The substrate configuration influences pollutant removal in constructed wetlands: From the aspects of submerged status of substrate and carbon-felt distribution.

Redox regulation dominates the pollutant removal in constructed wetlands (CWs). To enhance efficient and cost-effective nitrogen removal, this study intended to build an unsaturated zone and add carbon-felt material for electron donor/acceptor adjustment. The unsaturated zone heights (0, 10, 20 cm) and carbon-felt distribution patterns (evenly scattered (CW), continuously linked (CW), and head-tail linked like microbial fuel cells (CW)) were simultaneously adjusted.

[Potential Source Environments for Microbial Communities in Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) in China].

To better understanding the microbial composition of activated sludge (AS), unique OTUs and their indicators were examined and SourceTracker was used to identify possible source environments for AS communities to thrive in 15 cities across China, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. This may help reveal the underlying mechanisms of AS community composition formations in various areas. The results indicated that the dominant phyla in AS in each city were similar; Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Chloroflexi made up 94.

Azaphilone Alkaloids with Anti-inflammatory Activity from Fungus Penicillium sclerotiorum cib-411.

Nine new azaphilone alkaloids, penazaphilones A-I (1-9), were isolated from the solid fermented rice culture of Penicillium sclerotiorum cib-411. The structures of compounds 1-9 were elucidated based on HRESIMS, NMR, and CD spectroscopic data. The structures of 5 and 8 were confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analyses.

Hydroxycinnamoylmalated flavone C-glycosides from Lemna japonica.

Three previously undescribed flavone C-glycosides (1-3), along with seven known ones (4-10), were isolated and characterized from the smallest flowering aquatic plant, Lemna japonica. On the basis of spectroscopic analysis and alkaline hydrolysis, compounds 1-3 were identified to be luteolin 6-C-(2″-O-trans-caffeoyl-d-malate)-β-glucoside (1), apigenin 6-C-(2″-O-trans-caffeoyl-d-malate)-β-glucoside (2), and luteolin 6-C-(2″-O-trans-coumaroyl-d-malate)-β-glucoside (3). Compounds 1-3 are characteristic of a trans-coumaroyl-d-malate or trans-caffeoyl-d-malate linked to C-2″ of the glucose, which was reported for the first time.

MiR-486-5p negatively regulates oncogenic NEK2 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

NEK2 is a member of the NIMA-related family of serine/threonine centrosomal kinases. We analyzed the relationship between differential expression of NEK2 and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient outcomes after liver transplants. We also studied the microRNAs that affect NEK2 expression.

Prognostic value of combined preoperative fibrinogen and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.

Objectives: Elevated plasma fibrinogen (Fib) correlated with patient's prognosis in several solid tumors. However, few studies have illuminated the relationship between preoperative Fib and prognosis of HCC after liver transplantation. We aimed to clarify the prognostic value of Fib and whether the prognostic accuracy can be enhanced by the combination of Fib and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).

Elevated Preoperative Serum Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase Predicts Poor Prognosis for Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Liver Transplantation.

Gamma-glutamyltransferase (γ-GGT) is a membrane-bound enzyme that is involved in biotransformation, nucleic acid metabolism, and tumourigenesis. Elevated serum γ-GGT levels are related to an increased cancer risk and worse prognosis in many cancers. In the present study, we evaluated the prognostic value of preoperative serum γ-GGT in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent liver transplantation (LT).

Prognostic value of preoperative peripheral monocyte count in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.

Prognostic value of peripheral monocyte, as a member of inflammatory cells, was widely being investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of preoperative peripheral blood monocyte count for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who underwent liver transplantation (LT) and the relationship between monocyte count and tumor-related characteristics. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 101 HCC patients after LT.

Factors Influencing Graft Outcomes Following Diagnosis of Polyomavirus -Associated Nephropathy after Renal Transplantation.

Background: Polyomavirus associated nephropathy (PVAN) is a significant cause of early allograft loss and the course is difficult to predict. The aim of this study is to identify factors influencing outcome for PVAN.

Methods: Between 2006 and 2014, we diagnosed PVAN in 48 (7.

Indole Alkaloids from Chaetomium globosum.

Two new indole alkaloids chaetocochin J (1) and chaetoglobinol A (8), along with chetomin (2), chetoseminudin A (3), cochliodinol (9), and semicochliodinol (10), were isolated from the rice culture of the fungus Chaetomium globosum. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis. Three new epipolythiodioxopiperazines, chaetocochins G-I (5-7), were identified by the combination of UPLC and mass spectrometric analysis.

Liver transplantation using organs from deceased organ donors: a single organ transplant center experience.

Background: In 2011, a pilot program for deceased organ donation was initiated in China. We describe the first successful series of liver transplants in the pilot program.

Methods: From July 2011 to August 2012, our center performed 26 liver transplants from a pool of 29 deceased donors.

Safety and efficacy of four steroid-minimization protocols in liver transplant recipients: 3-year follow-up in a single center.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of steroid-minimization therapy in liver transplantation (LT) recipients with hepatitis B virus-related diseases in China.

Methods: From March 2000 to June 2007, 502 adult LT recipients, mostly with hepatitis B (HBV)-related diseases, were enrolled in our study. Four study groups were setup according to the steroid-minimization protocols: tacrolimus (TAC) with 6 months steroids withdrawal (6M SW), TAC with 3 months SW (3M SW), TAC with 14 days SW (14d SW), and TAC with basiliximab induction and steroids avoidance (Bas SA).

[Efficacy and safety of sorafenib in the prevention and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma recurrences after liver transplantation].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sorafenib in the prevention and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) relapse after liver transplantation.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of sorafenib for HCC. Forty-four patients who underwent liver transplant for HCC beyond Milan criteria form July 2007 to May 2010 were included study group (sorafenib, n = 22) and control group (without sorafenib, n = 22).

Salvage liver transplantation for patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma after curative resection.

Objective: To summarize the experience with salvage liver transplantation (SLT) for patients with recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after primary hepatic resection in a single center.

Methods: A total of 376 adult patients with HCC underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) at Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, between 2004 and 2008. Among these patients, 36 underwent SLT after primary liver curative resection due to intrahepatic recurrence.

[Clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract leakage after orthotopic liver transplantation].

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of digestive tract leakage after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods: Sixty-one recipients had digestive tract leakage in early stage after OLT among 1173 cases from January 2000 to December 2010. There were 55 male and 6 female patients, aging from 36 to 61 years, with a median of 45 years.

Twenty-four hour steroid avoidance immunosuppressive regimen in liver transplant recipients.

Objectives: To investigate the efficacy and safety of an immunosuppressive regimen of steroid avoidance in combination with induction therapy and tacrolimus in liver transplant recipients.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-two adult liver transplant recipients were randomized into 2 groups: standard protocol group (n=41) in which steroids were withdrawn 3 months after the operation, and a 24-hour steroid avoidance group (n=41) in which steroids were eliminated within 24 hours. The incidence of acute rejections, infections (bacterial, fungal, and cytomegalovirus), and metabolic complications were analyzed between the groups.

Steroid elimination within 24 hours after orthotopic liver transplantation: effectiveness and tolerability.

Background: Steroids have been the mainstay of immunosuppressive regimen in liver transplantation. However, the use of steroids is associated with various post-transplant complications. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of reduced immunosuppressive regimen with steroids (steroid elimination within 24 hours post-transplant) in a cohort of Chinese liver transplant recipients.

[A study of the efficacy and safety of using hepatitis B surface antigen-positive donors for liver transplantation].

Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of liver transplant recipients who received liver allografts from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive donors.

Methods: The medical records of 23 male patients (median age, 42.5 years; range: 29-61) who received HBsAg-(+) liver allografts in our organ transplant center were retrospectively analyzed.

Sirolimus conversion in liver transplant recipients with calcineurin inhibitor-induced complications: efficacy and safety.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of conversion from calcineurin inhibitors to sirolimus among liver transplant recipients with calcineurin inhibitor-induced complications.

Materials And Methods: After receiving liver transplants, 25 patients with calcineurin inhibitor-induced complications (22 renal dysfunction and 3 new-onset diabetes mellitus) were converted from sirolimus to tacrolimus. The serum creatinine, sirolimus trough level, liver function, acute rejection episodes, and drug-related adverse effects were monitored.

[A 17-year study of bloodstream Escherichia coli infection after liver transplantation: resistance rate, risk factor and mortality].

Objective: To explore the resistance rate, risk factors and mortality of Escherichia coli bloodstream infections (BSI) after liver transplantation.

Methods: From January 1993 to May 2010, a retrospective analysis of Escherichia coli in liver transplants were conducted.

Results: A total of 88 BSI occurred in 83/695 patients and Escherichia coli (n = 23) was most commonly found.

[Clinical efficacies of ABO-incompatible adult liver transplantation].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ABO-incompatible liver transplantation in adult patients with fulminant hepatitis B.

Methods: The clinical data of 97 cases of adult liver transplantation for fulminant hepatitis B were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were grouped as ABO-identical (ABO-Id, n = 58), ABO-compatible (ABO-C, n = 19) and ABO-incompatible (ABO-In, n = 20).

FlyExpress: visual mining of spatiotemporal patterns for genes and publications in Drosophila embryogenesis.

Summary: Images containing spatial expression patterns illuminate the roles of different genes during embryogenesis. In order to generate initial clues to regulatory interactions, biologists frequently need to know the set of genes expressed at the same time at specific locations in a developing embryo, as well as related research publications. However, text-based mining of image annotations and research articles cannot produce all relevant results, because the primary data are images that exist as graphical objects.

[Experiences of liver retransplantation for postoperative diffuse biliary strictures].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and management of retransplantation for diffuse biliary strictures occurring after initial liver transplantation.

Methods: The clinical data of 53 consecutive liver retransplantation patients at our hospital from January 2001 to December 2009 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Among them, 20 (37.

[Analysis on treatment outcomes in five patients with combined en bloc liver and pancreas transplantation].

Objective: To summarize the treatment outcomes after combined en bloc liver and pancreas transplantation.

Methods: Five patients with end-stage liver disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus received combined en bloc liver and pancreas transplantation after hepatectomy.

Results: Five operations were performed successfully.