Objective To determine the interference effect of H. hepaticus infection on the functional characteris-tics of dendritic cell ( DC) surface molecules and immune response in mice. Methods Male BALB/c mice were inocula-ted with H. hepaticus (ATCC 51450). Murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DC) were isolated and co-cultured which were stimulated by GM-CSF and IL-4 at the fifth month after the last inoculation. Then the DCs were subjected to FACS analysis for surface markers (CD11c, CD40, CD80 and MHCII) detection. On this basis, virus suspension of New-castle disease virus( NDV) ZJ1 strain was inoculated into the mice. Serum was collected for detection of the NDV antibody titer in serum weekly to explore the difference of antibody titer between the two groups. Results The expression rates of CD40 and MHCII on the mouse DCs in experimental group were higher than that in the control group. The NDV antibody ti-ter of experimental group was slightly lower than that in the control group in the first week. During the 2nd to 5th weeks, the titer was higher than that in the control group, with a very significant difference. In the 6th week, the titer of both the two groups tended to fall. Conclusions H. hepaticus infection can promote bone marrow DC maturation in mice, stimulate the expression rates of MHC II and CD40, and enhance the NDV antibody levels.

Objective To compare the efficiency of bacteria culture and PCR assays for detection of Staphylococcus aureus ( S.aureus) , Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( P.aeruginosa) and Klebsiella pneumoniae ( K.pneumoniae) in laboratory rats and mice.Methods Bacteria culture combined with biochemical identification and PCR assay were used to detect 78 SPF rats and 422 SPF mice and the results of the two methods were compared .Results All the 78 rats were negative .Of the 422 mice, the positive rate by culture was 7.11%(30/422), of which, 10 were S.aureus, 22 were P.aeruginosa, and 2 were K.pneumoniae.The positive rate by PCR was 7.58%(32/422), of which, 10 were S.aureus, 25 were P. aeruginosa, and 2 were K.pneumoniae.Conclusions The high sensitivity , rapid procedure and easy to operate of PCR assay makes it valuable for rapid bacteria diagnosis and large-scale screening in laboratory animals .

Microtus fortis (reed vole) is the only mammal known to have natural resistance to Schistosomiasis japonica. Originating from schistosomiasis endemic and non-endemic areas, as well as laboratory bred voles have the same resistance to Schistosoma japonicum. After more than 30 years of laboratory cultivation of wild reed vole, a series of progress have been made in laboratory animalization. A detailed study was conducted on biological traits including growth and development, reproductive physiology, serum biochemistry, hematological indicators and tissue anatomy. At the same time, the anti-schistosomiasis characteristics and anti-schistosomiasis mechanisms of Microtus fortis were studied. The closed Dongtinghu population of Microtus fortis (S: DTMF) cultivated by Shanghai Laboratory Animal Research Center was recognized as a Chinese laboratory animal resource by the Experimental Animal Resources and Evaluation Working Committee of the Chinese Association for Laboratory Animal Sciences in 2021. This review focuses on summarizing the research progress in the biological characteristics, standardization research, genome and anti-schistosomiasis mechanism of reed vole in the past decade, especially in the implementation of the key project in the National Science and Technology Pillar Program.

Objective To assess the application of a new scoring system for severity evaluation of acute-on-chronic liver failure induced by hepatitis B.Methods A total of 399 patients (203 survivals and 196 deaths) with acute-on-chronic liver failure induced by hepatitis B were collected from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University during January 2003 and June 2008.All patients were graded with the new scoring system and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) at critical stage (survivals) or terminal stage (deaths).The survival rates and fatality rates of patients who were graded by two scoring systems were analyzed and compared.Results With MELD system,the fatality rate was 11.89％ (17/143) in patients with scores of 15-26,64.68％ (141/218) with scores of 27-48,and 100％ (38/38) with scores of 49-69.No score range with fatality rate of 0 was found.While with the new scoring system,the survival rate was 99.2％ (126/127) when the severity scores were between 2 to 8,and patients with scores 2,3,4,5,6 and 8 were all survived; the fatality rates were gradually raised from 4.2％ (1/24) with scores of 9-17 to 100％ (82/82) with scores of 18 and above.Conclusion The new scoring system is more objective,simple and sensitive than MELD system,which can be used for severity evaluation of acute-onchronic liver failure induced by hepatitis B.

Objective To evaluate the long-term prognosis of patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis after treatment with nucleos (t) ide analogues. Methods Totally 94 patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis were enrolled, 53 in nucleos(t) ide group, 41 in control group, and both received routine treatments. Patients in nucleos (t)ide analogue group also received lamivudine ( 100 mg/d), or adefovir ( 10 mg/d), or entecavir (0.5 rag/d). The follow-up was terminated for those who developed hepatocellular carcinoma, received liver transplantation, died or refused the treatment. Serum biochemical markers, Child-Pugh grades and clinical outcomes were compared between two groups at the end of following up. Results After nucleos (t) ide analogues therapy, ALT, AST, globulin ( Glb), and TBil decreased, while Alb and cholinesterase (CHE) increased in the nucleos(t)ide group, and Chiid-Pugh scores decreased in 43 (81.1%) patients. While in the control group, ALT, AST, Glb and TBil did not show significant changes, but the CHE was significantly lower than before ( t = 5. 225, P < 0. 01 ). More patients in nucleos (t)ide group showed improvements in Child-Pugh grades, and there was significant difference between the two groups (X2 = 52.16, P <0.01). The incidence of HCC is lower in nucleos(t) ide group (0%) than that in the control group ( 19.5% ) ( X2 = 23.07, P < 0.01 ). The incidence of death and liver transplantation between two groups did not show siguificant difference. Conclusions Nucleos(t) ide analogues therapy can significantly improve biochemical status of liver functions in patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma may decline and the long-term prognosis can be improved.

Objective To establish a scoring system for evaluating the severity of hepatitis B patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure and to compare the validity of this system with model for end-stage liver disease (MELD). Methods MELD score was used in hepatitis B patients with acuteon-chronic liver failure who were divided into survival group (203 cases) and death group (196 cases).Seven clinical relative indices, including prothrombin activity, serum creatinine, hepatic encephalopathy, accompanying infections, serum total bilirubin, the dimension of liver, the amount of ascites, were selected for evaluating the severity. Each index was graded with 1 to 4 points based on the severity. Then the total score was counted by adding up scores of each index. T test and area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were used to evaluate the difference and similarity of the two systems. Results According to the new scoring system, the total score was 8. 07±3. 14 in the survival group and 16. 91 ±3. 54 in the death group. There was a statistically significant difference between these two groups (t = 26.125. P<0.01). In 81.32% of survival patients, their scores ranged from 3.91 to 12.23, while in 81.32% of dead patients, their scores ranged from 12.23 to 21.60. The two ranges overlapped at 12.23. According to the MELD system, the total score was 26. 43 ±5. 58 in the survival group and 40. 16 ±10. 22 in the death group. The difference between the two groups was statistically different (t = 16. 566, P<0. 01). In 61.02% of survival patients, the MELD scores ranged from 21. 49 to 31. 19, while in 61. 02% of the dead patients, the MELD scores ranged from 31. 19 to 48. 94. The two ranges overlapped at 31.19. The areas under ROC of the new scoring system and MELD system were 0.960 (95% CI: 0. 944-0. 977) and 0.886 (95% C/;0. 852 - 0. 920). No overlap was found in these two 95%CJ and there was a statistically significant difference. Conclusions The new scoring system is applicable for evaluating the severity and prognosis of acute-on-chronic liver failure in hepatitis B patients. The sensitivity of this new scoring system is approximate to the MELD system.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of hepatitis B virus(HBV) re-infection after orthotopic liver transplantation(OLT)and to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of hepatitis B immunoglobulin(HBIG)combined with nucleos(t)ide analogues. Methods The study included 160 patients with HBVrelated liver diseases who underwent OLT in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from October 2003 to Augest 2007, 117 of whom were treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues before OLT;and all patients were received HBIG i. m and nucleos(t)ide analogues treatment after OLT. Preoperative data of the patients were retrospectively reviewed, and HBV re-infection was assessed prospectively. Independent t test was used to compare normally distributed data and Fisher's exact test was used for the comparison of rates among groups. Results HBV re-infection Was observed in 19 patients after OLT with a rate of 11. 88%(19/160), which was not correlated with HBV DNA loads, HBeAg and the duration of antiviral therapy before OLT(r=0.108, 0.127 and 0.033, P>0.05). Of 19 patients with HBV re-infection, 17 were treated with lamivudine after OLT, and HBV YMDD mutants were detected in 8. The YMDD positive group had a higher HBV DNA level than YMDD negative group(7.0 ± 2.0 log copies/mL vs 3.2 ± 2.5 log copies/mL, t = 3.531, P=0.003). Among above 17 patients, 12 received adefovir add-on treatment, and3 received entecavir instead of lamivadine; all achieved satisfactory responses. Conclusions Low dose of HBIG combined with long-term use of nucleos(t)ide analogues can effectively prevent HBV re-infection after OLT. HBV YMDD mutation may be the primary reason for HBV re-infection in the patients treated with lamivudine after OLT.

Objective To obtain the full-length cDNA sequences of CYP2E1,CYP2D5,ECHS1,which may be related with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,from Microtus fortis.Methods To construct Microtus fortis liver cDNA plasmid library using SMART technique,to get the purposed colonies through screening libraries by PCR,and to obtain their full-length cDNA sequences by sequencing with pBluescript II SK universal primers M13R.Results Three full-length cDNA sequences of Microtus fortis,CYP2E1,CYP2D5 and ECHS1 were obtained.The CYP2E1 cDNA was 1685 bp in length and contained a 1482 bp open reading frame(ORF) encoding a 494 amino acids.The CYP2D5 cDNA was 1690 bp in length,and contained a 1514 bp ORF encoding 504 amino acids.The ECHS1 cDNA was 1013 bp in length,and containsed an 873 bp ORF encoding 290 amino acids.Sequence analysis revealed that the identity of the three cDNA sequences and deduced amino acids among Microtus fortis,Homo sapiens,Mus musculus and Rattus norvegicus was high.Conclusion The full-length cDNA sequences of CYP2E1,CYP2D5,ECHS1 were obtained from Microtus forti,liver cDNA library.and the gene sequences have been deposited in GenBank (GQ507485,GQ507486,GQ845171),which may lay the foundation for researchies of pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Microtus fortis models.

Objective To compare genomic expression differences between androgenic complete hydatidiform mole (AnCHM) and normal first trimester villi with similar gestation weeks,and search for potential adjuvant diagnostic molecular markers.Methods Short tandem repeat (STR) detection was used to identify AnCHM,human oligonucleotide array U133 Plus 2.0 was used to measure genomic expression differences between AnCHM and normal villi,and quantitative fluorescent RT-PCR was used to verify array of several genes.Results Nine of 11 histologically diagnosed complete hydatidiform moles were found to be AnCHM by means of STR,and the other 2 were biparental complete hydatidifonn mole (BiCHM). Compared with villi,oligonueleotide array showed 279 genes (0.72%,279/38 500) were over expressed and 1710 genes (4.44%,1710/38 500) under expressed in AnCHM.Bioinformatics analysis found that differentially expressed genes were involved in multiple biological processes and pathways.Changes of imprinting genes,growth hormone genes and chorionie somatomammotropin hormone genes were especially remarkable.Conclusions Pathogenesis of AnCHM is a complex process involving multiple genes and pathways.Altered expression of imprint genes may play important roles in the process.

Objective: To study the effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides ( LBP ) on blood indexes and liver tissue morphology in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the control group, the model group, and LBP low, medium and high dose group. The rats in the model group and LBP dose groups were given 60 mg/kg alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate ( ANIT ) by gavage every three days of the experiment, and the rats in the control group were given salad oil instead of ANIT. From the third day, the rats in each dose group were given 40, 150 and 600 mg/kg LBP, and the rats in the model group were given distilled water. After four weeks, the blood and urine indexes were measured, and the morphological changes of liver tissue were observed. Results: From the third day of the experiment, the activity of rats in the model group and LBP dose groups decreased, and the color of urine changed to dark yellow. There was no abnormality in the group. In the model group, the levels of serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total bile acid ( TBA ), alkaline phosphatase ( ALP ), γ-glutamyltransferase(γ-GGT), cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase ( ALT ), aspartate aminotransferase ( AST ), white blood cell ( WBC ), percentage of granulocyte, urinary bilirubin, urinary bile acid, liver mass and liver to body ratio were higher than those in the control group, while red blood cell and percentage of lymphocyte were lower than those in the control group ( all P<0.05 ). Pathological changes of liver tissue were observed. The levels of serum TBA, ALP, γ-GGT, ALT, AST, WBC and liver to body ratio in LBP high dose group were lower than those in the model group ( all P<0.05 ). The infiltration of inflammatory cells, proliferation and expansion of bile duct, degeneration and necrosis of liver cells were alleviated. Conclusions LBP can improve the blood indexes and pathological changes of liver tissue in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis at the dosage of 600 mg/kg. Inhibition of inflammatory response and reduction of oxidative stress injury may be the mechanism for alleviating cholestatic liver injury.