Alterations of Gut Microbiota in Cholestatic Infants and Their Correlation With Hepatic Function

Cholestasis is a major hepatic disease in infants, with increasing morbidity in recent years. Accumulating evidence has revealed that the gut microbiota (GM) is associated with liver diseases, such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, GM alterations in cholestatic infants and the correlation between the GM and hepatic functions remain uninvestigated. In this study, 43 cholestatic infants (IC group) and 37 healthy infants (H group) were enrolled to detect GM discrepancies using 16S rDNA analysis. The diversity in the bacterial community was significantly lower in the IC group than that in the H group (P = 0.013). After determining the top 10 abundant genera of microbes in the IC and H groups, we found that 13 of them were differentially enriched, including Bifidobacterium, Bacteroides, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Staphylococcus. As compared with the H group, the IC group had a more complex GM co-occurrence network featured by three core nodes: Phyllobacterium, Ruminococcus, and Anaerostipes. In addition, the positive correlation between Faecalibacterium and Erysipelatoclostridium (r = 0.689, P = 0.000, FDR = 0.009) was not observed in the IC patients. Using the GM composition, the cholestatic patients can be distinguished from healthy infants with high accuracy [areas under receiver operating curve (AUC) > 0.97], wherein Rothia, Eggerthella, Phyllobacterium, and Blautia are identified as valuable biomarkers. Using KEGG annotation, we identified 32 functional categories with significant difference in enrichment of the GM of IC patients, including IC-enriched functional categories that were related to lipid metabolism, biodegradation and metabolism of xenobiotics, and various diseases. In contrast, the number of functions associated with amino acid metabolism, nucleotide metabolism, and vitamins metabolism was reduced in the IC patients. We also identified significant correlation between GM composition and indicators of hepatic function. Megasphaera positively correlated with total bilirubin (r = 0.455, P = 0.002) and direct bilirubin (r = 0.441, P = 0.003), whereas γ-glutamyl transpeptidase was positively associated with Parasutterella (r = 0.466, P = 0.002) and negatively related to Streptococcus (r = -0.450, P = 0.003). This study describes the GM characteristics in the cholestatic infants, illustrates the association between the GM components and the hepatic function, and provides a solid theoretical basis for GM intervention for the treatment of infantile cholestasis

Genomic resources and genetic studies of parasitic flukes, with an emphasis on Clonorchis sinensis

© 2019 Dr. Daxi WangClonorchiasis is a complex hepatobiliary disease caused by the foodborne parasite, Clonorchis sinensis (family Opisthorchiidae). This disease can induce cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a malignant cancer of the bile ducts, and has a major socioeconomic impact on ~ 35 million people predominantly in East Asia. Currently, no vaccine is available to prevent clonorchiasis, and repeated use of the only recommended drug, praziquantel (PZQ) increases the risk of developing drug resistance. Further understanding of the disease epidemiology relies on the knowledge of genetic variation of C. sinensis in endemic areas. Moreover, evidence of karyotypic variation within C. sinensis highlights the importance of comparing the genomes of geographically distinct isolates of this parasite. The two predominant research aims of this thesis were to decode the mitochondrial (mt) and nuclear genomes of a Korean isolate of C. sinensis and assess genetic variation, using high-throughput sequencing technologies and advanced bioinformatic workflows. The mt and nuclear genomes for a C. sinensis isolate from Korea (Cs-k2) were sequenced, assembled, characterised and compared with one or more isolates. In addition, a refined bioinformatic workflow was designed to infer high quality syntenic blocks between the nuclear genome and a previously published draft genome of another isolate from China. The results not only reveal a high level of nucleotide similarity within the syntenic regions, but also pinpoint variable genes that might be central to infection and/or adaptive process. The mt and nuclear genomes and the syntenic blocks now serve as a solid foundation for a future genetic analysis of C. sinensis. The mt genome, on one hand, confirmed the specific identity of the specimen, on the other hand, highlighted potential challenges with using mtDNA markers for genetic analyses. In contrast to the mt genome, the syntenic blocks of the nuclear genome exhibit major potential for future genetic studies due to a vast extent of nucleotide differences in coding regions. These blocks also contain a substantial number of genetic loci that might enhance knowledge of host- parasite relationships in an evolutionary context. Compared with coding regions, the genetic variation in the intronic regions showed an improved phylogenetic signal at both the whole genome and individual gene levels. In future, improved quality of the assembly and annotation of nuclear genomes should be achieved using long read data, allowing a broader range of genetic and structural variation to be identified using whole genomic data of representative individuals. Furthermore, a systematic bioinformatic framework is required to discover individual variants, infer population structure and identify adaptive selection, with the consideration of parasitic life cycle and demographic history. Although the present thesis focused predominantly on C. sinensis, the work extended logically to another trematode. A third research aim was addressed to explore the population genetic structure of a related trematode parasite, Schistosoma japonicum in China and to identify genes under positive selection in particular geographical locations. Clearly, the findings of this thesis and the approaches established should have important and broad implications for studies of a range of flatworm parasites

An improved broadcasting algorithm for underground wireless sensor network

For problem of high energy consumption of existing broadcasting algorithm for underground wireless sensor network, an improved forward broadcasting algorithm of wireless sensor network was proposed. In the algorithm, forwarding nodes select prioritized node to forward information according to their own positions, so as to decrease redundant forwarding information and reduce energy consumption of the network. The simulation results show that when network node density achieve certain value, the algorithm can satisfy network receiving rate requirement, and limit total forwarding information, so as to reduce energy consumption of wireless sensor network effectively

Experimental study on the thermosiphon solution elevation pump with multiple lunate channels used in minitype solar air-conditionding system

A special structure thermosiphon solution elevation pump with multiple lunate channels used in minitype solar air-condition system was designed and experimentally measured on its elevating effects. Under the determinate operation conditions, its transient state performances were tested. The curves of the temperature and strong solution elevation volume with operating time were given out. Researches indicate that only 20 minutes is required from start-up to steady operation. Under the steady state conditions, the elevating rate of the strong solution and the distilled water yield rate versus the operating temperature were investigated. The minimum start-up operating temperature under different the immersing heights and the weak solution concentration were determined. The experimental results show that under the operating temperature condition of 85 °C, the strong solution elevation rate could reach 32 ml/s for 45% weak solution concentration. If all distilled water is evaporated, the refrigeration capability of the chiller can reach about 9 kW. At the same time, the heat transfer density of the lunate channel wall is about 10.2 kW/m2.Accepted versio

J. Phys. Chem. A

It is critically important to understand the structural properties of ionic liquids. In this work, the structures of cations, anions, and cation-anion ion-pairs of 1,3-dialkylimidazolium based ionic liquids were optimized systematically at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level of DFT theory, and their most stable geometries were obtained. It was found that there exist only one-hydrogen-bonded ion-pairs in single-atomic anion ionic liquids such as [emim]Cl and [emim]Br, while one- and two-hydrogen-bonded ion-pairs in multiple atomic anion ionic liquids such as [emim]BF4 and [emim]PF6 exist. Further studies showed that the cations and anions connect each other to form a hydrogen-bonded network in 1,3-dialkylimidazolium halides, which has been proven by experimental measurement. Furthermore, the correlation of melting points and the interaction energies was discussed for both the single atomic anion and multiple atomic anion ionic liquids.It is critically important to understand the structural properties of ionic liquids. In this work, the structures of cations, anions, and cation-anion ion-pairs of 1,3-dialkylimidazolium based ionic liquids were optimized systematically at the B3LYP/6-31+G* level of DFT theory, and their most stable geometries were obtained. It was found that there exist only one-hydrogen-bonded ion-pairs in single-atomic anion ionic liquids such as [emim]Cl and [emim]Br, while one- and two-hydrogen-bonded ion-pairs in multiple atomic anion ionic liquids such as [emim]BF4 and [emim]PF6 exist. Further studies showed that the cations and anions connect each other to form a hydrogen-bonded network in 1,3-dialkylimidazolium halides, which has been proven by experimental measurement. Furthermore, the correlation of melting points and the interaction energies was discussed for both the single atomic anion and multiple atomic anion ionic liquids

A Compressed Sensing-Based Wearable Sensor Network for Quantitative Assessment of Stroke Patients

Clinical rehabilitation assessment is an important part of the therapy process because it is the premise for prescribing suitable rehabilitation interventions. However, the commonly used assessment scales have the following two drawbacks: (1) they are susceptible to subjective factors; (2) they only have several rating levels and are influenced by a ceiling effect, making it impossible to exactly detect any further improvement in the movement. Meanwhile, energy constraints are a primary design consideration in wearable sensor network systems since they are often battery-operated. Traditionally, for wearable sensor network systems that follow the Shannon/Nyquist sampling theorem, there are many data that need to be sampled and transmitted. This paper proposes a novel wearable sensor network system to monitor and quantitatively assess the upper limb motion function, based on compressed sensing technology. With the sparse representation model, less data is transmitted to the computer than with traditional systems. The experimental results show that the accelerometer signals of Bobath handshake and shoulder touch exercises can be compressed, and the length of the compressed signal is less than 1/3 of the raw signal length. More importantly, the reconstruction errors have no influence on the predictive accuracy of the Brunnstrom stage classification model. It also indicated that the proposed system can not only reduce the amount of data during the sampling and transmission processes, but also, the reconstructed accelerometer signals can be used for quantitative assessment without any loss of useful information