Concise Review: Differentiation of Human Adult Stem Cells Into Hepatocyte-like Cells In vitro

Adult stem cells (ASCs) are undifferentiated cells found throughout the body that divide to replenish dying cells and regenerate damaged tissues, which are the powerful sources for cell therapy and tissue engineering. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADSCs), and peripheral blood monocytes (PBMCs) are the common ASCs, and many studies indicated that ASCs isolated from various adult tissues could be induced to hepatocyte-like cells in vitro. However, the isolation, culture protocols, characterization of ASCs and hepatocyte-like cells are different. This review aims to describe the isolation and culture procedures for ASCs, to summarize the molecular characterization of ASCs, to characterize function of hepatocyte-like cells, and to discuss the future role of ASCs in cell therapy and tissue engineering.

Clinical analysis of short- and long-term complications after endoscopic Oddi's sphincterotomy in 95 patients / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective To investigate the short- and long-term complications after endoscopic Oddi's sphincterotomy (EST) upon endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure and determine whether the size of EST correlates to the occurrence of EST complications.Methods 95 cases receiving EST in the process of ERCP in our hospital were studied and followed up. The patients were divided into large, moderate and small incision groups according to the size of EST and the states of short-term and long-term EST complications were statistically analyzed.Results The incidence of short-term complications of EST was 18. 94% (18/95). They included bleeding in the process of ERCP in 11 cases, delayed bleeding in 3, acute pancreatitis in 1, acute cholangitis in 2 and duodenal perforation in 1. All these patients but 1 with duodenal perforation were discharged after undergoing symptomatic treatments. Eleven out of the 95 patients had long-term complications (11.57 % ). These included biliary system infection in 5 cases, recurrent calculus of bile duct in 3, papilla stricture in 1 and chronic relapsing pancreatitis in 2. All 11 patients recovered after therapeutic ERCP again or symptomatic drug treatments. There was no significant difference in incidence of short-term (χ2 =2.433, P=0.296) or long-term complications (χ2 = 1.151, P=0.562) among the 3 groups. Furthermore, there was no statistical correlation between the incision size of Oddi and complications including operative bleeding (P=0.109), short-term complications (P=0.124) and longterm complications(P=0.402). Conclusion There are many short-term and long-term complications after EST, but there is no correlation between the complications and the incision size of Oddi. The occurring rate of complications might be reduced through accurate direction of papilla incision, avoidance from injury of blood vessel, keeping bile drainage unobstructed and protection of the function of Oddi sphincter as far as possible in the process of ERCP.

A control study on selective biliary cannulation technique reducing incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis / 中华肝胆外科杂志

Objective To determine if using a soft-tipped guidewire to cannulate the common bile duct may ameliorate development of PEP(post-ERCP pancreatitis)and facilitate cannulation of the CBD(common bile duct).Methods A total of 78 patients treated treateed in our hospital underwent ERCP through conventional direct cannulation(52 diagnostic ERCPs,26 therapeutics ERCPs)from 1998 to 2001 were randomly selected as group A while 112 patients underwent ERCP through guide wire-directed cannulation(21 diagnostic ERCPs,91 therapeutics ERCPs)from 2007 to 2008 as group B.Then we retrospectively studied and compared the following parameters between the two groups:1)Success rate of biliary access;2)visualization rate of pancreatic duct;3)the level of serum amylase,severity of abdominal pain and the rate of PEP.Meanwhile,the correlation between grading of pancreatic duct visualization and PEP was analyzed.Results The success rate of biliary access of the guidewire group(106/112 cases)was significantly greater than the conventional group(33/78 cases)(94.64%vs.42.30%,P<0.01).In group A,about61.53%(16/26)of the 26 cases could not continue the next therapeutics ERCP because of unsucceasful carmulation. The visualization rate of pancreatic duct of group A and B were 58.97%(46/78 cases)and 8.04%(9/112 cases)(P<0.01) respectively.On occurrence rate of PEP,group A(17/78 cases)was significantly higher than group B(4/112 cases)(21.79% vs.3.57%,P<0.01),and severe pancreatitis occurred in 3 patients in conventional group.However,there was no severe pancreatitis in the guide wire group.There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in terms of the rate of hyperamylasemia between the two groups.The significant correlation was found between the grading of pancreatic duct visualization and the occurrence of PEP.Condusion Guidewire-directed selective access to the bile duct lowers likdihood of PEP by facilitating cannulation and lowering the visualization rate of pancreatic duct.The occurrence of PEP could be predicted by the grading of pancreatic duct visualization,which is a very important but not the unique factor leading to PEP.

A clinicopathological analysis of 22 cases of multiple malignant tumors / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

To get a better understanding of the location, pathophysiology, etiology and prognosis of multiple malignant tumors (MPMT), we evaluated the medical records of 22 patients with MPMT. Our results suggested that radiotherapy and chemotherapy might play an important role in the pathogenesis of MPMT and follow-up is important in detecting a secondary primary malignant tumor (PMT) at an early stage. Surgical removal of tumors is the first-choice therapy for MPMT.

AN ANALYSIS OF LIFELONG FOLLOW-UP OF DOUBLE PRIMARY CANCERS IN 48 ELDERLY PATIENTS / 解放军医学杂志

0 05). The results suggested that early diagnosis and treament were important factors to improve survival rate and prolong life expectancy for elderly patients with mutiple primary malignant tumors. Cardiac and cerebral vascular accidents, respiratary faliure, and gastrointestinal bleeding were common causes of death in elderly without eancer.

Multiple primary malignant neoplasms of digestive system:a clinical analysis of 119 elderly patients / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To elucidate the clinical characteristics of multiple primary malignant neoplasms(MPMNs) in elderly patients,and the relationship between MPMNs and its prognosis.Methods The data of 155 patients,including 114 males and 5 females,who were hospitalized to the authors' department during 1974 to 2007 and were diagnosed as MPMNs were retrospectively analyzed.Among them there were 119 patients with MPMNs in digestive system,accounting for 76.77%.The analyses for the characteristics of MPMNs included the sites of neoplasms,the age of onset,length of interval,pathologic types and survival time.Results The median age of onset of the first,second and third tumor were 71,77 and 78.5 years old,respectively.In the digestive system the earliest tumor occurred in stomach(40.4%),and then large intestine(34.5%),esophagus(10.5%) and liver(8.7%) sequentially.Most of them were adenocarcinoma.When the whole body was concerned,the neoplasms occurred earliest in the digestive system,and then the respiratory system,urinary system,male reproductive system and hematological system in sequence.Adenocarcinoma was the primary carcinoma in the digestive system.There were 26 synchronous multiple primary cancers(SMPC) and 93 metachronous multiple primary cancers(MMPC) in the 119 cases,and the intervals in MMPC were 156 totally.Conclusion Multiple primary cancers in the gastrointestinal tract occur commonly.The predilection sites of MPMNs in elderly patients are stomach and large intestine,and most of the neoplasms are adenocarcinoma.The prognosis of MMPC is better than SMPC.The longer the intervals between the first tumor and the second one,the better the prognosis of the patients will be.