Kupffer cell depletion by gadolinium chloride aggravates liver injury after brain death in rats.

Brain death (BD) impairs liver function in potential donors, and is associated with hormonal and metabolic changes or molecular effects with pro‑inflammatory activation. Resident macrophages in the liver named Kupffer cells (KCs) undergo pro‑ or anti‑inflammatory pathway activation, which affects liver function. However, the role of the KCs in liver dysfunction following BD has not been fully elucidated.

[A duplex nested PCR assay detecting of Vibrio cholerae and its application on environmental specimens].

Objective: To establish a duplex nested PCR assay system which is capable for detecting O1 and O139 groups of Vibrio cholerae simultaneously, and is applicable to environmental specimens from routine cholera surveillance.

Methods: Based on nucleic acid sequences available in GenBank, six sets of primers were designed by PrimerSelect program of DNAStar, targeting the rfb gene that encodes the O antigens of O1 and O139 V. cholerae, respectively.