Timing of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy does not influence short-term outcomes in patients with acute variceal bleeding

AIM To examine the association between the timing of endoscopy and the short-term outcomes of acute variceal bleeding in cirrhotic patients.METHODS This retrospective study included 274 consecutive patients admitted with acute esophageal variceal bleeding of two tertiary hospitals in Korea. We adjusted confounding factors using the Cox proportional hazards model and the inverse probability weighting(IPW) method. The primary outcome was the mortality of patients within 6 wk.RESULTS A total of 173 patients received urgent endoscopy(i.e., ≤ 12 h after admission), and 101 patients received nonurgent endoscopy(> 12 h after admission). The 6-wk mortality rate was 22.5% in the urgent endoscopy group and 29.7% in the non-urgent endoscopy group, and there was no significant difference between the two groups before(P = 0.266) and after IPW(P = 0.639). The length of hospital stay was statistically different between the urgent group and non-urgent group(P = 0.033); however, there was no significant difference in the inhospital mortality rate between the two groups(8.1% vs 7.9%, P = 0.960). In multivariate analyses, timing of endoscopy was not associated with 6-wk mortality(hazard ratio, 1.297; 95% confidence interval, 0.806-2.089; P = 0.284).CONCLUSION In cirrhotic patients with acute variceal bleeding, the timing of endoscopy may be independent of short-term mortality.

Does antiviral therapy reduce complications of cirrhosis?

Chronic hepatitis B infection is associated with the development of cirrhosis,hepatocellular carcinoma,and finally liver-related mortality.Each year,approximately,2%-5%of patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related compensated cirrhosis develop decompensation,with additional clinical manifestations,such as ascites,jaundice,hepatic encephalopathy,and gastrointestinal bleeding.The outcome of decompensated HBV-related cirrhosis is poor,with a 5-year survival of 14%-35%compared to 84%in patients with compensated cirrhosis.Because the risk of disease progression is closely linked to a patient’s serum HBV DNA level,antiviral therapy may suppress viral replication,stabilize liver function and improve survival.This article briefly reviews the role that antiviral therapy plays in cirrhosis complications,particularly,in decompensation and acute-on-chronic liver failure.

An Auto-configuration 4M Group Management using Wireless Sensor Networks for Reconfigurable Manufacturing System

The first tier of automotive manufacturers has faced to pressures about move,modify,updating tasks for manufacturing resources in production processes from demand response of production order sequence for motor company and process innovation purpose for productivity. For meets this requirements,it has to require absolutely lead time to re-wiring of physical interface for production equipment,needs for change existing program and test over again.For prepare this constraints,it needs studying an auto-configuration functions that build for both visibility and flexibility based on the 4M(Man,Machine,Material, Method)group management which is supports from WSN (Wireless Sensor Network)of the open embedded device called M2M(Machine to Machine)and major functions of middleware including point manager for real-time device communication,real-time data management,Standard API (Application Program Interface)and application template management.To be application system to RMS (Reconfigurable Manufacturing System)for rapidly response from various orders and model from motor company that is beginning to establishing the mapping of manufacturing resources of 4M using WSN.

Cultivation characteristics and flavonoid contents of wormwood (Artemisia montana Pamp.)

The aim of this study was to establish the optimum harvesting time and the content of flavonoids in the leaves, stems, and roots of Artemisia montana Pamp. A. montana was monitored from June to October in 2012. The yield of A. montana at high density (30 × 10 cm) was higher than that of A. montana at low density (30 × 20 and 30 cm). Yield in terms of dry weight was increased with an extended growth period and development stage. High yield achieved at 2580 and 2757 kg?10 a?1 in September and October, respectively. Among the leaves, stems, and underground plant organs, jaceosidin and eupatilin were mainly detected in the leaves, and the highest levels were observed in June, at values of 66.6 and 158.2 mg?100 g?1, respectively. In contrast, apigenin was the major compound detected in the underground plant organs, with levels ranging from 21.2 to 29.5 mg?100 g?1 until September. Therefore, optimal harvest times were between September and October, generating a high yield and adding economic value although a higher level of total flavonoids was observed in crops harvested in June.

An Auto-Configuration of 4M Group Management Using Wireless Sensor Networks

The first tier of automotive manufacturers has faced to pressures about move, modify, updating tasks for manufacturing resources in production processes from demand response of production order sequence for motor company and process innovation purpose for productivity. For meets this requirements, it has to require absolutely lead time to re-wiring of physical interface for production equipment, needs for change existing program and test over again. For prepare this constraints, it needs studying an auto-configuration functions that build for both visibility and flexibility based on the 4M (Man, Machine, Material, Method) group management which is supports from WSN (Wireless Sensor Network) of the open embedded device called M2M (Machine to Machine) and major functions of middleware including point manager for real-time device communication, real-time data management, Standard API (Application Program Interface) and application template management. To be application system to RMS (Reconfigurable Manufacturing System) for rapidly response from various orders and model from motor company that is beginning to establishing the mapping of manufacturing resources of 4M using WSN.

Fucoidan protects hepatocytes from apoptosis and inhibits invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma by up-regulating p42/44 MAPK-dependent NDRG-1/CAP43

Fucoidan is a traditional Chinese medicine suggested to possess anti-tumor effects.In this study the anti-metastatic effects of fucoidan were investigated in vitro in human hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cells(Huh-7 and SNU-761) under normoxic and hypoxic conditions and in vivo using a distant liver metastasis model involving injection of MH134 cells into spleen via the portal vein.Its ability to protect hepatocytes against bile acid(BA)-induced apoptosis was investigated in primary hepatocytes.Fucoidan was found to suppress the invasion of HCC cells through up-regulation of p42/44 MAPKdependent NDRG-1/CAP43 and partly,under normoxic conditions,through up-regulation of p42/44MAPK-dependent VMP-1 expression.It also significantly decreased liver metastasis in vivo.As regards its hepatoprotective effect,fucoidan decreased BA-induced hepatocyte apoptosis as shown by the attenuation of caspase-8,and-7 cleavages and suppression of the mobilization of caspase-8 and Fas associated death domain(FADD) into the death-inducing signaling complex.In summary,fucoidandisplays inhibitory effects on proliferation of HCC cells and protective effects on hepatocytes.The results suggest fucoidan is a potent suppressor of tumor invasion with hepatoprotective effects.