Laparoscopic extended right hepatectomy for posterior and completely caudate massive liver tumor (with videos)

To the Editor:Liver tumor may occur in any hepatic segment or lobe,and thus the liver resection is individualized as per the location and size of the tumor.In addition,the resection of the posterior and caudate lobes of the liver is especially difficult amongst all types of hepatectomy.Kawaguchi et al.believed that the laparoscopic resection of right posterior liver lobe was a difficult surgical procedure[1].

Antibody and complement levels in patients with hypersplenism associated with cirrhotic portal hypertension and therapeutic principles

BACKGROUND Hypersplenism associated with cirrhotic portal hypertension is a common condition often resulting from hepatitis B-related cirrhosis.However,the levels of immunoglobulin(Ig)and complement in patients with hypersplenism associated with cirrhotic portal hypertension remain unclear.This study was undertaken to determine the levels of Ig and complement in these patients,the relationship between these levels and Child-Pugh class and their clinical significance.AIM To investigate the antibody(Ig)and complement levels in patients with hypersplenism associated with cirrhotic portal hypertension and their clinical significance.METHODS Clinical data of 119 patients with hypersplenism associated with cirrhotic portal hypertension were statistically analyzed and compared with those of 128 control patients.RESULTS IgA and IgG levels in patients with hypersplenism were significantly higher than controls(P<0.001).There was no significant difference in IgM between the two groups(P=0.109).C3 and C4 levels in patients with hypersplenism were significantly lower than controls(P<0.001).As liver function decreased,IgA and IgG levels increased(P<0.001),and C3 and C4 levels decreased(P<0.001).CONCLUSION Patients with hypersplenism associated with cirrhotic portal hypertension have significantly higher antibody(IgA and IgG)levels and significantly lower complement(C3 and C4)levels,which are both related to liver damage.Clinically,the administration of anti-hepatitis virus agents and protection of liver function should be strengthened.

Space-to-Ground Quantum Key Distribution Using a Small-Sized Payload on Tiangong-2 Space Lab

Quantum technology establishes a foundation for secure communication via quantum key distribution （QKD）. In the last two decades, the rapid development of QKD makes a global quantum communication network feasible. In order to construct this network, it is economical to consider small-sized and low-cost QKD payloads, which can be assembled on satellites with different sizes, such as space stations. Here we report an experimental demonstration of space-to-ground QKD using a small-sized payload, from Tiangong-2 space lab to Nanshan ground station. The 57.9-kg payload integrates a tracking system, a QKD transmitter along with modules for synchronization, and a laser communication transmitter. In the space lab, a 50MHz vacuum＋weak decoy-state optical source is sent through a reflective telescope with an aperture of 200mm. On the ground station, a telescope with an aperture of 1200mm collects the signal photons. A stable and high-transmittance communication channel is set up with a high-precision bidirectional tracking system, a polarization compensation module, and a synchronization system. When the quantum link is successfully established, we obtain a key rate over 100bps with a communication distance up to 719km. Together with our recent development of QKD in daylight, the present demonstration paves the way towards a practical satellite-constellation-based global quantum secure network with small-sized QKD payloads.

Association of expression of ring finger protein 187 with tumor metastasis and clinical prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Objective:To investigate the expression of RNF187 in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and its relationship with prognosis.Methods:The mRNA and protein expressions in hepatocellular carcinoma and tumor-adjacent tissues of HCC patients were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis,and RNF187 expressions in HCC were detected by immunohistochemistry.The relationship of RNF187 expression with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis in HCC patients were analyzed.Results:RNF187 expressed highly in HCC tissues compared with the corresponding adjacent liver tissues both in mRNA and protein level,and significantly higher in HCC tissue from patients with intrahepatic metastases or vascular invasion than those in HCC tissue from patients without intrahepatic metastases and vascular invasion(all P<0.05).The 5-year survival rate of the high expression group was lower than that of the low expression group(P<0.05).Cox regression analysis revealed that high RNF187 expression was independent risk factor for postoperative survival(HR=1.313,95%CI=1.128~1.537,P<0.001).Conclusion:High expression of RNF187 in HCC is closely related to tumor prognosis,which may become a new index to evaluate the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of liver cancer.

Effects of transplantation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in rats with liver failure

Objective: To investigate the effect of hepatic differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (HBMSCs) induced in vitro and transplanted into rats with liver failure via portal vein, and observe the changes of liver function and pathological tissue. Method:After passage to the 6th generation in vitro, the hepatic differentiation was induced by HGFand EGF inducible factors. CCL4 acute liver failure model in rats were established, and randomly divided into 5 groups transplanted with differentiated stem cells via portal vein. These five groups included HGF-differentiated HBMSCs transplantation, EGF-differentiated HBMSCs transplantation, EGF+HGF-differentiated HBMSCs transplantation, non-differentiated HBMSCs transplantation, and non-HBMSCs transplantation. Liver function and pathological changes were detected. Results: Rats models survival, serum albumin, aminotransferase and coagulation indexes were observed at 12 h, 72 h, 7 d, 1 month and 2 months after treatment. The results showed that the survival and albumin, aminotransferase and coagulation function of rats were improved significantly after treatment in HGF-differentiated, EGF-differentiated, EGF+HGF-differentiated and non-differentiated transplantation groups, compared tothe non-HBMSCstransplantation group(P<0.05), while no significance was observed in above four groups(P>0.05).Pathological changes was ameliorated in the liver of rat models in HGF-, EGF-, EGF+HGF- and non-differentiated transplantation groups, compared to the non-HBMSCs transplantation group. Conclusion: Liver-differentiated BMSCs transplanted into rats with liver failure could effectively improve liver function and survival rate.

Measurement of atmospheric non-reciprocity effects for satellite-based two-way time-frequency transfer

Future optical clock networks will require high-precision optical time-frequency transfer between satellites and ground stations.However,due to atmospheric turbulence,satellite motion and time delay between the satellite–ground transmission links will cause spatial and temporal variations,respectively,resulting in the breakdown of the time-of-flight reciprocity on which optical two-way time-frequency transfer is based.Here,we experimentally simulate the atmospheric effects by two-way spatio-temporally separated links between two stationary terminals located 113 km apart and measure the effects for optical two-way time-frequency transfer.Our experiment shows that the effect on the link instability is less than 2.3×10^(−19) at 10,000 s.This indicates that when the link instability of satellite-ground optical time-frequency transfer is on the order of 10^(−19),it is not necessary to consider the atmospheric non-reciprocity effects.

Study of the relationship between the content of the rare earth element Eu in rice plants and in Nilaparvata lugens （Hemiptera： Delphacidae）

The current study investigated changes in the content of the rare earth element Europium （Eu） in roots, shoots and leaves of rice plants and in Nilaparvata lugens Stal （Hemiptera： Delphacidae） using an Eu marker and hydroponic culture. The results showed that N. lugens infestation significantly reduced Eu content in roots, shoots and leaves of two rice varieties, Shenyou 1 and Xieyou 963. The Eu content in roots, shoots and leaves of the susceptible variety, Shenyou 1, was significantly higher than that in the resistant variety, Xieyou 963. The Eu content ofN. lugens fed on Shenyou 1 was significantly higher than of those fed on Xieyou 963. In addition, the Eu level was elevated at a higher density ofN. lugens infestation. Eu content in the bodies ofN. lugens was related to their weight and honeydew excretion, with a significant positive correlation. Thus, Eu content in the bodies ofN. lugens can be considered an index of the amount of phloem sap taken in by N. lugens because the amount of honeydew excretion is proportional to the amount of phloem sap consumed. The ratios of Eu content in N. lugens to that in roots, shoots and leaves of rice plants were elevated at a higher N. lugens infestation density. That ratio was maximal in leaves, was intermediate in shoots and was minimal in roots. There was no significant difference in ratios between the two plant varieties. An Eu marker may be useful in the screening of resistant varieties and in the study of the mechanisms of resistance.

Zinc bis-Schiff base complexes： Synthesis, structure, and application in ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide

A series of bis-ligated zinc complexes supported by Schitt base ligands were successfully synthesized and characterized by 1 H, 13C NMR, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. These zinc complexes can be used as catalysts for the polymerization of rac-lactide in solution as well as in molten lactide. The results show that all catalysts exhibited high catalytic activity and obtained moderate heterotactic PLAs with the expected molecular weight. Complex 1 can catalyze the polymerization of rac-lactide under controllable conditions with living and immortal character in toluene solution. In addition, the steric hindrance and electronic effects has a great influence on the catalytic activity and selectivity of catalysts.