Objective To study the correlation between liver fibroindex and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after hepatectomy.Methods The clinical data of 77 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent hepatectomy at the 5th Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University from 2009 October to 2014 December were analyzed retrospectively.Using data from preoperative Fibroindex,these patients were divided into 2 groups,Group 1:Fibroindex ≤5.4,and Group 2:Fibroindex ＞5.4.The clinical pathological parameters and postoperative disease free survival rates in these groups were analyzed.The Cox ratio risk pattern analysis was used for factors correlating recurrence.Results The parameters in the 2 groups which included sex (35/0 vs 29/13),type of cirrhosis (23/12 vs 14/28),numbers of tumor (35/0 vs 26/16),maximal diameter of tumor (31/4 vs 23/19),vascular invasion status (32/3 vs 26/16),resection margin status (35/0 vs 36/6),hepatic vein/portal vein tumor thrombus status (35/0 vs 29/13),perioperative change of HBV DNA levels (23/12 vs 15/27)were correlated with postoperative recurrence,and they all showed significant differences (P ＜ 0.05).Disease free survival rate in Group 2 was lower than Group 1 (71.4％,33.7％,22.4％ vs 94.3％,46.2％,46.2％,P ＜ 0.05).The Cox regression analysis showed Fibroindex ＞ 5.4,AFP-L3％ ≥ 10％,and number of tumor ＞ 3 to be independent predictors of poor disease-free survival after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Preoperative Fibroindex ＞ 5.4 was an independent adverse predictor of poor disease-free survival.It was valuable to predict postoperative recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Objective To investigate the mouse liver blood vessel images using phase contrast X-ray imaging with synchrotron radiation. Methods 6 female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into two groups, 3 mice in each group. In one group, livers excised after hgated arteries, veins and common bile duct. In another group, iodine infused via the portal vein and drained from inferior vena cave until all the blood in the portal veins and hepatic veins was displaced. After infusion, arteries, veins and common bile duct were ligated and livers were excised. Results Blood vessel images were clearly produced by diffraction enhanced imaging. This method can discriminate vessels down to about 40 μm in diameter without contrast agent. Using a contrasting agent more details could be produced. In one liver lobe, the entire branch of the portal vein could be clearly produced by one by one phase contrast image from the main axial blood vessels of liver lobe to the nine generation of branching. Conclusions Phase contrast imaging has the advantage of good contrast and high spatial resolution. [Key wnrds] Synchrotron radiation; Phase contrast imaging; Diffraction enhanced imaging; Blood vessel; X-rays

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of total glucosides of paeony （TGP） on neurotoxicity induced by aqueous extract of Strychni Semen （SA） in mice and to explore its mechanism. MethodThirty-two male KM mice were randomly divided into normal group，SA group （19.5 mg·kg^-1），TGP group （225 mg·kg^-1），and SA+TGP group （SA 19.5 mg·kg^-1+TGP 225 mg·kg^-1）. The open field test and beam walking test were used to observe the behavioral changes in mice. Pathological changes in the Nissl bodies of the cerebral cortex were assessed through Nissl staining. The levels of malondialdehyde （MDA），glutamate （Glu） in the mouse brain tissue，and serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine （5-HT） were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Transcriptome sequencing was employed to analyze gene expression profiles in the brain tissue. Common differentially expressed genes （DEGs） underwent gene ontology （GO） and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes （KEGG） enrichment analyses. The mRNA expression levels of key targets were determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）. ResultCompared with the normal group，the SA group exhibited significant increases in side-to-side distance and average speed in the open field test，as well as increased walking time on the balance beam. The axons of cortical neurons were absent，and the levels of Glu and MDA in the brain tissue were significantly elevated （P<0.05，P<0.01），along with a notable increase in serum 5-HT levels （P<0.05）. In contrast to the SA group，the SA+TGP group significantly reduced the side-to-side distance，average speed，and balance beam walking time （P<0.05 or P<0.01）. The neuronal axons were clearly visible，and levels of 5-HT，Glu，and MDA were decreased （P<0.05，P<0.01）. Transcriptome analysis indicated that TGP could regulate the glutamate receptor，ionotropic，N-methyl-D-aspartate 2a （GRIN2A）/phospholipase C β₁ （PLCB1）/protein kinase C，gamma （PRKCG） signaling pathway. Compared with the normal group，SA significantly decreased the expression of GRIN2A，PLCB1，and PRKCG genes in the mouse brain （P<0.01），while the mRNA levels of GRIN2A and PRKCG significantly increased after TGP administration （P<0.05，P<0.01）. ConclusionSA induces significant neurotoxicity in the mouse brain，and TGP significantly alleviates SA-induced neurological damage，potentially through the GRIN2A/PLCB1/PRKCG signaling pathway.