全球经济危机产生缘由的内生学解读

对于2007年起由美国次贷危机所引发的全球性的经济危机,国外有多种解释,他们提出了诸如"人性贪婪说"与"有中国储蓄率过高说"等等说法。这些其实不过是霍布森"消费不足论"的变种,它们都没能从根源上讲清危机产生的缘由,唯有回归到马克思的经济危机理论才能得到真正的解读。

Chemical Constituents of One Species of Endophytic Fungus in Taxus chinensis

Three compounds were obtained from the mycelia of an endophytic fungus Gliocladium sp. (designated as strain F) of Taxus chinensis (Pilg.) Rehd. growing in Fujian Province, China. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis. (20S,22S)-4a-homo-22-hydroxy-4-oxaergosta-7,24(28)-dien-3-one was a novel compound. 4,8,12,16-tetramethyl-1,5,9,13-tetraoxacyclohexadecane-2,6,10,14-tetraone was firstly isolated from the genus ofGliocladium and 6,9-epoxyergosta-7,22-dien-3-ol was firstly obtained from the strain F.

First report of an endophyte (Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae) from Kandelia candel

Mangrove endophytic fungus 1893 was isolated from Kandelia candel from an estuarine mangrove on the South China Sea Coast Two new lactones 1893A and 1893B, together with other known compounds, have been isolated from its fermentation broth. To classify the endophyte correctly for further industrial application, a combination of morphological and molecular techniques was used to approach its identity. The endophyte was compared with similar species having trichogynes or trichogyne-like hyphae which apparently fused with an- theridium-like hyphae, and perithecia initials developing from an ascogonial coil surrounded by enveloping hyphae in early developmental stages on pure culture. Further morphological characteristics on host and non-host were used for comparison with similar species when the endophyte was cultivated on leaves ofKandelia candel and Mangifera indica, respectively, which resulted in classifying the endophyte as a Phomopsis specics. The ITS sequence of rDNA was used to infer its phylogenetic relationships with Phomopsis species that resembled the strain in morphology or ecology. Finally, the endophyte was identified as Diaporthe phaseolorum var. sojae based on morphological and molecular evidence. Our study is a first report ofDiaporthephaseolorum var. sojae isolated from mangrove Kandelia candel.

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and its prognostic significance in gastric carcinoma

AIMS To investigate the clinical significance of vas- cular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in gastric carcinoma. METHODS The expression of VEGF in 128 gastric carcinomas was investigated by immunohistochemical staining with a polyclonal antibody against VEGF. Cor- relations between the expression of VEGF and various clinicopathologic factors and prognosis were studied. RESULTS The VEGF-rich expression rate was 64.1% in gastric carcinoma. VEGF-rich expression rate of patients with stage Ⅲ and stage Ⅳ disease was greater than that of patients with stage f disease (P <0.05). Significant differences of expression rate ex- isted with respect to growth pattern,serosal invasion and lymph node metastasis. The VEGF-rich rate was much higher in tumors with expanding growth pattern (71.8%) or serosal invasion (73.5%) than in those with infiltrative growth pattern (52.0%) or non-serosal invasion (53.3%) (P<0.025,respectively),and it was also significantly higher in patients with lymph node metastases (75.0%) than in those without such metastases (50.0%) (P<0.05). In addition,postop- erative survey of 86 patients who had been followed up for at least 5 years demonstrated that the 5-year sur- vival rate of patients with VEGF-rich tumors was signifi- cantly lower than that of patients with VEGF-poor tu- mors (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The expression of VEGF may be as- sociated with the invasion and metastasis and may also be a useful prognostic indicator of gastric carcinoma.

Identification of mangrove endophytic fungus 1403 (Fusarium proliferatum) based on morphological and molecular evidence

A mangrove endophytic fungus 1403 isolated from the South China Sea Coast, which is able to produce griseofulvin and anthra- cenediones under submerged fermentation, was compared with Fusarium genus with the similar morphological characters such as elongated, microconidium-producing conidiophores, ovoid microconidia and straight to slightly curved macroconidia. It was found that the fungus 1403 resembles pathogenic E verticillioides （teleomophy Gibberella moniliforme） in the production of false head or chains and abundant microconidia on the aerial mycelium, but different in the occasional formation of polyphialides with relatively long as well as short mono- phialides, in its typical coiled hyphae and mycelia fusion. Through maximum Parsimony and Bayesian analyses, the fungus 1403 was fur- ther compared with some similar Fusarium species. The results indicated that this endophyte was identified as Fusarium proliferatum based on the analyses of partial 18S and 28S rDNA genes, ITS region, and EF- 1 α gene.

Nervous and Neuroendocrine regulation of the pathophysiology of cholestasis and of biliary carcinogenesis

Cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells lining the biliary ducts, are the target cells in several liver diseases. Cholangiopathies and cholangiocarcinoma generate interest in many scientists since the genesis. The developing mechanisms, and the therapeutic tools of these diseases are still undefined. Several studies demonstrate that many hormones, neuropeptides and neurotransmitters regulate malignant and non-malignant cholangiocyte pathophysiology in the course of chronic biliary diseases. The aim of this review is to present the findings of several studies published in the recent years that contributed to clarifying the role of nervous and neuroendocrine regulation of the pathophysiologic events associated with cholestasis and cholangiocarcinoma development. This manuscript is organized into two parts. The first part offers an overview of the innervation of the liver and the origin of neuroendocrine hormones, neurotransmitters and neuropeptides affecting cholangiocyte function and metabolism. The first section also reviews the effects played by several neuroendocrine hormones and nervous system on cholangiocyte growth, survival and functional activity in the course of cholestasis. In the second section, we summarize the results of some studies describing the role of nervous system and neuroendocrine hormones in the regulation of malignant cholangiocyte growth.

New insights into the activation mechanism of store-operated calcium channels:roles of STIM and Orai

The activation of Ca2+ entry through store-operated channels by agonists that deplete Ca2+ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a ubiquitous signaling mechanism, the molecular basis of which has remained elusive for the past two decades. Store-operated Ca2+-release-activated Ca2+ (CRAC) channels constitute the sole pathway for Ca2+ entry following antigen-receptor engagement. In a set of breakthrough studies over the past two years, stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1, the ER Ca2+ sensor) and Orai1 (a pore-forming subunit of the CRAC channel) have been identified. Here we review these recent studies and the insights they provide into the mechanism of store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCCs).

Liver biochemistry profile,significance and endoscopic management of biliary tract complications post orthotopic liver transplantation

AIM： To correlate the significance of liver biochemical tests in diagnosing post orthotopic liver transplantation （OLT） biliary complications and to study their profile before and after endoscopic therapy.METHODS： Patients who developed biliary complications were analysed in detail for the clinical information, laboratory tests, treatment offered, response to it, follow up and outcomes. The profile of liver enzymes was determined. The safety, efficacy and outcomes of endoscopic retrograde cholangiography （ERC） were also analysed. RESULTS： 40 patients required ERC for 70 biliary complications. GGT was found to be 〉 3 times （388.1 ± 70.9 U/mL vs 168.5 4± 34.2 U/L, P = 0.007） and SAP 〉 2 times （345.1 ± 59.1 U/L vs 152.7 ± 21.4 U/L, P = 0.003） the immediate post OLT values. Most frequent complication was isolated anastomotic res in 28 （40%）. Sustained success was achieved in 26 （81%） patients. CONCLUSION： Biliary complications still remain an important problem post OLT. SAP and GGT can be used as early, non-invasive markers for diagnosis and also to assess the adequacy of therapy. Endoscopic management is usually effective in treating the majority of these biliary complications.

Chemical constituents of marine algal-derived endophytic fungus Exophiala oligosperma EN-21

Seven compounds (1–7) were identified from the cultivation of the endophytic fungus Exophiala oligosperma (EN-21) that was isolated from the inner tissue of the marine red alga Laurencia similis. Their structures were identified with spectroscopic and chemical methods as 2-phenoxynaphthalene (1), (2S, 3R, 4E, 8E)-1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3-hydroxy-2-[(R)-2′-hydroxyoctadecanoyl] amino-9-methyl-4, 8-octadeca-diene (2), (22E,24R)-ergosta-7,22-dien-3β,5α,6β-triol (3), (22E, 24R)-3β, 5α, 9α-trihydroxy- ergosta-7, 22-dien-6-one (4), (22E, 24R)-5α, 6α-epoxy-ergosta-8, 22-dien-3β, 7α-diol (5), (22E, 24R)- ergosta-4, 6, 8(14), 22-tetraen-3-one (6), and euphorbol (7). This paper reports for the first time the chemical constituents of fungus Exophiala oligosperma and the discovery of compound 1 as a natural product from the fungus.

Chemical constituents of marine mangrove-derived endophytic fungus Alternaria tenuissima EN-192

A chemical investigation of the ethyl acetate extract of the fermentation broth of Alternaria tenuissima EN- 192, an endophytic fungus obtained from the stems of the marine mangrove plant Rhizophora stylosa, resulted in the isolation of nine known secondary metabolites, including four indole-diterpenoids： penijanthine A （1）, paspaline （2）, paspalinine （3）, and penitrem A （4）; three tricycloalternarene derivatives： tricycloalternarene 3a （5）, tricycloalternarene lb （6）, and tricycloalternarene 2b （7）; and two alternariol congeners： djalonensone （8） and alternariol （9）. The chemical structures of these metabolites were characterized through a combination of detailed spectroscopic analyses and their comparison with reports from the literature. The inhibitory activities of each isolated compound against four bacteria were evaluated and compounds 5 and 8 displayed moderate activity against the aquaculture pathogenic bacterium Vibrio anguillarum, with inhibition zone diameters of 8 and 9 mm, respectively, at 100 gg/disk. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the secondary metabolites of mangrove-derived Alternaria tenuissima and also the first report of the isolation ofindole-diterpenoids from fungal genus Alternaria.

Biomechanical change of lumbar unilateral graded facetectomy and strategies of its microsurgical reconstruction:report of 23 cases

Objective： To evaluate the lumbar stability and the primary clinical results of unilateral facetectomy, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion （TLIF） and unilateral pedicle screw fixation by X-Tube system. Methods： Five human lumbar cadaveric functional spine units（FSU） were obtained and graded facetectomy by 0, 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and 4/4 were performed respectively on the left articular process of them. The stability of these 5 models was evaluated at flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation. After a serial of biomechanical researches, 23 patients from June 2004 to March 2006 in our department underwent unilateral facetectomy, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion （posterior lumbar interbody fusion） and unilateral pedicle screw instrumentation by X-Tube system. After general anaesthesia, with the guide of fluoroscopy and using X-Tube system, procedures of unilateral endoscopic facetectomy, spinal nerve root decompression, autologus spongy bone transplantation, one cage oblique insertion and unilateral pedicle screw instrumentation were performed. Results： There was no significant difference in flexion, extension, lateral bending and axial rotation of lumbar motion range after unilateral graded facetectomy. The stability of left/right axial direction was greatly affected when the range of graded facetectomy exceed 1/2. According to the Nakai criteria, for the 23 patients, the clinical result was excellent in 15 （65.2%）, good in 6 （26.1%） and fair in 2 （8.7%）. The fusion rate was 95.6% in excellent and good cases. Although partial absorption of bone grafts was observed in 1 case which might indicate a unsuccessful fusion, there was no loosing and replacement of instrument and no clinical symptoms occurred. Conclusion： The lumbar stability will be affected significantly when the range of graded facetectomy exceeds 1/2. Procedures of unilateral facetectomy, transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion and unilateral pedicle screw fixation is an optional strategy for microsurgical reconstruction, though the indications of the procedure should be carefully restricted.

A fusion protein containing murine vascular endothelial growth factor and tissue factor induces thrombogenesis and suppression of tumor growth in a colon carcinoma model

Induction of tumor vasculature occlusion by targeting a thrombogen to newly formed blood vessels in tumor tissues represents an intriguing approach to the eradication of primary solid tumors. In the current study, we construct and express a fusion protein containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tissue factor (TF) to explore whether this fusion protein has the capability of inhibiting tumor growth in a colon carcinoma model. The murine cDNA of VEGF A and TF were amplified by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and then cloned into prokaryotic expression plasmid pQE30 with a linker. The expression product recombinant VEGF-TF (rVEGF-TF) was purified and proved to have comparable enzyme activity to a commercial TF and the capability of specific binding to tumor vessels. Significant decrease of tumor growth was found in the mice administered with rVEGF-TF on Day 6 after initiated rVEGF-TF treatment (P<0.05), and the tumor masses in 2 of 10 mice were almost disappeared on Day 14 after the first treatment. In addition, valid thrombogenesis and tumor necrosis were observed in the tumor tissues injected with rVEGF-TF. Our results demonstrate that occlusion of tumor vasculature with rVEGF-TF is potentially an effective approach for cancer therapy.

Brain edema and intracranial hypertension in fulminant hepatic failure:Pathophysiology and management

Intracranial hypertension is a major cause of morbidity and mortality of patients suffering from fulminant hepatic failure. The etiology of this intracranial hypertension is not fully determined, and is probably multifactorial, combining a cytotoxic brain edema due to the astrocytic accumulation of glutamine, and an increase in cerebral blood volume and cerebral blood flow, in part due to inflammation, to glutamine and to toxic products of the diseased liver. Validated methods to control intracranial hypertension in fulminant hepatic failure patients mainly include mannitol, hypertonic saline, indomethacin, thiopental, and hyperventilation. However all these measures are often not sufficient in absence of liver transplantation, the only curative treatment of intracranial hypertension in fulminant hepatic failure to date. Induced moderate hypothermia seems very promising in this setting, but has to be validated by a controlled, randomized study. Artificial liver support systems have been under investigation for many decades. The bioartiflcial liver, based on both detoxification and swine liver cells, has shown some efficacy on reduction of intracranial pressure but did not show survival benefit in a controlled, randomized study. The Molecular Adsorbents Recirculating System has shown some efficacy in decreasing intracranial pressure in an animal model of liver failure, but has still to be evaluated in a phase Ⅲ trial.

The IAP family: endogenous caspase inhibitors with multiple biological activities

IAPs (inhibitors of apoptosis) are a family of proteins containing one or more characteristic BIR domains. These proteins have multiple biological activities that include binding and inhibiting caspases, regulating cell cycle progression, and modulating receptor-mediated signal transduction. Our recent studies found the IAP family members XIAP and c-IAP1 are ubiquitinated and degraded in proteasomes in response to apoptotic stimuli in T cells, and their degradation appears to be important for T cells to commit to death. In addition to three BIR domains, each of these IAPs also contains a RING finger domain.We found this region confers ubiquitin protease ligase (E3) activity to IAPs, and is responsible for the auto-ubiquitination and degradation of IAPs after an apoptotic stimulus. Given the factthat IAPs can bind a variety of proteins, such as caspases and TRAFs, it will be of interest to characterize potential substrates of the E3 activity of IAPs and the effects of ubiquitination byIAPs on signal transduction, cell cycle, and apoptosis.

Biochemical and radiological predictors of malignant biliary strictures

AIM: Differentiation of benign biliary strictures (BBS) from malignant biliary strictures (MBS) remains difficult despite improvement in imaging and endoscopic techniques. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical, biochemical and or radiological predictors of malignant biliary strictures.METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all charts of patients who had biliary strictures (BS) on endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or percutaneous cholangiography (PTC) in case of unsuccessful ERCP from March 1998 to August 2002. Patient characteristics, clinical features, biochemical, radiological and biopsy results were all recorded. Stricture etiology was determined based on cytology,biopsy or clinical follow-up. A receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was constructed to determine the optimal laboratory diagnostic criterion threshold in predicting MBS.RESULTS: One hundred twenty six patients with biliary strictures were enrolled, of which 72 were malignant. The mean age for BBS was 53 years compared to 62.4 years for MBS (P=0.0006). Distal bile duct stricture was mainly due to a malignant process 48.6% vs 9% (P=0.001). Alkaline phosphates and AST levels were more significantly elevated in MBS (P=0.0002). ROC curve showed that a bilirubin level of 84 μmol/L or more was the most predictive of MBS with a sensitivity of 98.6%, specificity of 59.3% and a positive likelihood ratio of 2.42 (95% CI=0.649-0.810). Proximal biliary dilatation was more frequently encountered in MBS compared to BBS, 73.8% vs39.5% (P=0.0001). Majority of BBS (87%) and MBS (78%) were managed endoscopically.CONCLUSION: A serum bilirubin level of 84 μmol/L or greater is the best predictor of MBS. Older age, proximal biliary dilatation, higher levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, ALT and AST are all associated with MBS. ERCP is necessary to diagnose and treat benign and malignant biliary strictures.

Effect of early nutrition on intestine development of intrauterine growth retardation in rats and its correlation to leptin

AIM：To investigate the intestine and body development of intrauterine growth retardation（IUGR）rats under early different protein diet and to analyze the correlation between leptin and intestine and body development．METHODS：An IUGR rat model was established by food restriction of pregnant female rats．Fifty-six neonatal IUGR rats and 24 neonatal normal rats were randomly divided into normal control group（Cgroup），IUGR model group （scgroup），low protein diet IUGR group（SL group），and high protein diet IUGR group（SH group）．Eight rats were killed per group at wk 0，4，and 12．Serum leptin，body weight（BW），body length（BL），intestinal weight（IW），intestinal length（IL），andintestinal disaccharidase（including lactase，maltase，and saccharase） were detected．RESULTS：BW（4．50±0．41g），BL（5．96±0．40cm），IW（0．05±0．01g），and IL（15.9±2．8cm）in neonatal IUGR rats were much lower than those in Cgroup（6．01±0．55g，6．26±0．44cm，0．10±0．02g，21.8±2．7cm，P〈0．05），while intestinal lactase and maltase activities were higher than those in Cgroup．SH group showed the fastest catch up growth and their BW，BL，IW，and IL reached the Cgroup level at wk 4．SC group showed relatively slower catch up growth than SH group，and their BW，BL，IW did not reach the Cgroup level at wk 4．SL group did not show intestine and body catch up growth．Intestinal maltase [344±33μmol／（min·q）]and saccharase activities[138±32μmol／（min·g）]in SL group were both markedly lower than nose in C group [751±102，258±271μmol／（min·g），P〈0．05]．There were no significant difierences in lactase activities at wk 4 and disaccharidase activities at wk 12 among all groups（P〈0．05）．The leptin level in SL group（0．58±0．12ng／mL） was the highest in all groups，and much lower in SH group（0．21±0．03ng／mL） than that in any other IUGR groups at wk 4（P〈0．05）．Leptin was negatively related to BW （r=-0．556，P=0．001），IW（r=-0．692，P=0．001） and IL（r=-0．738，P=0．000）at wk 4，while no correlation was found at wk 12．CONCLUSION：High protein diet is a reasonable early nutritional mode to IUGR rats in promoting intestine and body catch up growth．

Neuron system shock superimposed response based on catastrophe dynamics

With the rapid development of computer science and artificial intelligence technology, the complexity and intelligence of the neural network models constructed by people have been greatly improved. When the complex neuron system is subjected to the impact of ＂catastrophic＂, its original characteristics may be changed, and the consequences are difficult to predict. Catastrophe dynamics mainly studies the source of the sudden violent change of nature and human society and its evolution. The impact of the system can be divided into endogenous and exogenous shocks. In this article, catastrophe theory is used to study the neuron system. Based on the mean field model of Hurst and Sornette, introducing the weight parameters, mathematical models are constructed to study the response characteristics of the neuron system in face of exogenous shocks, endogenous shocks, and integrated shocks. The time characteristics of the shock response of the neuron system are discussed too, such as the instantaneous and long-term response of the system in face of shocks, the different response forms according to the weight or linear superposition, and the influence of adjusting parameters on the neuron system. The research result shows that the authoritarian coefficient and weight coefficient have a very important influence on the response of neuron system; By adjusting the two coefficients, the purpose of disaster prevention, self-healing protection and response reducing can be well achieved.

The Impact of Cooperative Leaming and Empowerment on the Performance of First-Year Accounting Students

Empowerment in learning has been a topic of discussion for the last two decades. Empowered learners are not only believed to achieve greater content learning but are also thought to better demonstrate competencies such as communication, teamwork, and problem solving. These competencies are becoming increasingly important as the role of professional accountants evolves and diversifies. This paper examines first-year accounting students＇ perceptions of empowerment based on two different learning styles： cooperative learning and traditional classroom instruction. A quantitative research design was used to survey 279 first-year business degree students studying at institutions in Libya. The results indicated that students who attended cooperative learning classes were more empowered in terms of the impact they believed they could have on class discussions and the meaningfulness they attributed to the tasks being discussed. In addition, students taught by cooperative learning methods recorded significantly higher end of term exam results than those students who received traditional classroom instruction. In conclusion, this research indicates that the teaching method used in classroom instruction may impact an accounting student＇s levels of empowerment and subsequently their critical thinking, problem solving, writing skills, and technical accounting competencies.

The role repositioning of teacher and student in the process of knowledge internalization under flipped classroom

Flipped classroom model led to the transformation of university teachers＇ teaching role. From the perspective of the sociology of knowledge, the teacher professional development is a process of transformation of the role of teachers, and role transformation and the way of actors involved in the knowledge are associated. Participating in knowledge in different ways, role types are also different. Thus, changing the way ofparticipating in knowledge is the basic way to participate in the transformation of the role. Classification of roles is not the classification ofhumans.A social may might play many roles of many types in his life andmay have the function of a variety of roles at the same time. Meanwhile, it can be transferred between characters, especially in the case of depending on the same knowledge system.As long as the ways of involvement are different,the functions and types of roles are also different. University teachers are those who play a variety of roles of knowledge and society, some being the teaching teachers of organization and dissemination of knowledge, some being scientific and teaching teachers who focus on organizing and disseminating knowledge as well as knowledge creation, and knowledge creation and heavy teacher teaching and research, while others are knowledge creation based research teachers. In the field of the sociology of knowledge, university teachers should be scientific teaching roles depending on a deep knowledge and participating in knowledge in a variety of ways. From the perspective of the sociology of knowledge, according to Eph · Znaniecki＇ s role classification, university teachers participate in knowledge in three ways： teaching, learning and researching. Teaching, learning and researching are relative but different ways of participating in knowledge. State they are relative because itshows teaching can promote learning, learning can promote researching, researching can also promote learning and teaching. The homochromous interaction of teaching, leaming and researching, knowledge is in constant state of development and generation.

Prevalence of porcine endogenous retrovirus in Chinese pig breeds and in patients treated with a porcine liver cell-based bioreactor

AIM： To determine the prevalence of porcine endogenous retrovirus （PERV） in various pig breeds raised in China including Chinese experimental mini-pigs by PERV-reverse transcriptase （PERV-RT enzyme）. Moreover, the potential for infection of PERV was investigated in patients treated with a bioreactor based on porcine liver cells （n = 3）. METHODS： Pig serum, liver and muscle cell-free supernatants were collected from various Chinese pig breeds. Porcine hepatocytes were isolated with a two-step perfusion method. Three patients with acute or chronic liver failure were treated with a bioartificial liver support system （BALSS） for 8-12 h and serum samples were collected from the patients before, immediately after and 30 d after treatment. RESULTS： The activities of PERV-RT enzyme in pig liver and muscle cell-free supernatants were higher than in normal human controls. PERV-TR enzyme activity did not increase in patients before and after 1 mo of treatment. PERV-RT activities were not significantly different when compared with pre-treatment group （1.544±0.155576）, the post-treatment groups （1.501±0.053507, 1.461±0.033808 and 1.6006667±0.01963 for 0, 14 and 30 d post-treatment, respectively, P〉0.05）, and normal control group （1.440±1.0641, P〉0.05）. RT enzyme activity in Chinese experimental mini-pigs was higher than in normal human control group （1.440±1.0641 U/mL, P〈0.05）, and not significantly different （P〉0.05） when compared with the pig breeds except in the muscle supernatants. All the samples including muscle and liver cell supernatants from the Chinese mini-experimental pigs and the four domestic Chinese pig breeds contained PERVs. CONCLUSION： These results suggest that the risk of PERV infection through BALSS containing porcine liver cells without immunosuppressants may be quite low. Although there were PERVs in Chinese experimental mini-pigs and porcine liver cell culture suspensions, we did not find any evidence of persistent PERV infection in patients treated with this porcine hepatocyte-based bioartificial liver.