Serum miR-21 correlates with the histological stage of chronic hepatitis B-associated liver fibrosis.

This study aimed to investigate the correlation between serum microRNA levels and histological stages of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). A total of 28 patients with CHB who received liver biopsy at China Medical University Hospital between October 2012 and April 2013 were included in the study. The patients were divided into four groups according to the histological stages of liver fibrosis by using the METAVIR score.

Stress analysis using anatomically realistic coronary tree.

Plaque rupture with superimposed thrombosis is the main cause of the acute coronary syndromes of unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Endothelial disruption leading to plaque rupture may relate to mechanical fatigue associated with cyclic flexion of plaques. A novel method is proposed to assess stress and strain distribution using the finite element (FE) analysis and in vivo patient-specific dynamic 3D coronary arterial tree reconstruction from cine angiographic images.