Liver stem cells (LSCs) have the abilities of self-renewal, proliferation and differentiating to hepatocytes and bile duct epitheliums. LSCs research becomes a hotspet in liver diseases research areas now-adays. As the research deepening, LSCs would offer a new strategy for therapies of liver diseases. This re-view summarizes liver stem cells species, resources and the application in field of liver diseases.

Objective To study the value of CT lymphography (CT-LG) in evaluating axillary sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) of rabbit with breast cancer using 3D and curved planar reformation (CPR).Methods CT-LG examinations were completed on the VX2 rabbit models bearing breast cancer established by tumor tissue mass suspension injection.All raw data were transferred to a postprocessing workstation, then the 3D and CPR were used to show lymphatic vessel and lymph nodes.On the CT-LG images, one or several lymph nodes displayed firstly in the lymphatic drainage pathway was defined as the SLN which was then confirmed by the biopsy.Results (1) 20 rabbits bearing tumor underwnet CT-LG examinations, and both SLNs and draining lymphatic vessels were detected using 3D and CPR techniques.70% (14/20) of experimental rabbits had fine images, and 16 SLNs and 7 non-SLNs were demonstrated on 14 rabbits on CT-LG images with good quality.(2) 8 continuous lymphatic vessels displayed well, exhibiting a homogeneous and continuous tube with uniform contrast-medium filling on CPR images.Most lymphatic vessels demonstrated well, and the 14 vessels with local interrupt or fuzzy on 3D images showed continuous tubular contrast-filling with heterogeneous high-density on the CPR images from the injection sites to axillary SLN.Among 6 rabbits with poor images, 3 rabbits showed the SLN but without lymphatic vessels on 3D images, 2 showed only initial segment of lymphatic vessel,and 1 had no lymphatic vessel and SLN.(3) A total 24 SLNs were obtained by SLNB,including 18 metastatic SLNs and 6 negative ones.On CT-LG images, there were statistical differences between the metastatic and negative SLNs in the maximum diameter and filling defect (P=0.041 and P=0.001, respectively).However, the short diameter, shape and margin of SLNs had no statistical differences between the two groups (all P>0.05).Conclusion On CT-LG examinations, 3D and CPR images may show axillary SLNs and lymphatic vessels effectively,and CPR can demonstrate more details than 3D.The maximum diameter and fillingdefect of SLN are helpful for distinguishing metastatic and negative SLNs.

Objective With ordinary acupuncture as the control, to observe the feasibility and effectiveness of electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B2) points in treating primary trigeminal neuralgia.Method Forty patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia were randomized into a group of electroacupuncture at Jiaji points and an ordinary acupuncture group, 20 cases in each group. In the electroacupuncture group, Jiaji of C2and T1on the affected side were selected, while the points were selected by following the Acupuncture-moxibustion Therapeuticsin the ordinary acupuncture group. Carbamazepine (CBZ) was taken as the basic treatment for the two groups. A treatment course (3 weeks) was observed, and follow-up study was conducted every 4 weeks for a total of 12 weeks. The dose of CBZ, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) scores at each time point were recorded. The changes of the index in the two groups at each time point were compared.ResultAt the end of the treatment (the third week), the dose of CBZ, VAS and SF-MPQ scores all declined in the two groups, and the between-group differences were statistically insignificant (P>0.05). The follow-up study in the 7th week showed that the data of the observed indexes all decreased in the two groups, while the electroacupuncture group presented a more significant efficacy, and the between-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The follow-up studies in the 11th and 15th weeks showed that the data of the observed indexes continued to decline in the electroacupuncture group but began to increase in the ordinary acupuncture group, and the between-group differences were statistically significant (P<0.001).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Jiaji points and ordinary acupuncture both can reduce the dose of CBZ for patients with primary trigeminal neuralgia, improve pain and other discomforts as well as the negative emotions, but electroacupuncture at Jiaji can produce a more significant long-term efficacy compared to the ordinary acupuncture.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein ( H-FABP) and N terminal probrain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in sepsis patients with myocardium injury. Methods 118 sepsis patients were included as survivor group (68 cases) and death group (50 cases) according to their prognosis outcome. 50 healthy people were selected as control group. Creatase, H-FABP, NT-proBNP, APACHEⅡscore and 28 day morbidity of control group and sepsis patients were assessed at 1 h, 6 h after admission by physical examination . Results At 1 h after admission , APACHEⅡscore , H-FABP and NT-proBNP level in sepsis patients were significantly higher than control group (P < 0.05); APACHEⅡscore, H-FABP, NT-proBNP and cTnI level at 6 h after admission were higher than that at 1 h (P < 0.05); APACHEⅡscore, H-FABP and NT-proBNP level in death group were higher than survivor group at 1, 6 h after admission (P < 0.05), cTnI level at 6 h after admission was higher in death group (P < 0.05). Futhermore, H-FABP, NT-proBNP and cTnI at 6 h after admission were positively correlated with each other (both P < 0.05). At 6 h after admission , H-FABP showed a better predictive value of 28-day mortality than NT-proBNP and APACHEⅡscore (P < 0.05). Conclusion H-FABP and NT-proBNP may suggest important significance in early diagnosis and prognosis prediction of sepsis patients with myocardium injury.

Objective To detect the influence of rapamycin on the expression of 4 kinds of miRNAs and the effect cell autophagy.To study the relationship of miR-144 and Beclin-1 gene.Methods SKOV-3 cells were treated with 50 ng/mL rapamycin 2 hours and 10 nmol/L 3-methyl adenine 12 hours,the expression of miR-17,miR-20a,miR-144 and miR-155 was detected by RT-qPCR in SKOV-3 cell of different groups,the protein expression of Beclin-1 was detected by Western blot.The targeting effect of miR-144 on Beclin-1 gene was verified by the dual-luciferase reporter assay,Western blot and RT-qPCR.Results The expression of miR-17,miR-144 and miR-155 were in creased compared with NC groups in rapamycin group (P＜0.05);miR-17,miR-20a and miR-144 were down regulated compared with NC group in 3-MA group(P＜0.05);the protein of Beclin-1 was down expression compared with NC group in rapamycin group.miR-144 could suppress Beclin-1 expression by targeting the specific 3'untranslated region sequence of Beclin-1 gene.Conclusions miR-144 can inhibit the autophagy-related gene Beclin-1 expression and regulate the autophagy process in SKOV-3 cells.

Objective To investigate the image quality,radiation dose and iodine intake of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) in patients using low tube voltage (100 kVp) combination of different noise indexes (NI) and low concentration contrast agent.Methods A total of 80 patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) and other pulmonary diseases who had undergone CTPA were divided into four groups (A,B,C and D),with 20 patients in each group.Group A underwent 120 kVp CT scan protocol in combination with NI=25 and 370 mg iodine/ml contrast agent,while groups B,C and D underwent 100 kVp CT scan protocol in combination with NI=30,35,40,and 320 mg iodine/ml contrast agent,respectively.All images were restructured using 60％ adaptive statistical iterative algorithm 2.0.Objective image quality evaluation included CT values of pulmonary artery,noise values of pulmonary artery,signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR).Subjective image evaluation used a 5-point scoring method and was conducted by two independent radiologists.The CT dose index of volume (CTDIvol),dose-length product (DLP) and iodine intake was recorded,and the mean value was calculated.The DLP was converted to the effective dose (ED).Analysis of Variance or Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the differences among the four groups in terms of image quality,radiation dose and iodine intake.Results There was a significant difference in CT values of pulmonary artery among the groups A,B,C and D (P＜0.05),and the CT values of pulmonary artery of group A was the lowest.There was no significant differences in noises of pulmonary artery,SNR,CNR and subjective indexes scores among the groups A,B,C and D (P＞0.05).There was a significant difference in iodine intake among the groups A,B,C and D,iodine intake of the group A was the highest,iodine intake of the group D was the lowest.The iodine intake of groups B,C and D decreased by 12.4％ (42/340),13.2％ (45/340) and 15.0％ (51/340) relative to group A,respectively.There was a significant difference in radiation dose among the groups A,B,C and D,The CTDIvol,DLP and ED of group D decreased by 45.3％ (3.9/8.6),48.6％ (120/247) and 48.3％ (2.02/4.18) relative to group A,respectively (P＜0.01).Conclusion Low tube voltage combination with high NI value and low concentration contrast agent can more effectively reduce the radiation dose and iodine intake for CTPA while maintaining diagnostic image quality.

Objective To investigate the changes and significance of cerebral oxygen utilization coefficients (O2UCc) in patients with acute carbon monoxide poisoning (ACOP) after treatment with Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection combined with ganglioside.Methods A prospective study was conducted.Two hundreds and six patients with ACOP admitted to the Department of Emergency in Harrison International Peace Hospital Affiliated to Hebei Medical University from January 2011 to January 2016 were enrolled,and they were divided into Danshen Chuanxiongqin group,ganglioside group and Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection combined with ganglioside group (combined treatment group) by random number table.The changes in oxygen saturation of internal carotid artery blood (SaO2) and oxygen saturation of internal jugular vein blood (SjO2) were detected by blood gas analysis for all the patients before and 6 hours,1 day,3 days after treatment,and then according to the rate of oxygen utilization formula [O2UCc=S(a-j)O2/SaO2],O2UCc wascalculated.Before and after treatment,the changes of O2UCc in three groups were compared;after treatment for 14 days,the improvement of clinical symptoms,the incidence of delayed encephalopathy after acute carbon monoxide poisoning (DEACMP) and the 28-day mortality were observed.Results The total therapeutic effective rate of combined treatment group was significantly higher than that in either Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection group or ganglioside group [91.67％ (66/72) vs.77.27％ (51/66),77.94％ (53/68),both P ＜ 0.05].Before treatment,there were no differences in levels of O2UCc among three groups (P ＞ 0.05);after treatment for 6 hours and 1 day,the level of O2UCc in combined treatment group was obviously lower than either that of Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection group or of ganglioside group [6 hours:(38.13±7.95)％ vs.(42.96±7.58)％,(42.30±9.87)％,1 day:(28.42±5.41)％ vs.(33.27±7.53)％,(32.64 ± 6.76)％,all P ＜ 0.05],and the levels of O2UCc at 6 hours and 1 day after treatment had no statistical significant differences between those in Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection group and ganglioside group (P ＞ 0.05);after treatment for 3 days,the percentages of O2UCc levels were very close in Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection group,ganglioside group and combined treatment group [(23.87 ± 6.06)％,(22.38±6.09)％,(23.68 ±4.34)％,respectively,all P ＞ 0.05];The incidence of DEACMP and the 28-day mortality after treatment in combined treatment group were lower than those in Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection group or ganglioside group [the incidence of DEACMP:2.78％ (2/72) vs.12.12％ (8/66),14.71％ (10/68),the 28-day mortality:2.78％ (2/72) vs.13.64％ (9/66),16.18％ (11/68),both P ＜ 0.05];while the incidence of DEACMP and the 28-day mortality after treatment had no statistical significant differences between Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection group and ganglioside group (all P ＞ 0.05).No adverse reactions occurred in the three groups.Conclusion The treatment of Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection combined with ganglioside in treatment of ACOP patients can effectively reduce the O2UCc,decrease the occurrence of DEACMP and 28-day mortality,thus it may improve the prognosis,and the clinical curative effect is distinct.

Objective:To explore the arsenic trioxide (As 2O 3)-induced apoptosis of human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y cells) and the protection mechanisms of folic acid (FA) and vitamin B 12 (VB 12). Methods:SH-SY5Y cells were cultured in vitro and divided into six groups by group design: control group (normal cultured), arsenic exposed group (10.00 μmol/L As 2O 3), FA intervention group (0.30 mmol/L FA + 10.00 μmol/L As 2O 3), VB 12 intervention group (0.06 mmol/L VB 12 + 10.00 μmol/L As 2O 3), combined intervention group (0.30 mmol/L FA + 0.06 mmol/L VB 12 + 10.00 μmol/L As 2O 3) and reagent control group (0.30 mmol/L FA + 0.06 mmol/L VB 12). Cells in each group were cultured for 24 h ( n = 3). Flow cytometry was used to determine the apoptosis rate of cells in each group. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructural changes of the cells. The expression levels of mRNA and protein of apoptosis-related indicator B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X (Bax) were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting. The activity of cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase (Caspase) 3 was detected by luminescent assay. The above indicators were statistically analyzed. Results:There was statistically significant difference in the apoptosis rate among different groups ( F = 213.036, P < 0.05). The apoptosis rate in arsenic exposed group [(44.43 ± 3.54)%] was higher than that in control, FA intervention, VB 12 intervention, and combined intervention groups [(1.80 ± 0.06)%, (14.37 ± 0.13)%, (19.10 ± 1.56)%, (17.11 ± 2.34)%, P < 0.05]. Under transmission electron microscope, the apoptotic bodies, mitochondria swelling and degeneration, chromatin agglutination were observed in SH-SY5Y cells exposed to arsenic. The morphological and organelle changes of SH-SY5Y cells were significantly improved after respective and combined intervention of FA and VB 12. The expression levels of Bcl-2, Bax mRNA and protein were significantly different among different groups ( F = 5.178, 7.169, 6.142, 9.194, P < 0.05). The expression level of Bcl-2 protein in arsenic exposed group was lower than that in control group ( P < 0.05), and the expression levels of Bax mRNA and protein were higher than those in control group ( P < 0.05). The expression levels of Bcl-2 mRNA and protein in FA intervention group and combined intervention group were higher than those in arsenic exposed group ( P < 0.05), and Bcl-2 mRNA expression level in VB 12 intervention group was higher than that in arsenic exposed group ( P < 0.05). The expression levels of Bax mRNA and protein in FA intervention, VB 12 intervention and combined intervention groups were lower than those in arsenic exposed group ( P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in Caspase 3 activity among different groups ( F = 84.604, P < 0.05). Caspase 3 activity in arsenic exposed group was significantly higher than those in control, FA intervention, VB 12 intervention, and combined intervention groups ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:Arsenic exposure can lead to apoptosis and ultrastructural changes of SH-SY5Y cells. FA and VB 12 may effectively inhibit apoptosis through regulating Bcl-2/Bax pathway and decrease Caspase 3 activity, thus playing a protective role on nerve cells.

Background and purpose:Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy which is the third incidence and the fourth mortality in the worldwide. The main reason for the development of CRC is that the changes of genetic and epigenetic causes the tumor suppressor gene methylation silencing. This study aimed to investigate the plasma and stool GATA5 gene promoter methylation was detected in clinical diagnosis of CRC. Methods: To collect the paired plasma and stool specimens of 34 cases of healthy and 43 cases of patients with CRC. Methylation speciifc PCR (MSP) was respectively detected the GATA5 gene methylation levels of GATA5 gene in plasma and stool. And then separately analyzed their correlations with clinical and pathological parameters in gastric carcinoma. Results: The result of MSP showed that GATA5 gene promoter methylation rates in plasma and stool of CRC patients were 60.74%, 76.60%, respectively, were higher than those of healthy persons (6.47%, 32.35%). And the differences were statistically signiifcant (P=0.006 7, P=0.000 2, respectively). GATA5 gene methylation rates in plasma of CRC patients were closely related to clinical stage (P=0.000 5) and lymph node metastasis(P=0.020), while GATA5 gene methylation rates in stool of CRC patients had no signiifcant with clinical and pathological parameters. Conclusion:Detection of faecal GATA5 gene methylation level and supplemented plasma GATA5 gene methylation level can become a simple, non-invasive, sensitive and speciifc method for clinical diagnosis of CRC.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value of the promoter methylation of plasma RNF180 gene and its protein ex-pression for the detection of gastric cancer. Methods:Methylation-specific polymerase-chain reaction (MSP) and enzyme-linked immu-no-sorbent assay (ELISA) were performed to detect DNA methylation and protein expression of the RNF180 gene, respectively. The correlations of DNA methylation and protein expression of the RNF180 gene with the clinico-pathological parameters of gastric carcino-ma were then separately analyzed. Results:MSP showed that the methylation rates of the RNF180 gene were 62.75%and 21.88%in the plasma of patients with gastric carcinoma and healthy volunteers, respectively;this result indicated that the two groups significantly differed (P<0.01). The methylation of the RNF180 gene was associated with tumor size, clinical stage, tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis (P<0.05). ELISA results showed that the protein expression of the RNF180 gene [(23.22 ± 1.36)μg/mL] was significantly lower (P<0.01) in the plasma of patients with gastric carcinoma than in the plasma of healthy volunteers [(34.25 ± 2.44)μg/mL]. However, the protein expression of the RNF180 gene was not associated with clinicopathological parameters (P>0.05). Conclusion:The RNF180 gene is expressed at a hypermethylation rate, and the corresponding protein expression level is de-creased in the plasma of individuals with gastric carcinoma. Therefore, RNF180 gene methylation in plasma could be applied to detect microinvasion for the clinical diagnosis of gastric cancer.