivuli sp. nov. (type strain FT103WT=GDMCC 1.1685T=KACC 21477T) are proposed.

Duganella alba sp. nov., Duganella aquatilis sp. nov., Duganella margarita sp. nov. and Duganella levis sp. nov., isolated from subtropical streams in China.

Six Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped and motile strains (FT9WT, FT25W, FT26WT, FT109WT, FT134W and CY42WT) were isolated from subtropical streams in China. Comparisons based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the six strains shared similarities of less than 98.1 % with other species within the family Oxalobacteraceae and formed two separately distinct clades in phylogenetic trees. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strains FT9WT and FT25W, and between strains FT109WT and FT134W were both 99.7 %. The genome sizes of strains FT9WT, FT25W, FT26WT, FT109WT, FT134W and CY42WT were 6.45, 6.45, 6.54, 6.43, 6.52 and 6.74 Mbp with G+C contents of 64.0, 64.0, 63.8, 63.2, 63.2 and 62.5 %, respectively. The calculated pairwise average nucleotide (ANI) values among the six strains and other related species were less than 93.9 %, except that the values were 99.9 % between strains FT9WT and FT25W, 98.2 % between strains FT109WT and FT134W, and 95.0 and 95.1 % between strain FT26WT and strains FT9WT and FT25W, respectively. However, strain FT26WT shared 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of only 98.3 and 98.2 % with FT9WT and FT25W, respectively. The respiratory quinone of the six strains was determined to be Q-8. The major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C12 : 0. The predominant polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Considering the phenotypic, biochemical, genotypic and ANI data, strains FT9WT and FT25W, and FT109WT and FT134W may belong to the same species, respectively. Although the pairwise ANI values between strain FT26WT and each of strains FT9WT and FT25W were located in the transition region of species demarcation, the dissimilarities among them indicated that strain FT26WT could represent an independent novel species. The reconstructed phylogenomic tree based on a concatenation of 92 core genes showed that the six strains clustered closely with Duganella sacchari Sac-22T and Duganella radicis KCTC 22382T, and supported that these six strains belong to the genus Duganella. The names Duganella albus sp. nov. (type strain FT9WT=GDMCC 1.1637T=KACC 21313T), Duganella aquatilis sp. nov. (type strain FT26WT=GDMCC 1.1641T=KACC 21315T), Duganella pernnla sp. nov. (type strain FT109WT=GDMCC 1.1688T=KACC 21480T) and Duganella levis sp. nov. (type strain CY42WT=GDMCC 1.1673T=KACC 21465T) are proposed.

Halomonas montanilacus sp. nov., isolated from hypersaline Lake Pengyanco on the Tibetan Plateau.

A Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, motile strain (PYC7WT) was isolated from Lake Pengyanco on the Tibetan Plateau. Comparisons based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain PYC7WT belongs to the genus Halomonas, with Halomonas malpeensis YU-PRIM-29T and Halomonas johnsoniae T68687T as its closest neighbours (96.8 and 96.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively), and only 93.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Halomonas elongata ATCC 33173T. The predominant respiratory quinone of strain PYC7WT is Q-9, with Q-8 as a minor component. The major fatty acids are C18 : 1 ω6c and / or C18 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 0, C16 : 1 ω6c and/or C16 : 1 ω7c, and C12 : 0 3OH. The polar lipids of strain PYC7WT include phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and two unidentified phospholipids. Genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 4.79 Mbp and a G+C content of 62.9 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization values of strain PYC7WT showed 45, 30 and 38 % relatedness with Halomonas johnsoniae DSM 21197T, Halomonas hamiltonii DSM 21196T and Halomonas stevensii DSM 21198T, respectively. Combining phenotypic, biochemical, genotypic and DNA-DNA hybridization data, we propose that strain PYC7WT represents a novel species within the genus Halomonas and to have the name Halomonas montanilacus sp. nov.; PYC7WT (=CICC 24506T= KCTC 62529T) is the type strain.

Halomonas rituensis sp. nov. and Halomonas zhuhanensis sp. nov., isolated from natural salt marsh sediment on the Tibetan Plateau.

Two novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and non-motile rods bacteria, designated TQ8ST and ZH2ST, were isolated from salt marsh sediment collected from the Tibetan Plateau. Strain TQ8ST was found to grow at 10-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 6.0-11.0 (optimum, pH 8.0-9.0) and in the presence of 2-12 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 6-8 %). Strain ZH2ST was found to grow at 15-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 7.0-10.0 (optimum pH 9.0) and in the presence of 2-10 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 4-6 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains TQ8ST and ZH2ST shared 99.07 % sequence similarity between each other and were affiliated with the genus Halomonas, sharing 97.48 % and 97.41 % of sequence similarity to their closest neighbour Halomonas sulfidaeris Esulfide1T, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization analyses showed 61.0 % relatedness between strains TQ8ST and ZH2ST. The average nucleotide identity and the average amino acid identity values between the two genomes were 92.33 and 92.84 %, respectively. The values between the two strains and their close phylogenetic relatives were all below 95 %. The major respiratory quinones of strain TQ8ST were Q-9 and Q-8, while that of ZH2ST was Q-9. The main fatty acids shared by the two strains were C18 : 1 ω6c and/or C18 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 1 ω6c and/or C16 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 0 and C12 : 0 3-OH. Strain ZH2ST can be distinguished from TQ8ST by a higher proportion of C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strains TQ8ST and ZH2ST were 57.20 and 57.14 mol%, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic distinctiveness and phylogenetic divergence, the two isolates are considered to represent two novel species of the genus Halomonas, for which the names Halomonas rituensis sp. nov (type strain TQ8ST=KCTC 62530T=CICC 24572T) and Halomonas zhuhanensis sp. nov (type strain ZH2ST=KCTC 62531T=CICC 24505T) are proposed.