Expression of the recepteur d'originenantais receptor tyrosine kinase in non-small cell lung cancer and its clinical significance.

Background: Recepteur d'originenantais (RON) is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) that belongs to the MET proto-oncogene family. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of RON receptor tyrosine kinase in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its relationship with clinical pathology of NSCLC and prognosis.

Methods: RON protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 96 NSCLC specimens was evaluated and compared with the clinical pathology and prognosis, and 20 para-neoplastic tissues were included as controls.

In vitro labeling of endothelial progenitor cells isolated from peripheral blood with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles.

The transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) provides a novel method for the treatment of human tumors or vascular diseases. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has proven to be effective in tracking transplanted stem cells by labeling the cells with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles. The SPIO has been used to label and track the EPCs; however, the effect of SPIO upon EPCs remains unclear on a cellular level.

Chylous pleural effusion caused by mediastinal angiomyolipomas.

Classical angiomyolipomas are benign tumors composed of various tissues, including fat, abnormal blood vessels and smooth muscle cells. The present study reports a male patient affected by mediastinal angiomyolipomas with massive chylous pleural effusion. The tumors were characterized with histological and immunohistochemical methods.

Association of polymorphisms in non-classic MHC genes with susceptibility to autoimmune hepatitis.

Background: Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic, generally progressive inflammatory disorder of the liver, of which the cause is unclear. It was demonstrated that genetic factors are involved in its pathogenesis. Previous studies showed that human leukocyte antigen in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is associated with susceptibility to autoimmune hepatitis.

Polymorphisms of CCL3L1/CCR5 genes and recurrence of hepatitis B in liver transplant recipients.

Background: The genetic diversity of chemokines and chemokine receptors has been associated with the outcome of hepatitis B virus infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the copy number variation in the CCL3L1 gene and the polymorphisms of CCR5Δ32 and CCR5-2459A→G (rs1799987) are associated with recurrent hepatitis B in liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus infection-related end-stage liver disease.

Methods: A total of 185 transplant recipients were enrolled in this study.

Assessment of biological characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide particles in vitro.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation provides a novel strategy for the treatment of human disease. MR imaging (MRI) is able to track transplanted stem cells labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) in vivo. However, the effect of SPIO upon labeled MSCs remains unclear on a cellular level.

Ginsenoside Rg3 inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma growth via intrinsic apoptotic pathway.

Aim: To investigate the anti-tumor function of ginsenoside Rg3 on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in vitro and in vivo, and its mechanism.

Methods: Hep1-6 and HepG2 cells were treated by Rg3 in different concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 200 μg/mL) in vitro. After incubation for 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h, cell viability was measured by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.

Assessment of the fecal lactobacilli population in patients with hepatitis B virus-related decompensated cirrhosis and hepatitis B cirrhosis treated with liver transplant.

This study aims to provide an overview of the diversity of intestinal Lactobacillus among Chinese patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related decompensated cirrhosis and who received liver transplant for hepatitis B cirrhosis. Fecal samples were collected from 38 healthy volunteers, 61 patients with HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis (group LC) and 74 patients who had liver transplant for hepatitis B cirrhosis (group LT). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction technology with species-specific primers was applied to investigate lactobacilli 16S rDNA in crude DNA, extracted from fecal samples.

Protective effect of probiotics on intestinal barrier function in malnourished rats after liver transplantation.

Background: Most patients waiting for liver transplantation have end-stage liver diseases with malnutrition, which is prone to induce intestinal barrier dysfunction after liver transplantation. We aimed to study the effect of probiotics on intestinal barrier function in malnourished rats following liver transplantation with long-term antibiotics.

Methods: Twelve Lewis rats were selected as donors.

No therapeutic ERCP in anastomotic stricture without intrahepatic biliary dilation after liver transplantation.

Background/aims: Differentiating surgical jaundice from non-surgical jaundice is of vital importance after liver transplantation (LT) and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is not effective for all anastomotic stricture (AS) cases. In the present study, we aim to determine the optimal indication of ERCP treatment for AS after LT.

Methodology: Twenty-eight jaundice patients who underwent successful ERCP treatments for post-transplant AS were classified into two groups: AS with intrahepatic biliary dilation (group 1, n=22) and AS without intrahepatic biliary dilation (group 2, n=6).

Selective recruitment of regulatory T cell through CCR6-CCL20 in hepatocellular carcinoma fosters tumor progression and predicts poor prognosis.

Background: Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are highly prevalent in tumor tissue and can suppress effective anti-tumor immune responses. However, the source of the increased tumor-infiltrating Tregs and their contribution to cancer progression remain poorly understood.

Methodology/principal Finding: We here investigated the frequency, phenotype and trafficking property of Tregs and their prognostic value in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Copy number variation in CCL3L1 gene is associated with susceptibility to acute rejection in patients after liver transplantation.

Copy number variation (CNV) in gene was a novel type of genetic diversity in human that affect the pathogenesis, progress, and prognosis of disease. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between CNV in CCL3L1 gene and the rejection risk in liver-transplant recipients. The 266 Han-Chinese patients and 135 volunteers were enrolled in this study.

Lack of association of the polymorphism of the CCR5 gene in liver recipients with acute rejection from China.

Objectives: This study sought to investigate the associations between polymorphisms in the chemokine receptor 5 gene and acute rejection in liver transplant.

Materials And Methods: A total of 266 patients who underwent a liver transplant between January 2006 and March 2009 were enrolled in this study. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood, and chemokine receptor 5Δ32 was detected by polymerase chain reaction.

Enteral supplementation with glycyl-glutamine improves intestinal barrier function after liver transplantation in rats.

Background: Most patients after liver transplantation (LT) suffer from intestinal barrier dysfunction. Glycyl-glutamine (Gly-Gln) by parenteral supplementation is hydrolyzed to release glutamine, which improves intestinal barrier function in intestinal injury. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Gly-Gln by enteral supplementation on intestinal barrier function in rats after allogenetic LT under immunosuppressive therapy.

Long non-coding RNA MALAT-1 overexpression predicts tumor recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma after liver transplantation.

Metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1(MALAT1), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), is up-regulated in many solid tumors and associated with cancer metastasis and recurrence. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poorly understood. In the present study, we evaluated the expression of MALAT1 by quantitative real-time PCR in 9 liver cancer cell lines and 112 HCC cases including 60 cases who received liver transplantation (LT) with complete follow-up data.

Intratumoral regulatory T cells alone or in combination with cytotoxic T cells predict prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after resection.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) represent the host immune response to cancer. CD8(+) cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) have a central role in the elimination of tumors, while regulatory T cells (Tregs) can suppress the immune reaction. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of TILs, especially Tregs and CTLs, in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after resection.

Evaluation of hepatitis B viral replication and proteomic analysis of HepG2.2.15 cell line after knockdown of HBx.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the major pathogens of human liver disease. Studies have shown that HBV X protein (HBx) plays an important role in promoting viral gene expression and replication. In this study we performed a global proteomic profiling to identify the downstream functional proteins of HBx, thereby detecting the mechanisms of action of HBx on virion replication.

Tri-iodothyronine enhances liver regeneration after living donor liver transplantation in rats.

Background: Tri-iodothyronine (T3) has been shown to be a hepatic mitogen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of T3 on liver regeneration after 50% partial liver transplantation (pLT) in rats.

Methods: Immediately after pLT, a single dose of T3 (4 mg/kg body weight) was administered.

Kupffer cells contribute to concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury through a Th1 but not Th17 type response-dependent pathway in mice.

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that a close interaction of Kupffer cells with T cells plays a central role in concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury in mice, but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. The present study aimed to determine the relative roles of Th1 and Th17 type responses in concanavalin A-induced hepatic injury in mice, and to investigate whether or not Kupffer cells contribute to hepatic injury via a Th1 or Th17 type response-dependent pathway.

Methods: Immune-mediated hepatic injury was induced in C57BL/6 mice by intravenous injection of concanavalin A.

Expression of HLA-G in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G) is a non-classical major histocompatibility complex class I molecule that has multiple immune regulatory functions including the induction of immune tolerance. The detection of HLA-G expression might serve as a clinical marker in the prediction of clinical outcomes for certain types of carcinoma. Currently, we investigated whether or not HLA-G is also expressed in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and whether the expression has clinical value.

Technical aspects of biliary reconstruction in adult living donor liver transplantation.

Background: The last decade has witnessed great progress in living donor liver transplantation worldwide. However, biliary complications are more common in partial liver transplantation than in whole liver transplantation. This is due to an impaired blood supply of the hilar bile duct during organ procurement and recipient surgery, commonly encountered anatomical variations, a relatively small graft duct, and complicated surgical techniques used in biliary reconstruction.