Pre-transjugular-intrahepatic-portosystemic-shunt measurement of hepatic venous pressure gradient and its clinical application: A comparison study.

Background: It is controversial whether transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement can improve long-term survival.

Aim: To assess whether TIPS placement improves survival in patients with hepatic-venous-pressure-gradient (HVPG) ≥ 16 mmHg, based on HVPG-related risk stratification.

Methods: Consecutive variceal bleeding patients treated with endoscopic therapy + nonselective β-blockers (NSBBs) or covered TIPS placement were retrospectively enrolled between January 2013 and December 2019.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt in patients treated with a balloon tamponade for variceal hemorrhage without response to high doses of vasoactive drugs: A real-world multicenter retrospective study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and non-TIPS therapy (endoscopy and/or nonselective beta-blockers [NSBB]) in patients with cirrhosis and active variceal hemorrhage who did not respond to high-dose vasoactive drugs and required balloon tamponade for hemostasis.

Methods: Medical records of cirrhotic patients who did not respond to high-dose vasoactive drugs and required balloon tamponade for hemostasis at five university hospitals in China between January 2011 and December 2018 were reviewed. Treatment outcomes were compared between the TIPS and the non-TIPS groups.

[A novel treatment regimen for acute liver failure based on a combination of mesenchymal stem cells transplantation and IL-lRa-loaded chitosan nanoparticles].

Objective: To evaluate whether a combination therapy using allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) chitosan nanoparticles is more robust than MSC transplantation alone for treating acute liver failure and to investigate the mechanisms of the improved therapeutic effect using a swine model system.

Methods: IL-1Ra-loaded nanoparticles were made of lactosylated chitosan-FITC using the electrostatic spray method and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The active live targeting of these nanopaticles were investigated by fluorescence microscope and flow cytometer(FCM).

Administration of IL-1Ra chitosan nanoparticles enhances the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in acute liver failure.

Background And Aims: To investigate the synergistic effect of IL-1Ra administration and stem cell transplantation in swine suffering from acute liver failure (ALF), to elucidate the mechanism of IL-1Ra activity and to demonstrate mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation as a potential treatment for ALF.

Methods: Thirty-five Chinese experimental mini-swine were divided into five groups randomly. Group A (n = 7) is the control group and all swine were injected with saline via portal veins.

Effect evaluation of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist nanoparticles for mesenchymal stem cell transplantation.

Aim: To study the efficacy of marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation combined with interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) for acute liver failure (ALF).

Methods: Chinese experimental miniature swine were randomly divided into four groups (n = 7), and all animals were given D-galactosamine (D-gal) to induce ALF. Group A animals were then injected with 40 mL saline via the portal vein 24 h after D-gal induction; Group B animals were injected with 2 mg/kg IL-1Ra via the ear vein 18 h, 2 d and 4 d after D-gal induction; Group C received approximately 1 × 10(8) green fluorescence protein (GFP)-labeled MSCs (GFP-MSCs) suspended in 40 mL normal saline via the portal vein 24 h after D-gal induction; Group D animals were injected with 2 mg/kg IL-1Ra via the ear vein 18 h after D-gal induction, MSCs transplantation was then carried out at 24 h after D-gal induction, and finally 2 mg/kg IL-1Ra was injected via the ear vein 1 d and 3 d after surgery as before.

Effects of xenogeneic adipose-derived stem cell transplantation on acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background: Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are particularly attractive in future clinical applications of stem cell-based therapy for acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). This study was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic potential of ADSCs on ACLF.

Methods: ADSCs isolated from porcine fat tissue were expanded and labeled with BrdU.

Evaluation of a novel hybrid bioartificial liver based on a multi-layer flat-plate bioreactor.

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a hybrid bioartificial liver (HBAL) system in the treatment of acute liver failure.

Methods: Canine models with acute liver failure were introduced with intravenous administration of D-galactosamine. The animals were divided into: the HBAL treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of HBAL; the bioartificial liver (BAL) treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of BAL; the non-bioartificial liver (NBAL) treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of NBAL; the control group (n = 8), in which the canines received no additional treatment.

Microbiological safety of a novel bio-artificial liver support system based on porcine hepatocytes: a experimental study.

Background: Our institute has developed a novel bio-artificial liver (BAL) support system, based on a multi-layer radial-flow bioreactor carrying porcine hepatocytes and mesenchymal stem cells. It has been shown that porcine hepatocytes are capable of carrying infectious porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) into human cells, thus the microbiological safety of any such system must be confirmed before clinical trials can be performed. In this study, we focused on assessing the status of PERV infection in beagles treated with the novel BAL.

Factors influencing the transfer of porcine endogenous retroviruses across the membrane in bioartificial livers.

Objectives: to investigate the factors influencing the transfer of porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) across the membrane in a new bioartificial liver (BAL).

Methods: A new BAL containing 2 circuits was constructed using plasma component separators with membrane pore sizes of 10 nm, 20 nm, 30 nm, and 35 nm, or a plasma filter with a membrane pore size of 500 nm. Cocultured cells of porcine hepatocytes and mesenchymal stem cells or single porcine hepatocytes were incubated in the bioreactors, and the BAL worked for 72 hours, with supernatant samples in internal and external circuits collected every 12 hours.

[New evidence of porcine endogenous retrovirus transmission with new bio-artificial liver system: a experimental study].

Objective: To investigate the potential transmissibility of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) from a newly-developed porcine hepatocyte bioartificial liver (BAL) system prior to human clinical trial by using a live canine model.

Methods: Five normal beagles were treated with the new BAL support system for six hours. Samples of plasma from the BAL system and whole blood from the beagles were collected at regular intervals over the six month study period.

[The efficacy research of multi-layer flat-plate bioartificial liver on acute liver failure].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of newly developed multi-layer flat-plate bioartificial liver in treatment of canines with acute liver failure.

Methods: Porcine hepatocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cocultured in newly developed multi-layer flat-plate bioreactor. Acute liver failure in canine models was induced by D-galactosamine administration.

Immunosafety evaluation of a multilayer flat-plate bioartificial liver.

Introduction: To study and evaluate the immunosafety of our newly developed multilayer flat-plate bioartificial liver (BAL) in treatment of canines with acute liver failure.

Methods: Fresh porcine hepatocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cocultured in new BAL. Ten canine models with acute liver failure were set up through D-galactosamine administration; 24 hours after administration, the beagles were randomly allocated to a 6-hour treatment with the BAL.

The influence of membrane molecular weight cutoff on a novel bioartificial liver.

Given the xenogeneic immune reaction relevant to the molecular weight cutoff of the membrane of a bioartificial liver (BAL) system, we investigated the influence of membrane molecular weight cutoff in our BAL system in this study. Acute liver failure in beagles was induced by d-galactosamine administration. Eight beagles were divided into two groups by the membrane molecular weight cutoff of the plasma component separator.

Influence of chitosan nanofiber scaffold on porcine endogenous retroviral expression and infectivity in pig hepatocytes.

Aim: To investigate the influence of chitosan nanofiber scaffold on the production and infectivity of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) expressed by porcine hepatocytes.

Methods: Freshly isolated porcine hepatocytes were cultured with or without chitosan nanofiber scaffold (defined as Nano group and Hep group) for 7 d. The daily collection of culture medium was used to detect reverse transcriptase (RT) activity with RT activity assay kits and PERV RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real time PCR with the PERV specific primers.

Protective effects of ACLF sera on metabolic functions and proliferation of hepatocytes co-cultured with bone marrow MSCs in vitro.

Aim: To investigate whether the function of hepatocytes co-cultured with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could be maintained in serum from acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients.

Methods: Hepatocyte supportive functions and cytotoxicity of sera from 18 patients with viral hepatitis B-induced ACLF and 18 healthy volunteers were evaluated for porcine hepatocytes co-cultured with MSCs and hepatocyte mono-layered culture, respectively. Chemokine profile was also examined for the normal serum and liver failure serum.

Effects of membrane molecular weight cutoff on performance of a novel bioartificial liver.

Immunoisolation using semipermeable membranes has been incorporated into bioartificial liver (BAL) devices to separate cellular components of the recipient's immune system from the cells within the BAL device. This study was designed to explore the influence of membrane molecular weight cutoff on performance of the multilayer radial-flow BAL using porcine hepatocytes cocultured with mesenchymal stem cells. In this study, healthy beagles underwent 6-h treatment with a BAL containing membrane with 200 kDa retention rating or 1200 kDa retention rating.