Feasibility and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic measurement of portal venous pressure.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The measurement of portal venous pressure (PVP) has been extensively studied, primarily through indirect methods. However, the potential of ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic PVP measurement as a direct method has been largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the accuracy, safety, and feasibility of this approach. METHODS: In vitro, the experiment aimed to select a needle that could accurately transmit pressure, had a small inner diameter and was suitable for liver puncture, and performed on 20 healthy New Zealand white rabbits. An ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic portal vein puncture was undertaken to measure PVP. Additionally, free hepatic venous pressure (FHVP) and wedged hepatic venous pressure (WHVP) were measured under digital subtraction angiography (DSA). The correlation between the two methods was assessed. Enroll study participants from October 18, 2023 to November 11, 2023 with written informed consent. Five patients were measured the PVP under ultrasound guidance before surgery to determine the feasibility of this measurement method. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the results obtained using 9 different types of needles (P > 0.05). This demonstrated a great repeatability (P < 0.05). The 22G chiba needle with small inner diameter, allowing for accurate pressure transmission and suitable for liver puncture, was utilized for percutaneous transhepatic PVP measurement. There were positive correlations between PVP and HVPG (r = 0.881), PVP and WHVP (r = 0.709), HVPG and WHVP (r = 0.729), IVCP and FHVP (r = 0.572). The PVP was accurately and safely measured in 5 patients with segmental hepatectomy. No complications could be identified during postoperative ultrasound. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous transhepatic portal venous puncture under ultrasound guidance is accurate, safe and feasible to measure portal venous pressure. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This study has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry with registration number ChiCTR2300076751.

Utilization of Peptidoglycans from Lactic Acid Bacterial Cell Walls for the Mitigation of Acrylamide and 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural.

Acrylamide (AA) and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), which are potentially carcinogenic to humans, are often produced during the hot processing of foods. This study first used a molecular docking model to simulate the binding behavior of four lactic acid bacteria peptidoglycans (PGNs) to AA/HMF, and the binding rate of LAB-based PGNs to AA/HMF was evaluated in vitro. In silico results show that interaction energy is the driving force responsible for the adsorption of LAB-derived PGNs to AA/HMF. In vitro results showed that the PGN of B. lactis B1-04 bound the most AA (28.7%) and HMF (48.0%), followed by L. acidophilus NCFM, B. breve CICC 6079, and L. plantarum CICC 22135. Moreover, an AA/HMF-bound layer on the cell surface of B. lactis B1-04 was observed via AFM and SEM due to adsorption. XPS analysis indicated the removal rate of AA/HMF by selected strains was positively correlated with the proportion of C-O, C=O, and N-H groups of PGNs. The atoms O1, O2, O3, O4, N1, N2, N3, H1, and H2 are involved in the adsorption of LAB-based PGNs to AA/HMF. Thus, the PGNs derived from these four Lactobacillus strains can be regarded as natural adsorbents for the binding of AA/HMF.

Sodium carboxymethyl celluloses as a cryoprotectant for survival improvement of lactic acid bacterial strains subjected to freeze-drying.

This study investigated the possibility of sodium carboxymethyl celluloses (Na-CMC) in protecting the viability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against freeze-drying stress. 1 % concentration of Na-CMC with a 0.7 substitution degree and viscosity of 1500 to 3100 (MPa.s) was found to protect Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CICC 6098 best, giving a high survival rate of 23.19 ± 0.88 %, high key enzymatic activities, and 28-day storage stability. Additionally, Na-CMC as cryoprotectant provided good protection for other 7 lactic acid bacterial strains subjected to freeze-drying. The highest survival rate was 48.79 ± 0.20 U/mg for ß-GAL, 2.75 ± 0.15 U/mg for Na+-K+-ATPase, and 2.73 ± 0.41 U/mg for Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase as 48.48 ± 0.46 % for freeze-dried Pediococcus pentosaceus CICC 22228. It was Interesting to note that the presence of Na-CMC reduced the freezable water content of the lyophilized powders containing the tested strains through its hydroxyl group, and supplied micro-holes and fibers for protecting the integrated structure of LAB cell membrane and wall against the freezing damage. It is clear that addition of Na-CMC should be promising as a new cryoprotective agent available for processing the lyophilized stater cultures of LAB strains.

Application of transmesenteric vein extrahepatic portosystemic shunt in treatment of symptomatic portal hypertension with cavernous transformation of portal vein.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a transmesenteric vein extrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TmEPS) for the treatment of cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV). Materials and methods: The clinical data of 20 patients with CTPV who underwent TmEPS between December 2020 and January 2022 â€‹at Henan Provincial People's Hospital were retrospectively collected. The superior mesenteric vein (SMV) trunk was patent or partially occluded in these patients. An extrahepatic portosystemic shunt between the inferior vena cava and the SMV was established using a stent graft through an infraumbilical median longitudinal mini-laparotomy. The technical success, efficacy, and complication rates were evaluated, and the pre- and postoperative SMV pressures were compared. Patients' clinical outcomes and shunt patency were assessed. Results: TmEPS was successfully performed in 20 patients. The initial puncture success rate of the balloon-assisted puncture technique is 95%. The mean SMV pressure decreased from 29.1 â€‹± â€‹2.9 â€‹mmHg to 15.6 â€‹± â€‹3.3 â€‹mmHg (p â€‹< â€‹0.001). All symptoms of portal hypertension resolved. No fatal procedural complications occurred. During the follow-up period, hepatic encephalopathy occurred in two patients. The remaining patients remained asymptomatic. All shunts were patent. Conclusions: TmEPS is a feasible, safe, and effective treatment option for patients with CTPV.

Soybean protein isolate treated with transglutaminase (TGase) enhances the heat tolerance of selected lactic acid bacteria strains to spray drying.

TGase treated soy protein isolate (SPI) was confirmed to improve the survival of Lb. bulgaricus CICC 6047 subjected to spray drying. The viability of this strain increased from 70.69 % to 86.01 % due to elevating thermal stability. The smoother bacterial cell surface was observed by TGase treated SPI. TGase treatment changed the secondary conformation of SPI, having α-helical structure increased. Chemical bonds (hydrogen bond, CN bond, NH bond) proved the enzyme-modified SPI to have enhanced resistance to heat. The addition of TGase treated SPI allowed other LAB strains to tolerate the spray drying better. Their survival percentage after spray drying was 83.44 % for Le. mesenteroides CICC 6055, 80.64 % for Lb. acidophilus NCFM, 87.79 % for B. animalis BI-03 and 87.02 % for Lb. plantarum CICC 6009, respectively. The good survival of the selected LAB strains from TGase treated SPI powders was observed during storage of 8 weeks at 4 °C.

Ginkgo biloba extract improves brain uptake of ginsenosides by increasing blood-brain barrier permeability via activating A1 adenosine receptor signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ginkgo biloba leaves and Panax ginseng are Chinese medicine commonly used in combination for cerebral disease. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effect of standard extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves (EGb) on facilitating brain uptake of ginsenoside and its underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The increasing uptake of ginsenosides in the brain of rats by EGb were detected by LC-MS/MS analysis. Evans blue and FITC-dextran leakage were determined to evaluate blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in vivo. Transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) and Na-F penetration rate were measured with a co-culture of the human cerebral microvascular endothelial cell line (hCMEC/D3) and human normal glial cell line (HEB) in vitro BBB model. WB were used to analyzed the expression of BBB tight junctions (TJs) related protein (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-3, p-ERM, and p-MLC), ultrastructure of TJs was determined by transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: LC-MS/MS analysis demonstrated that EGb could improve brain uptake of ginsenoside Rg1, Re, Rd and Rb1. In vivo study showed that, BBB permeability was significantly increased after EGb administration, evidenced by the markedly increased penetration of FITC-dextran and Evans Blue into the mice brain parenchyma. In the in vitro BBB model, reduced TEER and increased Na-F penetration rate was observed in EGb group, which was associated with alteration of TJs ultrastructure. Furthermore, the expression of p-ERM and p-MLC in hCMEC/D3 as well as mice brain microvessels were significantly upregulated, but no significant change on the expression of TJs proteins (ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-3). Moreover, the effect of EGb on in vitro BBB permeability and ERM, MLC phosphorylation was counteracted by DPCPX, an A1 adenosine receptor (A1R) antagonist. CONCLUSIONS: EGb might induce ERM/MLC phosphorylation and increase the cell-cell junction gaps to cause a reversible increase of the BBB permeability via A1R signaling pathway. Our results may contribute to better use of EGb in the treatment of brain diseases.

Modulation of VDR and Cell Cycle-Related Proteins by Vitamin D in Normal Pancreatic Cells and Poorly Differentiated Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Cells.

Many in vitro studies support the general idea that vitamin D plays a protective role against cancer. Increased doses of vitamin D dietary supplements have been widely used for the potential anticancer benefits of vitamin D. However, despite substantial epidemiological research, there are no clear conclusive data to support the use of vitamin D as a cancer preventive or treatment agent. In the, herein, reported study, we checked the effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 concentrations on the expression level of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and cell cycle-related proteins CDKN1A (p21) and CDK1 in pancreatic cells and Panc-1 pancreatic cancer (PC) cells. We found that VDR, CDKN1A, and CDK1 were upregulated by an increase in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 concentration in normal pancreatic cells but not in the advanced cancer cell line Panc-1 from poorly differentiated metastatic PC cells. A further increase in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 concentration above the physiological range significantly downregulated the expression of VDR, indicating that VDR is modulated by VDR levels to maintain normal functioning during dramatic variations in vitamin D concentration. By increasing the level of cell cycle inhibitory and promoting proteins p21 and CDK1, vitamin D theoretically has both preventive and promoting effects on pancreatic cell division.

A method for extracting oil from cherry seed by ultrasonic-microwave assisted aqueous enzymatic process and evaluation of its quality.

In order to increase the utilization of cherry seeds, ultrasonic-microwave assisted aqueous enzymatic extraction (UMAAEE) was used to extract cherry seed oil. Parameters of UMAAEE were optimized by Plackett-Burman design followed by Box-Behnken design. The oil recovery of 83.85 ± 0.78% was obtained under optimum extraction conditions of a 2.7% concentration of enzyme cocktail comprising cellulase, hemicellulase and pectinase (1/1/1, w/w/w), ultrasonic power of 560 W, microwave power of 323 W, extraction time of 38 min, extraction temperature of 40 °C, enzymolysis temperature of 40 °C, pH of 3.5, liquid to solid ratio of 12 mL/g, enzymolysis time of 240 min and particle size less than 0.425 mm. There were no significant differences in the fatty acid compositions of cheery seed oil by UMAAEE and Soxhlet extraction, and oil by UMAAEE possessed superior physicochemical properties and higher content of bioactive constituents. Scanning electron microscopy illustrated that enzyme hydrolysis and ultrasonic-microwave treatment causing the structural degradation of cherry seed was the main driving force for extraction. In this study, all results suggest that UMAAEE is an effective method to extract cherry seed oil.

Microwave-assisted extraction of silkworm pupal oil and evaluation of its fatty acid composition, physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities.

Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of oil from silkworm pupae was firstly performed in the present research. The response surface methodology was applied to optimize the parameters for MAE. The yield of oil by MAE was 30.16% under optimal conditions of a mixed solvent consisting of ethanol and n-hexane (1:1, v/v), microwave power (360W), liquid to solid ratio (7.5/1mL/g), microwave time (29min). Moreover, oil extracted by MAE was quantitatively (yield) and qualitatively (fatty acid profile) similar to those obtained using Soxhlet extraction (SE), but oil extracted by MAE exhibited favourable physicochemical properties and oxidation stability. Additionally, oil extracted by MAE had a higher content of total phenolic, and it showed stronger antioxidant activities. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that microwave technique efficiently promoted the release of oil by breaking down the cell structure of silkworm pupae. Therefore, MAE can be an effective method for the silkworm pupal oil extraction.

Organocatalytic enantioselective Michael addition of cyclic hemiacetals to nitroolefins: a facile access to chiral substituted 5- and 6-membered cyclic ethers.

An efficient aminocatalytic enantioselective Michael addition of readily available cyclic hemiacetals to nitroolefins has been developed. The strategy serves as a powerful approach to synthetically valuable chiral 3-substituted tetrahydrofurans (THFs) and tetrahydropyrans (THPs). The synthetic utilities of the versatile Michael adducts also have been demonstrated in the synthesis of 2,3-disubstituted cyclic ethers, α-substituted lactones and venlafaxine analogues.

Tunable, multiwavelength Tm-doped fiber laser based on polarization rotation and four-wave-mixing effect.

We propose and demonstrate a tunable multiwavelength fiber laser employing polarization-maintaining Tm-doped fiber based on polarization rotation and four-wave-mixing effect. Polarization-maintaining Tm-doped fiber and polarization controllers were employed to manipulate the polarization modes in the laser, and 400 m long single-mode passive fiber was used to enhance the four-wave-mixing effect and suppress the polarization mode competition. Stable fiber laser operation of 1-6 wavelengths around 1.9 µm was achieved at room temperatures. The wavelengths can be tuned through adjusting the polarization controllers. The optical signal-to-noise ratio of the laser is more than 31 dB. The wavelength shift is less than 0.05 nm and the peak fluctuation of each wavelength is analyzed. For most of the wavelengths the peak fluctuations are less than 3 dB and the peak fluctuations of wavelengths with more stability are below 1.5 dB.