End stage liver disease is a serious threat to human health.Existing conventional therapies are far from ideal,and orthotopic liver transplantation is limited by the lack of donor liver.A new therapy,transplantation of hepatic stem cell,is a promising approach.Hepatic oval cells are hepatic stem/progenitor cells(HSC/HPC)during hepatic regeneration,and they are being referred to as hepatic precursor cells.It got its name because of its oval nucleus,high nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio and other morphological features.Research has shown increasingly importance in the knowledge of hepatic oval cells.There are many signaling pathways in hepatic oval cells activation and proliferation.As a branch of the Wnt signaling pathway,Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway has a significant effect on hepatic oval cells activation and proliferation.However,the exact mechanisms of this process have not been completely elucidated.This review describes the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in hepatic oval cell activation and proliferation.

Objective To explore the effect on effect of combined use of Y27632 (ROCK II inhibitor)and TDZD-8(GSK-3β inhibitor)on axonal regeneration of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in neogenetic rats. Methods All the thoracolumbar DRGs of two neogenetic Sprague-Dawley (SD)rats(<5 days)were harvested under the stereopsis raicrostat,and then the DRG neurons were cultured,purified and indentified.Fifteen adult female SD rats were randomly divided into three groups,ie,complete paraplegia group(5 rats),sham operation control group(5 rats)and normal group(5 rats)respectively.The T8-10 spinal cord extracts (SCEs) were harvested in the complete paraplegia group,sham operation control group and normal group respectively at day 7 after spinal cord injury.The experiment was divided into group A(DRG neurons + PBS),group B(DRG neurons + complete paralysis SCE),group C(DRG neurons + complete paralysis SCE + different concentration Y27632),group D(DRG neurons + complete paralysis SCE + different concentration TDZD-8)and group E(DRG neurons + complete paralysis SCE + proper concentration Y27632 and TDZD-8).The average axonal length and expression intensity of Tubulin βⅢ at distal end of neuronal axons were observed after two days of co-culture respectively in intro. Results (1)The average axonal length and expression intensity of Tubulin βⅢ at axon shaft and growth cone in the group B were significantly shorter and weaker than that in the group A,with statistical difference.(2)In the group C,the average axonal length and expression intensity of Tubulln βⅢ at axon shaft and growth cone in 5-10 μmol/L Y27632 treatment groups were more than that in the group B but lower than that in the group A.The average axonal length and expression intensity of Tubuhn βⅢ at axon shaft and growth cone in 20-50 μmol/L Y27632 treatment group were longer and stronger than that in the group A and the group B,especially the group B.Among different concentration Y27632 treatment groups,there was a longest average axonal length and strongest expression intensity of Tubulin βⅢ in 30 μmol/L treatment group.(3) In the group D,there was a longer average axonal length in 0.5-3 μmol/L TDZD-8 treatment group than that in the group A and the group B,with the longeat average axonal length in l μmool/L TDZD-8 treatment group.In 5-25 μmol/L TDZD-8 treatment groups,the average axonal length showed no difference compared with the group B but wns shorter than that in the group A.In all different concentration TDZD-8 treatment groups,the expression intensity of Tubulin βⅢ at axon shaft and growth cone was significantly stronger than that in the groups A and B.(4) In the group E,although the average axonal length was increased in the group E,there was no statisilcal difference compared with the group A,30 μmol/L Y27632 treatment group and l μmol/L TDZD-8treatment group.There was a significantly longer average axonal length in the group E than it in the group B and the expression intensity of Tubulin βⅢ at axon shaft and growth cone was stronger in the group E compared to the group A,30 μmol/L Y27632 treatment group and l μmol/L TDZD-8 treatment group.Conclusion The complete paralysis SCEs obviously inhibits DRG axonal growth,induces axonal retraction and growth cone collapse.High concentration of Y27632 can more obviously promote the axon growth compared with the low concentration,while the low concentration of TDZD-8 can obviously promote the axon growth.Combined use of appropriate concentration of TDZD-8 and Y27632 can promote the axon growth and induce the axons branching,as facilitates the formation of the axon circuit.

Objective To establish a canine model of fulminate hepatic failure ( FHF) and study the treatment of FHF by partial orthotopic liver transplatation(POLT).Methods Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) mixed with the same amount of peanut oil in the dosage of 0.9 ml per kilogram of body weight was injected intraperitoneally to canines. ALT,tolal bilirubine(TB), PT, NH 4,and blood suger(BG) were monitored. The pathological changes were observed when the canine died,remain alived animal were killed on 7th day and 14th day respectively. EEG was performed on 3rd day after the model eslablished. Results After CCl 4 was injected, the canine showed progressive hepatic failure, ALT, TB and NH rose persistantly, PT prolonged, and BG decreased (P

Brain computer interface(BCI)is a rapidly developing rehabilitation technology in recent years, which has been gradually used for cognitive rehabilitation of stroke patients.BCI can activate brain regions related to cognition to a greater extent through motor imagery and neural feedback technology, promote functional connectivity between brain regions, and ameliorate cognitive impairment after stroke.This paper summarized the mechanisms involved in BCI promoting cognitive rehabilitation and current applications of BCI in post-stroke cognitive impairment, and identifies the shortcomings of BCI in the treatment of post-stroke cognitive impairment, in order to provide insight for the research and clinical practice of BCI in post-stroke cognitive rehabilitation.

Objective:To investigate the effect of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) gene on the proliferation and apoptosis of colorectal adenocarcinoma cells in vitro, and the role of Nrf2 gene in regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) pathway.Methods:Three Nrf2 small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences were designed and synthesized, namely siRNA-223, siRNA-538 and siRNA-756, and the unrelated sequences were designed and synthesized. The plasmids carrying various siRNA sequences of Nrf2 were constructed, and the plasmids carrying siRNA sequences and the plasmids carrying unrelated sequences were transfected into human colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells, namely interference group and empty vector group, respectively. Additionally, Caco-2 cells without any treatment were used as the control group. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting (WB) methods were used to detect the relative expression of Nrf2 gene in transcription and translation levels in each group of cells, in order to verify the interference effect of Nrf2; the siRNA with the best interference effect was selected for subsequent experiments. CCK-8 method was used to detect the proliferation ability of each group of cells (expressed as absorbance value); RT-qPCR was used to detect the relative expression of EMT pathway-related factors [vimentin (Vim), N-cadherin (N-cad) and E-cadherin (E-cad)] in transcription level in each group of cells; WB method was used to detect the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax in each group of cells.Results:The results of RT-qPCR and WB methods showed that compared with the control group and the empty group, the relative expression of Nrf2 gene in transcription and translation levels in Caco-2 cells of the siRNA-756 interference group were the lowest, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The CCK-8 results showed that the absorbance values of Caco-2 cells in the control group, empty group and siRNA-756 interference group after 48 hours of culture were (100±5)%, (94±4)% and (82±5)%, respectively; compared with the control group and the empty group, the siRNA-756 interference group had lower absorbance value, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05). The results of RT-qPCR method showed that the relative expression of Vim and N-cad in transcription level in the siRNA-756 interference group were higher than those in the control group and the empty vector group, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.05); the relative expression of E-cad in transcription level was lower than those in the control group and the empty vector group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.05). The results of WB method showed that the relative expression of Bax protein in the siRNA-756 interference group was higher than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:Interference with Nrf2 expression in vitro can weaken the proliferation and anti-apoptotic abilities of human colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells. The mechanism may be that Nrf2 regulates the expression of Vim, N-cad and E-Cad in the EMT pathway to enhance the EMT ability of tumor cells.

Objective:To explore the measurement method and its diagnostic performance based on MRI and CT measurement of vertebral bone density in patients to predict proximal junctional kyphosis after degenerative scoliosis surgery.Methods:Retrospectively included patients who underwent long-segment fixation and fusion surgery at the Department of Orthopedics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2010 to December 2020 and had complete preoperative whole-spine X-rays, CT, MRI and other imaging examination results, and were followed up on schedule. 68 cases of adult degenerative scoliosis, 16 male, 52 women, aged 66.87±6.65 years (range, 54-80 years). The patients were measured based on preoperative lumbar spine MRI T 1WI bone quality score (vertebral bone quality score, VBQ) and CT-based Hounsfield (HU) value, and the patients were divided into postoperative proximal junction kyphosis group or non-proximal junction kyphosis group based on the results of postoperative imaging examinations. The age, gender, BMI, comorbidities, lumbar spine VBQ score, L 1 CT HU value and various imaging parameters before and after surgery were compared between the two groups of patients, including pelvic incident, lumbar lordosis, sagittal vertical axis, pelvic tilt, sacral slope, pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis, T 1 pelvic angle, Upper instrumented vertebrae screw angle, etc. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was drawn to analyze the diagnostic efficacy, sensitivity and specificity of VBQ score, HU value and their combined indicators. Results:Seventeen cases were included in the PJK group and 51 cases in the non-PJK group. The preoperative VBQ and HU values of the PJK group were 3.10±0.43 and 99.76±16.34 respectively, while those of the non-PJK group were 2.62±0.37 and 115.27±13.46 respectively. The differences were statistically significant ( t=3.896, P<0.001; t=4.482, P<0.001). The area under curve (AUC) of VBQ was 0.773 [95% CI(0.633, 0.914)], the sensitivity and specificity are 82.4% and 70.6% respectively, the AUC of HU value was 0.814 [95% CI(0.680, 0.949)], the sensitivity and specificity are 76.5% and 76.5% respectively. The AUC of the two combined indicators was 0.895 [95% CI(0.795, 0.995)], and the sensitivity and specificity were 94.1% and 82.4% respectively. The maximum Youden index and the critical value were respectively, VBQ value 0.530, 2.895, HU value 0.530, 110.0, the combined index 0.765, 0.734. Conclusion:Both VBQ and L 1 HU value can accurately predict proximal junctional kyphosis after degenerative scoliosis surgery. The accuracy of HU value was slightly higher than that of VBQ value. The diagnosis accuracy of the combined index was the highest.

Objective:To identify the threshold of a health warning system based on the association of apparent temperature and years of life lost (YLL).Methods:Daily mortality records and meteorological data were collected from 364 Chinese counties for 2006-2017. Distributed lag nonlinear model and multivariate Meta-analyses were applied to estimate the association between the apparent temperature and YLL rate. A regression tree model was employed to estimate the warning thresholds of the apparent temperature. Stratified analyses were further conducted by age and cause of death.Results:The daily YLL rate was 23.6/10 5. The mean daily apparent temperature was 15.7 ℃. U-shaped nonlinear associations were observed between apparent temperature and YLL rate. The actual temperature-caused YLL rate for the elderly was higher than the young population. The daily excess deaths rate increased with the higher effect levels. Conclusions:Regression tree model was employed to define the warning threshold for meteorological health risk. The present study provides theoretical support for the weather-related health warning system.

Objective: To investigate the association between sleep duration and frailty among people aged 50 years and over. Methods: Cross-sectional data was collected from the first wave of World Health Organization Study on global AGEing and adult health in China. Frailty index was constructed on the proportion of deficits, out of the 40 variables. A two-level (individual level and community level) linear model was performed to identify the related factors on frailty. All the models were stratified by age, gender, residence (urban/rural). Restricted cubic spline was performed to graphically evaluate the dose-response association between self-reported sleep duration and frailty. Results: A total of 13 175 individuals aged 50 years and over participated in this study. Without adjusting on any confounding factors, shorter or longer sleep duration significantly increased the risk of weakness compared with normal sleep time (OR=2.05, 95%CI: 1.71-2.44; OR=1.35, 95%CI: 1.12-1.63). After adjusting for confounding factors such as gender, age, residence, education, family assets, vegetable, smoking, drinking and physical activity, a positive association between short sleep duration and frailty was noticed compared with normal sleep time (aOR=1.60, 95%CI: 1.27-2.01). The results of stratified analysis on sex, age and urban and rural areas showed that, after adjusting for gender, age, residence, education level, family assets, intake of vegetables and fruits, smoking, drinking and physical activity, only shorter sleep duration was positively correlated with the risk of weakness. In addition, among people aged 65 years and over, adjusted for confounding factors, the risk of weakness increased by 91%, compared with normal sleep time (aOR=1.91, 95%CI: 1.46-2.49). The dose-response curve also showed that the sleep duration and frailty present an approximate "U" shaped relationship. Conclusion Short sleep duration might be associated with frailty.

Background Air pollution is a major public health concern. Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) is a very important air quality risk communication tool. However, AQHI is usually constructed by single-pollutant model, which has obvious disadvantages. Objective To construct an AQHI based on the joint effects of multiple air pollutants (J-AQHI), and to provide a scientific tool for health risk warning and risk communication of air pollution. Methods Data on non-accidental deaths in Yunnan, Guangdong, Hunan, Zhejiang, and Jilin provinces from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2018 were obtained from the corresponding provincial disease surveillance points systems (DSPS), including date of death, age, gender, and cause of death. Daily meteorological (temperature and relative humidity) and air pollution data (SO₂, NO₂, CO, PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and maximum 8 h O₃ concentrations) at the same period were respectively derived from China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System and National Urban Air Quality Real-time Publishing Platform. Lasso regression was first applied to select air pollutants, then a time-stratified case-crossover design was applied. Each case was matched to 3 or 4 control days which were selected on the same days of the week in the same calendar month. Then a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was used to estimate the exposure-response relationship between selected air pollutants and mortality, which was used to construct the AQHI. Finally, AQHI was classified into four levels according to the air pollutant guidance limit values from World Health Organization Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQG 2021), and the excess risks (ERs) were calculated to compare the AQHI based on single-pollutant model and the J-AQHI based on multi-pollutant model. Results PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂, and O₃ were selected by Lasso regression to establish DLNM model. The ERs for an interquartile range (IQR) increase and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂ and O₃ were 0.71% (0.34%–1.09%), 2.46% (1.78%–3.15%), 1.25% (0.9%–1.6%), and 0.27% (−0.11%–0.65%) respectively. The distribution of J-AQHI was right-skewed, and it was divided into four levels, with ranges of 0-1 for low risk, 2-3 for moderate risk, 4-5 for high health risk, and ≥6 for severe risk, and the corresponding proportions were 11.25%, 64.61%, 19.33%, and 4.81%, respectively. The ER (95%CI) of mortality risk increased by 3.61% (2.93–4.29) for each IQR increase of the multi-pollutant based J-AQHI , while it was 3.39% (2.68–4.11) for the single-pollutant based AQHI . Conclusion The J-AQHI generated by multi-pollutant model demonstrates the actual exposure health risk of air pollution in the population and provides new ideas for further improvement of AQHI calculation methods.