Characterization of keystone taxa and microbial metabolic potentials in copper tailing soils.

Copper mining has caused serious soil contamination and threaten the balance of underground ecosystem. Effects of metal contamination on the soil microbial community assembly and their multifunctionality are still unclear. In this study, the keystone taxa and microbial metabolic potential of soil microorganisms surrounding a typical copper tailing were investigated. Results showed that pH and metal contents of adjacent soil in copper tailing increased, which largely reduced soil microbial communities' diversity. Metal contaminated soils enriched a group of keystone taxa with metal-tolerance such as Bacteroidota (20-54%) and Firmicutes (24-48%), which were distinct from the uncontaminated background soils that dominated by Proteobacteria (19-24%) and Actinobacteria (13-24%). In the contaminated soils, these keystone taxa were identified as Alistipes, Bacteroides, and Faecalibacterium, suggesting their adaptation to the metal-rich environment. Co-occurrence network analysis showed that the microbial community was loosely connected in the metal contaminated soils with a lower number of nodes and links. Co-occurrence networks further revealed that the dynamics of keystone taxa significantly correlated with copper content. Functional gene analysis of soil microorganisms indicated that metal contamination might inhibit important microbial metabolic potentials, such as secondary metabolites biosynthesis, carbon fixation, and nitrogen fixation. Results also found the flexible adaptation strategies of soil microbial communities to metal-rich environments with metal-resistance or bio-transformation, such as efflux (CusB/CusF/CzsB and pcoB/copB) and oxidation (aoxAB). These findings provide insight into the interaction between keystone taxa and soil environment, which is helpful to reveal the microbial metabolic potential and physiological characteristics in tailing contaminated soils.

The hypoxia-inducible factor 1 inhibitor LW6 mediates the HIF-1α/PD-L1 axis and suppresses tumor growth of hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo.

The low survival rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major challenge for clinicians and patients, and its progression may be related to hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and PD-L1. LW6 is a drug that inhibits hypoxia by reducing HIF-1α accumulation and gene transcriptional activity. However, its effect and regulatory mechanism in HCC remain to be revealed, especially under hypoxic conditions. The HIF-1α and PD-L1 expression in HCC specimens and paracarcinoma tissues was evaluated by a tissue microarray (TMA). The effects of LW6 were evaluated by cell viability, colony formation, and Transwell assays and xenografted nude mice. Cell cycle and apoptosis of HCC cells were detected by flow cytometry. The effects of LW6 on HIF-1α signaling and its targets PD-L1 and VEGF were evaluated through qRT-PCR, Western blots, Cell transfection, Transwell migration and invasion assays, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and luciferase assays. In this study, we found that LW6 had antiproliferative effects on HCC and promoted HCC cell apoptosis, inhibited their migration and invasion, and affected their cell cycle. LW6 dramatically decreased HIF-1α expression through the VHL-dependent proteasome system pathway, inhibited HIF-1α transcriptional activation, and reduced PD-L1 expression by inhibiting EGFR pathway activation. These results suggest that LW6 can promote apoptosis of HCC cells by inhibiting HIF-1α, inhibit tumor angiogenesis, and downregulate the expression of PD-L1, which is an effective choice for the treatment of HCC. Moreover, inhibiting the hypoxic microenvironment combined with immunotherapy is expected to be a potentially effective strategy.

Overweight with HBV infection limited the efficacy of TACE in hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting the upregulated HMGB1.

BACKGROUND: Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is an effective treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the impact of hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection and body mass index (BMI) on TACE is controversial. The present study aimed to compare the influence of HBV and high BMI on TACE outcomes in advanced HCC. METHODS: Based on HBV infection history and BMI, patients were assigned to different subgroups. Blood samples were collected and analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) and the overall survival (OS) in the population. RESULTS: Compared to overweight combined HBV patients who received TACE, people with normal weight or no viral infection had significantly better OS and PFS. Sex, age, portal vein tumor thrombus, BCLC, ECOG, and tumor diameter are the main risk factors affecting PFS and OS. Except for the postoperative fever, no significant difference was detected in adverse reactions. Irrespective of TACE, the average expression of HMGB1 in hepatitis or obesity patients was higher than that in normal individuals and did not show upregulation after TACE. Patients without overweight or HBV infection had a low expression of serum HMGB1 that was substantially upregulated after TACE. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, overweight combined HBV infection patients had shorter PFS and OS than other HCC patients. Thus, HBV and BMI maybe two factors affecting the efficacy of TACE via upregulated HMGB1.

Author Correction: Creep in Primary Consolidation with Rate of Loading Approach.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

HMGB1, the Next Predictor of Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization for Liver Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer?

HMGB1 is an important mediator of inflammation during ischemia-reperfusion injury on organs. The serum expression of HMGB1 was increased significantly on the 1st day after TACE and decreased significantly which was lower on the 30th day after TACE. Tumor markers of post-DEB-TACE decreased significantly. The correlational analysis showed that patients with low HMGB1 expression had lower risks of fever and liver injury compared those with the higher expression, while the ORR is relatively worse. Patients with lower expression of HMGB1 had longer PFS, better efficacy, and higher quality of life. With the high post-expression, the low expression had lower incidence of fever and liver injury too. There was no statistical difference in the one-year survival among the different groups. The quality of life of all patients was improved significantly. The over-expression of HMGB1 in LMCRC is an adverse prognostic feature and a positive predictor of response to TACE.

Endpoint of embolization: A study of transarterial chemoembolization in patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma.

PURPOSE: To explore the degree of embolization and embolization endpoints in patients with large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated via transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS: Thirty-two HCC patients treated with TACE from 2015 to 2016 who met the enrollment criteria for this study were retrospectively analyzed. The experimental group was treated via complete embolization, with complete occlusion of the tumor blood supplying artery, while the control group underwent incomplete embolization of any blood supplying arteries, with limited residual visible blood flow detectable via angiography. Postoperative liver and kidney function, complications, prognosis, and survival for patients in these two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no significant difference at baseline patient condition between the two treatment groups before treatment. After treatment, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartic aminotransferase (AST), and white blood cell (WBC) values in the experimental group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p=0.031, 0.038, and 0.034, respectively). There was also a significant increase in hepatic aseptic necrosis and acute liver function damage in the experimental group relative to the control group (p=0.015 and 0.023, respectively). Compared with the control group, the prognosis and survival of the experimental group was significantly decreased. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses of overall survival revealed that the different treatment group and hepatitis B infection status were the main factors affecting patient prognosis and survival. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with large HCC tumors with a limited number of supporting arteries, careful attention should be paid to the use of embolic agents during the TACE procedure. Rather than proceeding to complete embolization of the artery root, embolization can be terminated when the main tumor feeding artery is still faintly visible on an angiogram in a structure reminiscent of a tree with dry branches, thereby reducing adverse outcomes in patients.

Analgesia of percutaneous thermal ablation plus cementoplasty for cancer bone metastases.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to review recent research related to the analgesic effect of ablation therapy combined with cementoplasty, as well as to identify the duration of analgesic effect and risk for cement leaks. METHODS: A systematic literature search using PubMed, Web of Science, and annual meeting proceedings of the oncology society and other organizations were conducted. RESULTS: Twelve retrospective studies met the inclusion criteria. Four of the studies included in the review assessed the changes immediately after treatment. Five studies were subjected to analyses of analgesic effect of combined percutaneous thermal ablation and Cementoplasty at 24 weeks after treatment. Incidences of leakage of bone cement during surgery were detected in 4 out of 12 studies. The change of mean pain scores at 1 days, at 1 week, and at 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks after treatment were -3.90 (95% CI: -4.80 to -3.00), -4.55 (95% CI:-5.46 to -3.64), -4.78 (95% CI: -5.70 to -3.86), -5.16 (95% CI: -6.39 to -3.92), and -5.91 (95% CI: -6.63 to -5.19). The relative risk of cement leakage was 0.10 (95% CI: -6.63 to -5.19). CONCLUSIONS: Our systematic review suggested that thermal ablation combined with cementoplasty could be a safe and effective intervention for the management of bone metastases-induced pain.

Creep in Primary Consolidation with Rate of Loading Approach.

The debate on creep in primary consolidation is analysed with a power law model following an approach in which creep is considered as rate of loading. According to this approach, primary consolidation is one type of rate of loading. To verify this approach, two types of tests, standard oedometer test and oedometer test with drainage prevented, are conducted on three types of soils (two from NGES and the other from Port of Guangzhou). The result: creep exponents obtained from two kinds of tests agree well with each other. Moreover, the approach is further validated by tracking, for over 80 years, the data from settlement of the case history San Jacinto Monument, which is inconsistent with data calculated from the classical method. In the end, procedure of this approach, with which long term settlement is predicted, is illustrated, and this approach is compared with the classical method.

Efficacy of radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation in the treatment of thoracic cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation and microwave ablation are frequently prescribed for thoracic cancer. However, few writers have been able to draw on any systematic research into the differences between the two ablation methods. METHODS: A literature search was carried out using Embase, PUBMED, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CNKI databases, with additional searches carried out manually using terms associated with thoracic cancer and thermal ablation. Then we used Google Scholar for a complementary search. Data were extracted from studies of patients that underwent radiofrequency ablation or microwave ablation, and the investigator carried out efficacy evaluation and follow up. The data obtained from the literature were summarized and analyzed using Cochrane Revman software Version 5.3 and SPSS 22.0. RESULTS: There were seven comparative studies, but no randomized studies identified for data extraction; 246 patients received radiofrequency ablation therapy and 319 controls received microwave ablation. There was no significant difference in the six-month, one-year, two-year, and three-year survival rates, and adverse reactions were found in the two treatments. For patients' long-term survival rate, the two treatments can achieve a similar survival time. CONCLUSION: In the treatment of thoracic cancer, microwave ablation can achieve the same efficacy as radiofrequency ablation.

[Effects of jianwei yuyang granule on inflammatory reaction and NF-kappaB expression in rat gastric mucosa of ulcer healing and recurrence].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Jianwei Yuyang granule (JWYY) on inflammatory reaction and NF-kappaB expression in rat gastric mucosa of ulcer healing and recurrence. METHOD: Gastric ulcer was induced in rat by acetic acid according Okeba's method with some modification and the recurrence model was induced by IL-1beta. Pathohistology of ulcer healing and recurrence was observed. Density of inflammatory cell infiltrating regenerative mucosa, NF-kappaB protein and mRNA expression were measured. RESULT: JWYY had effects on improving the quality of ulcer healing, reducing the rate of ulcer recurrence, decreasing the density of inflammatory cell infiltrating regenerative mucosa and suppressing the activation and expression quantity of NF-kappaB protein and mRNA. CONCLUSION: JWYY may promote the ulcer healing and prevent the recurrence of the gastric ulcer by suppressing the activation of NF-kappaB and the following inflammatory reaction.