Increased plasma apoM levels in the patients suffered from hepatocellular carcinoma and other chronic liver diseases

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To determine plasma apolipoprotein M (apoM) levels and other lipid profiles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients compared to other chronic liver diseases and normal subjects.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>36 HCC, 68 chronic hepatitis, 29 liver cirrhosis patients and 64 normal controls were subjected in the present study. Serum lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoprotein AI (apoAI) and apoB were determined by the conventional methods. Plasma apoM levels were semi-quantitatively determined by both dot-blotting and western blotting analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum levels of triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol, apoAI and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) were significantly lower in the HCC patients than in the normal subjects, whereas there were no obvious differences on serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apoB between HCC patients and normal subjects. However, plasma apoM levels in HCC patients were significantly increased than those in the normal subjects, but lower than those in the chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis patients.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is concluded that serum TG, apoAI, HDL-C and Lp(a) were significantly decreased in HCC patients than in controls, whereas plasma apoM levels were significantly increased in the HCC patients. Decreased serum TG, apoAI, HDL-C and Lp(a) may reflect the liver damage in HCC patients, whereas the clinical significance of increased plasma apoM levels in relation to HCC is not clear.</p

An outbreak of norovirus-associated acute gastroenteritis associated with contaminated barrelled water in many schools in Zhejiang, China.

OBJECTIVES:More than 900 students and teachers at many schools in Jiaxing city developed acute gastroenteritis in February 2014. An immediate epidemiological investigation was conducted to identify the pathogen, infection sources and route of transmission. METHODS:The probable cases and confirmed cases were defined as students or teachers with diarrhoea or vomiting present since the term began in February 2014. An active search was conducted for undiagnosed cases among students and teachers. Details such as demographic characteristics, gastrointestinal symptoms, and drinking water preference and frequency were collected via a uniform epidemiological questionnaire. A case-control study was implemented, and odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Rectal swabs from several patients, food handlers and barrelled water factory workers, as well as water and food samples, were collected to test for potential bacteria and viruses. RESULTS:A total of 924 cases fit the definition of the probable case, including 8 cases of laboratory-confirmed norovirus infection at 13 schools in Jiaxing city between February 12 and February 21, 2014. The case-control study demonstrated that barrelled water was a risk factor (OR: 20.15, 95% CI: 2.59-156.76) and that bottled water and boiled barrelled water were protective factors (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.13-0.70, and OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.16-0.77). A total of 11 rectal samples and 8 barrelled water samples were detected as norovirus-positive, and the genotypes of viral strains were the same (GII). The norovirus that contaminated the barrelled water largely came from the asymptomatic workers. CONCLUSIONS:This acute gastroenteritis outbreak was caused by barrelled water contaminated by norovirus. The outbreak was controlled after stopping the supply of barrelled water. The barrelled water supply in China represents a potential source of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks due to the lack of surveillance and supervision. Therefore, more attention should be paid to this area

Asymmetric Coordination Induces Electron Localization at Ca Sites for Robust CO2 Electroreduction to CO

Main group single atom catalysts (SACs) are promising for CO2 electroreduction to CO by virtue of their ability in preventing the hydrogen evolution reaction and CO poisoning. Unfortunately, their delocalized orbitals reduce the CO2 activation to *COOH. Herein, an O doping strategy to localize electrons on p-orbitals through asymmetric coordination of Ca SAC sites (Ca-N3O) is developed, thus enhancing the CO2 activation. Theoretical calculations indicate that asymmetric coordination of Ca-N3O improves electron-localization around Ca sites and thus promotes *COOH formation. X-ray absorption fine spectroscopy shows the obtained Ca-N3O features: one O and three N coordinated atoms with one Ca as a reactive site. In situ attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy proves that Ca-N3O promotes *COOH formation. As a result, the Ca-N3O catalyst exhibits a state-of-the-art turnover frequency of ≈15 000 per hour in an H-cell and a large current density of −400 mA cm−2 with a CO Faradaic efficiency (FE) ≥ 90% in a flow cell. Moreover, Ca-N3O sites retain a FE above 90% even with a 30% diluted CO2 concentration

The geographic distribution of NoV AGE that occurred in Jiaxing, China, February 12–21, 2014.

<p>The geographic distribution of NoV AGE that occurred in Jiaxing, China, February 12–21, 2014.</p

Testing results of the samples taken from cases, staff, barrelled water and food during the norovirus acute gastroenteritis outbreak.

<p>Testing results of the samples taken from cases, staff, barrelled water and food during the norovirus acute gastroenteritis outbreak.</p