Liver failure progresses rapidly,and patients with this disease are usually in a critical condition.The medical treatment of liver failure has unsatisfactory results,leading to a high mortality.How to accurately judge the prognosis of patients with liver failure according to their clinical manifestations and laboratory test results is a very good guide for clinical treatment strategies and donor liver allocation.The prognostic models for liver failure,such as CTP score,MELD and its derivative scoring system,KCH criteria,SOFA score,APACHE sco-ring system,SMSVH score,Clichy criteria,and ANN,are reviewed.These models are used to guide the development of clinical treatment strategies and screen out patients eligible for liver transplantation.In addition,the prognostic values of these models for liver failure and their differences are evaluated.

To describe and evaluate a refraction-derived method and a clinically derived method to calculate the correct corneal power for intraocular lens (IOL) power calculations after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and to compare the results to the commonly used history-derived method. Retrospective analysis were conducted in consecutive case from clinical practice. For each patient, we established the pre-LASIK and post-LASIK spectacle refraction, the pre-LASIK (K(pre)) and post-LASIK K readings (K(post)). We then calculated the pre- and post-LASIK refraction at the cornmeal plane and the amount of correction obtained by the refraction surgery (deltaSEQco). The cases were divided into two groups. Group I was used to derive two formulas. The values obtained with the two methods were compared with the K by history-derived method (K(c.hd) in group II to validate the results. The K values calculated by using the refraction-derived method (K(c.rd)) and the K values calculated using the clinically derived method (K(c.cd)) correlated highly with K(c.hd). The correct corneal power for intraocular lens (IOL) power calculations after LASIK can use refraction-derived method and clinically derived method instead of history-derived method when some refractive parameters are not available.

Changes of corneal properties induced by laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) results in low inaccurate intraocular pressure (IOP) readings by Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT). Before and after LASIK, the applied value of IOP, measured by dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) in comparison to GAT, was evaluated. Before and 1, 4 weeks after LASIK, the IOP in 30 cases (60 eyes) was measured by GAT and DCT respectively. The obtained results were statistically processed by SPSS11.5 statistical software. The results showed that central corneal thickness (CCT) could affect GAT measurements but not DCT measurements. The comparison of IOP one and 4 weeks after LASIK revealed that the readings from GAT was separately decreased by 5.00 +/- 1.12 and 5.45 +/- 1.13 mmHg as compared with those before LASIK, while those from DCT had no significant difference. It was concluded that LASIK-induced changes of CCT could influence the accuracy of GAT measurements, but had no influence on those from DCT. DCT was more beneficial to the measurements of IOP in normal eyes and those subject to LASIK surgery.

Objective To investigate the roles of cystatin C (CysC) and serum creatinine (Scr) in acute renal injury of patients with shock. Method A total of 71 patients with shock, 42 male and 29 female, were enrolled from February 2006 to June 2007. Patients with kidney disease or renal insufficiency were excluded. All of patients were assigned to 4 groups as per the duration of shock. The blood samples were taken from patients for measurements of CysC and Scr during the periods of 1 hr,2 hr,and 4 hr of shock and 72 hr and 7 days after correction of shock. The corrected GFR (cGFR) and decreased GFR (dGFR) were calculated. The levels of Scr and dGFR could be used to classify the acute renal injury into stages according to the Acute Kidney Injury Diagnosis Criteria. The positive detection rates of different methods were compared. The levels of CysC, Scr and cGFR were statistically analyzed. Data were studied by using Pearson's correlation analysis, Results The elevation of CysC appeared sooner than that of Scr in all shock patients. Contrarily, the high level of CysC lowered to normal level much slower than that of SCR after correction of shock. The CysC increased 1 hour after shock. The GFR was negatively correlated with CysC and Scr, especially in the early stage of shock. Conclusions The renal dysfunction appears in the early stage of shock. The CysC assayed is more sensitive in the stage 1 of renal injury than Scr.

Objective: To explore the significance of Th17 in hepatocellular carcinoma, expecially with HBV infection.Methods:Cytometric bead array(CBA) was employed to detect 5 cytokines(IL-2,IL-4,IL-6,IFN-γ,IL-17A)from 39 tumor and non-tumor tissues of HCC and combined clinical data for comparative statistic analysis.Results:The expression of IL-2,IL-4,IFN-γin liver cancer tissue[(4.61±0.28),(3.37±0.58),(3.08±1.08)pg/ml,respectively] was significant lower than non-cancer tissue [(5.57±0.59),(3.77±0.70),(3.69±1.20)pg/ml,respectively].Otherwise,the expression of IL-6,IL-17A in cancer tissue [(280.09±254.68), (2.66±1.66) pg/ml, respectively] was higher than non-cancer [(6.58 ±1.92), (1.49 ±0.98) pg/ml, respectively].And,whatever cancer or non-cancer tissue,the expression of IL-17A in tissue[(3.45±1.86)pg/ml] with high HBV load (>1 000 U/ml) was significant higher than tissue with low HBV load[(1.97±1.16)pg/ml].Conclusion: IL-17A was highly expressed in HCC,and IL-2,IL-4,IFN-γmay inhibit its expression,and IL-6 may promote it.Hepatitis B virus infection may promote Th17 expression,thereby reducing patient′s prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(L-lactide)-b-poly(L-glutamic acid) (PEG-PLA-PGL) tri-block copolymers have good applied foreground in constructing tissue engineering scaffold materials. Whether endothelial cells survive and grow on the materials has a direct influence on the application as a biodegradable material for the scaffold of endothelial cell vector.OBJECTIVE: To explore the cytocompatibility of PEG-PLA-PGL tri-block copolymers with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).DESIGN: Randomized control observation.SETTING: the Second Hospital of Jilin University.MATERIALS: The experiment was carried out in the Department of Pathobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University from February to October in 2006. Human umbilical cord about 20 cm length came from one neonatal infant who was delivered normally after enough months in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Second Hospital of Jilin University. Human umbilical cord was sampled in the informed consents of the infant's family member. The experimentation was authorized by the medical ethic committee of the hospital. PEG-PLA-PGL membranes were provided by Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Inverted microscope and phase-contrast microscope were bought from Olympus Company (Japan).METHODS: HUVECs cultivated and grew steadily, were inoculated onto PEG-PLA-PGL membranes, serving as the experiment group. While the culture medium without PEG-PLA-PGL membranes were taken as the control group.①Cytocompatibility of PEG-PLA-PGL membranes with HUVECs was evaluated by observing cellular growth through phase-contrast microscope.②The proliferation index of cells was detected by MTT method in 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after inoculation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ①Cytocompatibility of PEG-PLA-PGL membranes with HUVECs;②The proliferation index of cells in l, 3, 5 and 7 days after inoculationRESULTS: ①Cytocompatibility of PEG-PLA-PGL membranes with HUVECs: The observation result of phase contrast microscopy showed that, endothelial cells planted on the PEG-PLA-PGL membranes began to attach and stretch after being planted 4-6 hours. Three days later, cells grew in colonies rapidly, after 5 days, colonies began to fuse and seemed like cobble-stone. The cells were shuttle or polygon in shape after passages. There were no significant differences between the experiment and control group. Cells cultured on PEG-PLA-PGL membranes for 15 days grew in inserts with membranes, but they didn't grow into patches through scanning electron microscope.②The proliferation index of cells: No significant differences of the proliferation index of cells were detected by MTT method in 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after inoculation between experiment group and control group (P＞0.05).CONCLUSION: Endothelial cells grow well in PEG-PLA-PGL membranes, and the two have good cytocompatibility.

Objective To explore the clinical value of CEUS guided biopsy of lymphoma in anterior mediastinum.Methods The data of 36 patients with lymphoma of anterior mediastinum underwent biopsy guided by CEUS and 36 patients by conventional ultrasound retrospectively.The successful rate of biopsy and rate of complication occurence were compared between the CEUS group and conventional ultrasound group.Results The successful rate of biopsy in CEUS group was 100％ (36/36),including 26 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL),10 Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL).The total times of puncture were 60 in 36 patients.The rate of complication occurrence was 11.11 ％ (4/36).The successful rate in conventional ultrasound group was 88.89％ (32/36),including 22 NHL,14 HL.The times of puncture were 91 in 36 patients.The rate of complication occurrence was 41.67％ (15/36).There were significant differences in successful rate and the rate of complication occurrence between two groups (x2 =4.235,8.651,P=0.040,0.003).Conclusion CEUS can reflect the microcirculation of lymphomas in anterior mediastinum,and can guide targeted biopsy.It can improve the successful rate of biopsy and reduce the complications.

Objective To explore the value of ultrasound imaging in complications associated with venous catheterization.Methods Patients (n =853) underwent ultrasound imaging examination after venous catheterization.Ultrasonography manifestations of venous catheterization complications and clinical curative effect were analyzed and summarized.Results Phlebitis,thrombus and mechanical complications were found by ultrasound imaging examination.Pneumothorax,hemothorax,arterial puncture and hematoma were among the main mechanical complications.Among the 853 patients,85 cases (9.96％) were found to have complications by ultrasound examination,with 35 cases (4.10％) of phlebitis,26 cases (3.05％) of catheter-related thrombus and 24 cases (2.81％) of mechanical complications.Conclusions In summary,a variety of venous catheterization complications can be diagnosed using ultrasound imaging non-invasively,effectively and efficiently.Real-time ultrasound imaging examination can dynamically monitor the develop ment and evolution of venous catheterization complications and effectively evaluate outcomes.

Objective To evaluate the functions of pancreatic islet α-cells and β-cells in different disease courses of type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods Two hundred and eighty three patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into 4 groups according to their disease courses:group A (course of disease ≤1 years),group B (1 years ＜ course ≤ 5 years),group C (5 years ＜ course ≤ 10 years) and group D (course ＞ 10 years).Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT),insulin releasing test and glucagon releasing test were performed to observe the differences of glucagon,glucagon/insulin,ratio of insulin increment/glucose increment 30 min after glucose-load (△I30/△G30),area under curve (AUC) of insulin in receiver operational characteristic (ROC) curve of insulin (AUCI) and glucagon among 4 groups and the correlation analysis was performed between glucagon and other indicators.Results (1) Glucagon,glucagon/insulin and AUC of glucagon increased significantly with the prolonged course of disease (P ＜0.05),0、30、60、120、180 min of group A were (71 ± 20)、(106 ± 36)、(143 ± 54)、(133 ± 68) 和 (87 ± 55) ng/L respectively,glucagon increased significantly with the prolonged course of disease,0、30、60、120、180 min of group D (80 ±19)、(125 ± 36)、(167 ± 47)、(178 ± 64)、(129 ± 65) ng/L respectively.(2) There were no significant differences in homeostasis nodel assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitive index (ISI) among 4 groups (P ＞0.05); compared to group A,HOMA of β-cell function (HOMA-β),△I30/△G30,AUCI in groups B,C and D were significantly lower (F =3.75,3.77 and 3.07 respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).(3) Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that glucagon was positively correlated with FPG and AUC of glucose (AUCG) (t =6.23 and 3.41,all P ＜ 0.05),and negatively correlated with AUCI/AUCG (t =-2.13,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions In order to reach the blood glucose control target,in the early stage of diabetes attentions should be given to regulation of glucagon while protect the β-cell function.

Objective To explore the safety of Habib VesOpen bipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) catheter used in the treatment of portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT). Methods A total of 10 miniature pigs were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group A(n=6):RFA of normal portal vein was directly performed;group B (n=2): balloon obstruction of the portal vein was performed first, which was followed by RFA for the fresh thrombus in the portal vein; group C (n=2): PVTT model was established first, and RFA of the portal vein was carried out when the portal thrombus became organized. MRI examination was employed at one, 3 and 4 weeks after RFA; the animals were sacrificed 4 weeks after RFA and pathological examination of portal vein was performed. Results Pigs of group A received portal vein RFA under the condition of 5 W power for 0.6-3.6 min. No obvious abnormality was detected by MRI and pathological examination , which were performed one month after the treatment. In the pigs of group B , MRI performed after RFA showed that the damage of portal vein area was more serious than that in the pigs of group A;abdominal MRI examination performed at one, 3 and 4 weeks after RFA showed that the portal venous edema was gradually decreased;pathological examination at one month after RFA demonstrated serious injury of adjacent liver tissue. Pigs of group C received portal vein RFA under the condition of 7 W power for 1.5 min; no obvious edema of the ablated area was observed on MRI performed after RFA , and pathological examination revealed organized thrombus necrosis and va scular endothelial cell damage. Conclusion When Habib VesOpen bipolar RFA catheter is used for the treatment of PVTT, the RFA power and time should be properly selected according to the severity of PVTT. In order to ensure a safer procedure, high power and short ablation time should be used when the severity of PVTT is mild, while low power and longer ablation time are recommended when the PVTT is more severe.