Biliary atresia (BA) is one of the most serious digestive system diseases, which threatens the health of infants. Liver fibrosis is a major cause of death in children with BA. In the process of the pathogenesis of BA, virus infection can in?duce a series of immune and inflammatory reaction, result in a decrease of regulatory T cells (Treg cells) and high expression of CD14, activating a variety of inflammatory pathways and TGF-β/Smad2/3 pro-fibrogenic pathway, which produces a large number of medium damage of liver cells and bile duct cells, releases proinflammatory factor, oxygen metabolism matter and cytokines. These changes further aggravate damage of hepatobiliary system and cause the internal environment imbalance of liver parenchyma cells. The imbalance of internal environment with adaptive degeneration and necrosis in liver parenchyma cells, hepatic macrophages and gathered inflammatory cells leads to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). HSCs can be converted into fibroblast cells, and promote the process of liver fibrosis. Immune and inflammatory lesions, pro-fibrogenic pathway are the important factors in contributing to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis of biliary atresia.

Amitriptyline ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Constipation ; drug therapy ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; Gastrointestinal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Humans ; Hypnosis ; methods ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; therapy ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Research Design

Objective To investigate the expression and function of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and Smad2 in liver fibrosis of biliary atresia (BA). Methods Liver biopsy specimens were collected from autopsy (normal group, n=5), congenital biliary dilatation (CBD group, n=10), BA patients underwent Kasai procedure (early hepatic fibrosis group, n=19) and liver transplantation (transplantation group, n=11). The first three groups were collected from January 2010 to July 2014 in Tianjin Children’s Hospital, and the last group was collected from January 2013 to January 2014 in Tianjin First Central Hospital. The hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stain were used to observe the degree of liver fibrosis of four groups. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to observe expressions of TGF-β1 and Smad2 in liver tissues of these samples. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to test the quantitative mRNA of TGF-β1 and Smad2 in these samples. Results Results of HE showed that no fibrosis in autopsy group, mild fiber cell hyperplasia in CBD group, severe fibrosis in Kasai group and significant pseudolobule in transplantation group. Results of IHC showed that TGF-β1 was expressed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes, bile duct cells, lymphocytes and neutrophils. The average optical density of TGF-β1 was the highest in Kasai group compared with that of other three groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in Smad2 expression in cytoplasm of hepatocytes, bile duct cells and lymphocytes between four groups (P>0.05). Results of qRT-PCR showed that both TGF-β1 mRNA and Smad2 mRNA were the highest in early hepatic fibrosis group than those of CBD group and transplantation group (P<0.017). Conclusion In early stage of BA, TGF-β1 and Smad2 promote liver fibrosis until the formation of P-P,P-C desmosome structure. However, with BA fibrosis becomes more serious, the pro-fibrogenic function of TGF-β1 and Smad2 becomes less.

Objective To evaluate GGT in combination with B ultrasound for the diagnosis of biliary atresia (BA) infants suffering from obstructive jaundice.Methods A retrospective analysis was made on 69 sick infants including 55 BAs and 14 non-BAs as identified by intraoperative cholangiography.The preoperative laboratory GGT and ultrasound data were collected and analyzed.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy were compared.Results BA patients had significantly higher GGT than Non-BA patients (t =-4.164,P ＜ 0.05).The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and accuracy of GGT ＞ 306 U/L were 69.1％,92.9％,97.4％,43.3％,73.9％,respectively.In BA group,abnormal gallbladder was significantly associated with proadening portal vein,broadening hepatic artery compared with Non-BA patients (x2 =9.995,P ＜0.05).The accuracy of abnormal gallbladder on ultrasound was 78.3％.When two method combined for the diagnosis of BA,the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value were 92.7％,92.9％,98.1％ and 76.5％ and accuracy can reach 92.8％.Conclusions For obstructive jaundice infants with GGT ＞ 306 U/L and abdominal gallbladder ultrasound finding intraoperative cholangiography should be carried out to make definite diagnosis of BA.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of integrin αvβ8, p38 and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) proteins, which are TGF-β1 pathway related regulatory protein, in liver fibrosis of children with biliary atresia (BA). Methods Fifteen cases of BA (Kasai group) and 10 cases of congenital biliary dilatation (CBD group) were collected in Tianjin Children’s Hospital. And liver biopsy specimens were collected in Tianjin first central hospital, including 10 cases of BA children who underwent liver transplantation due to liver failure after Kasai operation (liver transplantation group). The specimens of front part of the right lobe of the liver were taken for HE and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining. The expressions ofαvβ8, p38 and ERK1/2 in liver were observed by IHC staining in three groups of liver tissues. Results HE staining showed fibroblast hyperplasia occasionally in CBD group, portal area expansion, fibrous tissue proliferation and wide spread bridging fibrosis with few pseudo lobules in Kasai group. In transplantation group, portal area was widened, the degree of fibrosis was severe and bridging fibrosis generally formed resulted in pseudo lobules widely. Imunohistochemistry showed that the expressions of αvβ8 and ERK1/2 were weakly positive, and the expression of p38 was negative in CBD group. In Kasai group, the expressions of αvβ8, p38 and ERK1/2 proteins were all strongly positive in liver cytoplasm, biliary epithelial cells and vascular endothelial cell cytoplasm. In liver transplantation group the expressions of αvβ8, p38 and ERK1/2 proteins were all strongly positive. The semi-quantitative analysis showed that the expressions levels of αvβ8, p38 and ERK1/2 were significantly higher in Kasai and liver transplantation groups than those of CBD group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in expression levels ofαvβ8, p38 and ERK1/2 between Kasai group and transplantation group (P>0.05). Conclusion The expressions ofαvβ8, p38 and ERK1/2 are gradually increased in liver of BA with the process of fibrosis, which indicate that they may be involved in
the process of BA liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the frequencies of CD4+CXCR5+T cells in the CD4+T cells of peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the effect of glucocorticoid on it.Methods Frequencies of CD4+CXCR5+T cell were analyzed by flow cytometry in 45 active,20 inactive SLE patients and 20 healthy controls.Differences between groups and the effect of glucocorticoid were analyzed.Meanwhile, the expression of CXCR5 on CDI9+B cells was analyzed. Independent sample t test was used for statistical analysis between twogroups, ANOVA was applied for data analysis between 3 groups,,nonparameterical Spearman's analysis was used for correlation analysis and repeated measurement ANOVA were used to compare the parameters before and after treatment. Results The percentage of CD4+CXCR5+ in CD4+T cells was increased in patients with SLE compared with healthy controls[(16±7)% vs (12±3)%, P＜0.01].It was increased in patients with active SLE [(18±7)%] compared with healthy controls (P＜0.05) but there was no significant difference between inactive SLE[(11±4)%] and healthy controls(P＞0.05). The percentage in patients with LN was higher than that in patients without LN, but without significant difference[(18±7)%vs (14±7)%, P=0.05 ]. The percentage of CD4+CXCR5+T cells was positively correlated with SLEDAI,the titer of ANA and level of ESR but negatively correlated with the level of C3 (P<0.05 for each).No correlation was found between duration and the levels of CRP and immunoglobulin.. The percentage in patients with high anti-dsDNA group was also higher than that of the low group, but no differences were found between anti-Sm antibody positive and negative groups neither between anti-SSA/SSB antibody positive and negative groups(P＞0.05 for each).The expression level of CXCR5 on CD19+B cells in active SLE patients was lower than that of healthy controls[(85±11)% vs (94±3)%, P＜0.05 ]. The percentages of CD4+CXCR5+T cells in 10 untreated active SLE patients were decreased at day 1,day 3 and day 7 after being treated with dexamethasone (20mg/d) when compared with those before the treatment (P＜0.05 for each), but the percentages of CD19+CXCR5+B cells had no significant change (P＞0.05 for each).Conclusion These results demonstrate that the abnormality of CD4+CXCR5+T cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Objective To explore the effect of general intervention in improving the psychological condition of healthy pregnant women. Methods Totally 96 pregnant women who made prenatal visits in our obstetrics and outpatient department were divided into the control and the intervention group stochasti-cally. The intervention group started from first prenatal visit. The general intervention measures included cognitive intervention, the behavioral intervention, family coping intervention and psychological intervention with self-designed relaxation exercises. While conventional prenatal visit, propaganda and nursing were im-plemented to the control group.Self-made general questionnaire and symptom checklist 90 (SCL-90)were used to survey and analyze the results. Results Post-natal depression and anxiety of the control group was obviously higher than that of the prenatal. The Post-natal obsessive-compulsive symptom, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, hostility, terror and bigotry in the intervention group were greatly alleviated. Com-pared with the control group, obsessive-compulsive symptom, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, hostility and terror of the intervention group were significantly different (P<0.05). The depression improved while the difference was not evidently differenL Conclusions Delivery had great influence on the psychological status of women,especially anxiety and depression. General intervention measures like psychological relax-ation exercises can improve the psychological condition of healthy pregnant women obviously,especially de-pression.

Objective To analyze the expression of purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7R) on different cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and to investigate its correlation with inflammatory cytokines in patients with SLE.Methods Flow cytometry was used to detect surface expression of P2X7R on lymphocytes,CD4+ cells,and CD19+ cell in 29 SLE patients and 28 healthy human controls to compare the difference between the SLE patients and the controls in P2X7R expression.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to detect P2X7R-related serum cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β,IL-6,tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level.T test,Wilcoxon rank sum test,Spearman's correlation analysis were used for statitical analysis.Results ① SLE patients had significantly higher expression of P2X7R on CD4+,CD8+ lymphocytes compared to controls [CD4+ cells∶ 2.21(3.55) vs 0.89(1.15),Z=-1.527,P=0.015； CD19+ cells∶ 11.53(20.01) vs 6.66 (6.27),Z=-2.091,P=0.037]； ② The levels of three cytokines in patients with SLE were significantly higher than those in control.The positive relationship between P2X7R expression in lymphocytes with the serum IL-6 level was found in SLE patients (r=0.449,P=0.015)；③ Patients with arthritis showed significantly higher expression of P2X7R on lym-phocytes compared to patients without arthritis (Z=-2.772,P=0.006).The expression of P2X7R on lymphocytes and CD19+ cell was significantly positively correlated with the SLEDAI score.Positive correlation with anti-β2GP Ⅰ in lymphocyteswas also found.Conclusion P2X7R may mediate the release of inflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of SLE,and may participate the development of arthritis,lupus nephritis and NPSLE in SLE patients.

Objective : To investigate the expression of brain expressed X-linked gene 1(Bex1) and nuclear factor-kBp65 (NF-kBp65) in tongue squamous cell carcinoma, and its significance. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of Bex1 and NF-kBp65 in 60 tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and the relationships between Bex1, NF-kBp65 and the clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients were analyzed. Results : The positive expression rate of Bex1 in TSCC was 48.3% (29/60), which was significantly lower than that in adjacent normal tissues 88.3% (53/60) (x2=22.18, P < 0.01). The positive rate of Bex1 was negatively correlated with TNM stage, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The positive rate of 63.3% (38/60) in TSCC was significantly higher than 20% (12/60) in adjacent normal tissues (x2=23.18, P < 0.01), the positive rate of NF-kBp65 was positively correlated with TNM stage, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). According to the Pearson correlation analysis results, the expression of Bex1 and NF-kBp65 in TSCC tissues was negatively correlated (r=-0.302, P=0.019). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the survival rate of Bex1 positive patients was significantly higher than that of Bex1 negative patients. Conclusion In TSCC tissues, the low positive expression rate of Bex1 and the high positive expression rate of NF-kBp65 may promote tumor invasion and metastasis, and the negative expression of Bex1 may be related to the poor prognosis of patients.