A multicenter, randomized, double-blind trial comparing the efficacy and safety of TUDCA and UDCA in Chinese patients with primary biliary cholangitis.

Aim: Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is a taurine conjugated form of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) with higher hydrophility. To further evaluate the efficacy and safety of TUDCA for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), we performed this study on Chinese patients.

Methods: 199 PBC patients were randomly assigned to either 250 mg TUDCA plus UDCA placebo or 250 mg UDCA plus TUDCA placebo, 3 times per day for 24 weeks.

Application of dsRNA in cancer immunotherapy: current status and future trends.

Cancer cells create a microenvironment that prevents tumor rejection by the host's immune system. The activation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) can elicit an innate immune response and guide the adaptive immune response to overcome this. dsRNA analogs can trigger TLR3, RIG-I, MDA5, NLRP3 and several other PRRs to induce not only robust immune response against cancer but also programmed cell death.

Antiviral therapy delays esophageal variceal bleeding in hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis.

Aim: To investigate the effect of antiviral therapy with nucleoside analogs in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis and esophageal varices.

Methods: Eligible patients with HBV-related cirrhosis and esophageal varices who consulted two tertiary hospitals in Beijing, China, the Chinese Second Artillery General Hospital and Chinese PLA General Hospital, were enrolled in the study from January 2005 to December 2009. Of 117 patients, 79 received treatment with different nucleoside analogs and 38 served as controls.

Low incidence of complications from endoscopic gastric variceal obturation with butyl cyanoacrylate.

Background & Aims: Endoscopic variceal obturation with tissue adhesive is used to control gastric variceal bleeding. We investigated the prevalence of serious complications from this therapy.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of complications that occurred in 753 patients with gastric variceal hemorrhages who were hospitalized in 2 tertiary referral hospitals.

Grp78 promotes the invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Glucose regulated protein 78 (Grp78) is involved in the invasion and metastasis in many human cancers including gastric cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer. But the role of Grp78 in the invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma has not been reported. In this article, we examined if Grp78 was associated with the invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma and explored the possible underlying mechanism.

Study of glue extrusion after endoscopic N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection on gastric variceal bleeding.

Aim: To investigate glue extrusion after endoscopic N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injection on gastric variceal bleeding and to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of this therapy.

Methods: A total of 148 cirrhotic patients in our hospital with esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB) were included in this study. N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate was mixed with lipiodol in a 1:1 ratio and injected as a bolus of 1-3 mL according to variceal size.

[Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes in cirrhosis: experiment with rats].

Objective: To investigate the phenotypes of T lymphocytes in the intestinal epithelium in cirrhosis.

Methods: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: cirrhosis group (n = 25) undergoing subcutaneous injection of 40% carbon tetrachloride twice a week for 10-12 weeks to establish cirrhosis models, and control group (n = 15). Twelve weeks later the rats were killed with their levers taken out.

Treatment of gastric varices by endoscopic sclerotherapy using butyl cyanoacrylate: 10 years' experience of 635 cases.

Background: Gastric varices (GV) are life-threatening for patients with portal hypertension. Endoscopic injection with butyl cyanoacrylate (BC), the mainstay of the therapy for GV, has been reported to be effective for hemostasis of bleeding varices, but its efficacy in the obliteration of GV and impact on the survival of patients still needs clarification. Here we summarized our experience of 10 years' practice to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic therapy using BC for GV patients.

Pancreatic encephalopathy and Wernicke encephalopathy in association with acute pancreatitis: a clinical study.

Aim: To investigate clinical characteristics and therapy of pancreatic encephalopathy (PE) and Wernicke encephalopathy (WE).

Methods: In a retrospective study of 596 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP), patients with PE were compared to those with WE in regards to history, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment and outcome.

Results: There were 93 patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Reversibility of experimental rabbit liver cirrhosis by portal collagenase administration.

The regression of cirrhosis is associated with increased intrahepatic collagenolytic enzyme activity. We investigated whether collagenase supplementation via portal vein infusion can retard cirrhosis development and/or reverse cirrhosis. In all, 35 rabbits were initially assigned to study.

Intraductal ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography in diagnosis of extrahepatic bile duct stones: a comparative study.

Background: Intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) is highly accurate in detection of extrahepatic bile duct stones. This study was to compare the accuracy of IDUS and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) in the diagnosis of extrahepatic bile duct stones.

Methods: Thirty patients suspected of extrahepatic bile duct stones on B ultrasonography, CT, or MRI were enrolled for study.

The effect of sclerotherapy of bleeding esophageal variceal on survival of cirrhotic patients.

Objective: To investigate the effect of various factors in sclerotherapy of cirrhotic esophageal variceal bleeding (CEVB) on the prognosis, model of survival was established.

Methods: Kaplan-Meier analysis was applied in patients with CEVB treated by sclerotherapy from April 1987 to June 2000 to evaluate the survival, with follow-up data of survival and 29 selected factors of prognosis. Risk factors were identified with Cox's Proportional Hazard Model.

Experience in sclerotherapy for esophagogastric variceal bleeding.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (EVS) for esophago gastric variceal bleeding.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was made on 1010 patients with esophagogastric variceal bleeding who underwent sclerotherapy, among whom there were 834 patients with cirrhosis, 160 with hepatocarcinoma, 12 with Budd-Chiari syndrome and 4 with congenital liver fibrosis. Totally, 3203 sessions of sclerotherapy were performed, including 602 sessions of emergency sclerotherapy and 2601 of selective surgery.