A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends in Psoriasis and Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: Psoriasis is a frequent form of chronic inflammation in dermatology that is unmistakably linked to the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its elements. This study was to explore the current status and new developments in the global research, and the holistic landscape of this field more intuitively through bibliometric analysis of scientific output and activity. Methods: Publications regarding psoriasis and MetS were searched and chosen from the database of the Web of Science Core Collection. Excel 2019, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace software were utilized to conduct bibliometric analysis. Results: There were 1096 publications included. The scientific outputs in this field had increased from 2004 to 2022, and the expansion could continue in the following years. The United States contributed the most publications (241, 21.99%) and had the most citation frequency (13,489 times). The University of California System was the most productive affiliation. Girolomoni G., Armstrong A.W., Gisondi P. and Gelfand J.M. were key and influential researchers. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology published the greatest number of articles (65 articles). By analyzing keyword frequency and clustering, we have identified the following areas of research interest and frontiers: prevalence, risk, association, gene expression, waist circumference, adipose tissue inflammation, vascular inflammation, cardiovascular disease, psoriatic arthritis, and fibrosis. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis elucidates research domain of psoriasis and MetS, portraying present hotspots and future emerging trends. This field has generated significant interest and displays potential for further growth. The United States has made distinguished contributions, and currently dominates this field.

CeO2-Based Frustrated Lewis Pairs via Defective Engineering: Formation Theory, Site Characterization, and Small Molecule Activation.

Activation of small molecules is considered to be a central concern in the theoretical investigation of environment- and energy-related catalytic conversions. Sub-nanostructured frustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have been an emerging research hotspot in recent years due to their advantages in small molecule activation. Although the progress of catalytic applications of FLPs is increasingly reported, the fundamental theories related to the structural formation, site regulation, and catalytic mechanism of FLPs have not yet been fully developed. Given this, it is attempted to demonstrate the underlying theory of FLPs formation, corresponding regulation methods, and its activation mechanism on small molecules using CeO2 as the representative metal oxide. Specifically, this paper presents three fundamental principles for constructing FLPs on CeO2 surfaces, and feasible engineering methods for the regulation of FLPs sites are presented. Furthermore, cases where typical small molecules (e.g., hydrogen, carbon dioxide, methane oxygen, etc.) are activated over FLPs are analyzed. Meanwhile, corresponding future challenges for the development of FLPs-centered theory are presented. The insights presented in this paper may contribute to the theories of FLPs, which can potentially provide inspiration for the development of broader environment- and energy-related catalysis involving small molecule activation.

Characterization of circRNA-Associated-ceRNA Networks Involved in the Pathogenesis of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Aging Mice.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a clinical entity associated with declined cognitive function following surgery. It occurs more frequently in elderly patients. Recent studies have shown that circRNA-associated-ceRNA networks, constructed based on interactions between circRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA, provide key insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of several neurological diseases. However, the mechanism of POCD remains undetermined. In this study, laparotomies were performed under isoflurane anesthesia on young (2-month-old) and aging (17-month-old) male C57BL/6 mice. The results showed that the aging mice were more likely than the young mice to develop POCD. Subsequently, differentially expressed circRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were characterized by RNA sequencing the hippocampi of young and aging mice under control and surgery conditions. Six circRNAs, 6 miRNAs, and 203 mRNAs were identified to construct the circRNA-associated-ceRNA network for the control condition, while 13 circRNAs, 8 miRNAs, and 189 mRNAs were used for the circRNA-associated-ceRNA network for the surgery condition. Further Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of these two networks revealed that the circRNA-associated-ceRNA networks are involved in POCD pathogenesis though modulating the Wnt and VEGF signaling pathways, as well as neural processes associated with long-term synaptic depression and synaptic transmission. In particular, the mmu-miR-298-5P regulatory pathway identified in this study's mouse model suggests that mm9_circ_009789- and mm9_circ_004229-associated-ceRNA networks as closely related to the occurrence of POCD through regulating PKC signaling pathway, neural cell apoptosis and glycolipid metabolism pathway. These findings provide possible insight into the role of the circRNA-associated-ceRNA networks, helping to unravel the complexity of the molecular pathogenesis of POCD.

Whole conversion of agro-industrial wastes rich in galactose-based carbohydrates into lipid using oleaginous yeast Aureobasidium namibiae.

BACKGROUND: Raw materials composed of easily assimilated monosaccharides have been employed as carbon source for production of microbial lipids. Nevertheless, agro-industrial wastes rich in galactose-based carbohydrates have not been introduced as feedstocks for oleaginous yeasts. RESULTS: In this study, Aureobasidium namibiae A12 was found to efficiently accumulate lipid from soy molasses and whey powder containing galactose-based carbohydrates, with lipid productions of 5.30 g/L and 5.23 g/L, respectively. Over 80% of the fatty acids was C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, and C18:2. All kinds of single sugar components in the two byproducts were readily converted into lipids, with yields ranging between 0.116 g/g and 0.138 g/g. Three α-galactosidases and five ß-galactosidases in the strain were cloned and analyzed. Changes of transcriptional levels indicated GalB and GalC were key α-galactosidases, and GalG was key ß-galactosidase. In 10 L fermentor, lipid production from SM and WP achieved 6.45 g/L and 6.13 g/L, respectively. ß-galactosidase was responsible for lactose hydrolysis; sucrase and α-galactosidase both contributed to the efficient hydrolysis of raffinose and stachyose in a cooperation manner. CONCLUSIONS: This is a new way to produce lipids from raw materials containing galactose-based carbohydrates. This finding revealed the significance of sucrase in the direct hydrolysis of galactose-based carbohydrates in raw materials for the first time and facilitated the understanding of the efficient utilization of galactose-based carbohydrates to manufacture lipid or other chemicals in bioprocess.

Gadobenate dimeglumine-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging can accurately predict the severity of esophageal varices and portal vein pressure in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting portal hypertension and high-risk esophageal varices (EV) in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis. METHODS: In total, 71 and 30 patients comprising the training and validation groups, respectively, were enrolled in the study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to detect their risk of developing high-risk EV to generate a formula for scoring EV. The relationships between the relative enhancement ratio (RE) of Gd-BOPTA-enhanced MRI and portal vein pressure were explored. RESULTS: Platelet count, portal vein width and RE were identified as independent predictors of high-risk EV. Based on these parameters, the EV score model were calculated as: -6.483 + 15.612 × portal vein width + 2.251 × RE - 0.176 × platelet count. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.903. At a cut-off value of ≤ -2.74, the negative predictive value was 94.00%, while the positive predictive value was as high as 93.80% when the cut-off was set at > 4.00. Gd-BOPTA-enhanced MRI was effective in predicting portal pressure. Its accuracy was confirmed with the validation set. CONCLUSIONS: Gd-BOPTA-enhanced MRI was successfully applied to evaluate high-risk EV and portal hypertension. These results represent an accurate, non-invasive model for detecting high-risk EV, based on which we propose a cost-effective algorithm for EV management, eliminating the need to perform an endoscopy in all patients with cirrhosis.

Expression levels of casitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene expression in breast cancer tissues and its clinical prognosis analysis / 医学研究生学报

ObjectiveCasitas B-lineage lymphoma proto-oncogene (CBL) expression in different types of breast cancer and its role in the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of breast cancer patients have been rarely reported. Here, we aimed to analyze the expression levels of CBL in breast cancer tissues and its difference in different molecular types, pathological types, TNM grades and clinical stages. Additionally, the role of CBL in the diagnosis and clinical prognosis evaluation in breast cancer patients was researched.MethodsData were downloaded from the USCS Xena database, and the expression of CBL genes in breast cancer tissues (1104 cases) and adjacent tissues (113 cases) were analyzed. CBL gene expression of different molecular types (triple negative, HER2+, Luminal A, Luminal B) and different pathological types (invasive ductal cancer, invasive lobular cancer, mixed tissue breast cancer, mucinous cancer, others) in breast cancer tissue samples were analyzed. It is divided into T1, T2, T3, T4, and Tx according to the tumor volume and the affected area of adjacent tissues. It is divided into N0, N1, N2, N3, and Nx according to the regional lymph node involvement. It is divided into cM0 (i+), M0, M1, Mx according to whether there is a distant transfer. According to different clinical stages, it is divided into stage I, stage II, stage III, stage IV, and others. Expression of CBL gene in different TNM grades and clinical stages of breast cancer was compared.Correlation between CBL gene expression and different TNM grades, clinical stages of breast cancer was examined. The ROC curve was used to evaluate the value of CBL in the diagnosis of breast cancer. According to the median value of gene expression 2.152, it was divided into high expression group (≥2.152) and low expression group (<2.152). Survival analysis was performed to verify whether CBL gene is associated with survival prognosis gene. The expression level of CBL protein in breast cancer tissues was further detected by immunohistochemistry.ResultsIn breast cancer tissues with different molecular types, the expression of CBL gene was highest in triple-negative breast cancer tissues (P<0.05). The expression of CBL gene in Luminal B breast cancer tissues was lower than that of Luminal A (P<0.05). The expression level of CBL gene in invasive ductal carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma and mucinous carcinoma tissues was lower than that in mixed tissue breast cancer (P<0.05). The expression level of CBL gene in invasive ductal carcinoma was higher than that of invasive lobular carcinoma (P<0.05). The expression of CBL gene from T1 to T3 gradually decreased (P<0.05). The expression of CBL gene in N0 was higher than that in N1 (P<0.05). The expression of CBL gene gradually decreased from stage Ⅰ to Ⅲ (P<0.05). The area under the ROC curve of CBL mRNA in breast cancer tissues for diagnosis was 0.768. The survival rate of the CBL gene high expression group was higher than low expression group (P<0.05). The CBL gene is a prognosis-related gene, and high expression of CBL is positively correlated with the good prognosis of breast cancer patients (P<0.05).ConclusionCBL is a good prognosis-related gene in breast cancer patients, and it is expected to become a new clinical diagnostic and prognostic marker for breast cancer patients.

A perfusion territory shift attributable solely to the secondary collaterals in moyamoya patients: a potential risk factor for preoperative hemorrhagic stroke revealed by t-ASL and 3D-TOF-MRA.

OBJECTIVE: The authors conducted a study to noninvasively and nonradioactively reveal moyamoya disease (MMD) intracerebral perfusion and perfusion territory supplied by the unilateral internal carotid artery (ICA) and external carotid artery (ECA) and bilateral vertebral arteries (VAs) before surgery and to further identify risk factors for preoperative hemorrhage in adult MMD. METHODS: Forty-three consecutive adult patients with bilateral MMD underwent unenhanced T1-weighted MRI, territorial arterial spin labeling (t-ASL), and unenhanced 3D time-of-flight MRA (3D-TOF-MRA). Clinical factors, including age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, current smoking status, and history of taking aspirin, were gathered and stratified. Univariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between various risk factors and the occurrence of preoperative hemorrhage. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to determine independent risk factors of preoperative hemorrhage in MMD. RESULTS: Among the 86 MMD hemispheres, t-ASL revealed 137 perfusion territory shifts in 79 hemispheres. Five distinct categories of perfusion territory shifts were observed on t-ASL maps. The subtypes of perfusion territory shift on t-ASL maps were further subdivided into 2 different categories, group A and group B, in combination with findings on 3D-TOF-MRA. A perfusion territory shift attributable solely to the secondary collaterals was a potential independent risk factor for preoperative hemorrhage (p = 0.026; 95% CI 1.201-18.615; OR 4.729). After eliminating the influence of the secondary collaterals, the primary collaterals had no significant effect on the risk of preoperative hemorrhage (p = 0.182). CONCLUSIONS: t-ASL could reveal comprehensive MMD cerebral blood perfusion and the vivid perfusion territory shifts fed by the unilateral ICA and ECA and bilateral VAs in a noninvasive, straightforward, nonradioactive, and nonenhanced manner. 3D-TOF-MRA could subdivide t-ASL perfusion territory shifts according to their shunt arteries. A perfusion territory shift attributable to the secondary collaterals is a potential independent risk factor for preoperative hemorrhage in MMD patients. A perfusion territory shift fed by the primary collaterals may not have a strong effect on preoperative hemorrhage in MMD patients. These findings make the combined modalities of t-ASL and 3D-TOF-MRA a feasible tool for MMD disease assessment, management, and surgical strategy planning.

Expression and clinical significance of microRNA and its target gene EZH2 in breast cancer / 医学研究生学报

Objective Recently, the incidence of breast cancer has been the highest among female malignant tumors. Therefore, potential biomarkers are urgently needed to predict and prevent breast cancer. This study was aimed to explore the expression and clinical significance of differential miRNAs and their target genes in breast cancer by establishing miRNA expression profile in breast cancer tissues. Methods From January 2015 to December 2018, a total of 137 cases of breast cancer tissues with paired paracancerous tissues and 20 cases of breast fibroadenoma tissues were collected from the department of breast surgery, affiliated hospital of Guizhou Medical University. The tissues were divided into breast cancer group, paracancerous group, breast fibroadenoma group and lymph node metastasis group. High-throughput sequencing technique was used to detect the miRNAs in breast cancer tissues and paired paracancerous tissues. Real-time PCR verified the expressions of the three miRNAs with the most significant expression differences in different groups. Finally, bioinformatics analysis was used to predict the target genes and investigate the expression of miRNAs and proteins of target genes in different breast diseases. Results A total of 157 upregulated and 162 downregulated miRNAs were screened by high-throughput sequencing. Mir-hsa-miR-532-3p and hsa-miR-1260b were the most significant in upregulated miRNAs while has-let-7c-5p was the most significant in downregulated miRNAs. Meanwhile, bioinformatics analysis showed that their target gene was EZH2. Compared with para-cancerous group, expressions of hsa-miR-532-3p and hsa-miR-1260b were significantly upregulated while hsa-let-7c-5p was significantly down-regulated in breast cancer group and lymph node metastasis group (all P<0.05). The miRNA expressions of target gene EZH2 in breast cancer group, breast fibroadenoma group and lymph node metastasis group (1.24±0.01, 4.02±0.01, 15.97±0.01, respectively) were upregulated when compared with the para-cancerous group (1.00±0.00), and the similar conclusion could be drawn in EZH2 protein expression. Conclusion Hsa-miR-532-3p, hsa-miR-1260b and hsa-let-7c-5p were closely related to breast cancer, which may promote the occurrence and development of breast cancer by inducing the transcriptional expression of EZH2. HsamiR-532-3p, hsa-miR-1260b, hsa-let-7c-5p and EZH2 may be potential tumor biomarkers of breast cancer.

Microwave-activated Ni/carbon catalysts for highly selective hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to cyclohexylamine.

Biocarbon supported Ni catalysts have been prepared by facile impregnation of Ni species by microwave-heating and used for selective hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to cyclohexylamine. These catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, N2 sorption measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, temperature programmed reduction of H2 and H2 temperature-programmed desorption. The morphology and particle size of catalysts were imaged by scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. For the hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to cyclohexylamine, 10%Ni/CSC-II(b) exhibits the best catalytic activity to achieve 100 mol% conversion of nitrobenzene and 96.7% selectivity of cyclohexylamine under reaction conditions of 2.0 MPa H2 and 200 °C, ascribed to high dispersion of Ni species and formation of nanosized Ni particles on the support aided by microwave-heating. Thus-prepared Ni/CSC catalyst is greatly activated, in which the addition of precious metal like Rh is totally avoided.

Enhanced Photoelectrocatalytic Activity of BiOI Nanoplate-Zinc Oxide Nanorod p-n Heterojunction.

The development of highly efficient and robust photocatalysts has attracted great attention for solving the global energy crisis and environmental problems. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a p-n heterostructured photocatalyst, consisting of ZnO nanorod arrays (NRAs) decorated with BiOI nanoplates (NPs), by a facile solvothermal method. The product thus obtained shows high photoelectrochemical water splitting performance and enhanced photoelectrocatalytic activity for pollutant degradation under visible light irradiation. The p-type BiOI NPs, with a narrow band gap, not only act as a sensitizer to absorb visible light and promote electron transfer to the n-type ZnO NRAs, but also increase the contact area with organic pollutants. Meanwhile, ZnO NRAs provide a fast electron-transfer channel, thus resulting in efficient separation of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. Such a p-n heterojunction nanocomposite could serve as a novel and promising catalyst in energy and environmental applications.

Predicting the druggability of protein-protein interactions based on sequence and structure features of active pockets.

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) are becoming highly attractive targets for drug discovery. Motivated by the rapid accumulation of PPI data in public database and the success stories concerning the targeting of PPIs, a machine-learning method based on sequence and structure properties was developed to access the druggability of PPIs. Here, a comprehensive non-redundant set of 34 druggable and 122 less druggable PPIs were firstly presented from the perspective of pockets. When tested by outer 5-fold cross-validation, the most representative model in discriminating the druggable PPIs from the less-druggable ones yielded an average accuracy of 88.24% (sensitivity of 82.38% and specificity of 92.00%). Moreover, a promising result was also obtained for the independent test set. Compared to other methods, the method gives a comparative performance, which is most likely due to the construction of a training set that encompasses less druggable PPIs and also the information of active pockets that have evolved to bind a natural ligand.

Hepatic venous pressure gradient is a useful predictor in guiding treatment on prevention of variceal rebleeding in cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: The best therapy to prevent esophageal variceal (EV) rebleeding in cirrhotic patients who are non-responsive to pharmacological therapy have not been determined. AIMS: To evaluate efficacy of a strategy to assign different treatments according to hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) values to prevent EV rebleeding in non-responders. METHODS: This study is a non-randomized controlled prospective study. 109 cirrhotic patients with EV bleeding who were non-responders based on two HVPG measurements were enrolled and divided two groups: 55 patients (EVL+ß-blocker group) were treated with endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and nonselective ß-blocker; 54 patients (HVPG-guided group) were treated with EVL and nonselective ß-blocker if HVPG ≤ 16 mmHg (low-HVPG), with percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization (PTVE) if HVPG > 16 mmHg and ≤ 20 mmHg (medium-HVPG), or with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) if HVPG > 20 mmHg (high-HVPG). Patients were followed up for rebleeding and mortality. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 17.0 months; rebleeding was higher in the EVL+ß-blocker group than HVPG-guided group (25.5%, 9.3%, P = 0.026); 3-year probability of rebleeding in the EVL+Beta-blocker group increased with elevated levels of HVPG (12.5% vs 46.4% vs 64.9%, χ(2) = 11.551, P = 0.003), and 3-year probability of survival was no difference (96.6% vs 85.7% vs 90.9%, χ(2) = 2.638, P = 0.267). Rebleeding rate in PTVE group (7.7%) was lower than that in EVL+ß-blockergroup with medium-HVPG (35.7%), but there was no difference. Rebleeding rate in TIPS group (7.7%) was lower than that in EVL+ß-blockergroup with high-HVPG (45.5%), but there was no difference. CONCLUSIONS: HVPG measurement was useful for making decisions to select EVL and Beta-blocker, PTVE or TIPS in secondary prophylaxis. HVPG-guided treatment is feasible and effective in preventing esophageal varices rebleeding.

Risk factors for early rebleeding and mortality in acute variceal hemorrhage.

AIM: To investigate the risk factors for 6-wk rebleeding and mortality in acute variceal hemorrhage (AVH) patients treated by percutaneous transhepatic variceal embolization (PTVE). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of AVH patients who had undergone PTVE treatment was conducted between January 2010 and December 2012. Demographic information, medical histories, physical examination findings, and laboratory test results were collected. The PTVE procedure was performed as a rescue therapy for patients who failed endoscopic and pharmacologic treatment. Survival analysis was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. The multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox regression test to identify independent risk factors for rebleeding and mortality. RESULTS: One hundred and one patients were included; 71 were males and the average age was 51 years. Twenty-one patients rebled within 6 wk. Patients with high-risk stigmata, PTVE with trunk obliteration, and a hepatic vein pressure gradient (HVPG) ≥ 20 mmHg were at increased risk for rebleeding (OR = 5.279, 95%CI: 2.782-38.454, P = 0.003; OR = 4.309, 95%CI: = 2.144-11.793, P < 0.001; and OR = 1.534, 95%CI: 1.062-2.216, P = 0.022, respectively). Thirteen patients died within 6 wk. A model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score ≥ 18 and an HVPG ≥ 20 mmHg were associated with 6-wk mortality (OR = 2.162, 95%CI: 1.145-4.084, P = 0.017 and OR = 1.423, 95%CI: 1.222-1.657, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: MELD score and HVPG in combination allow for early identification of patients with AVH who are at substantially increased risk of death over the short term.

Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 associated with gastric ulcer recurrence.

AIM: To compare matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 in gastric ulcer (GU) and chronic superficial gastritis (CSG). METHODS: This study enrolled 63 patients with GU and 25 patients with CSG. During upper gastroduodenal endoscopy, we took samples of gastric mucosa from the antrum and ulcer site from patients with GU, and samples of antral mucosa from patients with CSG. Mucosal biopsy tissues were cultured for 24 h, and the culture supernatant was measured for levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1. After receiving eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and 8 wk proton-pump inhibitor therapy for GU, follow-up endoscopy examination was performed after 6 mo and whenever severe symptoms occurred. RESULTS: Levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 at the ulcer site or in the antrum were significantly higher in GU than CSG patients. MMP-9 levels at the ulcer site were significantly higher than in the antrum in GU patients, and had a significantly positive correlation with TIMP-1. MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in H. pylori-positive than H. pylori-negative GU and CSG patients. Levels of MMP-9 or TIMP-1 at the ulcer site were associated with the histological severity of activity and inflammation. About 57 GU patients were followed up, and seven had GU recurrence. H. pyloriinfection and MMP-9 levels were risk factors for the recurrence of GU adjusted for age and sex by multiple logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: MMP-9 may perform an important function in gastric ulcer formation and recurrence.

[An improved method for the isolation of rat hepatic stellate cells].

OBJECTIVE: To present an improved method to obtain pure, viable, freshly isolated hepatic stellate cells. METHODS: Adult male SD rats were used. All procedures were performed with the animals under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia. Three days after the single intravenous administration of 1 ml liposome-encapsulated CL2MDP, which has selective cytotoxicity of Kupffer cells, livers were perfused with D-Hank's solution containing 100 U/ml heparin for 10 to 15 minutes, and then with 0.05% collagenase dissolved in D-Hank's solution for 25 to 30 minutes. The liver was then gently homogenized and further incubated in 0.025% collagenase, and 0.005% DNAase I for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C under constant stirring. This suspension was filtered through stainless steel gauze and centrifuged for 2 minutes at 50 x g to remove parenchymal cells. Sinusoidal cells in the supernatant were recovered by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 300 x g. The cells were resuspended in the presence of 28.7% Nycodenz stock solution. The final concentration of Nycodenz at this stage was 11.5%. Following centrifugation for 17 minutes at 1400 x g, The cells at the top of this Nycodenz solution were collected. Cells were resuspended in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, The cells were seeded in 50 ml culture flask at a density of 500,000 cells/ml, The cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion staining, the purity of hepatic stellate cells was identified by the expression of Desmin using immunocytochemistry method. Endogenous peroxidase staining was used to detect Kupffer cells. RESULTS: The yield rate of hepatic stellate cells was 3 x 10(7) per rat, the cell viability was more than 95%, the desmin positive cell rate was 90%, no endogenous peroxidase positive cells were detected. CONCLUSION: The method for the isolation of hepatic stellate cells was developed without Kupffer cells confusion. The availability of highly purified stellate cells will facilitate the investigation of their functions in primary culture.

An improved method for the isolation of rat hepatic stellate cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To present an improved method to obtain pure, viable, freshly isolated hepatic stellate cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Adult male SD rats were used. All procedures were performed with the animals under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia. Three days after the single intravenous administration of 1 ml liposome-encapsulated CL2MDP, which has selective cytotoxicity of Kupffer cells, livers were perfused with D-Hank's solution containing 100 U/ml heparin for 10 to 15 minutes, and then with 0.05% collagenase dissolved in D-Hank's solution for 25 to 30 minutes. The liver was then gently homogenized and further incubated in 0.025% collagenase, and 0.005% DNAase I for 30 minutes at 37 degrees C under constant stirring. This suspension was filtered through stainless steel gauze and centrifuged for 2 minutes at 50 x g to remove parenchymal cells. Sinusoidal cells in the supernatant were recovered by centrifugation for 10 minutes at 300 x g. The cells were resuspended in the presence of 28.7% Nycodenz stock solution. The final concentration of Nycodenz at this stage was 11.5%. Following centrifugation for 17 minutes at 1400 x g, The cells at the top of this Nycodenz solution were collected. Cells were resuspended in Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, The cells were seeded in 50 ml culture flask at a density of 500,000 cells/ml, The cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion staining, the purity of hepatic stellate cells was identified by the expression of Desmin using immunocytochemistry method. Endogenous peroxidase staining was used to detect Kupffer cells.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The yield rate of hepatic stellate cells was 3 x 10(7) per rat, the cell viability was more than 95%, the desmin positive cell rate was 90%, no endogenous peroxidase positive cells were detected.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method for the isolation of hepatic stellate cells was developed without Kupffer cells confusion. The availability of highly purified stellate cells will facilitate the investigation of their functions in primary culture.</p>

[Direct determination of trace element arsenic in high purity nickel by GFAAS].

Determination of trace element arsenic in high purity nickel by GFAAS in STPF conditions is described in this paper. The dry time, ashing temperature and atomization temperature are obtained by optimization process. The standard solutions are matched to eliminate the influences of matrix nickel, and nickel is also as the chemical matrix modifier in the detected. The characteristic mass of the method is 1.9 pg, the average relative standard deviation is 1.4%, the recovery rate is in the range of 95%-103%.