Short-chain fatty acids: bridges between diet, gut microbiota, and health.

In recent years, gut microbiota has become a hot topic in the fields of medicine and life sciences. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main metabolites of gut microbiota produced by microbial fermentation of dietary fiber, play a vital role in healthy and ill hosts. SCFAs regulate the process of metabolism, immune, and inflammation and have therapeutic effects on gastrointestinal and neurological disorders, as well as antitumor properties.

Construction of CDKN2A-related competitive endogenous RNA network and identification of GAS5 as a prognostic indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) is an innovative way of gene expression modulation, which plays a crucial part in neoplasia. However, the intricacy and behavioral characteristics of the ceRNA network in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain dismal.

Aim: To establish a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A)-related ceRNA network and recognize potential prognostic indicators for HCC.

The role of symbiotic fungi in the life cycle of Blume (Orchidaceae): a comprehensive review.

Blume, a fully mycoheterotrophic perennial plant of the family Orchidaceae, is a traditional Chinese herb with medicinal and edible value. Interestingly, requires symbiotic relationships with and strains for seed germination and plant growth, respectively. However, there is no comprehensive summary of the symbiotic mechanism between fungi and .

Kinetic changes in virology, specific antibody response and imaging during the clinical course of COVID-19: a descriptive study.

Background: To explore the kinetic changes in virology, specific antibody response and imaging during the clinical course of COVID-19.

Methods: This observational study enrolled 20 patients with COVID-19, who were hospitalized between January 20-April 6, 2020, in the two COVID-19 designated hospitals of Zhoushan, Zhejiang and Rushan, Shandong, China, The laboratory findings, imaging, serum response to viral infection, and viral RNA level in the throat and stool samples were assessed from onset to recovery phase in patients with COVID-19.

Results: SARS-COV-2 RNA was positive as early as day four.

Clinical findings in a group of patients infected with the 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) outside of Wuhan, China: retrospective case series.

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics of patients in Zhejiang province, China, infected with the 2019 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-2019).

Design: Retrospective case series.

Setting: Seven hospitals in Zhejiang province, China.

Factors regulating carbon sinks in mangrove ecosystems.

Mangroves are recognized as one of the richest carbon storage systems. However, the factors regulating carbon sinks in mangrove ecosystems are still unclear, particularly in the subtropical mangroves. The biomass, production, litterfall, detrital export and decomposition of the dominant mangrove vegetation in subtropical (Kandelia obovata) and tropical (Avicennia marina) Taiwan were quantified from October 2011 to July 2014 to construct the carbon budgets.

Andrographolide plays an important role in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis treatment.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) leads to chronic inflammation and accumulation of macrophages, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in the alveoli. The factors involved in the development of PF include reactive oxygen species and tissue remodelling regulators. The present study demonstrates the effect of andrographolide on bleomycin (BLM)-induced PF in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Prediction of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in hepatitis B e-antigen negative patients with chronic hepatitis B using routine parameters.

Aim: As liver biopsy has considerable limitations in the assessment of liver fibrosis, non-invasive models have achieved great progress in the past. However, many tests consist of variables that are not readily available, and there are few data about patients with hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The aim of this study was to develop a model using routine data to predict liver fibrosis in HBeAg negative CHB patients.

[Clinical significance of serum differential protein examination in chronic hepatitis B related liver fibrosis].

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of the expression of serum differential protein in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) related liver fibrosis.

Methods: One hundred and ten CHB patients confirmed by liver biopsies were enrolled, 83 for modeling and 27 for verification. According to Ishak staging, 55 patients in the modeling group were with significant liver fibrosis ( F is more than or equal to 3 ) and 28 patients with normal/mild liver fibrosis ( F0-F2 ).

Molecular genetic evidence of Y chromosome loss in male patients with hematological disorders.

Background: There has been continuous debate as to whether Y chromosome loss is an age related phenomenon or a cytogenetic marker indicating a malignant change. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of Y chromosome loss in the specific patients in order to determine whether it is an age related phenomena or a cytogenetic marker indicating a malignant change.

Methods: Five hundred and ninety-two male patients with a median age of 59 years old (22 - 95 years) were included in this study.

[The relationship between the genotype of hepatitis B virus and clinical and liver pathological features of infected patients in the Zhoushan Islands, China].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the genotypes of hepatitis B virus and the clinical and liver pathological features of patients with chronic hepatitis in the Zhoushan Islands.

Methods: One hundred eighty HBV DNA positive chronic hepatitis patients with HBV markers were enrolled in this study. They were at least second generation Zhoushan Island residents.

[A quantitative study of the relationship between levels of liver fibrosis markers in sera and fibrosis stages of liver tissues of patients with chronic hepatic diseases].

Objectives: To study the quantitative relationship between the levels of serum liver fibrosis markers and fibrosis stages of liver tissues in patients with chronic hepatic diseases.

Methods: In 118 patients with chronic hepatitis, fatty liver or cirrhosis, their Serum levels of LN, HA, PCIII and CIV were investigated by EIA and their liver histological changes were studied. The relationship between the levels of serum LN, HA, PCIII and CIV and the degrees of liver tissue fibrosis was analyzed quantitatively by using the SPSS11.