Hyperleptinaemia and hypoadiponectinaemia are associated with gallstone disease.

BACKGROUND: Gallstone disease has been regarded as an obesity-related disease. Therefore, we hypothesized that leptin and adiponectin, mainly produced by adipose tissue, may play roles in gallstone disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The RIA method was used to analyze serum leptin and adiponectin levels of 90 gallstone patients and 91 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Our results showed that BMI, fasting glucose, serum AST and ALT, and leptin were significantly increased in the gallstone patients as compared with the healthy subjects (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P = 0.013, respectively). Intriguingly, serum adiponectin was the only variable to be significantly decreased in the gallstone patients (P = 0.002). Furthermore, serum AST, leptin, and adiponectin were significantly associated with gallstone disease (P < 0.001, P = 0.021, and P = 0.006, respectively). Overweight (BMI >or= 25 kg m(-2)), but not normal-weight, gallstone patients had an increased serum leptin and a decreased serum adiponectin level as compared with matched healthy subjects (P < 0.001 and P = 0.024, respectively). In addition, serum leptin was positively correlated with BMI and serum cholesterol, while serum adiponectin was inversely correlated with serum triglyceride in the gallstone patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that hyperleptinaemia and hypoadiponectinaemia might be involved in the occurrence of gallstone disease. However, the causal relationship of hyperleptinaemia and hypoadiponectinaemia with gallstone disease might require further investigation.

CO(2)-H(2)-dependent anaerobic biotransformation of phthalic acid isomers in sediment slurries.

This paper investigates the anaerobic biotransformation of three isomers of phthalic acid and benzoic acid in sediment slurries under four different atmospheres [N(2), N(2)/H(2) (19:1, v/v), CO(2), and CO(2)/H(2) (4:1, v/v)]. Significant differences were observed in lag periods and biotransformation rates among the phthalic acid isomers and under the different atmospheres. In most cases, the relative biotransformation rates of the three isomers of phthalic acid were ortho-phthalic acid>isophthalic acid>terephthalic acid. Benzoate was transformed faster than any isomer of phthalic acid. Since biotransformation of phthalic acid isomers in sediment slurries was enhanced by high initial levels of H(2) and CO(2) in the headspace, we propose a pathway for phthalic acid biodegradation in which the initial transformation to benzoate is CO(2)-H(2) dependent. Acetogenic bacteria were investigated for their possible involvement in this transformation reaction, but when MPN counts were used to compare the growth dynamics of acetogenic bacteria with the time course of the terephthalic acid transformation under N(2)/H(2) (19:1, v/v) and CO(2)/H(2) (4:1, v/v) atmospheres, the results were inconclusive.

Biotransformation of p-toluic acid in anoxic estuarine sediments under a CO2 or N2/H2 atmosphere.

The composition of the headspace gas affected the growth dynamics of microbial populations and the biotransformation pattern of p-toluic acid in anoxic estuarine sediments. Under CO2 atmosphere, p-toluic acid was transformed by the sediment microorganisms without a lag period, while under N2/H2 atmosphere, p-toluic acid was transformed after a lag period of 55 days. Under the N2/H2 atmosphere, the methanogen population, following a rapid increase of almost two orders of magnitude, remained at a high level until just before the onset of biotransformation. We hypothesize that during the lag period, the hydrogenotrophic methanogens were removing the H2, a step which is essential before the reaction can be exergonic. Acetogenic bacteria did not initiate decarboxylation as the first step of biotransformation under either atmosphere. Neither the methanogens nor the acetogenic bacteria appeared to be directly involved in the biotransformation of p-toluic acid under either atmosphere. Under the CO2 atmosphere, biotransformation of p-toluic acid involved sulfate-reducing bacteria, while under N2/H2, both sulfate-reducing bacteria and other eubacteria were involved.

Scrub typhus associated with multiorgan failure: a case report.

The spectrum of clinical severity for scrub typhus ranges from inapparent, mild, to severe or fatal. The pathologic changes are focal or disseminated multiorgan vasculitis of the small blood vessels, a fact that helps explain the great diversity of clinical manifestations that can be encountered. We reported a case of scrub typhus with unusual and serious multiorgan involvement, including tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) with acute renal failure (ARF), interstitial pneumonitis with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), liver function impairment, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, prolonged hyperamylasaemia and hyperlipasaemia. Chloramphenicol administration rapidly altered the clinical course, but with sequelae of renal impairment and prolonged hyperamylasaemia and hyperlipasaemia for 10 months.