Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), also called Ito cells or lipocytes, are one of inherent liver nonparenchymal cell types located in the Dissé space between hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells, and account for up to 50%-80% of vitamin A in the form of lipid drops. The methods of primary HSCs isolation mainly focus on density gradient centrifugation combined with centrifugal elutriation, side scatter-activated cell sorting, UV-excited autofluorescence or antibody-based flow cytometry, etc., and will provide solid foundation for the research on physiological and pathological HSCs function. The research of this vitamin A-storing cells has developed and expanded vigorously. In physiological conditions, HSCs are quiescent and play pivotal roles in the synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) to maintain its stability with broad uptake and storage of vitamin A, and also regulate liver regeneration. But in pathological conditions, HSCs are activated by constant stimulations or liver injury, then with activated proliferation, reduced lipid drops, and increased ECM synthesis. Morphology of these cells also changes from the star-shaped stellate cells to that of fibroblasts or myofibroblasts with obvious contractibility and secretion of cytokines and chemokines including a variety of proinflammatory factors and adhesion molecules, suggesting that the activation of HSCs is one of the key events in the development of liver fibrosis. Study on the isolation and function of HSCs is always one of the hot topics for liver biology. In this review, we systematically summarize and discuss the recent advances in our understanding of the isolation methods and improvements of HSCs, and functional research of HSCs biology in health and disease, as well as potential directions.
Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Liver ; cytology ; Regeneration ; Vitamin A ; metabolism

Objective To describe the mastery of knowledge about antihypertensive drugs of clinical nurses in one tertiary comprehensive hospital of Beijing.Methods Purposive sampling was used to recruit 195 clinical nurses who were working in one tertiary comprehensive hospital in Beijing.The demographic questionnaire,knowledge of antihypertensive drugs questionnaire were filled.Results The score of knowledge of antihypertensive drugs Questionnaire was (45.63 ± 3.79) points;different education,wishes to take part in hypertension related knowledge training had significant differences (t =2.007,2.049,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Knowledge of antihypertensive drugs of clinical nurses in Beijing was at medium level.Those who indicated that it was not matter whether to attend hypertension related knowledge training and had low level of education had more problems in knowledge of antihypertensive drugs.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of multislice CT(MSCT)in multilocular cystic real cell carcinoma(MCRCC).Methods Imaging features of 22 patients with MCRCC proved by histopathologic examinations,these patients were underwent non-enhanced and dual-phase contrast-enhanced CT scans and evaluated CT signs.Results 22 tumors all appeared as well defined multilocular cystic mass.The cystic wall presented with irregular thicking in 14 cases and regular thicking in 8 cases.The tumors with thin coarse septum in 6 cases(the transverse diameter ≤2 mm),irregular thicking septum in 11cases(2mm ＜the transverse diameter ≤ 5 mm)and septum with nodule in 5 cases(the transverse diameter ≤ 5 mm).Cystic wall and septum enhancement were detected with dual-phase contrast-enhanced CT.Cystic ares and hemorrhagic areas and calcification were no enhanced.Calcification of cystic wall were found in 2 cases and cyst in 3 cases.Conclusion MSCT imaging appearances have typical features.It has great important value in the preoperative diagnosis of MCRCC with non-enhanced and dual-phase contrast-enhanced CT scans.

Hospital-acquired conditions (HACs)are key to patient safety.This paper introduced a new classification system of HACs,the CHADx model,and described the principle and method of establishing the model as well as the problems found during its use.The model can provide a basis for studying the problem of incidence,causes and influence factors of hospital acquired conditions,so as to help medical institutions to explore the causes of HACs and to ensure patient safety and improve the quality of health care.

Objective To investigate the relationship of the classification of Doppler ultrasound blood flow signals with matrix metalloprotei-nase-9 (MMP-9)expression and microvessel density (MVD)in primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC).Methods Sixty patients with PHC,who underwent surgical resection in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from April 2008 to April 2013, were included in the study.These patients underwent ultrasound examination before operation.The classification of Doppler ultrasound blood flow signals in the focus was recorded.The expression of MMP-9 and CD3 1 in carcinoma tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry, and MVD was calculated.Continuous data were analyzed by t test,while categorical data by chi-square test;the relationship was evaluated by Spearman correlation analysis.Results The classification of Doppler ultrasound blood flow signals was as follows:grade 0 (15 cases);grade 1 (20 cases);grade 2 (15 cases);grade 3 (10 cases).The positive rate of MMP-9 expression was 72.3%.The MVD was 43.2 ± 5.4.The classification of Doppler ultrasound blood flow signals in the focus was positively correlated with MMP-9 expression and MVD (r=0.56,P<0.05).Conclusion The classification of Doppler ultrasound blood flow signals can reveal vascular changes in the focus, and it can be used in the clinical evaluation of angiogenesis in tumor tissues and the clinical diagnosis and treatment of PHC.

Objective To study the effect of ATP sensitive potassium channel(KATP)opener on neuronal apoptosis and the expression of caspase-8 mRNA and protein in rats following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.Methods 200 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group,control group,KATP opener precondition group(KATP opener group)and KATP opener and blocker precondition group(KATP blocker group).The middle cerebral artery ischemia-reperfusion models were established by using the intraluminal suture occlusion method.Neuronal apoptosis were detected by TUNEL staining,the expression of caspase-8 mRNA and protein were detected by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR methods.Results(1)The numbers of apoptotic cells in KATP opener group at 12 h,24 h,48 h,72 h after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion were significantly less than those in control group and KATP blocker group(P

Objective To analyze the influence of atorvastatin on inflammatory mediators in patients with chronic renal failure combined anemia.Methods 120 patients with chronic renal failure combined anemia were selected and randomly divided into two groups.The patients in control group underwent regular maintenance hemodialysis(MHD),while the patients in observation group received MHD combined with atorvastatin.Comparison was made between two groups in the aspect of inflammatory mediators and clinical effect of anemia after 3 months.Results After three months treatment,TC,TG,LDL-C,BNP,hs-CRP,IL-6,TNF-α,were significantly decreased after treatment in observation group (P ＜ 0.05),which was (3.41 ± 1.24) mmol/L,(1.35 ± 0.58) mmol/L,(1.63 ± 0.83) mmol/L,(2.61 ±0.69)mmol/L,respectively and they were significantly improved than those in control group after treatment (P ＜ 0.05).The prescribed erythropoietin-stimulating agent dose in observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Atorvastatin could lead to lower micro-inflammation and reduce the dosage of erythropoietin-stimulating agent.

Objective To determine the efficacy of lifestyle interventions in adults with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).Methods MEDLINE (Pub Med),EMBASE,Science Citation Index (SCI),and Cochrane Database were retrieved for articles about the relations of lifestyle intervention and IGT.Searches were limited to English language publications.The RCTs outcome evaluated in this study included 2 h plasma glucose level and fasting plasma glucose,meta-analysis was carried oat by Stata 11.0 among articles for the inclusion and exclusion criteria.The difference of effects was expressed as standardized mean deviation(SMD).Results A total of 10 RCTs studies met the inclusion criteria.Lifestyle interventions were associated with a decline in 2 h plasma glucose and fasting plasma glucose level (SMD =-0.67,P＜0.01 ;SMD =-0.33,P＜0.01),but high heterogeneity was identified in this meta-analysis.Conclusion Physical,dietary and both combined interventions can reduce 2-h plasma glucose and fasting plasma glucose levels in adults with impaired glucose tolerance.As high heterogeneity was identified in this meta-analysis,more high quality research is needed.

Objective:To evaluate the difference of vestibular compensation between triple semicircular canal occlusion(TCO) and labyrinthectomy(LE)in guinea pigs.Material and Methods:TCO was performed on 8 guinea pigs,while LE was did on 7 guinea pigs.Behavior and ENG were recorded in detail preoperatively and repeatedly up to one month postoperatively according to the experiment design.Results:There was spontaneous nystagmus towards the nonoperated side on the first postoperative day and nystagmus absence during sinusoidal angular acceleration stimuli on the operated side was observed in all the animals.All the animals displayed head tilt towards the operated side (right)and an unsteady gait towards the right along the vertical axis after surgery,while the animals performed LE rolled towards the operated side.On the 3rd postoperative day,faint nystagmus appeared on the operated side,but the left and right nystagmus was significantly asymmetrical.The left and right nystagmus still remained asymmetrical on the 5th and 10th day postoperatively.From the 15th postoperative day,left and right nystagmus returned symmetrical in the animals performed TCO,while left and right nystagmus returned symmetrical only at the pendular amplitude of 120°,150°,180°,in the animals performed LE up to 30th postoperative day.There was a significant reduction of nystagmus to the operated side at the Pendular amplitude of 60°and 90° one month after the LE and there was 3 animals still displayed head tilt towards the operated side.Conclusion: the animals compensated faster and more completely after TCO than LE.

Objective To comparisom five methods of detection of eosinophil cells,in order to analyze the precision of the five methods.Methods The eosinophil cells of 100 patients were tested by using microscope、BC T5difft and flow cytometry are(0.249 ±0.112) × 109/L,(0.253 ±0.105) × 109/L,(0.252 ±0.103) × 109/L,(0.256 ±0.104) × 109/L and(0.259 ±0.101) × 109/L.There are no statistical differences(F = 1.225,P＞0.10)among the five methods.Conclusion The results of the five methods are all accurate;the automatic analyzer method and the flow cytometry method are simple and repeatable,but the equipment and reagents are more expensive;the microscope direct counting method is more complicated and less repeatable.