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Background: The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is complex and there are no biomarkers for early identification. Many studies have reported altered gut microbiota in patients with PD compared with healthy individuals. However, results from previous studies vary across countries. Aims: The aim of this study was to identify gut microbiota biomarkers that could be used as a marker for the diagnosis of PD. Methods: Firstly, the differential gut microbiota was obtained by metaanalysis, and then the results of meta-analysis were validated through metagenomic cohort. Finally, the ROC curve was drawn based on the metagenomic validation results. Results: The meta-analysis showed a lower relative abundance of Prevotellaceae (p < 0.00001) and Lachnospiraceae (p = 0.002), and a higher of Ruminococcaceae (p < 0.00001), Christensenellaceae (p = 0.03), Bifidobacteriaceae (p < 0.00001), and Verrucomicrobiaceae (p = 0.02) in patients with PD. Only Bifidobacteriaceae was also at high levels in the validation cohort of the metagenome. Meanwhile, three species from the Bifidobacteriaceae, including Scardovia_inopinata (p = 0.022), Bifidobacterium_dentium (p = 0.005), and Scardovia_wiggsiae (p = 0.024) were also high. The ROC curve showed that the three species (71.2%) from Bifidobacteriaceae had good predictive efficiency for PD. Conclusion: Elevated Bifidobacteriaceae may be associated with PD. Elevated three species from the Bifidobacteriaceae, including Scardovia_inopinata, Bifidobacterium_dentium and Scardovia_wiggsiae may provide new potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To select a common method of humanized mice and verify its feasibility with the aim to provide atheoretical basis for subsequent fecal bacteria transplantation research. Methods: 1. Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) mice were fed with antibiotics mixed with sterilized drinking water for 3 weeks, during which the general situation of mice was recorded. After 3 weeks, the number of microbes in mice's feces was evaluated by Gram staining. 2. After antibiotic treatment, mice were transplanted fecal bacteria by gavage for a week. Then, the contents of fecal bacteria in the donor and recipient feces was determined by RT-PCR, to evaluate the colonization effect of fecal bacteria. Results:(1)Antibiotic treatment had an effect on weight, feed and drinking water consumption of mice, and the fecal bacteria in mice decreased obviously.(2)After fecal bacteria transplantation, the Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes of the mice receiving Donor1 fecal bacteria accounted for 15.4%, 112% and 13.7% of the mice receiving Donor2 fecal bacteria, respectively. The Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes of Donor1 fecal bacteria accounted for 33.7%, 104% and 32% of Donor2, respectively. The recipient's gut microbes had the same trend as human donors. Conclusions: These results indicate that antibiotic treatment combined with fecal bacterial transplantation is feasible and safe for humanizing SPF mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Gastric intestinal metaplasia (IM) is an important risk factor for intestinal-type gastric carcinoma, and successful treatment critically depends on its timely detection. In order to guide appropriate endoscopic surveillance, objective knowledge on the anatomical predilection of intestinal metaplasia development is urgently needed. Materials and Methods: A total of 78,335 cases who underwent gastroduodenoscopy from 2008 to 2013 in Jiangsu and Anhui provinces in China, were studied. Demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as biopsy location and histological results, were analyzed. Results: This study revealed that intestinal metaplasia incidence was 28.5% in angulus, 20.24% in lesser curvature of the antrum, and 25.48% in corpus; and all these were significantly higher than those observed in other sites (P < 0.01). Histological grading of intestinal metaplasia in the lesser curvature of the antrum and angulus was generally worse than the grading observed in the greater curvature of the antrum. For Helicobacter pylori-positive patients, acute inflammation was more severe in the lesser curvature of the antrum compared with the greater curvature. In the H. Pylori-negative group, both acute and chronic inflammations were more severe in the lesser curvature of the antrum. Conclusions: The angulus, lesser curvature in the antrum, and corpus are most prone to the development of intestinal metaplasia. Inflammation is most severe in the lesser curvature of the antrum, which corresponds to a higher predilection to develop intestinal metaplasia at this site. The lesser curvature of the antrum and corpus require the most attention during endoscopic biopsy surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bluetongue virus (BTV), a nonenveloped double-stranded RNA virus, is a potent inducer of type ? interferons in multiple cell systems. In this study, we report that BTV16 treatment of primary human macrophages induced both type I and III IFN expression, resulting in the production of multiple antiviral factors, including myxovirus resistance protein A, 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase, and the IFN-stimulated gene 56. Additionally, BTV-treated macrophages expressed increased HIV restriction factors (apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide 3 G/F/H) and CC chemokines (macrophage inflammatory protein 1-α, macrophage inflammatory protein 1-β, regulated on activation of normal T cell expressed and secreted), the ligands for HIV entry coreceptor CC chemokine receptor type 5. BTV16 also induced the expression of tetherin, which restricts HIV release from infected cells. Furthermore, TLR3 signaling of macrophages by BTV16 resulted in the induction of several anti-HIV microRNAs (miRNA-28, -29a, -125b, -150, -223, and -382). More importantly, the induction of antiviral responses by BTV resulted in significant suppression of HIV in macrophages. These findings demonstrate the potential of BTV-mediated TLR3 activation in macrophage innate immunity against HIV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that microalga has been widely regarded as one of the most promising raw materials of biofuels. However, lack of an economical, efficient and convenient method to harvest microalgae is a bottleneck to boost their full-scale application. Many methods of harvesting microalgae, including mechanical, electrical, biological and chemical based, have been studied to overcome this hurdle. Results: A new flocculation method induced by decreasing pH value of growth medium was developed for harvesting freshwater microalgae. The flocculation efficiencies were as high as 90% for Chlorococcum nivale, Chlorococcum ellipsoideum and Scenedesmus sp. with high biomass concentrations (>1g/L). The optimum flocculation efficiency was achieved at pH 4.0. The flocculation mechanism could be that the carboxylate ions of organic matters adhering on microalgal cells accepted protons when pH decreases and the negative charges were neutralized, resulting in disruption of the dispersing stability of cells and subsequent flocculation of cells. A linear correlation between biomass concentration and acid dosage was observed. Furthermore, viability of flocculated cells was determined by Evans Blue assay and few cells were found to be damaged with pH decrease. After neutralizing pH and adding nutrients to the flocculated medium, microalgae were proved to maintain a similar growth yield in the flocculated medium comparing with that in the fresh medium. The recycling of medium could contribute to the economical production from algae to biodiesel. Conclusions: The study provided an economical, efficient and convenient method to harvest fresh microalgae. Advantages include capability of treating high cell biomass concentrations (>1g/L), excellent flocculation efficiencies (≥ 90%), operational simplicity, low cost and recycling of medium. It has shown the potential to overcome the hurdle of harvesting microalgae to promote full-scale application to biofuels from microalgae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comments on the study about the evolution of Clark time-area concept to spatially distributed runoff. Development of a digital elevation model for runoff stimulation; Usage of linear reservoir routing to reflect stream channel storage attenuation effects; Computation and equation used in the study.

Background:Cytokines released from adipose tissues induce chronic low-grade inflammation, which may enhance cancer development. We investigated whether indices of obesity and circulating adipokine levels could predict incident cancer risk. Materials and Methods:This longitudinal community-based study included subjects from the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factors Prevalence Study (CRISPS) study commenced in 1995-1996 (CRISP-1) with baseline assessments including indices of obesity. Subjects were reassessed in 2000-2004 (CRISPS-2) with measurement of serum levels of adipokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (sTNFR2; as a surrogate marker of tumor necrosis factor-α activity), leptin, lipocalin 2, adiponectin and adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP). Incident cancer cases were identified up to 31 December 2011. Results:205 of 2893 subjects recruited at CRISPS-1 had developed incident cancers. More of the subjects who developed cancers were obese (22.1 vs 16.1%) or had central obesity (36.6 vs 24.5%) according to Asian cut-offs. Waist circumference (adjusted HR 1.02 [1.00-1.03] per cm; p=0.013), but not body mass index (adjusted HR 1.04 [1.00-1.08] per kg/m2; p=0.063), was a significant independent predictor for incident cancers after adjustment for age, sex and smoking status. 99 of 1899 subjects reassessed at CRISPS-2 had developed cancers. Subjects who developed cancers had significantly higher level of hsCRP, IL-6, sTNFR2 and lipocalin 2. After adjustment for conventional risk factors, only IL-6 (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.18-1.95) and sTNFR2 (HR 3.27, 95%CI 1.65-6.47) predicted cancer development. Conclusions:Our data supported the increased risk of malignancy by chronic low grade inflammation related to central obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]