Evaluation of Relationship between Occurrence of Liver Cancer and Methylation of Fragile Histidine Triad (FHIT) and P16 Genes.

BACKGROUND We examined the level of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) and p16 gene methylation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and explored the relationship to liver cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS There were 56 patients with primary liver cancer who were admitted to the hospital from July 2015 to October 2017 included in the liver cancer group, and 24 non-hepatoma patients (hepatitis A/hepatitis B/hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis, liver fibrosis, and fatty liver, alcoholic liver identified as a control group. Fasting venous blood samples were collected from the 2 groups. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect the methylation of FHIT and p16 genes in the 2 groups. The risk factors for lung cancer were analyzed by logistic regression. In addition, the effects of FHIT and p16 gene methylation on the diagnostic accuracy of liver cancer were calculated. RESULTS The incidence of FHIT and p16 methylation in serum from the liver cancer group was 51.8% and 67.9%, respectively. The incidence of FHIT and p16 methylation in the non-hepatoma group was 16.7% and 25.0%. There was a statistical statistically correlated with gender, and the methylation of FHIT and p16 genes (P<0.05). From logistic regression analysis results, methylation of p16 and FHIT genes was an independent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma with odds ratio (OR) values of 10.550 (2.313~48.116) and 8.239 (2.386~28.455), respectively. CONCLUSIONS The methylation of p16 and FHIT genes was an independent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Three-dimensional hydrogel culture conditions promote the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into hepatocytes.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are becoming increasingly popular in research endeavors due to their potential for clinical application; however, such application is challenging due to limitations such as inferior function and low induction efficiency. In this study, we aimed to establish a three-dimensional (3D) culture condition to mimic the environment in which hepatogenesis occurs in vivo to enhance the differentiation of hiPSCs for large-scale culture and high throughput BAL application. METHODS: We used hydrogel to create hepatocyte-like cell (HLC) spheroids in a 3D culture condition and analyzed the cell-behavior and differentiation properties of hiPSCs in a synthetic nanofiber scaffold. RESULTS: We found that treating cells with Y-27632 promoted the formation of spheroids, and the cells aggregated more rapidly in a 3D culture condition. The ALB secretion, urea production and glycogen synthesis by HLCs in 3D were significantly higher than those grown in a 2-dimensional culture condition. In addition, the metabolic activities of the CYP450 enzymes were also higher in cells differentiated in the 3D culture condition. CONCLUSIONS: 3D hydrogel culture condition can promote differentiation of hiPSCs into hepatocytes. The 3D culture approach could be applied to the differentiation of hiPSCs into hepatocytes for bioartificial liver.

Internal compared with external drainage of pancreatic duct during pancreaticoduodenectomy: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare internal with external drainage of the pancreatic duct during pancreaticoduodenectomy with regard to the incidence of postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) and other complications. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 316 patients who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with a placed drainage tube (external, n=128; internal, n=188) in the pancreatic duct from 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2011 in Tianjin Third Central Hospital of China. The incidence of POPF and some other complications were compared. RESULTS: There was no difference in the incidence rates of POPF between those given an internal or external drainage tube (P=0.788), but POPF was more severe in the former (P=0.014). Intraperitoneal bleeding rate was also higher in the patients with internal drainage (P=0.040), but operative time and postoperative hospitalization were longer in those with external drainage (P=0.002 and P=0.007, respectively). There was no difference between the groups with regard to the incidence rates of gastrointestinal bleeding, delayed gastric emptying, pulmonary infection, or incision infection and in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: External drainage of the pancreatic duct during pancreaticoduodenectomy can decrease the severity of POPF, but operative time and postoperative hospitalization will be extended.

Hepatectomised patient sera promote hepatocyte differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells.

BACKGROUND: Human induced pluripotent stem cells, which can be differentiated into hepatocyte-like cells, could provide a source for liver regeneration and bio-artificial liver devices. However, the functionality of hepatocyte-like cells is significantly lower than that of primary hepatocytes. AIMS: To investigate whether serum from patients undergoing hepatectomy might promote differentiation from human induced pluripotent stem cells to hepatocyte-like cells. METHODS: Serum from patients undergoing hepatectomy (acquired pre-hepatectomy and 3 hours, 1 day and 3 days post-hepatectomy) was used to replace foetal bovine serum when differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells into hepatocyte-like cells. Properties of hepatocyte-like cells were assessed and compared with cells cultured in foetal bovine serum. RESULTS: The differentiation efficiency and functionality of hepatocyte-like cells cultured in human serum 3 hours and 1 day post-hepatectomy were superior to those cultured in foetal bovine serum and human serum pre-hepatectomy. Human serum 3 days post-hepatectomy had an equal effect to that of human serum pre-hepatectomy. Some cytochrome P450 isozyme transcript levels of hepatocyte-like cells cultured in human serum were higher than those cultured in foetal bovine serum. CONCLUSION: Human serum, particularly that acquired relatively soon after hepatectomy, can enhance the differentiation efficiency and functionality of hepatocyte-like cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells.