Objective To investigate whether protease inhibitor (ulinastatin, UTI) can protect liver from ischemia-reperfusion injury in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing hepatectomy after hepatic inflow occlusion. Methods A prospective randomized control study was designed. Thirty-one HCC patients undergoing hepatectomy after hepatic inflow blood occlusion were randomly divided into the following two groups. UTI group (n=16), 1?105 units of ulinastatin was given intravenously in operation, then the dosage was continuously used twice a day up to 5 days postoperatively. Control group (n=15), the patients received other liver protective drugs. Liver function, plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and cortisol level were compared between these two groups. Results The postoperative liver function of the UTI group was significantly improved compared with the control group. For example, on the third postoperative day the aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and total bilirubin level in the UTI group were significantly lower than those in the control group, respectively (P

AIM: To investigate whether hepatocyte apoptosis is contributed to liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and the relationship between liver caspase-3 activity and hepatocyte apoptosis in cirrhotic rats. METHODS: Liver ischemia-reperfusion is induced by Pringle maneuver. The cirrhotic rats were randomized into two groups: Group A: simple hepatic blood inflow occlusion (HBIO); Group B: HBIO + inhibitor, before HBIO, ZVAD-fmk 15 mg/kg was injected via dorsal penis vein; Group C: healthy rat, simple HBIO. The ischemia time was 30 min in these groups. Serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), liver caspase-3 activity, and apoptotic hepatocytes were examined in the three groups. RESULTS: After 6 h of reperfusion, the liver caspase-3 activity was markedly elevated and reached its peak, which was statistically higher than that of before I/R ［(18.1±1.8 ) μmol*h-1*g-1 (tissue) vs (6.6±2.0) μmol*h-1*g-1 (tissue), P＜0.01］. The same change occurred in hepatocyte apoptosis between 6 h of reperfusion and before I/R (20.9%±4.9% vs 0.5%±0.3%, P＜0.01). As the reperfusion prolonged, the caspase-3 activity and apoptotic hepatocyte decreased gradually. The 7th-day survival rate was 62.5% in group A. The serum AST, liver caspase-3 activity and apoptotic hepatocytes were significantly higher in group A than those in group B and C, representing the most severe liver injury among the three groups. CONCLUSION: Hepatocyte apoptosis is the major form of cell death in liver ischemia-reperfusion injury in cirrhotic rats. Hepatoctye apoptosis induced by I/R is caspase-3 dependent, and inhibiting caspase-3 can alleviate liver injury. The caspase-3 dependent hepatocyte apoptosis is highly contributed to the pathological phenomenon that the ischemic sensitivity of cirrhotic liver is higher than normal liver.

AIM: To investigate whether hepatocyte apoptosis is contributed to liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and the relationship between liver caspase-3 activity and hepatocyte apoptosis in cirrhotic rats. METHODS: Liver ischemia-reperfusion is induced by Pringle maneuver. The cirrhotic rats were randomized into two groups: Group A: simple hepatic blood inflow occlusion (HBIO); Group B: HBIO + inhibitor, before HBIO, ZVAD-fmk 15 mg/kg was injected via dorsal penis vein; Group C: healthy rat, simple HBIO. The ischemia time was 30 min in these groups. Serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), liver caspase-3 activity, and apoptotic hepatocytes were examined in the three groups. RESULTS: After 6 h of reperfusion, the liver caspase-3 activity was markedly elevated and reached its peak, which was statistically higher than that of before I/R [(18.1?1.8 ) ?mol?h -1 ?g -1 (tissue) vs (6.6?2.0) ?mol?h -1 ?g -1 (tissue), P

AIM: To investigate the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on hepatic ischemia reperfusion(I/R) injury in cirrhotic rats and its possible mechanism. METHODS: Hepatic I/R was induced by Pringle maneuver. The cirrhotic rats were randomized into three groups: Group A: before 30 min of ischemia, a short period of 5 min ischemia and 5 min reperfusion were given; Group B: before 30 min of ischemia, a short period of 10 min ischemia and 10 min of reperfusion were given; Group C: 30 min ischemia only. The serum alanine transferase (ALT), hepatic Fas mRNA, caspase 3 activity and hepatocyte apoptosis were analyzed. RESULTS: The 7 day survival rate in the group A and B were 100%, respectively. However, it was only 62.5% in the group C. After 6 h of reperfusion, the ALT levels in both group A and B were significantly lower than that of in group C, P

Objective To evaluate the long-term efficacy of modified loop choledochojejunostomy (MLC). Methods The clinical data of 259 patients who had underwent choledochojejunostomy in First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from January 2000 to December 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Of all the patients, 130 underwent MLC (MLC group) and 129 underwent Roux-en-Y choledochojejunostemy (RYC, RYC group). The changes in incidence of cholangitis and liver function between the 2 groups were compared. All the data were analyzed by t test, chi-square test or Fisher exact probability. Results The levels of alaninetransa-minase and alkaline phosphomonoesterase were (63±42) U/L and (147±147) U/L in MLC group, and (84±52)U/L and (256±201)U/L in RYC group, with statistical difference between the 2 groups (t=1.634, 1.655, P>0.05). The level of gamma-glutamyl transferase in MLC group was (116±91)U/L, which was signifieandy lower than (169±96)U/L in RYC group (t=2.461, P<0.05). Three patients (2.3%) in MLC group and 9 (7.0%) in RYC group suffered from acute cholangitis after operation, with no statistical difference in the incidence between the 2 groups (P>0.05). Of the 12 patients with acute cholangids, 1 in MLC group and 7 in RYC group were hospitalized, with statistical difference between the 2 groups (P<0.05). Conclusions The incidence of acute cholangitis in patients who underwent MLC is comparable to that of RYC. However, the procedure of MLC is simpler than RYC, and patients have milder symptom and lesser frequency of reflux cholangitis onset after MLC.

Objective: To explore the effect of the fat-1 gene encoding n-3 fatty acid desaturase on the proliferation and apoptosis of human colon cancer cell line HT-29 and to explore its value in the gene therapy for colorectal cancer. Methods: The fat-1 gene was cloned into adenovirus shuttle vector pAd-CMV and then recombinated with backbone vector to con-struct a recombinant adenoviral vector pAd.GFP.fat1. The vector was transfected into 293 cells to get the recombinant virus infected human colon cancer cell line HT-29. Total RNA of the cells was analyzed by Northern blot. The effect of fat-1 gene on the proliferation and apoptosis of the infected cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The content of n-6PUFAs/n-3PUFAs was analyzed by Gas Chromatography. The anti-cancer effect of fat-1 gene was studied on HT-29 xenografts in nude mice in vivo. Results: The high titer recombinant virus was obtained. Fat-1 gene can be highly expressed in human colon cancer call line HT-29. Compared with that of the control cells (Ad.GFP), proliferation of HT-29 cells was inhibited by fat-1 gene. Fat-1 gene can lower the ratio of n-6/n-3PUFAs. The growth of tumors in nude mice is also inhibited by fat-1 gene. Conclu-sion: Fat-1 gene is of great value in the gene therapy for colorectal cancer.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) in children. Methods The clinical data of 67 children with PSVT were analyzed retrospectively, and the therapeutic effects of different treatments were compared. Results The clinical manifestations of infants were paleness, shortness of breath, irritability and sweating, and children showed chest tightness, palpitations, abdominal discomfort and fatigue. The curative effect of electric cardioversion, transesophageal atrial pacing, physical therapy, and drug therapy was statistically different (P<0.05), The different cardioversion rates of them were observed for the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. The cardioversion rate of transesophageal atrial pacing, was the highest, and the rate of physical therapy was the lowest. There was no significant difference in the cardioversion rate between propafenone, digoxin and amiodarone. Conclusion The clinical manifestations of PSVT in infants are atypical and easily to be ignored. There are many methods for treatment of PSVT. The vagus nerve can be stimulated first, and, if no response, either drugs or electric cardioversion and transesophageal atrial pacing can be used. The cardioversion rate of transesophageal atrial pacing is higher. The drug effectiveness for the treatment of PSVT depends on many factors, and our choice of medication varies from person to person.

AIM:To investigate the distribution and clonality of TCR V? subfamily T cells in cord blood. METHODS: The CDR3 of TCR V? 24 subfamily genes were amplified in mononuclear cells from 13 cases of cord blood. To observe the usage of TCR V? repertoire, the PCR products were further labeled with fluorescent and analyzed by genescan technique for the CDR3 size, to evaluate clonality of the detectable TCR V? T cells. Peripheral bloods from 10 cases of normal individuals and T cell line Molt-4 and Jurkat served as controls. RESULTS: Only 38.78%?16 26% of 24 V? subfamily T cell were selectively expressed in cord blood, predominantly in V? 3, 5, 8, 9 and 13, whereas all 24 V? subfamilies could be detected in T cells from peripheral blood of normal individuals. Genescan analysis showed that all PCR products of TCR V? subfamilies from cord blood or normal individual peripheral blood displayed multi-peaks. CONCLUSION: Some TCR V? subfamily T cells were absent in cord blood. All TCR V? subfamily T cells in cord blood displayed polyclonality.

AIM: To analyze the lovastatin-induced differential gene expression in HepG2 cells using a cDNA microarray assay. METHODS: Total RNA was extracted from the lovastatin-treated HepG2 cells and control group. cDNA was synthesized from RNA with Cy3/Cy5-labelled dCTP. Then the hybridization was conducted. The result was analyzed using Imagene and Genespring software. RT-PCR was carried to confirm the hybridization results. RESULTS: 30 genes were up-regulated while 11 genes were down-regulated in lovastatin-treated HepG2 cells, involved in some major functional areas including signal transduction, cell cycle regulation, tumor immunity, and so on. CONCLUSION: The analysis of differentially expressed genes in lovastatin-treated HepG2 cells is helpful to explore the mechanism of the anti-tumor activity of statins.

AIM: To analyze T cell clonality in patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). METHODS: The complementarity determining region 3 (CDR3) size of 24 T cell antigen receptor variable β (TCR Vβ) region gene was analyzed in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples from 6 T-ALL cases and 10 normal individuals by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The PCR products were further studied by genescan and sequencing analysis. RESULTS: Some TCR Vβ subfamily T cells display mono- or oligoclonal expansions in 3 cases of T-ALL, predominantly in Vβ2, Vβ3, Vβ6, Vβ9, Vβ21 or Vβ24, respectively. Polyclonal expansions of T cells were found in the other three cases, which could also be found in normal samples. CONCLUSION: A part of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells may arise from a clonal expansion of TCR Vβ subfamily T cell. This method may be useful for the detection of minimal residual disease in clinical study of the disease.