Expression of P450 and nuclear receptors in normal and end-stage Chinese livers

AIM: To investigate the expression of P450 enzyme genes by using end-stage liver disease samples and trimmed normal Chinese donor livers.

Local Immune Regulatory Effects of Bangdeyun on the Endometrium of Mice with Embryo Implantation Dysfunction during the Implantation Time

This study examined the effects of Bangdeyun on the expressions of nuclear factor-kappaB （NF-κB）, interferon-gamma （IFN-y） and interleukin-10 （IL-10） in the endometrium of mice with embryo implantation dysfunction （EID） during the implantation time （namely on pregnancy day 5, 6, 7 and 8） and explored the local immune regulatory effects of Bangdeyun. The gestational mice were randomly divided into normal group, model group and Bangdeyun-treated group. EID models of mice were established by using indomethacin. The endometrial expression of NF-κB was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. IFN-γ and IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The results showed that in the normal group, NF-κB and IFN-γ were weakly expressed and IL-10 was strongly expressed in the endometrium during the whole implantation period. In the model group, the expressions of NF-κB and IFN-T were increased on pregnancy day 5, 6 and 7, and IL-10 expression decreased during the whole implantation time when compared with those in the normal group （P〈0.01 for all）. In the Bangdeyun-treated group, little amount of NF-κB and IFN-γ was expressed and IL-10 expression was strong, much the way they were expressed in the normal group （P〉0.05）. The expressions of NF-κB and IFN-T were much lower in the Bangdeyun-treated group than those in the model group on pregnancy day 5, 6 and 7 （P〈0.01 for all）, while the expression of IL-10 was much higher than in the model group during the whole implantation time （P〈0.01）. It was suggested Bangderun may favor a shift from Thl- to Th2-type immune response, therefore inhibiting the maternal immune rejection, inducing the immune tolerance and improving the fetal implantation.

Diagnostic value of high-resolution micro-endoscopy for theclassification of colon polyps

AIM: To study a new imaging equipment, highresolution micro-endoscopy(HRME), in the diagnosis and pathological classification of colon polyps.METHODS: We selected 114 specimens of colon polyps, 30 of which were colon polyps with known pathological types and 84 that were prospective polyp specimens; 10 normal colon mucosa specimens served as controls. We obtained images of 30 colon polyp specimens with known pathological types using HRME and analyzed the characteristics of these images to develop HRME diagnostic criteria for different pathological types of colon polyps. Based on these criteria, we performed a prospective study of 84 colon polyp specimens using HRME and compared the results with those of the pathological examination to evaluate the diagnostic value of HRME in the pathological classification of different types of colon polyps. RESULTS: In the 30 cases of known pathological type of colon polyp samples, there were 21 cases of adenomatous polyps, which comprised nine cases of tubular adenoma, seven cases of villous adenoma and five cases of mixed adenomas. The nine cases of non-adenomatous polyps included four cases of inflammatory polyps and five cases of hyperplastic polyps five. Ten cases of normal colonic mucosa were confirmed pathologically. In a prospective study of 84 cases using HRME, 23 cases were diagnosed as inflammatory polyps, 11 cases as hyperplastic polyps, 18 cases as tubular adenoma, eight cases as villous adenoma and 24 cases as mixed adenomas. After pathological examination, 24 cases were diagnosed as inflammatory polyps, 11 cases as hyperplastic polyps, 19 cases as tubular adenoma, eight cases as villous adenoma and 22 cases as mixed adenomas. Compared with the pathological examinations, the sensitivities, specificities, accuracies, and positive and negative predictive values of HRME in diagnosing inflammatory polyps(87.5%, 96.7%, 94.0%, 91.3% and 95.1%), hyperplastic polyps(72.7%, 95.9%, 92.9%, 72.7% and 95.9%), tubular adenomas(73.7%, 93.8%, 89.3%, 77.8% and 92.4%), villous adenomas(75.0%, 97.4%, 95.2%, 75.0% and 97.4%), and mixed adenomas(75.0%, 93.3%, 88.1%, 81.8% and 90.3%) were relatively high.CONCLUSION: HRME has a relatively high diagnostic value in the pathological classification of colon polyps. Thus, it may be an alternative to confocal microendoscopy in lower-resource or community-based settings.

Diabetes mellitus may affect the long-term survival of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients after liver transplantation

AIM to determine whether diabetes mellitus(DM) affects prognosis/recurrence after liver transplantation(Lt) for hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC). METHODS A retrospective study was conducted between January 2000 and August 2013 on 1631 patients with HBV-related HCC who underwent Lt with antiviral prophylaxis. Patient data were obtained from the China Liver transplant Registry(https://www.cltr.org/). to compare the outcomes and tumor recurrence in the HBV-related HCC patients with or without DM, statistical analyses were conducted using χ2 tests, Mann-Whitney tests, the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank tests and multivariate step-wise Cox regression analysis. RESULTS Univariate analysis of 1631 patients who underwent Lt found overall 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of 79%, 73% and 71% respectively in the DM patients, and 84%, 78% and 76% in the non-DM patients respectively. Overall survival rate differences after Lt between the two groups were significant(P = 0.041), but recurrence-free survival rates were not(P = 0.096). By stratified analysis, the overall survival rates in DM patients for age > 50 years(P = 0.002), the presence of vascular invasion(P = 0.096), tumors ≤ 3 cm(P = 0.047), two to three tumor nodules(P = 0.007), Child-Pugh grade B(P = 0.018), and preLt alanine aminotransferase levels between 40 and 80 IU/L(P = 0.017) were significantly lower than in non-DM patients. Additionally, serum α-fetoprotein level > 2000 ng/m L(P = 0.052) was associated with a significant survival difference trend between DM and non-DM patients. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of DM(P < 0.001, HR = 1.591; 95%CI: 1.239-2.041) was an independent predictor associated with poor survival after Lt. CONCLUSION HBV-related HCC patients with DM have decreased long-term overall survival and poor Lt outcomes. Prevention strategies for HCC patients with DM are recommended.

Intrusion of Overerupted Maxillary Molars with Miniscrew Implant Anchorage: A Radiographic Evaluation

The aim of this retrospective study was to quantitatively evaluate the treatment effects of in- trusion of overerupted maxillary molars using miniscrew implant anchorage and to investigate the apical root resorption after molar intrusion. The subjects included 30 patients whose average ages were 35.5±9.0 years. All patients had received intrusion treatments for overerupted maxillary molars with miniscrew anchorage. There were 38 maxillary first molars and 26 maxillary second molars to be in- truded. Two miniscrews were inserted in the buccal and palatal alveolar bone mesial to the overerupted molar. Force of 100-150 g was applied by the elastic chains between screw head and attachment on each side. Lateral cephalograms and panoramic radiographs taken before and after intrusion were used to evaluate dental changes and root resorption of molars. Only 6 of the 128 miniscrews failed. The first and second molars were significantly intruded by averages of 3.4 mm and 3.1 mm respectively （P〈0.001）. The average intrusion time was more than 6 months. The crown of the molars mesially tilted by averages of 3.1 degrees and 3.3 degrees （P〈0.001） for first and second molars. The amounts of root resorption were 0.2-0.4 mm on average. The intrusion treatment of overerupted molars with miniscrew anchorages could be used as an efficient and reliable method to recover lost restoration space for pros- thesis. Radiographically speaking, root resorption of molars was not clinically significant after applica- tion of intrusive forces of 200 to 300 g.

Consensus on the digestive endoscopic tunnel technique

With the digestive endoscopic tunnel technique(DETT), many diseases that previously would have been treated by surgery are now endoscopically curable by establishing a submucosal tunnel between the mucosa and muscularis propria(MP). Through the tunnel, endoscopic diagnosis or treatment is performed for lesions in the mucosa, in the MP, and even outside the gastrointestinal(GI) tract.At present, the tunnel technique application range covers the following:(1)Treatment of lesions originating from the mucosal layer, e.g., endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection for oesophageal large or circular early-stage cancer or precancerosis;(2) treatment of lesions from the MP layer, per-oral endoscopic myotomy, submucosal tunnelling endoscopic resection, etc.; and(3) diagnosis and treatment of lesions outside the GI tract, such as resection of lymph nodes and benign tumour excision in the mediastinum or abdominal cavity. With the increasing number of DETTs performed worldwide, endoscopic tunnel therapeutics, which is based on DETT, has been gradually developed and optimized. However, there is not yet an expert consensus on DETT to regulate its indications, contraindications, surgical procedure, and postoperative treatment.The International DETT Alliance signed up this consensus to standardize the procedures of DETT. In this consensus, we describe the definition, mechanism,and significance of DETT, prevention of infection and concepts of DETTassociated complications, methods to establish a submucosal tunnel, and application of DETT for lesions in the mucosa, in the MP and outside the GI tract(indications and contraindications, procedures, pre-and postoperative treatments, effectiveness, complications and treatments, and a comparison between DETT and other operations).

Sequential expression of cyclooxygenase-2, glutamate receptor-2, and platelet activating factor receptor in rat hippocampal neurons after fluid percussion injury

Traumatic brain injury causes gene expression changes in different brain regions. Occurrence and development of traumatic brain injury are closely related, involving expression of three factors, namely cyclooxygenase-2, glutamate receptor-2, and platelet activating factor receptor. However, little is known about the correlation of these three factors and brain neuronal injury. In this study, primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons were subjected to fluid percussion injury according to Scott’s method, with some modifications. RT-PCR and semi-quantitative immunocytochemical staining was used to measure the expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2, glutamate receptor-2, and platelet activating factor receptor. Our results found that cyclooxygenase-2 expression were firstly increased post-injury, and then decreased. Both mRNA and protein expression levels reached peaks at 8 and 12 hours post-injury, respectively. Similar sequential changes in glutamate receptor 2 were observed, with highest levels mRNA and protein expression at 8 and 12 hours post-injury respectively. On the contrary, the expressions of platelet activating factor receptor were firstly decreased post-injury, and then increased. Both mRNA and protein expression levels reached the lowest levels at 8 and 12 hours post-injury, respectively. Totally, our findings suggest that these three factors are involved in occurrence and development of hippocampal neuronal injury.

Analysis on the clinical and endoscopic parameters in 1247 patients with reflux esophagitis

Aim: To summarize and analyze the clinical and endoscopic parameters in patients with reflux esophagitis(RE). Methods:1247 patients with RE were diagnosed in our hospital endoscopy center from September 2010 to August 2012. The general information of the patients and the relationship between endoscopic classification and concomitant diseases were analyzed. Results: According to the endoscopic findings, 1247 subjects (4.70%) were found to have RE:932 (74.74%) males and 315 (25.26%) females, and the male to female ratio was 2.96:1. The peak age of prevalence was 50 to 59 (27.35%) which is followed by 40 to 49 (23.10%). In this study, most of the patients had a mild degree of esophagitis representing LA-A in 60.63% and LA-B in 34.24%. The antrum hyperemia was found in 291 patients with esophagitis (23.34%), followed by antrum erosion (20.13%) and hatal hernia (15.88%). There is no statistically significant relevance between Helicobacter pylori infection and RE (P > 0.05), but Barrett’s esophagus, duodenal ulcer, gastroesophageal tumors, a history of gastroesophageal surgery and antrum hyperemia were found to be associated with RE (P . Conclusion: The prevalence rate of endoscopic RE in our study was 4.70%, and most patients had a mild grade esophagitis. Male, advanced age, Barrett’s esophagus, duodenal ulcer, gastroesophageal tumors and a history of gastroesophageal surgery are the risk factors of esophagitis. Antrum hyperemia may reduce the severity of RE.

Ultrasound evaluation of left ventricular remodeling and systolic synchrony in patients with primary hypertension and the correlation with serum cytokines and MMPs

Objective:To study the correlation of the ultrasound parameters of left ventricular remodeling and systolic synchrony in patients with primary hypertension with serum cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).Methods:134 patients with primary hypertension receiving three-dimensional echocardiography examination in our hospital between May 2013 and March 2016 were selected and divided into the group A with normal pattern (n=71), group B with concentric hypertrophy (n=39) and group C with eccentric hypertrophy (n=24) according to the left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole (LVIDd) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and the ultrasound parameters of left ventricular remodeling and systolic synchrony as well as serum content of cytokines and MMPs were determined.Results: The time to minimal systolic volume of 16-segmental standard deviation (SDI), maximum time difference (DIF), Tpe, Tpe interphase and its correction (Tpec), LVIDd, LVMI and left ventricular remodeling index (LVRI) of group B and group C were significantly higher than those of group A (P<0.05), and SDI, DIF, Tpe, Tpec, LVIDd, LVMI and LVRI of group C were significantly higher than those of group B (P<0.05);serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-17 (IL-17), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP3 and MMP9 content of group B and group C were significantly higher than those of group A (P<0.05), and serum TNF-α, IL-17, TGF-β1, MMP2, MMP3 and MMP9 content of group C were significantly higher than those of group B (P<0.05) and positively correlated with LVIDd, LVMI, LVRI, SDI, DIF, Tpe and Tpec;serum TIMP1 and TIMP2 content of group B and group C were significantly lower than those of group A (P<0.05), and serum TIMP1 and TIMP2 content of group C were significantly lower than those of group B (P<0.05) and negatively correlated with LVIDd, LVMI, LVRI, SDI, DIF, Tpe and Tpec.Conclusions:The ultrasound parameters of left ventricular remodeling and systolic synchrony significantly change in patients with primary hypertension and are closely related to the changes in the content of serum cytokines and MMPs.

An Improved Frag-Shells Algorithm for Data Cube Construction Based on Irrelevance of Data Dispersion

On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) is based on pre-computation of data cubes, which greatly reduces the response time and improves the performance of OLAP. Frag-Shells algorithm is a common method of precomputation.However, it relies too much on the data dispersion that it performs poorly, when confronts large amount of highly disperse data. As the amount of data grows fast nowadays, the efficiency of data cube construction is increasingly becoming a significant bottleneck. In addition, with the popularity of cloud computing and big data, MapReduce framework proposed by Google is playing an increasingly prominent role in parallel processing. It is an intuitive idea that MapReduce framework can be used to enhance the efficiency of parallel data cube construction. In this paper, by improving the Frag-Shells algorithm based on the irrelevance of data dispersion, and taking advantages of the high parallelism of MapReduce framework, we propose an improved Frag-Shells algorithm based on MapReduce framework. The simulation results prove that the proposed algorithm greatly enhances the efficiency of cube construction.