Glutathione-s-transferase A 4 (GSTA4) suppresses tumor growth and metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting AKT pathway.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal malignancies of cancers and its prognosis remains dismal due to the paucity of effective therapeutic targets. Up-regulation of glutathione-s-transferase A 4 (GSTA4) is associated with poor prognosis of HCC, but its functional mechanism in HCC remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the roles of GSTA4 in tumor growth and metastasis of HCC and found that GSTA4 was frequently up-regulated in HCC tissues.

Amelioration of carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis and portal hypertension in rat using adenoviral gene transfer of Akt.

Aim: To investigate whether a virus constitutively expressing active Akt is useful to prevent cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

Methods: Using cre-loxp technique, we created an Ad-myr-HA-Akt virus, in which Akt is labeled by a HA tag and its expression is driven by myr promoter. Further, through measuring enzyme levels and histological structure, we determined the efficacy of this Ad-myr-HA-Akt virus in inhibiting the development of cirrhosis induced by CCl4 in rats.

Association between reversal of multidrug resistance by methyl jasmonate and P-glycoprotein ATPase activity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: To study the effects of methyl jasmonate on multidrug resistance in a mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods: Multidrug resistant H22 (H22/FAP) hepatocellular carcinoma cells were produced in vitro by continuous exposure to increasing doses of doxorubicin, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (FAP regimen). Cell toxicity was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolum bromide (MTT) assay.

[Risk factors for anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal cancer].

Objective: To identify the risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage following an anterior resection for rectal cancer.

Methods: Between June, 1999 and June, 2009, 628 patients underwent anterior resection for rectal cancer. A retrospective study of the cases was performed to identify the risk factors for anastomotic leakage following the resection.

[Therapeutic effect of subtotal gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy on type 2 diabetes mellitus in non-obese patients].

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of Roux-en-Y anastomosis following subtotal gastrectomy on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in non-obese patients.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 16 non-obese patients with T2DM undergoing Roux-en-Y anastomosis following subtotal gastrectomy for stomach cancer and upper gastrointestinal tract ulcer.

Results: All the patients were followed up for 6 months after the surgery.

Labeling and tracking human amniotic epithelial cells with green fluorescent protein in an adeno-associated virus vector.

Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) are a recently identified type of stem cell. Thanks to their ready availability and the lower risk of teratoma formation, hAECs have been studied and tested for a variety of human disease treatments and tissue reconstruction efforts. This aim of this study was to establish a stable tracking system to further monitor hAECs in vivo after transplantation.

[Akt gene therapy for cirrhotic rats with portal hypertension].

Objective: To determine whether there is an impaired Akt and eNOS activation in cirrhotic livers, and to investigate the feasibility of transferring adenovirus-mediated Akt gene to the liver for portal hypertension.

Methods: Recombinant adenovirus Ad-myr-HA-Akt and Ad-EGFP were produced by homologoas recombination in 293 cells . The Methods of compound factor, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), corn flour, and cholesterol plus alcohol were used to construct the hepatic cirrhosis rat models.

[Comparison of treatment response in primary hepatocellular carcinomas with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced helical CT].

Objective: To investigate the value of contrast-enhanced ultra sonography for non-surgical treatment response in hepatocellular carcinomas.

Methods: Non-surgical therapies were performed on 56 patients (64 liver neoplasms) who were diagnosed by ultrasonography-guided biopsy before the therapy. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography(CEUS) and contrast-enhanced helical CT were performed to assess the treatment response.

[Effect of losartan on portal hypertensive gastropathy in rats].

Objective: To determine the effect of angiotensin II receptor 1 antagonist losartan on portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG) in rats and its mechanism.

Methods: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a sham-operated group, a model group, a treatment group, and a prevention group. The partial portal vein and left suprarenal vein of rats were ligated to develop PHG.

Endoscopic variceal ligation combined with Hassab's procedure in preventing the recurrence of esophageal varices.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) combined with Hassab's procedure in the prevention of variceal recurrence.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-five patients with esophageal varices were randomized to receive EVL alone, Hassab's procedure alone or a combination of EVL and Hassab's procedure for variceal eradication. Ultrasonographic venous network images were recorded by an esophageal microprobe before and after the EVL or Hassab's procedure.

[Effects of different treatment complex on esophageal vascular structures in patients with portal hypertension].

Objective: To assess the effects of different treatment complex on esophageal vascular structures in patients with portal hypertension.

Methods: Patients (142 cases) with esophageal varices received either endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) alone (54 cases), pericardial devascularization procedure (PDP) alone (23 cases), a combination of EVL and partial splenic embolization (PSE) (34 cases), or a combination of EVL and PDP (31 cases) for variceal eradication. Esophageal vascular structures were examined with miniature ultrasonic probe.

[The expression of HIF-1alpha in scars and its relationship to apoptosis].

Objective: To explore the mechanism of hypoxic environment lessening in the course of scar maturation.

Methods: The expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and p53 in granulation of burn wound, burn scars of different stages, and normal skin was detected with immunohistochemical staining. The expressions were quantified by the weight method.

[Dynamic variation of endothelin in portal hypertensive patients with hemorrhage and its clinical significance].

Objective: To investigate variations of plasma endothelin (ET) and its clinical significance in portal hypertensive patients with esophageal variceal hemorrhage.

Methods: Sixty-six patients with portal hypertension were randomly divided into 2 groups. Group I (32 patients) received general therapy and Group II (34 patients) received general therapy and UTI after hemorrhage.

Expression of TNF-alpha and VEGF in the esophagus of portal hypertensive rats.

Aim: To investigate the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the development of esophageal varices in portal hypertensive rats.

Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats in the model group in which a two-stage ligation of portal vein plus ligation of the left adrenal vein was performed, were divided into three subgroups (M(7), M(14), and M(21)) in which the rats were kiued on the seventh day, the 14(th) d and the 21 d after the complete portal ligation. Thirty male SD rats, which underwent the sham operation in the control group, were also separated into three subgroups (C(7), C(14) and C(21)) corresponding to the models.

[Laser inducing mucosal fibrosis for preventing recurrence of esophageal varices].

Objective: To investigate the prevention of esophageal varices recurrence by laser inducing esophageal mucosal fibrosis.

Methods: Our study included 42 patients after esophageal varices eradicated by endoscopic varices ligation, and they were divided into 2 groups randomly, each group included 21 patients. One group was assigned to received laser treatment, and indocyanine green solution (1 mg/ml) was injected submucosally, a diode laser (power 10 watts) was applied to the surface from the esophagogastric junction to 5 cm above it.

[Treatment of portal hypertension by endoscopic esophageal ligation of varicose veins combined with partial splenic embolization].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a new method of endoscopic esophageal variceal ligation combined with partial splenic embolization (EVL-PSE) for the patients with portal hypertension.

Methods: From May 1999 to February 2003, sixty-eight patients with portal hypertension underwent EVL-PSE, and hemodynamics of the portal trunk (PT), the left gastric vein and azygos vein, including maximum velocity, flow volume, vein diameter, were assessed using color ultrasound Doppler.

Results: The esophageal varices and hypersplenism were greatly ameliorated after operation in patients who had undergone EVL-PSE.