Objective To investigate the expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α (HNF-1α) and hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α (HNF-4α) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore the function of HNF-1α and HNF-4α during HCC carcinogenesis and development. Methods Twenty-six specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma were collected. The expressions of HNF-1α and HNF-4α in HCC tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry staining. Results The mRNA levels of HNF-1α and HNF-4α were significantly lower in HCC tissues than that in adjacent non-cancerous tissues (0.818±0.371 vs. 0.383±0.102 for HNF-1α, P＜0.05;0.846±0.384 vs. 0.397±0.105 for HNF-4α, P＜0.05).The positive rates of HNF-1α and HNF-4α protein were significantly lower in HCC tissues than in adjacent non-cancerous tissues (92.3% vs. 42.3% for HNF-1α, P＜0.05;96.2% vs. 50.0% for HNF-4α, P＜0.05). The mRNA and protein expressions of HNF-1α and HNF-4α were correlated with tumor differentiation (P＜0.05). There was a negative correlation between HNF-1α and HNF-4α mRNA expressions in HCC tissues.Conclusion The expressions of HNF-1α and HNF-4α are down-regulated in HCC, which might be related to carcinogenesis and development of HCC.

Objective To detect the protein expression changes of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway during the reverse effects of lipid emulsion on bupivacaine cardiotoxicity, so as to investigate the probable mechanism concerning the reverse effect of lipid emulsion on bupivacaine cardiotoxicity.Methods The ventricular muscles of 15 healthy SD neonatal mice (1-3 d) were chosen to conduct primary culture in vitro.And the cardiomyocytes were cultivated in a medium containing bupivacaine for 24 hours to establish its bupivacaine poisoning model.The cultured cardiomyocytes were divided into three groups: control group (group C);bupivacaine group (group B);and bupivacaine+lipid emulsion group (group BL).Flow cytometry was applied to examine the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes, and the Western blot was employed to detect the protein expression variation of cytochrome C (Cyto-C) and cleaved casepase-3.Results Compared with group C, the apoptosis rate was remarkably increased in both group B and group BL and that of the group B was dramatically higher than that of the group BL, with a statistical significance (P<0.05).Compared with group C, the protein expression levels of both Cyto-C and cleaved casepase-3 were significantly increased in groups B and BL (P<0.05), and the protein expression levels of both Cyto-C and cleaved casepase-3 in group B were significantly higher than those in group BL (P<0.05).Conclusion Lipid emulsion can regulate apoptosis through inhibiting the release of mitochondrial Cyto-C and reducing casepase-3 activation, thus it protects cardiomyocytes.

Objective:To compare the effect and clinical significance of unilateral and bilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) combined with hyperextension reduction in the treatment of fresh osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF).Methods:The clinical data of OVCF patients treated in Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January to December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.A total of 62 patients were included.According to the surgical approach, 62 patients were divided into unilateral puncture approach group and bilateral puncture approach group, with 31 cases in each group.The patients in the unilateral puncture group were treated with limb hyperextension reduction combined with unilateral PKP.In the bilateral puncture approach group, limb hyperextension reduction combined with bilateral PKP was used.The changes of visual analogue pain scale (VAS), Oswestry disability index (ODI), vertebral anterior height, vertebral midline height and Cobb angle were observed and compared before operation, 1 day and 2 weeks after operation.At the same time, the operation time, intraoperative fluoroscopy times, intraoperative bone cement injection and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups.Results:The VAS scores of patients in the unilateral puncture approach group before operation, 1 day and 2 weeks after operation were (8.10±0.17), (2.20±0.26) and (1.90±0.39), respectively.The scores of bilateral puncture approach group were (8.10±0.13), (2.30±0.26) and (2.00±0.30), respectively.The results of repeated measurement ANOVA showed that F intra-group=13 790.444, P<0.001, F inter-group=1.951, P=0.168, F interaction=0.735, P=0.481.There were significant differences in VAS scores between the two groups 1 day and 2 weeks after operation (all P<0.05). There was significant difference in VAS score between the two groups 1 day after operation and 2 weeks after operation (all P<0.05). The ODI scores of patients in the unilateral puncture group before operation, 1 day and 2 weeks after operation were (40.30±5.30), (23.20±3.40), (22.30±4.49) points respectively, and those in the bilateral puncture group were (41.00±4.49), (21.90±2.48), (20.70±5.70) points, respectively.The results of repeated measurement ANOVA showed that F intra-group=339.046, P<0.001, F inter-group=1.385, P=0.244, F interaction=1.083, P=0.342.There were significant differences in ODI scores between the two groups 1 day and 2 weeks after operation (all P<0.05). There was significant difference in ODI score between the two groups 1 day after operation and 2 weeks after operation (all P<0.05). The anterior height of vertebral body in unilateral puncture group was (18.26±2.40), (21.97±1.17), (22.03±1.35) mm before operation, 1 day and 2 weeks after operation, and that in bilateral puncture group was (18.94±1.80), (22.06±2.79), (20.29±1.19) mm.The results of repeated measurement ANOVA showed that F intra-group=51.228, P<0.001, F inter-group=1.594, P=0.212, F interaction=6.452, P=0.002.There were significant differences in the anterior vertebral height between the two groups 1 day and 2 weeks after operation (all P<0.05). The height of vertebral midline in the unilateral puncture group was (17.97±2.14), (26.13±1.43), (26.00±1.79) mm before operation, 1 day and 2 weeks after operation, and in the bilateral puncture group was (18.84±1.77), (24.74±1.77), (24.68±2.06) mm.The results of repeated measurement ANOVA showed that F intra-group=358.837, P<0.001, F inter-group=3.850, P=0.054, F interaction=9.117, P<0.001.There were significant differences in the height of vertebral midline between the two groups 1 day and 2 weeks after operation (all P<0.05). The Cobb angles in the unilateral puncture group were (21.74±2.11)°, (11.77±1.91)° and (10.94±1.12)° before operation, 1 day and 2 weeks after operation, respectively, and in the bilateral puncture group were (22.13±2.50)° and (12.0±2.38)° and (11.71±1.37°, respectively.The results of repeated measurement ANOVA showed that F intra-group=674.732, P<0.001, F inter-group=1.975, P=0.165, F interaction=0.376, P=0.688.There were significant differences in Cobb angle between the two groups 1 day and 2 weeks after operation (all P<0.05). There were significant differences in operation time ((52.0±3.8) min and (67.0±6.7) min), intraoperative fluoroscopy times ((15.0±5.8) times and (32.0±6.1) times), and bone cement injection volume ((4.6±0.3) mL and (5.0±0.1) mL) between unilateral puncture approach group and bilateral puncture approach group (all P<0.001). Conclusion:Unilateral and bilateral PKP combined with hyperextension reduction can alleviate the pain of OVCF, restore the lost vertebral height and correct kyphosis.The unilateral puncture approach PKP combined with hyperextension reduction has the advantages of shorter operation time, concise operation process, fewer times of intraoperative fluoroscopy and less use of bone cement.

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a significant cause of the severe cognitive decline in the elderly population. There is no cure for iNPH, but cognitive symptoms can be partially alleviated through cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion. In the early stages of iNPH, cognitive deficits occur primarily in the executive functions and working memory supported by frontostriatal circuits. As the disease progresses, cognition declines continuously and globally, leading to poor quality of life and daily functioning. In this review, we present recent advances in understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of cognitive impairment in iNPH, focusing on (1) abnormal CSF dynamics, (2) dysfunction of frontostriatal and entorhinal-hippocampal circuits and the default mode network, (3) abnormal neuromodulation, and (4) the presence of amyloid-β and tau pathologies.
Aged ; Cognitive Dysfunction/etiology* ; Humans ; Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure/diagnosis* ; Peptide Fragments ; Quality of Life ; tau Proteins

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) incidence is rapidly increasing and become the most common chronic liver disease globally. NAFLD also possesses a risk of developing cardiovascular, kidney, and other diseases. To date, NAFLD still faces difficulties in early diagnosis and treatment options. Thus, early detection, prevention, optimally individualized treatment selections, and prediction of prognosis all are the keys in clinical NAFLD control. Although there are assessment tools available for NAFLD severity appraisal using different clinical parameters, it becomes a hot topic of research in the field for how to optimize non-invasive assessment methodologies. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are increasingly being used in healthcare, especially in assessment and analysis of chronic liver disease, including NAFLD. This review summarized and discussed the most recent progress of AI and machine learning in differential diagnosis of NAFLD and evaluation of NAFLD severity, in order to provide treatment selections, i.e., the novel AI diagnosis models based on the electronic health records and laboratory tests, ultrasound and radiographic imaging, and liver histopathology data. The therapeutic models discussed the personalized lifestyle changes and NAFLD drug development. The NAFLD prognosis model reviewed and predicted how NAFLD-changed liver metabolisms affect prognosis of patients. This review also speculated future prospective research hot spots and development in the filed for how to utilize the existing AI models to distinguish NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and assess NAFLD fibrosis status.