Landscape and prognostic values of lymphocytes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial embolization.

Transarterial embolization (TACE), the first-line treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), does not always lead to promising outcomes in all patients. A better understanding of how the immune lymphocytes changes after TACE might be the key to improve the efficacy of TACE. However, there are few studies evaluating immune lymphocytes in TACE patients. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of TACE on lymphocyte subsets in patients with HCC to identify those that predict TACE prognosis. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 44 HCC patients at the following time points: one day before the initial TACE, three days after the initial TACE, and one month after the initial TACE and subjected to peripheral blood mononuclear cell isolation and flow cytometry. Dynamic changes in 75 lymphocyte subsets were recorded and their absolute counts were calculated. Tumor assessments were made every 4-6 weeks via computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Our results revealed that almost all lymphocyte subsets fluctuated three days after TACE, but only Tfh and B cells decreased one month after TACE. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression showed that high levels of Th2 and conventional killer Vδ2 cells were associated with longer progressive-free survival (PFS) after TACE. Longer overall survival (OS) after TACE was associated with high levels of Th17 and viral infection-specific Vδ1 cells, and low levels of immature NK cells. In conclusion, TACE has a dynamic influence on the status of lymphocytes. Accordingly, several lymphocyte subsets can be used as prognostic markers for TACE.

[Establishment and Spatial Distribution of Anthropogenic Ammonia Emission Inventory in Zhejiang Province].

The ammonia emissions inventory of Zhejiang Province was established in 2017 using the activity data of various ammonia emission sources, emission factors, and an estimation method. Ammonia emissions for each source and city in Zhejiang Province were analyzed. The spatial distribution and intensity of ammonia emissions in 2017 were mapped using ArcGIS software. The total anthropogenic ammonia emissions in Zhejiang Province in 2017 were 122.00 kt. The farmland ecosystem was the major source of total ammonia emissions (36.06 kt), and nitrogen fertilizer applications was the largest contributor in this category (87.12%), followed by the livestock and poultry source (29.44%). The waste and human-activity sources were the two major non-agricultural sources, accounting for 44.07% and 28.49%, respectively. Hangzhou City had the highest ammonia emissions in 2017, accounting for 17.83% of the total ammonia emissions in Zhejiang Province. However, the ammonia emission intensity in Jiaxing City was the highest, reaching 3.82 t ·km-2. The spatial distribution map revealed that ammonia emissions in the northern and southeastern Zhejiang were relatively higher, while ammonia emission intensity was higher in the northern and northeastern region.

[Establishment and Characteristics of an Artificial Ammonia Emissions Inventory in Jiangsu Province from 2013 to 2017].

According to activity level data of various ammonia emission sources in Jiangsu Province, using a reasonable inventory calculation method and emission factor, an ammonia emission inventory in Jiangsu Province from 2013 to 2017 was established, and the trend of anthropogenic ammonia emissions over these years was analyzed. The distribution characteristics of anthropogenic ammonia emissions and emission intensity in Jiangsu Province were analyzed using ArcGIS software. The results showed that the ammonia emissions in Jiangsu Province decreased from 624.84 kt in 2013 to 562.47 kt in 2017 with an average annual rate of decline of approximately 2.6%. Agricultural has always been the most important source of ammonia emissions in Jiangsu Province and accounted for 82.4% of the total ammonia emissions in 2017. Laying hens are the largest source of ammonia emissions from livestock and poultry sources, accounting for 49.3% of the ammonia emissions from livestock and poultry. The average ammonia emission intensity in Jiangsu Province was 5.3 t·km-2 in 2017. Yancheng and Xuzhou are two cities with the largest anthropogenic ammonia emissions and emission intensity in Jiangsu Province. Zhenjiang City has the lowest ammonia emission and emission intensity.