HCV-Specific Interleukin-21+CD4+ T Cells Responses Associated with Viral Control through the Modulation of HCV-Specific CD8+ T Cells Function in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Guo-Hua Feng,Fu-Sheng Wang,Ji-Yuan Zhang,Qing-Lei Zeng,Lei Jin,Junliang Fu,Bin Yang,Ying Sun,Tianjun Jiang,Xiangsheng Xu,Zheng Zhang,Jinhong Yuan,Liyuan Wu 한국분자세포생물학회 2013 Molecules and cells Vol.36 No.4

Interleukin-21 (IL-21)+CD4+ T cells are involved in the immune response against hepatitis B virus (HBV) by secreting IL-21. However, the role of IL-21+CD4+ T cells in the immune response against chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus infection is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of IL-21+CD4+ T cells in CHC patients and the potential mechanisms. The study subjects in-cluded nineteen CHC patients who were grouped by viral load (low, < 106 RNA copies/ml, n = 8; high, > 106 RNA copies/ml, n = 11). The peripheral frequency of HCV-specific IL-21+CD4+ T cells was higher in the low viral load group and was negatively correlated with the serum HCV RNA viral load in all CHC patients. Meanwhile, IL-21+ cells accumulated in the liver in the low viral load group. In vitro, IL-21 treatment increased the expression of proliferation markers and cytolytic molecules on HCV-specific CD8+ T cells. In summary, these findings suggest that HCV-specific IL-21+CD4+ T cells might contribute to HCV control by rescuing HCV-specific CD8+ T cells in CHC patients.

Experimental Investigation on Critical Heat Flux in Bilaterally Heated Annulus with equal heat flux on both sides

Gui Miao,Guo Junliang,Kong Huanjun,Wu Pan,Shan Jianqiang,Peng Yujiao 한국원자력학회 2023 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.55 No.9

A phenomenological study on CHF in a bilaterally heated annulus with equal heat flux on both sides was experimentally performed. The working fluid of the present test was R-134a. Variation characteristics of CHF and transition of CHF occurrence location were investigated under different pressure, mass flux and quality conditions. With the increase of critical thermodynamic quality, it was found that CHF first occurred on the outer surface of the annulus, then simultaneously occurred on both sides, and finally occurred on the inner surface at relatively high critical quality. After the CHF location transitioned to the inner rod, the sharp fall of CHF in the limiting critical quality region was observed. The critical quality corresponding to the CHF location transition decreased with the increase of mass flux and pressure. Besides, CHF in tube, internally heated, externally heated and bilaterally heated annuli were compared under the same hydraulic diameter conditions. The present study is conducive to improving the understanding of complicated CHF mechanism in bilaterally heated annulus, enriching the experimental database, and providing evidence for developing accurate CHF mechanism model for annuli.

Imaging Evaluation of Peritoneal Metastasis: Current and Promising Techniques

Fu Chen,Zhang Bangxing,Guo Tiankang,Li Junliang 대한영상의학회 2024 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.25 No.1

Early diagnosis, accurate assessment, and localization of peritoneal metastasis (PM) are essential for the selection of appropriate treatments and surgical guidance. However, available imaging modalities (computed tomography [CT], conventional magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], and 18fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography [PET]/CT) have limitations. The advent of new imaging techniques and novel molecular imaging agents have revealed molecular processes in the tumor microenvironment as an application for the early diagnosis and assessment of PM as well as real-time guided surgical resection, which has changed clinical management. In contrast to clinical imaging, which is purely qualitative and subjective for interpreting macroscopic structures, radiomics and artificial intelligence (AI) capitalize on high-dimensional numerical data from images that may reflect tumor pathophysiology. A predictive model can be used to predict the occurrence, recurrence, and prognosis of PM, thereby avoiding unnecessary exploratory surgeries. This review summarizes the role and status of different imaging techniques, especially new imaging strategies such as spectral photon-counting CT, fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT, near-infrared fluorescence imaging, and PET/MRI, for early diagnosis, assessment of surgical indications, and recurrence monitoring in patients with PM. The clinical applications, limitations, and solutions for fluorescence imaging, radiomics, and AI are also discussed.

Anaerobic membrane bioreactors for antibiotic wastewater treatment: Performance and membrane fouling issues

Cheng, Dongle,Ngo, Huu Hao,Guo, Wenshan,Liu, Yiwen,Chang, Soon Woong,Nguyen, Dinh Duc,Nghiem, Long Duc,Zhou, Junliang,Ni, Bingjie Elsevier 2018 Bioresource technology Vol.267 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Antibiotic wastewater has become a major concern due to the toxicity and recalcitrance of antibiotics. Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) are considered alternative technology for treating antibiotic wastewater because of their advantages over the conventional anaerobic processes and aerobic MBRs. However, membrane fouling remains the most challenging issue in the AnMBRs’ operation and this limits their application. This review critically discusses: (i) antibiotics removal and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different types of AnMBRs and the impact of antibiotics on membrane fouling and (ii) the integrated AnMBRs systems for fouling control and removal of antibiotics. The presence of antibiotics in AnMBRs could aggravate membrane fouling by influencing fouling-related factors (i.e., sludge particle size, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), soluble microbial products (SMP), and fouling-related microbial communities). Conclusively, integrated AnMBR systems can be a practical technology for antibiotic wastewater treatment.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Removal of antibiotics and their effects on membrane fouling in AnMBRs are reviewed. </LI> <LI> AnMBRs are efficient for treating antibiotic wastewater mainly by biodegradation. </LI> <LI> The presence of antibiotics in AnMBRs will aggravate membrane fouling. </LI> <LI> Integrating AnMBRs with biofilm carriers and BES is efficient in fouling control. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical abstract</B></P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>

Effects of Chitosan on Body Weight Gain, Growth Hormone and Intestinal Morphology in Weaned Pigs

Xu, Yuanqing,Shi, Binlin,Yan, Sumei,Li, Tiyu,Guo, Yiwei,Li, Junliang Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2013 Animal Bioscience Vol.26 No.10

The study was conducted to determine the effects of chitosan on the concentrations of GH and IGF-I in serum and small intestinal morphological structure of piglets, in order to evaluate the regulating action of chitosan on weaned pig growth through endocrine and intestinal morphological approaches. A total of 180 weaned pigs (35 d of age; $11.56{\pm}1.61kg$ of body weight) were selected and assigned randomly to 5 dietary treatments, including 1 basal diet (control) and 4 diets with chitosan supplementation (100, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg, respectively). Each treatment contained six replicate pens with six pigs per pen. The experiment lasted for 28 d. The results showed that the average body weight gain (BWG) of pigs was improved quadratically by dietary chitosan during the former 14 d and the later 14 d after weaned (p<0.05). Furthermore, dietary supplementation of chitosan tended to quadratically increase the concentration of serum GH on d 14 (p = 0.082) and 28 (p = 0.087). Diets supplemented with increasing levels of chitosan increased quadratically the villus height of jejunum and ileum on d 14 (p = 0.089, p<0.01) and 28 (p = 0.074, p<0.01), meanwhile, chitosan increased quadratically the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in duodenum, jejunum and ileum on d 14 (p<0.05, p = 0.055, p<0.01) and 28 (p<0.01, p<0.01, p<0.01), however, it decreased quadratically crypt depth in ileum on d 14 (p<0.05) and that in duodenum, jejunum and ileum on d 28 (p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.05). In conclusion, these results indicated that chitosan could quadratically improve growth in weaned pigs, and the underlying mechanism may due to the increase of the serum GH concentration and improvement of the small intestines morphological structure.