Liver fibrosis is a common pathological consequence of a variety of chronic stimuli, including viral, autoimmune, drug-induced, cholestatic and metabolic diseases. Fibrosis is driven by a dynamic process involving increased synthesis of matrix components and a failure of physiological mechanisms of matrix turnover. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) remains a central event in fibrosis. HSCs are the main source of extracellular matrix (ECM). Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), which is the fibrogenic master cytokine, can induce the activation of HSCs to produce a large amount of ECM, and is capable of inducing apoptosis of liver cells. RNA interference (RNAi) is a novel gene disruption technology. Studies have shown that small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting TGF-β1 may inhibit the activation and proliferation of HSCs, suppress ECM synthesis and block liver fibrosis. TGF-β1 siRNA-mediated gene silencing therapy provides a new avenue for liver fibrosis. This review summarizes recent progresses in research on HSCs, TGF-β1 and TGF-β1 siRNA in liver fibrosis.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; surgery ; Transplantation, Homologous

Argentina ; epidemiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hemophilia A ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Russia ; epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; United States ; epidemiology ; Urban Population

A Monte Carlo model for optical coherence tomography of human skin is proposed. The new model includes importance sampling technique which is designed to suit for the multi-layer human skin, new rules for back scattered photon classification are correspondingly proposed. Based on the new simulation model, we analyzed the focusing of Gaussian beam through skin and the maximum detecting depth of optical coherence tomography. The experimental results show that there exists focus distortion when beam propagates in skin, including focus shift and diffusion. Object lens with greater NA will lower the maximum detecting depth of optical coherence tomography.
Humans ; Models, Theoretical ; Monte Carlo Method ; Photons ; Skin ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) on brain cell apoptosis rate and serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) concentration after hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in neonatal rats. MethodsForty-eight HIBD models of 7-day old neonatal Wistar rats were established and then divided into two groups randomly:PDGF group and normal saline control group (n =24 in each).Another 24 neonatal Wistar rats were taken into the sham operation group.The treatment group received intraperitoneal injection of PDGF-BB (50 ng/kg) once,while the other two groups received normal saline at the same time.In each group,rats were randomly sacrificed immediately at 12,24 and 72 hours after injection (n=8).The serum of rats were reserved for NSE concentration determination by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,and the right brains of the sacrificed rats were used to prepare brain cell suspension for neurocyte apoptosis rate examination by flow cytometry.Mono-variate analysis and q-test were performed for statistical analysis. Results(1) The brain cell apoptotic rates of treatment group [ (6.09 ± 0.70)％,(9.67 ± 1.52) ％ and (14.15±1.52)％] and control group [(8.00± 1.10)％,(11.45±2.42)％ and (22.90±2.03) ％] were significantly increased compared to that of sham group [(2.11 ± 0.54)％,(2.34 ±0.46)％ and (2.21±0.49)％] at all time points (all P＜0.01 or ＜0.05),the apoptotic rate of treatment group was lower than that of control group (P＜0.01 or ＜0.05).Statistical differences were found among the three groups at 12,24 and 72 hours (F =39.01,66.60 and 194.20respectively; P＜0.01).(2) Serum NSE concentration was significantly increased in the treatment group [(8.43 ± 0.17) μg/L,(6.73 ± 0.16) μg/L and (6.12 ± 0.13) μg/L] and control group [(10.04±0.19) μg/L,(9.330.15) μg/L and (8.36 ± 0.16) μg/L] than in the sham group [(4.22±0.53) μg/L,(3.96±0.60) μg/L and (3.59±0.55) μg/L] at all time points,and it was significantly lower in treatment group than in control group (P＜ 0.01).Statistical difference was found among three groups at 12,24 and 72 hours (F=371.25,245.61 and 236.22 respectively,P＜0.01). ConclusionsPDGF might have neuroprotective effect,which could inhibit apoptosis of neural cells and decrease the serum NSE concentration.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of laparoscopic adrenalectomy and summarize the experience in laparoscopie adrenalectomy.Methods From August 2002 to March 2007,21 cases of benign adrenal tumors were treated with retroperitoneal laparoscopy in this hospital.There were 9 cases of adrenocortical adenoma, 7 cases of primary aldosteronism,3 cases of adenocorticol macronodular hyperplasia,1 case of pheochromccytoma,and 1 case of adrenal gangliocytoma.Results Retroperitoneal laparoscopy was successfully applied in 21 cases.Operating time was between 65 and 130min with an average of 95 min.All patients did not receive blood transfusion and had no obvious complications.Conclusion Laparoscopic adrenalectomy had the advantages of minimal morbidity,mini- mal postoperative discomfort and a short hospital stay,whieh had a good prospect for application in the clinical prac- tice.

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of propofor on ATP-sensitive K~+currents(I_KATP)in human atrial myocytes and the underlying mechsnism.Methods A small piece of myocardiumwas obtained from right atrium in patients undergoing atrial septal defect or ventricular septal defect surgery.Themyocardium specimen was placed in cold Ca~(2+)-free cardioplegic solution aerated with 100% oxygen.Themyocardium specimen was cut into small chunks(1 mm~3).Atrial myocytes were isolated by enzymatic dissociationtechnique.The effects of propofol on I_KATP in atrial myocytes were studied using the whole-cell configuration ofpatch-clamp technique.Results The outward currents were recorded with a pipitte solution containing 0.3mmol?L~(-1) ATP.The currents were inhibited by glibendamide 10 ?mol?L~(-1),a specific K_ATP channel inhibitor,suggesting that the outward currents were I_KATP.I_KATP aws activited by propofol in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion Propefol can activate the I_KATP in human myocytes in a concentration-dependent manner and themechanism of its myocardial depressant action may be partly explained.

Interdisciplinary can be acted in any stages of researching procedure.The interdisciplinary process research thinking were addressed including how to builds variables,which are depth and width,fixed discipline or not,and also to reflect the collaboration level of interdisciplinary in certain period.By this quantity evaluation mode building,it will useful for the interdisciplinary research in the future,especially in medical and life science fields.

Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; surgery ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Esophageal Fistula ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of the imported malaria cases in 20 counties at the bor?der region of Yunnan Province from 2012 to 2014,so as to provide the evidence?based proof for adjusting the strategies in the elimination stage. Methods The malaria epidemic data of the 20 border counties in Yunnan Province from 2012 to 2014 were collected and analyzed by using Microsoft Excel 2010. Results From 2012 to 2014,a total of 1 558 malaria cases were report?ed in the 20 border counties in Yunnan Province,among which,1 336 were imported cases,accounting for 85.75%(1 336/1 558),and 222 were indigenous cases,accounting for 14.25%(222/1 558). The number of the imported cases in the above years took up 80.00%(544/680),89.10%(425/477)and 91.52%(367/401)of the total reported cases in the whole year,re?spectively. Among all the 1 336 imported cases,1 045(78.22%)were infected with Plasmodium vivax,284(21.26%)were in?fected with P. falciparum,3 were infected with P. malariae,3 were mixed infection and 1 was an unclassified case;2 patients died. And 95.58%of the cases were mainly infected in Myanmar(1 277 cases). Young and middle?aged adult of 20-40 years who worked overseas were the predominant(802 cases,60.03%)and most of the cases occurred from April to June of the year (679 cases,50.82%). Those cases mainly distributed in Tengchong(459 cases),Ruili(366 cases),Yingjiang(191 cases)and Mangshi(78 cases). Conclusions The epidemic situation of imported malaria is serious in the border region of Yunnan Prov?ince. Therefore,the surveillance system of malaria control needs to be well planned and managed to ensure timely case detection and prompt response at the elimination and post?elimination stage.