Clinical features and outcomes of patients with severe acute pancreatitis complicated with gangrenous cholecystitis.

Background: The effects of gangrenous cholecystitis (GC) and consequent surgical interventions on the clinical outcomes and prognosis of patients with severe acute pancreatitis are not clear. The present study was to characterize the clinical outcomes of patients with severe acute pancreatitis complicated with GC.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 253 consecutive patients hospitalized for acute pancreatitis in intensive care unit.

Single nucleotide polymorphism rs3732860 in the 3'-untranslated region of CYP8B1 gene is associated with gallstone disease in Han Chinese.

Background And Aims: Gallstone disease (GD) is a common disease of multigenetic origin; however, the major susceptibility loci for GD in human populations remain unidentified. This study aimed to identify the genetic factors contributing to gallstone development in Chinese.

Methods: A genome-wide scan was conducted in 12 Han Chinese GD families to identify linkage loci.

[Association of single nucleotide polymorphism in human CYP8B1 gene with gallstone disease].

Objective: To identify the single nucleotide polymorphisms of human CYP8B1gene and explore the association of some of these SNPs with gallstone disease in Chinese population.

Methods: The exon and part of promoter were sequenced by a fluorescent labeling automatic method to identify and characterize the SNPs in Chinese population. For SNPs with an allelic frequency of over 10%, a case-control study was performed in patients and controls.

Rapid hemodilution is associated with increased sepsis and mortality among patients with severe acute pancreatitis.

Background: Hemoconcentration may be an important factor that determines the progression of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). In addition, it has been proposed that biomarkers may be useful in predicting subsequent necrosis in SAP. However, it is still uncertain whether hemodilution in a short term can improve outcome.

[Investigation of distribution of bacteria and fungi in severe acute pancreatitis].

Objective: To investigate the spectrum of bacteria and fungi in different sites in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Methods: The prospective study was performed in 205 patients with SAP treated from January 2000 to December 2008. The Infection rate of bacteria and fungi was observed prospectively in pancreatic necrosis and(or) pus form abdomen, body fluids and deep vein catheter in SAP.

HNF1alpha and SREBP2 are important regulators of NPC1L1 in human liver.

Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1), a key regulator of intestinal cholesterol absorption, is highly expressed in human liver. Here, we aimed to gain more insight into mechanisms participating in its hepatic regulation in humans. Correlation analysis in livers from Chinese patients with and without gallstone disease revealed strong positive correlations between NPC1L1 and sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2) (r = 0.

Decreased NPC1L1 expression in the liver from Chinese female gallstone patients.

Background: Cholesterol gallstone disease is a very common disease in both industrialized and developing countries. Many studies have found that cholesterol gallstones are more common in women than men. The molecular mechanisms underlying the relationship between female gallstone disease and hepatic sterol transporters are still undergoing definition and have not been evaluated in humans.

[Strategy of treatment with high-volume hemofiltration on severe acute pancreatitis and fulminant acute pancreatitis.].

Objective: To investigate strategy of treatment of hemofiltration on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and fulminant acute pancreatitis (FAP).

Methods: One hundred and thirty patients with SAP and eighty-one patients with FAP treated with hemofiltration (HF) were prospectively observed from March 1997 to December 2008. Indications for HF, variables (time interval for hemofiltration), mode, therapeutic dosage, blood rate, heparin dosage and components of hemofiltration, therapeutic efficacy (time of disapearance of abdominal pain, intra-abdominal pressure and survival rate) and complications (incidence of bleeding and blood infection).

[Expression and regulation of megalin in gallbladder mucosa associated with cholesterol gallstone disease].

Objective: To explore the relationship between expression and regulation of Megalin in gallbladder mucosa and cholesterol gallstone disease.

Methods: Gallbladder mucosa, gallbladder wall, bile, gallstone were collected from 29 patients with cholesterol gallstone disease (GS) and 12 patients with gallstone free (GSF). Lipids of bile and stone were measured by kits.

ACAT2 and human hepatic cholesterol metabolism: identification of important gender-related differences in normolipidemic, non-obese Chinese patients.

Objective: ACAT2 is a major cholesterol esterification enzyme specifically expressed in hepatocytes and may control the amount of hepatic free (unesterified) cholesterol available for secretion into bile or into HDL. This study aims to further elucidate physiologic roles of ACAT2 in human hepatic cholesterol metabolism.

Methods And Results: Liver biopsies from 40 normolipidemic, non-obese gallstone patients including some gallstone-free patients (female/male, 18/22) were collected and analyzed for microsomal ACAT2 activity, protein and mRNA expression.

[A study on increased permeability and morphological changes in actin cytoskeleton and tight junction of vascular endothelial cells induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha].

Objective: To study the effect of human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on permeability of human vascular endothelial cell (EA.hy926) monolayer and its mechanism.

Methods: 5, 10, 20 microg/L TNF-alpha was respectively added to the cultured endothelial cell monolayer for 24 hours, or 10 microg/L TNF-alpha for 6, 12, 24 hours.

Effects of gut barrier dysfunction and NF-kappaB activation on aggravating mechanism of severe acute pancreatitis.

Objective: To study the effects of gut-derived endotoxin translocation and NF-kappaB activation on the aggravating mechanism of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and of treatment with pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on rats with SAP.

Methods: SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (SO), SAP group, SAP + lipopolysaccharide(LPS) group, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) treatment group and LPS group. Biochemical parameters and cytokines were examined in the serum.

Fluid therapy for severe acute pancreatitis in acute response stage.

Background: Fluid therapy for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) should not only resolve deficiency of blood volume, but also prevent fluid sequestration in acute response stage. Up to date, there has not a strategy for fluid therapy dedicated to SAP. So, this study was aimed to investigate the effects of fluid therapy treatment on prognosis of SAP.

[Studies on the cell markers of endothelial function in sepsis].

Objective: To study the phasic changes of the number of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and endothelial microparticles (EMP) during the process of sepsis.

Methods: Thirty-one patients with sepsis were divided into mild group (<9), moderate group (9-15) and severe group (>15) according to the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) scores after onset, and each group was further divided into survivors and non-survivors.The level of CEC, EMP and pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined on 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 days after onset.

[Strategy of controlling fluid resuscitation for severe acute pancreatitis in acute phase].

Objective: To investigate the strategy of controlling fluid resuscitation for severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in acute phase.

Methods: From March 2001 to January 2006, 83 patients meeting for experimental criteria were included in this clinical trial. They were divided into early fluid expansion group (Group I, within 24 h after admission, 21 patients), middle fluid expansion group (Group II, within 25 - 48 h, 35 patients) and late fluid expansion group (Group III, within 49 - 72 h, 27 patients).

Increased expression of LXR alpha, ABCG5, ABCG8, and SR-BI in the liver from normolipidemic, nonobese Chinese gallstone patients.

Cholesterol supersaturation of bile is one prerequisite for gallstone formation. In the present study of Chinese patients with gallstones, we investigated whether this phenomenon was correlated with the hepatic expression of genes participating in the metabolism of cholesterol and bile acids. Twenty-two nonobese, normolipidemic patients (female-male, 11:11) with gallstones were investigated with 13 age- and body mass index-matched gallstone-free controls (female-male, 10:3).

[The characteristic of severe acute pancreatitis and the selection of the therapeutic strategy].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the clinical character and therapeutic strategy and prognosis in severe acute pancreatitis.

Methods: From January 2001 to December 2005, 783 patients with SAP were treated. Therapeutic strategy was selected based on the preliminary scheme for diagnosis and treatment of severe acute pancreatitis by pancreatic surgery society of CMA.

[Long-term outcome and health-related quality of life in survivors of severe acute pancreatitis].

Objective: To evaluate the health-related quality of life and postdischarge long-term outcome after severe acute pancreatitis.

Methods: The hospital records of patients with SAP discharged healthy from January 2003 to December 2003 were reviewed. The Rand 36-item Health Survey with accessory question was mailed to each patient.

ATP binding cassette G8 T400K polymorphism may affect the risk of gallstone disease among Chinese males.

Background: Supersaturation of bile with cholesterol is a primary step in the formation of cholesterol gallstones. ATP binding cassette (ABC) G5 and G8 play an important role in regulating sterol absorption and secretion. To investigate a possible association between transporter gene polymorphism and gallstone formation, we examined five common polymorphisms in the ABCG5 (Q604E) and ABCG8 (D19H, Y54C, T400K, A632V) genes in patients with gallstone disease (GS).

[Studies on the temporal profile of expression and release of major pro-inflammatory cytokines in vital organs following hemorrhagic shock].

Objective: To study the kinetics of expression and release of major pro-inflammatory cytokines in the vital organs after hemorrhagic shock.

Methods: Eighty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into hemorrhagic shock group (n=40) and control group (n=40). Eight rats were sacrificed at 30, 60 and 90 minutes respectively after shock and 30 and 90 minutes respectively after resuscitation.