Search

Background: Long-term survival outcomes of trimodal therapy (TMT; chemoradiation plus surgery) and bimodal therapy (BMT; chemoradiation) have seldom been analysed. In a selective-surgery paradigm, the benefit of TMT in patients with a complete clinical response is controversial. Factors associated with survival in patients with a clinical complete response to chemoradiation were evaluated. Methods: Patients with stage II-III oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma treated with TMT or BMT from 2002 to 2017 were evaluated. The BMT group consisted of patients who were otherwise eligible for surgery but underwent chemoradiation alone followed by observation. This group included patients who later had salvage oesophagectomy. Survival was evaluated and compared between TMT and BMT groups. Elastic net regularization was performed to select co-variables for Cox multivariable survival analysis in patients with a clinical complete response. Results: Of 143 patients, 60 (41.9 per cent) underwent TMT and 83 (58.0 per cent) BMT. Patients who underwent TMT had longermedian overall survival than those who had BMT (77 versus 33months; P=0.019). For patients with a clinical complete response, TMT achieved longer median overall survival than BMT (123 versus 55months; P=0.04). BMT had a high locoregional recurrence rate (48 versus 6 per cent; P<0.001); 26 of 29 patients with locoregional recurrence in the BMT groupunderwent salvage resection. Coxmultivariable analysis demonstrated that upper-mid oesophageal tumour location (hazard ratio (HR) 2.04; P=0.024) and tumour length (HR 1.18; P=0.046) were associated with worse survival. Although TMT was not associated with survival, it was a predictor of reduced recurrence (HR 0.28; P=0.028). The maximumstandardized uptake value after chemoradiation also predicted recurrence (HR 1.33; P<0.001). Conclusion: In patients who achieve a clinical complete response, TMT reduces locoregional recurrence but may not prolong survival. The differences in survival outcomes may be due to patient selection; therefore, a selective-surgery strategy in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma is a reasonable approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ortho-nitrophenol ( ONP)-utilizing Alcaligenes sp. strain NyZ215, meta-nitrophenol ( MNP)-utilizing Cupriavidus necator JMP134 and para-nitrophenol ( PNP)-utilizing Pseudomonas sp. strain WBC-3 were assembled as a consortium to degrade three nitrophenol isomers in sequential batch reactors. Pilot test was conducted in flasks to demonstrate that a mixture of three mononitrophenols at 0·5 mol l−1 each could be mineralized by this microbial consortium within 84 h. Interestingly, neither ONP nor MNP was degraded until PNP was almost consumed by strain WBC-3. By immobilizing this consortium into polyurethane cubes, all three mononitrophenols were continuously degraded in lab-scale sequential reactors for six batch cycles over 18 days. Total concentrations of ONP, MMP and PNP that were degraded were 2·8, 1·5 and 2·3 mol l−1 during this time course respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that each member in the microbial consortium was relatively stable during the entire degradation process. This study provides a novel approach to treat polluted water, particularly with a mixture of co-existing isomers. Significance and Impact of the Study Nitroaromatic compounds are readily spread in the environment and pose great potential toxicity concerns. Here, we report the simultaneous degradation of three isomers of mononitrophenol in a single system by employing a consortium of three bacteria, both in flasks and lab-scale sequential batch reactors. The results demonstrate that simultaneous biodegradation of three mononitrophenol isomers can be achieved by a tailor-made microbial consortium immobilized in sequential batch reactors, providing a pilot study for a novel approach for the bioremediation of mixed pollutants, especially isomers present in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To determine the concentration and molecular epidemiology of GI and GII noroviruses in sewage in China. Methods and Results Twenty-three raw sewage samples were collected in the cities of Jinan and Linyi, eastern China in 2014. GI and GII noroviruses were positive in all samples after TaqMan-based quantitative PCR. The mean concentrations of GI and GII noroviruses were 4·52 × 104 and 7·88 × 104 genome copies per litre respectively. After reverse transcription- PCR, cloning and sequencing, 16 genotypes were identified. GI.6 (69·6%), GI.2 (65·2%), GII.13 (65·2%), GII.6 (60·9%) and GII.17 (60·9%) were the most common GI and GII genotypes. A recombination event was observed in two GI.6 sequences. GII.4 sequences belonged to Sydney 2012 and Den Haag 2006b variant. Interestingly, the novel GII.17 Kawasaki308 variant was detected. Conclusions These results reveal that multiple norovirus genotypes cocirculated in the local population. The risk of acute gastroenteritis outbreak is high in the two cities due to the detection of GII.17 Kawasaki308 variant and the high concentration of norovirus in raw sewage. Significance and Impact of the Study This study demonstrates sewage surveillance can be a useful approach to monitor norovirus circulating in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To determine the molecular epidemiology of classic human astrovirus (HAstVs) in sewage and supplement limited clinical data in China. Methods and Results Classic HAstVs in domestic sewage in Shandong Province, eastern China in 2014 were analysed in a total of 23 sewage samples. After viral concentration, reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), cloning and sequencing, all samples were positive for classic HAstVs and 115 sequences were obtained, belonging to five different genotypes (HAstV-1,-2, -3, -4 and -5). Of these, HAstV-4 (31·3%, 36/115), -5 (24·3%, 28/115) were detected with higher rates than HAstV-1 (21·7%, 25/115), followed by HAstV-2 (17·4%, 20/115) and -3 (5·2%, 6/115). High identities were observed within all genotypes in 2014. Interestingly, recombination events were identified at a high frequency (12·2%, 14/115), and variable combinations were obtained. Conclusions This study suggests that multiple HAstVs genotypes co-circulated with high prevalence in local population during surveillance period. Significance and Impact of the Study The results demonstrate that sewage analysis is a useful approach in surveillance HAstVs in the context of limited clinical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]