Application of DNA metabarcoding technology in identification of Chinese patent medicines / 中国中药杂志

Metabarcoding technology is a research method derived from the combination of traditional DNA barcodes and highthroughput sequencing technologies. It can quickly,easily and efficiently identify and restore biological samples from multiple species.Biological species are currently widely used in environmental biology research. In the market of traditional Chinese medicines,adulteration and quality instability have severely restricted the sustainable development of the related industries. This article introduced the background of the metabarcoding technology and its preliminary application in the identification of Chinese patent medicines. It also outlined the possible problems in the research process and prospected to the development of the DNA metabarcoding technology.

Clinical analysis of liver transplantation for autoimmune hepatitis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To describe the outcomes and recurrence of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) after liver transplantation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 16 patients with AIH who underwent liver transplantation were analyzed retrospectively. The postoperative cumulative survival rate of the patients was calculated. The postoperative rejections and AIH recurrence were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for statistical analysis of survival.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All patients were female, with an average age of 52.6 years (range: 41-66 years), and an average MELD score of 21.4. According serological analysis, 15 patients were AIH type 1 and 1 patient was AIH type 2. Three patients died, including 2 of pulmonary infection and 1 of graft dysfunction.The 1-, 2-and 5-year cumulative survival rates were 93.8%, 87.1% and 79.1%, respectively. Five cases (31.3%) of recurrent AIH were diagnosed based on histological evidence. Acute rejection occurred in 6 (37.5%) patients, and de novo HBV infection occurred in 1 (6.3%) patient.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Liver transplantation is an effective treatment for end-stage AIH. Recurrence and rejection were commonly associated with AIH, but did not negatively impact patient survival.</p>

Primry research of separation and culture of adult hepatocytes / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the separation and culture method of adult hepatocytes.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The isolated adult hepatocytes were cultivated by RPMI 1640 medium at 37 degrees C in vitro. The characteristics of the growing hepatocytes were observed. Their synthesis of urea was detected. The transformation efficiency and density's change of lidocaine were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Hepatocytes were successful separated from adult liver. And they were cultivated in common condition and hollow fiber reactor. The functional capacity of hepatocytes was for lidocaine metabolism and urea excretion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The adult hepatocytes have been successful separated from liver. And they can be cultivated in common condition and hollow fiber reactor. And it could provide a great quantity and high activity of hepatocytes for bioartificial liver.</p>

Clinical analysis of aspergillosis in orthotopic liver transplant recipients / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the clinical features of aspergillosis and its diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment in patients after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), and to improve the prognosis of the recipients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Medical records of consecutive patients who underwent OLT in our liver transplant center from May 2002 to May 2004 were analyzed retrospectively. Those with aspergillus infection complications were studied in detail regarding their infected organs, related factors, treatments and prognoses.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>17 out of 207 recipients of OLT were detected with aspergillosis. The incidence was 8.21 percent. 5 patients infected with superficial aspergillus survived. Of the 12 cases with deep aspergillus infection, 3 with infection limited to the sites of their incisions survived, 2 of the 3 patients with infection in their lungs, and 1 of the 2 patients with it in their livers died, and 4 recipients with multi-organ aspergillus infection died. Among the 7 cases that died, 5 had severe hepatitis, 1 had post-hepatitis liver cirrhosis and 1 had primary liver carcinoma.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Long-term (> or = 3 weeks) broad-spectrum antibiotics and immunosupression were involved in aspergillus infection in our OLT patients. Patients with chronic severe hepatitis had a higher risk of having aspergillus infection. Amphotericin B is still the best choice for treating aspergillosis. Prophylactic administration of anti-fungal medicine, surveillance of fungal infections as a routine, and treatment of the infection in time may help to improve the prognosis of OLT recipients with aspergillosis.</p>