Effects of Zhenggan Huayu decoction combined with entecavir on gut microbiota in patients with chronic hepatitis B fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of Zhenggan Huayu decoction (, ZGHY) combined with entecavir (ETV) on the gut microbiota in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) fibrosis. METHODS: A total of 59 CHB-related fibrosis patients were enrolled and treated with ZGHY combined with ETV (ZGHY + ETV) and ETV alone. Fecal samples were collected from patients at weeks 0, 12, and 24 after treatment and gut microbiota were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. RESULTS: Compared to the ETV group, microbiota diversity in the ZGHY + ETV group was increased after 24 weeks. Some potentially pathogenic bacteria, including spp., spp., and spp. were reduced in the ZGHY + ETV group, while spp., spp., and several other beneficial bacteria were increased. CONCLUSION: Decreases in pathogenic bacteria and increases in probiotics were not always observed in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) group (e.g., was abundant). As an adjuvant TCM formulation for ETV, ZGHY had a positive role in the treatment of CHB patients.

Production of Functional Hepatobiliary Organoids from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

The research on human hepatobiliary development and disorders has been constrained by minimal access to human fetal tissue, and low accuracy of animal models. To overcome this problem, we have established a system for the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into functional hepatobiliary organoids (HBOs). We have previously reported that our 45-d approach closely mimics key stages of hepatobiliary development, starting with the differentiation of hiPSC into endoderm and a small part of mesoderm, and subsequently into hepatoblast-like cells, followed by the parallel generation of hepatocyte-like cells and cholangiocyte-like cells, formation of immature HBO expressing early hepatic and biliary markers, and mature HBO displaying hepatobiliary functionality. In this study, we present an updated version of our previous protocol, which only needs 35 days to achieve maturation in vitro. Furthermore, a hepatobiliary culture medium is developed to functionally maintain the HBOs for more than 1.5 months. The capacity of this approach for producing large amounts of functional HBOs and enabling long-term culture in vitro holds promise for applications on developmental research, disease modeling, as well as screening of therapeutic agents.

Analgesic efficacy of ultrasound?guided adductor canal blockade after minor arthroscopic knee surgery / 实用医学杂志

Objective To investigate the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound?guided adductor canal blockade (ACB)after minor arthroscopic knee surgery. Methods Sixty patients undergone minor arthroscopic knee surgery were randomly divided into group ACB(n=20)and group Control(n=20). All patients received spinal anesthesia. The patients in group ACB received ultrasound?gGuided ACB with 20 ml 0.5% ropivacaine,and patients in group Control received 20 ml saline after the surgery. In addition ,all patients have a basic analgesic regimen with etoricoxib. Visual analogue scales(VAS) during rest and passive movement ,additional analgesic dose and side effects were recorded at 4,8,12,24 h Post?operation. At 24 h post?operation,the numbers of patients who can walk for 5 meters were recorded. Results VAS during rest and movement at 4 h,8 h and 12 h post?operation in group ACB were significantly lower than those in group Control. And all patients could walk 5m at 24 h post?operation. No headache,nausea and vomiting,urinary retention and other adverse reactions were observed in group ACB. There were four patients who received additional analgesic and one patient vomitted. Conclusions Significant analgesic effect of the ACB could be detected after minor arthroscopic knee surgery ,with less reduction in requirements for supplemental opioids.

An exprimental study on AZD5363 suppressing cholangiocarcinoma cells / 中华普通外科杂志

Objective To investigate the effect of Akt pathway inhibitor AZD5363 on cell proliferation and invasion of QBC939 and RBE cholangiocarcinoma cells and the mechanism.Methods Western blotting was used to detect Akt and downstream protein and mTOR protein expression in two cancer cell lines after process by AZD5363.Inhibition rate and cytotoxicity was tested by CCK-8 assay,and Transwell assay was used to evaluate the invasive ability of cancer cells.Results QBC9393 cell exposed to AZD5363 LD50 drug concentration (24 ±9) was significantly different compared with control group (t =4.47,P ＜ 0.05),RBE cells LD50 drug concentration (21 ± 8) was significantly different compared with control (t =4.41,P ＜ 0.05).Tumor invasion capacity of QBC939 in drug concentrations of 20 μmol/L (63 ± 12) and 0 μmoL/L (271 ± 27),the difference was statistically significant.RBE exposed AZD5363 upon drug concentrations of 20 μmol/L (58 ± 23) and 0 μmol/L (235 ± 21),the difference was statistically significant.AZD5363 promotes phosphorylation of mTOR in QBC939.Conclusions AZD5363 inhibits the proliferation and migration,inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream molecules.AZD5363 promotes phosphorylation of mTOR in QBC939.