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AIM: To investigate the histological characteristics and ultrastructure of recurrent Chinese R124L mutated corneal dystrophy after keratoplasty. METHODS: The subjects were enrolled from a Chinese family of corneal dystrophy with R124L heterozygous gene mutation and with a history of consanguineous marriage. Normal corneal samples were used as controls. RESULTS: In this family, 2 patients (3 eyes) underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) and 2 patients (4 eyes) underwent lamellar keratoplasty (LKP). They had recurrence at 33.5±3.0 (range 30-36)mo after keratoplasty. Among them, 1 patient (1 eye) underwent PKP again and 1 patient (2 eyes) underwent LKP again. In the R124L mutated recurrent corneal dystrophy, the corneal turbidity was mainly distributed from the upper corneal cortex to the anterior stroma; the corneal epithelium surface was rougher and more uneven; and, the corneal erosions were larger. Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the thickness of the corneal epithelium was uneven; the arrangement of the epithelial cells was disordered; and, some corneal epithelial cells were swollen. The results of Congo red staining, Masson's trichrome staining and Periodic acid-Schiff staining were positive, while that of Alcian blue staining was negative. Under a transmission electron microscope, deposition of high electron density substances between epithelial and basal cells, and, apoptosis of basal cells were observed. Many high electron density depositions were observed in the sub-epithelial and anterior corneal matrix. CONCLUSION: In the Chinese family of recurrent corneal dystrophy with R124L gene mutation, the corneal epithelia of the recurrent cases are rougher, and the corneal depositions are extracellular amyloid fibrin.
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Background and Aims: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a rare, but dramatic clinical syndrome. There is substantial evidence suggesting that immunity-mediated inflammation plays an important role in HBV-ACLF. Our aim was to characterize the proportion and cell counts of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in acute-on-chronic liver failure patients caused by HBV infection. Methods: One hundred and seventeen patients were enrolled in this study, including those with HBV-related ACLF (HBV-ACLF; n = 70), and HBV related non-ACLF patients (HBV non-ACLF; n = 47). Demographics, clinical and laboratory data at hospital admission were retrospectively analyzed. The percentage and cell count of peripheral lymphocyte subsets were evaluated by flow cytometry. Comparison analysis was performed by t-test or non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test. Actuarial probabilities of death were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Both circulating lymphocyte count and lymphocyte percentage were significantly reduced in patients with HBV-ACLF (P < 0.001). The CD8+ T cell, CD4+ T cell, and CD16+CD56+ NK cell counts were significantly decreased in HBV-ACLF. Consistently, flow cytometric analysis showed that CD8+ T cell counts were significantly decreased in non-survivors, while no significant differences were found in CD4+ T cell, CD19+ B cell, or CD56+CD16+ NK cell counts. Furthermore, the group with the lower CD8+ T cell count displayed a significantly higher mortality rate compared with the group with the higher CD8+ T cell count. Conclusions: The abnormal prevalence of lymphocyte subsets may be important in the pathogenesis of HBV-ACLF. The decrease in CD8+ T cell counts may be related to poor survival in HBV-ACLF patients.
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Bile acids (BAs) are classically known to play a vital role in the metabolism of lipids and in absorption. It is now well established that BAs act as signaling molecules, activating different receptors (such as farnesoid X receptor, vitamin D receptor, Takeda G-protein-coupled receptor 5, sphingosine-1-phosphate, muscarinic receptors, and big potassium channels) and participating in the regulation of energy homeostasis and lipid and glucose metabolism. In addition, increased BAs can impair cardiovascular function in liver cirrhosis. Approximately 50% of patients with cirrhosis develop cirrhotic cardiomyopathy. Exposure to high concentrations of hydrophobic BAs has been shown to be related to adverse effects with respect to vascular tension, endothelial function, arrhythmias, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, and heart failure. The BAs in the serum BA pool have relevant through their hydrophobicity, and the lipophilic BAs are more harmful to the heart. Interestingly, ursodeoxycholic acid is a hydrophilic BA, and it is used as a therapeutic drug to reverse and protect the harmful cardiac effects caused by hydrophobic elevated BAs. In order to elucidate the mechanism of BAs and cardiovascular function, abundant experiments have been conducted in vitro and in vivo. The aim of this review was to explore the mechanism of BAs in the cardiovascular system.