Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has drawn extensive attention from all over the world because of its promising therapeutic prospect. However, recent studies have found that VEGF may promote the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis. The article reviews the molecule characteristics, receptor, expression regulation and function of VEGF, as well as its relationship with atherosclerosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of comb interferon( comb interferon CITF) uniting virazole to cure recurring or non-responding chronic hepatitis C.Methods Hypodermic comb "interferon 15μg,3 times every week,subcutaneously injected,24 weeks course of treatment was adminstered to 74 patients of recurring or non-responding chronic hepatitis C.Clinical symptom,physical sign,ALT,hepatovirus continual response rate and the condition of adverse effect were observed during treatment,chron-culminate,follow to 6 months' withdrawl.Results 72 patients accomplished treatment,HCV-RNA of recurring group and non-responding group to continual negative change rate were 73% and 37% (P＜0.05)after treatment termination,without severity adverse reaction being found.Condusion Comb interferon 15 μg/d combining virazole 900mg/d have better curative effect in curing recurring or nonresponding chronic hepatitis C.

Objective To investigate the expression of proteinase active receptor 2(PAR2)protein in hepatocellular carcino-ma(HCC)and portal vessel tumor thrombosis(PVTT)to evaluate its clinical value.Methods Immunofluorescence,RT-PCR and Western blot were used to examine the expression of PAR2 protein in cancer tissue,tumor thrombosis and cancer-adjacent normal tissue from 21 patients with HCC.Results The expression pattern of PAR2 protein was different cancer tissue and cancer-adjacent normal tissue.PAR2 labeling index was significantly higher in cancer tissue and PVTT than cancer-adjacent normal tissue(P <0.05).Although PAR2 labeling index was lower in cancer tissue than in tumor thrombosis,no statistical significance was observed in PAR2 labeling index between them(P >0.05).Conclusion PAR2 is over-expressed in HCC and PVTT.PAR2 expression is re-lated with the development and progression of HCC.

Objective To analyze the risk factors of post-operative respiratory failure in elderly cardiac carcinoma patients.Methods 28 elderly patients with respiratory failure (respiratory failure group) after the resection of cardiac carcinoma and 56 controls (control group) were studied.Preoperative respiratory function,the other complications,the site of incision,intravenous infusion,age of patients and smoking between two groups were compared by Logistic regression.Results Univariate risk factors included MVV<50% ,RV/TLC>50% ,FEV1<1.5L,PEF<70% ,DLCO<80% ,V75<70% ,the venous input,incision at chest.Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified that MVV<50% ,RV/TLC>50% ,FEV,<1.5 L,DLCO<80% were risk factors.Conclusion These results suggested that the patients with risk factors described above need more careful pre and post operative surveillance and management.

Objective To investigate the effect of stem cells transplantation on immune function,liver function and related indexes in the patients with end-stage liver disease(ESLD).Methods A total of 163 cases of ESLD in Nanyang Municipal Central Hospital of Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were selected and divided into 2 groups by the randomized single blind method.Eighty-one cases in the control group were given the conventional symptomatic treatment,while 82 cases in the observation group received bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell(BMSC) transplantation based on the control group.The changes of immune function,liver function,alpha fetoprotein(AFP),rate of prothrombin activity(PTA) and plasma total protein(TP) level before and after treatment were observed in the two groups.Results The immune function indexes CD3+,CD4+,CD8+,CD4+/CD8+,TP and PTA levels after treatment in the observation group were significantly higher than those before treatment and in the control group (P＜0.05),while the levels of AFP,alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBIL)were lower than those before treatment in the same group and the control group(P＜0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in complication occurrence rate between the two groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion BMSC transplantation for treating ESLD can improve the immune function,improves the liver function and reduces the AFP level.

BACKGROUND:Immunotherapy with autologous immune cel s has been developed as a major adjuvant therapy for malignant tumors, but its mechanism of action has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the relationship between cytokine-induced kil er cel secretion and apoptosis in human liver cancer stem cel s. METHODS:Human liver cancer stem cel s, HepG2 cel s, were isolated and enriched using serum-free suspension method. The peripheral blood mononuclear cel s from patients with liver cancer were induced byγ-interferon, CD3 monoclonal antibody and recombinant human interleukin-2 to form kil er cel s. Passage 1 liver cancer stem cel s were divided into control group (culture alone) and experimental group (co-culture of cytokines-induced kil er cel s and human liver cancer stem cel s). At 48 hours after culture, apoptosis in human liver cancer stem cel s was detected using flow cytometry, and expression of caspase-3 mRNA and protein was detected using RT-PCR and western blot, respectively. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The apoptotic rate in the control group was significantly lower than that in the experimental group (P<0.05). The expressions of caspase-3 at mRNA and protein levels were both higher in the experimental group than the control group (P<0.05). Experimental findings show that cytokines-induced kil er cel s can significantly promote apoptosis in human liver cancer stem cel s, and up-regulate the caspase-3 mRNA and protein expressions dramatical y.

Objective To analyse the effect of matrine on sex hormone level, metal ion content and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor in male patients with liver cirrhosis.Methods 70 cases male patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis of decompensation period were selected in the hospital and randomly divided into experimental group and control group, 35 cases in each group.The experimental group were treated with 250 mL matrine sodium chloride injection on the basis of conventional treatment and the control group were given equal 0.9%sodium chloride injection, once a day, intravenous drip for a consecutive treatment of 4 weeks.The liver function, sex hormone levels, metal ion content, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor indicators were detected before and after treatment in two groups.ResuIts Compared with control group, serum liver enzymes and total bilirubin in experimental group decreased (P<0.05);the content of serum testosterone increased and estradiol levels decreased (P<0.05);serum zinc, iron and magnesium content increased, manganese content decreased (P<0.05); serum soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor levels decreased (P<0.05). ConcIusion Matrine adjuvant therapy could regulate the level of sex hormone and metal ion in male patients with liver cirrhosis, reduce the level of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor, improve liver function in patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can differentiate into hepatic stem cells in a specific environment, and participate in the repair and reconstruction of liver function.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the therapeutic effect of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation on decompensated hepatitis B.METHODS:Eighty-four patients with decompensated hepatitis B were randomly divided into two groups:normal group (n=42) with symptomatic treatment, and oral entecavir, Fuzheng Huayu Capsule; stem cell group (n=42) with the left and right hepatic artery transplantation of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (1×106/kg) based on conventional treatments. Degree of liver fibrosis, liver function and score on Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) system, 1-year survival rate of patients were detected and analyzed with statistics before and 12, 24 weeks after treatment.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Liver fibrosis after treatment in two groups:hyaluronic acid, laminin, type Ⅲ collagen and type IV collagen levels after treatment were lower than those before treatment in both two groups (P < 0.05), while these indexes in the stem cell group were lower than those in the normal group at 12 and 24 hours after treatment (P <0.05). (2) Liver function:after treatment, decreased alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels were found in both two groups (P < 0.05), and albumin, cholinesterase, prothrombin activity levels were higher than those before treatment (P < 0.05). The alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin levels in the stem cell group were lower than those in the normal group at 12 and 24 weeks after treatment, while the cholinesterase level was higher in the stem cell group (P < 0.05). (3) MELD scores:MELD scores were both decreased in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.05), and lower in the stem cell group compared with the normal group at 24 weeks after treatment (P < 0.05). (4) The 1-year survival rate was higher in the stem cell group (69%) than the normal group (50%; P < 0.05). To conclude, the use of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in the treatment of hepatitis B can significantly improve the patients' liver fibrosis and liver function, and improve the 1-year survival rate of patients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical effectiveness of Toubiao Qingfei (expelling exterior evil and clearing lung) Decoction (TBQFD) on wind-warm and pulmonary heat syndrome. METHODS: Forty-six subjects were randomized into treatment group and control group. Patients in the control group were treated with Western medicines, while patients in the treatment group were treated with Western medicines and TBQFD. The therapeutic effects and improvement of symptoms in both groups were observed. RESULTS: The durations of fever, cough and absorption of pulmonary inflammatory focus in the treatment group were 1.52, 3.52 and 6.25 days respectively, which were significantly shorter than those in the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: TBQFD can improve the symptoms, such as fever and cough, and can promote the absorption of infection and shorten the clinical course of wind-warm and pulmonary heat syndrome.

Objective To investigate the value of aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) in judging the indication for antiviral therapy [liver inflammation grade (G) ≥2 or fibrosis stage (S) ≥2] in patients with chronic HBV infection and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ＜ 2 × upper limit of normal (ULN).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 207 patients with chronic HBV infection and ALT ＜ 2 × ULN who were admitted to Nanyang Central Hospital from January 2015 to June 2017,and according to liver inflammation grade and fibrosis stage,these patients were divided into G ＜ 2 + S ＜ 2 group with 87 patients and G ≥2 or S ≥2 group with 120 patients.The results of liver biopsy and laboratory examination were recorded,and APRI was calculated.The Spearman correlation analysis was performed to investigate the correlation of APRI with liver inflammation grade and fibrosis stage.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to investigate the value of ALT,aspartate aminotransferase (AST),platelet count (PLT),and APRI in judging the indication for antiviral therapy in patients with ALT ＜ 2 × ULN.The t-test or the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups,and the chi-square test was used for comparison of categorical data between two groups.Results APRI was positively correlated with liver inflammation grade and fibrosis stage (r =0.661 and 0.597,P ＜0.001).Among ALT,AST,PLT,and APRI,APRI had the highest value in judging the indication for antiviral therapy,with AUCs of 0.913 in the G≥2 or S≥2 group,0.882 in the G≥2 group,and 0.881 in the S≥2 group.APRI had an AUC of 0.913 (95％ confidence interval:0.871-0.954) in predicting the indication in the G ≥ 2 or S ≥2 group at the optimal cut-off value of 0.5324;when APRI was ≥0.5324,the patients had marked liver histological changes,i.e.,G≥2 or S≥2,which met the indication for antiviral therapy.APRI had a sensitivity of 87.50％,a specificity of 89.66％,a positive predictive value of 92.11％,and a negative predictive value of 83.87％.Conclusion For patients with chronic HBV infection and ALT ＜ 2 × ULN,APRI has a good value in evaluating liver pathological changes and judging the timing of antiviral therapy and can reduce the frequency of invasive assessment of histological changes via liver biopsy.