Biomarkers ; blood ; Biopsy, Needle ; utilization ; Hepatitis C ; complications ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; diagnosis ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of scalp penetration acupuncture treating acute cerebral hemorrhage (ACH).

METHODSThe treatment group (n = 30) and the control group (n = 30) were treated with the same basic therapy, but scalp penetration acupuncture was added to the treatment group. Changes of plasma ET and CGRP contents were compared.

RESULTSAfter treatment for 14 days, the content of plasma ET in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.01). Moreover, the content of plasma CGRP was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONScalp penetration acupuncture is able to improve the prognosis of the patient with ACH by means of regulating the contents of plasma ET and CGRP.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Calcitonin ; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; therapy ; Endothelins ; blood ; Humans ; Scalp

This work was directed at obtaining a better gene carrier to improve the effects of gene delivery. Neutral liposomes made from cholesterol, lecithin and DOPE by reverse evaporation technique were used for encapsulating DNA-HAP complex which was made from DNA and optimized HAP. The sizes of complexes and the efficiency of encapsulation were detected. The efficiency of transfection into Hela cells was shown by observation of X-gal staining and measurement of transfection efficience. The average size of complexes was 643nm, the average encapsulating efficiency of DNA in microspheres reached 11.67%. These Lipid-Hydroxyapatite-DNA complex (LHD) could be transfected into mammalian cells. The Lipid-Hydroxyapatite-DNA complex prepared by reverse evaporation technique could be applied availably in DNA delivery system, and it gave another thinking to increase the gene transfection of non- viral genetic vector.
DNA ; administration & dosage ; Durapatite ; administration & dosage ; Genetic Therapy ; Lipids ; administration & dosage ; Transfection ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of serum metalloproteinase with the severity of liver fibrosis and inflammation.

METHODSA total of 88 patients with HBV-related liver fibrosis and early cirrhosis were enrolled from six hospitals. Serum fibrosis markers including hyaluronic acid (HA), IV collagen (IV-C), aminoterminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP), laminin (LN), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 1, 2, 9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP) 1, 2 levels were determined. Liver biopsies were assessed according to a modified Scheuer and Chevallier's scoring system.

RESULTSSerum TIMP1 (r=0.540) and MMP2 (r=0.314) were correlated positively with the degree of hepatic fibrosis, whereas serum MMP1 (r=-0.495) was correlated negatively. By receiver operating curve analysis (ROC), the sensitivity to distinguish the fibrosis stage 2 from stage 1 was 90.5% and the specificity was 52.0% if the cut-off value of MMP1 was 13.96 ng/ml, and the sensitivity was 91.6% and the specificity was 64.0% if the cut-off value of TIMP1 was 76.84 ng/ml. The sensitivity to distinguish cirrhosis (stage 4) from fibrosis (stage 3) was 70.7% and specificity was 80.9% if the cut-off value of MMP1 was 6.86 ng/ml, and the sensitivity was 60.5% and the specificity was 92.3% if the cut-off value of TIMP1 was 210.04 ng/ml.

CONCLUSIONSerum TIMP1, MMP1, MMP2 levels and TIMP1/MMP1 ratio could be used as serum fibrosis markers.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; virology ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; blood ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; blood

Animals ; Blood Coagulation Factors ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; Prothrombin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between Transitional CK19 positive cells and hepatic precancerous lesion in chronic hepatitis B patients.

METHODSWe observed the expression of CK19 in liver tissue of chronic hepatitis B patients by LSAB immunohistochemical staining, and examined serum AFP and ultrasonography one time per 3 months for one year.

RESULTSWe observed a population of CK19 positive cells-with size and structure between those of human oval cells and mature hepatocytes-that usually occurred along with oval-cell proliferation. It was suggested that these transitional cells may partly account for the elevation of serum AFP. One patient occurred hepatic carcinoma, another patient had low-echogenic nodules in liver parenchyma within the 1 year follow-up period.

CONCLUSIONTransitional CK19 positive cells could be regarded as a new possible pathological marker of hepatic precancerous lesion.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Keratins ; analysis ; Liver Neoplasms ; chemistry ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precancerous Conditions ; chemistry ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of portal hypertension on prognosis in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of decompensated cirrhosis patients in our hospital, between 2003 and 2006, were retrospected and followed up. Model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score and Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) classification was calculated using the standard formula. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to compare the mortality in subgroups ranked by the syndromes. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to evaluate the effect of the syndromes on prognosis.

RESULTSA cohort of 322 patients was admitted in this study at the end of the follow-up. The mortality of variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, a large volume ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, the type I and type II hepatorenal syndrome was 45.9%, 79.4%, 66.7%, 100%, 100% and 84.6% respectively. On the whole, the occurrence of all the syndromes was correlated with CTP classification and MELD score. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that all of these syndromes, except for low to medium volume of ascites, significantly affected the survival rate (P<0.01). In Cox regression analysis, all the syndromes were the independent predictors of prognosis, the regression coefficient values of hepatic encephalopathy, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, type I and type II hepatorenal syndrome, variceal bleeding and ascites were 0.973, 0.928, 0.935, 0.866, 0.464 and 0.369 respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe portal hypertensive syndromes have significant effect on the prognosis of the patients with decompensated cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy is the worst one.

Adult ; Aged ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Hepatorenal Syndrome ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; complications ; epidemiology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; mortality ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Severity of Illness Index ; Survival Analysis

Humans ; Liver Diseases ; complications ; diagnosis ; Liver Failure ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Models, Biological ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models

Animals ; Humans ; Leptin ; genetics ; physiology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; etiology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; analysis ; physiology ; Receptors, Leptin ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; biosynthesis ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; physiology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Liver Regeneration ; Receptors, Vitronectin ; biosynthesis