Irrelevance of USF2 rs916145 polymorphism with the risk of biliary atresia susceptibility in Southern Chinese children.

Backgrounds: Biliary atresia (BA) is a very rare neonatal disease, however, it has been the most common cause of obstructive jaundice in infancy. The complex pathogenesis of BA is not entirely clear and a lot of possible pathogenic mechanisms have been proposed to explain the etiology of BA, including genetic, inflammatory, environmental and developmental abnormalities. As a transcription factor, USF2 gene rs916145 polymorphism has been shown to be related to the risk of BA.

Downregulation of Hes1 expression in experimental biliary atresia and its effects on bile duct structure.

Aim: To analyze the expression and function of the Notch signaling target gene Hes1 in a rhesus rotavirus-induced mouse biliary atresia model.

Methods: The morphologies of biliary epithelial cells in biliary atresia patients and in a mouse model were examined by immunohistochemical staining. Then, the differential expression of Notch signaling pathway-related molecules was investigated.

Association of IL18 genetic polymorphisms with increased risk of Biliary atresia susceptibility in Southern Chinese children.

Biliary atresia (BA) has complex genetic etiology, characterized by different levels of hepatic fibrosis after the Kasai procedure and immune responses to the bile duct. As an activator of the two most important inflammatory cells in Biliary atresia (T cells and NK cells), IL-18 is significantly increased in BA patients. This study aims to investigate the association of Interleukin 18(IL-18) with the susceptibility to BA.

The intragenic epistatic association of with biliary atresia in Southern Han Chinese population.

Biliary atresia (BA) is a multifactorial pathogenic disease with possible genetic components. As a member of membrane skeletal proteins in the liver and bile ducts, a haplotype composed by five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on adducin 3 () has been identified as associated with BA. However, limited study was designed to further elaborate the mutual relationship amongst those replicated SNPs to disease.

Autoimmune liver disease-related autoantibodies in patients with biliary atresia.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of autoimmune liver disease (ALD)-related autoantibodies in patients with biliary atresia (BA).

Methods: Sera of 124 BA patients and 140 age-matched non-BA controls were assayed for detection of the following autoantibodies: ALD profile and specific anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs), by line-blot assay; ANA and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), by indirect immunofluorescence assay; specific ANCAs and anti-M2-3E, by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Associations of these autoantibodies with the clinical features of BA (.

Role of CD56-expressing immature biliary epithelial cells in biliary atresia.

Aim: To analyze the clinical and pathological parameters and expression of the neural cell adhesion molecule (CD56) in patients with biliary atresia (BA).

Methods: Established clinical laboratory markers of hepatic function, including enzyme activity, protein synthesis, and bilirubin metabolism, were evaluated in patients with BA and compared with those in patients with choledochal cysts and neonatal hepatitis. Pathological changes in tissue morphology and fibrosis were examined by histological and tissue collagen staining.

Dendrimer encapsulation enhances anti-inflammatory efficacy of silver nanoparticles.

Background: Our previous studies revealed that silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) promoted wound healing in part through their anti-inflammatory actions. As recent reports also suggested anti-inflammatory effects of dendrimers, we therefore undertook this study using dendrimer as the delivery system for AgNP to explore any potential synergistic anti-inflammatory efficacy.

Methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added to cultured RAW264.

Reproduction and fertility in wild-type and transgenic mice after orthotopic transplantation of cryopreserved ovaries from 10-d-old mice.

Ovary cryopreservation and subsequent transplantation can enable researchers to preserve valuable transgenic animal strains. Some studies have indicated, however, that this process may impair ovary viability and recipient fertility. The authors investigated the effects of ovary vitrification followed by orthotopic transplantation in five strains of mice.