Individualized risk prediction of significant fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using a novel nomogram.

Background: Fibrosis is deemed to be a pivotal determinant of the long-term prognosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Objective: We aimed to develop a novel nomogram-based non-invasive model to accurately predict significant fibrosis in patients with NAFLD.

Methods: We designed a prospective cohort study including 207 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD.

Stratified alpha-fetoprotein pattern accurately predicts mortality in patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure.

Background: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been shown to predict the prognosis of liver disease in several studies. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of stratified AFP in patients with acute-on-chronic hepatitis B liver failure (ACHBLF).

Methods: A total of 192 patients were included and AFP were categorized into quartiles.

ERP44 inhibits human lung cancer cell migration mainly via IP3R2.

Cancer cell migration is involved in tumour metastasis. However, the relationship between calcium signalling and cancer migration is not well elucidated. In this study, we used the human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line to examine the role of endoplasmic reticulum protein 44 (ERP44), which has been reported to regulate calcium release inside of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), in cell migration.

Atrial natriuretic peptide regulates Ca channel in early developmental cardiomyocytes.

Background: Cardiomyocytes derived from murine embryonic stem (ES) cells possess various membrane currents and signaling cascades link to that of embryonic hearts. The role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in regulation of membrane potentials and Ca(2+) currents has not been investigated in developmental cardiomyocytes.

Methodology/principal Findings: We investigated the role of ANP in regulating L-type Ca(2+) channel current (I(CaL)) in different developmental stages of cardiomyocytes derived from ES cells.