A combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram in evaluation of degrees of liver cirrhosis predicts post-hepatectomy liver failure: a multicenter prospective study.

Background: Adequate evaluation of degrees of liver cirrhosis is essential in surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The impact of the degrees of cirrhosis on prediction of post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) remains poorly defined. This study aimed to construct and validate a combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram based on the degrees of cirrhosis in predicting PHLF in HCC patients using prospective multi-center's data.

Anderson critical metal phase in trivial states protected by average magnetic crystalline symmetry.

Transitions between distinct obstructed atomic insulators (OAIs) protected by crystalline symmetries, where electrons form molecular orbitals centering away from the atom positions, must go through an intermediate metallic phase. In this work, we find that the intermediate metals will become a scale-invariant critical metal phase (CMP) under certain types of quenched disorder that respect the magnetic crystalline symmetries on average. We explicitly construct models respecting average CT, m, and CT and show their scale-invariance under chemical potential disorder by the finite-size scaling method.

Anatomical sectionectomy based on Takasaki's segmentation for solitary intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a propensity-matched analysis.

Background: Anatomical sectionectomy based on Takasaki's segmentation has shown advantages in hepatocellular carcinoma. However, whether this approach improves the survival of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remains unknown.

Methods: A series of 248 consecutive patients with solitary ICCs who underwent hepatectomy were studied retrospectively.

Regio- and enantioselective CuH-catalyzed 1,2- and 1,4-hydrosilylation of 1,3-enynes.

We report a copper-catalyzed ligand-controlled selective 1,2- and 1,4-hydrosilylation of 1,3-enynes, which furnishes enantiomerically enriched propargyl- and 1,2-allenylsilane products in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99% ee). This reaction proceeds under mild conditions, shows broad substrate scope for both 1,3-enynes and trihydrosilanes, and displays excellent regioselectivities. Mechanistic studies based on deuterium-labeling reactions and density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that allenylcopper is the dominant reactive intermediate under both 1,2- and 1,4-hydrosilylation conditions, and it undergoes metathesis with silanes via selective four-membered or six-membered transition state, depending on the nature of the ligand.

Copper-Catalyzed Borylation and Silylation of Dichlorocyclobutenones.

We report copper-catalyzed borylation and silylation of dichlorocyclobutenones, which furnish the boron-substituted and siliconsubstituted polyfunctionalized cyclobutenones in high yields. The reactions proceed under mild reaction conditions, show broad substrate scope, and display high chemoselectivity. In addition, a series of transformations of the corresponding products has been realized.

Predicting the severity of liver cirrhosis through clinical parameters.

Background: Severity of liver cirrhosis plays a vital role in determining an appropriate surgical strategy for HCC treatment. However, preoperative evaluation of the severity of cirrhosis has not been established in a surgical setting. This study aims to develop a model to predict the severity of cirrhosis.

Influencing Mechanism of the Selenization Temperature and Time on the Power Conversion Efficiency of Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4-Based Solar Cells.

Cu2ZnSn(S,Se)4 (CZTSSe) films were deposited on the Mo-coated glass substrates, and the CZTSSe-based solar cells were successfully fabricated by a facile solution method and postselenization technique. The influencing mechanisms of the selenization temperature and time on the power conversion efficiency (PCE), short-circuit current density (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), and fill factor (FF) of the solar cell are systematically investigated by studying the change of the shunt conductance (Gsh), series resistance (Rs), diode ideal factor (n), and reversion saturation current density (J0) with structure and crystal quality of the CZTSSe film and CZTSSe/Mo interface selenized at various temperatures and times. It is found that a Mo(S1-x,Sex)2 (MSSe) layer with hexagonal structure exists at the CZTSSe/Mo interface at the temperature of 500 °C, and its thickness increases with increasing selenization temperature and time.

Prognostic Role of microRNA-21 Expression in Brain Tumors: a Meta-analysis.

Many studies have shown that microRNAs have important roles in the development and progression of various cancers. Recent studies also showed that microRNA-21 expression may be associated with the prognosis of patients with several common cancers. However, there was still lack of evidence for the prognostic role of microRNA-21 expression in brain tumors.

Phase II clinical trial of h-R3 combined with radiotherapy in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term efficacy and toxicity of the humanized anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibody h-R3 when combined with radiotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods: 35 patients with stage III-IVb NPC with moderate- or strong-intensity EGFR expression were randomly divided into either a radiotherapy alone group or a group receiving radiotherapy combined with h-R3.

Results: The complete remission (CR) rates of the combination group at three time points were significantly higher (p<0.

CD47 blockade reduces ischemia/reperfusion injury and improves survival in a rat liver transplantation model.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) remains the standard treatment option for nonresponsive liver failure. Because ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is an important impediment to the success of OLT, new therapeutic strategies are needed to reduce IRI. We investigated whether blocking the CD47/thrombospondin-1 inhibitory action on nitric oxide signaling with a monoclonal antibody specific to CD47 (CD47mAb400) would reduce IRI in liver grafts.

Anti-CHMP5 single chain variable fragment antibody retrovirus infection induces programmed cell death of AML leukemic cells in vitro.

Aim: Over-expressed CHMP5 was found to act as oncogene that probably participated in leukemogenesis. In this study, we constructed the CHMP5 single chain variable fragment antibody (CHMP5-scFv) retrovirus and studied the changes of programmed cell death (PCD) of AML leukemic cells after infection by the retrovirus.

Methods: The anti-CHMP5 KC14 hybridoma cell line was constructed to generate monoclonal antibody of CHMP5.

Phase I clinical trial of continuous infusion of tyroserleutide in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually diagnosed in advanced stage, which causes difficulty of using surgical treatment. Previous studies demonstrated that tyroserleutide (YSL), an immunologically active tripeptide compound, could suppress the proliferation and tumor formation of some liver cancer cell lines. We aimed to investigate the feasibility and toxicity of continuous administration of YSL by a portable infusion pump to patients with advanced HCC and its biologically effective but non-toxic doses used in outpatient setting.

PJ34, an inhibitor of PARP-1, suppresses cell growth and enhances the suppressive effects of cisplatin in liver cancer cells.

It has been suggested that poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-l (PARP-l) plays an important role in DNA repair, cell death and proliferation, as well as in the stabilization of the genome. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of PARP-1 had a beneficial outcome in cancer chemotherapy since the cancer cells lacked PARP-1 and were sensitive to chemotherapeutic DNA damage. As a novel potent specific inhibitor of PARP-l, PJ34 has been reported to enhance chemotherapeutic effects in certain types of tumors.

Reduced T-cadherin expression and promoter methylation are associated with the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Loss of T-cadherin expression has been reported in a number of human cancers. We previously reported that T-cadherin re-expression suppressed cell growth and motility in glioma. Here, we report that the T-cadherin expression was significantly decreased in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to adjacent normal liver.

Inhibitory effect of emodin on tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) expression in rat hepatic stellate cells.

Emodin inhibited expression of both transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1)- and phorbol ester (PMA)-induced tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in an immortalized rat hepatic stellate cell line, HSC-T6, by Western blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Reporter gene assays showed that emodin reduced both basal and PMA-induced activated protein-1 (AP-1) promoter activities. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that emodin reduced AP-1 DNA binding activities in HSC-T6 cells.

[Effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on in vitro metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2].

Background & Objective: Metastasis is one of the important reasons for treatment failure of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is related to biologic behaviors of HCC, including proliferation, migration, and invasion. Recently, researchers have realized that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a functional protein that exists in HCC tissue, and closely relates to the development of HCC, but the exact mechanism is still unknown.

[Inhibitory effect of cyclin D1 antisense cDNA on human hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2].

Objective: To investigate the effect of antisense cDNA of cyclin D1 on the cyclin D1 gene expression and cell proliferation of human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro.

Methods: Plasmids containing cyclin D1 antisense cDNA were constructed and transfected into HepG2 cells. Their effects on cell proliferation were examined by MTT method, RT-PCR, immunohistochemical means, and flow cytometry.

Induction of mucosal and systemic immune response by single-dose oral immunization with biodegradable microparticles containing DNA encoding HBsAg.

The purpose of this work was to assess the ability of plasmid DNA encoding hepatitis B virus (HBV) HBsAg encapsulated in poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles to induce local and systemic HBsAg-specific immunity following a single dose of oral immunization. RT-PCR analysis demonstrated prolonged transcription of plasmid DNA, consistent with the sustained expression and presentation of target antigen observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, in gut-associated lymphocyte tissue (GALT) from mice immunized orally with plasmid DNA encapsulated into PLGA microparticles. Oral administration of PLGA-DNA microparticles induced a long-lasting and stable antigen-specific antibody response, both serum total antibody and intestinal IgA, in BALB/c mice.

Effects of esculentoside A on production of interleukin-1, 2, and prostaglandin E2.

Aim: To investigate the influence of esculentoside A (EsA) on immunological function and its mechanism of anti-inflammation.

Methods: Interleukin-1 production was measured by thymocyte co-stimulating assay; the radioactivity of [(3)H]arachidonic acid (AA) was used to evaluate the release of AA; prostaglandin E2 production was measured with radioimmunoassay (RIA); IL-2 and IFN-gamma were detected by ELISA method.

Results: EsA (3-12 micromol/L)could potently inhibit the production of IL-1 and PGE(2) from both silent and LPS induced macrophages.

[Effect of esculentoside A on cellular adhesion].

Aim: To investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of esculentoside A (EsA) and to observe the effects of EsA on cellular adhesion between human umbilical vein endothelial cell (VEC304) and human neutrophil and to further observe the mRNA expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and cluster of differentiation 18(CD18).

Methods: The hemocyte counting method was used for assaying the adhesion rate between VEC304 and neutrophil. The RT-PCR method was used for measuring the mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and CD18.

[Expression of human TRAIL gene in COS-7 cells and its effects in the treatment of hepatic carcinoma].

Objective: To study the therapeutic potential of TRAIL and in combination with subtoxic level of chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Methods: The plasmid pcDNA 3.0-hTRAIL was transfected into COS-7 cells, and it was transiently expressed.

Analysis of gene expression profiles in human HL-60 cell exposed to cantharidin using cDNA microarray.

Cantharidin is a natural toxin that has antitumor properties and causes leukocytosis as well as increasing sensitivity of tumor cells resistant to other chemotherapeutic agents. There is limited information, however, on the molecular pharmacological mechanisms of cantharidin on human cancer cells. We have used cDNA microarrays to identify gene expression changes in HL-60 promyeloid leukemia cells exposed to cantharidin.

Effect of esculentoside A on autoimmunity in mice and its possible mechanisms.

Aim: To investigate the influence of esculentoside A (EsA) on autoimmunity in mice and its possible mechanisms.

Methods: The level of anti-ds DNA antibody, proliferation of lymphoid cells, and inflammation by pathologic section of joint in mice were examined. The autoimmunity model is made through immunizing mice with formaldehyde treated Campylobacter jejuni strain CJ-S131 and Freund's complete adjuvant.