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Background: An increasing number of research have applied neuroimaging techniques to explore the potential neurobiological mechanism of Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). Purpose: To explore the correlation between resting brain glucose metabolism and CRCI using 18F-FDG PET/CT in ovarian cancer (OC) patients. Methods: From December 2021 to March 2022, 38 patients with OC were selected as the study group, and 38 healthy women of the same age (±1 year) who underwent routine physical examination using PET/CT were selected as the control group. Patients received further assessment with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) and Perceived Deficit Questionnaire (PDQ). Independent sample t-test and Spearman correlation were conducted for data analysis. Results: The resting brain glucose metabolism in the OC group was significantly lower than in the healthy controls. 60.52 % patients had neuropsychological impairment and retrospective memory were the most serious perceived cognitive impairments. The resting brain glucose metabolism in OC patients did not significantly correlate with neuropsychological performance but had significant positive correlation with subjective cognitive evaluation. Discussion: Resting glucose metabolism was low in OC patients and associated with subjective cognitive impairment but not objective neuropsychological test results. 18F-FDG PET/CT can be used to evaluate brain function in OC patients and provide reliable imaging indicators for early recognition of and intervention for changes in cognitive function.

Lactate accumulation and macrophage infiltration are pivotal features of both chronic inflammation and cancer. Lactate, once regarded merely as an aftereffect of glucose metabolism, is now gaining recognition for its burgeoning spectrum of biological roles and immunomodulatory significance. Recent studies have evidenced that macrophages display divergent immunophenotypes in different diseases, which play a pivotal role in disease management by modulating macrophage polarization within the disease microenvironment. The specific polarization patterns of macrophages in a high-lactate environment and their contribution to the progression of chronic inflammation and cancer remain contentious. This review presents current evidence on the crosstalk of lactate and macrophage in chronic inflammation and cancer. Additionally, we provide an in-depth exploration of the pivotal yet enigmatic mechanisms through which lactate orchestrates disease pathogenesis, thereby offering novel perspectives to the development of targeted therapeutic interventions for chronic inflammation and cancer.

Abstract Background Long terminal repeat (LTR)-retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) are ubiquitous and make up the majority of nearly all sequenced plant genomes, whereas their pivotal roles in genome evolution, gene expression regulation as well as their epigenetic regulation are still not well understood, especially in a large number of closely related species. Results Here, we analyzed the abundance and dynamic evolution of LTR-RTs in 54 species from an economically and agronomically important family, Fabaceae, and also selected two representative species for further analysis in expression of associated genes, transcriptional activity and DNA methylation patterns of LTR-RTs. Annotation results revealed highly varied proportions of LTR-RTs in these genomes (5.1%~68.4%) and their correlation with genome size was highly positive, and they were significantly contributed to the variance in genome size through species-specific unique amplifications. Almost all of the intact LTR-RTs were inserted into the genomes 4 Mya (million years ago), and more than 50% of them were inserted in the last 0.5 million years, suggesting that recent amplifications of LTR-RTs were an important force driving genome evolution. In addition, expression levels of genes with intronic, promoter, and downstream LTR-RT insertions of Glycine max and Vigna radiata, two agronomically important crops in Fabaceae, showed that the LTR-RTs located in promoter or downstream regions suppressed associated gene expression. However, the LTR-RTs within introns promoted gene expression or had no contribution to gene expression. Additionally, shorter and younger LTR-RTs maintained higher mobility and transpositional potential. Compared with the transcriptionally silent LTR-RTs, the active elements showed significantly lower DNA methylation levels in all three contexts. The distributions of transcriptionally active and silent LTR-RT methylation varied across different lineages due to the position of LTR-RTs located or potentially epigenetic regulation. Conclusion Lineage-specific amplification patterns were observed and higher methylation level may repress the activity of LTR-RTs, further influence evolution in Fabaceae species. This study offers valuable clues into the evolution, function, transcriptional activity and epigenetic regulation of LTR-RTs in Fabaceae genomes.

The microbial conversion of alkanes to methane in hydrocarbon-contaminated environments is an intrinsic bioremediation strategy under anoxic conditions. However, the mechanism of microbial methanogenic alkane degradation is currently unclear. Under ten years of continuous efforts, we obtained a methanogenic n-alkane-degrading (C15–C20) enrichment culture that exhibited sustained improvements in the kinetic properties of methane production. The integrated metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses revealed that n-alkanes were mainly attacked by members of Desulfosarcinaceae, Firmicutes, and Synergistetes using the fumarate addition strategy, and were then further degraded in a common effort by Tepidiphilus members. Meanwhile, the abundant members of Anaerolineaceae were mainly responsible for cell debris recycling. However, according to the metatranscriptomic analyses, methane was predicted to be produced mainly via H2-dependent methylotrophic methanogenesis, primarily from necromass-derived trimethylamine mediated by Methanomethyliaceae within the candidate phylum Verstraetearchaeota. These findings reveal that H2-dependent methylotrophic methanogens, as well as methylotrophic methanogens, may play important ecological roles in the carbon cycle of hydrocarbon enriched subsurface ecosystems.

ABSTRACT Direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) is important in anaerobic communities of environmental and practical significance. Other than the need for close physical contact for electrical connections, the interactions of DIET partners are poorly understood. Type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) typically kill competitive microbes. Surprisingly, Geobacter metallireducens highly expressed T6SS genes when DIET-based co-cultures were initiated with Geobacter sulfurreducens. T6SS gene expression was lower when the electron shuttle anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate was added to alleviate the need for interspecies contact. Disruption of hcp, the G. metallireducens gene for the main T6SS needle-tube protein subunit, and the most highly upregulated gene in DIET-grown cells eliminated the long lag periods required for the initiation of DIET. The mutation did not aid DIET in the presence of granular-activated carbon (GAC), consistent with the fact that DIET partners do not make physical contact when electrically connected through conductive materials. The hcp-deficient mutant also established DIET quicker with Methanosarcina barkeri. However, the mutant also reduced Fe(III) oxide faster than the wild-type strain, a phenotype not expected from the loss of the T6SS. Quantitative PCR revealed greater gene transcript abundance for key components of extracellular electron transfer in the hcp-deficient mutant versus the wild-type strain, potentially accounting for the faster Fe(III) oxide reduction and impact on DIET. The results highlight that interspecies interactions beyond electrical connections may influence DIET effectiveness. The unexpected increase in the expression of genes for extracellular electron transport components when hcp was deleted emphasizes the complexities in evaluating the electromicrobiology of highly adaptable Geobacter species. IMPORTANCE Direct interspecies electron transfer is an alternative to the much more intensively studied process of interspecies H2 transfer as a mechanism for microbes to share electrons during the cooperative metabolism of energy sources. DIET is an important process in anaerobic soils and sediments generating methane, a significant greenhouse gas. Facilitating DIET can accelerate and stabilize the conversion of organic wastes to methane biofuel in anaerobic digesters. Therefore, a better understanding of the factors controlling how fast DIET partnerships are established is expected to lead to new strategies for promoting this bioenergy process. The finding that when co-cultured with G. sulfurreducens, G. metallireducens initially expressed a type VI secretion system, a behavior not conducive to interspecies cooperation, illustrates the complexity of establishing syntrophic relationships.

Single cell transcriptomic sequencing (scRNA) can identify genes that are differentially expressed in cell populations in specific diseases. Here the authors perform scRNA sequencing in a high-altitude pulmonary hypertension (HAPH) cohort and show transcriptional differences in monocyte populations.

Abstract Background Echinococcosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease that threatens human health and economic development. In China, 370 counties are endemic for echinococcosis. Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has the most patients and people at risk. Therefore, analyzing the societal factors related to susceptibility to the disease is critical for efficient prevention and control of echinococcosis. Methods The demographic characteristics and lifestyle of echinococcosis cases were clustered using K-means cluster analysis to determine the main factors of risk of echinococcosis. Results Middle-aged and young people as well as those with a low education level and herdsmen are at risk of contracting echinococcosis. Nomadism, domestic and feral dogs in the surrounding environment, and drinking heavily polluted natural surface water are the main behavioral risk factors. The cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE) cluster analysis focused on female, middle-aged, and young people, winter settlement and summer nomadism, and domestic and feral dogs in the surrounding environment. There were significant differences in lifestyle between Qinghai-Tibet Plateau cases and non-Qinghai-Tibet-Plateau cases. Conclusion According to the distribution of cases and CE and AE, this study identified the factors of risk of echinococcosis in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and non-Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Adapted control techniques appropriate for the various epidemic areas should be established to serve as a reference for echinococcosis prevention. Graphical Abstract

Background: An estimate of 90% effective dose (ED90) of oxytocin infusion has already been proved effective in non-laboring parturients. However, the requirements of oxytocin for elderly parturients with prior history of cesarean delivery (CD) may be higher. The aim of this study was to find the optimum oxytocin infusion rate for preventing uterine atony during CD in elderly parturients with prior history of CD.Method: We performed a randomized, double-blinded study in 120 healthy elderly parturients with prior history of CD scheduled for elective CD under combined spinal–epidural (CSE) anesthesia. Participants were treated with oxytocin infusion randomly at the rates of 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, or 20 IU h−1 after the delivery of infants. Following oxytocin administration, a blinded obstetrician evaluated the uterine tone (UT), verbally describing it using numerical scales (0–10: 0, no UT; 10, optimal UT) as either adequate or inadequate at the time intervals of 3, 6, and 9 min. Maternal adverse effects, requirements for additional uterotonic agents, delivery–placenta delivery time (PD), and estimated blood loss (EBL) were recorded.Results: The 50% effective dose (ED50) and 90% effective dose (ED90) of oxytocin infusion were 14.6 IU h−1 (95% confidence interval 12.0–18.4 IU h−1) and 27.7 IU h−1 (95% confidence interval 22.5–39.4 IU h−1), respectively. As the rate of infusion was increased in parturients, the rescue oxytocin dose and delivery-PD time were decreased. Parturients who received 0 IU h−1 oxytocin at 3, 6, and 9 min obtained lower UT scores than those who received 16 and 20 IU h−1 oxytocin (p < 0.05, respectively). No significant differences were observed among groups in EBL and maternal adverse effects.Conclusion: The infusion rate of oxytocin at 14.57 and 27.74 IU h−1 produces adequate UT in 50% and 90% of elderly parturients with prior history of CD, respectively. An oxytocin infusion rate of 27.7 IU h−1 is suggested to be the optimal dose for preventing uterine atony during CD in elderly parturients with prior history of cesarean delivery.Clinical Trial Registration: [https://www.chictr.org.cn/bin/project/edit?pid=62489], Identifier: [ChiCTR2000038891].

Boletaceae, the largest family in Boletales, has been attracted by mycologists in the world due to its diverse morphology and complex history of evolution. Although considerable work has been done in the past decades, novel taxa are continually described. The current study aimed to introduce three new taxa and one new record of Boletaceae from China. The morphological descriptions, color photographs, phylogenetic trees to show the positions of the taxa, and comparisons with allied taxa are provided. The new genus Hemilanmaoa is unique in the Pulveroboletus group, and Hemilanmaoa retistipitatus was introduced as the type species. It can be distinguished by its bluing basidioma when injured, a decurrent hymenophore, a stipe covered with distinct reticulations, and a fertile stipitipellis. Porphyrellus pseudocyaneotinctus is characterized by its pileipellis consisting of broadly concatenated cells and thin-walled caulocystidia in Porphyrellus. In Phylloporus, Phylloporus biyangensis can be distinguished by its hymenophores that change to blue when injured and yellow basal mycelium. Lanmaoa angustispora, as a new record, is first reported in Northern China. Internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S rDNA (28S), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α), RNA polymerase II subunit 1 (rpb1), and RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (rpb2) were employed to execute phylogenetic analyses.

Abstract The influence of peripheral muscle strength on prognosis after extubation and subsequent functional outcomes is not evident. The objectives of this study were to determine (1) whether peripheral muscle strength can be used as a predictor for patients’ prognoses after extubation, and (2) whether the peripheral muscle strength before extubation is correlated with patients’ subsequent ambulation ability and in-hospital mortality. This study was a prospective observational cohort study. A hand-held dynamometer was used for evaluated the muscle strength of the biceps and quadriceps right before extubation. Besides, after the patients had been transferred from the ICU to the general ward, a 2-minute walk test was performed. A total of 52 patients were enrolled in this study, and the rate of extubation failure was 15%. The muscle strength of the quadriceps was significantly correlated with the prognosis after extubation, 48% of the patients were able to ambulate after being transferred to the general ward. The overall mortality rate was 11%, and there was a significant correlation between the biceps muscle strength and in-hospital mortality. Peripheral muscle strength may serve as an important predictor of a patients’ prognoses after extubation. Poor peripheral muscle strength is indicative of not only a higher risk of re-intubation but also higher in-hospital mortality and poorer functional outcomes. Trial registration: ISRCTN16370134. Registered 30 May 2019, prospectively registered. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16370134 .

Mass spectrometry imaging （MSI） is a new imaging technology that can simultaneously detect and record the spatial distribution information of multiple molecules on the sample surface without labeling. The main principle of MSI is to combine mass spectrometry with imaging technology and irradiate the sample slice with ion beam or laser to ionize the molecules on its surface, obtain the mass spectrometry signal through the detector, convert the obtained data into pixel points by the imaging software, and then construct the spatial distribution image of the target compound on the tissue surface. The sample preparation for MSI include： sample collection and storage, tissue section, tissue pretreatment, selection and application of matrix. At present, this technology has been widely used in the fields of biomedicine, new drug development and proteomics, and its application in the field of forensic toxicology has also gradually attracted attention. This article reviews the principles and sample preparation process of MSI, describes the application of MSI in abused substances and metabolites of various material matrices, herbal mixtures, latent fingerprints, hair and animal and plant tissues, and discusses the prospects of the application of this technology in forensic toxicology, in order to provide ideas and references for the application of MSI technology in forensic toxicology.

Abstract Background Echinococcosis is a global zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus larvae. This disease is highly endemic in Sichuan Province, China. This study investigates the prevalence and spatial distribution characteristics of human echinococcosis at the township level in Sichuan Province, geared towards providing a future reference for the development of precise prevention and control strategies. Methods Human prevalence of echinococcosis was evaluated using the B-ultrasonography diagnostic method in Sichuan Province between 2016 and 2019. All data were collected, collated, and analyzed. A spatial distribution map was drawn to intuitively analyze the spatial distribution features. Eventually, the spatial autocorrelation was specified and local indicators of spatial association (LISA) clustering map was drawn to investigate the spatial aggregation of echinococcosis at the township level in Sichuan Province. Results The prevalence of echinococcosis in humans of Sichuan Province was 0.462%, among which the occurrence of cystic echinococcosis (CE) was 0.221%, while that of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) was 0.244%. Based on the results of the spatial distribution map, a predominance of echinococcosis in humans decreased gradually from west to east and from north to south. The Global Moran’s I index was 0.77 (Z = 32.07, P

AIM: To identify factors associated with metamorphopsia in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment(RRD)who underwent primary vitrectomy(PPV). METHODS:This retrospective study included 94 patients(94 eyes)who underwent 23G PPV for repair of RRD between January, 2017 and January, 2019. Each patient were examined both eyes preoperatively and postoperatively(at 1, 6, 12mo and last visits). At each time-point, patients received a complete ophthalmological examination, including best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), intraocular pressure, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, optical coherence tomography(OCT), and M-chart examination.RESULTS: One month after surgery, metamorphopsia occurred in 53%(n=50), the mean M value was 0.68±0.28. The metamorphopsia rate differed significantly between macula-off and macula-on RRD(P

Abstract Background The intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine dosage for cesarean section is difficult to predetermine. This study aimed to develop a decision-support model using a machine-learning algorithm for assessing intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine dose based on physical variables during cesarean section. Methods Term parturients presenting for elective cesarean section under spinal anaesthesia were enrolled. Spinal anesthesia was performed at the L3/4 interspace with 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine at dosages determined by the anesthesiologist. A spinal spread level between T4-T6 was considered the appropriate block level. We used a machine-learning algorithm to identify relevant parameters. The dataset was split into derivation (80%) and validation (20%) cohorts. A decision-support model was developed for obtaining the regression equation between optimized intrathecal 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine volume and physical variables. Results A total of 684 parturients were included, of whom 516 (75.44%) and 168 (24.56%) had block levels between T4 and T6, and less than T6 or higher than T4, respectively. The appropriate block level rate was 75.44%, with the mean bupivacaine volume [1.965, 95%CI (1.945,1.984)]ml. In lasso regression, based on the principle of predicting a reasonable dose of intrathecal bupivacaine with fewer physical variables, the model is “Y=0.5922+ 0.055117* X1-0.017599*X2” (Y: bupivacaine volume; X1: vertebral column length; X2: abdominal girth), with λ 0.055, MSE 0.0087, and R2 0.807. Conclusions After applying a machine-learning algorithm, we developed a decision model with R2 0.8070 and MSE due to error 0.0087 using abdominal girth and vertebral column length for predicting the optimized intrathecal 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine dosage during term cesarean sections.

Abstract Background Echinococcosis is highly endemic in western and northern China. Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) is the most serious prevalent area. Linzhi is located in southeastern part of TAR. Dogs are the primary infection source for the transmission of echinococcosis to humans. A control and prevention campaign based on dog management has been implemented in the past three years. This study aims to evaluate the effects of dog management on the infection rate of dogs. Methods Data of dog population, registration and de-worming of seven counties/district in Linzhi between 2017 and 2019 were obtained from the annual prevention and control report. Domestic dog fecal samples were collected from each endemic town of seven counties/district in Linzhi in 2019 to determine the infection of domestic dogs using coproantigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data analysis was processed using SPSS statistics to compare dog infection rate between 2016 and 2019 by chi-square test, and maps were mapped using ArcGIS. Results In Linzhi, domestic dog population has decreased from 17 407 in 2017 to 12 663 in 2019, while the registration rate has increased from 75.9% in 2017 to 98.6% in 2019. Similarly, stray dog population has decreased from 14 336 in 2017 to 11 837 in 2019, while sheltered rate has increased from 84.6% in 2017 to 96.6% in 2019. Dog de-worming frequency has increased from 4 times per annum in 2017 to 12 times in 2019, indicating that approximately every dog was dewormed monthly. A total of 2715 dog fecal samples were collected for coproantigen ELISA assay. The dog infection rate was 2.8% (77/2715) in 2019, which was significantly lower than 7.3% (45/618) in 2016 (P

Abstract Background Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) seriously reduces quality of life and is a major threat to the health of the middle-aged and elderly. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of Miao crossbow needle therapy vs. acupuncture for KOA therapy. Methods This multicenter, randomized controlled trial was performed at three hospitals between April 2016 and December 2016. The patients were randomized to receive crossbow needle (CN) or acupuncture (AT). All treatments were completed within 46 days. Evaluation of treatment was conducted on the 46th, 62nd, and 77th days. The primary endpoint was change of Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score on the 46th day. The secondary endpoints included WOMAC score, the Lysholm knee score, the Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) knee score, visual analog scale (VAS), and the MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36), on the 46th, 62nd, and 77th day. Results Finally, data of 301 participants were analyzed for the efficacy of treatment. Compared with AT, there was a larger change of WOMAC score in the CN group after treatment [− 25.0 (95% CI − 27.0, − 23.0) vs. − 18.8 (95% CI − 20.8, − 16.9), P

AIM:To evaluate the functional and structural changes of foveal macula after intravitreal ranibizumab injection in patients with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion(BRVO-ME)and screen the factors that can predict the final visual acuity of the patients. METHODS: Prospective, clinical study. In this prospective single-arm study, we observed 25 patients(25 eyes)diagnosed with BRVO-ME who were enrolled from 2018.6-2019.5 in the first central hospital of Baoding. All patients received monthly ranibizumab 0.5mg injections for 3 consecutive months. The best-corrected visual acuity(BCVA),the central macular thickness(CMT)and the vessel perfusion density(VPD), vessel length density(VLD)and fovea avascular zone(FAZ)of superficial capillary plexus(SCP)were evaluated detected by optical coherence tomography(OCT and OCTA)before and 1mo after the third injection. Mf-ERG was used to analyze the amplitude density of P1 wave and latency of P1, N1 wave from ring 1 and ring 2. RESULTS: After treatment, BCVA(LogMAR)was improved significantly compared with that before(0.323±0.086 vs 0.773±0.304, Pvs 489.346±137.453μm, PP>0.05). The latency of P1, N1 wave of ring 1 and ring 2 were significantly decresed from baseline, while the amplitude density of P1 wave was increased(PPCONCLUSION: In patients with BRVO-ME, ranibizumab therapy can reduce CMT, improve BCVA and improve the structure and function of macular area. Age, BCVA before treatment and microstructure parameters of macular area can be used as predictors of vision improvement.

Abstract Background We designed the current study to understand the normal trajectories of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the immediate hours and days after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) under the management of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol and examined whether one or the other returned to normal more quickly. Methods In this prospective cross-sectional study, we examined the plasma IL-6 and CRP levels in 100 patients undergoing primary TKA at the following time points: 12 h preoperatively as well as postoperatively 12 h, 48 h, 3 days and 2 weeks. Patients were followed up for 1 year to monitor the postoperative complications, especially the infection. Results IL-6 peaked at 48 h postoperatively. Then IL-6 started to decline at 3 days postoperatively and went back to baseline level at 2 weeks (p = 0.950). CRP peaked at 3 days postoperatively. At 2 weeks, CRP declined to a normal range, without being significantly different from the baseline level (p = 0.816). Conclusion We found that under the ERAS scenario, the postoperative peak of IL-6 and CRP was deferred compared with previous studies. Compared to IL-6, CRP showed a gradual rise after surgery. Both of these two biomarkers returned to normal under the ERAS scenario. Future multiple-center studies with larger sample size can help define the thresholds of IL-6 and CRP for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) early diagnosis. With these reference data, a clinician can make a quicker decision to perform aspiration to diagnose early PJI and benefits more patients.

BackgroundEchinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by larval stages of cestodes belonging to the genus Echinococcus. The infection affects people's health and safety as well as agropastoral sector. In China, human echinococcosis is a major public health burden, especially in western China. Echinococcosis affects people health as well as agricultural and pastoral economy. Therefore, it is important to understand the prevalence status and spatial distribution of human echinococcosis in order to advance our knowledge of basic information for prevention and control measures reinforcement.MethodsReport data on echinococcosis were collected in 370 counties in China in 2018 and were used to assess prevalence and spatial distribution. SPSS 21.0 was used to obtain the prevalence rate for CE and AE. For statistical analyses and mapping, all data were processed using SPSS 21.0 and ArcGIS 10.4, respectively. Chi-square test and Exact probability method were used to assess spatial autocorrelation and spatial clustering.ResultsA total of 47,278 cases of echinococcosis were recorded in 2018 in 370 endemic counties in China. The prevalence rate of human echinococcosis was 10.57 per 10,000. Analysis of the disease prevalence showed obvious spatial positive autocorrelation in globle spatial autocorrelation with two aggregation modes in local spatial autocorrelation, namely high-high and low-high aggregation areas. The high-high gathering areas were mainly concentrated in northern Tibet, western Qinghai, and Ganzi in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and in Sichuan. The low-high clusters were concentrated in Gamba, Kangma and Yadong counties of Tibet. In addition, spatial scanning analysis revealed two spatial clusters. One type of spatial clusters included 71 counties in Tibet Autonomous Region, 22 counties in Qinghai, 11 counties in Sichuan, three counties in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, two counties in Yunnan, and one county in Gansu. In the second category, six types of spatial clusters were observed in the counties of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan Provinces.ConclusionThis study showed a serious prevalence of human echinococcosis with obvious spatial aggregation of the disease prevalence in China. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the "hot spot" area of human echinococcosis in China. Findings from this study indicate that there is an urgent need of joint strategies to strengthen efforts for the prevention and control of echinococcosis in China, especially in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

Abstract Background To evaluate the practicality of NS-21 cream with regard to its skin-related toxicity in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) who are undergoing concurrent chemoradiation therapy (CCRT) or radiotherapy (RT). Methods Between July 2015 and November 2017, 30 HNC patients who underwent RT or CCRT were randomly allocated to receive either NS-21 or control treatment on their irradiated skin three times per day, starting at the initiation of RT or CCRT and ending 2 weeks after the completion of RT or until the appearance of grade 3 acute radiation dermatitis (ARD). Dermatitis was recorded weekly according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0. Skin humidity was monitored by a digital moisture meter. The generalized estimating equation (GEE) and logit link function method were used for statistical analysis. Results No serious adverse events were observed in either group. Itching dermatitis occurred on the right lower neck in one patient of the NS-21 group during the 3rd week of CCRT, but the severity was mild. The median skin moisture value at the time of the final treatment was significantly different between the study and control groups (30.6 vs. 27.3, p = 0.013). Additionally, there was an inverse relationship between skin moisture and ARD grade (B = -0.04, p = 0.005). The incidence of ARD at the time of the last treatment was not significantly different between the study and control groups (6.7% vs 26.7%, p = 0.165). The risk of grade 3 ARD for skin that had received an irradiation dose of 47–70 Gy was higher than that of skin that had received an irradiation dose ≤46 Gy (OR = 31.06, 95% CI =5.95–162.21, p

Abstract Background The echinococcosis is prevalent in 10 provinces /autonomous region in western and northern China. Epidemiological survey of echinococcosis in China in 2012 showed the average prevalence of four counties in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) is 4.23%, much higher than the average prevalence in China (0.24%). It is important to understand the transmission risks and the prevalence of echinococcosis in human and animals in TAR. Methods A stratified and proportionate sampling method was used to select samples in TAR. The selected residents were examined by B-ultrasonography diagnostic, and the faeces of dogs were tested for the canine coproantigen against Echinococcus spp. using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The internal organs of slaughtered domestic animals were examined by visual examination and palpation. The awareness of the prevention and control of echinococcosis among of residents and students was investigated using questionnaire. All data were inputted using double entry in the Epi Info database, with error correction by double-entry comparison, the statistical analysis of all data was processed using SPSS 21.0, and the map was mapped using ArcGIS 10.1, the data was tested by Chi-square test and Cochran-Armitage trend test. Results A total of 80 384 people, 7564 faeces of dogs, and 2103 internal organs of slaughtered domestic animals were examined. The prevalence of echinococcosis in humans in TAR was 1.66%, the positive rate in females (1.92%) was significantly higher than that in males (1.41%), (χ 2 = 30.31, P

Abstract Background Helical irradiation of the total skin (HITS) was modified as simultaneous integrated boost (SIB)-helical arc radiotherapy of total skin (HEARTS) technique and applied to an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patient with disseminated leukemia cutis. Methods The original HITS plan was revised for different regimens, i.e. HEARTS, low-dose HEARTS and SIB-HEARTS. The uniformity index (UI), conformity index (CI), and dose of organs at risk (OARs) were used to evaluate the plans. Additionally, the SIB-HEART (21/15 Gy) was delivered to the total skin and chloromas. Results No significant differences were observed for the CI and UI between HITS and HEARTS regimens. Compared with HITS, the reduced mean doses to various bone marrows ranged from 17 to 88%. The mean OARs doses for the head, chest and abdomen of a patient with AML treated with SIB-HEARTS (21/15 Gy) were 2.1 to 21.9 Gy, 1.8 to 7.8 Gy and 1.7 to 3.3 Gy, respectively. No severe adverse effects were noted except for grade 4 leukocytopenia and thrombocytopenia. Conclusion HEARTS and different regimens reduced the dose to OARs and bone marrow while maintaining the uniformity and conformity. SIB-HEARTS deliveries different doses to the total skin and enlarged tumors simultaneously. Trial registration Retrospectively registered and approved by the Institutional Review Board of our hospital (FEMH-106151-C).

This study aimed to review clinical experiences using whole-field simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and sequential IMRT in postoperative patients with oral cavity cancer (OCC). From November 2006 to December 2014, a total of 182 postoperative patients with OCC who underwent either SIB-IMRT (n = 63) or sequential IMRT (n = 119) were enrolled retrospectively and matched randomly according to multiple risk factors by a computer. The differences were well balanced after patient matching ( P = .38). The median follow-up time was 65 months. For patients treated with the SIB technique and the sequential technique, the respective mortality rates were 36.8% and 20.0% ( P = .04). The primary recurrence rates were 26.3% and 10.0% ( P = .02), respectively. The respective marginal failure rates were 26.7% and 16.7%. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that patients who received the SIB technique had a 2.74 times higher risk of death than those who received the sequential technique (95% confidence interval = 1.10-6.79, P = .03). Sequential IMRT provided a significantly lower dose to the esophagus (5.2 Gy, P = .02) and trachea (4.6 Gy, P = .03) than SIB-IMRT. For patients with locally advanced OCC, postoperative sequential IMRT may overcome an unpredictable geographic miss, potentially with a lower marginal failure rate in the primary area. Patients treated by sequential IMRT show equal overall survival benefits to those treated by SIB-IMRT and a lower mortality rate than those treated by SIB-IMRT. Additionally, a reduced dose to the esophagus and trachea compared to sequential IMRT was noted.

ABSTRACT Euryarchaeal lineages have been believed to have a methanogenic last common ancestor. However, members of euryarchaeal Archaeoglobi have long been considered nonmethanogenic and their evolutionary history remains elusive. Here, three high-quality metagenomic-assembled genomes (MAGs) retrieved from high-temperature oil reservoir and hot springs, together with three newly assembled Archaeoglobi MAGs from previously reported hot spring metagenomes, are demonstrated to represent a novel genus of Archaeoglobaceae, “Candidatus Methanomixophus.” All “Ca. Methanomixophus” MAGs encode an M methyltransferase (MTR) complex and a traditional type of methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR) complex, which is different from the divergent MCR complexes found in “Ca. Polytropus marinifundus.” In addition, “Ca. Methanomixophus dualitatem” MAGs preserve the genomic capacity for dissimilatory sulfate reduction. Comparative phylogenetic analysis supports a laterally transferred origin for an MCR complex and vertical heritage of the MTR complex in this lineage. Metatranscriptomic analysis revealed concomitant in situ activity of hydrogen-dependent methylotrophic methanogenesis and heterotrophic fermentation within populations of “Ca. Methanomixophus hydrogenotrophicum” in a high-temperature oil reservoir. IMPORTANCE Current understanding of the diversity, biology, and ecology of Archaea is very limited, especially considering how few of the known phyla have been cultured or genomically explored. The reconstruction of “Ca. Methanomixophus” MAGs not only expands the known range of metabolic versatility of the members of Archaeoglobi but also suggests that the phylogenetic distribution of MCR and MTR complexes is even wider than previously anticipated.

BackgroundThe effects of radiotherapy (RT) on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of 5-FU and 5-fluoro-5,6-dihydro-uracil (5-FDHU) were investigated by animal experiments.MethodsWhole-pelvis RT with 0.5 and 2 Gy was delivered to Sprague–Dawley rats. 5-FU at 100 mg/kg was intravenously infused 24 h after radiation. The pharmacokinetics of 5-FU and 5-FDHU in the plasma and bile system were calculated.ResultsThe areas under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) of 5-FU in the plasma were reduced by local irradiation by 23.7% at 0.5 Gy (P < 0.001) and 35.3% at 2 Gy (P < 0.001). The AUCs of 5-FDHU were also reduced by 21.4% at 0.5 Gy (P < 0.001) and 51.5% at 2 Gy (P < 0.001). Irradiation significantly increased the clearance values (CLs) of 5-FU by 30.6% at 0.5 Gy and 50.1% at 2 Gy, respectively. The CLs of 5-FDHU were increased by 27.2% at 0.5 Gy and 106% at 2 Gy. The AUCs of 5-FU in the bile were increased by 36.7% at 0.5 Gy (P < 0.001) and 68.6% at 2 Gy (P = 0.005). The AUCs of 5-FDHU in the bile were increased by 40.3% at 0.5 Gy (P < 0.001) and 248.1% at 2 Gy (P < 0.001). The CLs of 5-FU in the bile were increased by 31.8% at 0.5 Gy and 11.2% at 2 Gy. However, the CLs of 5-FDHU in the bile were decreased by 29.1% at 0.5 Gy and 71.0% at 2 Gy.ConclusionBoth conventional and low-dose irradiation can affect the pharmacokinetics of 5-FU and its metabolite, 5-FDHU. RT plus 5-FU could cause more adverse events than 5-FU alone by increasing the AUC ratio of 5-FU/5-FDHU. Irradiation decreases the AUC of 5-FU in the plasma, which may cause poor clinical outcomes.

The long circulating half-life and inherently bivalent architecture of IgGs provide an ideal vehicle for presenting otherwise short-lived G-protein-coupled receptor agonists in a format that enables avidity-driven enhancement of potency. Here, we describe the site-specific conjugation of a dual agonist peptide (an oxyntomodulin variant engineered for potency and in vivo stability) to the complementarity-determining regions (CDRs) of an immunologically silent IgG4. A cysteine-containing heavy chain CDR3 variant was identified that provided clean conjugation to a bromoacetylated peptide without interference from any of the endogenous mAb cysteine residues. The resulting mAb-peptide homodimer has high potency at both target receptors (glucagon receptor, GCGR, and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor, GLP-1R) driven by an increase in receptor avidity provided by the spatially defined presentation of the peptides. Interestingly, the avidity effects are different at the two target receptors. A single dose of the long-acting peptide conjugate robustly inhibited food intake and decreased body weight in insulin resistant diet-induced obese mice, in addition to ameliorating glucose intolerance. Inhibition of food intake and decrease in body weight was also seen in overweight cynomolgus monkeys. The weight loss resulting from dosing with the bivalently conjugated dual agonist was significantly greater than for the monomeric analog, clearly demonstrating translation of the measured in vitro avidity to in vivo pharmacology.

OBJECTIVE:Hepatitis B virus infection is a major social and economic burden in developing countries, especially in China. We aimed to evaluate the effects of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive status on the pregnancy outcomes in the Chinese population. METHODS:This retrospective cohort study was performed using data from the Medical Birth Registry of Xiamen, China, from January 2011 to March 2018. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between the HBsAg status and pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS:This study included 3,789 HBsAg-positive women and 29, 648 non-exposed women. The HBsAg-positive pregnant women were slightly older in age (29.3±4.3 vs. 28.9±4.4, P< 0.001). Additionally, pregnant women with a positive HBsAg status had higher odds of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.23), and cesarean delivery (aOR, 1.12; 95%CI, 1.03-1.21). The risk of infants being large or small-for-gestational age, having low-birth weight, and of macrosomia, preterm birth, and stillbirth did not differ significantly between the HBsAg-positive and-negative women. CONCLUSION:In Xiamen, China, the slightly higher risk of GDM and cesarean section in women positive for HBsAg should not be neglected. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the effects of HBsAg positivity on the pregnancy outcomes in different ethnic populations.

Abstract Background Leishmania parasites cause visceral leishmaniasis (VL), an important infectious disease that is endemic to large parts of the world and often leads to epidemics. Sand flies are the primary transmission vector for the parasite in endemic regions. We hypothesized that sheep might serve as an overlooked reservoir for Leishmania transmission to humans due to the asymptomatic nature of infection in many species. As a preliminary test of this hypothesis, the aim of the present study was to investigate sheep in an area of China that is endemic for the desert sub-type of zoonotic VL and establish if they are potential carriers of Leishmania. Results Sheep tissue samples were collected from abattoirs in VL endemic areas of Jiashi County, China during the non-transmission season. rK39 immunochromatographic tests were performed to detect the presence of the parasite in blood samples. In addition, DNA was extracted from the blood, and used for detection of the Leishmania-specific internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) genomic region using a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach. PCR products were further analyzed to identify restriction fragment-length polymorphism patterns and representative sequences of each pattern were selected for phylogenetic analysis. The rK-39 and nested PCR data indicated positive detection rates for Leishmania in sheep of 26.32 and 54.39%, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that all of the samples belonged to the species L. infantum and were closely related to strains isolated from human infections in the same area. Conclusions Sheep could be a potential host for Leishmania in VL endemic areas in China and may be an overlooked reservoir of human VL transmission in this region. To further confirm livestock as a potential host, further verification is required using a sand fly biting experiment.

Greenhouse vegetable production has been characterized by high agricultural inputs, high temperatures, and high cropping indexes. As an intensive form of agriculture, nutrient cycling induced by microbial activities in the greenhouses is relatively different from open fields in the same region. However, the responses of soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), enzyme activities, microbial community composition, and yield to organic amendment are not well understood. Therefore, a 5-year greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum Mill.)-cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) rotation experiment was conducted. The field experiment comprised 5 treatments: 4/4CN (CN, nitrogen in chemical fertilizer), 3/4CN+1/4MN (MN, nitrogen in pig manure), 2/4CN+2/4MN, 2/4CN+1/4 MN+1/4 SN (SN, nitrogen in corn straw) and 2/4CN+2/4SN. The amounts of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P2O5), and potassium (K2O) were equal in the five treatments. Starting with the fourth growing season, the optimal yield was obtained from soil treated with straw. MBC, MBN, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles, and enzyme activities were significantly changed by 5 years of substitution with organic amendments. Redundancy analysis showed that MBC accounts for 89.5 and 52.3% of the total enzyme activity and total community variability, respectively. The activities of phosphomonoesterase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, and urease, and the relative abundances of fungi, actinomycetes, and Gram-negative bacteria were significantly and positively related to vegetable yields. Considering the effects of organic amendments on soil microbial characteristics and vegetable yield, 2/4CN+1/4MN+1/4SN can improve soil quality and maintain sustainable high yield in greenhouse vegetable production.

Abstract Background Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is commonly seen and has a high occurrence in the middle-aged and elderly. It is characterized by the degeneration and secondary bone hyperplasia of the articular cartilage; the pathologic changes are irreversible. Therefore, treatment of KOA is mainly focused on relieving pain, reducing inflammation, improving or restoring joint function, delaying disease progression, and increasing quality of life. Crossbow needle therapy of the Miao ethnic minority group is intended for KOA treatment and has been widely used. Studies of small sample size have seen significant improvement on pain relief, stiffness, and joint function. Methods/design The trial is a randomized, multicenter, parallel, non-inferiority study. Three hundred and six patients will be randomly assigned to a crossbow needle group (n = 153) and an acupuncture group (n = 153). Patients in each group will receive treatment every other day, three times a week, 20 times in total. Follow-up will be conducted 15 days and 30 days after treatment. The primary outcome will be the Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score at baseline, the end of treatment, first follow-up, and second follow-up. The secondary outcomes will include Lysholm knee score, Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) knee score, visual analogue scale (VAS), and the MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). Discussion The results of the trial will compare the efficacy on KOA between crossbow needle group and acupuncture group and will be expected to make a systematic and objective evaluation of crossbow needle therapy. Trial registration ChiCTR, ChiCTR-INR-16008032. Registered on 12 March 2016.

This study was performed to evaluate the interaction between conventional or high-dose radiotherapy (RT) and the pharmacokinetics (PK) of regorafenib in concurrent or sequential regimens for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Concurrent and sequential in vitro and in vivo studies of irradiation and regorafenib were designed. The interactions of RT and regorafenib in vitro were examined in the human hepatoma Huh-7, HA22T and Hep G2 cell lines. The RT–PK phenomenon and biodistribution of regorafenib under RT were confirmed in a free-moving rat model. Regorafenib inhibited the viability of Huh-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis in Huh-7 cells was enhanced by RT followed by regorafenib treatment. In the concurrent regimen, RT decreased the area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC)regorafenib by 74% (p = 0.001) in the RT2 Gy × 3 fraction (f’x) group and by 69% (p = 0.001) in the RT9 Gy × 3 f’x group. The AUCregorafenib was increased by 182.8% (p = 0.011) in the sequential RT2Gy × 1 f’x group and by 213.2% (p = 0.016) in the sequential RT9Gy × 1 f’x group. Both concurrent regimens, RT2Gy × 3 f’x and RT9Gy × 3 f’x, clearly decreased the biodistribution of regorafenib in the heart, liver, lung, spleen and kidneys, compared to the control (regorafenib × 3 d) group. The concurrent regimens, both RT2Gy × 3 f’x and RT9Gy × 3 f’x, significantly decreased the biodistribution of regorafenib, compared with the control group. The PK of regorafenib can be modulated both by off-target irradiation and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) remains a major health problem worldwide. Several clinical trials have shown the superiority of the Traditional Chinese Medicine in delaying or reversing the development and progression of DM. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Jinlida (JLD) granule, a Chinese herbal recipe, in the treatment of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and its effect on the prevention of DM. Methods: Sixty-five IGT patients were randomized to receive one bag of JLD granules three times daily (JLD group, n = 34) or no drug intervention (control group, n = 31) for 12 weeks. Oral glucose tolerance test, glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), body mass index, blood lipids levels, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance calculated using homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) of all the patients were observed and compared before and after the treatment. Results: Sixty-one participants completed the trial (32 in JLD group and 29 in the control group). There were statistically significant decreases in HbA1c (P < 0.001), 2-h plasma glucose (P < 0.001), and HOMA-IR (P = 0.029) in JLD group compared with the control group after 12 weeks of treatment. After 12 weeks of treatment, two (6.9%) patients returned to normal blood glucose, and five (17.2%) patients turned into DM in control group, while in the JLD group, 14 (43.8%) returned to normal blood glucose and 2 (6.2%) turned into DM. There was a significant difference in the number of subjects who had normal glucose at the end of the study between two groups (P = 0.001). Conclusions: JLD granule effectively improved glucose control, increased the conversion of IGT to normal glucose, and improved the insulin resistance in patients with IGT. This Chinese herbal medicine may have a clinical value for IGT.

Nausea and vomiting are among the most common and distressing side effects of chemotherapy. Additional antiemetic drugs are urgently needed to effectively manage and ameliorate chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The efficacy of ginger as an antiemetic modality for ameliorating CINV has not been established in previous studies. The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of ginger, as an adjuvant drug to standard antiemetic therapy, in ameliorating acute and delayed CINV in patients with lung cancer receiving cisplatin-based regimens. In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 140 patients with lung cancer receiving cisplatin-based regimens were enrolled and allocated to receive either ginger root powder or a placebo. Ginger root powder was administered orally (0.5 g, 2 capsules per day, 0.25 g per capsule, every 12 hours) for 5 days beginning on the first day of chemotherapy. The incidence and severity of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting were assessed using the MASCC (Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer) Antiemesis Tool (MAT). Adverse effects and patient adherence were also assessed in this study. No significant difference was observed between the ginger and control groups in the reduction of the incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting ( P > .05). No significant difference in adverse events was observed between the 2 groups ( P > .05). No study-treatment-related adverse events were observed in this study. As an adjuvant drug to standard antiemetic therapy, ginger had no additional efficacy in ameliorating CINV in patients with lung cancer receiving cisplatin-based regimens.

ABSTRACT Cytochrome-to-cytochrome electron transfer and electron transfer along conduits of multiple extracellular magnetite grains are often proposed as strategies for direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) that do not require electrically conductive pili (e-pili). However, physical evidence for these proposed DIET mechanisms has been lacking. To investigate these possibilities further, we constructed Geobacter metallireducens strain Aro-5, in which the wild-type pilin gene was replaced with the aro-5 pilin gene that was previously shown to yield poorly conductive pili in Geobacter sulfurreducens strain Aro-5. G. metallireducens strain Aro-5 did not reduce Fe(III) oxide and produced only low current densities, phenotypes consistent with expression of poorly conductive pili. Like G. sulfurreducens strain Aro-5, G. metallireducens strain Aro-5 displayed abundant outer surface cytochromes. Cocultures initiated with wild-type G. metallireducens as the electron-donating strain and G. sulfurreducens strain Aro-5 as the electron-accepting strain grew via DIET. However, G. metallireducens Aro-5/G. sulfurreducens wild-type cocultures did not. Cocultures initiated with the Aro-5 strains of both species grew only when amended with granular activated carbon (GAC), a conductive material known to be a conduit for DIET. Magnetite could not substitute for GAC. The inability of the two Aro-5 strains to adapt for DIET in the absence of GAC suggests that there are physical constraints on establishing DIET solely through cytochrome-to-cytochrome electron transfer or along chains of magnetite. The finding that DIET is possible with electron-accepting partners that lack highly conductive pili greatly expands the range of potential electron-accepting partners that might participate in DIET. IMPORTANCE DIET is thought to be an important mechanism for interspecies electron exchange in natural anaerobic soils and sediments in which methane is either produced or consumed, as well as in some photosynthetic mats and anaerobic digesters converting organic wastes to methane. Understanding the potential mechanisms for DIET will not only aid in modeling carbon and electron flow in these geochemically significant environments but will also be helpful for interpreting meta-omic data from as-yet-uncultured microbes in DIET-based communities and for designing strategies to promote DIET in anaerobic digesters. The results demonstrate the need to develop a better understanding of the diversity of types of e-pili in the microbial world to identify potential electron-donating partners for DIET. Novel methods for recovering as-yet-uncultivated microorganisms capable of DIET in culture will be needed to further evaluate whether DIET is possible without e-pili in the absence of conductive materials such as GAC.

To get a better knowledge on how archaeal communities differ between the oil and aqueous phases and whether environmental factors promote substantial differences on microbial distributions among production wells, we analyzed archaeal communities in oil and aqueous phases from four high-temperature petroleum reservoirs (55–65°C) by using 16S rRNA gene based 454 pyrosequencing. Obvious dissimilarity of the archaeal composition between aqueous and oil phases in each independent production wells was observed, especially in production wells with higher water cut, and diversity in the oil phase was much higher than that in the corresponding aqueous phase. Statistical analysis further showed that archaeal communities in oil phases from different petroleum reservoirs tended to be more similar, but those in aqueous phases were the opposite. In the high-temperature ecosystems, temperature as an environmental factor could have significantly affected archaeal distribution, and archaeal diversity raised with the increase of temperature (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that to get a comprehensive understanding of petroleum reservoirs microbial information both in aqueous and oil phases should be taken into consideration. The microscopic habitats of oil phase, technically the dispersed minuscule water droplets in the oil could be a better habitat that containing the indigenous microorganisms.

Background: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new treatment for esophageal cancer which has been shown to be effective in the elimination of tumor. However, PDT could induce the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in many photosensitizers based PDT, which plays a negative role in PDT. In addition, our previous results have shown that dihydroartemisinin (DHA), which was the most potent one of artemisinin derivatives, has anticancer activity in esophageal cancer cells. Methods: Cell viability was determined by MTT analysis, and apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Nuclear extract was obtained for determining NF-κB DNA-binding activity, while total protein extract obtained for downstream gene expression by western blot. Results: We demonstrated DHA enhanced PDT-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in both human esophageal cancer cell lines Eca109 and Ec9706 in vitro. The mechanism was at least partially due to DHA deactivated PDT-induced NF-κB activation, so as to decrease tremendously the expression of its target gene Bcl-2. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that DHA augments PDT-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in esophageal cancer cells, and that inactivation of NF-κB activity is a potential mechanism by which DHA sensitizes esophageal cancer cells to PDT-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis.

In the present study, the microbial community and functional gene composition of a long-term active alkane-degrading methanogenic culture was established after two successive enrichment culture transfers and incubated for a total period of 1750 days. Molecular analysis was conducted after the second transfer (incubated for 750 days) for both the active alkanes-degrading methanogenic enrichment cultures (T2-AE) and the background control (T2-BC). A net increase of methane as the end product was detected in the headspace of the enrichment cultures amended with long-chain n-alkanes and intermediate metabolites, including octadecanoate, hexadecanoate, isocaprylate, butyrate, isobutyrate, propionate, acetate and formate were measured in the liquid cultures. The composition of microbial community shifted through the successive transfers over time of incubation. Sequences of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene (16S rDNA) and mcrA functional gene indicated that bacterial sequences affiliated to Thermodesulfovibrio spp. and Anaerolineaceae and archaeal sequences falling within the genus Methanoculleus were the most frequently encountered and thus represented the dominant members performing the anaerobic degradation of long-chain n-alkanes and methanogenesis. In addition, the presence of assA functional genes encoding the alkylsuccinate synthase α subunit indicated that fumarate addition mechanism could be considered as a possible initial activation step of n-alkanes in the present study. The succession pattern of microbial communities indicates that Thermodesulfovibrio spp. could be a generalist participating in the metabolism of intermediates, while Anaerolineaceae plays a key role in the initial activation of long-chain n-alkane biodegradation.