[An epidemiologic study on functional constipation among adult communities in Shanghai].

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of functional constipation (FC) by using Rome III criteria in the local adult communities.

Methods: A stratified randomized and community-based study by multi-stage cluster sampling was employed. A household survey was conducted from April to May 2010.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders among adolescents with poor sleep: a school-based study in Shanghai, China.

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether functional gastrointestinal disorders are more common among adolescents with self-reported poor sleep.

Methods: Junior middle school and senior high school students (n = 1,362) were recruited from schools in Shanghai. Students completed two questionnaires: the questionnaire for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in adolescents and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

Prevalence and associated factors of functional gastrointestinal disorders and bowel habits in Chinese adolescents: a school-based study.

Objectives: In the present study, we explored the prevalence rates and association factors of functional gastrointestinal disorders and the most common modes and frequencies of bowel habit among a cohort of Chinese adolescents.

Patients And Methods: A stratified, randomized study based on cross-sectional data was performed using cluster sampling, which recruited 3671 students in Shanghai, China. All of the students were requested to complete a questionnaire.

[Effect of silencing connective tissue growth factor on the liver fibrosis in rats].

Objective: To investigate the anti-fibrogenesis property of intraportal vein small interfering RNA (siRNA) injection targeting connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in a rat model of liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and its effect on hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation.

Methods: 24 male rats were randomly divided into four group. rats received CCl4 by subcutaneous injections every three days for 6 consecutive weeks, and meantime they also obtained either siRNA targeting CTGF (as CTGF siRNA group), saline (as model group) or a control siRNA (as control siRNA group) by intraportal vein injection to rats liver at the same approach.

Preservation of basal AcSDKP attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrosis in the rat liver.

Background & Aims: N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP) is an endogenous tetrapeptide which has antifibrogenic effects at physiological concentrations in various tissues. AcSDKP is produced locally in the liver, however, little is known about its biological effect in this organ. We hypothesize that basal levels of endogenous AcSDKP decrease during the development of liver fibrosis and preservation of basal AcSDKP attenuates liver fibrosis.

Therapeutic effect of transplanting beta(2)m(-)/Thy1(+) bone marrow-derived hepatocyte stem cells transduced with lentiviral-mediated HGF gene into CCl(4)-injured rats.

Background: beta(2)m(-)/Thy1(+) bone marrow-derived hepatocyte stem cells (BDHSCs) isolated from the bone marrow of cholestatic rats by magnetic bead cell sorting consistently express characteristics of both stem and liver cells. These stem cells may be good vehicles for gene transfer. Administration of exogenous hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) may be potentially useful for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

[Effect of interleukin 10 gene-modified bone marrow-derived liver stem cells transplantation on hepatic inflammatory response and liver regeneration in hepatic fibrosis rats].

Objective: To explore effect of interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene-modified bone marrow-derived liver stem cells (BDLSCs) transplantation on hepatic inflammatory response and liver regeneration in rats with liver fibrosis.

Methods: 50 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: (1) control group: 10 rats were subcutaneously injected with olive oil for 8 weeks; (2) fibrosis groups: 16 rats were subcutaneously injected with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) for 8 weeks to induce liver fibrosis; (3) BDLSC group: 12 rats were subcutaneously injected with CCl4 for 8 weeks, and were transplanted with 2 x 10(5) BDLSC at week 4; (4) BDLSC/IL-10 group: 12 rats were subcutaneously injected with CCl4 for 8 weeks, and were transplanted with 2 x 10(5) IL-10 gene-modified BDLSC at week 4. IL-10 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) in liver tissues were detected by ELISA.

Effects of upregulated expression of microRNA-16 on biological properties of culture-activated hepatic stellate cells.

In our previous studies, we identified miR-16 as being downregulated during activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) by microarray hybridization. However, the roles and related mechanisms of miR-16 in HSCs are not understood. In this study, The miRNA RNAi technique was used to analyze the effects of miR-16 on biological properties of HSCs in vitro.

Changes in microRNAs associated with hepatic stellate cell activation status identify signaling pathways.

Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), which is regulated by multiple signal transduction pathways, is the key event in liver fibrosis. Moreover, members of these pathways are important targets for microRNAs (miRNAs). To better understand the critical pathways of HSC activation, we performed comprehensive comparative bioinformatics analysis of microarrays of quiescent and activated HSCs.

miR-15b and miR-16 are implicated in activation of the rat hepatic stellate cell: An essential role for apoptosis.

Background/aims: To reveal the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile and related roles in rat HSCs during activation.

Methods: miRNA expression profiling was analyzed in quiescent and in culture-activated HSCs by microarray. The differentially expressed miRNAs, as verified by RT-PCR, were subjected to gene ontology (GO) analysis.

[Risk factors of irritable bowel syndrome in adolescents in China].

Objective: To explore the risk factors for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among school adolescents in China.

Method: A stratified, randomized study by cluster sampling was conducted, which recruited 51,956 students from high and primary schools in Chinese cities. All students were requested to fill in a questionnaire.

[Effects of gene-transfected bone marrow-derived liver stem cell transplantation on accumulation of extracellular matrix in rats with liver fibrosis].

Objective: To explore the effects of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene-modified bone marrow-derived stem cell (BDLSC) transplantation on accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in hepatic tissue in liver fibrosis.

Methods: BDLSCs obtained from 10 male Fisher344 rats were transfected by adenovirus-mediated human uPA (AduPA) in vitro. Twenty-seven female rats were randomly divided into 3 equal groups to undergo subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride to establish liver fibrosis models and then randomly divided into 3 equal groups: model group injected with normal saline via caudal vein, BDLSC group injected with 2 x 10(6) BDLSCs via caudal vein, and BDLSC-uPA group injected with 2 x 10(6) AduPA-transfected BDLSCs.

[Effects of silencing connective tissue growth factor on rat transforming growth factor beta/Smads signal].

Objective: To investigate the effects of small interfering RNA targeting connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) on rat transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta)/Smads signal pathway.

Methods: Chemically synthetic siRNA targeting CTGF was transfected into HSC T6 and then they were injected into rat livers through their intraportal veins. At the same time these rats also received CCl4 subcutaneously every three days for 6 consecutive weeks.

Transplantation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator gene-modified bone marrow-derived liver stem cells reduces liver fibrosis in rats.

Background: Bone marrow-derived liver stem cells (BDLSCs) are very robust cells that can differentiate into liver epithelial cells. These stem cells are promising targets for gene therapy treatment of liver diseases. Liver fibrosis results from chronic liver damage characterized by an accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) play an important role in ECM degradation.

[Effect of silencing connective tissue growth factor on rat liver fibrosis and the accumulation of extracellular matrix].

Objective: To investigate the anti-fibrogenesis property of intraportal vein injection of small interfering RNA targeting connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in a rat model of liver fibrosis and its effect on the accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM).

Methods: Thirty male rats were randomly divided into five groups. Some rats received CCl4 subcutaneously every three days for 6 consecutive weeks, and in the meantime they also received either siRNA targeting CTGF (preventive group), saline (model group) or siRNA (siRNA control group) by intraportal vein injections.

[An epidemiologic study of functional bowel disorders in adolescents in China].

Objective: To explore the most common bowel frequency and the prevalence rates of functional bowel disorders among adolescents in China.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 51,956 students from high and primary schools in 6 Chinese cities distributed in the whole China collected by stratified, randomized, cluster sampling to study the epidemiology of functional bowel disorders.

Results: (1) 88.

[An epidemiologic study of irritable bowel syndrome among adolescents in China].

Objective: To explore the prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and its distribution characteristics among adolescents in China.

Methods: A stratified and randomized study by cluster sampling was employed, the study recruited 51 956 students from high and primary schools in different Chinese cities. All students were requested to fill in a questionnaire.

Modified synthetic siRNA targeting tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 inhibits hepatic fibrogenesis in rats.

Background/aims: Fibrosis occurs in most chronic liver injuries and results from changes in the balance between synthesis and degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous inhibitors (TIMPs) are known to regulate the ECM turnover. We investigate the effect of modified synthetic small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting TIMP-2 in rat model of liver fibrosis.

Arg-gly-asp-mannose-6-phosphate inhibits activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells in vitro.

Aim: To investigate the effect of arg-gly-asp-mannose-6 phosphate (RGD-M6P) on the activation and proliferation of primary hepatic stellate cells in vitro.

Methods: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were isolated from rats by in situ collagenase perfusion of liver and 18% Nycodenz gradient centrifugation and cultured on uncoated plastic plates for 24 h with DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS/DMEM) before the culture medium was substituted with 2% FBS/DMEM for another 24 h. Then, HSCs were cultured in 2% FBS/DMEM with transforming growth factor beta1, M6P, RGD, or RGD-M6P, respectively.

[COX-2 expression in the H. pylori infected gastric mucosal epithelia and its significance].

Objective: To study COX-2 expression in H. pylori infected gastric mucosal epithelia and its significance in the carcinogenesis of the stomach.

Methods: Rapid urease test and histological examination with basic magnenta staining were used to assess the status of H.

Mechanism and clinical significance of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in gastric cancer.

Aim: To determine the correlation between methylation status of 5' CpG island of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene and protein expression in gastric cancer tissues for distinguishing the molecular characters of gastric cancers.

Methods: Methylation status of 5' CpG island of COX-2 gene was studied by PCR amplification after HpaII and Hha I restrictive enzyme digestion; COX-2 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical method.

Results: Hpa II and HhaI site were all methylated in 12 normal gastric mucosa tissues, whereas they were demethylated in 77.

A new immortalized rat cell line, hepatic stellate cell-PQ, exhibiting characteristics of hepatic stellate cell.

Background: Playing a central role in hepatic fibrosis, hepatic stellate cell (HSC) has made itself the major target of research. The limited supply of HSC, however, can not meet the ever growing need of experiment. Establishment and identification of novel immortalized HSC line thus may be urgently required.