Serum ß-klotho is a potential biomarker for the progression of hepatitis B virus-related liver diseases.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global epidemic that can lead to several liver diseases, seriously affecting people's health. This study aimed to investigate the clinical potential of serum ß-klotho (KLB) as a promising biomarker in HBV-related liver diseases. METHODOLOGY: This study enrolled 30 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 35 with HBV-related cirrhosis, 66 with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and 48 healthy individuals. ELISA measured the levels of serum KLB in the four groups. We then compared the differences in serum KLB levels among the groups and analyzed the relationship between serum KLB and routine clinical parameters. RESULTS: The concentrations of serum KLB levels were increased sequentially among the healthy subjects, the HBV-related CHB group, the HBV-related cirrhosis group, and the HBV-related HCC group (p < 0.05). Expression of KLB was positively correlated with alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl-transferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bile acid, serum markers for liver fibrosis, ascites, cirrhosis, splenomegaly, and model for end-stage liver disease sodium, while negatively correlated with platelet count, albumin, and prothrombin activity (p < 0.05). In addition, serum KLB has better sensitivity in diagnosing HCC than AFP, and serum KLB combined with AFP has higher sensitivity and specificity than AFP alone in diagnosing HCC. CONCLUSIONS: Serum KLB level is associated with the severity of HBV-related liver diseases and has important diagnostic value for HCC. Therefore, it could be a predictive biomarker for monitoring disease progression.

Biodegradation of chlorpyrifos and its hydrolysis product 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol by a new fungal strain Cladosporium cladosporioides Hu-01.

Intensive use of chlorpyrifos has resulted in its ubiquitous presence as a contaminant in surface streams and soils. It is thus critically essential to develop bioremediation methods to degrade and eliminate this pollutant from environments. We present here that a new fungal strain Hu-01 with high chlorpyrifos-degradation activity was isolated and identified as Cladosporium cladosporioides based on the morphology and 5.8S rDNA gene analysis. Strain Hu-01 utilized 50 mg·L(-1) of chlorpyrifos as the sole carbon of source, and tolerated high concentration of chlorpyrifos up to 500 mg·L(-1). The optimum degradation conditions were determined to be 26.8°C and pH 6.5 based on the response surface methodology (RSM). Under these conditions, strain Hu-01 completely metabolized the supplemented chlorpyrifos (50 mg·L(-1)) within 5 d. During the biodegradation process, transient accumulation of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) was observed. However, this intermediate product did not accumulate in the medium and disappeared quickly. No persistent accumulative metabolite was detected by gas chromatopraphy-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis at the end of experiment. Furthermore, degradation kinetics of chlorpyrifos and TCP followed the first-order model. Compared to the non-inoculated controls, the half-lives (t(1/2)) of chlorpyrifos and TCP significantly reduced by 688.0 and 986.9 h with the inoculum, respectively. The isolate harbors the metabolic pathway for the complete detoxification of chlorpyrifos and its hydrolysis product TCP, thus suggesting the fungus may be a promising candidate for bioremediation of chlorpyrifos-contaminated water, soil or crop.