Two lab-scale expanded granular sludge bed reactors were operated using granular sludge and river sediments as seed sludge respectively, through gradually lowering down the inner pH values, acid-tolerant methanogenic granular sludge with good methanogenic activity were acquired and formed. Two EGSB reactors could be operated steadily under the condition of pH 5.8～6.2, and their volumetric loading rates were about 5.5～7.5 kg COD/(m3/d), the COD removal efficiencies were about 90%. The granular sludges taken from two reactors could maintain relatively higher methanogenic activity under low pH, and the relative activities of the granular could be 51.78% and 55.6% of the value with the condition of pH 7.0 when pH was 5.5. Studies on the diameter distribution, settling velocities, concentrations of different metal elements and microbiological characteristics of these acid-tolerant granular sludges were also conducted.

OBJECTIVETo explore the possible relationship between cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-4 and IL-10), which were expressed abnormal quantity in the peripheral blood to intrauterine HBV infectious children, gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and susceptibility to HBV intrauterine infection.

METHODSA cross sectional study on molecular epidemiology was carried out. The subjects were selected from outpatients of the hepatitis B vaccine special clinics of our hospital. According to intrant criteria, children under high risk of HBV intrauterine infection were divided into immuno-failure group (group I) and immuno-effective group (group II) while children without high risk were included in the control group. Four gene SNP sites of TNF-alpha-238, IFN-gamma + 874, IL-4-590 and IL-10-1082 region were determined by real-time quantitative fluorescent PCR.

RESULTSSignificant differences of TNF-alpha-238 A allele frequency were found between group I and group II (chi(2) = 6.797, P < 0.05) as well as between group I and control group (chi(2) = 9.513, P < 0.05). No evident difference of TNF-alpha-238 A was found between group II and control group (chi(2) = 0.047, P > 0.05). Significant differences of IFN-gamma + 874 A allele frequency were found between group I and group II (chi(2) = 7.238, P < 0.05), and between group I and the controls (chi(2) = 5.199, P < 0.05) but no significant difference was found between group II and control group (chi(2) = 0.602, P > 0.05). Significant differences of IL-4-590 C/T allele frequency were not found between group I and group II (chi(2) = 0.632, P > 0.05), group I and control group (chi(2) = 0.584, P > 0.05), or between group II and control group (chi(2) = 0.004, P > 0.05) respectively. Significant differences of IL-10-1082 G allele frequency were found between group II and group I (chi(2) = 10.359, P < 0.001), and between group II and the controls (chi(2) = 35.418, P < 0.001), but not found between group I and control group (chi(2) = 1.759, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThis study suggested the possibility that TNF-alpha-238 A allele and IFN-gamma + 874 A allele were associated with HBV intrauterine infection. There was no evident relationship between IL-4-590 C/T allele SNP and susceptibility to HBV intrauterine infection, but the IL-10-1082 G allele seemed to be associated with preventive efficacy to HBV intrauterine infection.

Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; transmission ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

BACKGROUNDThe influences of genomic background are confirmed in more diseases. Immunologic tolerance after intrauterine infection of hepatitis B virus is considered to occur in T cells. Cytokines work effectively in eliminating virus by immune system after hepatitis B virus infection. To explore the relationship between cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interferon-gamma, interleukin-4 and interleukin-10), which expressed abnormal quantity in the peripheral blood to intrauterine hepatitis B virus infectious children, gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and susceptibility to hepatitis B virus intrauterine infection.

METHODSThis is a cross sectional study of molecular clinical epidemiology. The subjects in this study were selected from outpatients of hepatitis B vaccine follow-up special clinics of our hospital in the period. According to intrant criteria, the high risk children of hepatitis B virus (HBV) intrauterine infection were divided into immune failure group (group I); and immune effective group (group II) and non high risk children belonged to the control group. Four gene SNP sites of TNF-alpha -238, IFN-gamma +874, IL-4 -590 and IL-10 -1082 were determined by real-time quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSThe significant differences of TNF-alpha -238 A allele frequency were found between group I and group II (chi(2) = 6.797, P < 0.05) and between group I and the control group (chi(2) = 9.513, P < 0.05). No evident differences of TNF-alpha -238 A were found between group II and control group (chi(2) = 0.047, P > 0.05); the significant differences of IFN-gamma +874 A allele frequency were found between group I and group II (chi(2) = 7.238, P < 0.05), and between group I and the control group (chi(2) = 5.199, P < 0.05). No evident differences were found between group II and the control group (chi(2) = 0.602, P > 0.05); the significant differences of IL-4 -590 C/T allele frequency were not found between group I and group II (chi(2) = 0.632, P > 0.05), also group I and the control group (chi(2) = 0.584, P > 0.05), and the group II and the control group (chi(2) = 0.004, P > 0.05) respectively; The significant differences of IL-10 -1082 G allele frequency were found between group II and group I (chi(2) = 10.359, P < 0.001), and between group II and the controls (chi(2) = 35.418, P < 0.001), but the significant differences were not found between group I and the control group (chi(2) = 1.759, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThis study suggested the possibility that the TNF-alpha -238 A allele and IFN-gamma +874 A allele were associated with HBV intrauterine infection. There was no evident relationship between IL-4 -590 C/T allele SNP and susceptibility to HBV intrauterine infection, but the IL-10 -1082 G allele was associated with preventive efficacy to HBV intrauterine infection.

Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cytokines ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; transmission ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

Background The influences of genomic background are confirmed in more diseases. Immunologic tolerance after intrauterine infection of hepatitis B virus is considered to occur in T cells. Cytokines work effectively in eliminating virus by immune system after hepatitis B virus infection. To explore the relationship between cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin-4 and interleukin-10), which expressed abnormal quantity in the peripheral blood to intrauterine hepatitis B virus infectious children, gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and susceptibility to hepatitis B virus intrauterine infection. Methods This is a cross sectional study of molecular clinical epidemiology. The subjects in this study were selected from outpatients of hepatitis B vaccine follow-up special clinics of our hospital in the period. According to intrant criteria, the high risk children of hepatitis B virus (HBV) intrauterine infection were divided into immune failure group (group Ⅰ); and immune effective group (group Ⅱ) and non high risk children belonged to the control group. Four gene SNP sites of TNF-α -238, IFN-γ +874, IL-4 -590 and IL-10 -1082 were determined by real-time quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results The significant differences of TNF-α -238 A allele frequency were found between group Ⅰ and groupⅡ (χ2=6.797,P<0.05) and between groupⅠ and the control group (χ2=9.513,P<0.05). No evident differences of TNF-α -238 A were found between group Ⅱ and control group (χ2=0.047,P>0.05); the significant differences of IFN-γ +874 A allele frequency were found between groupⅠ and groupⅡ(χ2=7.238,P<0.05), and between groupⅠ and the control group (χ2=5.199,P<0.05). No evident differences were found between groupⅡ and the control group (χ2=0.602,P>0.05); the significant differences of IL-4 -590 C/T allele frequency were not found between groupⅠand group Ⅱ(χ2=0.632,P>0.05), also groupⅠ and the control group (χ2=0.584,P>0.05), and the groupⅡ and the control group (χ2=0.004,P>0.05)respectively; The significant differences of IL-10 -1082 G allele frequency were found between groupⅡ and groupⅠ (χ2=10.359,P<0.001), and between groupⅡ and the controls (χ2=35.418,P<0.001), but the significant differences were not found between groupⅠand the control group (χ2=1.759,P>0.05). Conclusions This study suggested the possibility that the TNF-α -238 A allele and IFN-γ +874 A allele were associated with HBV intrauterine infection. There was no evident relationship between IL-4 -590 C/T allele SNP and susceptibility to HBV intrauterine infection, but the IL-10 -1082 G allele was associated with preventive efficacy to HBV intrauterine infection.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the associations of serum folate and/or vitamin B12 concentrations with obesity among Chinese children and adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted including 3,079 Chinese children and adolescents,aged 6 to 17 years,from Jiangsu,China.Anthropometric indices,such as,children's body mass index(BMI),BMI z-scores,waist circumference,and waist-to-height ratio were utilized.Multivariable linear regression and generalized additive models were used to investigate the associations of serum folate and vitamin B12 levels with anthropometric indices and odds of obesity. Results We observed that serum vitamin B12 concentrations were inversely associated with all anthropometric indices and the odds of general obesity[odds ratio(OR)= 0.68;95%confidence interval(CI)= 0.59,0.78]and abdominal obesity(OR = 0.68;95%CI = 0.60,0.77).When compared to participants with both serum vitamin levels in the two middle quartiles,those with both serum folate and vitamin B12 levels in the highest quartile were less prone to general(OR = 0.31,95%CI = 0.19,0.50)or abdominal obesity(OR = 0.46,95%CI = 0.31,0.67).Conversely,participants with vitamin B12 levels in the lowest quartile alongside folate levels in the highest quartile had higher odds of abdominal obesity(OR = 2.06,95%CI = 1.09,3.91). Conclusion Higher serum vitamin B12 concentrations,but not serum folate concentrations,were associated with lower odds of childhood obesity.Children and adolescents with high levels of vitamin B12 and folate were less likely to be obese.

Objective:To analyze the occurence and prognosis of stent thrombosis (ST ) after implantation of the Firebird 2 cobalt-chromium drug-eluting stent (DES) so as to provide abundant clinical evidence for the wide application of domestic second-generation drug-eluting stents .Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 5 084 DES patients on the Firebird 2 cobalt-chromium alloy platform during the 3-year follow-up in the large-scale ,international ,multicenter FOCUS registry .Three-year cumulative incidence of ST was reported .The clinical features of ST patients ,duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT ) , and the treatment and as prognosis of ST were the main focuses of this study .Results: The 3-year cumulative incidence of ST was 0 .67% (35 cases) ,including 8 cases of acute ST ,11 cases of subacute ST ,8 cases of late ST and 8 cases of very late ST .Among them ,28 patients of ST were recovered after re-intervention or thrombolysis ,while 7 patients were died because of treatment failure .The mortality of ST patients was 20 .6% .All ST patients were treated with DAPT for at least 12 months except for 3 patients who had stopped taking DAPT and 1 patient who took clopidegrel only . Conclusions:The 3-year follow-up FOCUS study shows that , the cumulative incidence of ST is less than 1% after DES implantation on the domestic second-generation Firebird 2 cobalt-chromium alloy platform ,providing reliable safety evidence for the clinical application of Firebird 2 stents .

OBJECTIVE：To study the pr otective effect of schisandrin A （SA）on CCl 4-induced liver fibrosis model mice and its mechanism. METHODS ：Mice were randomly divided into blank control group ，model group ，silymarin group （positive control，100 mg/kg），SA low-dose and high-dose groups （20，40 mg/kg），with 10 mice in each group. Except for blank control group，other groups were given CCl 4 subcutaneously to induce liver fibrosis model. After successful modeling ，administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically ，once a day ，for consecutive 6 weeks；blank control group and model group were given constant volume of 0.5％sodium carboxymethyl cellulose solution intragastrically by the same way. HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of liver tissue in mice. UV spectrophotometry and ELISA assay were adopted to detect the serum levels of liver injury indexes （ALT and AST ）and the contents of inflammatory factors （TNF-α，IL-1β，IL-6）. Western blotting assay was used to detect the expression of NOD like receptor protein 3（NLRP3）/NF-κB and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway protein. RESULTS ：Compared with blank control group ，obvious pathological changes of liver fibrosis were observed in model group. The serum levels of liver injury indexes and contents of inflammatory factors were significantly increased （P＜0.01）. The expression of NLRP 3，apoptosis associated spot-like protein ，Caspase-1 and IL- 1β，TGF-β1 and ratios ofp-NF-κB p65/NF-κB p65，p-IκBα/IκBα，p-Samd3/Smad3 were increased significantly （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group ，SA could significantly relieve hepatic fibrosis in mice ，reduce serum levels of liver injury indexes and contents of inflammatory factors ，as well as the expression of NLRP 3/NF-κB and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway protein and phosphorylation level（P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS ： SA can effectively relieve liver injury and inflammation of CCl 4-induced hepatic fibrosis model mice ，which may be through the regulation of NLRP 3/NF-κB and TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathways ，thus inhibiting the process of liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of platelet antibody in patients with hematological diseases, so as to research the effect of immunized platelet transfusion refractoriness (PTR) on the prognosis of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recepients with malignant hematological diseases patients. METHODS: The clinical data of platelet antibody positive patients tested by Capture-P in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from July 1, 2014 to July 1, 2019 were retrospectively analyzed, including sex, age, disease, platelet transfusion assessments, CD34 RESULTS: In 5 years, 913 (7.28%) hematologic patients with platelet antibody positive were identified, the detection rate of females (513 cases) were higher than males (400 cases). Among the 913 patients, the antibody positive rates of 520 patients with malignant hematological diseases (acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome) showed significantly statistical different (10.27%, 8.01%, and 7.20%) (P<0.01), and the positive rate of the acute myeloid leukemia of those patients was higher than myelodysplastic syndrome patients(α<0.0125). There were 35 cases diagnosed as immunized PTR before allo-HSCT, the platelet increments, 14 h correct count increment, progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate of those patients were significantly lower than those in negative transfusion effective patients (P<0.01), while the percentage of ABO matching was significantly higher (α<0.0125). CONCLUSION The positive rate of platelet antibody identification is high in females and acute myeloid leukemia patients, and immunized PTR caused by antibody is a risk factor for poor prognosis of allo-HSCT in malignant hematological disease patients.
Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Male ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Platelet Transfusion ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo explore the biological characteristics of microvesicles(MV) derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) and their capability supporting ex vivo expansion of hematopoietic stem cells(HSC).

METHODSThe MV from cultured BM-MSC supernatant were isolated by multi-step differential velocity contrifugation; the morphological characteristics of MV were observed by electron microscopy with negative staining of samples; the protein level in MV was detected by using Micro-BCA method; the surface markers on MV were analyzed by flow cytometry. The peripheral blood HSC(PB-HSC) were isolated after culture and mobilization; the experiment was diveded into 2 group: in MV group, the 10 mg/L MV was given, while in control group, the same volume of PBS was given; the change of PB-HSC count was observed by cell counting; the change of surface markers on PB-HSC was detected dynamically by flow cytometry; the cell colony culture was used to determin the function change of PB-HSC after co-culture with MV.

RESULTSMSC-MVs are 20-100 nm circular vesicles under electron microscope. About 10 µg protein could be extracted from every 1×10MSC. The flow cytometry showed that CD63 and CD44 were positive with a rate of 96.0% and 50.2%, while the HLA-DR, CD34, CD29 and CD73 etc were negative. When being co-cultured with GPBMNC for 2 days, the cell number of MV groups was 1.49±0.15 times of the control group (P>0.05). When being co-cultured for 4 days, the cell number of MV groups was 2.20±0.24 times of the control group(P<0.05). The CD34cell number of MV groups was 1.76±0.30 times the control group after culture for 2 day and 1.95±0.20 times after culture for 4 day.

CONCLUSIONThe MV has been successfully extracted from MSC culture supernatant by multi-step differential velocity centrifugation. MSC-MV can promote HSC expansion in vitro.

This study was purposed to establish and identify a H-2 completely mismatched microtransplantation model of leukemia mouse. The recipients were female BALB/c mice, while donors were male C57BL/6J mice. Recipients were inoculated intravenously with 1×10(6) of WEHI-3 cells, a cell line of myelomonocytic leukemia. Donors received 100 µg/kg G-CSF mobilization through hypodermic injection, every 12 hours, and it last 5 days. Chemotherapy regimens was MA (mitoxantrone+cytarabine), and it last 4 days. Recipients were given chemotherapy conditioning without GVHD prophylaxis after inoculation of leukemic cells for 2 days, and within 8 hours after last chemotherapy received donor mobilized spleen mononuclear cells (sMNC). The number of sMNC was (3, 6, 12) ×10(7), respectively. The early death rate, recovery level of WBC in peripheral blood and leukemia load were compared between chemotherapy and microtransplantation groups. The donor chimerism was detected by RT-PCR. From the clinical manifestation and pathological features, the GVHD in recipients was evaluated. The results showed that the early mortality in chemotherapy group was 25%, meanwhile those in the (3, 6, 12)×10(7) groups were 16.67%, 8.33%, 8.33%, respectively. The(3, 6)×10(7) groups has a stronger hematopoietic recovery capability than that in chemotherapy and 12×10(7) groups (P < 0.05) . There were more leukemic cells in chemotherapy mice than that in microtransplantation mice (P < 0.01) , and (12, 6)×10(7) groups had lower leukemia load than that in 3×10(7) group (P < 0.05) . No signs of GVHD were observed in microtransplantation mice. The donor microchimerism could be discovered at eraly 2 weeks after donor cell transfusion. It is concluded that a H-2 completely mismatched microtransplantation model of leukemia mouse has been successfully established, and it will provide a experimental base for studying microtransplantation in clinic.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Leukemia ; therapy ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Transplantation Chimera ; Transplantation, Homologous