Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of using basiliximab in place of a corticosteroid for immunosuppression following liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Chinese patients.Method The records of 178 patients with HCC who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation from January 2003 to December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed.All patients received immunosuppression therapy that contained either basiliximab (n =78) or steroids (n =100) in addition to tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil.Assessments included complications related to liver transplantation,occurrence of steroid side effects,recurrence of HCC,and patient and graft survival.Results A smaller proportion of patients receiving basiliximab than steroids experienced de novo diabetes (38.7％ vs.91.0％,respectively) or long-term de novo diabetes mellitus (4.0％ vs.30.3％,respectively) (both,P＜0.0001).The median overall and disease free survival was similar between basiliximab (50.8 months and 19.6 months,respectively) and steroid treated patients (64.2 months and 23.8 months,respectively).The 5-year overall survival and disease free survival rate was also similar between the basiliximab (42.5％ and 38.9％,respectively) and steroid (50.5％ and 39.2％) groups (all,P＞0.730).However,in patients who met the Milan criteria basiliximab was associated with greater 5 year overall survival rate than steroid therapy (88.9％ vs.57.4％,respectively,P =0.022).Conclusion It revealed that the non-steroid treatment does not increase the incidence of acute rejection but also can decrease the incidence of de novo diabetes in the patients with HCC following liver transplantation and prolong the survival time of patients who met the Milan criteria.

Objective To determine the optimum administration modality of netilmicin (NTM) by comparing the blood concentration, bactericidal activity, clinical effect and adverse reactions at two different regimen. MethodSerum concentration was determined by TDx (Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassy Technology). Serum bactericidal activity (SBA) was determined by microdilution method. ResultAll trough concentrations were

ObjectiveTo study the effects on hemodynamics of portal venous system of splenorenal shunt plus pericardia devascularization (SRS+PCDV), and evaluate the clinical significance of this operative procedure.MethodsThe hemodynamic parameters of portal venous system by Doppler color-flow imaging (DCFI) of 99 patients with portal hypertension (PH) were measured before and after operation.Results(1)In SRS group the postoperative portal venous flow (PVF), free portal pressure(FPP) decreased by (57?9)%, (52?5)% respectively (P0.05).(3)In SRS+PCDV group PVF,FPP decreased by (36?8)%, (34?10)% respectively(P

Since the release rate of protein in hydrogels is directly dependent upon the size of the protein and the hydrogel, how to deliver low molecular weight protein for prolonged periods has always been a problem. In this article, we present a usage of self-assembling peptide (P3) with the RGD epitope on its N terminus. The concentration of the released insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) was determined by UV-vis spectroscopy and the release kinetics suggested a notable reduction of the IGF-1 release rate. Cell entrapment experiments revealed that IGF-1 delivery by biotinylated nanofibers could promote the proliferation of the mouse chondrogenic ATDC5 cells when compared with cells embedded within nanofibers with untethered IGF-1.
Animals ; Biotin ; Cell Line ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Hydrogels ; chemistry ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Nanofibers ; Oligopeptides ; chemistry

ObjectiveTo evaluate the therapeutic effect of combined portoazygous devascularization and shunt on portal hypertension. MethodsThe data of 56 cases of portal hypertension treated with portoazygous devascularization and shunt from April 1987 to April 1999 was summarized. ResultsThere was no death in 54 patients receiving selective operation;of 2 cases receiving emergency operation, one died. Among 49 followed-up cases, there was one rebleeding,2 hepatic encephalopathy, and one died of liver failure 4 years after opeation. The mean portal pressure before and after operation was(3.42±0.46) kPa and (2.50±0.35) kPa, respectively. ConclusionCombined portoazygons devascularization and shunt not only decreases portal pressure but preserve hepatic blood flow to some extent.

Objective:To investigate the endothelialization and intermediate and long-term patency rate of prostheses seeded by CD34+ stem cells.Methods:sixteen crossbred dogs were randomized into 2 groups.Prostheses covered with ePTFE or Dacron were implanted into the abdominal aorta artery(AAA) and inferior vena cava(IVC).Twelve dogs were implanted by prostheses seeded by CD34+ stem cells,4 dogs were implanted by autogenous blood only as control.The prostheses were explanted at thirty or sixty or one hundred days.Light and electron microscopy were applied to examine endothelialization of prostheses.CD34 factor stain was used to identify endothelial cells.Results:All venous prostheses implanted by autogenous blood were blocked.Others were patent.Confluent endothelial cells appeared on the neointima of seeded prostheses.There were no endothelial cells in the no-implanted prostheses.Conclusion:Endothelialization and higher patency rate might be achieved in the prostheses covered with ePTFE or Dacron that were implanted by CD34+ stem cells.

ObjectiveTo induce human peripheral blood mononuclear cells differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4) in vitro and determine whether PKH26 could be used to serve as an effective tracer for the cells,and observe the ability of transplanted hepatocyte-like cells differentiate into hepatic cells in nude mice.MethodsGroup A and B were set up respectively.In Group A,mononuclear cells were cultivated without hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and fibroblast growth factor-4 (FGF-4) in cell culture.They were used as negative control group.In Group B,mononuclear cells were cultured with the administration of both HGF and FGF-4 to induce the differentiation into liver hepatocyte-like cells.The changes in cell morphology were observed and the expressions of AFP and CK 19 were detected by immunocytochemical staining in two groups at different times after induction.The hepatocyte-like cells differentiated from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells labeled by the fluorescent dye PKH26 injected into caudal vein in nude mice is experimental group.The nude mice injected with equal amount of normal saline in control group.The migration of the labeled cells into the liver are observed by the fluorescence microscope in the hepatic tissue sections of nude mice and the expressions of ALB were detected by immunocytochemical staining two weeks after the cells transplantation.ResultsCells in group B have a strong proliferative activity.It becomes large and oval,grows in colonies following induction.Cells in group A that showed spherical shape when peripheral blood mononuclear cells were just isolated are gradually becoming inconformity in morphology,spindle or fibroid,and a few cells are round:cells developed apoptosis and cracked following incubation.The expressions of AFP and CK19 were positive after induction in group B as detected by immunocytochemicat staining.Inversely,the expressions of AFP and CK19 were negative in group A after incubation.The experimental group showed numerous PKH26 labeled cells in the hepatic tissue sections of nude mice.But the control group did not show PKH26 labeled cells.The expressions of ALB were positive in the experimental group as detected by immunocytochemical staining after two weeks of the cells transplantation.ConclusionHuman peripheral blood mononuclear cells have the potential to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells under the induction of HGF and FGF-4.Additionally,PKH26 is an effective tracer in hepatocyte-like cell transplantation.The hepatocyte-like cells settled in hepatic tissue begin to differentiate into mature hepatocyte after two weeks of the cells transplantation.It plays hepatic cells function and expresses alhnmin.

BACKGROUND:Retinoic acid signaling pathways is very important in the formation pf nervous system, specialization of neurons and outgrowth of axons. The recent studies show that, retinoic acid plays an important role in the process of axonal regeneration, but few research reports its exact molecular mechanism.
OBJECTIVE:To analyze and summarize the mechanism underlying retinoic acid signaling pathways in the process of axonal regeneration.
METHODS:A computer-based online research was conducted among the VIP, CNKI, PubMed, BioMed Centeral, Springer, The Free Medical Journals, EBSCO and Foreign Journals Integration System between January 2000 and December 2013, with the key words of“retinoic acid, the central nervous system, nerve damage, axon regeneration, and mechanism”in Chinese and English. A total of 43 studies addressing the molecular mechanism of retinoic acid in axonal regeneration were screened. According to the supplementary documents, another five references were added. Repetitive research and atypical reports were excluded.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Fol owing acute central nervous system injury, axonal regeneration and functional recovery are extremely limited. For proper functionality fol owing injury, axons must regrow, reinnervate their targets, and remyelinate their axons. When the central nervous system injuries occur, retinoic acid signaling pathways express transcription factor retinoic acid receptorβ2 to induce axonal regeneration fol owing injury;in dorsal root ganglion neurons, cAMP levels are greatly increased by lentiviral retinoic acid receptorβ2 expression and contribute to neurite outgrowth. More recently, retinoic acid-retinoic acid receptorβ2 pathways directly transcriptional y repress a member of the inhibitory Nogo receptor complex, Lingo-1, under an axonal growth inhibitory environment in vitro as wel as fol owing spinal cord injury in vivo. Through these molecular mechanisms, retinoic acid signaling pathways play its important role in the process of axonal regeneration.

Objectives To evaluate modified transthoracic esophageal transection (modified Walker's procedure) for management of postoperative rebleeding of portal hypertension.Methods Since 1983,we adopted modified Walker's operation to make low esophageal transection and transect intraabdominal recurrent varix of the coronary vein in the treatment of esophageal variceal rebleeding in portal hypertensive patients who had received previous surgeries aiming at portal hypertension.Results In 53 cases of postoperative rebleeding of portal hypertension,49 cases underwent elective operation with no mortality,4 cases received emergency surgery,one died post-operatively due to hepatic failure.The postoperative control rate of recurrent bleeding was 100％,and the overall postoperative mortality was 2％.The longest postoperative survival time was 24 years,and the 5-year survival rate was 77％.There were no postoperative recurrent hemorrhage and hepatic encephalopathy.Conclusions Modified transthoracic esophageal transection (modified Walker's procedure) is easy to perform,good at saving operative time,with a reliable immediate hemostatic effect and long-term control of variceal hemorrhage,hence is a effective remedy operative method for postoperative rebleeding of portal hypertensive patients after failed previous operations.

Objective To investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and education level in Su-Xi-Chang area to provide evidence for healthcare policy making. Methods A clustered sampling of 6798 subjects from Su-Xi-Chang areas of Jiangsu Province was included. Questionnaires and physical examinations were completed to collect clinical data. Logistic regression was used to analyze weather education level could be an independent risk factor of MS. Results Significant differences were found in waist circumstance (WC) ,systolic blood pressure (SBP) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) among participants with different education level. Significant differences were also existed in triglyceride and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between subjects with higher and lower education level ( P＜0. 05 ). In single-factor or multivariate analysis, education level was negatively correlated with the prevalence of MS (P＜0. 05 ). Conclusions Education level may be an independent risk factor of MS. People with low and moderate education level have higher risk of MS. Therefore,it is recommended that health-related information should become an integral part of the compulsory education system.