Prediction of the Severity of Liver Fibrosis in Rats Using Quantitative Ultrasound Index / 中国医科大学学报

Objective To assess the ability of quantitative ultrasound index to predict the severity of CCl4?induced liver fibrosis in a rat model us?ing logistic regression analysis. Methods In a rat model of 40%CCl4?induced liver fibrosis,ultrasound detected the portal vein diameter,blood flow velocity,and Young's modulus. The degree of hepatic fibrosis was determined using a light microscope after hematoxylin and eosin staining of tissue. Results Portal vein diameter and Young's modulus were useful predictors of the severity of liver fibrosis,with statistical significance(P<0.05). Young's modulus was most effective with an R2 value 0.788. Young's modulus combined with the distal diameter of portal vein effectively improved the predictive ability,showing an R2 value 0.821. Conclusion Young's modulus is the most predictive index to assess the severity of liver fibrosis. A combination of multiple indices can improve the ability to predict the severity of liver fibrosis.

The role of PinX1 in growth control of breast cancer cells and its potential molecular mechanism by mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles screening.

As a major tumor suppressor gene, the role of PinX1 in breast cancer and its molecular mechanism remain unclear. In this study, overexpression of PinX1 was generated in 3 breast cancer cell lines, and knockdown of PinX1 was performed in a nontumorigenic breast cell line. The regulation of PinX1 on cell proliferation and cell cycle was observed. A microarray-based lncRNA and mRNA expression profile screening was also performed. We found a lower growth rate, G0/G1 phase arrest, and S phase inhibition in the PinX1 overexpressed breast cancer cells, while a higher growth rate, decreased G0/G1 phase, and increased S phase rate in the PinX1 knocked-down nontumorigenic breast cell. A total of 977 mRNAs and 631 lncRNAs were identified as differentially expressed transcripts between PinX1 overexpressed and control MCF-7 cells. Further analysis identified the involvement of these mRNAs in 52 cancer related pathways and various other biological processes. 11 enhancer-like lncRNAs and 25 lincRNAs with their adjacent mRNA pairs were identified as coregulated transcripts. Our results confirmed the role of PinX1 as a major tumor suppressor gene in breast cancer cell lines and provided information for further research on the molecular mechanisms of PinX1 in tumorigenesis.

Posterior screw-rod fixation for idiopathic scoliosis:factors affecting the results / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Idiopathic scoliosis is most common among al the scoliosis. Accompanied by the nervous system, the endocrine system as wel as nutritional and metabolic abnormalities, patients usual y cannot be redressed and cured by conservative treatment, but often require surgical operation. Surgery for malformation is a very complicated project, and is real y of great significance for an in-depth research on treatment and turnover of idiopathic scoliosis. OBJECTIVE:To observe the correction effect of posterior screw-rod fixation for idiopathic scoliosis, and explore the relevant factors influencing its effectiveness. METHODS:We retrospectively analyzed 80 cases receiving pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis in the latest four years. Age, gender, disease duration, preoperative and postoperative X-ray measurement of coronal Cobb’s angle, and trunk deviation were recorded, and statistical y analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Univariate analysis showed that gender and disease duration were not significantly correlated with postoperative correction results (P>0.05). However, the age distribution of patients, the location of scoliosis, and scoliosis flexibility were associated with curative effects of internal fixation (P<0.05). Posterior screw-rod fixation for idiopathic scoliosis can achieve significant effects. The patient’s age, location and flexibility of scoliosis have a significant effect on the effects of fixation. The patient’s gender and disease duration had no significant effect on fixation effects.

Effects of anterior fusion cage fixation on cervical curvature, stability and axial symptoms / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:The combination of anterior and posterior approaches for severe cervical intervertebral disk herniation, posterior longitudinal ligament calcification and ligament flava hyperplasia can completely reduce compression. Simultaneously, cage implantation and anterior plate fixation partial y recover vertebral interspace and physiological curvature of cervical vertebra. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effects of cervical posterior single-door laminoplasty for cervical spondylosis and anterior cage-assisted fusion on curvature, stability and axial symptoms after treatment. METHODS:Clinical data of 50 patients, who received surgical treatment for cervical spondylosis, were retrospectively analyzed. 22 cases underwent I-stage spinal decompression by the combination of anterior and posterior approaches (anterior fusion cage+steel plate fixation) (combination group). 28 cases underwent cervical posterior single-door laminoplasty (posterior windowing rivet fixation) (posterior approach group). They were fol owed up for 6 to 24 months. The recovery of neurological function, incidence of axial symptoms, cervical curvature index, and slipping degree of affected intervertebral segments were analyzed statistical y. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The neurological functions were greatly improved according to Japanese Orthopaedic Association in both groups. Incidence of axial symptoms was relatively low in the combination group. Cervical curvature index was obviously improved in the combination group compared with the posterior approach group. The slipping degree of affected intervertebral segments was relatively greater in the posterior approach group than that in the combination group. Results suggested that fusion cage, anterior steel plate and posterior rivet for spinal decompression in I-stage combination of anterior and posterior approaches can effectively maintain cervical physiological curvature and the balance of sagittal level, reduce incidence of axial symptoms, and play a key effect on keeping posttreatment long-period cervical stability.

Role of the IGF-1/PI3K pathway and the molecular mechanism of Fuzhenghuayu therapy in a spontaneous recovery rat model of liver fibrosis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the role of IGF-1/PI3K pathway and investigate the molecular mechanism of Fuzhenghuayu (FZHY) therapy in a spontaneous recovery rat model of liver fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The liver fibrosis model was induced in male Wistar rats by administering 8 weeks of twice weekly CCL4 intraperitoneal injections without (untreated model) or with once daily FZHY (treated model). Normal, untreated rats served as the control group. At weeks 4, 6 and 8 (fibrosis) and 10, 12 and 14 (spontaneous recovery) after modeling initiation, effects on protein (a-SMA, IGF-1, PI3K) and mRNA (IGF-1, PI3K) expression levels were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. Serum markers of liver function (alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)) and liver cell damage (alkaline hydrolysis, HYP) were measured. Histology was performed to assess the degree of inflammation and fibrosis (Ishak scoring system).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the untreated model group, progression of liver fibrosis (weeks 4, 6 and 8) was accompanied by gradual increases in inflammation, necrosis, serum ALT and AST, and hepatic expression of a-SMA protein and IGF-1 and PI3K protein and mRNA; however, during the spontaneous recovery period (weeks 10, 12 and 14) the IGF-1 and PI3K protein and mRNA levels rapidly decreased and the HYP level, Ishak score, and a-SMA hepatic expression also decreased. The FZHY-treated model group showed significantly lower fibrosis-related up-regulation of IGF-1 and PI3K protein and mRNA expression, HYP level, Ishak score, and a-SMA hepatic expression at each time point (vs. untreated model group).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The IGF-1/PI3K pathway may contribute to progression of liver fibrosis. The mechanism by which FZHY prevents liver fibrosis in a rat model may involve blocking of the IGF/PI3K pathway and inhibiting HSC activation.</p>

Impurity state and variable range hopping conduction in graphene.

The variable range hopping theory, as formulated for exponentially localized impurity states, does not necessarily apply in the case of graphene with covalently attached impurities. We analyze the localization of impurity states in graphene using the nearest-neighbor, tight-binding model of an adatom-graphene system with Green's function perturbation methods. The amplitude of the impurity state wave function is determined to decay as a power law with exponents depending on sublattice, direction, and the impurity species. We revisit the variable range hopping theory in view of this result and find that the conductivity depends as a power law of the temperature with an exponent related to the localization of the wave function. We show that this temperature dependence is in agreement with available experimental results.

Histogram of ultrasound in diagnosing and grading of fatty liver / 中国医学影像技术

Objective To explore the value of the histogram of ultrasound in diagnosing and grading of fatty liver. Methods Ninety subjects were enrolled in normal group, light or moderate to severe fatty liver group (each n=30), respectively. All the subjects underwent histogram of ultrasound of the liver, kidney, spleen and right hepatic vein (RHV), and the ratio of histogram M value of different area were analyzed. Results Statistical differences of the ratio of histogram M value of anterior hepatic tissue of kidney and kidney (AntK) between normal group and two fatty liver groups were detected (P<0.05). The ratio of histogram M value of anterior hepatic tissue of RHV and RHV (AntV) between the normal group and moderate to severe fatty liver group, as well as the light and moderate to severe fatty liver group had statistical differences (P<0.05). When 0.97, 0.78 were used respectively as the critical value of the ratio of histogram M value in diagnosing and grading of fatty liver at AntK and AntV, the sensitivity was all 80.00% and 80.00%, specificity was 85.00% and 70.00%, respectively. Conclusion The ratio of histogram M value of AntK, AntV can be used as the referent index in diagnosing and grading of fatty liver.