Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), also called Ito cells or lipocytes, are one of inherent liver nonparenchymal cell types located in the Dissé space between hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells, and account for up to 50%-80% of vitamin A in the form of lipid drops. The methods of primary HSCs isolation mainly focus on density gradient centrifugation combined with centrifugal elutriation, side scatter-activated cell sorting, UV-excited autofluorescence or antibody-based flow cytometry, etc., and will provide solid foundation for the research on physiological and pathological HSCs function. The research of this vitamin A-storing cells has developed and expanded vigorously. In physiological conditions, HSCs are quiescent and play pivotal roles in the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) to maintain its stability with broad uptake and storage of vitamin A, and also regulate liver regeneration. But in pathological conditions, HSCs are activated by constant stimulations or liver injury, then with activated proliferation, reduced lipid drops, and increased ECM synthesis. Morphology of these cells also changes from the star-shaped stellate cells to that of fibroblasts or myofibroblasts with obvious contractibility and secretion of cytokines and chemokines including a variety of proinflammatory factors and adhesion molecules, suggesting that the activation of HSCs is one of the key events in the development of liver fibrosis. Study on the isolation and function of HSCs is always one of the hot topics for liver biology. In this review, we systematically summarize and discuss the recent advances in our understanding of the isolation methods and improvements of HSCs, and functional research of HSCs biology in health and disease, as well as potential directions.
Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; Regeneration ; Vitamin A ; metabolism

Objective To compare the manipulation of two different methods of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT),the guidewire dilating forceps (Portex method) and the modified onestep dilation technique (Ciaglia Blue Rhino method,CBR method).Methods From March 2013 to February 2014,48 patients eligible to meet the criteria of tracheostomy in ICU were collected and were divided into two groups at random.The length of time consumed for operation,amount of blood lost during operation and the operation complications were compared between two groups.The participant surgeons were asked which method they preferred,Portex or CBR.Results Of them,the mean age was 76.7 ± 11.6 years old,and 25 patients (52.1％) were male.The reasons for tracheotomy were the length of time needed for mechanical ventilation support expected to be longer than 2 weeks (n =30),severe disturbance of consciousness (n =17),and upper airway obstruction (n =1).The patients enrolled in the study were randomly divided into Portex and CBR groups.There were no significant differences in age,gender,APACHE Ⅱ score,the reason of tracheotomy,the length of time for mechanical ventilation support before tracheotomy,and the preoperative coagulation function between two groups.CBR method can easily be done with less operation time required than Portex [(5.9 ±4.3) min vs.(9.9 ± 1.5) min,P ＜0.01],and had obviously fewer operation complications and less amount of blood lost than Portex method (P ＜ 0.05).The male surgeons with a slew of surgical practice were in preference to Portex,whereas female doctors with less work experience and without surgical practice preferred CBR.Conclusions The CBR method can easier be done and was better than the Portex method in minimizing operative trauma and reducing the complications,especially it can easily be accepted by female doctors with less work experience and without surgical practice and it is worth using widely in clinic.

Objective To evaluate contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) in the diagnosis of vascular complications of transplanted kidneys.Methods Twelve patients with vascular abnormalities after renal transplantation were observed and analyzed using CEUS, and the diagnosis of all cases was confirmed by means of operation,pathology or angiography.Results Five patients with renal artery stenosis,2 patients with renal artery thrombosis,3 patients with pseudoaneurysm, 1 patient with pseudophlebangioma, and 1 patient with intrarenal extensive microthrombus were found.The coincidence of CEUS was 100%.Conclusions CEUS is a new method with the characteristics of non-nephrotoxic damage to kidney and comparable with angiography in terms of dynamic imaging.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the characteristics and influential factors of adverse drug reactions(ADRs)of docetax-el in our hospital,and to provide suggestions for clinical rational drug use and individualized administration. METHODS:Medical records of patients receiving anti-tumor chemotherapy were extracted from hospital information system(HIS)of our hospital during Apr. 2014 and Oct. 2015,and Docetaxel related ADR reports were collected and comprehensively analyzed by retrospective classi-fied statistics. RESULTS:Among 417 cases,105 cases of docetaxel related ADR were reported. There were 69 patients aged 50-69 with highest ADR frequency. The ADR incidence of female patients was higher than that of male patients (29.29% vs. 19.66%). The incidence of docetaxel related ADR and arrest of bone marrow increased as the increase of drug dosage;the incidence of breast cancer ADR was the highest (46.03%),followed by lung cancer (37.25%) and gastric cancer (25.00%). The incidence of docetaxel+platinum chemotherapy plan ADR was the highest (35.10%). Main organs/system involved in ADR was hematological system (55.65%). CONCLUSIONS:The individual difference of docetaxal related ADR are great and affected by several factors. Individual physical condition of patients should be taken into consideration as early as possible,which can reduce the incidence of ADR and promote clinical rational drug use.

In order to study on the theory of " phlegm and blood stasis having same source" and effects of drugs for resolving phlegm on blood rheology, effects of Ban Xia, Gua Lou, Zhe Bei Mu and Shi Chang Pu on whole blood viscosity, erythrocyte deformation index and plasma fibrinogen content in normal rats. Results indicated that the drugs.for resolving phlegm had functions of decreasing whole blood viscosity, inhibiting hemoagglutination (except Gua Lou) and increasing capability of erythrocyte deformation; at high shearing rate, Shi Chang Pu and Zhe Bei Mu could slightly increase whole blood viscosity: Shi Chang Pu increased slightly plasma fibrinogen content. It is suggested that resolving phlegm also can removing blood stasis, and the mechanism of the drug for resolving phlegm in decreasing blood viscosity is related with decrease of blood lipids and anti - peroxidation of lipids.

Objective To study the relationship between the individualized nutritional intervention during pregnancy with childbirth way and neonatal birth weight , provide clinical data for nutrition intervention treatment . Methods The outpatient pregnant women were randomly divided into intervention group and control group according the nutritional intervention intentions from January to June in 2014.The incidence of pregnancy specific disease , childbirth way and neonatal birth weight were recorded .Results The incidence of special diseases during pregnan-cy, cesarean section and abnormal neonatal birth weight in intervention group were lower than the control group , and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05).Conclusion Individualized nutritional intervention during pregnancy can reduce the incidence of pregnancy specific disease , macrosomia and cesarean section .

Objective To evaluate the value of ultrasound-guided channel establishment in minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy(MPCNL).MethodsBetween May 2006 and December 2007,85 patients received MPCNL in our hospital.Puncture points were selected and then channels were established under the guidance of ultrasonography according to the distributions of calculi during MPCNL.ResultsUnder the guidance of ultrasonography the puncture was completed at one session in all of our 85 cases.No massive hemorrhage or other severe complications occurred.In the cases,57 cases were cured after the first operation,and 27 cases received a second surgery.One of the cases was diagnosed as having calcification of the renal papillae without kidney calculi during the operation.Residual calculi(

Objective To evaluate the value of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonic imaging of vascular volume in assessing postoperative acute rejection(AR) of renal transplant patients. Methods Color Doppler flow imaging(CDFI) and 3D vascular volumetric parameters were collected and analyzed in 30 cases with stable renal function (control group) and 13 cases with AR of kidney transplantation (AR group). The diagnostic performances of each ultrasonic parameter were compared by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results The parameters of resistance index(RI) and pulsatility index(PI) in AR group were significantly higher than those in control group( P <0.005 and P <0. 05, respectively). Analysis of the areas under ROC curve showed that the area under VFI curve was the largest;no significant difference( P > 0. 05) was found compared the area under VFI curve to those areas under VI,FI and MG curves;Comparing the area under VFI curve to those under RI, V and PI,there were significant differences( P <0. 05). Taking VFI≤18. 78% as the critical value, the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of AR of transplanted kidneys were 70. 0% and 93. 3% ,and the positive and negative predictive values were 60. 8% and 93. 4%, respectively. Conclusions The sensitivity and specifity of 3D vascular volumetric imaging parameter VFI in the diagnosis of transplanted kidneys with AR were higher than those of blood flow parameters RI and PL VFI with the optimal critical value of ≤18. 78% might be a useful index for the early diagnosis of transplanted kidneys with AR.

Objective: To investigate effects of Wuling Pills and Capsules on immunological liver injury in mice. Methods: The rat liver fibrosis model was induced by carbon tetrachloride. The hydroxyproline (HYP) level in serum was measured by chemical method. The precollagen Ⅰ(PCⅠ) and Ⅲ(PCⅢ) levels in serum and hepatic homogenate were measured by radioimmunoassay. The expressions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and fibronectin (FN) in liver tissue were detected by histochemistry method. Moreover, the hepatic histomrphology was observed by HE staining. Results: Both of Wuling Pills and Wuling Capsules could greatly decrease PCⅠ, PCⅢ and HYP levels. The FN expression of liver tissue in Wuling Capsule group was obviously lower than that of the model group. The TNF and FN in liver tissues of rats in the Wuling Pill group and Capsule group showed strong positive. Proliferative kupffer cells and activated endothelial cells were also observed in those two groups. Conclusion: Wuling Capsules has the effect of anti liver fibrosis. Both of Wuling Pills and Capsules can stabilize hepatocyte membrane, and prevent liver cells from the effect of TNF and FN.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the level of serum cortisol and alexithymia in depressive patients with somatic symptoms.Methods The morning level of serum cortisol was measured with radioimmunoassay in 30 depressive patients with somatic symptoms (somatization group) and 30 depressive patients without somatic symptoms (non-somatization group).The severity of alexithymia was evaluated with Toronto alexithymia Scale(TAS-20).Results (1) The level of serum cortisol in somatization group was significantly higher than that in non-somatization group((533.88±144.10) μmol/L vs (458.27±82.87) μmol/L,P＜0.01).(2) The total TAS score and the factor score of Difficulty in identifying feelings and Difficulty in describing feelings in somatization group were obviously higher than those in non-somatization group,respectively ((67.13 ± 6.96) vs (62.03±7.14),(24.50±3.78) vs (21.63±3.63),(15.30±2.69) vs (13.57±2.03),all P＜0.01).(3) The level of serum cortisol in somatization group was positively correlated with the total score of alexithymia (r=0.596,P＜0.01) and the factor score of Difficulty in identifying feelings, Difficulty in describing feelings, externally oriented thinking,respectively (r=0.391,0.435,0.452,all P＜0.05).(4) The level of serum cortisol in non-somatization group was positively related to the total TAS score (r=0.418,P＜0.05) and the factor score of externally oriented thinking(r=0.489,P＜0.01).Conclusions Compared with depressive patients without somatic symptoms,depressive patients with somatic symptoms had more severe alexithymia,especially in Difficulty in identifying feelings and Difficulty in describing feelings.The severity of alexithymia was positively correlated with the level of serum cortisol.