Effect of the transdifferentiation of BECs into myofibroblasts on the pathogenesis of secondary cholestatic hepatic fibrosis.

The present study investigated the effect of the transdifferentiation of bile duct epithelial cells (BECs) into myofibroblasts on the pathogenesis of secondary cholestatic hepatic fibrosis and examined the underlying mechanisms. A total of 60 male rats with hepatic fibrosis were randomly divided into two groups: A secondary cholestatic hepatic fibrosis model group induced by ligation of the bile duct (BDL) and a sham group, which only underwent segregation of the choledochus. Rats in the BDL group were dynamically observed after week 1, 2, 3 and 4 post-BDL, and the remaining rats were sacrificed after week 5 to determine histological changes and hydroxyproline content.

Draft Genome Sequence of Amphibacillus jilinensis Y1(T), a Facultatively Anaerobic, Alkaliphilic and Halotolerant Bacterium.

The genus Amphibacillus was established in 1990, and seven additional species were described in the past two decades. Amphibacillus jilinensis Y1(T) is a facultatively anaerobic and alkaliphilic bacterium isolated from a soda lake in China. Here we describe the structural and genetic features of the draft genome about the type strain Y1(T) (3,831,075 bp, with a G+C content of 37.

Oceanirhabdus sediminicola gen. nov., sp. nov., an anaerobic bacterium isolated from sea sediment.

A novel anaerobic bacterium, designated NH-JN4(T) was isolated from a sediment sample collected in the South China Sea. Cells were Gram-stain-positive, spore-forming, peritrichous and rod-shaped (0.5-1.

[Effect of scalp acupuncture combined with body acupuncture on limb function in subacute stroke patients].

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture stimulation of scalp- and body-acupoints on limb function in subacute stroke patients.

Methods: A total of 110 stroke inpatients were randomly and equally divided into acupuncture group and control group. Patients of the acupuncture group were treated by acupuncture stimulation of scalp acupoint Dingnie Qianxiexian (MS 6) and body acupoints Neiguan (PC 6), Jianyu (LI 15), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), etc.

Extensimonas vulgaris gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Comamonadaceae.

A novel strain, named S4(T), was obtained from industrial wastewater in Xiaoshan, Zhejiang Province, China. Cells were Gram-negative, neutrophilic and non-spore-forming and moved by means of a polar flagellum. Normal cells were 0.

Salimesophilobacter vulgaris gen. nov., sp. nov., an anaerobic bacterium isolated from paper-mill wastewater.

A novel anaerobic, heterotrophic bacterium, designated strain Zn2(T), was isolated from the wastewater of a paper mill in Zhejiang, China. Cells were gram-type-positive rods, 0.5-0.

[Observation on therapeutic effect of acupuncture of five Shu-points of the liver meridian combined with bloodletting for depression patients and concomitant changes of blood rheology].

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture of five Shu-points of the Liver Meridian plus bloodletting for depression patients and its effect on hemorheology.

Methods: Thirty depression outpatients were randomly and equally divided into medication and acupuncture + bloodletting groups. Patients of the medication group were treated with Fluoxetine (20 mg/d, PO.

[Comparative study of heat-sensitive moxibustion in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis].

Objective: To verify the clinical efficacy of heat-sensitive moxibustion in treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: Sixty cases of KOA were randomly divided into a heat-sensitive moxibustion group and a conventional moxibustion group, 30 cases in each one. Dubi (ST 35), Yanglingquan (GB 34), Zusanli (ST 36) and Heding (EX-LE 2) on the affected side were selected in two groups.

Brassicibacter mesophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a strictly anaerobic bacterium isolated from food industry wastewater.

A novel mesophilic, strictly anaerobic bacterium, strain BM(T), was isolated from food industry wastewater. The cells were motile, non-spore-forming rods and stained Gram-negative. Growth of strain BM(T) was observed at 16-44 °C (optimum 37 °C) and pH 6.

Pectinatus brassicae sp. nov., a Gram-negative, anaerobic bacterium isolated from salty wastewater.

A novel Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, strictly anaerobic, heterotrophic bacterium, strain TY(T), was isolated from salty pickle wastewater. Cells were rod-shaped with comb-like flagella, slightly curved and very variable in length. Optimal growth occurred at 28 °C and pH 6.

[Correlation between the liver meridian and the frontal lobe in depression by needling at taichong (LV3): a resting-state fMRI study].

Objective: To explore the mechanism of depression treatment by needling at Taichong (LV3) and the correlation between the liver meridian and the frontal lobe.

Methods: Forty-two patients with moderate depression at the first attack in line with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed) by American Psychiatric Association were assigned to the fluoxetine group, the needling + fluoxetine group, and the needling group, 14 in each. The therapeutic course for them all was one month.

A novel biomimetic polymer as amphiphilic surfactant for soluble and biocompatible carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

Novel amphiphilic diblock copolymer, cholesterol-end-capped poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (CPMPC), which has poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PMPC) as hydrophilic segment and cholesterol as hydrophobic segment, was specially designed as amphiphilic surfactant to achieve water-soluble and biocompatible carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The pristine CNTs were facilely dispersed via non-covalently binding the zwitterionic phosphorylcholine-based amphiphile onto the surfaces of the CNTs. It is interesting to find that CPMPC shows better CNTs solubilizing ability compared with the surfactant of pyrene-end-capped poly(2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine) (PPMPC).

[Study on corresponding areas the liver and lung channels in brain with fMRI].

Objective: To explore distribution of the Liver and Lung Channels in the brain so as to provide imaging basis for construction of channel theory in the brain.

Methods: Sixty healthy student volunteers were randomly divided into a Liver Channel group (I) and a Lung Channel group (II), and the each group was further divided into five subgroups with 6 volunteers in each subgroup, based on five-shu-point principles which, were Dadun (LR 1, I 1), Xingjian (LR 2, I 2), Taichong (LR 3, I 3), Zhongfeng (LR 4, I 4), Ququan (LR 8, I 5), Shaoshang (LU 11, II 1), Yuji (LU 10, II 2), Taiyuan (LU 9, II 3), Jingqu (LU 8, II 4), and Chize (LU 5, II 5), respectively. In order to observe the brain activating patterns during acupuncture at the different acupoints, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique was adopted.

[Hypothesis on "all the 12 channels entering the brain"].

Out of the 20 channels in the channel and collateral system, only 5 enter the brain, with unclear circulation pathway in the brain. Electrophysiologic and imaging studies indicate that the signal induced by acupuncture at acupoints can enter the brain no matter whether the channel connecting the acupoint enters the brain. Therefore, the authors put forward the hypothesis of "all the 12 channels enter the brain", i.

[A quantitative study of the relationship between levels of liver fibrosis markers in sera and fibrosis stages of liver tissues of patients with chronic hepatic diseases].

Objectives: To study the quantitative relationship between the levels of serum liver fibrosis markers and fibrosis stages of liver tissues in patients with chronic hepatic diseases.

Methods: In 118 patients with chronic hepatitis, fatty liver or cirrhosis, their Serum levels of LN, HA, PCIII and CIV were investigated by EIA and their liver histological changes were studied. The relationship between the levels of serum LN, HA, PCIII and CIV and the degrees of liver tissue fibrosis was analyzed quantitatively by using the SPSS11.