ObjectiveTo validate the therapeutic effect of Yinqi Sanhuang Jiedu decoction （YQSH） on a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄）-induced liver fibrosis and to investigate its correlations with the Piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 （Piezo1）-Yes-associated protein （YAP） mechanical signaling axis and macrophage polarization. MethodsFifty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomized into a blank control group， a 4-week model group， a 6-week model group， a 8-week model group， a positive drug （silymarin， 55 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （8.325， 16.65， 33.3 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively） YQSH groups. Except the 6-week model group （n=12）， each of the other groups had 6 mice. Mice in other groups except the blank control group received intraperitoneal injections of 10% CCl₄ twice weekly for the modeling of liver fibrosis. Drug interventions began one week after the initial modeling through gavage， and the blank control and model groups received 0.2 mL of normal saline via gavage. The histopathological changes and collagen deposition in the liver were observed via hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， Masson's trichrome， and Sirius red staining. Serum activities of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， as well as serum levels of total protein （TP）， albumin （ALB）， total bilirubin （TBIL）， hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， procollagen type Ⅲ （PCⅢ）， and collagen type Ⅳ （Ⅳ-C）， were measured. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in the liver tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein and mRNA levels of Piezo1 and YAP1 in the liver tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry （IHC） and Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， respectively. Co-localization of Piezo1 with YAP1， and YAP1 with inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） was observed by the immunofluorescence （IF） assay. The proportions of M1-type （F4/80⁺CD80⁺） and M2-type （F4/80⁺CD206⁺） macrophages in the liver tissue were examined by flow cytometry. Gene Ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） enrichment analyses and gene set enrichment analysis （GSEA） were performed through transcriptomic sequencing. ResultsCompared with the blank control group， the model group exhibited gradually worsened liver fibrosis at the 4^th， 6^th， and 8^th weeks. The 6- and 8-week model groups showcased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition in the liver （P<0.01） and upregulated protein levels of both Piezo1 and YAP1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model groups， treatment with YQSH improved the liver function （P<0.05， P<0.01）， alleviated liver fibrosis （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and reduced intrahepatic inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition （P<0.01）. Furthermore， the treatment downregulated the protein and mRNA levels of Piezo1 and YAP1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered the levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased the ratio of CD80 （M1-type）/CD206 （M2-type） macrophage proteins （P<0.01）. The IF assay showed co-localization of YAP1 with Piezo1 and iNOS. Compared with the model groups， YQSH treatment downregulated the expression of Piezo1， YAP1， and iNOS （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that the anti-liver fibrosis effect of YQSH may be related to the Hippo signaling pathway （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe anti-liver fibrosis effect of YQSH may be related to its inhibition of the Piezo1-YAP signaling axis and regulation of macrophage polarization.

ObjectiveTo validate the therapeutic effect of Yinqi Sanhuang Jiedu decoction （YQSH） on a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride （CCl₄）-induced liver fibrosis and to investigate its correlations with the Piezo-type mechanosensitive ion channel component 1 （Piezo1）-Yes-associated protein （YAP） mechanical signaling axis and macrophage polarization. MethodsFifty-four C57BL/6J mice were randomized into a blank control group， a 4-week model group， a 6-week model group， a 8-week model group， a positive drug （silymarin， 55 mg·kg^-1·d^-1） group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （8.325， 16.65， 33.3 g·kg^-1·d^-1， respectively） YQSH groups. Except the 6-week model group （n=12）， each of the other groups had 6 mice. Mice in other groups except the blank control group received intraperitoneal injections of 10% CCl₄ twice weekly for the modeling of liver fibrosis. Drug interventions began one week after the initial modeling through gavage， and the blank control and model groups received 0.2 mL of normal saline via gavage. The histopathological changes and collagen deposition in the liver were observed via hematoxylin-eosin （HE）， Masson's trichrome， and Sirius red staining. Serum activities of alanine aminotransferase （ALT） and aspartate aminotransferase （AST）， as well as serum levels of total protein （TP）， albumin （ALB）， total bilirubin （TBIL）， hyaluronic acid （HA）， laminin （LN）， procollagen type Ⅲ （PCⅢ）， and collagen type Ⅳ （Ⅳ-C）， were measured. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） and interleukin-1β （IL-1β） in the liver tissue were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The protein and mRNA levels of Piezo1 and YAP1 in the liver tissue were determined by immunohistochemistry （IHC） and Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR）， respectively. Co-localization of Piezo1 with YAP1， and YAP1 with inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） was observed by the immunofluorescence （IF） assay. The proportions of M1-type （F4/80⁺CD80⁺） and M2-type （F4/80⁺CD206⁺） macrophages in the liver tissue were examined by flow cytometry. Gene Ontology （GO） and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） enrichment analyses and gene set enrichment analysis （GSEA） were performed through transcriptomic sequencing. ResultsCompared with the blank control group， the model group exhibited gradually worsened liver fibrosis at the 4^th， 6^th， and 8^th weeks. The 6- and 8-week model groups showcased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition in the liver （P<0.01） and upregulated protein levels of both Piezo1 and YAP1 （P<0.01）. Compared with the model groups， treatment with YQSH improved the liver function （P<0.05， P<0.01）， alleviated liver fibrosis （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and reduced intrahepatic inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen deposition （P<0.01）. Furthermore， the treatment downregulated the protein and mRNA levels of Piezo1 and YAP1 （P<0.05， P<0.01）， lowered the levels of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and decreased the ratio of CD80 （M1-type）/CD206 （M2-type） macrophage proteins （P<0.01）. The IF assay showed co-localization of YAP1 with Piezo1 and iNOS. Compared with the model groups， YQSH treatment downregulated the expression of Piezo1， YAP1， and iNOS （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that the anti-liver fibrosis effect of YQSH may be related to the Hippo signaling pathway （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe anti-liver fibrosis effect of YQSH may be related to its inhibition of the Piezo1-YAP signaling axis and regulation of macrophage polarization.

Background and purpose:With the development of the three-dimensional (3D) science, minimally invasive technology is going into the 3D period. While 3D laparoscope system has been widely accepted by surgeons because of its better visual effect and safer operations compared to traditional laparoscope system, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of 3D thoracoscope system in minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of thoracic diseases. Methods: A total of 96 cases of thoracic diseases were accomplished with KARL STORZ 3D thoracoscope during Mar. 2014 to Oct. 2014, including 33 cases of lobectomy, 2 cases of segmentectomy, and 10 cases of wedge resection of pulmonary tumor, 27 cases of mediastinal tumor, 20 cases of esophageal tumor and 4 case of esophageal achalasia. The data of operative time, bleeding volume, postoperative chest tube drainage and hospital time and postoperative complications were counted. Results: All the operations were completed successfully, without conversion to open surgery. All the operations cost 30 to 237 min. The operation of local resection lasted 30 to 120 min, with an average of 52 min, the operation of pulmonary lobectomy lasted 63 to 122 min, with an average of 75 min;the operation of mediastinal tumor resection lasted 35 to 125 min, with an average of 77 min;and the operation of esophageal diseases lasted 57 to 237 min, with an average of 189 min. The bleeding volumes were 2 to 85 mL, 15 to 72 mL, 30 to 186 mL and with the average of 50 mL, 47 mL, 118 mL in pulmonary, mediastinal and esophageal operations respectively. The time of postoperative chest tube drainage of each surgery was 1 to 5 days after pulmonary operations, 1 to 3 days after mediastinal operations, and 2 to 6 days after esophageal operations. The postoperative hospital time of pulmonary operation was 2 to 10 days, with an average of 6.3 days;the time of mediastinal operation was 3 to 6 days, with an average of 4.2 days;and the time of esophageal operation was 4 to 19 days, with an average of 13.3 days. No complications and tumor recurrence or metastasis were observed during the followed 3 months. Conclusion: 3D thoracoscope system not only preserves the minimally invasive advantage of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), it can also provide high-definition and stereoscopic vision and better sense of depth which facilitate the operation more precise and safer, thus operation time becomes shorter. Besides, 3D system possesses the advantage of natural vision similar to open surgery, thus it has an easier and shorter learning curve.

With the low-dose spiral computed tomography (LDCT) widely applied in screening for early-stage lung cancers recently, positive rates of Ground-Glass Opacity (GGO) are gradually increased. Many professional researchers believe GGO has a close relationship with the early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, consequently, qualitative diagnosis and early treatment of GGO plays a signiifcant role in improving the diagnostic and survival rates of patients with early-stage lung cancer. Since relative imaging diagnosis, location methods and surgical approaches of GGO have been reported a lot by domestic and overseas researchers, our reviews would mainly focus on the diverse research progress of molecular biology of GGO in the past several years.

BACKGROUND: The expression and significance of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-α) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) in different diseases are different.OBJ ECTTVE: To investigate the expression of TGF-α and EGF-R in human liver cirrhosis tissues.DESIGN : Non-randomized controlled trial.SETTING: Department of General Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.MATERIALS: This trial was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA during March 2003 to May 2004. Sixty-three samples of human liver cirrhosis tissue were obtained from Department of General Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA (Informed consents were obtained). Five human normal liver tissues were obtained form autopsy in Department of Pathology, Fourth Military Medical University of Chinese PLA (patients with liver diseases were excluded).METHODS: Sixty-three samples of human liver cirrhosis specimens and five human normal liver tissues were studied with immunohistochemical method and in situ hybridization technique. The positive rates of TGF-α and EGF-R were calculated and managed statistically.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Detection of the expressions of TGF-α and EGF-R in liver cirrhosis tissues were detected with immunohistochemical method and in situ hybridization technique.RESULTS: The expression rate of TGF-α and EGF-R in 63 samples of human liver cirrhosis tissues was 84% (53/63)and 52% (33/63) respectively. These positive granules were brown and most of them were in cytoplasm of hepatocytes.There was significantly positive correlation between TGF-α and EGF-R (r =0.32,P ＜ 0.05). In five normal liver tissues,TGF-α and EGF-R were not detectable in hepatocytes and bile ducts. In situ hybridization showed the levels of TGF-αmRNA and EGF-R mRNA were higher (86%, 54%) than those of immunohistochemistry. There was no significant difference between two detective methods (P＞0.05).CONCLUSrON: Liver cirrhosis might be under the autocrine regulation of TGF-α/EGF-R. Increasing expression of TGF-αand EGF-R might be one of important factors in liver cirrhosis pathogenesis.

Five grams of urea and two milliliters of corn syrup were added into 1 liter ethanoldistilled wastewater with 8% solid dregs The activity of acid resistant ? amylase and glucoamylase produced by inoculated Aspergillus kawachii genetic engineering strain TR12 in the transformed liquid reached a level of 13 42U/mL and 246U/mL respectively after fermentation at 32℃ by the shaking flask for 70 hours The transformed liquid was circularly applied to the ethanol ingredient process without cooking room, not only it didn't influence the ethanol output and quality, but also it could efficiently reduce the pollution of ethanol distilled wastewater and the cost of ethanol production