Objective To evaluate the correlation between transient elastrography (TE) and liver function Child-Pugh grade in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods The clinical data of 120 patients with liver cirrhosis were retrospectively analyzed. Among the patients, hepatitis-B virus-related cirrhosis was in 103 cases, and 57 patients had ascites. The liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was measured by FibroScan. The liver function Child-Pugh grade was evaluated by liver function Child-Pugh system score. The LSM was compared in patients with different liver function Child-Pugh grade. Results Among the 120 patients with liver cirrhosis, Child-Pugh A grade was in 39 cases, Child-Pugh B grade in 28 cases, and Child-Pugh C grade in 53 cases. The LSM in Child-Pugh B grade patients and C grade patients were significantly higher than that in Child-Pugh A grade patients: (20.2 ± 1.1) and (30.8 ± 1.2) kPa vs. (15.7 ± 1.4) kPa, the LSM in Child-Pugh C grade patients was significantly higher than that in Child-Pugh B grade patients, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). Among the 103 patients with hepatitis-B virus-related cirrhosis, Child-Pugh A grade was in 33 cases, Child-Pugh B grade in 24 cases, and Child-Pugh C grade in 46 cases. The LSM in Child-Pugh B grade patients and C grade patients were significantly higher than that in Child-Pugh A grade patients: (18.7 ± 0.9) and (26.9 ± 0.6) kPa vs. (12.6 ± 1.7) kPa, the LSM in Child-Pugh C grade patients was significantly higher than that in Child-Pugh B grade patients, and there were statistical difference (P<0.05). Among the 57 patients associated ascites, Child-Pugh B grade was in 11 cases, and Child-Pugh C grade in 46 cases. The LSM in Child-Pugh C grade patients was significantly higher than that in Child-Pugh B grade patients:(42.3 ± 1.4) kPa vs. (35.1 ± 1.0) kPa, and there was statistical difference (P<0.05). Among the 103 patients with hepatitis-B virus-related cirrhosis, associated ascites was in 49 cases, Child-Pugh B grade was in 10 cases, and Child-Pugh C grade in 39 cases. The LSM in Child-Pugh C grade patients was significantly higher than that in Child-Pugh B grade patients: (40.6 ± 0.9) kPa vs. (33.2 ± 1.5) kPa, and there was statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusions The LSM values of patients with liver cirrhosis are higher with the elevation of liver function Child-Pugh grade. There is a correlation between LSM values and Child-Pugh scores. The LSM can partly evaluate the severity of liver disease in patients with liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the effect of miRNA-200b-specific inhibitor on hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) activation,proliferation,and extracellular matrix production.Methods The miRNA-200b-specific inhibitors were designed,synthesized,and transfected into HSCs with lipofectamine 2000.The supernatant and HSCs were collected after incubation for 48 h.The expression of miR-200b was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).The expression ofα-smooth muscle actin (oα-SMA) protein in HSCs was detected by Western blotting.The cell proliferation was assayed by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method.Contents of type Ⅲ procollagen and hyaluronic acid in supernatant were determined by radioimmunoassay.Results Compared to the control group,miRNA-200b expression was decreased in the miRNA-200b inhibitor group by 82％ (P ＜ 0.01),α-SMA protein expression was reduced in the miRNA-200b inhibitor group by (19 ± 3) ％ (P ＜ 0.05),and the activity of HSCs proliferation was reduced by(33 ± 5)％ (P ＜0.01),and the contents of type Ⅲ procollagen and hyaluronic acid in supernatant were reduced in miRNA-200b inhibitor group by (35 ± 4)％ and (31 ± 2)％,respectively(P ＜0.01).Conclusions The miRNA-200b-specific inhibitor could significantly reduce the expression of miRNA-200b,and inhibit HSC proliferation,activation,and extracellular matrix production.

Objective To investigate the effect of microRNA-21 (miR-21) antisense oligonucleoti-de on collagen synthesis in the rat hepatic satellite cells ( HSCs) .Methods Rat hepatic stellate cells were isolated and cultured; the miR-21 antisense oligonucleotide was transfected into HSCs with lipofectamine 2000;after incubation 48 h, the HSCs were collected.The expression of miR-21 was detected with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) , andα-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein in HSCs with Western blot.The cell proliferation was assayed with methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium ( MTT) method.Re-sults Compared to scrambled control group, the expression of miR-21 was reduced by 76%( P <0.01), the proliferation activity of HSCs was reduced by(26 ±3)%( P <0.01), the expressions of type I and III collagen proteins were reduced by(61 ±7)%and (48 ±6)%( P <0.01).Conclusions The miR-21 an-tisense oligonucleotide could reduce significantly the expression of miR-21, and inhibit HSC proliferation and extracellular matrix production.

Objective To investigate the effect of MicroRNA-9 (miR-9) on cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs),and to explore the potential mechanism.Methods HSC-T6 cells were cultured and transfected with miR-9 mimics with lipofectamine 2000.After incubation 48 h,the cells were collected and total proteins and RNAs were extracted.The expression of miR-9 was detected by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).The protein expression of type Ⅰ collagen and type Ⅲ collagen were measured by Western blot.The methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) method was used to asses the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells.The expression of transforming growth factor-β1 receptor 2 (TGFBR2) was detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot.Results Compared to the control group,miR-9 expression in HSCs was increased in the miR-9 mimics group (P ＜ 0.05),type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen protein expression was reduced by (44 ± 2) ％ and (50 ± 3) ％ (P ＜ 0.01),respectively.The proliferation activity of HSCs was decreased by (48 ± 4)％ (P ＜ 0.05).The expression of TGFBR2 was inhibited in the miR-9 mimics group.Conclusions Upregulation of miR-9 plays a role on suppressing cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in HSCs.This process might be mediated by downregulation of TGFBR2.

Objective To study the diagnostic value of common inflammatory markers in patients with infectious diseases. Methods One hundred sepsis patients, 100 viral infection patients,100 pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 100 gonorrhea patients were analyzed retrospectively. The contents of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (HP), ceruloplasmin (CER), α1-acid glycoprotein (α1-AAG), α1-antitrypsin (α1-AAT), white blood cell count (WBC) and erythrocyte sedimetation rate (ESR) were measured. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC curve), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, Youden's index,positive and negative likelihood ratios and total coincidence rate were calculated respectively. Results The area under the ROC curve, sensitivity, specificity, Youden's index and positive likelihood ratios,positive predictive value and total coincidence rate of PCT in sepsis patients were 0. 895, 0.84, 0.92,0.76, 10.50, 0.91 and 0.88, respectively, which were superior to CRP, HP, CER, α1-AAG, α1-AAT, WBC and ESR. Conclusions PCT is a better inflammatory reactive parameter than other parameters currently applied in practice and may serve as a rapid and sensitive test in the early stage of severe bacterial infections.

Objective To investigate the effect of TGFβ1 siRNA on hepatic satellite cells (HSCs) activation, proliferation and extracellular matrix production. Methods The TGFβ1, siRNA plasmid was transfected into HSCs with Lipofectamine 2000. The supernatant and HSCs were collected after incubation for 72h. The expression of TGFβ1, and a-SMA protein in HSCs was detected by. Western blotting. The expression of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The cell proliferation was assayed by MTT method. Contents of typeⅣ collagen and hyaluronic acid in supernatant were determined by radioimmuno-assay.Results Compared with scrambled control group, the TGFβ1, and a-SMA protein expression,the activity of HSCs proliferation,the expression of typeⅠ and Ⅲ collagen mRNA,and the contents of type Ⅳ collagen and hyaluronic acid in supernatant were reduced in TGFβ1, siRNA group by (79±5)%,(55±4)%, (25±4)% ,(63±6)% ,(57±4)% ,(53±8)% ,(46±8)% ( P<0.01),respectively.Conclusion TGFβ1, siRNA could significantly reduce the expression of TGFβ1,inhibited HSC activation,proliferation and extracellular matrix production.

Objective To estimate the clinical effect of fuzhenghuayu capsule in treatment of early hepatocirrhosis by liver instantaneous elastic imaging. Methods Eighty patients with early hepatocirrhosis were divided into experiment group and control group according to the treatment method with 40 cases each. All the patients in 2 groups were given the same antiviral treatment with entecavir dispersible tablets, and the patients in experiment group combined with fuzhenghuayu capsule. All treatment lasted for 6 months. The liver stiffness measurement (LSM) was measured before treatment and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment by liver instantaneous elasticity imaging. The serum hyaluronic acid was measured, and the Child-Pugh score was evaluated at the same time. Results The LSM, hyaluronic acid and Child-Pugh scores 6 months after treatment in experiment group were significantly lower than those in control group:(19.3 ± 0.9) kPa vs. (29.6 ± 1.3) kPa, (215.6 ± 59.3)μg/L vs. (344.4 ± 39.6)μg/L and (2.1 ± 1.3) scores vs. (3.9 ± 0.9) scores, and there were statistical differences (P<0.05). No obvious adverse reactions related to the use of fuzhenghuayu capsule were found during the course of treatment. Conclusions Liver instantaneous elasticity imaging can be used to evaluate and monitor early hepatocirrhosis. Fuzhenghuayu capsule on patients with early hepatocirrhosis has a certain degree of curative effect.

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women, and metastasis is the main cause of death in breast cancer patients. Circular RNA (circRNA) is prevalent, abundant in organisms, and are characterized by their stable structure, conserved sequences, and specific expression. CircRNA have emerged as crucial regulators in diverse human cancers including breast cancer. Increasing evidence suggests that circRNA are aberrantly expressed in tissues and cell lines of breast cancer and involved in breast cancer metastasis. However, systematic knowledge regarding circRNA involvement in metastatic breast cancer remains unclear. This review outline functional circRNA associated with breast cancer metastasis and discuss their underlying mechanisms, providing new ideas for early prediction, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer metastasis in the future.