[Observation on experimental liver fibrosis and hepatic carcinogenesis of HBV gene knock-in transgenic mice induced by CCl4/ethanol].

Objective: To study the effects of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)/ethanol induction upon experimental liver fibrosis and hepatic carcinogenesis of HBV transgenic mice.

Methods: The wild-type mice, p21-HBx transgenic mice with integration of p21 locus by HBx gene and p21-HBsAg transgenic mice with integration of p21 locus by HBsAg gene were induced separately by CCl4/ethanol twice weekly for 20 weeks. The investigators observed the development of liver fibrosis and hepatic carcinogenesis in three groups and detected the gene expressions of HBx and HBsAg by RT-PCR.

[Surgical treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma of Bismuth-Corlette type IV].

Objective: To investigate the surgical treatment for hilar cholangiocarcinoma(HCCA) of Bismuth-Corlette type IV.

Methods: The clinical data of 73 HCCA patients admitted in Southwest Hospital, the Third Military Medical University from January 2002 to December 2008 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 41 males and 32 females, aged from 30 to 84 years old (averaged, 56.

[Experimental study on tolerance time limits from warm ischemia to cold preservation of liver grafts].

Objective: To investigate the tolerance time limits from warm ischemia to cold preservation of liver grafts.

Methods: Orthotopic liver transplantations (OLTs) were performed on Bama miniature swine. Morphological and functional changes of the liver grafts and biliary tracts after 10 minutes of warm ischemia followed by different durations of cold preservation and its reversibility were investigated.

[Effect of proto-oncogene protein c-met ribozyme transfection on biological behavior of gastric carcinoma cells].

Objective: To explore the effect of c-met ribozyme transfection on biological behavior of gastric carcinoma cells.

Methods: U1/met292 plasmid containing c-met ribozyme gene was transfected into L2 subline of SGC-7901 gastric cell line, and the proliferative ability, distribution of cell cycle, protein expression of VEGF and c-met, as well as the potential of liver metastasis of the transfected subline were determined.

Results: There were no significant difference in proliferative ability, distribution of cell cycle between the transfected cells and the control cells.

Clinical analysis of surgical treatment of portal hypertension.

Aim: To review the experience in surgery for 508 patients with portal hypertension and to explore the selection of reasonable operation under different conditions.

Methods: The data of 508 patients with portal hypertension treated surgically in 1991-2001 in our centers were analyzed. Of the 508 patients, 256 were treated with portaazygous devascularization (PAD), 167 with portasystemic shunt (PSS), 62 with selective shunt (SS), 11 with combined portasystemic shunt and portaazygous devascularization (PSS+PAD), 9 with liver transplantation (LT), 3 with union operation for hepatic carcinoma and portal hypertension (HCC+PH).

[Radiofrequency ablation for hypersplenism due to portal hypertension: clinical study].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility, efficacy and clinical prospects of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for hypersplenism in patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

Methods: The laboratory and radiologic data over one-year period of patients undergone splenic RFA were analyzed.

Results: Nine patients undergone splenic RFA has closely followed-up over 1 year.

[Effects of portaazygous disconnection, portocaval shunt and selective shunts on experimental rat liver cirrhosis].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of portaazygous disconnection (PAD), portacaval shunt (PCS) and distal splenocaval shunt (DSCS) on the portosytemic shunting (PSS), hepatic function (HF), hepatic mitochondrial respiratory function (HMRF), oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and arterial ketone body ratio (KBR) in order to provide a sound basis for selecting suitable operations for patients.

Methods: Using a cirrhotic portal hypertensive model induced by CCl4/ethanol in Wistar rats, the PSS, HF, HMRF, OGTT and KBR were determined three weeks after PCS, DSCS and PAD.

Results: It was revealed that: (1) In the cirrhotic portal hypertension rats, the PSS increased significantly, HMRF and hepatic reserve function (HRF) decreased significantly when compared with the control rats.

Inhibitory effect of retroviral vector containing anti-sense Smad4 gene on Ito cell line, LI90.

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) exerts strong fibrogenic potential in culture-activated HSCs. Smad4 is a key intracellular mediator for the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of growth factors. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the antisense Smad4 gene on Ito cell line, LI90.

[Obstruction of TGF-beta1 signal transduction can decrease the process of hepatocellular carcinoma in mice induced by CCl4/ethanol].

Objective: To study obstruction of the TGF-beta(1) signal transduction by antisense RNA of Smad(4) and its effects on experimental hepatic carcinoma of mice.

Methods: We used the mouse model of primary hepatic carcinoma induced by CCl(4)/ethanol, and transferred antisense Smad(4)cDNA with retrovirus-mediated via portal vein infusion into liver. Southern Blot confirmed that the antisense Smad(4)cDNA had been integrated into the liver.

[Obstruction of TGF-beta1 signal transduction by anti-Smad4 gene can therapy experimental liver fibrosis in the rat].

Objective: To study the therapeutic effects to block the TGF-beta1 (transforming growth factor beta1) signal transduction by antisense Smad4 gene on experimental fibrotic liver.

Methods: Using the rat model of liver fibrosis induced by Carbon Tetrachloride (CCl4)/ethanol, we transfected antisense Smad4 gene mediated by adenovirus via portal vein infusion into the liver, and observed the expression of Smad4 by Retro-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Western Blot. We also investigated the pathologic features and collagen expression.

[Effects of anti-sense Smad4 gene on the biological characteristics of the fat-storing cell line CFSC].

Objective: To investigate the effects of antisense Smad(4) on the biological characteristics of the fat-storing cell line CFSC.

Methods: Fat-storing cells of line CFSC from rat with liver fibrosis were cultured and transfected with 50 MOI of recombinant adenoviral vector carrying antisense Smad(4) (AdvATSmad(4)) or the control empty adenovirus (Adv0), both produced by 293 packaging cells, respectively. Two, four, and six days after the transfection the cultured cells were collected to undergo trypan blue staining and cell counting.

Etiology and surgical treatment of hilar bile duct stricture.

Objective: To improve the surgical effects of hilar duct stricture.

Methods: The clinical data of 76 patients with hilar bile duct stricture treated at our hospital from 1990 to 2000 were analyzed. The diagnosis was determined by triad signs of cholangitis, increase of ALP and gamma-GGT levels, dilation of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts confirmed by ultrasonography (US), computed tomography (CT), percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Diagnosis and treatment of portal biliopathy.

Background: Portal biliopathy producing intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary ductal abnormalities from portal hypertension, particularly with extrahepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) is common. A majority of these patients are asymptomatic, but occasionally there is symptomatic biliary obstruction, and cholangitis and choledocholithiasis.

Objective: To explore the principles of diagnosis and treatment of portal biliopathy.

Preoperative selective portal vein embolization in two-step hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma in injured livers: a preliminary report.

Objective: To study the effect of preoperative selective portal vein embolization (SPVE) in the two-step hepatectomy for patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in injured livers.

Methods: Twenty-six patients with HCC and cirrhosis who were not suitable for curative hepatectomy were treated by ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic SPVE with a fine needle. The success rate, side-effects and complications of SPVE, serial changes of hepatic lobe volume and rate of two-step curative hepatectomy after SPVE were observed.

Role of preoperative selective portal vein embolization in two-step curative hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To determine the feasibility and role of ultrasound-guided preoperative selective portal vein embolization (POSPVE) in the two-step hepatectomy of patients with advanced primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Fifty patients with advanced HCC who were not suitable for curative hepatectomy were treated by ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic POSPVE with fine needles. The successful rate, side effects and complications of POSPVE, changes of hepatic lobe volume and two-step curative hepatectomy rate after POSPVE were observed.

[The feasibility and safety of radiofrequency ablation for secondary splenomegaly and hypersplenism in dogs].

Objective: To assess the feasibility and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in spleen to treat secondary splenomegaly and hypersplenism in dogs.

Methods: Fourteen healthy mongrel dogs were randomly divided into two groups: group A (n = 4) and group B (n = 10) Both groups underwent ligation of the splenic vein and its collateral branches to induce congestive splenomegaly. At the end of the 3rd week, radiofrequency thermal ablation of the spleen was performed in the group B via laparotomy.

Experimental study on the feasibility and safety of radiofrequency ablation for secondary splenomagely and hypersplenism.

Aim: To assess the feasibility and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of secondary splenomagely and hypersplenism.

Methods: Sixteen healthy mongrel dogs were randomly divided into two groups, group I (n=4) and group II (n=12). Congestive splenomegaly was induced by ligation of splenic vein and its collateral branches in both groups.