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Background and Aim: Autophagy and gut microbiota correlates closely with the inflammatory bowel disease. Herein, we aimed to study the roles of rapamycin on the gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel disease. Methods: Acute colitis was induced with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and 2,4,6‐trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid solution in mice. Mice were administered with rapamycin or hydroxychloroquine. Weight loss, disease activity index scores, histopathological score, serum inflammatory cytokines, intestinal permeability, and colonic autophagy‐related proteins were detected. Cecal content was also preserved in liquid nitrogen and subsequently analyzed following the 16S DNA sequencing. The antibiotic cocktail‐induced microbiome depletion was performed to further investigate the relationship between autophagy activation and gut microbiota. Results: Compared with the control group, the colonic autophagy‐related proteins of P62, mTOR, and p‐mTOR increased significantly, while the levels of LC3B and ATG16L1 decreased (all P < 0.05) in the model group. After rapamycin intervention, the colonic pathology of mice improved, while the disease activity index score decreased substantially; the colon length increased, and the expression of IL‐6 and TNF‐α decreased. Following hydroxychloroquine treatment, some indicators suggested aggravation of colitis. Principal coordinates analysis showed that the DSS group was located on a separate branch from the rapamycin group but was closer to the hydroxychloroquine group. Compared with the DSS group, the rapamycin group was associated with higher abundances of f_Lactobacillaceae (P = 0.0151), f_Deferribacteraceae (P = 0.0290), g_Lactobacillus (P = 0.0151), g_Mucispirillum (P = 0.0137), s_Lactobacillus_reuteri (P = 0.0028), and s_Clostridium sp Culture_Jar‐13 (P = 0.0082) and a lower abundance of s_Bacteroides_sartorii (P = 0.0180). Linear discriminant analysis effect size showed that rapamycin increased the abundances of Lactobacillus‐reuteri, Prevotellaceae, Paraprevotella, Christensenella and Streptococcus and decreased those of Peptostreptococcaceae and Romboutsia Bacteroides‐sartorii. Besides, the improvement effect of autophagy activation on colitis disappears following gut microbiome depletion. Conclusion: The therapeutic effects of rapamycin on extenuating experimental colitis may be related to the gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant neoplasm in the gastrointestinal tract, accounting for high mortality globally. Treacle ribosome biogenesis factor 1 (TCOF1) is a nucleolar protein, which has been reported to be implicated in the pathogenesis of Treacher Collins syndrome and the development of several types of human cancer. However, the role of TCOF1 in GC is not known. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was carried out to determine TCOF1 expression in GC tissues. Immunofluorescence, co‐IP, and DNA fiber assays were conducted to investigate the function of TCOF1 in GC‐derived BGC‐823 and SGC‐7901 cell lines. Results: TCOF1 expression was aberrantly increased in GC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. In addition, we found that TCOF1 left the nucleolus and localized to R‐loops (DNA/RNA hybrids) during S phase in GC cells. Furthermore, TCOF1 interacted with DDX5 and suppressed R‐loop levels. Knockdown of TCOF1 led to increased nucleoplasmic R‐loops specifically during S phase, which restrained DNA replication and cell proliferation. Overexpression of R‐loop eraser RNaseH1 rescued the DNA synthesis defects and decreased DNA damage caused by TCOF1 depletion. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate a novel role of TCOF1 in maintaining GC cell proliferation by alleviating R‐loop associated DNA replication stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aim to investigate the guideline adherence of β-blocker (BB) initiating dose in Chinese hospitalized patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and whether the adherence affected the in-hospital outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients hospitalized with HFrEF who had initiated BBs during their hospitalization. We defined adherence to clinical practice guidelines as initiating BB with standard dose and non-adherence to guidelines if otherwise, and examined the association between adherence to guidelines and in-hospital BB-related adverse events. Subgroup analyses based on sex, age, coronary heart disease, and hypertension were performed. Results: Among 1,104 patients with HFrEF initiating BBs during hospitalization (median length of hospitalization, 12 days), 304 (27.5%) patients received BB with non-adherent initiating dose. This non-adherence was related to a higher risk (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval]) of BB dose reduction or withdrawal (1.78 [1.42 to 2.22], P < 0.001), but not significantly associated with risks of profound bradycardia, hypotension, cardiogenic shock requiring intravenous inotropes, and severe bronchospasm requiring intravenous steroid during hospitalization. Conclusion: This study identified that over a fourth of patients had received BBs with an initiating dose that was not adherent to guidelines in Chinese hospitalized patients with HFrEF, and this non-adherence was associated with BB dose reduction or withdrawal during hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Increasing evidences have reported gut microbiota dysbiosis in many diseases, including chronic kidney disease and pediatric idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). There is lack evidence of intestinal microbiota dysbiosis in adults with INS, however. Here, we to address the association between the gut microbiome and INS. Methods. Stool samples of 35 adult INS patients and 35 healthy volunteers were collected. Total bacterial DNA was extracted, and the V4 regions of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene were sequenced. The fecal microbiome was analyzed using bioinformatics. The correlation analysis between altered taxa and clinical parameters was also included. Results. We found that microbial diversity in the gut was reduced in adult patients with INS. Acidobacteria, Negativicutes, Selenomonadales, Veillonellaceae, Clostridiaceae, Dialister, Rombousia, Ruminiclostridium, Lachnospira, Alloprevotella, Clostridium sensu stricto, Megamonas, and Phascolarctobacterium were significantly reduced, while Pasteurellales, Parabacteroides, Bilophila, Enterococcus, Eubacterium ventriosum, and Lachnoclostridium were markedly increased in patients with INS. In addition, Burkholderiales, Alcaligenaceae, and Barnesiella were negatively correlated with serum creatinine. Blood urea nitrogen levels were positively correlated with Christensenellaceae, Bacteroidales_S24.7, Ruminococcaceae, Ruminococcus, and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136, but were negatively correlated with Flavonifractor_plautii and Erysipelatoclostridium_ramosum. Enterobacteriales, Enterobacteriaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, Escherichia/Shigella, Parabacteroides, and Escherichia_coli were positively correlated with albumin. Proteinuria was positively correlated with Verrucomicrobia, Coriobacteriia, Thermoleophilia, Ignavibacteria, Coriobacteriales, Nitrosomonadales, Coriobacteriaceae, and Blautia, but was negatively correlated with Betaproteobacteria, Burkholderiales, and Alcaligenaceae. Conclusion. Our findings show compositional alterations of intestinal microbiota in adult patients with INS and correlations between significantly altered taxa and clinical parameters, which points out the direction for the development of new diagnostics and therapeutic approaches targeted intestinal microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: We comprehensively carry out a systematic review and meta‐analysis of previous studies to determine the association between intestinal Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in human studies. Methods: A systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library database was conducted until April 1, 2020. Inclusion criteria were studies involving patients with Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC) with abundance of F. prausnitzii. The quality of the studies was assessed by the modified Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Results: A total of 1669 subjects (427 CD patients, 560 UC patients, and 682 healthy controls) were enrolled from 16 studies. Both CD (standardized mean difference [SMD]: −1.36; 95% CI, −1.74 to −0.98; P < 0.00001) and UC patients (SMD: −0.81; 95% CI, −1.21 to −0.42; P < 0.0001) had a lower abundance of F. prausnitzii than the healthy controls. Compared with the IBD remission patients, the IBD active patients had lower levels of F. prausnitzii (SMD: ‐0.56; 95% CI, −0.91 to −0.21; P = 0.002). In the subgroup analyses, the abundance of F. prausnitzii was reduced in both active CD patients (SMD: −0.78; 95% CI, −1.51 to −0.04; P = 0.04) and active UC patients (SMD:−0.44; 95%CI, −0.81 to −0.07; P = 0.02) when compared with the patients with CD or UC in remission, respectively. Conclusion: A negative association between abundance of F. prausnitzii and IBD activity is observed, but a cut‐off level of F. prausnitzii to diagnose and/or to start treating IBD is not determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bentonite is the most common binder for the vanadium, titanium-bearing magnetite (VTM) pellet production. However, inorganic bentonite will reduce the iron grade of the finished products because about 90 wt.% bentonite is residual in them after roasted. A novel organic binder, modified humic acid (MHA), has been developed for the VTM pellets by our group to overcome the shortcoming of bentonite. However, there is lack of published literatures to explain how the MHA binder improves the strength of the VTM green pellets. In this work, the interaction mechanisms between humic acid (HA, predominant fraction of MHA) and VTM particles were clarified by conducting batch adsorption tests, zeta potential, scanning electron microscope, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. The adsorption and zeta potential tests showed that the titanium components in the VTM and metal ions (especially Ca2+ and Mg2+) dissolved from the surface of VTM particles had positive effect on the adsorption of HA onto the VTM particles. Scanning electron microscope images further verified that the metal ions acted as a bridge between HA and VTM particles, which improved the adsorption of HA onto the VTM particles. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses indicated that HA was adsorbed onto VTM particles mainly via ligand exchange and complexation reaction. The adsorption model between the HA and Vanadium, titanium-bearing magnetite particles is also illustrated in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human gut microbiota is affected by genetic and environmental factors. It remains unclear how host genetic and environmental factors affect the composition and function of gut microbiota in populations living at high altitudes. We used a metagenome-wide analysis to investigate the gut microbiota composition in 15 native Tibetans and 12 Hans living on the Tibetan Plateau. The composition of gut microbiota differed significantly between these two groups (P < 0.05). The Planctomycetes was the most abundant phyla both in native Tibetans and in Hans. Furthermore, the most relatively abundant phyla for native Tibetans were Bacteroidetes (15.66%), Firmicutes (11.10%), Proteobacteria (1.32%), Actinobacteria (1.10%), and Tenericutes (0.35%), while the most relatively abundant phyla for Hans were Bacteroidetes (16.28%), Firmicutes (8.41%), Proteobacteria (2.93%), Actinobacteria (0.49%), and Cyanobacteria (0.21%). The abundance of the majority of genera was significantly higher in Tibetans than in Hans (P < 0.01). The number of microbial genes was 4.9 times higher in Tibetans than in Hans. The metabolic pathways and clusters of orthologous groups differed significantly between the two populations (P < 0.05). The abundance of carbohydrate-active enzyme modules and antibiotic resistance genes was significantly lower in Tibetans compared to Hans (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that different genetic factors (race) and environmental factors (diets and consumption of antibiotics) may play important roles in shaping the composition and function of gut microbiota in populations living at high altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Emerging evidence suggests a close link between gut microbiota and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between gut microbiota and the DNA methylation of adiponectin (an adipocyte-specific adipocytokine) in rats, following diet-induced NAFLD. Methods: 50 male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups with or without a high fat diet (HFD), antibiotics, and probiotics, in order to establish an imbalanced gut microbiota and probiotic treatment model in NAFLD rats. After 13 weeks of treatment, blood, liver, and cecal tissue samples were collected. Serum lipids, liver function indexes by biochemical analyzers, and changes in liver pathology with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and masson staining were detected. Furthermore, the serum adiponectin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and liver adiponectin methylation levels in the promoter regions by pyrophosphate sequencing were determined. High throughput Illumina sequencing targeted microbial 16S genes, bioinformatics and statistical analysis identified cecal-associated gut microbiota. Results: HFD with antibiotic exposure showed the most severe steatohepatitis and a severe gut microbiota alteration. Reduced bacterial diversity was also seen and the abundances of Firmicutes, Lactobacillus, Cyanobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chlamydiae, Chlamydiales, Rubrobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Blautia, Shewanella, Bacteroides, Bacteroides acidifaciens, and Bacteroides uniformis, were shown to be partly reversed by probiotic treatment. Decreased serum adiponectin levels and increased DNA methylation levels of adiponectin promoter regions were also markedly associated with the NAFLD progression during gut microbiota alteration. Conclusion: Our results suggested that both gut microbiota alteration and adiponectin variability may be drivers of NAFLD progression and that targeting the gut microbiota, such as via administration of a probiotic, may delay NAFLD progression via adiponectin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are important regulators of many cellular processes, and their aberrant expression and/or function is associated with many different diseases, including cancer. However, the identification of functional lncRNAs in gastric cancer is still a challenge. In this study, we describe a novel functional lncRNA, linc00483, that is upregulated and associated with tumorigenesis, tumour size, metastasis and poor prognosis in gastric cancer. In our study, linc00483 promoted gastric cancer cell proliferation, invasiveness and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, upregulated expression of linc00483 in gastric cancer acts as a sponge to absorb endogenous tumour suppressor miR‐30a‐3p. Furthermore, it restores SPAG9 expression, which is negatively regulated by miR‐30a‐3p, and actives MAPK signaling pathway in gastric cancer cells. Thus, linc00483 is an oncogenic lncRNA in gastric cancer and targeting linc00483 or its pathway can potentially be useful in development of targeted therapies for patients with gastric cancer. Our results show that linc00483 is an important regulator in carcinogenesis and may be a useful biomarker to predict prognosis of gastric cancer patients. We believe our findings are novel and will be of interest to scientists working in many areas related to biomarkers in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), caused by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is associated with gastrointestinal disease, systemic immune activation and changes in the gut microbiota. Here, we aim to investigate the gut microbiota patterns of HIV‐infected individuals and HIV‐uninfected individuals in populations from South China. We enrolled 33 patients with HIV (14 participants treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy [HAART] for more than 3 months; the remaining 19 individuals had not received treatment) and 35 healthy controls (HC) for a cross‐sectional comparison of gut microbiota using stool samples. Gut microbial communities were profiled by sequencing the bacterial 16S rRNA genes. Dysbiosis was more common among patients with AIDS compared with healthy individuals. Dysbiosis was characterized by decreased α‐diversity, low mean counts of Bacteroidetes, Faecalibacterium, Prevotella, Bacteroides vulgatus, Dialister and Roseburia inulnivorans, and high mean counts of Proteobacteria, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Lachnociostridium, Ruminococcus gnavus and Streptococcus vestibularis. Increased abundance of Bacilli was observed in homosexual patients. Proteobacteria were higher among heterosexual patients with HIV infections. Tenericutes were higher among patients with history of intravenous drug abuse. Restoration of gut microbiota diversity and a significant increase in abundance of Faecalibacterium, Blautia and Bacteroides were found in patients receiving HAART compared to those who did not receive. HIV infection‐associated dysbiosis is characterized by decreased levels of α‐diversity and Bacteroidetes, increased levels of Proteobacteria and the alterations of gut microbiota correlate with the route of HIV transmission. The imbalanced faecal microbiota of HIV infection is partially restored after therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the reducing ability and bonding effect, a humic substance-based binder has been added into iron ore pellets, both as a reductant and a binder. However, humic substance-based binders were not commonly used in pelletization since some pelletizing results indicated they were not as good asbentonite or other binders. Thus, there were few detailed investigations using humic substance-based binders in pelletization before the 1980s. Funa, which is a type of humic substance-based binder extracted from lignite, was successfully invented and applied in cold-bonded pellets in China. Since the organic fraction in the humic substance-based binder is burnt away during heating, leaving no contaminant in pellets and improving the iron content of the pellets, humic substance-based binders were also gradually utilized in oxidized pellets. On the basis of Funa binder research, the extracting procedure of a humic substance-based binder was modified, and a composite binder named Modified Humic Acid (MHA)was prepared for oxidized pellets, especially for making Vanadium-Titanium (V-Ti) magnetite pellets, and achieved qualified V-Ti magnetite oxidized pellets in industrial testing. The behaviors of humic substance-based binders in wet balls, dry balls and fired balls were well investigated. Moreover, MHA binder was gradually tested in a lab for pelletization of several other types of iron ore concentrates, such as magnetite from different districts, specularite and fluxed hematite, and good quality pellets were obtained. A review of the development of a humic substance-based binder and its characteristics, preparing method, and behaviors in pelletizing were considered in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modified humic acid (MHA) binder consists of high molecular weight organic molecules and inorganic part. It is extracted from lignite coal with sodium hydroxide and used in pelletization of iron ore concentrates. Our previous study shows that MHA binder is also a potential binder instead of bentonite for pelletizing of fluxed hematite. For evaluating the use of MHA binder in pelletization of fluxed hematite, pelletizing tests were conducted to optimize parameters, such as dose, firing temperature and time. The results show that the qualities of green/dried balls with 0.6 wt% MHA binder are equal to or even better than that of 0.66 wt% bentonite pellets, and that both are much higher than the minimum requirements of the pellets’ strengths. The compression strength of fired pellets also suggested that MHA binder is promising to completely replace bentonite in pelletizing of fluxed hematite concentrate. However, the abrasion rate of the fired pellets with MHA binder is slightly higher than that of bentonite pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Humic substances exist widely in lignite coal as high molecular weight organic molecules. They can be used as binders in iron ore pelletization mostly in the form of salt, such as sodium humate and amine humate via extraction from lignite coal. It is worth determining if lignite can be used as a binder without extraction. As a composite binder of organic and inorganics, due to the combustion of humic substance, the strength of fired pellets made with humic substance-based binder decreases slightly. To compensate for this defect and make stronger pellets, cheap calcium bentonite was added into humic substance binder. In this study, a fluxed hematite concentrate was pelletized with various types of binders: lignite plus sodium hydroxide, calcium bentonite activated with modified humic acid (MHA), and MHA binder. Good quality pellets were obtained at optimal parameters. The results show that without extraction procedure, lignite plus sodium hydroxide can be directly used as a binder in pelletization of fluxed hematite; that calcium bentonite improves pellet strength when added to MHA; and that humic substance can partly replace calcium bentonite, reducing the dose of calcium bentonite. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Organic binder is a significant substitution of the bentonite in iron ore pelletizing process, reducing the exploitation of clay resource and improving the quality of pellets. Fulvic acid is one of the important functional groups of modified humic acid (MHA) binder which is invented by the authors and can be used as an excellent composite binder in pelletizing. This work aims to further study the effect of metal cations on FA adsorption onto natural pure oxides and the wet strength of green pellets made with MHA binder via batch adsorption and pelletizing experiment. The adsorption density of FA onto the natural oxides was significantly improved after adding the metal cations. The zeta potential values of the magnetite particles coated by FA became less negative after adding metal cations before the pH value of 9.2 but more negative after 9.2. The XPS analysis and SEM imaging indicated that the metal cations served as a bridge between FA molecules and the surface of magnetite particles, so that the adsorption of FA onto magnetite was promoted. In addition, the viscosity of FA increased after adding the metal cations. Both of these changes were found to be beneficial for the wet strength of MHA binder pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humic acid (HA) was the predominant component of the MHA (modified humic acid) binder invented by the authors. This work aims to study the effect of the solution pH value on the HA adsorption onto natural magnetite/hematite/quartz particles and the strength of green pellets with the MHA binder. The SEM images for HA indicated that HA had distinct morphology at different pH values. The adsorption density of HA on the three oxide minerals was significantly pH-dependent and decreased with increasing pH value. The zeta potential values of the magnetite, hematite and quartz particles coated by HA became negative and the isoelectric point of the three natural oxide minerals disappeared in the tested pH value range. The electrostatic interaction and the ligand exchange were the two leading interactions for the HA sorption onto the magnetite/hematite particles, while the small adsorption amount of HA onto the quartz was attributed to the hydrogen-bond interaction. The pH value of the MHA binder solution affects markedly the strength of green pellets from magnetite and hematite concentrates. At pH ~ 7.0, the HA molecule was expanded and dispersed well and the relatively strong bonding bridges were formed among the iron ore particles. The optimal pH value was founded to be around 7.0 for preparing high-quality iron ore green pellets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MHA (modified humic acid based) binder has been found as an effective substitution for bentonite in the pelletization of specularite concentrates. This study aimed to clarify the roasting behavior of specularite pellets with MHA binder under different oxygen atmospheres. The thermal behavior of the MHA binder was initially determined by TG-DSC, TG-FTIR and MRU gas analysis. The reducing gaseous products, such as CO and H 2 , affected the oxidation and consolidation of the specularite pellets with MHA binder due to the pyrolysis of organic matter in the MHA binder heated in air. The primary phase compositions of the specularite pellets with MHA binder roasted in N 2 and 10% oxygen atmospheres were composed of hematite and magnetite, whereas there was only hematite in the pellet roasted in a 20% oxygen atmosphere. The images by optical microscopy and SEM further indicated that the oxygen content of the roasting atmosphere markedly influenced the microstructure feature of the specularite pellets with MHA binder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel type of organic binder, modified humic acid (MHA), has been developed and patented in China. Humic acid (HA) is one of the main active fractions in the MHA binder. In this study, adsorption of HA onto natural magnetite, hematite and quartz surfaces as a function of initial HA concentration was comparatively investigated. It was found that the initial HA concentration has a positive effect on the adsorbance of HA onto magnetite and hematite surfaces but HA was hardly adsorbed by quartz particles even if the initial HA concentration was very high. When increasing the initial HA concentration, the zeta potential of magnetite/hematite particles became more negative because the negatively charged HA molecules entered into the electric double layer of the iron ore particles, while there was nearly no change in the zeta potential of quartz particles. There was less change in the zeta potential of magnetite compared to that of hematite. DRIFTS studies showed that there was a stronger chemisorption between the HA molecules and the iron ore surfaces under alkaline conditions. ESEM images further confirmed that magnetite particles coated by HA easily clustered to form agglomerates via chemisorption and physisorption, and the aggregates bonded together with HA by chemisorption were more resistant to breakage, which would be beneficial for the strength of green pellets. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has been associated with intestinal dysbiosis, which includes an increase in the number of mucosa-associated pathobionts. In the present study, the intestinal mucosal microbiota patterns of HIV-infected patients were compared with those of healthy individuals in a population from Guangzhou, China. The gut microbiota of intestinal mucosal samples from 12 patients with HIV (transmission routes included sex and intravenous drug abuse) was compared with that of 12 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Gut microbial communities were profiled via sequencing of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA genes. Dysbiosis in HIV-infected individuals was characterized by decreased α-diversity, decreased levels of Firmicutes and increased levels of Proteobacteria. Furthermore, low mean counts of Lachnoclostridium, Roseburia, Thauera, Dorea and Roseburia inulinivorans, and high mean counts of Halomonas and Shewanella bacteria, were indicated to be HIV-associated mucosal bacterial alterations. The relative abundance of Fusobacterium and Lachnoclostridium was significantly decreased, while that of Halomonas and Shewanella was significantly increased in patients with sexually transmitted HIV-infection compared with healthy controls. Alterations of the gut microbiota during HIV infection were also indicated to be associated with the route of HIV transmission. Certain bacteria may be potential biomarkers for HIV infection in patients from Guangzhou, China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most common chronic liver diseases. The NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome was suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. A small-molecule named CY-09 is a new selective and direct inhibitor of the NLRP3 inflammasome. We aimed to investigate whether CY-09 is effective for the treatment of NAFLD in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mouse model. Twenty mice were fed by HFD for 14 weeks, and then were randomly assigned into two groups: (1) control group receiving dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) solution; (2) CY-09 group receiving CY-09 injection. In an 8-week follow-up, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were used to measure glucose metabolism. Liver steatosis was evaluated by the NAFLD activity score (NAS) and deemed as the primary outcome. The body weight in CY-09 group was significantly lower than the DMSO control group on 27 weeks (41.0 ± 3.5 g vs. 49.7 ± 5.2 g, P = 0.014). The area under the curve (AUC) of OGTT was less in CY-09 group than that in DMSO group (35.81 ± 6.79 vs. 22.91 ± 2.58 mmol/L·hr, P = 0.004), as well as HOMA-IR (14.36 ± 3.89 vs. 8.82 ± 2.04 mmol.mIU.L-2, P = 0.023). Microscopically, liver lipid droplets dramatically improved and significantly lower NAS was observed in CY-09 group (8.25 ± 1.26 vs. 3.20 ± 0.45, P < 0.001). CY-09 reduces hepatic steatosis in experimental NAFLD mice and CY-09 may be a potential therapeutic drug of NAFLD in clinical practice. • The present study shows that CY-09 reduces hepatic steatosis in experimental mice. • CY-09 can also alleviate insulin resistance and improve glucose metabolism in experimental mice. • CY-09 may be a potential therapeutic drug for treatment of NAFLD in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Lead (Pb) ions are chronically detected in soil, underground and natural water, there is a need for low-cost in situ remediation techniques. A novel mineral based magnetic adsorbent, consisting of natural vanadium, titanium-bearing magnetite particles coated by humic acid (abbr. VTM-HA), was developed for removing Pb(II) from wastewater. In this study, adsorption-desorption characteristics and mechanisms of Pb (II) on the VTM-HA adsorbent were investigated. The regeneration and reuse feasibility of the VTM-HA adsorbent were also conducted. The adsorption tests further verified that Pb(II) was removed rapidly and efficiently by the VTM-HA adsorbent. Moreover, Pb (II) adsorbed on the VTM-HA adsorbent could be easily eluted using a small amount of acidic eluent, and the desorption of Pb (II) could reach 99.3 wt% in 0.1 M HNO 3 (pH = 1). After five adsorption-desorption regeneration cycles, the magnetism and Pb(II) adsorption capacity of the regenerated VTM-HA adsorbent almost kept unchanged. The results indicated that the VTM-HA adsorbent had excellent adsorption capacity and regenerative ability, which could be used as ideal adsorbents for removing Pb (II) from acid wastewater in commercial application. The mechanisms of Pb (II) adsorption and desorption were explored by FTIR, XPS analysis and DFT calculation. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • The VTM-HA adsorbent is easily prepared from low cost raw materials. • Adsorption-desorption mechanisms of Pb(II) on VTM-HA adsorbent is clarified. • Pb(II) is adsorbed on VTM-HA adsorbent through complexation reaction. • Pb(II) is easily desorbed from VTM-HA-Pb complex at pH = 1. • VTM-HA adsorbent has good regeneration adsorption ability of Pb(II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroepithelial crosstalk is critical for gut physiology. However, the mechanisms by which sensory neurons communicate with epithelial cells to mediate gut barrier protection at homeostasis and during inflammation are not well understood. Here, we find that Nav1.8+CGRP+ nociceptor neurons are juxtaposed with and signal to intestinal goblet cells to drive mucus secretion and gut protection. Nociceptor ablation led to decreased mucus thickness and dysbiosis, while chemogenetic nociceptor activation or capsaicin treatment induced mucus growth. Mouse and human goblet cells expressed Ramp1, receptor for the neuropeptide CGRP. Nociceptors signal via the CGRP-Ramp1 pathway to induce rapid goblet cell emptying and mucus secretion. Notably, commensal microbes activated nociceptors to control homeostatic CGRP release. In the absence of nociceptors or epithelial Ramp1, mice showed increased epithelial stress and susceptibility to colitis. Conversely, CGRP administration protected nociceptor-ablated mice against colitis. Our findings demonstrate a neuron-goblet cell axis that orchestrates gut mucosal barrier protection. [Display omitted] • Nav1.8+CGRP+ nociceptors neighbor goblet cells and induce rapid mucus secretion • Commensals trigger CGRP release, which signals to Ramp1 expressed by goblet cells • Nociceptor or Ramp1 ablation leads to decreased mucus levels and microbial dysbiosis • Neuron-goblet cell signaling via a CGRP-Ramp1 axis protects against colitis Pain sensory neurons induce mucus release from nearby intestinal goblet cells via a CGRP-Ramp1 axis in response to commensal and dietary cues to orchestrate gut mucosal protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A selective reduction volatilization (SRV) process developed by the authors could remove excessive tin from the complex tin-bearing iron concentrates. But it was especially noteworthy that the volatilization ratio of Sn and the residual tin content were obviously influenced by the variation of roasting parameters during the SRV process. Hence, the existence form of residual tin in the roasted products and the possible reactions between SnO 2 and Fe 3 O 4 need to be further determined. In the present study, the effect of roasting parameters on the reduction of SnO 2 in the tin-bearing iron concentrates was first investigated. Then, samples with diverse cassiterite/magnetite (C/M) mass ratios were used to determine the effect of magnetite on phase transformation of SnO 2 by using XRD, SEM–EDS, etc. The results indicated that magnetite markedly affected the tin volatilization and phase transformation of SnO 2 under CO–CO 2 atmospheres. Fe–Sn spinel was easily formed during the reduction process, and higher roasting temperatures promoted the formation of Fe–Sn spinel, which had an adverse effect on the Sn volatilization ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quartz (SiO 2 ), one of the main gangue minerals in the tin-bearing iron concentrates, has an uncertain effect on the volatilization behavior of tin during the selective reduction volatilization (SRV) process. In this study, high purity quartz was added into the tin-bearing iron concentrates to investigate the tin volatilization behavior affected by SiO 2 under CO–CO 2 atmosphere of 10–70 vol.% CO at 900–1100 °C. In order to eliminate the interference of iron oxide in the iron concentrates, the reduction behavior of natural cassiterite and the mixture (20 wt.% cassiterite and 80 wt.% quartz) was also determined. Effect of SiO 2 on the phase transformation of SnO 2 was conducted using SEM–EDS, chemical phase analysis, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Immune checkpoint (IC) inhibitor-related immunotherapies have attracted considerable attention in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). High IC expression and high tumor infiltrating lymphocyte levels are the current indicators of sensitivity to IC inhibitors. Thus, it is imperative to apply precision medicine strategies for patient selection., Methods: Six independent HCC cohorts were used for analysis at the single-cell and tissue levels. Multiplex immunofluorescence and immunochemistry staining assays were used to validate our results. A series of methodologies were used for immune-related evaluations., Results: Herein, we uncovered a unique CD8 + CD274 + cell subpopulation that is associated with tumor progression and poor survival in HCC at the single-cell level. We assessed this subset at the tissue level and found that the prognostic significance of CD274 is dependent on CD8A expression in HCC. Subsequently, we identified a unique high-risk subpopulation that showed high CD8A expression coupled with intense CD274 expression in multiple HCC cohorts. CD8A High CD274 High* subgroup was correlated with malignant indexes and remained an independent prognostic factor when considering the influence of these indexes. Molecular characteristic analyses showed that the CD8A High CD274 High* subgroup harbored more mutations, had higher immune response activity and presented enrichment of cancer-related biological processes. Moreover, this high-risk subpopulation in HCC was characterized by high immune cell infiltration, low tumor purity, and enrichment of cancer-related signatures. Finally, cases with this phenotype demonstrated higher immunomodulator and IC levels and greater sensitivity to IC inhibitors., Conclusion: Our findings illustrate that some HCC patients may have a poor prognosis despite high CD8 + T-cell infiltration. These patients would probably benefit from IC inhibitor-based combination treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests in this work., (© 2023 Zhang et al.)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive lipid accumulation and has become the leading chronic liver disease worldwide. NAFLD is viewed as the hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome, ranging from simple steatosis and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to advanced fibrosis, eventually leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathogenesis of NAFLD progression is still not clear. Pattern recognition receptor (PRR)-mediated innate immune responses play a critical role in the initiation of NAFLD and the progression of NAFLD-related HCC. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) are the two major PRRs in hepatocytes and resident innate immune cells in the liver. Increasing evidence indicates that the overactivation of TLRs and the cGAS signaling pathways may contribute to the development of liver disorders, including NAFLD progression. However, induction of PRRs is critical for the release of type I interferons (IFN-I) and the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), which prime systemic antitumor immunity in HCC therapy. In this review, we will summarize the emerging evidence regarding the molecular mechanisms of TLRs and cGAS in the development of NAFLD and HCC. The dysfunction of PRR-mediated innate immune response is a critical determinant of NAFLD pathology; targeting and selectively inhibiting TLRs and cGAS signaling provides therapeutic potential for treating NALF-associated diseases in humans., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Huang, Zhou, Cheng, Guo, Shou, Quan, Chen, Chen and Zhou.)

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is characterized by relapse and remission alternately. It remains a great challenge to diagnose and assess disease activity during IBD due to the lack of specific markers. While traditional biomarkers from plasma and stool, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), fecal calprotectin (FC), and S100A12, can be used to measure inflammation, they are not specific to IBD and difficult to determine an effective cut-off value. There is consensus that gut microbiota is crucial for intestinal dysbiosis is closely associated with IBD etiopathology and pathogenesis. Multiple studies have documented differences in the composition of gut microbiota between patients with IBD and healthy individuals, particularly regarding microbial diversity and relative abundance of specific bacteria. Patients with IBD have higher levels of Proteobacteria and lower amounts of Bacteroides, Eubacterium , and Faecalibacterium than healthy individuals. This review summarizes the pros and cons of using traditional and microbiota biomarkers to assess disease severity and treatment outcomes and addresses the possibility of using microbiota-focused interventions during IBD treatment. Understanding the role of microbial biomarkers in the assessment of disease activity and treatment outcomes has the potential to change clinical practice and lead to the development of more personalized therapies., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Guo, Huang, Xu, Xu, Liu, Zhao, Wang, Huang, Peng, Chen, Nie, Zhou and Zhou.)