Based on the distribution information of 110 samples and 55 environmental factors, Maxent model was used to predict the ecology suitability regions of Trollius chinensis. The study aims at providing theory basis for the cultivation of T. chinensis. The results showed that the Maxent model prediction result was good (AUC>0.9) and the main factors effecting the ecology suitability regions of T. chinensis were precipitation in July, standard deviation of seasonal variation of temperature, annual mean temperature, precipitation in August and altitude. The ecology suitable regions of T. chinensis mainly concentrated in Shanxi, Hebei, east of Inner Mongolia, west of Jilin and Liaoning, north of Shaanxi, south of Ningxia, east and south of Gansu, and east of Qinghai. The results indicated that except for traditional distribution regions, north of Shaanxi, south of Ningxia, east and south of Gansu, and east of Qinghai could selected as the regions for cultivation of T. chinensis. It provides theory basis for selecting suitable regions to cultivate T. chinensis.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the agreement and correlation between hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) and portal vein pressure (PVP) in patients with portal hypertension,and explore their clinical value.

METHODSA total of 46 patients with portal hypertension were directly measured the free hepatic pressure, wedged hepatic pressure, portal vein pressure before and after TIPS therapy. The agreement and correlation of HVPG and PVP were analyzed, and explore their clinical value.

RESULTSThere is no significant agreement or correlation between HVPG and PVP in 5 patients, whose third hilar have large communicating branches between portal vein and Inferior vena cava, or with obvious umbilical vein opened. The HVPGs were significantly agreed with portal vein pressure in other 41 patients. There is no significant difference of HVPG or PVP between earlyTIPS and not early-TIPS groups. In addition, the portal vein pressures after TIPS were significantly decreased compared with that before TIPS.

CONCLUSIONThe HVPG can well show the PVP except these with obvious communicating branches between portal vein and Inferior vena cava in third hilar, and TIPS can effectively decrease the portal vein pressure in patients with portal hypertension.

Arteriovenous Fistula ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal

The establishment and perfection of the assessment system for chronic liver diseases have a guiding significance for clinical diag-nosis and treatment.Hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG)is of great significance in the progression of chronic liver diseases,and it is the only pathophysiological index for treatment independent of etiology.The current methods for evaluation of chronic liver diseases are sim-ply described,and the application of HVPG in evaluation of chronic liver diseases is systematically summarized,including predicting the se-verity of liver cirrhosis,variceal bleeding risk and outcome of portal hypertension,development of cirrhotic ascites,efficacy of drugs for re-ducing portal hypertension and antiviral drugs,and postoperative outcome of liver cancer.It is thought that HVPG measurement plays an im-portant role in the assessment of the progression and prognosis of chronic liver diseases and is an effective predictor of outcome.

BACKGROUND:Matrix metaloproteinase-1 can degrade extracelular matrix, which is mainly colagen type I, and has the potential to reverse fibrosis tissue. OBJECTIVE:To construct the recombinant adenovirus vector containing human matrix metaloproteinase-1 (hMMP-1) gene with GatewayTM Clone Technology, and observe the capacity of degrading colagen type IIIin vitro. METHODS: The gene hMMP-1 was amplified by using PCR from the pcDNA3.1 plasmid and was cut down by the double endonuclease. The linear gene fragment was connected to the entry vector pENTERTM 1A. Then the entry clone and the destination vectors pJTI? R4 Dest CMV-N-EmGFP pA Vector recombined using the LR reaction to form the expression clone pAd-hMMP-1-eGFP. The linear pAd-hMMP-1-eGFP cut down by endonucleasePac I was transfected into HEK293A cels to packaging the Ad-hMMP-1-eGFP. The transfected situation was observed under a fluorescence microscope, the target protein expression was detected by western-blot assay and RT-PCR. Cels can be divided into three groups: blank control group: HEK293A cels, AD-EGFP group: HEK293A cels were infected by Ad-eGFP, AD-HMMP1-EGF group: HEK293A cels were infected by Ad-hMMP1-eGFP and colagen type III. The content of colagen type III was detected by ELISA kits after 24, 48 and 72 hours. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: It was confirmed that the entry vector and the destination vector both contained hMMP-1 target gene by restriction analysis and sequencing. The green fluorescent protein was observed in the 293A cels transfected by the Ad-hMMP-1-eGFP at 4 days. The fluorescence intensity was the highest at 10 days. The virus was colected at 12 days, the viral titer was determined as 4.84 × 1010 PFU/mL, the target protein was efficient expressionvia western-blot assay. Blank control group and AD-EGFP group had no obvious change of colagen content with the extension of time. The rate of colagen degradation in AD-HMMP1-EGFP group was 24%, 56% and 81% respectively at 24, 48, 72 hours. AD-HMMP1-EGFP group degraded colagen significantly compared with the other two groups (P < 0.01). The recombinant adenovirus vector containing hMMP-1 was successfuly constructed by using the Gateway technology, this method was more efficient and specific than with the traditional methods. The hMMP1 degraded colagen type III significantlyin vitro.

Objective To study the effect of p38MAPK on the activity and c-myc protein expression in rat acetaldehyde-induced hepatic stellate cell(HSC),and to investigate the alcoholic liver fibrosis related mechanism.Methods The different concentrations of SB203580 as the p38 specific blocker was adopted to conduct the intervention on rat acetaldehyde-induced HSC.The cellular mor-phological change was observed by the microscope.The cell proliferation was detected by MTT,the cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry(FCM),and the expression of c-myc protein was examined by the SABC method.Results (1)after acetaldehyde stimula-tion,HSC was increased in size and proliferated rapidly,but with the added SB203580 concentration increase,the cellular prolifera-tion was slowed down,the cells size was diminished and the deformed cells were increased.(2)The proliferation of acetaldehyde-in-duced HSC was inhibited by different doses of SB203580,and the higher concentration has the more significant inhibiting effect.(3) With the SB203580 concentration increase,the cells at the phase G0 and G1 were increased,while the cells at the phase S were de-creased,at the same time the expression positive rate of c-myc protein was decreased.Conclusion Blocking p38MAPK pathway ac-tivity could inhibit the proliferation of acetaldehyde-induced HSC,which may be related to the down-regulation of C-myc protein ex-pression and blocking the DNA synthesis in cells entering from G0/G1 phase to S phase.

The performance of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has two key procedures: (1) portal vein branch puncturing, and (2) the correct judgment of the safety of the puncture site. The portal vein branch puncturing is the most important and difficult step for a successful TIPS procedure. Therefore, to find and to establish an proper access to the portal vein is critical. Nowadays, in clinical practice several imaging techniques have been used to localize the portal vein, such as magnetic resonance imaging, sonography, fluoroscopy, arteriography and computed tomography. This article aims to make a general review on these invasive and non - invasive localization techniques when a successful performance of TIPS is expected.

Hepatic Veins ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Hypertension, Portal ; physiopathology ; Portal Pressure

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the function of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) with over-expressed matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) on liver fibrosis. METHODS: Fifty SD male rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: recombinant adenovirus Adhuman MMP-1(hMMP-1)-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) transfected BMSCs group (Group A, n=10), Ad-EGFP transfected BMSCs group (Group B, n=10), liver fibrosis group (Group C, n=15), and a normal group (Group D, n=15). The liver fibrosis model was formed by subcutaneous injection of the mixed liquor of carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) and vegetable oil. After 10 weeks, the model of liver fibrosis was formed. Group A and B were administered the transfected BMSCs via the tail veins, while Group C and D were administered normal saline. After 3 weeks, the rats were sacrificed. The body weight, liver weight, liver function, liver fibrosis indexes and liver pathological changes were tested. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the rats administered BMSCs with over-expressed MMP1 showed a significant improvement in the body weight, liver weight and plasma albumin (ALB) (P<0.05), and a significant reduction in the plasma alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin, hyaluronic acid, laminin and procollagen III (P<0.05). Hematoxylin-eosin staining confirmed that the degree of liver fibrosis was significantly ameliorated under average visual fields (P<0.05). CONCLUSION The repair ability of BMSCs on liver fibrosis can be enhanced by over-expression of hMMP-1.
Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transfection