Phospholipase A2 enzymes PLA2G2A and PLA2G12B as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in cholangiocarcinoma.

Background: Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzymes are pivotal in various biological processes, such as lipid mediator production, membrane remodeling, bioenergetics, and maintaining the body surface barrier. Notably, these enzymes play a significant role in the development of diverse tumors.

Aim: To systematically and comprehensively explore the expression of the PLA2 family genes and their potential implications in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA).

Abdominal paracentesis drainage improves outcome of acute pancreatitis complicated with intra-abdominal hypertension in early phase.

Background: Intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) is an important risk factor for organ dysfunction, and it occurs in the early phase of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). We have reported a novel step-up approach and shown the benefit of performing abdominal paracentesis drainage (APD) ahead of percutaneous catheter drainage (PCD) when treating Patients with SAP with fluid collections. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of APD in Patients with SAP complicated with IAH in the early phase.

Bile Acid Transporters Are Expressed and Heterogeneously Distributed in Rat Bile Ducts.

Background/aims: Cholangiocytes are capable of reabsorbing bile salts from bile, but the pathophysiological significance of this process is unclear. To this end, we detected the expression and distribution of bile acid transport proteins in cholangiocytes from normal rat liver and analyzed the possible pathophysiological significance.

Methods: Bile duct tissues of Sprague-Dawley rats were isolated by enzymatic digestion and mechanical isolation, and then divided into large and small bile duct tissues.

Long Noncoding RNA NEAT1 Promotes Growth and Metastasis of Cholangiocarcinoma Cells.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to play important roles in cancers. However, little is known about lncRNAs in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a cholangiocyte malignancy with poor prognosis. We investigated the role of nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) lncRNA in promoting CCA.

Negative correlation of ITCH E3 ubiquitin ligase and miRNA-106b dictates metastatic progression in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the major malignancies and cause for mortality across the world, with recurrence and metastatic progression remaining the single largest cause of pancreatic cancer mortality. Hence it is imperative to develop novel biomarkers of pancreatic cancer prognosis. The E3 ubiquitin ligase ITCH has been previously reported to inhibit the tumor suppressive Hippo signaling by suppressing LATS1/2 in breast cancer and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Hydrogen-rich saline protects against ischemia/reperfusion injury in grafts after pancreas transplantations by reducing oxidative stress in rats.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of hydrogen-rich saline on pancreatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.

Methods: Eighty heterotopic pancreas transplantations (HPT) were performed in syngenic rats. The receptors were randomized blindly into the following three groups: the HPT group and two groups that underwent transplantation and administration of hydrogen-rich saline (HS, >0.

Enhancing HOTAIR/MiR-10b Drives Normal Liver Stem Cells Toward a Tendency to Malignant Transformation Through Inducing Epithelial- to-Mesenchymal Transition.

Previously, other groups and our team consistently have demonstrated that the possible origination of liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) is the malignant transformation from liver normal stem cells (LNSCs). However, this complex and multi-step process is far from clear due to the accumulation of various gene dysregulations. Because non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) could regulate multiple genes, a family of genes, and even whole chromosomes, this study further investigated the effect of dysregulated short ncRNA microRNA-10b and long ncRNA HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) between LNSCs and LCSCs on phenotype reversion.

Involvement of a membrane potassium channel in heparan sulphate-induced activation of macrophages.

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) -mediated systemic inflammatory response syndrome accompanied by multiple organ failure, is one of the most common causes of death in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Recent reports have revealed that heparan sulphate (HS) proteoglycan, a component of extracellular matrices, potentiates the activation of intracellular pro-inflammatory responses via TLR4, contributing to the aggravation of acute pancreatitis. However, little is known about the participants in the HS/TLR4-mediated inflammatory cascades.

Effects of treatment with hydrogen sulfide on methionine-choline deficient diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in rats.

Background And Aim: Oxidative stress and inflammation play important roles in the progression from simple fatty liver to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The aim of this work was to investigate whether treatment with hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) prevented NASH in rats through abating oxidative stress and suppressing inflammation.

Methods: A methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet rat model was prepared.

Effects of neurolytic celiac plexus block on liver regeneration in rats with partial hepatectomy.

Liver regeneration is the basic physiological process after partial hepatectomy (PH), and is important for the functional rehabilitation of the liver after acute hepatic injury. This study was designed to explore the effects of neurolytic celiac plexus block (NCPB) on liver regeneration after PH. We established a model of PH in rats, assessing hepatic blood flow, liver function, and serum CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 concentrations of the residuary liver after PH.

The naïve effector cells of collagen type I during acute experimental pancreatitis are acinar cells and not pancreatic stellate cells.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of collagen type I and the mRNA level of its regulatory factor, TGF-β1, in tissue samples of acute pancreatitis and to determine the significance of collagen type I in predisposition to pancreatic fibrosis during acute pancreatitis.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into an experimental group (30 rats) and a control group (12 rats). The rats in the experimental group were intraperitoneally injected with cerulein to induce acute pancreatitis.

Progressive balloon dilatation following hepaticojejunostomy improves outcome of bile duct stricture after iatrogenic biliary injury.

Background: Iatrogenic biliary stricture (IBS) is a disastrous complication of cholecystectomy. Although the endoscopic treatments are well accepted as initial attempts for IBS, surgical hepaticojejunostomy (HJ) is often necessary for a considerable proportion of patients. However, the anastomotic stricture after HJ also occurs.

[Protective effect of Ligustrazine preconditioning on hepatic energy metabolism in ischemia/reperfusion injury of rat].

Objective: Objective to investigate the protective effects of Ligustrazine preconditioning against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats.

Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 3 groups: sham operation group, in which animals underwent laparotomy, experimental group and control group in which were treated with 70% IRI of the liver, especially, the animals in experimental group was given intraperitoneal injection of 2 mL Ligustrazine per day for 3 days before operation. After the operation, liver tissues were harvested at 1 h, 6 h, 24 h and 72 h for the study of histomorphological change, the respiratory control ratio (RCR) and phosphorus: oxygen ratio (P/O) of hepatocytes mitochondria, and the contents of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) of liver tissue.

Islet-derived stem cells from adult rats participate in the repair of islet damage.

This study investigated the role of adult islet-derived stem cells in repairing islet damage. Using intraperitoneal injection of cerulein, a rat model of acute pancreatitis was induced in an experimental group. The expression of the protein c-kit, a pancreatic stem cell marker, was observed using immunohistochemistry at set intervals following successful model preparation.

Stress-induced intestinal necrosis resulting from severe trauma of an earthquake.

Aim: To investigate the possible reasons and suggest therapeutic plan of stress-induced intestinal necrosis resulting from the severe trauma.

Methods: Three patients in our study were trapped inside collapsed structures for 22, 21 and 37 h, respectively. The patients underwent 3-4 operations after sustaining their injuries.

[Protective effect of pre-storing glycogen on warm ischemia reperfusion injury in rat liver].

Objective: To study the effect of pre-storing glycogen on warm ischemia reperfusion injury in rat liver.

Methods: Lewis rats were divided into sham operation group (S group), low-glycogen group (L group, fasted 24 h), normal-glycogen group (N group, standard laboratory diet), high-glycogen group (H group, standard laboratory diet plus intravenous injection of 50% glucose solution 1 mL every 6 h x 4 times). Seventy percent portal ligation was performed on all of the rats for 30 min except for those in the S group.

Two clinically relevant pressures of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum cause hepatic injury in a rabbit model.

Aim: To observe the hepatic injury induced by carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum (CDP) in rabbits, compare the effects of low- and high-pressure pneumoperitoneum, and to determine the degree of hepatic injury induced by these two clinically relevant CDP pressures.

Methods: Thirty healthy male New Zealand rabbits weighing 3.0 to 3.

Management of patients with sphincter of Oddi dysfunction based on a new classification.

Aim: To propose a new classification system for sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) based on clinical data of patients.

Methods: The clinical data of 305 SOD patients documented over the past decade at our center were analyzed retrospectively, and typical cases were reported.

Results: The new classification with two more types (double-duct, biliary-pancreatic reflux) were set up on the basis of the Milwaukee criteria.

Experimental evidence supporting the lack of primary stem cells in adult pancreatic tissue.

Purpose: To investigate the origin and localization of pancreatic stem cells in adult pancreatic tissues and to determine the primary mechanism underlying the participation of these cells in repairing pancreatic injuries.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was given intraperitoneal injections of cerulein to induce acute pancreatitis.

[Effect of 90 percentage portal branch ligation on liver regeneration and expression of metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of 90% portal branch ligation on liver regeneration and expression of metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in rats.

Methods: Ninety-six SD rats were randomly divided into Sham-PBL group and portal vein branches ligation group. The weight of both ligated and unligated lobes of liver were measured at post operation day (POD) 0.

Comparatively lower postoperative hepatolithiasis risk with hepaticocholedochostomy versus hepaticojejunostomy.

Background: Optimal surgical technique plays a key role in preventing the postoperative recurrence of hepatolithiasis. Tian et al developed the subcutaneous tunnel and hepatocholangioplasty using the gallbladder (STHG) technique and applied it in hepatolithiasis patients who had an approximately normal gallbladder and sphincter of Oddi. However, the technique is controversial.

[Ultrasound-guided percutaneous tube drainage combined with directly-viewed debridement with cholangioscopy: a mini-invasive strategy for peripancreatic necrotizing infection].

Objective: To establish "an integrative therapy" of drainage and debridement on peripancreatic necrotizing infection (PPNI) with minimally invasive technique, and to detect its clinical effects.

Methods: There were 17 patients who accepted ultrasound-guided percutaneous tube drainage combined with directly-viewed debridement with cholangioscopy from March 2006 to January 2008. Percutaneous puncture and catheter (6 - 8 F) drainage were adopted on the patients suffering from PPNI with B-us guidance, then the drainage sinus was expanded progressively from 8 F to 24 F in diameter with Cook fascia dilator by degrees, and the 22 F or 24 F tube was easily placed into the interior of PPNI instead of the prior catheter.

[Hepatocellular glycogen alleviates hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury and its relationship to ICAM-1 gene expression].

Objective: To investigate if higher hepatocellular glycogen contents can alleviate hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury and its relationship to ICAM-1 gene expression in hepatic sinusoidal cells (HSCs).

Methods: Twenty-one rabbits fed with a standard diet were randomly divided into three groups (n=7 in each). All the animals were subjected to hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury then sacrificed.

Hepatocellular glycogen in alleviation of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury during partial hepatectomy.

Background: Temporary occlusion of liver blood supply for complex liver operation is common in liver surgery. However, hepatic vascular occlusion will undoubtedly impair liver function. This study was designed to elucidate the effect of hepatocellular glycogen in alleviation of liver ischemia-reperfusion injury during hepatic vascular occlusion for partial hepatectomy.