Cytogenetics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; genetics

The farnesoid X receptor(FXR)is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily.It was studied extensively as a receptor for bile acids at first and found to control the metabolism of bile acids.In the past several years,FXR has been found that besides maintaining the homeostasis of bile acids,it also regulates the metabolism of lipid and carbohydrate,protects hepatocytes,promotes hepatic regeneration,inhibits hepatic fibrosis,regulates intestinal bacterial growth,etc.This article reviews the study progression of FXR,especially in the new discovery of FXR functions.

Objective To determine whether platelet activation is associated with active ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods Platelet aggregability was assessed by means of SH 93 intelligent blood aggregation and coagulation tester; P selectin and thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2) were detected by means of ELISA method in patients with UC as well as in controls, including healthy volunteers and patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Colonoscopy and biopsy were performed in 43 patients with UC. Results Increased circulating platelet aggregability was detected in active ulcerative colitis compared with IBS and healthy controls ( P

Objective To establish a new Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) infection model which is more stable and to find the relationship between H. ~pylori infection and gastric carcinogenesis induced by nitrosourea. Methods A total of 94 Balb/c mice were divided into four groups. Two groups of mice were inoculated with H.pylori, among which one group of mice received continuous N-methyl-N-nitrosourea(MNU) administration via the drinking water. The third group were only given MNU, and the forth as control. After 36 weeks, all the mice were ~sacrificed . The infection of H.pylori in gastric mucosa of the mice was analyzed by rapid urease test, ~Giemsa staining and culture. The histopathological changes in the gastric mucosa of mice were assessed in ~H-E stained sections. Results The total infection rate of H.~pylori in Balb/c mice was 93.9%. All the mice in group with H.pylori infection alone had chronic gastritis, in which 20.0% was atrophic gastritis. In the group of mice with H.pylori infection and MNU intake, all had chronic gastritis, and among them 23.1% had atrophic gastritis, 42.3% corpus dysplasia and 57.7% antrum dysplasia. In this group, two mice (7.1%) with low differentiated adenocarcinoma were found. Compared with control group, two groups with H. ~pylori infection only and H. ~pylori plus MNU intake reached statistical difference in the view of inflammatory latitude (P

Objective To investigate the relationship between HBV-DNA level during the course and progress tO cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.Methods From 2001 to 2007,a total of 239 chronic hepatitis B patients confirmed by liver biopsy were followed up for a median time of 28 months.HBV-DNA level was measured at baseline and end point.Results Those who progressed to cirrhosis were older and with higher HBV-DNA levels at the end point.Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the higher the HBV-DNA level at end point,the higher the risk to cirrhosis(X2=11.736,P=0.019).There was no difference between patients with and without cirrhosis at baseline of HBV-DNA level(P=0.531).The Cox regression indicated that the independent risk factors of cirrhosis were as followings:HBV-DNA level at the end point,stage of fibrosis,hepatitis B e antigen negative and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase at entry with relative risk ratio of 1.898,1.918,8.976 and 1.006,respectively.Conclusion HBV-DNA level is correlated with progress to cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Objective To study the expressing status of antisense tissue inhibitor of metalloproteina se-1(TIMP-1) in hepatic stellate cells (HSC) constructed in vitro, and to eval u ate the effects on the production of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagens secreted by activated rat HSC. Methods HSC were extracted from normal rat liver by pronase and co llagenase digestion and purified by centrifugal elutriation, and were cultured pla stic until they were activated to a myofibroblastic phenotype after 7-10 days. RT-nest-PCR and gene recombinant techniques were used to construct the rat ant isense TIMP-1 expression plasmid which can express in eukaryotic cells, and seg uenced after being counstructed. The expressing plasmid and the pcDNA3 empty pla smid were transfected into HSC by Effectene reagent separately. The cells were sel ected after growing in DMEM containing 400 ?g/ml G418 for 3 to 4 weeks. Exp ression of TIMP-1 in HSC was d etermined by Northern blot and Western blot. We tested the interstitial collagen ase activity in culture media with FITC-labled type Ⅰ collagen as substrate. U ltimately, we quantified the typeⅠ and type Ⅲ collagen in HSC by Wester n blot. Results The exogenous antisense TIMP-1 recombinant plasmid could block the expression of TIMP-1 greatly, while there were not the same outcome i n pcDNA3 empty plasmid g roup and non-transfecting control group. The ratio of TIMP-1/GAPDH was 0.67, 2 .41 and 2.97 respectively at mRNA level( P

Objective To investigate the role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in sinusoidal capillarization in liver cirrhotic rats. Methods The SD rats were intraperitoneally injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) twice a week for 8 weeks to induce liver cirrhosis. The rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (n= 10), model control group (n= 15) and rofecoxib treated group (received 10 mg/kg of rofecoxib daily, n = 15). Liver histopathology was examined by light microscopy, and sinusoidal ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, the level of basement membrane proteins (collagen type Ⅳ, laminin) and their localizations in liver were determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively, and the microvessel density was detected following vWF (yon Willebrand factor) immunolabeling on liver tissue sections. Results Fibrotic areas were reduced in rofecoxib treated group compared with that in model group (30.7±8.9 vs 23.5±6.5,P<0. 05). The light and electron microscopy showed that the pathologic changes including loss or reduction in number of sinusoidal endothelial fenestrate, the accumulation of extracellular matrix in the Disse's space and development of subendothelial basal lamina (basement membrane formation) were more severe in model group than those in rofecoxib treated group. Compared with model group, administration of rofecoxib resulted in significant decrease in microvessel density (11.3 ± 1.6 vs. 6.4 ±0. 7, P<0. 01). Rofecoxib could significantly decrease the expression of type Ⅳ collagen and laminin at protein levels (3.0±0.5 and 3.0±0.5, respectively) when compared with model group (3.8±0.4 and 3.7±0. 5, respectively). Conclusion The results indicate that early administration of rofecoxib may reduce sinusoidal capillarization.

Objective To explore the method to reconstruct finger tip. Methods Transplanted the big toe tip to reconstruct the finger tip and anastomosed the artery and nerve of big toe with the artery and nerve of the finger.The venae digitales plantares of finger,toe and venae digitales volares of finger and toe were anastomosed with microsurgery. Results All the reconstituted finger tips were successful.The shape of the reconstituted finger tips were near to the normal finger tip.The shape of the big toes had only a little change. Conclusion Use the big toe tip can reconstruct a beautiful finger tip look like the normal finger.

Objective To investigate the role of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX 2) in the forming of portal hypertension and whether a selective COX 2 inhibitor can reduce the portal hypertension or not. Methods Cirrhotic Sprague Dawley rat was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) intraperitoneally for 8 weeks. The animals were divided into three groups: 10 normal rats served as control group; the other 15 rats, which received CCl 4 intraperitoneally twice a week and rofecoxib (10 mg/kg) by gavages daily, served as treatment group; another 15 rats, which were induced cirrhosis by CCl 4 but given placebo (saline solution ) instead of rofecoxib, served as placebo group. After 8 weeks of CCl 4 induction, portal pressure was measured, and the levels of thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2), and prostaglandin (PG)E 2 in the liver tissues were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Furthermore, liver histopathological analysis was performed in H E and Masson's trichrome staining sections. Results Portal pressure in the rats of rofecoxib group was significantly decreased compared to that in the placebo group [(11.95?1.05) mm Hg vs. (13.45?1.15) mm Hg; P

Objective To observe the effects of recombinant plasmid of rat's interstitial collagenase on experimental liver fibrosis. Methods We constructed the recombinant plasmid of rat's interstitial collagenase fused Flag peptide which can be expressed in eucaryotic cells. After bound to galactose terminal glyco poly L lysine(G PLL), we transferred the recombinant plasmid to the rat's fibrotic liver in vivo by intravenous injection, then observed the effects of the plasmid on the fibrotic liver by RT PCR, immunohistochemistry and the observation of pathology. Results The recombinant plasmid of interstitial collagenase could be expressed in rat liver, the expression of the plasmid could increase the degradation of type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen in the rat's fibrotic liver compared with fibrotic modal group ( P 0.05). Conclusion The recombinant plasmid of interstitial collagenase have some effects on liver fibrosis, but this effects is limited.