Litorilituus lipolyticus sp. nov., isolated from intertidal sand of the Yellow Sea in China, and emended description of Colwellia asteriadis.

A Gram-stain negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, oxidase-positive and catalase-weakly positive bacterial strain with polar or subpolar flagellum, designated RZ04T, was isolated from an intertidal sand sample collected from a coastal area of the Yellow Sea, China. The organism was observed to grow optimally at 25 °C and pH 6.5-7.0 with 2% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain RZ04T was closely related to Colwellia asteriadis (similarity 96.9%) and Litorilituus sediminis (similarity 96.8%), and 94.4-96.4% sequence similarities to other type strains of species of the genera belonged to the family Colwelliaceae. The dominant fatty acids of strain RZ04T were determined to be C17:1ω8c, C15:1ω8c, C16:0 and summed feature 3 (C16:1ω6c and/or C16:1ω7c), and the predominant isoprenoid quinone was determined to be quinone 8 (Q-8). Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminophospholipid and four unidentified lipids were determined to be the major constituents of the polar lipids. The genome of strain RZ04T is 4.14 Mbp with a G + C content of 37.4 mol%. A total of 3631 genes are predicted, with 3531 protein-coding genes, 75 RNA genes and 25 pseudogenes. Based on phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analysis, strain RZ04T is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Litorilituus, for which the name Litorilituus lipolyticus is proposed. The type strain is RZ04T (= MCCC 1K03616T = KCTC 62835T). An emended description of Colwellia asteriadis is also provided.

Flavivirga rizhaonensis sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from intertidal sand.

A bacterial strain designated RZ03T was isolated from an intertidal sand sample from the Yellow Sea in China and characterised using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strain RZ03T were observed to be Gram-stain negative, aerobic, and oxidase and catalase positive rods showing gliding motility and forming yellow colonies. Growth was found to occur at 7-30 °C (optimum, 25 °C), at pH 5.5-9.5 (optimum, pH 6.5-7.0) and with 0.5-5% NaCl (optimum, 1.5-2%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicates that strain RZ03T clusters within members of the genus Flavivirga of the family Flavobacteriaceae and is closely related to the type strains Flavivirga amylovorans JCM 17112T and Flavivirga jejuensis JCM 17113T (97.9% and 97.5% similarity, respectively). The predominant cellular fatty acids are iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1 G, iso-C17:0 3-OH and iso-C15:0 3-OH and the major respiratory quinone is MK-6. Polar lipids include phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids, an unidentified phospholipid and four unidentified lipids. The genome of strain RZ03T is 4.88 Mbp with a G+C content of 32.2 mol%. A total of 4152 genes are predicted, with 4052 protein-coding genes, 51 RNA genes and 49 pseudogenes. This polyphasic study suggests that strain RZ03T represents a novel species in the genus Flavivirga, for which the name Flavivirga rizhaonensis is proposed. The type strain is RZ03T(= KCTC 62833T = MCCC 1K03615T).

Body mass index and risk of gastric cancer: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Overweight and obesity, indicated as increased body mass index, are associated with the risk of some cancers. We carried out a meta-analysis on published cohort and case-control studies to assess the strength of association between body mass index and gastric cancer. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified through PubMed, Web of Science and Medline electronic databases. Adjusted relative risks (odds ratios) with 95% confidence interval were used to assess the strength of association between body mass index and gastric cancer. RESULTS: Sixteen eligible studies were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m(2)) was associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer (odds ratio = 1.13, 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.24) compared with normal weight (body mass index = 18.5 to <25 kg/m(2)), while overweight (body mass index = 18.5 to <30 kg/m(2)) showed no association (odds ratio = 1.04, 95% confidence interval = 0.96-1.12). Specifically, a stratified analysis showed there were associations between obesity and the increased risk of gastric cancer for males (odds ratio = 1.27, 95% confidence interval = 1.09-1.48), non-Asians (odds ratio = 1.14, 95% confidence interval = 1.02-1.28) and both cohort studies (odds ratio = 1.10, 95% confidence interval = 1.00-1.22) and case-control studies (odds ratio = 1.29, 95% confidence interval = 1.03-1.60). Both overweight (odds ratio = 1.22, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.42) and obesity (odds ratio = 1.61, 95% confidence interval = 1.15-2.24) were associated with the increased risk of gastric cardia cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that obesity was associated with the risk of gastric cancer, especially for males and among non-Asians. Both overweight and obesity were associated with the risk of gastric cardia cancer.

[Effect of exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on liver function of workers].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMFs) on the liver function of workers. METHODS: The workers in a factory were selected as subjects, and the recent physical examination data of these workers were collected. The workers aged 20∼40 years and with more than 2 years' working experience were included for analysis; considering the intensity of electromagnetic field, the workers exposed to less electromagnetic radiation were assigned to exposure I group (n = 123), those exposed to more electromagnetic radiation to exposure II group (n = 229), and those not exposed to electromagnetic radiation to control group (n = 212). There were no significant differences in sex, age, height, and body weight between the three groups (P > 0.05). Physical examination, including measurements of direct bilirubin (DBil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and albumin, was performed in a health examination center. The intensity of electromagnetic field was measured by EFA-300 power frequency electromagnetic field analyzer, and the intensity of noise by AWA5610D integrating sound level meter. RESULTS: The intensities of electric field and the magnetic field in exposure II group were significantly higher than those in the exposure I group. The levels of ALT, ALP, AST, GGT and albumin in exposure II group were significantly higher than those in exposure I group and control group. However, the level of direct bilirubin in exposure II group was significantly lower than that in exposure I group and control group. CONCLUSION: Occupational exposure to ELF EMFs may affect human liver function.

[Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation on cardiovascular system of workers].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the exposure levels of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields in workplaces and to analyze the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation on cardiovascular system of occupationally exposed people. METHOD: Intensity of electromagnetic fields in two workplaces (control and exposure groups) was detected with EFA-300 frequency electromagnetic field strength tester, and intensity of the noise was detected with AWA5610D integral sound level. The information of health physical indicators of 188 controls and 642 occupationally exposed workers was collected. Data were analyzed by SPSS17.0 statistic software. RESULTS: The intensity of electric fields and the magnetic fields in exposure groups was significantly higher than that in control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference of noise between two workplaces (P > 0.05). The results of physical examination showed that the abnormal rates of HCY, ALT, AST, GGT, ECG in the exposure group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05). There were no differences of sex, age, height, weight between two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Exposure to extremely low frequency electromagnetic radiation may have some effects on the cardiovascular system of workers.