BACKGROUND The mutations that have been implicated in pulmonary fibrosis account for only a small proportion of the population risk. METHODS Using a genomewide linkage scan, we detected linkage between idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and a 3.4-Mb region of chromosome 11p15 in 82 families. We then evaluated genetic variation in this region in gel-forming mucin genes expressed in the lung among 83 subjects with familial interstitial pneumonia, 492 subjects with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and 322 controls. MUC5B expression was assessed in lung tissue. RESULTS Linkage and fine mapping were used to identify a region of interest on the p-terminus of chromosome 11 that included gel-forming mucin genes. The minor-allele of the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs35705950, located 3 kb upstream of the MUC5B transcription start site, was present at a frequency of 34% among subjects with familial interstitial pneumonia, 38% among subjects with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and 9% among controls (allelic association with familial interstitial pneumonia, P = 1.2×10−15; allelic association with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, P = 2.5×10−37). The odds ratios for disease among subjects who were heterozygous and those who were homozygous for the minor allele of this SNP were 6.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9 to 12.0) and 20.8 (95% CI, 3.8 to 113.7), respectively, for familial interstitial pneumonia and 9.0 (95% CI, 6.2 to 13.1) and 21.8 (95% CI, 5.1 to 93.5), respectively, for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. MUC5B expression in the lung was 14.1 times as high in subjects who had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis as in those who did not (P<0.001). The variant allele of rs35705950 was associated with up-regulation in MUC5B expression in the lung in unaffected subjects (expression was 37.4 times as high as in unaffected subjects homozygous for the wild-type allele, P<0.001). MUC5B protein was expressed in lesions of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS A common polymorphism in the promoter of MUC5B is associated with familial interstitial pneumonia and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Our findings suggest that dys-regulated MUC5B expression in the lung may be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis. (Funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and others.)

We found that approximately 10.58% HBsAg carriers (without IVDU and HRSB) were coinfected with HDV, which is twofold of what has been estimated before. We also noted a substantially higher HDV prevalence in the IVDU and HRSB population. Our study highlights the need for increased focus on the routine HDV screening and rigorous implementation of HBV vaccine programme.

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After entering the twenty-first century, biochar has become a focal point of multidisciplinary research because of its special characteristics, broad application, and promising development prospects. Basic and applied research on the application of biochar in the areas of agriculture, environment, and energy have increased dramatically in the face of food security, environmental pollution, and energy shortage. Although there are some disputes about biochar research, many studies have demonstrated the importance of biochar research from the perspective of scientific advancement and practical application. This paper briefly recalls the history of biochar application; introduces research progress on the basic characteristics of biochar and its associated production technologies; summarizes the research status and existing problems of biochar application in the areas of agriculture, environment, and energy; and analyzes the potential problems and development trends of biochar research in the future.

Crystallization from memorized ordered melt (MOM) of isotactic polybutene-1 (iPB-1) is investigated with in situ Fourier transformation infrared microspectroscopic imaging and wide-and small-angle X-ray scattering. After being partially melted at high temperature, a small portion of form I crystal of iPB-1 recovers back when the temperature is lowered. This is different from a disordered melt, which crystallizes into form II directly. The recovery of form I crystal is attributed to the presence of MOM, which may keep the conformation order of form I crystal. Experimental evidence show that MOM possesses three characteristics, namely: (i) associating with the preserved form I; (ii) occupying only a small portion of the melt in the partially melted sample; (iii) being stable at high temperature. All this experimental evidence suggests that MOM locates at the boundary of crystal and melt. This is in line with the physical picture of nonclassical nucleation and growth theory or the multistage approach, where a partially ordered melt layer locates at the boundary of crystal and melt.

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Background: Twice-weekly hemodialysis (HD) is prevalent in the developing countries and the clinical outcome of this population remains to be elucidated. Methods: Data were collected from Shanghai Renal Registry. 2,572 patients undergoing regular HD in Shanghai on January 2007 were enrolled into the cohort study with 2 years’ follow-up. Clinical and HD parameters obtained from the network were utilized to compare twice-weekly with thrice-weekly HD. Results: Compared with patients on thrice-weekly HD, the twice-weekly HD patients were significantly younger and had significantly longer HD session time, higher single-pool Kt/V (spKt/V) but shorter HD vintage (p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the two groups had similar survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, body mass index, serum albumin and weekly Kt/V were predictors of patient mortality. Conclusions: The similar survival between twice-weekly HD and thrice-weekly HD is likely relating to patient selection; dialysis adequacy of twice-weekly HD remains to be elucidated.

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