Prevalence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy and quality of life evaluations in hospitalized cirrhotic patients in China

AIM:To investigate the prevalence of minimal hepatic encephalopathy(MHE)and to assess corresponding health-related quality of life(HRQoL)in hospitalized cirrhotic patients in China.METHODS:This multi-center cross-sectional study included 16 teaching hospitals,which were members of "Hepatobiliary Cooperation Group,Society of Gastroenterology,Chinese Medical Association",from different areas of China carried out between June and October in 2011.All the eligible hospitalized cirrhotic patients(n = 538)were required to complete triplicate number connection tests combined with one digit symbol test for diagnosing MHE.Patients' clinical examination data were complemented by a modified questionnaire assessing HRQoL.Written informed consent was obtained from each patient.RESULTS:Male was predominant(68.6%)in 519 patients who met the criteria of the study,with a mean age of 49.17 ± 11.02 years.The most common cause of liver cirrhosis was chronic hepatitis B(55.9%).The prevalence of MHE was 39.9% and varied by ChildPugh-Classification score(CPC-A:24.8%,CPC-B:39.4% and CPC-C:56.1%,P < 0.01).MHE(P < 0.01)and higher CPC scores(P < 0.01)were associated with a high HRQoL scores(reflecting poorer quality of life).The prevalence of MHE was proportionate to CPC(P = 0.01)and high quality of life scores(P = 0.01).CONCLUSION:Hospitalized cirrhotic patients have a high prevalence of MHE that is proportionate to the degree of liver function and HRQoL impairment.

Effect of notoginsenoside R1 on hepatic microcirculation disturbance induced by gut ischemia and reperfusion

AIM: To assess the effect of notoginsenoside R1 on hepatic microcirculatory disturbance induced by gut ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in mice.METHODS: The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) of C57/BL mice was ligated for 15 min to induce gut ischemia followed by 30-min reperfusion. In another set of experiments, R1 was continuously infused (10 mg/kg per hour) from 10 min before I/R until the end of the investigation to study the influence of R1 on hepatic microcirculatory disturbance induced by gut I/R. Hepatic microcirculation was observed by inverted microscopy, and the vascular diameter, red blood cell (RBC) velocity and sinusoid perfusion were estimated. Leukocyte rolling and adhesion were observed under a laser confocal microscope. Thirty and 60 min after reperfusion, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in peripheral blood were determined. The expression of adhesion molecules CD11b/CD18 in neutrophils and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) in plasma were evaluated by flow cytometry. E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in hepatic tissue were examined by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: After gut I/R, the diameters of terminal portal venules and central veins, RBC velocity and the number of perfused sinusoids were decreased, while the leukocyte rolling and adhesion, the expression of E-selectin in hepatic vessels and CD18 in neutrophils, IL-6, MCP-1, LDH, ALT and AST were increased. R1 treatment attenuated these alterations except for IL-6 and MCP-1.CONCLUSION: R1 prevents I/R-induced hepatic microcirculation disturbance and hepatocyte injury. The effect of R1 is related to its inhibition of leukocyte rolling and adhesion by inhibiting the expression of E-selectin in endothelium and CD18 in neutrophils.

Clonal Selection Based Memetic Algorithm for Job Shop Scheduling Problems

A clonal selection based memetic algorithm is proposed for solving job shop scheduling problems in this paper. In the proposed algorithm, the clonal selection and the local search mechanism are designed to enhance exploration and exploitation. In the clonal selection mechanism, clonal selection, hypermutation and receptor edit theories are presented to construct an evolutionary searching mechanism which is used for exploration. In the local search mechanism, a simulated annealing local search algorithm based on Nowicki and Smutnicki＇s neighborhood is presented to exploit local optima. The proposed algorithm is examined using some well-known benchmark problems. Numerical results validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Human umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cell transplantation for umbilical hernia and hepatic hydrothorax in primary biliary cirrhosis

Cell therapy was proposed as a potential treatment intervention for liver cirrhosis recently due to the fact that the therapeutic protocol for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)-associated refractory umbilical hernia and hepatic hydrothorax is not well defined currently. We report herein the case of a 58-year-old woman who received routine treatments for PBC, which developed into an incarcerated hernia and uncontrolled hydrothorax. This subject’s condition was significantly improved and maintained stable condition after receiving human umbilical cord blood-derived mononuclear cell (CBMC) transplantation. Consequently, this new strategy may be a potential treatment option for the refractory umbilical hernia and hydrothorax caused by PBC. However, sufficient data from large-scale controlled and double-blinded clinical trials are needed to further confirm the treatment efficacy and longterm safety before this cell transplantation can be used as a regular therapy for liver cirrhosis.

The genesis and resource potential of gold deposits in the Liaodong Peninsula

Plenty of gold deposits related to Late Mesozoic craton destruction are widely distributed in eastern North China Craton. However, significant differences in research degrees, ore-forming characteristics, and proven reserves exist among different regions in the North China Craton. The Liaodong Peninsula has similar regional geological characteristics to those of the Jiaodong Peninsula, with both experiencing craton destruction during Late Mesozoic, but the two areas have substantial differences in terms of gold mineralization and the proven gold resources. Based on regional geology, Mesozoic magmatictectonic evolution and ore geology, combined with integrated geophysical exploration and big data AI resource prediction, in this paper, we propose that the ore-forming materials of Late Mesozoic gold deposits in Liaodong were mainly originated from mantle-derived melts and/or fluids induced by craton destruction. The gold deposits were primarily controlled by NE-NNEtrending faults, mainly classified as fracture-controlled altered rock-type and sulfide-bearing quartz vein-type. Moreover, our study predicts that the Yalu River fault zone and its related secondary faults, as well as the periphery and deeper parts of known goldfields, are the important regions for future gold resource exploration. The Yalu River metallogenic belt has an enormous potential for gold resources, and the Liaodong Peninsula has a potential to add thousands of tons of gold resources.

Geodynamics of decratonization and related magmatism and mineralization in the North China Craton

The North China Craton(NCC)experienced strong destruction(i.e.,decratonization)during the Mesozoic,which triggered intensive magmatism,tectonism and thermal events and formed large-scale gold and other metal deposits in the eastern part of the craton.However,how the decratonization controls the formation and distribution of large-scale of gold and other metal deposits is not very clear.Based on a large number of published data and new results,this paper systematically summarizes all the data for the rock assemblages,chronology,geochemistry and petrogenesis of Mesozoic magmatic rocks,as well as for the mineralizing ages of gold and other metal deposits and the evolution of the Mesozoic basins in the eastern NCC.The results are used to restore the extensional rates of Mesozoic to Cenozoic basins and the strike-slip distance of the Tanlu Fault,to ascertain the location of the Paleo-Pacific plate subduction zones during the Mesozoic to Cenozoic,and to reconstruct the temporal and spatial distribution of Mesozoic gold and other metal deposits and magmatic rocks in the eastern NCC.It is obtained that the magmatism and mineralization in the eastern NCC westward migrate from east to west during the Early to Middle Jurassic,but they eastward migrate from west to east during the Early Cretaceous.The metallogenesis of these deposits is genetically related to magmatism,and the magmas provided some ore-forming materials and fluids for the generation of metal deposits.The geodynamic mechanism of decratonization and related magmatism and mineralization is proposed,i.e.,the westward low-angle subduction of the Paleo-Pacific slab beneath the NCC formed continental magmatic arc with plenty of porphyry Cu-Mo-Au deposits in the Jurassic,similar to the Andean continental arc in South America.The mantle wedge was metasomatized by the fluids/melts derived from the subducting slab,laying a material foundation for hydrothermal mineralization in the Early Cretaceous.While the rollback of the subducting slab with gradually increasing subduction angle and the retreat of the subduction zones during the Early Cretaceous induced strong destruction of the craton and the formation of extensive magmatic rocks and large-scale gold and other metal deposits.

初始俯冲岩浆的地球化学和锆石Hf-O同位素制约

板块俯冲起始是全球板块构造最不为人所知的关键过程之一.岛弧型岩浆岩和变质岩为研究成熟阶段的俯冲过程提供了有效制约,但俯冲初期或起始阶段形成的岩浆岩却知之甚少,严重制约了人类对全球板块构造如何启动的认知.针对这一问题,我们对长期经历大洋板块俯冲的阿拉斯加进行详细野外考察,选择有可能代表俯冲初期至成熟阶段的中生代岩体进行了系统同位素年代学和地球化学研究.结果表明,这些样品都具有典型的岛弧岩浆的地球化学特征,但晚三叠世岩石具有亏损Hf-Nd同位素、低于地幔值的O同位素和高的锆石饱和温度,明显区别于俯冲成熟阶段的岩浆岩,提出其来源于俯冲初期俯冲板块中高温热液蚀变辉长岩的部分熔融.这一发现为研究俯冲起始开辟了新的途径,将对全球板块构造的起始和大陆地壳的形成等研究产生重要影响.

First total synthesis of (±)-malaysianone A and (±)-tanariflavanones B

A concise approach for the frst total synthesis of two naturally occurring flavanoids,（）-malaysianone A（1）and（）-tanariflavanones B（2）,has been accomplished with total yields of 12.9%and 10.4%,respectively.The key steps were regioselective deprotection and regioselective synthesis of 5-formaldehyde-8-hydroxy-2-[40-methyl-30-penteneyl]-dihydro-1-benzopyran（8）.