Objective To explore the effects of total flavonoids from portulaca against liver fibrosis in rats by detecting TGF-β1 gene and protein expressions. Methods A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, model control, glucyrrhizin aqueous,and total flavonoids groups,with 12 rats in each group. Except those in the normal control group, rats in other groups were intraperitoneally injected with 2 mL · kg-1 · d-1 carbon tetrachloride to induce liver fibrosis. Rats in glucyrrhizin aqueous group and total flavonoids ones were intragastrically administered with 15. 75 mg · kg-1 of glycyrrhizin aqueous solution or 35. 6 mg·kg-1 of total flavonoids aqueous solution,respectively. The normal and model control groups were administered with equal volume of aqueous solution. Thirty days later,rats were sacrificed by anesthesia. Livers were obtained to detect TGF-β1 gene and protein expressions by RT-PCR and Western-Blot. Results Relative gene expression of TGF-β1 in the normal control,model control,glucyrrhizin aqueous and flavonoids groups was 0. 725±0. 130,7. 493±1. 410,3. 016±1. 240,and 2. 668±1. 150,respectively. Total flavonoids from portulaca significantly reduced the gene (P<0. 01) and protein (P<0. 01) expressions of TGF-β1 . Conclusion Efficacy of total flavonoids from portulaca in treating hepatic fibrosis may be related to decreased TGF-β1 expression in rats.

With the increasing demand for liver transplantation,some previously abandoned donors,called marginal donor,started to be involved in clinical liver transplantation,which raises higher requirement on the organ preservation methods.Normothermic perfusion is regarded to be superior to the currently adopted hypothermic perfusion,and plays an important role in the organ preservation of marginal donors.This review will summarize the clinical applications of liver normothermic perfusion in transplantation and repair,as well as its roles in basic research.

Objective To investigate the distribution of Malassezia species in lesional and non-lesion-al sites of patients with pityriasis versicolor(PV),species-variation in different anatomic sites and in lesions with different pigmentation,and the relationship between various Malassezia species and severity and age of PV patients.Methods A total of629skin specimens taken by sterile adhesive tape from the lesions and non-lesional skin were inoculated on media containing rapeseed oil in113patients with PV.Isolated colonies were identified to species based on physiological and morphological characteristics.Results The isolation rates of Malassezia spp.were not significantly different from both lesions and corresponding non-lesional skin.Among non-lesional sites,the isolation rate was significantly higher in forehead and trunk than that in upper and lower extremities.Five species were identified out of565strains obtained from the patients,including M.sympodialis(44.78%),M.furfur(32.94%),M.globosa(11.68%),M.obtusa(5.84%)and M.restricta(4.76%).Two dif-ferent species were isolated simultaneously from27sites.There was no obvious difference in species distribu-tion patterns between lesions and non-lesional sites.M.restricta was isolated from forehead exclusively.Species-variation was closely linked to lesions with different pigmentation and the age of patients,not to the severity of disease.Conclusion There is neither statistical difference of Malassezia isolation rate and species distribution between lesions and non-lesional skin,nor correlation between disease severity and species-varia-tion.The anatomic sites,the diversity of pigmentation pattern and the age of patients seem to be associated with different Malassezia species.

Objective To investigate SLC25A13gene mutation in neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by citrin defi-ciency (NICCD). Method A total of 17 children with NICCD were collected. PCR-RFLP method was used to analyze the most common eight mutations of SLC25A13 gene in Chinese populations and results were analyzed together with routine laboratory examinations. Results In the 17 NICCD patients, there were six cases of homozygous mutation, three cases of compound heterozy-gous mutation and eight cases of single heterozygous mutation in SLC25A13 gene. Three kinds of mutations detected were 851del4 (73.1%), 1638ins23 (11.5%) and IVS6+5G>A (15.4%). The seventeen cases showed classical NICCD symptoms of low birth weight, pathological jaundice. And laboratory data suggested liver dysfunction, hyperbilirubinemia, hyperbileacidemia, hy-poproteinemia, hypoglycemia, coagulation disorders, hyperlactacidemia and hyperammonemia. Conclusions 851del4, 1638ins23 and IVS6+5G>A are hot spots of SLC25A13 gene mutation in Chinese populations. PCR-RFLP is a rapid, convenient and reliable technology for NICCD molecular diagnosis.

Objective The combination of vasopressin and epinephrine has long been thought to be more effective then epinephrine alone in cardiopulrnonary resuscitation (CPR), evidence is not enough to make such a clinical recommendation. This meta-analysis compared the efficacy of vasopressin and epinephrine used together versus epinephrine alone in cardiac arrest (ca) in order to verify the truth. Method MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for the data of randomized trials in comparing the results of co-administration of vasopressin and epinephrine with epinephrine alone in adults with cardiac arrest. The primary outcome was the restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Results Six randomized trials in 485 articles were analyzed. We failed to get the results supporting the effectiveness of this combination therapy, except for the rate of 24 hours survival (OR: 2.99,95%CI:1.43 ~ 6.28). No evidence supported that vasopressin combined with epinephrine was better than epinephrine alone in ROSC. Conclusions This systematic review indicates the combination of vasopressin and epinephrine is better for the rate of 24 hpurs survival in only 122 patients. Further investigation is needed to support the use of combination therapy for cardiac arrest.

Objective To evaluate the effect of electric vagal stimulation on postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged rats.Methods Thirty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes,aged 18-20 months,weighing 390-550 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=10 each) using a random number table:control group (group C),surgery group (group S),and electric vagal stimulation group (group V).Incision of the right carotid sheath was performed,and the vagal nerve was exposed after anesthesia in S and V groups.The right vagus nerve was stimulated for 30 min with continuous electric rectangular pulses (1 ms,10 Hz,1-2 V) after surgery in group V.The Morris water maze place navigation test was performed at 4,3,2 and 1 days before surgery and 2 days after surgery.The cognitive function was assessed using spatial probe and open field tests conducted at 2 days after surgery.The escape latency,the number of crossing the platform,the number of crossing the grid,the number of standing on the back legs,and the time animals spent in the central square were recorded.After the end of behavioral testing,venous blood samples were collected from the jugular vein for determination of concentrations of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α),interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results Compared with group C,the number of crossing the platform,the number of crossing the grid,and the number of standing on the back legs were significantly decreased,the escape latency and the time animals spent in the central square were significantly prolonged,and the concentrations of serum TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased at 2 days after surgery in group S (P＜0.05).Compared with group S,the number of crossing the platform,the number of crossing the grid,and the number of standing on the back legs were significantly increased,the escape latency and the time animals spent in the central square were significantly shortened,and the concentrations of serum TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly decreased at 2 days after surgery in group V (P＜0.05).Conclusion Electric vagal stimulation can improve the postoperative cognitive dysfunction in aged rats.

AIM:To observe the characterization in neural cells derived from the hippocampus of embryonic rats and to examine the effect of myelin-associated glycoprotein(MAG) on the proliferation,differentiation and neurite growth of neural stem cells(NSCs).METHODS:The hippocampus cells of embryonic rats were isolated and cultured in vitro.The expressions of nestin and doublecortin,the marks of NSCs,were observed by immunocytochemical method.The rate of proliferating cells was examined by BrdU immunocytochemistry.The average neuronal neurite length and the percentage of differentiated neurons were detected by immunocytochemistry staining.RESULTS:The hippocampus cells of 16 days old embryonic rats had the characteristics of NSCs.The percentage of differentiated neurons(?-tubulin Ⅲ-positive cells) was 18.17%?2.79% and the average neuronal neurite length was(136.27?33.66)?m,seven days after the differentiation initiated in vitro in control group.After NSCs were treated with MAG-Fc(200 ?g/L),the percentage of differentiated neurons and the average neurite length were decreased,respectively,to 10.05%?3.42%(P0.05).CONCLUSION:MAG-Fc inhibits the differentiation and neurite growth of the NSCs,but has no effect on the proliferation.

Objective To investigate the variation of biomarker of coagulation, anti-coagulation, fibrinolysis in elderly critical patients and find out whether they are related to the disease severity. Methods Sixty-seven patients were no less than 60 years old. Eligible criteria: coincidence with the diagnostic criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and APACHE Ⅱ score was no less than 10 scores. Blood sample was drawn from the venous for the test of biomarker (APTT, PT, TT, D-D, Fib, AT-Ⅲ , PC, PAI-1). According to the existent status,all the patients were divided into two groups:survival group (43 cases) and death group(24 cases) ,meanwhile,according to the diagnostic criteria of MODSE,all the patients were divided into MODSE group (30 cases) and non-MODSE group (37 cases). Results There were significant differences in APACHE Ⅱ score between MODSE group and non-MODSE group, survival group and death group [(25.83 ± 1.19) scores vs(18.1±20.73) scores and(18.81±0.72) scores vs(26.50 ± 1.42) scores](P <0.01). The PT and D-D in MODSE group anti death group were higher than those in non-MODSE group and survival group, the differences were significant (P <0.05),while the activity of AT-Ⅲand PC in MODSE group and death group were lower than those in non-MODSE group and survival group, the differences were significant (P <0.05). The PT,D-D and PAI-1 were positively correlated to APACHE Ⅱ score (related coefficients were 0.328, 0.308, 0.335,P <0.05). The AT-Ⅲ and PC were negatively correlated to APACHE Ⅱ score (related coefficients were -0.469, -0.559,P <0.01). Conclusions The abnormality of eoagnlation-fibfinolysis system exists in elderly critical patients. The extended PT, elevated D-D and PAI-1 ,descended PC and AT-Ⅲ are the hints of disease severity and poor prognosis.

Objective To investigate brain function alteration in early onset schizophrenia by amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) based on resting-state functional MRI (fMRI). Method Twenty patients with early on?set schizophrenia and 20 sex, age, education years matched healthy controls underwent resting-state functional MRI. The difference in ALFF was compared between patients and controls. Result Compared with control group, the ALFF values in patient group increased in the left frontal gyrus, precuneus, cingulate cortex, occipital lobe, parahippocampal gyrus and calcarine (P<0.05, AlphaSim revised), while decreased in the right superior temporal lobe and the posterior lobe of cerebellum (P<0.05, AlphaSim revised). Conclusion There are abnormal ALFF in multiple regions in early onset schizo?phrenia, suggesting that early onset schizophrenia may have altered in resting-state brain activity.

Objective To explore the clinical manifestations and the characteristics of neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis caused by Citrin deficiency(NICCD)in Hubei province. Methods The biochemical indicators including liver function,blood lipid,lactic acid,blood ammonia,total bile acid,alpha feto protein,coagulogram,blood amino spec-trum,acylcrnitine spectrum,urine organic acid and SLC25A13 gene analysis of 20 cases with NICCD,who came from Wuhan Children's Hospital,during September 2010 to January 2013,were collected before treatment,then followed up for 1 year. Results Laboratory results of NICCD patients showed high blood bilirubin,elevated liver enzymes and bile acid,hyperlipidemia,high alpha feto protein,high lactic acidosis,high ammonia,hypoalbuminemia,hypoglycemia,disor-der of blood coagulation mechanism,variety of amino acids increase,mainly citrulline rose. Mainly long - chain acyl carnitine increased among acyl of carnitine. Abnormal increase of urine 4 - hydroxy benzene acetic acid,4 - hydroxy benzene lactic acid and 4 - hydroxy benzene pyruvic acid. Six mutations were detected in SLC25A13 gene analysis,and L477R,G639S of them were novel mutations,851del4,1638ins23,IVS6 + 5G ﹥ A were hot mutation. All the patients were eased in jaundice before they were 1 year old. Conclusions The early clinical criterion of the patients is disor-der. Hyperlipidemia has been detected in the early course of the disease,and L477R,G639S are the novel mutations.