Objective To assess the value of CT perfusion imaging in differentiation of mild from moderate liver fibrosis .Methods 18 patients with mild liver fibrosis (F1 phase) and 21 ones with moderate fibrosis (F2 and F3 phase) confirmed by liver biopsy were analyzed ,and all patients underwent the liver 256‐slice CT perfusion imaging .The differences in the CT parameters including hepatic arterial perfusion (HAP) ,portal venous perfusion (PVP) ,total liver perfusion (TLP) and time to peak (TTP) between dif‐ferent fibrosis were analyzed .ROC curve was used to evaluate the ability of perfusion indexes to distinguish mild from moderate liver fibrosis ,then the maximum Youden index was selected as a cutoff point to calculate the sensitivity and specificity .Results Compared with the mild fibrosis ,the TTP [(43 .86 ± 13 .41)s vs (37 .84 ± 9 .97)s ,P=0 .034)] in liver with moderate fibrosis was significantly increased .However ,no differences in the HAP ,PVP and TLP were found .The ROC curve analysis showed that a TTP threshold of 41 .7 s allowed discrimination of mild from moderate fibrosis with a sensitivity of 72 .7% and a specificity of 75% .Conclusion 256‐slice CT perfusion imaging can reflect the hemodynamic changes of liver fibrosis ,and the TTP may help to discriminate mild from moderate fibrosis .

To study the chemical components and the antifungal activity of extraction from conidia of Trichoderma viride LTR-2.The extraction were obtained by distilling with Methylene dichloride from conidia of Trichoderma viride LTR-2 cultured on wheat bran solid matrix.Antifungal activity were determined by mycelium growth method.The chemical components of the extraction were analysed by GC-MS,the relative components in the extraction were determined by area normalization.The extraction not only have broad-spectrum control,showed antibiosis against eleven different plant fungal pathogens in PDA dish,such as Rhizoctonia solani,Alternaria brassica,Verticillium dahliae,Macrophoma kawatsukai,Fusarium moniliforme,Botrytis cinerea,Rhizoctonia cerealis,Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.vasinfectum,Bipolaris sorokinana,Fusarium graminearum,Alternaria.mali,but also have high inhibitory effect,and had 89.3% suppressive rate to Rhizoctonia cerealis.About sixty components were separated and identified by GC-MS,majority components were Hydrocarbon,the number of the Hydrocarbon were fourty-three kinds.Ergosterol was the major chemical components of the extract,and has 41.90% content.Other components comprised:Ketone,Organic acid,Alcohol,Ene,et al.Conclusion:The extraction from conidia of Trichoderma viride LTR-2 have antifungal activity.The extration comprised 2H-Pyran-2-one,5,6-dihydro-6-pentyl,it has 2.35% content.reference others literature,2H-Pyran-2-one,5,6-dihydro-6-pentyl may be the suppressive component of the extration.

OBJECTIVETo screen and identify the differentially expressed genes in hepatocellular carcinoma cells SMMC-7721 responsing to the aqueous extract from dried powdered rhizomes of Typhonium giganteum (AEoTGE).

METHODThe response of hepatocellular carcinoma cells SMMC-7721 to AEoTGE was explored with the technique of mRNA differential display.

RESULTAfter hepatocarcinoma cells SMMC-7721 were treated by AEoTGE for 36 hours, 1 gene expression was upgrade and 1 gene expression was downgrade induced by AEoTGE.

CONCLUSIONThe research has provided important clues for the molecular mechanism of how hepatocarcinoma cells responseing to T. giganteum.

Araceae ; chemistry ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Rhizome ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo design DNA microarray and investigate the molecular anti-tumor mechanism of herbs of traditional Chinese medicine.

METHODcDNA microarrays consisting of 56 probes representing 24 human cell cycle genes were constructed, Four anti-hepatocarcinoma herbs including Radix Linderae, Hebra Artemisiae Annuae, Radix Amebiae, Radix Astragli, were chosen. Effects of herbs on SMMC-7721 cell cycle were observed by flow cytometry assay. Effects of herbs on cell cycle gene expression in SMMC-7721 cells were analyzed by comparing hybridization of Dig-Labeled cDNAs from herb-treated cells and cDNAs from untreated cells.

RESULTExpressions of cell cycle geneswere changed in different degrees after herbs treated. Some genes were down-regulated and some genes were up-regulated. The changes in gene expression agreed with the results of flow cytometry assay.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that these herbs may have effects on cell cycle and DNA damage checkpoint genes which may be the mechanism of the herbs, and DNA microarray can be used to investigate the biological function of extracts of traditional Chinese medicine.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Astragalus membranaceus ; chemistry ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Gene Amplification ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Genes, cdc ; drug effects ; Humans ; Lindera ; chemistry ; Lithospermum ; chemistry ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; cdc25 Phosphatases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo elucidate intracellular signal pathway in formation of multidrug resistance (MDR) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) induced by its microenvironment, and to explore the potential role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK/MAPK) pathway in this process.

METHODSActivity of ERK/MAPK was examined by Western blot technique through comparing the ratio of phosphorylation of ERK/MAPK to total ERK/MAPK protein in HepG2 cells exposed to hypoxia, low glucose or transfected by plasmid pcDNA3/HBX. After being treated by the specific ERK/MAPK pathway inhibitor U0126, Western blot technique was used to analyze the alterations of the expression of P-gp, MRP1, LRP and HIF-1alpha at protein level. RT-PCR was used to analyze the alterations of the expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA. Cellular location of HIF-1alpha protein was determined by immunocytochemistry after being treated by U0126.

RESULTSThe activations of ERK/MAPK determined by the ratio of phosphorylated ERK/MAPK to the total ERK/MAPK were increased in varying degrees in HepG2 cells respectively exposed to different microenvironment. After being treated by U0126 for 12 h, the expressions of mdr1, MRP1, LRP genes and protein in those cells were decreased to some extent. However, the gene expression of HIF-1alpha was not influenced and only its protein was decreased. HIF-1alpha protein was reversely translocated into cytoplasm from nucleus after being treated by U0126.

CONCLUSIONSERK/MAPK pathway is involved in the course of the formation of MDR of HCC induced by microenvironment.

Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; physiology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate therapeutical effect of combined hepatic resection and fenestration on patients with severe adult polycystic liver disease (APLD).

METHODSPreoperative clinical symptoms, postoperative complications and prognoses from 33 patients with severe adult polycystic liver disease (APLD) treated with combined hepatic resection and fenestration were recorded. According to the number and location of cysts before surgery and the remnant liver parenchyma after operation, all patients were classified into two types: class A and B. And patients in each type were further classified into three grades: Grade I, II and III. The frequency of postoperative complications of two types patients was compared.

RESULTSThe mean follow-up time was 57 months. There were three patients with recurrence of symptoms at 81, 68 and 43 mouths after operation. Two patients died of renal failure due to polycystic kidney disease at 137 and 85 mouths after operation. And one patient with postoperative hepatic inadequacy received an orthotopic liver transplantation. The total number of patients with postoperative complications was 26 cases, including one patient with bleeding, two patients with bile leakage, fourteen patients with mild ascites, twelve patients with severe ascites and eighteen patients with pleural effusion, and the overall incidence was 78.8%. There were 22 patients with imaging data, including 6 patients within A type and sixteen patients within B type. The frequencies of postoperative complications were 4 and 31, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (Chi-square test = 4.99, P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCombined hepatic resection and fenestration is a safe and acceptable procedure for the treatment of severe APLD.

Adult ; Aged ; Ascites ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Cysts ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Liver Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Postoperative Complications ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome

Endolymphatic sac papillary tumor (ELST) is an extremely rare and aggressive tumor characterized by hearing loss and temporal bone destruction. A case with clinical, imaging, pathologic and treatment data is reported and relevant literature is reviewed. A 25-year-old woman, with ELST underwent craniotomy for tumor subtotal resection, and the diagnosis was confirmed by pathologic examination. Postoperative radiotherapy consisted of 50.4 Gy/28 f was given accordingly. The patient is currently alive with no signs of tumor recurrence locally and no radiation side-effects observed after one year follow-up. Complete resection is impossible in most cases, local resection, adjuvant radiotherapy may provide favored local control. A long-term follow-up is highly advocated in consideration of its slow development course.
Adult ; Ear Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Endolymphatic Sac ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Radiography

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of multidrug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma induced by hypoxia and the potential role of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) and multidrug resistance related genes.

METHODSHuman hepatocarcinoma cell lines HepG2 cells were exposed to hypoxia and were transfected by plasmid HIF-1 alpha/PCDNA3, respectively. The expressions of multidrug resistance gene (mdr1), multidrug resistance protein (MRP1), and lung resistance protein (LRP) gene at the mRNA and the protein levels in the above two groups were respectively analyzed by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western-blot technique.

RESULTSIn the hypoxia group, the expressions of mdr1, MRP1 and LRP were stepped up correlating to the degree of hypoxia, especially the prominent increase in the expression of MRP1. Furthermore, they were synchronous with the changes of the expression of HIF-1 alpha. Also the increased expression of mdr1, MRP1, and LRP gene was observed in transfected HepG2 cells by plasmid HIF-1 alpha/PCDNA3.

CONCLUSIONSResistance of hepatocellular carcinoma to chemotherapeutics could be induced by hypoxia. HIF-1 alpha may be critical to the upregulation of the expression of the related multidrug resistance genes induced by hypoxia. HIF-1 alpha and these related multidrug resistance genes could be potential molecular targets for reversing multidrug resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Cell Hypoxia ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; physiology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; physiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, MDR ; genetics ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; Vault Ribonucleoprotein Particles ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of kushenin in treating patients with chronic hepatitis C after renal transplantation.

METHODSFifty-five patients were randomly assigned by lottery to the treatment group (29 cases) and control group (26 cases). The same immunosuppression therapy was given to all patients in both groups. Patients in the treatment group were treated with kushenin 0.6 g once a day, while those in the control group were treated with conventional liver protective agents such as vitamins. The treatment duration of both groups was 3 months. The incidences of serious hepatitis and acute rejection reaction, serum biochemistry parameters including indicators of liver and kidney functions, hepatic fibrosis index, and serum HCV-RNA were compared between the two groups.

RESULTS(1) The incidence of serious hepatitis in the treatment group and the control group was 3.45% (1/29 cases) and 11.54% (3/26 cases), respectively, which was insignificantly different between the two groups (P=0.335). (2) The incidence of acute rejection in the treatment group was 6.90% (2/29 cases) and that in the control group was 7.69% (2/26 cases), showing insignificant difference (P=0.335). (3) The differences in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), direct bilirubin (DBIL), hyaluronic acid (HA), propeptide collagen type III (PC III), laminin (LN), collagen type IV (Col IV) levels between the two groups were insignificant before transplantation (P>0.05), while the above-mentioned parameters in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group after transplantation (P<0.05). The difference in serum creatinine (SCr) and endogenous creatinine clearance rate (CCr) between the two groups was insignificant before and after transplantation (P>0.05). (4) The negative conversion rate of HCV-RNA in the treatment group was 31.03% (9/29 cases), significantly higher than the value of 11.54% (3/26 cases) in the control group after transplantation (P<0.05). (5) The levels of serum ALT and DBIL in patients with HCV-RNA converted to negative were significantly lower than those with still-positive HCV-RNA (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSKushenin has a certain effect on inhibiting the proliferation of HCV, protecting liver cells, and anti-liver fibrosis. On the other hand, it has no obvious influence on renal allograft function. Thus, the drug is clinically safe and effective for use in treating patients with chronic hepatitis C after renal transplantation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Graft Rejection ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Function Tests ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Pterocarpans ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Viral ; blood

OBJECTIVETo confirm the malignant phenotype of hepatocarcinoma cell (HCC) lines at various stages of differentiation (MHCC97L, MHCC97H and HCCLM3) and to explore their expression levels of cancer stem cell (CSC) markers.

METHODSThe invasive and proliferative properties of each HCC line were assessed by transwell assay and the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) colorimetric assay. Sensitivity to chemotherapy was assessed by treatment with oxaliplatin and determination of the half inhibitory concentration (IC50). The expression of CD90, EpCAM and CD24 was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe number of cells that migrated through the invasion assay membrane were significantly different between the three HCC lines: HCCLM3 (30.57 +/- 8.95) more than MHCC97H (21.33 +/- 4.17) more than HCC97L (9.33 +/- 3.85), P less than 0.01. The IC50 was significantly different between the three HCC lines: HCCLM3 (36.57 +/- 6.95) mumol/L more than MHCC97H (26.35+/-3.88) mumol/L more than MHCC97L (17.68 +/- 3.25) mumol/L. The CSC marker with the highest expression on all three HCC lines was CD90 (HCCLM3: 0.92% +/- 0.21%, MHCC97H: 1.98% +/- 0.23%, and MHCC97L: 2.55% +/- 0.34%), followed by EpCAM (2.11% +/- 0.32%, 3.23% +/- 0.18%, and 4.38% +/-0.49%, respectively), and CD24 as the lowest (0.68% +/- 0.37%, 1.22% +/- 0.26%, and 1.36% +/- 0.24%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONHigher expression of CSC markers on HCC lines is associated with a stronger invasive ability and higher sensitivity to chemotherapy.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; CD24 Antigen ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecule ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Thy-1 Antigens ; metabolism