Impact of rifaximin on cirrhosis complications and gastric microbiota in patients with gastroesophageal variceal bleeding: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: The application of rifaximin, a non-absorbable antibiotic, in hepatic encephalopathy (HE) has been well established; however, its effect on other complications in cirrhotic patients with previous gastroesophageal variceal bleeding (GEVB) remains unclear. Therefore, we performed a pilot randomized controlled trial aiming to evaluate the impact of rifaximin on cirrhosis-related complications and changes in gastric microbiota.

Methods: Eighty cirrhotic patients who received prophylactic endoscopic treatment for variceal rebleeding were randomly assigned to the control or rifaximin treatment group (rifaximin 400 mg twice daily for 8 weeks).

Genomic full-length sequence of the HLA-C*07:154 allele was identified by full-length group-specific sequencing.

Genomic full-length sequence of HLA-C*07:154 was identified by group-specific sequencing in a Chinese individual.

Quantitative Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease with Ultrasound Attenuation Imaging in a Biopsy-Proven Cohort.

Rationale And Objectives: To evaluate the performance of attenuation imaging (ATI) based on ultrasound for detection of hepatic steatosis in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Materials And Methods: This prospective study was approved by our institutional review board (B2021-092R). Written informed consent was obtained from all patients.

Systolic Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Risk in Normotensive Adults.

Objective: To examine the association of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and cardiovascular risk in normotensive adults.

Patients And Methods: This study analyzed data from 7 prospective cohorts between September 29, 1948, and December 31, 2018. Complete information on history of hypertension and baseline blood pressure measurements were required for inclusion.

Dynamic Change of Cardiovascular Health Metrics and Long-Term Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death: The ARIC Study.

Background The change of cardiovascular health (CVH) status has been associated with risk of cardiovascular disease. However, no studies have explored the change patterns of CVH in relation to risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). We aim to examine the link between baseline CVH and change of CVH over time with the risk of SCD.

A novel HLA-C*07 allele, HLA-C*07:1024, was identified in a Chinese individual.

One nucleotide replacement at nucleotide 397 of HLA-C*07:02:01:01 results in a new allele, HLA-C*07:1024.

Impact of Cerebrospinal Fluid Sample Handling on Cytokine Detection Results.

Objective: To investigate the impact of different treatment methods on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokine detection.

Methods: CSF samples were collected from 25 patients. The levels of IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and IL-2 were measured after CSF was stored at room temperature (25°C) or 4°C for 6, 12, and 24 hrs.

Topical Application of Methyl Nicotinate Solution Enhances Peripheral Blood Collection.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether local application of methyl nicotinate solution can change the content and proportion of blood cells in peripheral blood samples and to determine whether this treatment is a safe and reliable method for improving peripheral blood collection.

Methods: Routine blood analysis and flow cytometry were used to analyze the contents and proportions of blood cells and T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood samples. Experimental blood specimens were collected from earlobes treated with different concentrations of methyl nicotinate solution, and the control group consisted of blood specimens collected from untreated earlobes.

Diagnostic Value of Tumor Markers in Peritoneal Lavage Fluid for Peritoneal Metastasis from Colorectal Cancer.

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of tumor markers in peritoneal lavage fluid in the diagnosis of peritoneal metastasis from colorectal cancer.

Methods: One hundred eighty-six patients with colorectal cancer and 15 patients with benign disease who underwent surgical treatment were included. The abdominal cavity and pelvis of the patients were lavaged with 200 ml of normal saline immediately after abdominal cavity incision or pneumoperitoneum establishment.

Longitudinal change in lung function and subsequent risks of cardiovascular events: evidence from four prospective cohort studies.

Background: Lung function is constantly changing over the life course. Although the relation of cross-sectional lung function measure and adverse outcomes has been reported, data on longitudinal change and subsequent cardiovascular (CV) events risks are scarce. Therefore, this study is to determine the association of longitudinal change in lung function and subsequent cardiovascular risks.

Increased portal vein diameter is predictive of portal vein thrombosis development in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Background: Cirrhotic patients with portal vein thrombosis (PVT) may have a high risk of hepatic decompensation and increased mortality. This study aimed to investigate if increased portal vein diameter is associated with PVT development.

Methods: A total of 174 cirrhotic patients were enrolled between February 1 and August 31, 2017.

Changes and significance of plasma fibrinogen gamma-chain concentration in preeclampsia patients.

Objective: To investigate the plasma fibrinogen gamma-chain concentration in preeclampsia patients and explore its value in preeclampsia prediction and auxiliary diagnosis.

Methods: Follow-up of pregnant women who regularly attended perinatal care at two hospitals in China was performed, and clinical data and plasma samples were collected at each examination until delivery. The gamma-chain concentration was detected by Western blotting, and Quantity One Software was used for gamma-chain grayscale value measurements.

Association of early repolarization pattern with cardiovascular outcomes in middle-aged population: A cohort study.

Background: Large cohort studies provide conflicting evidence regarding the prognostic value of early repolarization pattern (ERP) in the general population, complicated by the complex or heterogeneous definitions of ERP applied in different studies.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that ERP was associated with increased cardiovascular risk with the definition of ERP recommended by the expert consensus statements.

Methods: A total of 13673 middle-aged subjects from the prospective, population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study were included in this analysis.

Transfer learning radiomics based on multimodal ultrasound imaging for staging liver fibrosis.

Objectives: To propose a transfer learning (TL) radiomics model that efficiently combines the information from gray scale and elastogram ultrasound images for accurate liver fibrosis grading.

Methods: Totally 466 patients undergoing partial hepatectomy were enrolled, including 401 with chronic hepatitis B and 65 without fibrosis pathologically. All patients received elastography and got liver stiffness measurement (LSM) 2-3 days before surgery.

A Nude Mouse Model of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma HCCLM3 Cell Xenografts and the Use of Imaging to Evaluate Tumor Progression.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to develop a nude mouse model of orthotopic liver transplantation of HCCLM3 human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell xenografts and the use of imaging and histology to evaluate tumor development and progression. MATERIAL AND METHODS HCCLM3 cells were injected subcutaneously into 25 healthy male athymic BALB/c (nu/nu) nude mice. The tumors that developed were transplanted into the liver of a new set of nude mice.

Portal hypertension in hepatitis B-related cirrhosis: Diagnostic accuracy of liver and spleen stiffness by 2-D shear-wave elastography.

Aim: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of liver and spleen stiffness measured by 2-D shear-wave elastography (SWE) in evaluation of clinically significant and severe portal hypertension (CSPH and SPH, respectively).

Methods: Clinical data of 155 hepatitis B-related cirrhosis patients and their liver and spleen stiffness (L-SWE and S-SWE, respectively) were collected. The diagnostic performances of L-SWE, S-SWE, the liver stiffness-spleen diameter to platelet ratio score (LSPS) and portal hypertension risk score were evaluated.

Is Brachial Artery Blood Flow Measured by Sonography During Early Postoperative Periods Predictive of Arteriovenous Fistula Failure in Hemodialysis Patients?

Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine a brachial artery blood flow level measured by sonography during early postoperative periods that is predictive of arteriovenous fistula failure in hemodialysis patients.

Methods: Doppler sonography was used to estimate the blood flow in the brachial artery of 103 patients at 1 and 14 days after arteriovenous fistula creation. The performance of brachial artery blood flow during early postoperative periods for predicting fistula failure was evaluated, and optimal cutoff values were determined.

Digoxin Use and Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Digoxin has long been used for rate control in atrial fibrillation (AF); its safety remains controversial.We performed a literature search using MEDLINE (source PubMed, January 1, 1966, to July 31, 2015) and EMBASE (January 1, 1980, to July 31, 2015) with no restrictions. Studies that reported relative risk (RR) estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of interest were included.

Hydrogen-rich saline attenuates postoperative liver failure after major hepatectomy in rats.

Background/aims: A major hepatectomy occasionally lead to acute liver failure and death. We demonstrated the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects and functional mechanisms of hydrogen-rich saline (HS), a novel antioxidant, on an experimental model of rats after a partial hepatectomy (PH).

Methods: The rats underwent a 90% hepatectomy.

[Association of polymorphisms in signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 gene and the susceptibility to unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortions].

Objective: To investigate the association between the polymorphisms of signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) gene and the susceptibility to unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion(URSA).

Methods: PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to detect genotype 3 loca (rs7574865 G/T, rs10181656 C/G and rs16833431 C/T) polymorphism of STAT4 in 246 URSA cases (URSA group) and 183 normal controls (control group) .

Results: (1)The frequencies of rs7574865 were genotype G/G of 36.

[Study on association of functional polymorphisms in Foxp3 gene with the susceptibility to unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion].

Objective: To investigate the association between the functional polymorphisms of Foxp3 gene and unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA).

Methods: PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (rs3761548, rs2294021) and PCR with sequence-specific primers (rs2232365, rs5902434) were used to detect four polymorphisms of Foxp3 in 146 URSA cases and 112 normal controls.

Results: (1) The frequencies of rs3761548A/C were 10.

[Identification of Tritielytrigia alien disomic addition line shannong 87074-519 with yellow rust resistance].

In this paper, Shannong 87074-519, a derivative of wheat-decaploid Elytrigia elongata, was identified by inoculation assessment, cytological analysis, simple sequence repeat (SSR), molecular marker technique,and genomic in situ hybridization (GISH). The results are as follows: the chromosome number of Shannong87074-519 in root tip cells was 2n=44, 22 bivalents were observed in most PMC at MI, and the average chromosome configuration was 2n=44=21.82 II+0.

Comparative proteomic analysis between the invasive and commensal strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the major causative agents for nosocomial infections. To reveal the pathogenesis factors, we performed the comparative proteomic analysis of invasive ATCC35984 and commensal ATCC12228 strains by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry. The differentially expressed proteins were involved in carbohydrate metabolism, sugar binding, lipid degradation and amino acid binding.