Ultrasonographic evaluation of the gallbladder motor function in the diagnosis and prognosis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is characterized by skin pruritus, elevated liver enzymes, and increased serum total bile acids. Several previous studies have revealed that the fasting and ejection volumes of the gallbladder in cholestasis of pregnancy are greater than those in normal pregnancy. The goal of this study was to explore the gallbladder volume and evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic value of ultrasound in ICP.

Lipopolysaccharide Inhibits Autophagy and Promotes Inflammatory Responses via p38 MAPK-Induced Proteasomal Degradation of Atg13 in Hepatic Stellate Cells.

Background: Inflammation plays a critical role in the progression of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Atg13 is a vital regulatory component of the ULK1 complex, which plays an essential role in the initiation of autophagy. Previously, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were considered to be noninflammatory cells that contribute only to hepatic fibrosis.

Serum Nitric Oxide Level Serves as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker in ACLF Patients.

Background And Aim: Fewer than 50% of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) recover spontaneously, and without liver transplantation, ACLF is associated with high death rates. Nitric oxide (NO) has a role in the pathogenesis of various liver disorders. We investigated if serum NO level could be used as a biomarker to predict the severity and prognosis of patients with ACLF.

Prognostic value of plasma level of superoxide dismutase in HBV-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background: Hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is the most prevalent type of ACLF in China. The mortality rate of HBV-ACLF has decreased in recent years due to advances in treatment therapies; however, it is still above 50%. Many cases of HBV-ACLF are caused by HBV reactivation due to discontinuation of nucleoside analog treatment.

Thymosin 4 Protects against Cardiac Damage and Subsequent Cardiac Fibrosis in Mice with Myocardial Infarction.

Background: Inflammation is a critical factor in the development and progression of myocardial infarction and cardiac fibrosis. Thymosin 4 (T4) alleviates the disease process via protective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Although T4 has been shown to have a protective effect in myocardial infarction, its impact on cardiac fibrosis has not been well reported.

High levels of serum superoxide dismutase as a biomarker of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy in patients with viral hepatitis B.

Background: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is characterized by skin pruritus and impaired liver function. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection increases the risk of developing ICP. HBV infection is associated with oxidative stress, which has been proven to participate in the development of ICP.

Serum superoxide dismutase level is a potential biomarker of disease prognosis in patients with HEV-induced liver failure.

Background: Viral hepatitis E clinically ranges from self-limiting hepatitis to lethal liver failure. Oxidative stress has been shown to mediate hepatic inflammation during HBV-induced liver failure. We investigated whether a biomarker of oxidative stress may be helpful in assessing severity and disease outcomes of patients with HEV-induced liver failure.

Purity determination of pyributicarb by internal standard correction-high-performance liquid chromatography-quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance.

An internal standard correction-high-performance liquid chromatography-quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (ISC-HPLC-qNMR) procedure was established as a reliable quantitative method for complex organic compounds with low purity in order to solve the risk of qNMR inaccuracy because of insufficient resolution of impurity peaks from the selected quantitative peak. This method collects a small quantity of target analyte from low-purity organics by LC. After drying and re-dissolving in deuterated solvent containing internal standard, the solution was analyzed by H NMR and HPLC.

Simultaneous determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and hydroxylated analogues in human serum using high-performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their hydroxylated (OH-BDE) analogues are known as contaminants with potential risks to human health. In this work, a HPLC-ICP-MS method was developed for simultaneous determination of four polybrominated diphenyl ethers (BDE-47, -99, -153 and -209) and four hydroxylated analogues (3-OH-BDE-47, 5-OH-BDE-47, 6-OH-BDE-47, 5'-OH-BDE-99) in human serum. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was employed as the primary extraction and purification procedure.

Determination of bisphenol analogues in food-contact plastics using diode array detector, charged aerosol detector and evaporative light-scattering detector.

Freshness protection packages and preservative films are widely used food-contact plastic made of polyethylene. Diode array detector (DAD), charged aerosol detector (CAD) and evaporative light-scattering detector (ELSD) were evaluated for determination of 6 bisphenols (bisphenol A, bisphenol S, bisphenol F, bisphenol B, bisphenol AF and tetrabromobisphenol A.) in polyethylene.

Development and evaluation of microwave-assisted and ultrasound-assisted methods based on a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe sample preparation approach for the determination of bisphenol analogues in serum and sediments.

Microwave- and ultrasound-assisted methods based on a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe sample preparation approach followed by high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry were developed for the simultaneous determination of eight bisphenol analogues in serum and sediment. The developed methods provided satisfactory extraction efficiency for the energy provided by microwaves and ultrasound. Compositions of commercial sorbents (primary secondary amine, MgSO , octadecyl-modified silica, and graphitized carbon black) were evaluated.

Determination of avermectins by the internal standard recovery correction - high performance liquid chromatography - quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance method.

Quantitative Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (qNMR) is widely used to determine the purity of organic compounds. For the compounds with lower purity especially molecular weight more than 500, qNMR is at risk of error for the purity, because the impurity peaks are likely to be incompletely separated from the peak of major component. In this study, an offline ISRC-HPLC-qNMR (internal standard recovery correction - high performance liquid chromatography - qNMR) was developed to overcome this problem.

Development, comparison and application of sorbent-assisted accelerated solvent extraction, microwave-assisted extraction and ultrasonic-assisted extraction for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in sediments.

Fast and selective analytical methods were developed based on sorbent-assisted mechanism and microwave-assisted extraction (SA-MAE), accelerate solvent extraction (SA-ASE) and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (SA-UAE) for the determination of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments. The experimental parameters, such as extraction conditions and sorbent amounts, were optimized according to Taguchi Orthogonal Arrays. The accuracy of developed SA-methods was a satisfactory ranging from 71% to 118%.

Certified reference materials (GBW09170 and 09171) of creatinine in human serum.

Creatinine is the most widely used clinical marker for assessing renal function. Concentrations of creatinine in human serum need to be carefully checked in order to ensure accurate diagnosis of renal function. Therefore, development of certified reference materials (CRMs) of creatinine in serum is of increasing importance.