Progress on the study of nucleosome reorganization during cellular reprogramming.

Cellular reprogramming is the process during which epigenetic markers of nuclear genome are deleted and remodeled during sperm-egg binding or nuclear transplantation, thereby rendering differentiated cells totipotent. The main cellular reprogramming methods are cell fusion, somatic cell nuclear transplantation, and induced pluripotent stem cells. Nucleosomes are the basic structural and functional units of chromatin, and nucleosome localization has an important role in regulating gene expression and the state of the cell. The occupancy and location of nucleosomes also change dramatically during cellular reprogramming, while the occupancy of nucleosomes around the transcriptional start site also decreases to promote the expression of pluripotency genes. In this review, we summarize the role of nucleosome localization in gene activation and repression, chromatin remodeling, and transcription factor recognition, with the aim of providing an important basis for an in-depth analysis of cellular reprogramming mechanisms.

Tenofovir vs. entecavir on recurrence of hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma beyond Milan criteria after hepatectomy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond the Milan criteria is shown to be beneficial. However, a high rate of post-operative HCC recurrence hinders the long-term survival of the patients. This study aimed to investigate and compare the impacts of tenofovir (TDF) and entecavir (ETV) on the recurrence of hepatitis B viral (HBV)-related HCC beyond the Milan criteria.@*METHODS@#Data pertaining to 1532 patients who underwent hepatectomy and received antiviral therapy between January 2014 and January 2019 were collected from five centers. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was performed to determine prognostic factors for HCC recurrence.@*RESULTS@#The analysis incorporates 595 HBV-related HCC patients. The overall 5-year RFS was 21.3%. Among them, 533 and 62 patients received ETV and TDF treatment, respectively. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year RFS rates were 46.3%, 27.4%, and 19.6%, respectively, in the ETV group compared with 65.1%, 41.8%, and 37.2%, respectively, in the TDF group (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that TDF treatment (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.604, P = 0.005), cirrhosis (HR: 1.557, P = 0.004), tumor size (HR: 1.037, P = 0.008), microvascular invasion (MVI) (HR: 1.403, P = 0.002), portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) (HR: 1.358, P = 0.012), capsular invasion (HR: 1.228, P = 0.040), and creatinine levels (CREA) (HR: 0.993, P = 0.031) were statistically significant prognostic factors associated with RFS.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Patients with HCC beyond the Milan criteria exhibited a high rate of HCC recurrence after hepatectomy. Compared to the ETV therapy, TDF administration significantly lowered the risk of HCC recurrence.

Portal vein flow rate used as a early predictor of portal vein thrombosis after periesophagastric devascularization / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the predictive value of portal vein flow rate preoperative for portal vein thrombosis (PVT) after periesophagastric devascularization in hepatitis B cirrhosis-related portal hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2007 to July 2008, 45 patients with portal hypertension caused by hepatitis B cirrhosis were performed splenectomy with peri-esophagogastric devascularization in the same medical group in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. The portal vein flow rate and the diameter of portal vein were measured with doppler sonography respectively before and after the operation. At the same time, the level of PT and PLT were detected. The weight of spleens were measured after operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirteen cases suffered from PVT postoperatively. Portal vein flow rate was significantly lower in patients with PVT postoperation than that in patients without PVT (P < 0.01). In patients with PVT (n = 13) postoperation, the preoperative portal vein flow rate was (19.5 +/- 5.3) cm/s. Among the 13 cases, there were 12 cases whose flow rate were lower than 25 cm/s, and 1 case whose flow rate was 32. 3 cm/s; In patients without PVT (n = 32), the preoperative portal vein flow rate was (9.6 +/- 8.0) cm/s. In patients with lower rate (n = 17), the incidence rate of PVT was 70.6%; in patients with higher rate (n = 28), the incidence rate of PVT was 3.6%. The incidence rate of PVT in patients with lower rate was significantly lower than patients with higher rate (P < 0.01). The diameter of portal vein in patients with PVT was significantly wider than patients without PVT. The diameter of portal vein was negative correlative with the portal vein flow rate. The value 25 cm/s was of diagnostic efficiency, the sensitivity was 92.3%, and specificity was 70.6%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The portal vein flow rate preoperative can be used as an early predictor of portal vein thrombosis after periesophagastric devascularization in hepatitis B cirrhosis-related portal hypertension to give a guide to clinical work.</p>

Liver functions after periesophagogastric devascularization / 中华普通外科杂志

Objective To observe changes of hepatic hemodynamics and hepatic functional reserve after splenectomy and periesophagogastric devascularization. Methods From July 2006 to August 2007, thirty patients with portal hypertension caused by hepatitis B cirrhosis underwent splenectomy and periesophagogastric devascuiarization. The PVPG (portal venous pressure gradient) was measured by inductor continually during operation. The HAF (hepatic artery flow), PVF (portal venours flow) and hepatic arterial RI(resistant index) were measured with Doppler sonography. The EHBF(effective hepatic blood flow) and ICGR15 (indocyaninegreen retention rate at 15 minutes) were obtained respectively by indocyaninegreen clearance test before and after the operation. Results PVPG after laparotomy (19±4) mm Hg, ligating the splenic artery(14±4) mm Hg, splenectomy(14±3)mm Hg and periesophagogastric devascularization (12±4) mm Hg showed a tendency to decrease progressively. The PVF decreased [from (42±14) ml/s to (16±8) ml/s] and HAF increased in compensation after operation. The EHBF increased [from (0.48±0.10) L/min to (0.56±0.10) L/min], and the ICGR15 decreased (from 23%±8% to 18%±4%) postoperatively. Conclusion After splenectomy and periesophagogastric devascularization, the hepatic functional reserve improves at least in a short term notwithstanding the decrease of PVPG and PVF.