Liver fibrosis is a repair response to chronic liver injury caused by liver metabolic disorders due to many injury factors. Hepatic stellate cell(HSC)activation and proliferation play an important role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. In recent years,studies showed that microRNAs(miRNA)are involved in signal transduction pathways related with HSC activation and proliferation. This article reviewed the role of miRNA in regulation of HSC biological behavior in liver fibrogenesis.

Colorectal polyps are eminence lesions that protruded from mucosa into lumen,including adenomatous polyps and non-adenomatous polyps. Early detection and resection of adenoma has significance in prevention of colorectal cancer,and the surveillance afterwards is also crucial. Interval cancer is the colorectal cancer that develops between initial negative colonoscopy or all the polyps having cleared and the next colonoscopy. It is an important duty for endoscopists to reduce the incidence of interval cancer. This article reviewed the advances in studies on surveillance after resection of colorectal adenoma and the development of interval cancer.

Screening and diagnosis of early colorectal cancer(CRC)can reduce CRC mortality and improve overall survival. Currently,the major screening methods for early CRC include fecal occult blood test(FOBT)and colonoscopy. FOBT exhibits low sensitivity with high false positive rate,while the gold standard -- colonoscopy is invasive and with low compliance. Therefore,a convenient and effective screening and diagnostic method for early CRC is urgently needed. Plasma SEPT9 gene methylation assay is a new non-invasive screening and diagnostic method for early CRC used clinically in recent years,it exhibits high accuracy,and is convenient for mass screening and diagnosis of early CRC. This article reviewed the research progress and diagnostic value of plasma SEPT9 gene methylation assay for CRC.

Background:Detection and removal of colorectal polyp by colonoscopy is of great importance for prevention of colorectal carcinoma. Aims:To investigate whether the clinical symptoms of patients undergoing colonoscopy may hint colorectal polyp and carcinoma,and provide reference for candidate selection in colonoscopic screening. Methods:A total of 2 366 patients undergoing colonoscopy were recruited and the history information such as symptoms at outpatient visits, site and nature of the lesions was collected for analyzing the detection rates of colorectal polyp and carcinoma and the correlations of clinical symptoms with the risk and site of the disease. Results:The overall detection rates of colorectal polyp and carcinoma were 20. 5% and 5. 4% ,respectively,in 2 366 patients. The detection rates were significantly higher in symptomatic patients than those in asymptomatic patients(24. 2% vs. 4. 5% for polyp and 6. 4% vs. 0. 9% for carcinoma,P all = 0. 000). Moreover,when patients were classified by major symptoms,the detection rate of colorectal polyp was significantly increased in patients with diarrhea(OR = 1. 213),hematochezia(OR = 2. 076),and changing of stool consistency(OR = 1. 503)(P all < 0. 05),and the detection rate of colorectal carcinoma was significantly increased in patients with abdominal pain( OR = 1. 568),hematochezia( OR = 2. 837),changing of stool consistency( OR =2. 206),and tenesmus( OR = 1. 735)( P all < 0. 05). The major symptoms being hematochezia,changing of stool consistency and tenesmus were associated with lesions locating at rectum or left hemicolon(P all < 0. 05). Conclusions:Diarrhea, hematochezia and changing of stool consistency hints risk for colorectal polyp, while abdominal pain, hematochezia,changing of stool consistency and tenesmus hints risk for colorectal carcinoma. Colonoscopy is strongly recommended for patients with these symptoms.

Background:Tissue microarray has been increasingly used in research of malignancies. It has been revealed that TGF-β signaling pathway contributes to the tumorigenesis and progress of malignancies. Aims:To determine the expressions of Runx3,Smad4,Cdk2 and p21,the key molecules in TGF-β signaling pathway by tissue microarray,and investigate their correlations with clinicopathological features and prognosis of gastric cancer. Methods:A total of 378 paraffin embedded tissue blocks,including 130 gastric cancer tissue and 248 para-cancer tissue from 130 patients undergoing radical resection of gastric cancer were obtained. Tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the expressions of Runx3,Smad4,Cdk2 and p21. Results:The aberrant expression rates of Runx3,Smad4, Cdk21 and p21 in gastric cancer tissue were significantly higher than those in para-cancer tissue(67. 7% ,35. 4% , 63. 8% and 70. 0% vs. 14. 1% ,12. 5% ,18. 1% and 37. 1% ,P < 0. 05,respectively). Aberrant expression of Runx3 was closely correlated with histological grade and lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer( P < 0. 05),while aberrant expressions of Smad4 and p21 were correlated with histological grade only(P < 0. 05);aberrant expression of Cdk2 was correlated with histological grade,lymph node metastasis and TNM staging(P < 0. 05). Pairwise correlations were seen among aberrant expressions of Runx3,Smad4 and p21 in gastric cancer,while Cdk2 was correlated with Runx3 only. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that 5-year survival rates in Runx3,Smad4 and p21 aberrant expression groups were significantly lower than those in normal expression groups(P <0. 05). Furthermore,Cox proportional hazard model indicated that Runx3 and Smad4 were independent prognostic factors for gastric cancer. Conclusions:Runx3,Smad4,Cdk2 and p21 might play pivotal roles in tumorigenesis and progression of gastric cancer. As interactions occurred among these four proteins,whether Runx3 and Smad4 could be used for predicting the prognosis of gastric cancer needs to be further studied.

Background:Acute kidney injury(AKI)is one of the early serious complications of acute pancreatitis(AP). Early identification and intervention have important clinical significance. Aims:To investigate the early predictive value of clinical indicators found within 48 hours after admission for AKI in patients with AP. Methods:A retrospective analysis of 205 AP patients from January 2014 to December 2014 at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University was performed. AP patients were divided into AKI group and non-AKI group according to the KDIGO standard,the demographic characteristics,history of chronic diseases and indicators defined within 48 hours after admission such as Ranson score,BISAP score and biochemical indices were compared. The early predictive value of clinical indicators for AKI was evaluted,and strength of association between clinical indicators and AKI was assessed. Results:Compared with non-AKI group,Ranson score, BISAP score,D-dimer,PCT,blood glucose,triacylglycerol were significantly increased in AKI group(P < 0. 05),and calcium was significantly decreased(P < 0. 05). The accuracies of D-dimer,PCT,calcium were high for early prediction of AKI,and the AUC were 0. 881,0. 803 and 0. 782,respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed that D-dimer, PCT,calcium had marked correlation with AKI(OR all > 7)(P < 0. 05). Conclusions:D-dimer,PCT and calcium are effective and economical clinical indicators for the early prediction of AKI in patients with AP.

Background:A recent perspective European study has shown that Chronic Liver Failure-Consortium Organ Failure score(CLIF-C OFs)is an effective diagnostic criteria for acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF)in alcoholic or hepatitis C virus patients with acute decompensation(AD). Aims:To assess the efficacy of CLIF-C OFs for distinguishing ACLF in non-hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related chronic liver disease patients with AD. Methods:A total of 274 consecutive non-HBV-related chronic liver disease patients with AD from Jan. 2005 to Dec. 2010 at Shanghai Ren Ji Hospital were enrolled. Patients were divided into three groups:ACLF at admission,ACLF developed within 28-day and non-ACLF according to CLIF-C OFs criteria. Clinical and biochemistry characteristics,severity of the disease and 28-day and 90-day mortality data between ACLF and non-ACLF groups were analyzed. Results:Of the patients assessed,40 had ACLF at admission,27 had ACLF developed within 28-day,207 remained not having ACLF. Patients in ACLF group had higher TB,Cr,INR,ALT,AST,ALB,WBC,score of Child-Pugh,CTP,MELD,MELD-Na than non-ACLF patients(P <0. 05),and were younger in age(P < 0. 01). Incidences of hepatic,renal,cerebral,coagulation,circulation and lung failure,28-day mortality,90-day mortality were significantly higher in ACLF group than in non-ACLF patients( P <0. 01). However,no significant differences were seen in the characteristics mentioned above between ACLF at admission group and ACLF developed at 28-day group(P > 0. 05). TB level at admission and infection occurred within 28-day were the risk factors for developing ACLF(P < 0. 05). Conclusions:ACLF constitutes a more severe subgroup in non-HBV-related chronic liver disease patients with AD,and CLIF-C OFs could help to distinguish ACLF patients out from non-HBV-related chronic liver disease patients with AD.

In patients with gastrointestinal bleeding,the elderly patients have the unique features in bleeding incidence,etiologic constitution,clinical manifestations,management and prognosis. The aging of population makes the evaluation and management of gastrointestinal bleeding in elderly a special and increasingly common clinical challenge. This paper reviewed this topic in detail.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly seen gastrointestinal carcinomas and its pathogenesis has not yet been fully clarified. It is considered as a multi-step and multi-stage disease. Wnt signaling transduction pathway regulates cell growth,motility and differentiation,and plays a crucial role in the regulation of embryonic development and tumor genesis. This article reviewed the advances in study on Wnt signaling transduction pathway and colorectal cancer.

Background:Gastrointestinal carcinoids are prone to be neglected in clinical practice because of the poor specific symptoms in early stage. Aims:To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics,treatment modalities and prognosis of a series of cases of gastrointestinal carcinoids for strengthening the understanding of the disease. Methods:A total of 116 patients diagnosed as gastrointestinal carcinoids by pathology from Jan. 1997 to Jan. 2010 in 8 hospitals at Wuhan were enrolled in this retrospective study. Data on sex,age,major symptoms,diagnostic approaches,treatment modalities, pathological features and prognosis, etc. were collected and analyzed. Results:The most common sites of the gastrointestinal carcinoids were rectum(59. 5%)and stomach(19. 8%);the most common symptoms were abdominal pain,abdominal distention and hematochezia. The positivity rates of immunohistochemical marker NSE,Syn and CgA were 92. 7%,87. 5% and 62. 5%,respectively. The proportion of stomach carcinoids with diameter larger than 2 cm was 73. 9%, and that of rectal carcinoids was only 13. 0%(P <0. 001). Most of the gastric carcinoids(81. 8%)infiltrated into or breakthrough the serosa;the rate of lymph node involvement in gastric carcinoids was significantly higher than that in rectal carcinoids(72. 7% vs. 17. 1%,P<0. 001),while typical carcinoids were less common in stomach than in rectum(60. 9%vs. 95. 7%,P<0. 001). Only one(4. 3%)gastric carcinoid patient underwent endoscopic therapy,while that for rectal carcinoids was 24 cases(34. 8%,P=0. 003). Surgical operation was the main therapeutic method for both gastric and rectal carcinoids. The 3-and 5-year survival rates for rectal carcinoids were 92. 8% and 62. 3%,respectively,and those for gastric carcinoids were 62. 6% and 49. 2%,respectively;there were no significant differences between the two groups(P>0. 05). Conclusions:Gastrointestinal carcinoids enrolled in this study distributed mainly in rectum and stomach. As compared with rectal carcinoids,gastric carcinoids were more advanced in disease stage with poorer prognosis. Regular health checks, strengthening the understanding of the disease,and grasping the specificities of carcinoids distributed at different sites might be helpful for the early diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal carcinoids,thus improving the survival rate.