Difference between type 2 gastroesophageal varices and isolated fundic varices in clinical profiles and portosystemic collaterals.

Background: There is significant heterogeneity between gastroesophageal varices (GOV2) and isolated gastric varices (IGV1). The data on the difference between GOV2 and IGV1 are limited.

Aim: To determine the etiology, clinical profiles, endoscopic findings, imaging signs, portosystemic collaterals in patients with GOV2 and IGV1.

Zhikang Capsule Ameliorates Inflammation, Drives Polarization to M2 Macrophages, and Inhibits Apoptosis in Lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 Cells.

Objective: To explore the anti-inflammatory effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Zhikang capsule (ZKC) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells.

Methods: Safe concentrations of ZKC (0.

New insights into BMP9 signaling in liver diseases.

Bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) is a recently discovered cytokine mainly secreted by the liver and is a member of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) superfamily. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have shown that BMP9 is associated with liver diseases, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and BMP9 signaling may play dual roles in liver diseases. In this review, we mainly summarized and discussed the roles and potential mechanisms of BMP9 signaling in NAFLD, liver fibrosis and HCC.

Unusual cause of lesions in the descending duodenum and liver: A case report and review of literature.

The descending duodenum is rarely involved in () infection. Here, we report a case of acute Schistosoma infection, which presented with abdominal pain, abdominal distension and irregular fever. Tumor-like lesions were observed in the descending duodenum.

Changes in hydrogen sulfide in rats with hepatic cirrhosis in different stages.

This study aimed to observe changes in the hydrogen sulfide (HS) system in the blood and liver tissue of rats with hepatic cirrhosis at different stages by studying the effect of HS on the course of hyperdynamic circulation in rats with hepatic cirrhosis. HS concentration in the blood from the portal vein and inferior vena cava of hepatic cirrhosis rat model induced with carbon tetrachloride was detected on the 15th, 30th, and 52nd day. The expression of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) protein, and CBS and CSE mRNA in the liver was detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively.

Primary biliary cirrhosis-autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome: simplified criteria may be effective in the diagnosis in Chinese patients.

Objective: To evaluate the Paris criteria, the revised diagnostic criteria and the simplified diagnostic scoring system in the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)-autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) overlap syndrome in Chinese patients.

Methods: Medical records of the patients who were diagnosed with PBC at the Union Hospital and Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Wuhan, Hubei Province, China) from 2003 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. The overlap syndrome was diagnosed based on the Paris criteria, the revised criteria and the simplified criteria, respectively.

Efficacy and safety of tauroursodeoxycholic acid in the treatment of liver cirrhosis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

No direct comparison of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has yet been carried out in the treatment of liver cirrhosis in China. We designed a double-blind randomized trial to evaluate the potential therapeutic efficacy of TUDCA in liver cirrhosis, using UDCA as parallel control. The enrolled 23 patients with liver cirrhosis were randomly divided into TUDCA group (n=12) and UDCA group (n=11), and given TUDCA and UDCA respectively at the daily dose of 750 mg, in a randomly assigned sequence for a 6-month period.

[Effects of cAMP-response element binding protein-1 (CREB-1) on transforming growth factor-b3 (TGFb3) mRNA expression and promoter activity in hepatic stellate cells].

Objective: To investigate the effects of cAMP-response element binding protein-1 (CREB-1) on transforming growth factor-b3 (TGF b3) mRNA expression and promoter activity in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Methods: Freshly isolated HSCs from rats were divided into six groups: CREB-1 expression plasmid transfected group (C), siRNA-CREB-1 plasmid transfected group (S), negative control group (N), forskolin treated group (F), H-89 treated group (H), and blank group (B). Rats in each group were further sub-divided according to whether (+) or not (-) they were exposed to exogenous TGF b3.

[Effects of exogenous TGF-β3 on the expression of endogenous TGF-β3 in hepatic stellate cell-T6 (HSC-T6)].

Objective: To investigate the effects of exogenous TGF-β3 on the expression of endogenous TGF-b3 in hepatic stellate cell (HSC).

Methods: HSCs were cultured and divided into two groups: TGF-β3 group and blank control group, the cells of TGF-β3 group were exposed to TGF-b3 (10 ng/ml), whereas the blank control group was not treated. The cells were incubated in the presence of exogenous TGF-β3 and then (1) were harvested at 0h, 1h, 2h, 4h, 12h, 24h, and real time PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression of endogenous TGF-β3.

[Effects of exogenous transforming growth factor-β3 on the activities of its promoter and cAMP-responsive element binding protein-1 in rat hepatic stellate cell].

Objective: To explore the effects of exogenous transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3) on the activities of its promoter and cAMP-responsive element binding protein-1 (CREB-1) in rat hepatic stellate cell (HSC-T6).

Methods: HSC-T6 was cultured and treated with or without exogenous TGF-β3 (10 µg/L). Then cell extracts, total RNA and nuclear proteins were collected at different time points.

Effects of p-CREB-1 on transforming growth factor-β3 auto-regulation in hepatic stellate cells.

Previous studies have demonstrated that transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3) protected liver against fibrosis in vivo and vitro, but its regulation is poorly understood. In addition, the cAMP-responsive element (CRE) in TGF-β3 promoter is recognized as an important regulatory site for TGF-β3 auto-regulation. Thus, we hypothesize that transcription factor CRE-binding protein-1 (CREB-1) regulates the auto-induction of TGF-β3 in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

[Effects of transforming growth factor beta 3 on the histopathology and expression of collagen I in experimental hepatic fibrotic rats].

Objective: To investgate the effects of TGFbeta3 on rat hepatic fibrosis.

Methods: The TGFbeta3 cDNA was cloned into rAAV2 vector. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model group, negative control group and TGFbeta3 group.

[Influence of recombinant transforming growth factor-beta3 on collagen synthesis and deposition: experiment with rat cell model of liver fibrosis].

Objective: To investigate the influence of recombinant transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGF-beta3) on collagen synthesis and deposition.

Methods: Plasmids pcDNA3.1 (+)-TGF-beta3 and pcDNA3.

[Effects of transforming growth factor-beta 3 gene transfer on type I collagen synthesis of hepatic stellate cells].

Objective: To observe the effects of transforming growth factor-beta 3 gene transfer on type I collagen synthesis of cells of HSC-T6.

Methods: Transforming growth factor-beta 1 expression plasmid and transforming growth factor-beta 3 expression plasmid were constructed. The recombinant expression plasmids pcDNA3.

[Analysis of change in viral titers under different conditions in cultured cells persistently-infected with Japanese encephalitis virus].

Objective: To investigate the change of viral titers under different conditions in cultured cells persistently-infected with different strains of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and find out the factors that influence viral multiplication.

Methods: JEV JaGAr-01 and Nakayama wild strains were used to infect human hepatoma cell line KN73 respectively, and the persistent infection model was established. Viral titers were examined by plaque methods using BHK cells.

Axon guidance cue Netrin-1 has dual function in angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis is an important process required for cancer. Netrin-1, an axon guidance cue used to guide axon pathfinding and regulate neuron proliferation, may also be involved in the angiogenesis respecting the anatomical similarity of neural and vascular system. Surprisingly, we demonstrate that Netrin-1 has a dual role in regulating angiogenesis.

[Effects of COX-2 gene silencing by shRNA on biological characteristics of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2].

Background & Objective: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It may be involved in tumorigenesis and development of HCC. This study was to explore the effects of COX-2 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) on COX-2 expression in HCC cell line HepG2 and on adhesiveness and invasiveness of HepG2 cells in vitro.

[Expression of netrin-1 in placenta from patients with pre-eclampsia and the relation to placental angiogenesis].

Objective: To investigate the expression of netrin-1 in placenta from patients with pre-eclampsia and the relation to placental angiogenesis.

Methods: Twenty patients with pre-eclampsia (12 mild cases and 8 severe cases) and 20 normal late pregnant women were investigated. The expression of netrin-1 mRNA and protein was determined with RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively.

[Changes of mast cells and protease activated receptor-2 in experimental rat liver fibrosis].

Objective: To explore the quantity of mast cells and the role of protease activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) in experimental rat liver fibrosis.

Methods: Rats were sacrificed at 0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after subcutaneous injection of CCl(4). Mast cells were displayed by toluidine blue stain.