Objective:To investigate the effects of NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3) inflammasome activation on the proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix desposition of activated pancreatic stellate cells(PSCs).Methods:The rat PSCs were isolated, cultured and identified, and were divided into control group or LPS group based on the pretreatment with LPS (10 μg/ml for 24 hours) or without. The expression of NLRP3 inflammasome associated molecules in PSCs culture medium was detected by ELISA. The PSCs with NLRP3 inhibition were constructed by shRNA carrying lentivirus infection and were divided into LPS+ negative control group and LPS+ lentivirus group based on whether the cells were treated with LPS and infected by lentivirus or not. The alteration in cell proliferation and migration were detected by CCK-8 kit and transwell chamber method. The expression of extracellular matrix α-SMA and collagen in PSCs was detected by immunofluorescence staining and the expression of TGF-β mRNA was analyzed by RT-qPCR.Results:The cytoplasm of PSCs which were cultured for 24 hours was rich in bright annular lipid droplets, and the cells expressed desmin. After 7 days of culture, the cell became larger in size, the lipid droplets basically disappeared, and the cells were activated and expressed α-SMA. The expression of caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 in the supernatant of PSCs culture medium in LPS group were significantly higher than those in control group (1.55±0.04 vs 0.65±0.03), (2.02±0.04 vs 1.05±0.05) and (1.70±0.05 vs 0.97±0.03), respectively. After inhibiting by lentivirus infection, the expression of NLRP3 in the lentivirus group (0.25±0.04) was significantly lower than that in negative control group (0.68±0.05). In control group, LPS group, LPS+ negative control group and LPS+ lentivirus group, the A490 values was 0.61±0.02, 1.15±0.06, 0.96±0.05, and 0.56±0.01, respectively; the migrating PSCs number was (64.12±4.58), (121.67±8.02), (111.67±4.67) and (69.67±8.08)/HF, respectively; the relative expression of α-SMA was 0.78±0.05, 4.12±0.04, 3.81±0.06 and 0.88±0.05, respectively; the relative expression of collagen was 0.65±0.03, 3.43±0.02, 2.67±0.02 and 0.48±0.03, respectively; and the expression of TGF-β mRNA was 0.22±0.03, 0.89±0.01, 0.86±0.03 and 0.43±0.02, respectively. The A490 value, the migrating cells number, the expression of α-SMA, collagen and the expression of TGF-β mRNA in LPS group and LPS+ negative control group was significantly higher than those in control group and LPS+ lentivirus group, and all the differences were statistically significant (all P value <0.05). Conclusions:NLRP3 inflammasome activation may accelerate the extracellular matrix deposition and pancreatic fibrogenesis by promoting PSCs proliferation and migration ability via regulating the biological functions.

Objective:To investigate the application value of CT and MRI imageomics based on machine learning method in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.Methods:The clinical data of 62 patients with surgically resected and pathologically confirmed pancreatic cancer, who underwent enhanced CT scan, MRI plain or enhanced scan in Shanghai General Hospital between January 2014 and December 2021 were collected. According to the chronological order of surgery, 49 patients from January 2014 to December 2020 were enrolled in the training set and 13 patients from January 2021 to December 2021 were enrolled in the validation set. 3D-slicer 4.8.1 software was used to draw the region of interest in each layer of CT and MRI images for cancerous and paracancerous tissue segment. Image features were extracted by Python and the optimal feature set from the training set data was obtained by using Lasso regression model. The machine learning decision tree model was constructed. The receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC) curve was drawn, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the value of these three kinds of imageomics models in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.Results:The 1 767 CT features and 1 674 MRI features were obtained from enhanced CT scan, MRI plain scan and enhanced MRI scan, respectively. For the differential diagnosis model of cancerous tissue and paracancerous tissue, the enhanced CT scan data model obtained the optimal feature set involving 6 features, the MRI plain scan model obtained the optimal feature set involving 16 features, and the enhanced MRI scan model obtained the optimal feature set involving 15 features. The diagnostic model based on enhanced CT scan had an AUC of 0.98 in the training set and 1 in the verification group. The AUC of the MRI plain scan and enhanced MRI scan models in both the training set and the validation set was 1. The specificity and sensitivity of machine learning decision tree model based on the three kinds of imageomics models in the diagnosis of cancerous tissue and paracancerous tissue were 100%. For the differential diagnosis model of splenic artery wrapping, the enhanced CT scan model didn′t obtain the optimal features and had no diagnostic efficacy. The MRI plain scan model and enhanced MRI scan model obtained the optimal feature set involving 5 and 4 features, respectively. The AUC of the MRI plain scan model in the training set and the validation set were 0.862 and 0.750, respectively, with diagnostic sensitivity of 93.8% and 50.0%, and specificity of 78.6% and 100%, respectively. The AUC of the enhanced MRI scan model in the training set and the validation set were 0.950 and 0.861, respectively, with diagnostic sensitivity of 90.0% and 93.6%, and specificity of 100% and 78.6%, respectively.Conclusions:Based on the radiomics of CT enhanced, MRI plain scan and enhanced MRI scan, the machine learning diagnostic model has an accuracy of more than 90% in differentiating pancreatic cancer from paracancerous tissue. For the differentiation of splenic artery wrapping in pancreatic cancer, the diagnostic model based on enhanced MRI scan haS the best diagnostic efficiency.

Objective To summarize the preliminary application results of ultrasound-guided biliary drainage tube replacement, present the corresponding technical points, and discuss the operation strategy and clinical application value. Methods The clinical data of 60 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided biliary drainage tube replacement in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between August 2014 and August 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The operation procedure, clinical applications, and postoperative complications were summarized and analyzed. Results Fifty-eight of the 60 patients (96.67%) were successfully replaced with drainage tubes along the original sinus. Among them, dilated sinus tracts of 47 patients were placed with coarse-grade drainage tubes, and dilated sinus tracts of the remaining 11 patients were placed with the original type of drainage tubes, with the mean operation time of 15.8(12.0-19.0) min under local anesthesia. In total, bile was drained from 28 patients receiving PTCD drainage, 23 patients receiving gallbladder drainage, and 9 patients receiving T-tube drainage. The post-operation evaluation revealed that the drainage situation has improved, with a 100% effective rate. No obvious abnormality was found in the postoperative follow-up visit. Conclusion The replacement of drainage tube under ultrasound guidance is simple, safe and feasible, and it provides further promotion in clinical practice with sufficient data support.

Though achieved great success as the only curative treatment for end-stage liver diseases, liver transplantation has been severely restricted by the shortage of donors. The adoption of extended criteria donor (ECD) tackles the donor shortage problem to some extent, thus became an issue we must face in China at present stage. As the transplantation effect and recipient safety is largely decided by the quality of liver graft, ECD graft should be cautiously selected and adopted because of its inherent defects. This relies on individualized decisions made for recipients by transplant surgeons who have a good understanding of the risk factors and evaluation criteria of ECD. In this article, we investigate the risk factors, evaluation criteriaand allocation of ECD liver grafts as well as the application of mechanic perfusion, and we discuss the fundamental issues and prospects of ECD study.

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) on enhancing rat islets viability and function in vitro by a pretransplant co-culture.Methods4-week-old Wistar rats were used as donors, bone mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and subcultured. Islets of Wistar rats were isolated and purified by one-step single-layer Histopaque-1077. Then islets were divided into four groups randomly, 2 groups co-cultured with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (one using low-glucose medium; the other using high-glucose medium ); 2 groups were cultured alone (low-glucose medium; high-glucose medium), each group was further stratified into 3 subgroups(3, 7, 14 d); the survival and functionality of these islets were observed and evaluated. The amount of glucose stimulated secreted insulin were measured wth a rat/mouse insulin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and stimulation index was also calculated.ResultsCompared with those not co-cultured, islets co-cultured with MSCs demonstrated significantly higher survival rates and viability both in 3th, 7th and 14th day ( P ＜ 0. 01 ); furthermore, cocultured islets revealed higher levels of glucose stimulated insulin secretion and secretion indexes in 7th day (P＜0.01).ConclusionRat islet cells co-cultured with MSCs have longer in vitro survival and better functions.

Objective:To study the impact of rotary cell culture system(RCCS) on the quality and activity of fetal islets of pancreas after cryopreservation and resuscitation.Methods:The fetal islets of pancreas were assigned into three groups averagely,experiment group 1,2 and control group.In experiment group1 and 2,fetal islets of pancreas were cultivated in RCCS and common culture respectively.While in control group,fresh fetal islets of pancreas were cultivated in RCCS all the time.We resected the fetal pancreas and digested with Collagenase V and purified with ficoll solution.Then standard cryopreservation step was adopted,and after resuscitation,the islets of pancreas were cultivated continuously.And the quantity,quality and activity of the islets of pancreas,and insulin stimulation test results in all groups were detected.Results:After purification,islets got from one fetal pancreas reached 2,331.98-5,115.43 IEQ(average 3,551.27? 253.76 IEQ) .The survival rate,the insulin release and stimulation index in islets of pancreas of group 1 incubated in RCCS were higher than those in common culture.Conclusion:RCCS are good for the growth and proliferation of islets of pancreas,and the islets of pancreas cultivated in RCCS have better insulin secreting capacity.RCCS combined standard cryopreservation method may further improve the cryopreservation effect.