Establishment and Application of Early Risk Stratification Method for Acute Abdominal Pain in Adults.

Background: Acute abdominal pain is a common symptom of emergency patients. The severity was always evaluated based on physicians' clinical experience. The aim of this study was to establish an early risk stratification method (ERSM) for addressing adults with acute abdominal pain, which would guide physicians to take appropriate and timely measures following the established health-care policies.

Tanshinone IIA promotes the proliferation of WB-F344 hepatic oval cells via Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Tanshinone IIA (TSA) is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine, which has been demonstrated to protect damaged liver cells and is currently administered in the treatment of liver fibrosis. Liver precursor cells, also termed oval cells, are key in the repair of liver tissues following injury. However, whether TSA improves the function of liver cells and protects the liver from injury by enhancing the growth and proliferation of hepatic oval cells remains to be elucidated.

EGF Suppresses the Initiation and Drives the Reversion of TGF-β1-induced Transition in Hepatic Oval Cells Showing the Plasticity of Progenitor Cells.

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) induces hepatic progenitors to tumor initiating cells through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), thus raising an important drawback for stem cell-based therapy. How to block and reverse TGF-β1-induced transition is crucial for progenitors' clinical application and carcinogenic prevention. Rat adult hepatic progenitors, hepatic oval cells, experienced E-cadherin to N-cadherin switch and changed to α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) positive cells after TGF-β1 incubation, indicating EMT.

Effects of herbal compound 861 on collagen synthesis and degradation in rat mesangial cells exposed to high glucose.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Herbal Compound 861 (Cpd 861) on collagen synthesis and degradation in rat mesangial cells exposed to high glucose.

Methods: The third to fifth passage of rat mesangial cells were exposed to high glucose and Cpd 861 at a concentration of 0.25-4.

Isolation of antifungal compound from Paeonia suffruticosa and its antifungal mechanism.

Objective: To isolate antifungal compound from Paeonia suffruticosa, and to find the antifungal mechanisms by observing the ultrastructural modifications of yeasts in growth phase produced by 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (PGG).

Methods: Peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) root bark (PRB) was separated by solvent extraction and purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method using analytical and preparative reversed phase C18 column on the basis of bio-assay method. In order to investigate the antifungal mechanism of PGG, Yeasts were submitted to different concentrations [3 × minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), 0.

Increasing newly diagnosed rate and changing risk factors of HCV in Yanbian Prefecture, a high endemic area in China.

Background: The newly diagnosed rate of HCV infection is increasing in China. However, the risk factors have not been fully identified. Here, a survey was performed in Yanbian Prefecture, a high-endemic area in China.

Connective tissue growth factor induces hepatic progenitor cells to differentiate into hepatocytes.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) plays an important role in the proliferation of hepatic progenitors, however, little is known concerning the mechanism(s) through which it influences their differentiation. The differentiation of hepatic progenitors (WB-F344), either stimulated with recombinant CTGF or stably transfected with a CTGF overexpression plasmid, was investigated. Expression of the differentiation markers α-fetoprotein (AFP), albumin (ALB) and cytokeratin-19 (CK-19) was assessed.

Emodin improves lipopolysaccharide-induced microcirculatory disturbance in rat mesentery.

Objective: Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Emodin is a major ingredient of Rheum Palmatum, a Chinese herb that is widely used in China for treatment of endotoxemia-related diseases. This study intended to examine the effect of Emodin on LPS-induced rat mesenteric microcirculatory disturbance and the underlying mechanisms.

Antifibrotic effects of a recombinant adeno-associated virus carrying small interfering RNA targeting TIMP-1 in rat liver fibrosis.

Elevated tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) expression contributes to excess production of extracellular matrix in liver fibrosis. Herein, we constructed a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) carrying siRNA of the TIMP-1 gene (rAAV/siRNA-TIMP-1) and investigated its effects on liver fibrosis in rats. Two models of rat liver fibrosis, the carbon tetrachloride and bile duct ligation models, were treated with rAAV/siRNA-TIMP-1.

Magnolol pretreatment prevents sepsis-induced intestinal dysmotility by maintaining functional interstitial cells of Cajal.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism by which magnolol treatment prevents lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic dysmotility in mice. Sepsis was induced by intravenous tail vein injection of LPS (4 mg/kg body weight). Animals were divided into three groups: the magnolol-treated septic group, the placebo-treated septic group, and the control group.

HMGB1 promotes the synthesis of pro-IL-1β and pro-IL-18 by activation of p38 MAPK and NF-κB through receptors for advanced glycation end-products in macrophages.

The high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) protein and NALP3 inflammasome have been identified to play important roles in inflammation and cancer pathogenesis, but the relationships between the two and cancer remain unclear. The current study investigated the relationship between HMGB1 and the NALP3 inflammasome in THP-1 macrophages. HMGB1 was found unable to activate the NALP3 inflammasome and failed to induce the release of the IL-1β and IL-18 in THP-1 macrophages.

[Serum sodium concentration profile for cirrhotic patients and its effect on the prognostic value of the MELD score].

To analyze the characteristics of serum sodium in decompensated cirrhosis and evaluate the prognostic ability of the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) in Na-containing models. Patients diagnosed with decompensated cirrhosis at our hospital were enrolled for study between June 2005 and October 2010. Patients were classified among three groups, according to serum sodium concentration: less than 125 mmol/L, 125 to 135 mmol/L, and more than 135 mmol/L.

Research on the relationship between thick greasy tongue fur formation and vascular endothelial cell permeability with the protein expression of zonula occludens-1.

Objective: To determine the relationship of thick greasy tongue fur formation and permeability of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) with the protein expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1).

Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into a model group of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and a sham-operated (SO) group. The SAP rats were further divided into two subgroups on the basis of tongue-coating status: a thick greasy tongue fur group (SAP-TGF) and a normal tongue fur group (SAP-NF).

Two patterns of alanine aminotransferase increase to predict long-term viral response in chronic hepatitis B patients: virus- or host-induced?

Background: Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increase is a well-known phenomenon during interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis B. However, little is known about these increases during nucleoside/nucleotide treatment and the effects on long-term clinical outcomes.

Methods: A total of 170 treatment-naive hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive chronic hepatitis B patients were treated with a nucleoside/nucleotide analogue for at least 2 years and followed up for 1 more year post-treatment.

Expression level of glutamine synthetase is increased in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver tissue with cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis B.

Studies have suggested that glutamine synthetase (GS) is a potential marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to evaluate the expression of GS in non-malignant liver tissue and serum GS levels in HCC, liver cirrhosis (LC), chronic hepatitis B (CHB), five kinds of extrahepatic diseases patients and healthy subjects. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess GS expression in 260 liver tissue samples (from 120 HCC, 90 CHB stage 4, and 50 CHB stage 1-3 patients).

Primary isolated hepatic oval cells maintain progenitor cell phenotypes after two-year prolonged cultivation.

Background & Aims: Although expandable hepatic progenitors provide renewable cell sources for treatment of hepatic disorders, long-term cultivation of hepatic progenitors may affect proliferation and differentiation abilities, and even initiate the formation of malignant cancer stem cells. This study aims to determine characteristics of primary cultured hepatic oval cells after prolonged cultivation in vitro.

Methods: Hepatic oval cells isolated from rats fed with a choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented diet were continuously propagated every 5-7 days, to 100 passages over two years.

Glutamine synthetase as an early marker for hepatocellular carcinoma based on proteomic analysis of resected small hepatocellular carcinomas.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Because small HCCs possess most of the characteristics of early HCC, we investigated small HCCs to screen potential biomarkers for early diagnosis.

Methods: Proteins were extracted from 10 sets of paired tissue samples from HBV-infected small-HCC patients.

Inhibition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by the compound Qingre granules.

Background: The infection rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is increasing yearly due to the overprescription of antibiotics. Traditional Chinese compound medicines are less inclined to induce bacterial resistance in the clinical setting because of their multi-acting mechanisms. However, most current research is limited to bacteriostasis in vitro using single extracts or formulations.

Assessment of hepatic fibrosis by transient elastography in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Hepatic ultrasonic transient elastography (FibroScan) is a new diagnostic method for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis. There are limited data available on its use as a follow-up tool for patients with chronic hepatitis B. In this study, 134 patients were enrolled.

Changes in intestinal mucosal immune barrier in rats with endotoxemia.

Aim: To investigate the dysfunction of the immunological barrier of the intestinal mucosa during endotoxemia and to elucidate the potential mechanism of this dysfunction.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into two groups: control group and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group. Endotoxemia was induced by a single caudal venous injection of LPS.