Stem cells research has generated markedly increasing interest and liver stem cells have enormous potential for clinical applications.Based on the development of modern cell biology,molecular biology and genetics,the fundamental study and clinical application of liver stem cells have been greatly progressed.This paper reviews current development of liver stem cells for clinical application.

AIM: To construct a recombinant adenovirus vector carrying AFP promoter to specifically express a targeting gene in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. METHODS: Based on the Adeno-X~TM Expression system, the CMV promoter was replaced by a 300 bp a-fetoprotein promoter. The EGFP(enhanced green fluorescent protein) gene as a report gene was inserted to the multiple-cloning site(MCS). The normal liver LO2 cells, hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and HeLa cells were infected by the recombinant adenovirus, respectively. Northern blotting and fluorescence microscope were used to detect the transcription level of EGFP gene and its protein expression, respectively. RESULTS: Northern blotting showed that the target gene was markedly transcribed in HepG2 cells, but slightly in LO2 and HeLa cells. Under the fluorescence microscope, strong EGFP expression was seen in HepG2 cells but very weakly in HeLa and LO2 cells. CONCLUSION: Under the control of the 300 bp human AFP promoter, the target gene carried by the recombinant adenovirus was expressed in the AFP-producing HepG2 cells at a very high level, but not or very weakly in AFP negative cells. This adenovirus system can be used as a new, potent and specific approach for the gene-targeting therapy for the AFP producing primary hepatoma. [

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic methods for hilar bile duct carcinoma. Methods The clinical data of 36 patients with hilar bile duct carcinoma from Jan 1998 to Jul 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. Results The misdiagnosis rate(39%) was high. All patients underwent a surgery. The median survival time of 16 patients treated by radical resection was 30 months. The 1,3,5-year survival rate was 93%,50% and 25% respectively. While the median survival time of the rest 20 patients treated by a variety of non-radical operation was 16 months with 1,3,5-year survival rate of 47%,8% and 0 respectively(t=2.585).Conclusions Early diagnosis and radical resection improves long-term survival of patients with hilar bile duct carcinoma.

In this study, we designed and synthesized 12 novel aloperine derivatives with different core structures. Among them, compound 3 with a ten-membered ring core was obtained through a special ring expansion reaction after γ-H Huffman elimination of quaternary ammonium salt, and the structure was verified by X-single crystal diffraction. Furthermore, their antiviral activity against human β-coronavirus HCoV-OC43 was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. Quaternary ammonium salt 2a and 3 had a good inhibitory effect against HCoV-OC43, and 2a had the highest anti-HCoV-OC43 activity with an EC₅₀ values of 3.77 μmol·L^-1 and a SI value of over 53.1. Schrӧdinger molecular docking results showed that both 2a and 3 might display their anti-HCoV-OC43 activity by directly acting on host TMPRSS2 and SR-B1. The results expanded the structural types of endocyclic aloperine and the function against coronavirus, and provided useful scientific data for the development of pharmaceutical applications of these compounds.

Background and purpose: The incidence and mortality of lung cancer ranked first in China. This study aimed to describe lung cancer survival in Shanghai, and provide background information for cancer prevention and treatment evaluation. Methods: Data of lung cancer cases diagnosed during 2002-2006, follow-up information and death report were collected from Shanghai Cancer Registry. Life table method and Ederer Ⅱ were used to calculate observed survival (OS) and relative survival (RS) respectively. Related demographic characteristics and status were also analyzed to present the survival situations of the lung cancer survivors in Shanghai. Results: In this study, 41802 lung cancer cases were included in analysis. The 5-year OS and RS for lung cancer were 13.75% and 20.23% respectively, and median survival time was 318 days. Survival rate was higher among females than males, with the 5-year OS of 15.49% and 13.00% respectively. The 5-year OS was higher among suburban residents (14.25%) than urban residents (13.23%). Survival rates decreased with increasing age and advanced stage. Patients aged 0-34 had a 5-year OS of 38.21%, while patients aged above 75 had a 5-year OS of 5.48%. Patients diagnosed with stage Ⅰ had a 5-year OS of 55.47%, while patients diagnosed with stage Ⅳ had a 5-year OS of 5.27%. Survival of lung cancer patients differed by tumor histological subtype. The 5-year OS of squamous lung cancer (24.40%) was higher than other histological types, followed by adenocarcinoma (22.26%), large cell (20.27%) and small cell lung cancer (12.22%). From 1972-1976 to 2002-2006, the 5-year OS of urban male patients increased from 6.8% to 12.4%, and 5-year OS of urban female patients increased from 7.3% to 14.9%. Analysis of RS gave the similar results. Conclusion: During the past 30 years, survival rate of lung cancer patients in Shanghai improved steadily, and the survival condition is above average among different countries and areas. However, survival rate of lung cancer is still low compared with other types of cancer. Future focus should be placed on the control of tobacco smoking, early detection by low-dose helical computed tomography and targeted therapy to further improve lung cancer survival.

Dunhuang medicine is a branch of Dunhuang studies, including the characteristics of Dunhuang ancient medical prescriptions and treatment technique.Dunhuang Dabupi Decoction has good efficacy in nourishing vitality and yin and promoting the production of body fluid. Professor WANG Dao-kun used the prescription to treat gastric stuffiness, gaining significant curative effect. This article summaried cases of using this prescription, to show the advantages of Dunhuang ancient medical prescription Dabupi Decoction for present use.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Environmental Monitoring ; instrumentation ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Geographic Information Systems ; Humans ; Satellite Communications ; instrumentation ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; epidemiology ; Snails ; parasitology ; Topography, Medical ; instrumentation ; methods

Objective To etiologically diagnose and analyze a patient with suspected cases of brucellosis,and to provide a experimental basis for the confirmation of the first case of human brucellosis in Guizhou province.Methods Conventional and molecular techniques [genus specific Brucella surface protein 31 PCR (BCSP31-PCR)and Brucella suis species-specific PCR (AMOS-PCR)] were used to identify suspicious bacteria strains isolated from the suspected patient of brucellosis.Results The results showed that the Brucella suspicious colonies were identified as Brucella melitensis biotype 3 using conventional tests and were further identified as Brucella spp.by genus specific Brucella surface protein 31 PCR (BCSP31-PCR) and classified as Brucella melitensis with Brucella abortus,Brucella melitensis,Brucella ovis,Brucella suis species-specific PCR(AMOS-PCR).Conclusions Laboratory diagnostic results show that the bacteria strain isolated from the suspected patient of brucellosis is Brucella melitensis biotype 3.It is the first case of human brucellosis in Guizhou province.

Objective: To assess the regional systolic and diastolic function of left ventricle before and after coronary stent implantation by pulsed wave Doppler tissue imaging (PW-DTI). Methods: Twenty-six patients with coronary artery disease ( CAD) involving only left anterior descending coronary artery ( LAD) were examined within 1-3 days before, 7 days and 30 days after coronary stenting with PW-DTI. Peak systolic , peak early diastolic, and peak late diastolic motion velocities ( Sm, Em, and Am respectively) were measured at 6 different sites on the basal and medial segments corresponding to the anteroseptal, postero-septal, lateral, anterior, inferior, and posterior walls of the left ventricle. Results:In corresponding segments depending on LAD blood flow supply, Sm was increased significantly 7 days after the stenting proce- dure. Em was also increased 7 days after the procedure in most of the corresponding segments. There were little changes in other segments that were independent on LAD blood flow supply. Conclusion: These findings suggest that there is an early improvement in the regional systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle after the coronary stenting, and that PW-DTI techniques could evaluate quantitatively the regional ventricular performance in patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effects of perindopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker on TGFbeta1 and TGFbeta receptor II mRNA, Smad3 and Smad7 on rat liver fibrosis.

METHODS60 Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (each group, n=15). Group 1 rats were not treated and served as healthy controls. The rats of groups 2,3,and 4 were injected with CCl(4) which induced liver fibrosis. After four weeks, group 3 rats started a treatment of perindopril, and group 4 rats with valsartan. All rats were sacrificed at the eighth week and their blood and livers were collected for analysis. The effects of perindopril and valsartan were evaluated by the levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFb1), and TGF receptor (TGFb1RII) mRNA in liver tissues by RT-PCR, the expressions and sites of TGFb1, Smad3 and Smad7 in liver tissue by immunohistochemical staining. The liver histopathology was also examined with HE staining, and the hydroxyproline in the liver and serum hyaluronic acid (HA) were examined using biochemsitry and RIA.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the levels of TGFb1, TGFb1RII mRNA and the expression Smad3 were significantly decreased in the two treated groups, and the expression of Smad7 was also remarkably increased in the livers of rats treated with perindopril or valsartan. The histological changes of fibrosis, the hydroxyproline in the livers and HA were also improved in the treated rats.

CONCLUSIONPerindopril and valsartan have a protective effect on liver injury and can inhibit hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl(4) in rats. Their mechanisms may be associated with their effects of down-regulating TGFb1, TGFb1RII mRNA and smad3, and up-regulating Smad7 which then resulted in suppressing the activation of hepatic stellate cells.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; Female ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; chemically induced ; metabolism ; Male ; Perindopril ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Smad3 Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Smad7 Protein ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Valsartan