Hepatic encephalopathy(HE),a neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by acute or chronic liver failure or portosystemic shunting,is characterized by metabolic disturbances and varying degrees of cognitive dysfunction.HE is one of the most common complications and is the leading cause of mortality in cirrhotic patients.Although the exact pathogenesis of HE has not yet been fully elucidated,recent advances have improved our understanding of its pathophysiology,leading to evolving therapeutic strategies.This review summarizes the mechanisms underlying HE and the latest progress in its treatment,aiming to enhance the knowledge and improve diagnosis and therapy.

Objective: To investigate the role of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) in assessment of liver function and prognosis of patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: From January 2013 to August 2016, a total of 137 patients with liver cirrhosis in Shanghai Changzheng Hospital were enrolled. The serum DCP level was measured, the clinical data was collected and the complication and survival situation was followed up. The 137 patients were divided into DCP negative group (DCP≤40 mAU/mL, 118 cases) and DCP positive group (DCP>40 mAU/mL, 19 cases). Forty-five patients with compensated liver cirrhosis were divided into high-level DCP group (DCP>16.5 mAU/mL, 32 cases) and low-level DCP group (DCP≤16.5 mAU/mL, 13 cases). Chi square test was used to analyze the difference in the positive rate of DCP in patients with different Child-Pugh classification. Spearman correlation test was performed to analyze the correlation between DCP and model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scores. Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to analyze the correlation between DCP and liver disease related mortality. Results: Compared to that of DCP negative group, albumin level of patients in DCP positive group decreased (35 g/L, 20 to 57 g/L vs. 29 g/L, 17 to 42 g/L), however, total bilirubin (TBil), prothrombin time (PT), and international normalized ratio all increased (12.9 mg/L, 1.80 to 83.0 mg/L vs.22.2 mg/L, 6.4 to 169.0 mg/L; 15.5 s, 11.7 to 35.7 s vs.17.5 s, 13.9 to 33.4 s; 1.24, 0.96 to 3.72 vs.1.44, 1.09 to 3.22), and the differences were statistically significant (Z=-2.785, -2.891, -2.945 and -2.879, all P<0.01). The DCP positive (DCP>40 mAU/mL) rates of Child-Pugh A, B and C patients were 1.8% (1/55), 21.2% (11/52) and 23.3% (7/30), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=11.246, P=0.003). The DCP levels of patients with Child-Pugh class B and C cirrhosis were significantly correlated with MELD scores (r=0.259, P=0.021). There were 16 and three patients with ascites and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) of DCP positive group, and the incidence was higher than that of DCP negative group (55.1%, 65/118 and 1.7%, 2/118), and the differences were statistically significant (χ²=5.744 and 97.636, both P<0.05). Patients in high-level DCP group had a higher proportion of clinical decompensation than low-level DCP group (53.1% (17/32) and two cases), the difference was statistically significant (χ²=5.397, P=0.024). The overall survival rate of DCP positive group (nine survival cases) were lower than that of DCP negative group (87.9%, 87/99), and the difference was statistically significant (χ²=5.442, P=0.020). Conclusions Serum DCP level is closely related to liver function, ascites and SBP in patients with liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, it is associated with occurrence of decompensation in compensated patients and liver-related mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis. DCP may be a useful serum marker for evaluation of disease severity and prognosis in patients with liver cirrhosis in clinical practice.

Background: Gastrointestinal involvement of Henoch-Sch(o)nlein purpura (HSP) lacks specific clinical manifestations, which makes it difficult to be diagnosed and easy to misdiagnose.Aims: To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcome of gastrointestinal involved HSP across all ages and provide evidence for early diagnosis and treatment of the disease.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 35 gastrointestinal involved HSP patients admitted to Shanghai Changzheng Hospital from Jan.2006 to Jan.2016.The clinical outcome was followed up by phone interview.Results: Of the 35 gastrointestinal involved HSP patients, 22 were male and 13 were female, with a mean age of disease onset at 33.6 years.The frequent disease onset seasons were winter and spring, and the most frequent precipitating events were eating foreign proteins and upper respiratory tract infection shortly before disease onset.Abdominal pain was the presenting manifestation in 35 patients (57.1%) and was most frequently at periumbilical area (42.9%), and 48.6% of the pain was of paroxysmal colicky pain.The abdominal signs were mild.Laboratory tests showed 57.1% of the patients had elevated leukocyte count and 25.0% had elevated serum IgA.Stomach, duodenum, rectum and colon were frequently involved endoscopically, and the endoscopic lesions included mucosal petechia, diffuse mucosal erythema, edema and erosion.Nonspecific inflammatory cells infiltration was demonstrated by biopsy pathology.The overall prognosis was good with a recurrence rate of 21.9%.Elevated serum fibrinogen degradation product (FDP) and D-dimer were found in all the recurrent patients at admission.Conclusions: Purpura rash usually appeared later than gastrointestinal symptoms in gastrointestinal involved HSP.Typical clinical manifestations and endoscopic appearances are helpful for early diagnosis and treatment.Elevated FDP and D-dimer might be the predictor of recurrence.