In situ meta-omic insights into the community compositions and ecological roles of hadal microbes in the Mariana Trench.

The low temperature and elevated hydrostatic pressure in hadal trenches at water depths below 6000 m render sample collection difficult. Here, in situ hadal water microbial samples were collected from the Mariana Trench and analysed. The hadal microbial communities at different depths were revealed to be consistent and were dominated by heterotrophic Marinimicrobia.

Genomics insights into ecotype formation of ammonia-oxidizing archaea in the deep ocean.

Various lineages of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) are present in deep waters, but the mechanisms that determine ecotype formation are obscure. We studied 18 high-quality genomes of the marine group I AOA lineages (alpha, gamma and delta) from the Mariana and Ogasawara trenches. The genomes of alpha AOA resembled each other, while those of gamma and delta lineages were more divergent and had even undergone insertion of some phage genes.

In situ splitting after selective partial portal vein ligation or simultaneous hepatic artery ligation promotes liver regeneration.

This study seeks to compare the impact of selective partial portal vein ligation (PPVL) or the combination of simultaneous hepatic artery ligation (PPVAL) with in situ splitting (ISS) on liver regeneration and injury. Rats were randomized into three groups; namely: selective PVL, PPVL + ISS and PPVAL + ISS. The changes in hepatic hemodynamics, liver regeneration and hepatocytic injury were examined.

A simple rat model of reversible obstructive jaundice reversible obstructive jaundice model.

Purpose: To develop a simple and reliable rat model of reversible obstructive jaundice with low morbidity and mortality rates.

Methods: Rats were divided into 4 groups with 8 rats each: the sham-operated (SH) group only underwent laparotomy, the control internal drainage (ID-C) group underwent choledochoduodenostomy, the new internal drainage (ID-N) group and the long-term internal drainage (ID-L) group underwent choledochocholedochostomy. Common bile duct ligation was performed in all the drainage groups 7 days before reversal procedures.

Laser speckle contrast imaging and Oxygen to See for assessing microcirculatory liver blood flow changes following different volumes of hepatectomy.

Objective: Portal hyperperfusion after extended hepatectomy or small-for-size liver transplantation may induce organ dysfunction and failure. This study was designed to monitor and characterize the hepatic microcirculatory perfusion following different volumes of hepatectomy in rats by using laser speckle contrast image (LSCI) and Oxygen to See (O2C), a spectrometric device.

Methods: The microcirculatory liver blood flow of the rats that underwent 68%, 85% and 90% hepatectomy (68PH, 85PH and 90PH) was monitored with LSCI and O2C before and following the hepatectomy.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor promotes growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

We aimed to elucidate the effects of hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) on growth and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Tissue microarrays with 236 HCC specimens and 18 extrahepatic metastases were utilized to detect the HDGF expression by immunohistochemistry. Meanwhile, HDGF expressions in HCC cell lines with different metastatic potentials were examined using immunofluorescence staining, real-time PCR and western blotting.

[Comparison of the Predictive Values of Eight Staging Systems for Primary Liver Cancer in Prognosis of Combined Hepatocellular-cholangiocellular Carcinoma Patients after Surgery].

Objective: To compare the predictive values of eight staging systems for primary liver cancer in the prognosis of combined hepatocellular-cholangiocellular carcinoma (cHCC-CC) patients after surgery.

Methods: The clinical data of 54 cHCC-CC patients who underwent hepatectomy or liver transplantation from May 2005 to Augest 2013 in Chinese PLA General Hospital were collected. We evaluated the prognostic value of the Okuda staging system, Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) score, French staging system, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system, 7th edition of tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) staging system for hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), Japan Integrated Staging (JIS) score, and Chinese University Prognostic Index.

Preserving low perfusion during surgical liver blood inflow control prevents hepatic microcirculatory dysfunction and irreversible hepatocyte injury in rats.

Hepatic ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is of primary concern during liver surgery. We propose a new approach for preserving low liver blood perfusion during hepatectomy either by occlusion of the portal vein (OPV) while preserving hepatic artery flow or occlusion of the hepatic artery while limiting portal vein (LPV) flow to reduce I/R injury. The effects of this approach on liver I/R injury were investigated.

A New Segmental Hepatectomy Approach Using Ultrasound-Guided Portal Branch Infusion of a Thermosensitive Gel in Pigs.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of a new segmental hepatectomy (SH) approach using intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) guided infusion of a reversible thermosensitive gel into the portal vein branch in pigs;

Materials And Methods: Poloxamer 407 aqueous solution (20%, W/V) was mixed with indocyanine green (P407-ICG) in this study to make it green, and it remained liquid at room temperature and turned into a firm gel upon reaching body temperature. In experiment I, six pigs were used to detect the outcome of infusing the mixture into the biliary tract, liver parenchyma, and hepatic vein for a safety study. In experiment II, another 12 pigs were randomly segmented into two groups [SH group and partial hepatectomy (PH) group] to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of the new approach using IOUS-guided infusion of the mixture into the portal branch;

Results: No thermosensitive gel-induced abnormal changes were observed in the safety study.

mTOR-Dependent Suppression of Remnant Liver Regeneration in Liver Failure After Massive Liver Resection in Rats.

Background And Aims: Massive hepatectomy often leads to fatal liver failure because of a small remnant liver volume. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential mechanisms leading to liver failure.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats had performed a sham operation, 85 % partial hepatectomy (PH) or 90 % PH, and all had free access to water with or without supplemented glucose.

[Effect of Storage Time on Cumulation of Platelet-related Growth Factors in the Supernatant of Leukoreduced Packed Red Cells and Tumor Cell Proliferation In Vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effect of storage time on accumulation of platelet-related growth factors in the supernatant of leukoreduced packed red blood cells (LR-pRBC) and on tumor cell proliferation in vitro.

Methods: LR-pRBC were quartered and stored at 2 °C-6 °C. The supernatant of pRBC was obtained by centrifugation with 1 006 × g for 10 min at day 0, 14, 21 and 35 d.

[Effect of leukoreduction on tumor-associated cytokine accumutation in supernatant of stored packed red cells and its effect on tumor cell proliferation in vitro].

Objective: This study was to investigate whether prestorage leukoreduction could decrease the accumulative concentration of tumor-associated cytokines in supernatant of stored packed red blood cells (pRBC) and to study the effect of prestorage leukoreduction on proliferation of HepG2 tumor cells by in vitro. The leukoreduced (LR) and non-leukoreduced (NLR) pRBC were equally obtained from one donation and were stored under 2 °C-6°C. The supernatants of pRBC in these two group were performed by centrifugation with 1 006×g for 10 min at day 0 and 35 d.

STAT3 regulates the migration and invasion of a stem‑like subpopulation through microRNA‑21 and multiple targets in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Despite advances in the detection and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the prognosis remains poor partly due to recurrence or extra/intrahepatic metastasis. Stem‑like cancer cells are considered the source of malignant phenotypes including metastasis in various types of cancer. HCC side population (SP), considered as stem‑like cancer cells, plays an important role in the migration and invasion in HCC, while the mechanisms involved remain unknown.

Portal vein clamping alone confers protection against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury via preserving hepatocyte function in cirrhotic rats.

Background: Chronic liver diseases always increase the risk of liver failure after hepatectomy. We aimed to explore the protective effect of portal vein clamping without hepatic artery blood control (PVC) on a cirrhotic rat liver that underwent ischemia and reperfusion.

Methods: Carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhotic rats were randomly assigned to four groups as follows: cirrhotic control, PVC, portal triad clamping (PTC), and intermittent portal triad clamping (IC).

Effects of combined anisodamine and neostigmine treatment on the inflammatory response and liver regeneration of obstructive jaundice rats after hepatectomy.

Background: Cholestasis is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing major liver resection. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a combined anisodamine and neostigmine (Ani+Neo) treatment on the inflammatory response and liver regeneration in rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ) after partial hepatectomy.

Materials And Methods: OJ was induced in the rats by bile duct ligation.

[Transient hepatic venous occlusion induced liver hemodynamic change and reperfusion injury in rats].

Objective: To observe the hemodynamic change and reperfusion injury cause by transient hepatic venous occlusion and transient hepatic inflow occlusion in rats.

Methods: The rat liver was divided into 3 different areas: the ischemia reperfusion (IR) area: the inflow of the right superior lobe was clamped for half an hour; the non-isolated lobe congestive reperfusion (NIL-CR) area: the outflow of the right median lobe was clamped for half an hour; and the isolated lobe congestive reperfusion (IL-CR) area: the outflow of the left lobe was clamped for half an hour. The flux value and the oxygen saturation of microcirculation were monitored before at clamping for 30 minutes, and on 1 day, 3 days ,and 7 days after reperfusion.

The monitoring of microvascular liver blood flow changes during ischemia and reperfusion using laser speckle contrast imaging.

Objective: The recovery of microvascular liver blood flow (LBF) after ischemia is an important determinant of the degree of hepatocellular injury. Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) was recently suggested to be a suitable instrument for monitoring the LBF. This study was designed to evaluate LSCI in monitoring the LBF changes during liver ischemia and reperfusion (IR).

Preserving hepatic artery flow during portal triad blood inflow occlusion improves remnant liver regeneration in rats after partial hepatectomy.

Background: In the present study, we compared preservation of the hepatic artery flow during liver blood inflow occlusion with total portal triad blood flow clamping (the Pringle maneuver) to examine their effects on liver regeneration in rats after partial hepatectomy.

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomized to a control group (without hepatic inflow occlusion), an occlusion of the portal triad (OPT) group (OPT for 30 min under portal blood bypass), and an occlusion of the portal vein (OPV) group (OPV only for 30 min under portal blood bypass). All the rats underwent partial hepatectomy at the end of hepatic blood control.

[Effects of different hepatic inflow occlusion methods on liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy in rats].

Objective: To explore the effects of different hepatic inflow occlusion methods on liver regeneration in rats after partial hepatectomy (PH).

Methods: Male Wistar-Furth rats were randomly assigned to three groups: control group, underwent 68% hepatectomy alone; occlusion of portal triad (OPT) group, subjected to occlusion of portal triad under portal blood bypass; and occlusion of portal vein (OPV) group, subjected to occlusion of portal vein under portal blood bypass. Blood flow was occluded for 20, 30, and 40 minutes before 68% hepatectomy.

Effects of partial portal vein arterialization on the hilar bile duct in a rat model.

Background: Liver revascularization is frequently required during the enlarged radical operation for hilar cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic artery. Researchers have carried out a number of experiments applying partial portal vein arterialization (PVA) in clinical practice. In this study we aimed to establish a theoretical basis for clinical application of partial PVA and to investigate the effects of partial PVA on rat hilar bile duct and hepatic functions.

[Metabolic disturbance and insulin resistance in patients with colorectal cancer].

Objective: To investigate whether insulin resistance exists in patients with colorectal cancer and its clinical significance.

Methods: A total of 135 patients with colorectal cancer were included as the study group, and 120 healthy subjects were included as the control group. Height, weight, and blood pressure were recorded.

[Experimental study of a battlefield shock resuscitation fluid with new formula].

Objective: To propose a resuscitation fluid with a new formula for resuscitation of shock in battlefield on the basis of pathogenesis of hemorrhagic shock and clinical experiences, and to evaluate its safety and effectiveness in a rat hemorrhagic shock model.

Methods: After hemorrhagic shock was reproduced in rats, a mixture of lactate Ringer solution and hydroxyethyl starch solution at 2:1 proportion (referred to as LH) was used for resuscitation in animals of control group; LH supplemented with dexamethasone and furosemide (referred to as LHDF) was used as resuscitation fluid for experimental group. After 4 hours of infusion, blood and major organs were obtained for serum biochemical tests, lung water content measurement and histopathological observation.