Linking fatty liver diseases to hepatocellular carcinoma by hepatic stellate cells.

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), a distinct category of non-parenchymal cells in the liver, are critical for liver homeostasis. In healthy livers, HSCs remain non-proliferative and quiescent. However, under conditions of acute or chronic liver damage, HSCs are activated and participate in the progression and regulation of liver diseases such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.

Protection Efficacy of the Extract of Ginkgo biloba against the Learning and Memory Damage of Rats under Repeated High Sustained +Gz Exposure.

Repeated high sustained positive Gz (+Gz) exposures are known for the harmful pathophysiological impact on the brain of rats, which is reflected as the interruption of normal performance of learning and memory. Interestingly, extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) has been reported to have neuroprotective effects and cognition-enhancing effects. In this study, we are interested in evaluating the protective effects of EGb toward the learning and memory abilities.

Investigation of the usefulness of zaleplon at two doses to induce afternoon-sleep under noise interference and its effects on psychomotor performance and vestibular function.

Background: Military operation personnel often suffer from sleep difficulty because of their work requirements. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of zaleplon at two doses to induce afternoon-sleep under noise interference and its effects on psychomotor performance and vestibular function; we subsequently established the optimal dosage regimen for military operation personnel.

Methods: Twenty-two healthy young male volunteers were recruited for the study.

Protective effect of Tianqi Hangli Recipe () extract on high sustained positive acceleration stress-induced myocardial mitochondrial injury in rats.

Objective: To explore the protective effect of Tianqi Hangli Recipe () extract (THRE) on high sustained positive acceleration (+Gz) stress-induced myocardial mitochondrial injury in rats.

Methods: Seventy-two male SD rats were randomly assigned to various groups with 12 rats per group: blank control group, stress control group, high +Gz stress group, low-dose THRE group (0.75 g/kg), medium-dose THRE group (1.

Effect of high sustained +Gz stress on myocardial mitochondrial ultrastructure, respiratory function, and antioxidant capacity in rats.

Exposure to high sustained positive acceleration (+Gz) is known to have a pathophysiological effect on the heart of the rat. As critical regulators of cardiac myocyte survival and death, mitochondria may be crucially involved in +Gz-induced pathogenesis. It was, therefore, of interest to investigate myocardial mitochondrial ultrastructure, respiratory function, and antioxidant capacity in rats after exposure to +10 Gz for 5 min.

[Evaluation of stress levels during parachuting training by salivary biomarker].

Objective: To evaluate the stress level during parachuting training by salivary biomarker and to study the dynamic characteristics.

Methods: Twenty recruits of military parachuting training completed 8 trainings in a month. The saliva samples were collected at 2 h and 1h before boarding and at 0.

[Dynamic changes of B7-H1 expression on mDCs and T cells in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with PEG-IFN alpha-2a].

Objective: To study the dynamic changes of B7-H1 expression on myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) and T cells in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients undergoing PEG-IFN alpha-2a therapy, and to analyze the association of the changes with the efficiency of interferon-alpha therapy.

Methods: Expressions of B7-H1 on mDCs and T cells in 14 patients with chronic HBV infection, including 6 responders and 8 non-responders to the antiviral therapy, were monitored by using flow cytometric analysis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients were incubated in vitro and the numbers of IFN-gamma-producing antigen-specific T cells were measured using ELISPOT assay.

[Expressions and significance of B7-H1 and programmed death-1 in lymphocytes from patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection].

Objective: To examine the expressions of B7-H1 and its receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1) on circulating T cells and myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and to investigate the correlation between their expressions and their disease status.

Methods: The expressions of B7-H1 and PD-1 on mDCs and T lymphocytes in 30 patients with chronic HBV infection and 28 healthy controls were analyzed by a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to measure the serum HBV DNA load.

[Effect of homocysteine on injury of cardiomyocytes and its signal transduction mechanism].

Aim: To observe the injured effect of homocysteine (HCY) on cardiomyocytes and investigate its signal transduction mechanism as well as the key regulatory link.

Methods: Cardiomyocytes were isolated from neonatal Wistar rats. After incubation with HCY, the survival rate of cardiomyocytes was determined by trypan blue stained assay, while the apoptosis rate was measured by TUNEL and FCM.