Objective To compare the successful ratio, efficacy and complications between ultrasound-guided and X-ray-guided endoscopic biliary drainage (EBD). Methods EBD was performed in 62 patients under ultrasound guidance and 54 patients under X-ray guidance. Serum bilirubin, the bile duct diameter and the changes of clinical symptoms were compared before and after the procedure. Results Tube placement was successfully achieved in 54 of 62 patients under ultrasound guidance and 51 of 54 patients under X-ray guidance. The serum direct bilirubin and the common bile duct diameter in patients with ultrasound guidance before and one week after procedure were (205.41±115.27) μmol/L vs. (106.47±82.16) μmol/L and (12.6±7.1) mm vs. (8.5±3.1) mm, respectively, with significant difference (all P values<0.05). Whereas they were (211.14±106.25) μmol/L vs. (110.89±59.47) μmol/L and (13.1±7.0) mm vs. (8.8± 3.2) mm, respectively, in patients with X-ray guidance (P<0.05). No complications such as abdominal pain, fever and elevated amylase were found in patients with ultrasound guidance, while 3 patients (5.9%) with X-ray guidence had above complications. Conclusions X-ray is a most effective method in guidance of EBD. However, ultrasound guidence, which may avoid unfavorable factors such as X-ray radiation and allergic contrast agent, has some advantages including real-time display, mobile convenience and emergency bedside application. It can instead of X-ray in performance of endoscopic nasobiliary drainage and endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage in patients with bile duct stone and mild narrow ducl caused by tumors.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous microwave ablation in the treatment of hypersplenism.Methods From March 2007 to May 2011,38 patients with hepatitis B virus caused liver cirrhosis and complicated with hypersplenism received percutaneous microwave ablation treatment for several times.Before percutaneous microwave ablation treatment,the volume of spleen was calculated according to 3D computed tomography (CT) scan.Ultrasound,blood routine,urine routine,liver function test,kidney function test,serum amylase and lipase were also tested.For the first time,1/3 volume of spleen was ablated.If no complication were observed in one week after ablation,then another 1/3 volume of spleen was ablated.Blood routine and liver function test were checked on the 1st,3rd and 5th day after microwave ablation.Blood routine,liver function test and ultrasound were examined on 7th and 14th day after microwave ablation.On the 30th day CT examination was conducted.Ultrasound,blood routine,urine routine,liver function test,kidney function test,serum amylase and lipase were detected at one month,three month and every three month after microwave ablation.The follow up duration was over two years.The t-test was performed for clinical data comparison.Results The mean ratio of ablated spleen was (47 ±5)％ (range 41％ to 57％).Preoperative white blood cell count was (2.46±0.78)× 109/L,which gradually increased after operation and peaked on the 3rd day after operation ((5.34 ± 2.10) × 109/L).Then gradually decreased,which was (3.16 ± 1.02) × 109/L at 24 month and the difference was statistically significant compared with that of preoperation (t=-3.349,P＜0.01).Preoperative platelet count was (46.58 ± 17.30) × 109/L,which gradually decreased after operation and was lowest on the 3rd day after operation.Then gradually increased,which peaked at 30 days after operation ((101.79 ± 25.80) × 109/L) and then gradually decreased,which was (61.97 ± 15.09) × 109/L at 24 month and the difference was statistically significant compared with that of preoperation (t＝-4.135,P＜0.01).The inner diameter of portal vein was (14.66±0.88) mm preoperation,which was (13.22±0.64) mm at three month after operation and the difference was statistically significant compared with that of preoperation (t=8.145,P＜0.01).It was (14.64±0.81) mm at six month after operation and the difference was not statistically significant compared with that of preoperation (P＞ 0.05).The major adverse effects were fever,left upper abdominal pain,left shoulder pain,pleural effusion,intraperitoneal hemorrhage and temporary hemoglobinuria which all recovered after symptomatic treatment.No severe complication such as uncontrollable bleeding,splenic abscess,spleen rupture and the surrounding organ injury and treatment related death were observed.Conclusion Percutaneous microwave ablation for several times could safely destroy suitable volume of spleen,increase platelet and white blood cell count,improve portal hypertension and with rare complications,which might be a minimally invasive techniques with clinical application value in the treatment of the hypersplenism.

OBJECTIVETo explore the involvement of hepatitis B X protein (HBx) in promoter 3 (P3)-driven mRNA overexpression of the insulin-like growth factor II gene (IGF-II) and investigate the underlying epigenetic mechanism.

METHODSLevels of P3 and HBx mRNA and status of P3 methylation were analyzed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples, with and without hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and bisulfite sequencing. In addition, the levels of P3 mRNA and P3 methylation were examined in HepG2 cells stably overexpressing HBx (HepG2-HBx). Finally, P3 promoter-luciferase constructs were cotransfected into HepG2 cells along with an HBx-expressing plasmid, and the effects of HBx on transcriptional activity and methylation of P3 were analyzed. Statistical analyses of the data were conducted by chi square test, Fisher's exact test, Student's t-test, Marn-Whitney U test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient test.

RESULTSThe HBV-positive HCC specimens had significantly higher levels of P3 mRNA than the HBV-negative HCC specimens (-9.59 ± 3.22 vs. -12.97 ± 3.08 delta CT; P=0.006) but significantly lower levels of P3 methylation (mean values for the 17 CpG sites (36.9% ± 15.5% vs. 52.1% ± 19.1%; P=0.025). The P3 transcript abundance was positively correlated with the level of HBx expression and negatively correlated with the level of P3 methylation. The epigenetic results from experiments with the HepG2-HBx cells were similar. Transfection of HBx significantly decreased P3 methylation level and increased its activity.

CONCLUSIONHBx expression may promote IGF-II expression by inducing hypomethylation of its P3 promoter in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; pharmacology