Objective To investigate the correlations of extracellular matrix and hepatic ultramicrostructural changes with clinical manifestations in patients with mild chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Methods Patients with chronic HBV infections were enrolled and were divided into mild CHB group (n=66) and HBV carrier group (n=10).Serum samples were collected from patients, and serum HBV markers, HBV DNA load and liver fibrosis indexes were measured.All subjects received liver biopsy, and the tissue samples were observed by light microscope and electron microscope.T test and χ2 test were performed for measurement data and enumeration data, respectively.Spearman test was used for ranked data.Results The differences on ALT and AST levels between mild CHB group and HBV carrier group were significant (t=12.42, 7.06, P＜0.05), but there was no significant difference on HBV DNA load between two groups (t=0.24, P ＞ 0.05).Serum liver fibrosis indexes (hyaluronic acid, type Ⅲ collagen,type Ⅳ collagen and laminin protein) in mild CHB group were not significantly higher than those in HBV carrier group (t=0.45, 0.95, 0.76 and 1.21, P ＞0.05).In mild CHB group, there were 33 patients with ≥G2 and ≥S2, but in HBV carrier group were only 2 patients (χ2=4.17, P ＜ 0.05).Seventeen patients in mild CHB group were with S3-4, while that was not observed in HBV carrier group (χ2=4.75, P ＜0.05).In mild CHB group, hepatic ultramicrostrutural changes on fat storing cell, collagen protein and portal area were correlated with fibrosis grades, and the correlation coefficients were 0.351, 0.675 and 0.301, respectively (P=0.004, 0.000 and 0.014).Conclusion Electron microscope is of higher sensitivity than light microscope in observing hepatic ultramicrostructural changes, which is effective in evaluating the severity of mild CHB.

Objective To investigate the incidence of serum monoclonal immunoglobulins (McIg) in B-cell chronic lymphoproliferative disorders (B-CLPD) and the clinical significance of McIg in B-CLPD and its possible sources.Methods A total of 1 147 patients with B-CLPD treated from May 2006 to May 2015 were enrolled into this retrospective study.The incidence of McIg and the relationship between McIg and prognostic factors in patients with B-CLPD were analyzed.Results Out of 1 147 B-CLPD patients,there were 164 patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (LPL/WM),and among them,McIg was detected in 140 cases (85.4 ％).In the remaining 983 patients with B-CLPD,monoclonal Ig was detected in 50 (5.1％) patients.Most of McIg in 2 groups were IgM paraprotein.The levels of IgM paraprotein of the LPL/WM group,non-LPL./WM group and McIg-negative patients were (48.88±33.42) g/L,(27.9±15.23) g/L and (2.75±1.21) g/L,respectively,the difference was statistical significance (P=0.000);the level of IgM paraprotein in LPL/WM group was significantly higher than that in non-LPL/WM group (P=0.000).The level of paraprotein decreased significantly when the patients got complete response after therapy (P=0.001,0.048,respectively).The incidence of serum McIg was higher in the group with complex karyotype (P =0.016) andwith high level of β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) (P =0.001).In the 47 non-LPL/WM patients with positive McIg,serum McIg in 38 (80.9 ％) patients were expressed in a pattern consistent with the distribution of tumor cells (P ＜ 0.005).Most of the light chain subtype of the McIg were consistent with the light chain subtype of the membrane immunoglobulin on the tumor cells.Conclusions Some non-LPL/WM B-CLPD patients also have serum McIg,and it could have certain relevance with the prognosis of B-CLPD.Moreover,the McIg may be secreted by tumor cells or those derived from the same progenitor cells with tumor cells.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To screen out a suitable lead for monitoring the ambulatory electrocardiogram ( ECG) in un-restrained toad, and to investigate its practicability.METHODS:After subcutaneously implanting the electrodes in toads under anaesthesia, the ambulatory ECG of 5 leads were monitored with BL-420S data acquisition and analysis system, and the leads which could well express the waveform in ECG were screened out.The recovery process of the toads from the arti-ficial hibernation within 6 h, the day-to-day stability of the heart rate ( HR) and the heart rate variability ( HRV) in 5 suc-cessive days of hibernation, and the HR and HRV after freeze-thawing process were monitored to determine its practicabili-ty.RESULTS:Two out of 5 leads showed better ECG waveforms.Compared with 6 h post hibernation, lowered HR at 0 h and 1 h was observed, and the standard deviation of normal R-R intervals ( SDNN) was significantly increased ( P<0.05 or P<0.01), but the HR and SDNN from 2 to 5 h showed no significant difference, suggesting that the cardiac function reached the steady state after 2 h recovery.The HR at 2 h and 4 h on day 4 and day 5 decreased significantly compared with that on day 1 (P<0.05 or P<0.01), followed with a significant increase in SDNN (P<0.05 or P<0.01), sugges-ting that the ECG remained stable within 3 d.The HR increased, while SDNN decreased significantly at 1 h and 12 h post-thawing compared with that at pre-freeze (P<0.05), indicating the damaged cardiac function after freeze-thawing process. CONCLUSION:The method of subcutaneously implanting electrodes is suitable for effectively monitoring the ambulatory ECG in toads.

Objective:To conduct a clinical tretrospective study on the effect of Silymarin Meglumine Tab on acute and chronic hepatitis B and to explore the related clinical significance. Methods: 41 cases and 205 cases of hospitalized patients pathologically diagnosed as acute and chronic hepatitis B respectively by liver tissuse puncture were divided into three group: ① Silymarin Meglumine Tab group; ② Ganyanling group; ③ complex group consisting of Silymarin Meglumine Tab and Gangyanling and diammonium glycyrrhizinate. To detect the index of routine liver function test before and after the treatment and analyze the hospitalization treatment course. Results: Compared with before treatment, liver functions of acute and chronic hapatitis B were improved to certain extent within each group after treatment (P0.05). The hospitalization treatment time of acute hepatitis B of the three group were almost the same, but the hospitalization treatmeng time of chronic hepatitis B of the Silymarin Meglumine Tab group was 2-4days less than that of the Ganyanling group and the complex group. Conclusion: As far as Silybini Meglumine Tab was concerned, it was better for chronic hepatitis B than acute hepatitis B because it was less complicated to administer the medicine, relieving the liver's burden of metabolism, and hospitalization treatment time was shorter, relieving patients' financial burden,which suggested that it was important to administer proper amount of medicine while taking into consideration protecting the liver's compensation function. If consideration was given to stimulating liver microcirculation with small dosage of TCM, so as to promote the exchange of the liver metabolite in blood, or detoxication and expulsion of toxin, it was likely to be more advantageous to the restoration of liver function and the liver tissue structure.

The effect of oxymatrine on high-fructose-feeding induced insulin resistance and liver steatosis in rats was observed and the underlying mechanism in improving the hepatic lipid metabolism was explored.The results demonstrated that high fructose feeding decreased the glucose tolerance and increased hepatic lipid accumulation in rats,while oxymatrine could improve glucose tolerance and alleviate hepatic steatosis in rats.High fructose feeding stimulated the protein expressions of key lipid-synthesis enzymes,which were decreased by oxymatrine intervention.Both high fructose feeding and oxymatrine intervention had no significant effect on protein expressions of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation enzymes.

Objective To observe the effects of high-fat diet on liver steatosis and liver endoplasm reticulum stress in mice and to investigate the interventional effect of metfomin on them.Methods Forth-five male C57BL/J6 mice were divided into healthy control group,high-fat group and metformin group.High fat group and metformin group were fed with high-fat diet.Mice in metformin group were given metformin since the fourth week of high-fat feeding.After feeding for eight weeks,subperitoneal glucose tolerance test was performed in mice.After mice were sacrificed,liver triglyceride (TG) content and the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress related factors at gene and protein levels were measured.One-way ANOVA was applied for analysis between groups.Results Compared with healthy control group,area under curve (AUC) of glucose tolerance and TG contents in liver tissues significantly increased in high-fat group [998±87 vs 1409±106,(10.05±0.29) μmol/g vs (27.11 ±4.76) μmol/g].Glucose tolerance and liver steatosis were improved in metformin group,AUC and TG of metformin group were significantly lower than those of high-fat group in metformin group [1178±90,(15.12±2.11) μmol/g,F=55.328,89.212,both P ＜0.01].Compared with healthy control group,the expression of glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94)at mRNA level significantly increased in high-fat group.Meanwhile,the expression of phosphorylated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α at protein level,which indicated endoplasmic reticulum stress,significantly increased.However,the expression of those endoplasmic reticulum stress markers at mRNA and protein level of metformin group were both lower than those of high fat group (F=84.002,137.321,both P＜0.05).Conclusions High fat diet caused liver steatosis in mice and accompanied by endoplasmic reticulum stress.Fatty liver was significantly improved by metformin treatment in high-fat-fed mice.The mechanism may be related with the improvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress by metformin.

Objective To explore the impact of high-fat diet on bone marrow-originated endothelial progenitor cells(EPCs),oxidative stress and glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) expression in rats.Methods 23 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC goup,n=13) and high-fat fed group (HF group,n=10).Rats in NC group were fed with a standard lab diet,and rats in HF group were fed with a high-fat diet (502 kcal/100 g).Lee's index,body weight were measured to evaluate whether the obese rat model was established at 16 weeks after feeding.Blood samples were collected via carotid arterial cannula.Serum insulin,lipids and oxidative stress index were measured.Perirenal and epididymis adipose tissues were obtained and weighed.EPCs were detached,cultivated and evaluated by multi-wave laser confocal microscopy.Protein and gene expressions of GPx-1 were determined by Western blot and reverse transcription real time polymerase chain reaction(RT real-time PCR).Results After 16 weeks of high-fat diet,the body weight,Lee's index and visceral adipose tissue were increased in HF group as compared with NC group [(465.11 ±27.69) gvs.(404.38±17.01) g,(312.08±9.82) vs.(297.74±8.75),(20.07±1.94) g vs.(5.31±1.11) g,all P＜0.001].The levels of fasting blood glucose,cholesterol,triglyceride were increased in HE group as compared with NC group[(5.85±0.77) mmol/L vs.(4.285±0.74)mmol/L,(1.35±0.21) mmol/L vs.(0.95±0.14) mmol/L,(1.02±0.21) mmol/L vs.(0.65±0.19)mmol/L,all P＜0.01].The levels of fasting insulin(FIns)and HOMA-IR were higher in HF group than in NCgroup [(3.46±0.77) mmol/L vs.(2.04±0.51) mmol/L,(0.90±0.24) vs.(0.40±0.19),both P＜0.001].Levels of serum glutathion peroxidase(GSH-Px)and erythrocuprein SOD,and total anti-oxidative capacity were decreased in HF group as compared with NC group [(759.13 ±60.71) mU/L vs.(826.26±65.83) mU/L,(72.76±5.41)mU/L vs.(80.44±7.91) mU/L,(5.18±0.35) mU/L vs.(6.01±0.93) mU/L,all P＜0.05].Malonaldehyde (MDA) level was increased,EPCs count and protein and mRNA expressions of GPx-1 were decreased in HF group as compared withNC group [(6.09±0.96) mol/L vs.(5.14±0.89) μmol/L,(62.55 ± 4.85) vs.(71.19±5.95),(0.50±0.13) vs.(1.29±0.42),(0.50±0.13) vs.(1.29±0.42),all P＜0.05 or 0.01].Multiple linear regression analysis showed that MDA was an influential factor for EPCs,Lee's index was an influential factor for GSH-Px,total cholesterol (TC) was an influential factor for TAO-C and SOD,and FINs was an influential factor for MDA.Conclusions High-fat diet can induce obesity and insulin resistance,increase the visceral adiposity,decrease the quantity of EPCs and protein and mRNA expressions of GPx-1 in rats.Oxidative stress is one of influential factors for the decrease of EPCs quantity in high fat diet induced obese rats.

As an essential metabolic molecule, bile acids regulate triglyceride, cholesterol, energy metabolism. Bariatric surgery offers a treatment that can reduce weight and induce metabolic syndrome, but the mechanism is still unclear. New researches reveal that serum bile acids are elevated after surgery, as well as the improvement of metabolic disease. The surgery changes gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a short circuiting of the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. Here we review the bile acids metabolism and their effect after bariatric surgery.

As an essential metabolic molecule, bile acids regulate triglyceride, cholesterol, energy metabolism. Bariatric surgery offers a treatment that can reduce weight and induce metabolic syndrome, but the mechanism is still unclear. New researches reveal that serum bile acids are elevated after surgery, as well as the improvement of metabolic disease. The surgery changes gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a short circuiting of the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. Here we review the bile acids metabolism and their effect after bariatric surgery.

As an essential metabolic molecule, bile acids regulate triglyceride, cholesterol, energy metabolism. Bariatric surgery offers a treatment that can reduce weight and induce metabolic syndrome, but the mechanism is still unclear. New researches reveal that serum bile acids are elevated after surgery, as well as the improvement of metabolic disease. The surgery changes gastrointestinal tract, resulting in a short circuiting of the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids. Here we review the bile acids metabolism and their effect after bariatric surgery.
Bariatric Surgery ; Bile Acids and Salts ; Enterohepatic Circulation ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Metabolic Syndrome