ObjectiveGastrointestinal microbiota may be involved in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric cancer development. The aim of this study was to explore the possible microbial mechanisms in gastric ...carcinogenesis and potential dysbiosis arising from H. pylori infection.DesignDeep sequencing of the microbial 16S ribosomal RNA gene was used to investigate alterations in paired gastric biopsies and stool samples in 58 subjects with successful and 57 subjects with failed anti-H. pylori treatment, relative to 49 H . pylori negative subjects.ResultsIn H. pylori positive subjects, richness and Shannon indexes increased significantly (both p<0.001) after successful eradication and showed no difference to those of negative subjects (p=0.493 for richness and p=0.420 for Shannon index). Differential taxa analysis identified 18 significantly altered gastric genera after eradication. The combination of these genera into a Microbial Dysbiosis Index revealed that the dysbiotic microbiota in H. pylori positive mucosa was associated with advanced gastric lesions (chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia/dysplasia) and could be reversed by eradication. Strong coexcluding interactions between Helicobacter and Fusobacterium, Neisseria, Prevotella, Veillonella, Rothia were found only in advanced gastric lesion patients, and were absent in normal/superficial gastritis group. Changes in faecal microbiota included increased Bifidobacterium after successful H. pylori eradication and more upregulated drug-resistant functional orthologs after failed treatment.Conclusion H. pylori infection contributes significantly to gastric microbial dysbiosis that may be involved in carcinogenesis. Successful H. pylori eradication potentially restores gastric microbiota to a similar status as found in uninfected individuals, and shows beneficial effects on gut microbiota.
Blockade of the protein–protein interaction between the transmembrane protein programmed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1) and its ligand PD‐L1 has emerged as a promising immunotherapy for treating ...cancers. Using the technology of mirror‐image phage display, we developed the first hydrolysis‐resistant D‐peptide antagonists to target the PD‐1/PD‐L1 pathway. The optimized compound DPPA‐1 could bind PD‐L1 at an affinity of 0.51 μM in vitro. A blockade assay at the cellular level and tumor‐bearing mice experiments indicated that DPPA‐1 could also effectively disrupt the PD‐1/PD‐L1 interaction in vivo. Thus D‐peptide antagonists may provide novel low‐molecular‐weight drug candidates for cancer immunotherapy.
Protein chemical synthesis and mirror‐image phage display were combined to develop a proteolysis‐resistant D‐peptide antagonist (DPPA‐1) which targets the immune checkpoint protein PD‐L1 (the ligand for PD‐1, the programmed cell death protein 1). DPPA‐1 was found to inhibit the PD‐1/PD‐L1 protein–protein interaction at the cellular level. IgV=immunoglobulin‐like variable.
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► PAN nanofibers obtained by electrospinning. ► PAN/PPy core/shell nanofiber membrane was prepared. ► PAN/PPy core/shell nanofiber membrane used for Cr(VI) removal. ► Adsorption ...capacity remained up to 80% within 5 times cycles.
Polyacrylonitrile/polypyrrole (PAN/PPy) core–shell structure nanofibers were prepared via electrospinning followed by in situ polymerization of pyrrole monomer for the removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) from aqueous solution. Attenuated total reflections Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results confirmed the presence of the polypyrrole (PPy) layer on the surface of PAN nanofibers. The morphology and structure of the core–shell PAN/PPy nanofibers were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), and the core–shell structure can be clearly proved from the SEM and TEM images. Adsorption results indicated that the adsorption capacity increased with the initial solution pH decreased. The adsorption equilibrium reached within 30 and 90min as the initial solution concentration increased from 100 to 200mg/L, and the process can be described using the pseudo-second-order model. Isotherm data fitted well to the Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic study revealed that the adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous in nature. Desorption results showed that the adsorption capacity can remain up to 80% after 5 times usage. The adsorption mechanism was also studied by XPS.
Introducing fluorescent chromophores to helical architectures can generate circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). Herein, a series of fluorescent chiral helical monosubstituted polyacetylenes ...showing both intense optical activity and CPL are prepared by copolymerizing achiral fluorescent acetylenic monomer and a chiral monomer. The luminescence dissymmetry factor (g lum) values of the obtained copolymers can reach up to +0.136 and −0.264. The formation of predominantly one-handed helical structures in the copolymer backbones has proved to play crucial roles in achieving the intense CPL. The dynamic helical polymer chains further enable the CPL-active materials to exhibit both solvent sensitivity and temperature sensitivity. Moreover, the helical polymer structures can also helpfully restrain the aggregation-caused quenching (ACQ) effect of fluorescent groups. Therefore, the helical polymers play double roles: providing helical chirality for generating CPL and simultaneously circumventing ACQ effect of chromophores. The present study provides new insights into designing and preparing advanced functional chiroptical materials.
•A new, significant, and timely topic and consider inland New Eurasia Land Bridge.•New bi-level programming model and exact reformulation and solution approach.•Utilize real data in the study and ...thus provide more practical managerial insights.
This paper aims to reconstruct the shipping service network between Asia and Europe by considering the improvement of New Eurasian Land Bridge rail services and Budapest-Piraeus railway. In particular, to reflect the decision making process in reality, a bi-level programming model is established to maximize the total profit of the liner shipping company in the upper level and meanwhile to minimize the total cost of the shippers in the lower level. Computational experiments considering different scenarios are conducted to obtain the new optimal networks under different cases. Several insightful findings are observed, further leading to useful managerial insights.
AbstractObjectiveTo assess the effects of Helicobacter pylori treatment, vitamin supplementation, and garlic supplementation in the prevention of gastric cancer.DesignBlinded randomized placebo ...controlled trial.SettingLinqu County, Shandong province, China.Participants3365 residents of a high risk region for gastric cancer. 2258 participants seropositive for antibodies to H pylori were randomly assigned to H pylori treatment, vitamin supplementation, garlic supplementation, or their placebos in a 2×2×2 factorial design, and 1107 H pylori seronegative participants were randomly assigned to vitamin supplementation, garlic supplementation, or their placebos in a 2×2 factorial design.InterventionsH pylori treatment with amoxicillin and omeprazole for two weeks; vitamin (C, E, and selenium) and garlic (extract and oil) supplementation for 7.3 years (1995-2003).Main outcome measuresPrimary outcomes were cumulative incidence of gastric cancer identified through scheduled gastroscopies and active clinical follow-up through 2017, and deaths due to gastric cancer ascertained from death certificates and hospital records. Secondary outcomes were associations with other cause specific deaths, including cancers or cardiovascular disease.Results151 incident cases of gastric cancer and 94 deaths from gastric cancer were identified during 1995-2017. A protective effect of H pylori treatment on gastric cancer incidence persisted 22 years post-intervention (odds ratio 0.48, 95% confidence interval 0.32 to 0.71). Incidence decreased significantly with vitamin supplementation but not with garlic supplementation (0.64, 0.46 to 0.91 and 0.81, 0.57 to 1.13, respectively). All three interventions showed significant reductions in gastric cancer mortality: fully adjusted hazard ratio for H pylori treatment was 0.62 (95% confidence interval 0.39 to 0.99), for vitamin supplementation was 0.48 (0.31 to 0.75), and for garlic supplementation was 0.66 (0.43 to 1.00). Effects of H pylori treatment on both gastric cancer incidence and mortality and of vitamin supplementation on gastric cancer mortality appeared early, but the effects of vitamin supplementation on gastric cancer incidence and of garlic supplementation only appeared later. No statistically significant associations were found between interventions and other cancers or cardiovascular disease.ConclusionsH pylori treatment for two weeks and vitamin or garlic supplementation for seven years were associated with a statistically significant reduced risk of death due to gastric cancer for more than 22 years. H pylori treatment and vitamin supplementation were also associated with a statistically significantly reduced incidence of gastric cancer.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT00339768.
A series of full-color circularly polarized luminescence (CPL)-active materials are fabricated by judiciously combining multifarious chiral nanoarchitectures with achiral fluorescence dyes. The ...investigated nanoarchitectures include organic polymer nanofibers, organic–inorganic hybrid nanoflowers, and inorganic nanoflowers. The as-prepared chiral nanoarchitectures all can act as handed-selective fluorescence filters to powerfully transform unpolarized fluorescent light into circularly polarized luminescence. Also notable, no interaction is required between chiral and fluorescent components for achieving CPL emission. The present study provides a convenient and universal approach for preparing full-color CPL materials. Following the strategy, numerous chiroptical materials with CPL performance can be expected due to the abundant chiral matters and achiral fluorophores.
Proper placement of suture anchors is an important step in Bankart repair as improper placement can lead to failure. Concern surrounding suture anchor placement inspired the use navigation systems in ...shoulder arthroscopy. We aimed to demonstrate the technological advantage of using the O-arm (Medtronic Navigation, Denver, CO, USA) image guidance system to provide real-time images during portal and anchor placements in shoulder arthroscopy. Consecutive patients (from July to October 2014) who were admitted for arthroscopic capsulolabral repair surgeries were included. Ten patients were randomly enrolled in the navigation group and 10 in the traditional group. The glenoid was divided into four zones, and the penetration rates in each zone were compared between the two groups. In zone III, the most inferior region of the glenoid, the penetration rate was 40.9% in the traditional group and 15.7% in the navigation group (P = 0.077), demonstrating a trend toward improved accuracy of anchor placement with the aid of the navigation system; however, this was not statistically significant. Average surgical time in the navigation and traditional groups was 177.6±40.2 and 117.7±17.6 mins, respectively. American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Scores showed no difference before and 6 months after surgery. This pilot study showed a trend toward decreased penetration rate in O-arm-navigated capsulolabral repair surgeries and decreased risks of implant misplacement; however, possibly due to the small sample size, the difference was not statistically significant. Further large-scale studies are needed to confirm the possible benefit of the navigation system. Even with the use of navigation systems, there were still some penetrations in zone III of the glenoid. This penetration may be attributed to the micro-motion of the acromioclavicular joint. Although the navigation group showed a significant increase in surgical time, with improvements in instrument design, O-arm-navigated arthroscopy will gain popularity in clinical practice.
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•Wastewater types showed obvious effects on bacterial communities and functions.•Among 12 potential pathogens, Mycobacterium showed highest relative abundance.•Efflux pumps were the ...most common resistance mechanisms for 69 predicted ARGs.•ARGs/MRGs in industrial and mixed wastewater differed from municipal wastewater.•ARGs were linked to MRGs, functional genera and potential pathogens in WWTPs.
This study aimed to investigate the bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in 16 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) treating municipal, industrial and mixed wastewater. Wastewater types showed obvious effects on bacterial communities and functions. Nitrosomonas, Nitrospira, Hyphomicrobium and Accumulibacter were the main functional genera. Mycobacterium was the dominant potential pathogens. A total of 69 ARGs were obtained, and the dominant ARGs subtypes were similar in different WWTPs. Efflux pumps were the most common resistance mechanisms. Copper and zinc resistance genes were the main metal resistance genes (MRGs). Wastewater types affected the distributions of ARGs and MRGs, and they were more similar in industrial and mixed wastewater. The co-occurrence of ARGs existed within or across ARG types, and they were also positively linked to MRGs, some functional and pathogenic genera or environmental factors. This study furthers the understanding of interactions between bacterial communities, ARGs and MRGs in different WWTPs.
Studies on the azobenzene derivative based phase transitions mostly rely on photoisomerization, which require a long time to spontaneously revert back. Here we show a photothermal-driven ...solid-to-liquid transition and fast reversion of azobenzene derivatives. Owing to the aggregation of suitably substituted azobenzenes, solid-to-liquid transitions can be induced by photothermal effects under irradiation with green light. The liquid-state azobenzene derivatives spontaneously solidify again within 2 min due to heat release in a purely physical fashion. One thus obtains a perfectly reversible adhesion with a strength as high as that of commercial materials. Our work affords a novel concept to construct reversible adhesives via phase transitions of organic compounds induced by light.