Galectin-9 （Gal-9） is a member of the galectin family that can specifically recognize and bind to galactosides. Recent studies have shown that Gal-9 is highly expressed in the liver and can help to maintain intrahepatic immune homeostasis and perform biological functions in various liver diseases. This article reviews the immunomodulatory functions of Gal-9 and its role in different liver diseases. Studies have shown that Gal-9 has important biological functions in different liver diseases through multiple pathways. Research on the specific immunomodulatory mechanisms and functions of Gal-9 may help to discover the therapeutic role of Gal-9 in liver diseases.

ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of N-acetylcysteine （NAC） in the treatment of severe alcoholic hepatitis （SAH）， and to provide a basis for clinical medication for SAH. MethodsA prospective randomized controlled trial was conducted among 172 SAH patients with a Maddrey discriminant function score of >32 points who were recruited by The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from June 2015 to June 2018， and these patients were divided into NAC group with 84 patients and control group with 86 patients. NAC （8 g/day， 28 days） was assessed in terms of its safety in SAH patients， its impact on 28-day biochemical parameters， and its role in improving 28- and 180-day survival rates. A further analysis was performed to investigate the effect of NAC on the 28- and 180-day survival rates of SAH patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure （ACLF-SAH patients） and those without acute-on-chronic liver failure （non-ACLF-SAH patients）. The independent-samples t test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups， and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot survival curves， and the Log-rank test was used for comparison of survival curves. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards regression model analyses were used to investigate independent influencing factors. ResultsNo serious adverse events were observed during NAC treatment， suggesting that NAC had a good safety profile. Compared with the control group， NAC did not significantly improve the 28-day biochemical parameters （all P>0.05） and survival rate of SAH patients （P=0.081）， but it could improve the 180-day survival rate of SAH patients （67.4% vs 81.0%， χ²=4.280， P=0.039）. NAC did not improve the 28- and 180-day survival rates of ACLF-SAH patients （both P>0.05）； NAC did not improve the 28-day survival rate of non-ACLF-SAH patients （P>0.05）， but it could improve the 180-day survival rate of these patients （68.4% vs 88.9%， χ²=4.883， P=0.027）. The multivariate Cox regression survival analysis showed that NAC treatment （hazard ratio ［HR］=2.530， 95% confidence interval ［CI］： 1.334‍ ‍— 4.796， P=0.004，）， Maddrey discriminant function score （HR=3.852， 95%CI： 2.032 — 7.304， P<0.001）， and serum sodium level （HR=1.948， 95%CI： 1.079‍ ‍—‍ ‍3.517， P=0.027） were independent influencing factors for 180-day survival rate in SAH patients. ConclusionNAC has a good safety profile in the treatment of SAH and can improve the 180-day survival rate of SAH patients， and in particular， non-ACLF-SAH patients can benefit from NAC treatment in terms of middle- and long-term survival rates.

Serum cholinesterase(ChE)level is important for the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of various diseases such as liver diseases and toxic diseases,and butyrylcholinesterase(BuChE)is an important component of ChE.Mutations in the BCHE gene can cause a significant reduction in the level of BuChE,with extensive reports in European and American populations and relatively few reports in Eastern countries,particularly China.This study describes a male patient,aged 35 years,who was misdiagnosed with organophosphorus pesticide poisoning due to an extreme reduction in ChE level and was given detoxification therapy,but such diagnosis was excluded by various biochemical examinations.Finally whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing revealed the complex heterozygous mutations of c.1027dup and c.401dup at exon 2 of the BCHE gene,and hereditary BuChE deficiency due to these mutations is the cause of the extreme reduction in ChE level.

The liver is easily affected by a variety of factors to induce liver damage, which can cause disorders in the synthesis, detoxification, metabolism, and biotransformation functions of the liver in severe cases, and at present, there is still a lack of efficient clinical treatment methods for end-stage liver diseases such as liver failure and decompensated liver cirrhosis. Recent studies have confirmed the clinical efficacy of stem cells, and treatment methods based on stem cell-derived exosomes have become a research hotspot. This article introduces the advantages of treatment based on stem cell-derived exosomes, the research advances in related mechanisms, and the current status of preclinical research. Current research findings suggest that treatment based on stem cell-derived exosomes has a good application prospect in the treatment of liver diseases, but it is still needed to conduct in-depth preclinical and clinical studies.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for acute variceal bleeding (AVB) in acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) and its influence on prognosis. Methods A total of 1409 ACLF patients who were admitted to The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital from 2009 to 2015 were followed up for 6 months, and according to the presence or absence of AVB, they were divided into AVB group and non-AVB group. The Student's t -test was used for comparison of normally distributed continuous data between two groups, and the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of non-normally distributed continuous data between two groups. The Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted and the Log-rank test was performed to analyze mortality rate and progression during follow-up, and a binary Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors for AVB. Results Among these 1409 patients, 167 (11.85%) experienced AVB. The 30-day survival rate was 43.42% in the AVB group and 67.79% in the non-AVB group ( χ 2 =33.558, P < 0.001), and the 180-day survival rate was 18.91% in the AVB group and 53.97% in the non-AVB group ( χ 2 =76.881, P < 0.001). The Log-rank test showed significant differences in 30- and 180-day survival rates between the AVB group and the non-AVB group ( χ 2 =40.950 and 89.320, both P < 0.05). The Logistic regression analysis showed that pleural effusion (odds ratio [ OR ]=1.522, 95% confidence interval [ CI ]: 1.071-2.162, P =0.019), acute kidney injury (AKI) ( OR =2.201, 95% CI : 1.415-3.426, P < 0.001), ABC subtype of ACLF ( OR =2.491, 95% CI : 1.489-4.168, P =0.001), ACLF stage ( OR =2.403, 95% CI : 1.687-3.421, P < 0.001), and urea( OR =2.567, 95% CI : 1.570-4.196, P < 0.001)were independently associated with AVB in ACLF patients. Conclusion AVB is an important influencing factor for the short-term survival of ACLF patients, and pleural effusion, AKI, BC subtype of ACLF, advanced ACLF, and urea are independent risk factors for the onset of AVB.

Objective:Patients are breathing freely during adjuvant proton pencil beam radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery. Fluctuation of the thorax may affect the position of the end of the proton beam flow, which needs to be precisely evaluated on a millimeter scale.Methods:For 20 patients with breast cancer treated with proton radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery, PET-CT scan was performed approximately 10 min after the end of proton radiotherapy. The images of PET-CT were processed for ROI determination and sampling line (profile) extraction on a Raystation RV workstation to calculate the actual difference between the predicted and real radioactivity from the same spatial location as obtained by PET acquisition R50. Then, the differences in the spatial location between the actual process of proton irradiation and the planned process were obtained. Depth difference values for each pair of sampling lines were presented. Results:For 20 patients with breast cancer with a median follow-up of 22 months (range 12 - 46 months), all patients survived at the last follow-up, and no radiation pneumonitis was observed during the follow-up period. Among the verification results of 21 cases, the depth difference of evenly distributed was (-0.75±1.89) mm in the primary field and (-0.82±2.06) mm in the secondary field; The depth difference of sequential treatment was (1.81±1.87) mm in the primary field and (1.32±1.74) mm in the secondary field; The depth difference of synchronous addition in the primary field was (-1.47±1.44) mm, and the depth difference in the secondary field was (-1.48±2.11) mm.Conclusion:The results of off-line PET-CT in vivo biological verification show that the accuracy of the dose boundary cut-off was within 3 mm in breast cancer patients, which meets the clinical and physician requirement for the precision in breast cancer treatment.

Objective:To investigate the risk factors of anemia and prognostic value of different grades of anemia in patients with hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF).Methods:Anemia grades of 1 163 patients with HBV-ACLF were analyzed and the effect of different grades on prognosis were evaluated. The risk factors related to anemia were evaluated by Spearman rank correlation analysis and logistic regression analysis.Results:Among 1 163 patients, 942 (80.99%) patients had anemia. The incidence of grade 2 and 3 (moderate and severe) anemia in type B and C HBV-ACLF patients was significantly increased ( χ2=72.908, P<0.001). The incidence of macrocytic anemia among type A, B and C HBV-ACLF ranged from 13.0% to 43.98% and 58.33%, respectively( χ2=46.823, P <0.001). The 1-year cumulative survival rate of patients with grade 2 and 3 anemia decreased significantly( χ2=50.179, P<0.001); Spearman rank correlation analysis showed that the correlation coefficient between ABC type and anemia grade was 0.319, P<0.001. Logistic regression analysis showed that gastrointestinal bleeding, acute kidney injury (AKI) and ABC types were independently associated with grade 2 and 3 anemia in patients with HBV-ACLF. Conclusions:Anemia grade is closely related to the prognosis in patients with HBV-ACLF. Gastrointestinal bleeding, AKI and ABC types are independent risk factors for grade 2 and 3 anemia in patients with HBV-ACLF.

Objective To investigate the application value of transjugular liver biopsy (TJLB) in the diagnosis and treatment of complicated and severe liver diseases. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 31 patients who underwent TJLB in The Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, including indication for puncture, success rate, and final diagnosis. Results Among the 31 patients, there were 15 male patients and 16 female patients. Percutaneous liver biopsy was unsuitable for 8 patients with liver failure and disturbances of blood coagulation, 13 with liver cirrhosis and ascites, and 10 with liver cirrhosis and thrombocytopenia (< 50×10 9 /L), which were the indications for TJLB. The success rate of TJLB puncture was 100%, with 2-4 passes for puncture. No serious adverse event was observed. Of all 31 patients, 26 (83.87%) had a definite diagnosis at discharge, among whom there were 5 patients with idiopathic portal hypertension, 9 patients with drug-induced liver failure or liver cirrhosis, 5 patients with autoimmune liver disease, and 7 patients with liver cirrhosis or liver failure due to other causes, and 5 patients had unknown etiology. In addition, 3 patients underwent biopsy to confirm the diagnosis and decision of whether liver transplantation should be performed. Conclusion TJLB plays an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of complicated and severe liver diseases and still has certain limitations, and therefore, suitable patients should be selected in clinical practice.