Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

Biodegradable elastic nanofibrous platforms with integrated flexible heaters for on-demand drug delivery

The optical phase conjugation (OPC) through photonic nanostructures in coherent optics involves the utilization of a nonlinear optical mechanism through real-time processing of electromagnetic fields. Their applications include spectroscopy, optical tomography, wavefront sensing, and imaging. The development of functional and personalized holographic devices in the visible and near-infrared spectrum can be improved by introducing cost-effective, rapid, and high-throughput fabrication techniques and low-cost recording media. Here, we develop flat and thin phase-conjugate nanostructures on low-cost ink coated glass substrates through a facile and flexible single pulsed nanosecond laser based reflection holography and a cornercube retroreflector (CCR). Fabricated one/two-dimensional (1D/2D) nanostructures exhibited far-field phase-conjugated patterns through wavefront reconstruction by means of diffraction. The optical phase conjugation property had correlation with the laser light (energy) and structural parameters (width, height and exposure angle) variation. The phase conjugated diffraction property from the recorded nanostructures was verified through spectral measurements, far-field diffraction experiments, and thermal imaging. Furthermore, a comparison between the conventional and phase-conjugated nanostructures showed two-fold increase in diffracted light intensity under monochromatic light illumination. It is anticipated that low-cost ink based holographic phase-conjugate nanostructures may have applications in flexible and printable displays, polarization-selective flat waveplates, and adaptive diffraction optics

Liver transplantation for patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure in Asia

Poster Presentation: P-0213This journal suppl. entitled: Conference Abstracts: 25th Annual Conference of APASL, February 20–24, 2016, Tokyo, JapanAIM: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is characterized by high mortality. Liver transplantation (LT) is effective in patients who do not improve with supportive measures. This study examines the outcome of ACLF patients who underwent LT in Asia. METHODS: Prospectively collected data from 17 Asian countries in the APASL ACLF Research Consortium was analyzed. 43 patients who underwent LT for ACLF were compared with 1657 non-transplanted ACLF patients. The variables analyzed include patient demographics, acute insult, background liver disease, severity scores (MELD and SOFA scores) and post-LT outcome. RESULTS: Mean age of LT patients was 42.1 years and non-transplanted patients was 43.7 years. 74.4 % of LT patients and 85.1 % of non-LT patients were male. The most common acute liver insult was HBV reactivation (24.4 %) in LT patients, compared with alcohol (49.5 %) in non-LT patients. Three-month survival rate was 76.7 % in LT group, and 52.6 % in non-LT group. Mean MELD scores prior to transplant was (27.7 ± 4.7) and (30.5 ± 8.3) in non-transplant group. In LT patients, baseline renal dysfunction predicted mortality (mean urea: 1.4 vs. 0.84 mg/dL, p = 0.015) (mean creatinine: 61 vs. 27 lmol/l, p = 0.042). High SOFA score was significantly associated with mortality in both LT (12.5 vs. 8, P = 0.015) and non-LT (8.3 vs. 10.9, p\0.001) patients. In non-LT patients, baseline urea (68.5 vs. 41.2 lmol/l, p\0.001), MELD (33.8 vs. 27.5, p\0.001) and Child-Pugh score (12 vs. 11, p\0.001) were independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: Baseline renal dysfunction and higher SOFA score predict poorer LT outcome in ACLF patients

Better survival in patients with hepatitis e virus c.f. to other acute insults causing acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) – APASL-ACLF research consortium (AARC) database

Poster Presentations: Viral hepatitis: Hepatitis A, B, D, E – clinical (except therapy): no. THU-107BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The current study aims to analyse impact of acute insult on short term mortality in ACLF patients

Better survival in patients with hepatitis e virus c.f. to other acute insults causing acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) – APASL-ACLF research consortium (AARC) database

Poster Presentations: Viral hepatitis: Hepatitis A, B, D, E – clinical (except therapy): no. THU-107BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The current study aims to analyse impact of acute insult on short term mortality in ACLF patients

Asian-Pacific clinical practice guidelines on the management of hepatitis B: a 2015 update

Worldwide, some 240 million people have chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV), with the highest rates of infection in Africa and Asia. Our understanding of the natural history of HBV infection and the potential for therapy of the resultant disease is continuously improving. New data have become available since the previous APASL guidelines for management of HBV infection were published in 2012. The objective of this manuscript is to update the recommendations for the optimal management of chronic HBV infection. The 2015 guidelines were developed by a panel of Asian experts chosen by the APASL. The clinical practice guidelines are based on evidence from existing publications or, if evidence was unavailable, on the experts' personal experience and opinion after deliberations. Manuscripts and abstracts of important meetings published through January 2015 have been evaluated. This guideline covers the full spectrum of care of patients infected with hepatitis B, including new terminology, natural history, screening, vaccination, counseling, diagnosis, assessment of the stage of liver disease, the indications, timing, choice and duration of single or combination of antiviral drugs, screening for HCC, management in special situations like childhood, pregnancy, coinfections, renal impairment and pre- and post-liver transplant, and policy guidelines. However, areas of uncertainty still exist, and clinicians, patients, and public health authorities must therefore continue to make choices on the basis of the evolving evidence. The final clinical practice guidelines and recommendations are presented here, along with the relevant background information.SCI(E)[email protected]