Serum interferon gamma level predicts recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative treatments.

Host immunity may have important role in the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between circulating immune regulators and clinical outcome in patients with HCC. Sixty-three HCC patients were prospectively enrolled.

Assessing liver dysfunction in cirrhosis: role of the model for end-stage liver disease and its derived systems.

The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) has replaced the role of the Child-Turcotte-Pugh system as a more commonly used system in evaluating the severity of liver dysfunction in patients with chronic liver disease, owing to its superior ability to predict survival. The United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) in the USA has used the MELD system for prioritizing donor grafts in advanced cirrhotic patients awaiting liver transplantation since 2002. Serum sodium level is another important prognostic predictor in cirrhosis.

Alcoholism worsens the survival of patients with hepatitis B virus and C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus (HBV, HCV) infection and alcoholism are common etiologies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The characteristics and impact of alcoholism and/or HCV/HBV infection on HBV- and HCV-related HCC, respectively, are investigated in this study.

Methods: A total of 1,888 patients were retrospectively investigated and categorized into six groups, HBV only (n = 977), HBV with alcoholism (n = 197), HCV only (n = 544), HCV with alcoholism (n = 67), dual HBV and HCV (n = 82), and dual virus with alcoholism (n = 21), to examine their interactions on the outcome.

Noninvasive three-dimensional live imaging methodology for the spindles at meiosis and mitosis.

The spindle plays a crucial role in normal chromosome alignment and segregation during meiosis and mitosis. Studying spindles in living cells noninvasively is of great value in assisted reproduction technology (ART). Here, we present a novel spindle imaging methodology, full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT).

[Effect of subchronic realgar exposure on Glu and Gln in infant rat brain].

Objective: To study the effect of realgar on Glu and Gln on rat brain tissues.

Methods: Forty-eight Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups randomly:control group,low dosage group, moderate dosage group and high dosage group. The treatment groups were treated with realgar by gastric perfusion at a dosage of 0.

Validation of the behavior and concept based assessment of professionalism competence in postgraduate first-year residents.

Background: The evaluation of professional behaviors and concepts of postgraduate first-year (PGY1) residents has been identified as an area for development. This study examined the efficiency of the professionalism-assessing objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), 360° evaluation, and mini-Clinical Examination Exercise scores (mini-CEX; p-OSCE, p-360° evaluation, and p-mini-CEX scores).

Methods: Between January 2009 and January 2012, 189 PGY1 residents were evaluated for behavior- and concept-based professionalism competence based on the above three methods using two checklists unique to each case.

IL28B polymorphism correlates with active hepatitis in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Background Aims: The clinical relevance of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the IL28B gene is controversial in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This study aimed to investigate the role of viral and host factors, including IL28B genotypes, in the natural course of chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: The study enrolled consecutive 115 treatment-naive CHB patients.

Total tumor volume is a better marker of tumor burden in hepatocellular carcinoma defined by the Milan criteria.

Background: The Milan criteria are used to define small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to select patients for curative treatments. Total tumor volume (TTV) is an alternative parameter for tumor burden. We aimed to evaluate whether TTV is a feasible prognostic marker in HCC patients with upper boundary TTV of 65.

Ascites in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: prevalence, associated factors, prognostic impact, and staging strategy.

Purpose: Ascites may develop in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with coexisting liver cirrhosis. Few studies had specifically evaluated the role of ascites in HCC. This study investigated its prevalence, associated factors, prognostic impact, and staging strategy in a large HCC patient cohort.

Comparison of prognosis by viral etiology in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after radiofrequency ablation.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND; Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been performed as a first line curative treatment modality for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within the Milan criteria currently. However, prognosis of hepatitis B- and hepatitis C-related HCC after RFA remains debatable. This study aimed to assess the impact of viral etiology on the prognosis of HCC patients undergoing RFA.

Performance status enhances the selection of treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma within the milan criteria.

Background: Performance status (PS) is closely linked with survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated its impact on treatment strategy for small HCC(s).

Methods: A total of 360 and 362 HCC patients within the Milan criteria undergoing surgical resection (SR) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA), respectively, were prospectively enrolled.

Unique in vitro and in vivo thrombopoietic activities of ingenol 3,20 dibenzoate, a Ca(++)-independent protein kinase C isoform agonist.

Thrombopoiesis following severe bone marrow injury frequently is delayed, thereby resulting in life-threatening thrombocytopenia for which there are limited treatment options. The reasons for these delays in recovery are not well understood. Protein kinase C (PKC) agonists promote megakaryocyte differentiation in leukemia cell lines and primary cells.

Understanding three-dimensional spatial relationship between the mouse second polar body and first cleavage plane with full-field optical coherence tomography.

The morphogenetic relationship between early patterning and polarity formation is of fundamental interest and remains a controversial issue in preimplantation embryonic development. We use a label-free three-dimensional (3-D) imaging technique of full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) successfully for the first time to study the dynamics of developmental processes in mouse preimplantation lives. Label-free 3-D subcellular time-lapse images are demonstrated to investigate 3-D spatial relationship between the second polar body (2PB) and the first cleavage plane.

The role of interferon-γ inducible protein-10 in a mouse model of acute liver injury post induced pluripotent stem cells transplantation.

Background: Liver injuries are important medical problems that require effective therapy. Stem cell or hepatocyte transplantation has the potential to restore function of the damaged liver and ameliorate injury. However, the regulatory factors crucial for the repair and regeneration after cell transplantation have not been fully characterized.

Hepatocellular carcinoma in uremic patients: is there evidence for an increased risk of mortality?

Background And Aim: The clinical aspects of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing maintenance dialysis are largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the long-term survival and prognostic determinants of dialysis patients with HCC.

Methods: A total of 2502 HCC patients, including 30 dialysis patients and 90 age, sex, and treatment-matched controls were retrospectively analyzed.

α-fetoprotein-to-total tumor volume ratio predicts post-operative tumor recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: Serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) and total tumor volume (TTV) are important factors linked with post-operative tumor recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. We investigated the role of a new prognostic marker, AFP-to-TTV ratio, in predicting HCC recurrence.

Methods: A total of 655 HCC patients undergoing resection were analyzed.

Preparation, biodistribution and neurotoxicity of liposomal cisplatin following convection enhanced delivery in normal and F98 glioma bearing rats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate two novel liposomal formulations of cisplatin as potential therapeutic agents for treatment of the F98 rat glioma. The first was a commercially produced agent, Lipoplatin™, which currently is in a Phase III clinical trial for treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The second, produced in our laboratory, was based on the ability of cisplatin to form coordination complexes with lipid cholesteryl hemisuccinate (CHEMS).

Transarterial chemoembolization can prolong survival for patients with metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma: a propensity score matching analysis.

Background: In Asian countries, transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is widely applied in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with extra-hepatic metastasis in the absence of main portal vein thrombosis. However, its survival benefit is unclear. The study aimed to analyze the role of TACE in patients with metastatic HCC.

Clopidogrel delays gastric ulcer healing in rats.

Clopidogrel is not safe enough for the gastric mucosa in patients with high risk of peptic ulcer. This study aimed to explore if clopidogrel delays gastric ulcer healing and elucidate the involved mechanisms. Gastric ulcer was induced in rats and the ulcer size, mucosal epithelial cell proliferation of the ulcer margin, expression of growth factors [epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor] and their receptors, and signal transduction pathways for cell proliferation were measured and compared between the clopidogrel-treated group and untreated controls.

Prognostic significance of computed tomography scan-derived splenic volume in hepatocellular carcinoma treated with radiofrequency ablation.

Goals: To evaluate the clinical implication of splenic volume measured by computed tomography (CT) scan in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Background: Splenomegaly is an important sign of portal hypertension and poor liver function in patients with advanced liver disease. But whether it could predict the prognosis of patients with HCC is still obscure.

Label-free subcellular 3D live imaging of preimplantation mouse embryos with full-field optical coherence tomography.

Early patterning and polarity is of fundamental interest in preimplantation embryonic development. Label-free subcellular 3D live imaging is very helpful to its related studies. We have developed a novel system of full-field optical coherence tomography (FF-OCT) for noninvasive 3D subcellular live imaging of preimplantation mouse embryos with no need of dye labeling.

Nutritional status and risk factors of overweight and obesity for children aged 9-15 years in Chengdu, Southwest China.

Background: Obesity is widespread in the world including developing countries. However malnutrition in poor areas is still a serious problem. Few investigations, especially in a large sample, have been performed in Western area of China.

Functional annotation from the genome sequence of the giant panda.

The giant panda is one of the most critically endangered species due to the fragmentation and loss of its habitat. Studying the functions of proteins in this animal, especially specific trait-related proteins, is therefore necessary to protect the species. In this work, the functions of these proteins were investigated using the genome sequence of the giant panda.

Prospective cohort study about the lymphocyte subpopulations' change and impact on the pregnancy outcome in fetal growth restriction.

Objective: To evaluate lymphocyte subpopulations' change and impact on the pregnancy outcome in fetal growth restriction (FGR) through a prospective cohort study.

Methods: Sixty singleton pregnancies with FGR and 20 normal pregnant women were enrolled at the third trimester of pregnancy in this study. FGR was defined according to fundal height and abdominal circumference through obstetric examination and ultrasound examination.

Compressed sensing with linear-in-wavenumber sampling in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography.

We propose a novel method called compressed sensing with linear-in-wavenumber sampling (k-linear CS) to retrieve an image for spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). An array of points that is evenly spaced in wavenumber domain is sampled from an original interferogram by a preset k-linear mask. Then the compressed sensing based on l1 norm minimization is applied on these points to reconstruct an A-scan data.