[Current situation of screening, prevention and treatment of bleeding esophageal varices in cirrhotic portal hypertension in Tibet region: a multicenter study].

Objective: To investigate and analyze the current situation, screening, clinical characteristics, prevention and treatment of bleeding esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension in Tibet region. Methods: Clinical data of cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension through March 2017 to February 2020 from Tibet region were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results: 511 cases with liver cirrhosis were included in the study, of which 185 cases (36.20%) had compensated cirrhosis and 326 cases (63.80%) had decompensated cirrhosis. Further analysis of the etiological data of liver cirrhosis showed that 306 cases (59.88%) were of chronic hepatitis B, 113 cases (22.11%) of alcoholic liver disease, and 68 cases (13.31%) of chronic hepatitis B combined with alcoholic liver disease. Among patients with compensated liver cirrhosis, 48 cases (25.95%) underwent endoscopic examination of which 33 diagnosed as high-risk variceal bleeding. However, none of these 33 cases had received non-selective ß-blocker therapy, and only four patients had received endoscopic variceal banding therapy. Among patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, 83 cases (25.46%) had a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, 297 cases (91.10%) had ascites, 23 cases (7.05%) had hepatic encephalopathy, and 3 cases (0.92%) had hepatorenal syndrome. Among the patients with a history of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, 42 cases (50.60%) had received secondary preventive treatment for bleeding esophageal varices, including 39 cases of endoscopic treatment, 1 case of endoscopic combined drug treatment, 3 cases of interventional treatment, and 2 cases of surgical treatment. Conclusion: Chronic hepatitis B and alcoholic liver diseases are the main causes of liver cirrhosis in Tibet region. Moreover, this region lacks screening, prevention and treatment for bleeding esophageal varices in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the screening of high-risk groups to prevent and improve the first-time bleeding, and promote multidisciplinary team to prevent and treat re-bleeding.

[Developing a canine vocal fold scar model by CO2 laser and studying the LOX, HSP70 and HA expression in its extra celluar matrix].

Objective:Building a canine vocal fold scar model and analyzing the changes in morphology, histopathology and related factors of extra cellular matrix (ECM) of vocal cord healing at different time periods.Method:Five experimental dogs were randomly divided into the control group(one dog) and the experimental group (four dogs). No special treatment was done on the control group, and the experimental group was given CO2 laser through laryngoscope with minimally invasive surgery on bilateral vocal cords. Observation of the morphological changes of injured vocal cords was made at five different time, pre-operation and 6 h, 3 w, 8 w and 12 w post-operation. HE staining, immunofluorescence, were used respectively to observe the histopathological and ultrastructural changes of each layer of vocal cord. Observation were made on the changing pattern of lysyl oxidase (LOX), heat shock proteins70 (HSP70), and the integrated optical density index (IOD) of Hyaluronic acid (HA) in vocal cord tissues. Result:①Laryngoscope shows there were mild congestion and edema and inflammatory exudation on the wound surface of vocal cord 3w post-operation. On the wound surface of vocal cord 8 w post-operation, the congestion and edema disappear, the local contraction sink, and no adhesion and granulation form. 12 w post-operation, the surface of the vocal cord was smooth, there were local contractures, vocal fold scar form, and hoarseness in the bilateral vocal cords was obvious. ②HE staining shows 6 h post-operation there were a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration, red blood cell leakage, and cell congestion and edema on the wound surface of vocal cord. 3 w post-operation, there were fibroblast proliferation, angiogenesis, and a large number of fibrous tissues disorderly arranged on the wound surface of vocal cord. 8w post-operation, each layer of fibrous tissues were in hyperplasia and the blood vessels was thicken after on the wound surface of vocal cord, 12 w post-operation, a large number of collagens increases and were in group or fasciculation disorder. There were many irregular gaps in fibers, and blood vessels and glands become rare or disappear. ③The immunofluorescence showed LOX, HSP70 and HA were all localized in the cellular cytoplasm and nucleus. The expression levels were different at different postoperative time, and they were mainly relatively strong expressed in the inflammatory cells, vascular endothelial cells and the glands. ④The comparison of IOD values: The IOD values of LOX were different at different time periods (P< 0.05). There were no significant differences in IOD of HSP70 between pre-operation and 12 w post-operation, but there are significant differences among other groups (P< 0.05). There were no significant differences in IOD of HA between pre-operation and 12 w post-operation, but there were significant differences among other groups (P< 0.01). ⑤The expression of LOX decreased 6h post-operation and increased 3-12 w post-operation. The expression of HSP70 post-operation reached the peak 6 h post-operation and decreased 3-12 w post-operation. The expression of HA decreased 6 h post-operation, increased to the peak 8 w post-operation, and decreased 8-12 w post-operation.⑥The transmission electron microscope showed 3 w to 8 w post-operation, in the intrinsic layer of the vocal cord, the fibroblasts were extremely active, the cells swelled, and the organelles were abundant.12 w post-operation, there were a small number of fibroblasts in the active state, and larger gaps between the fibers and fewer and thinner elastic fibers. Conclusion:CO2 laser ablation of vocal cords under the Micro Post-Laryngoscope could establish reliable animal model of vocal fold scar, and 12 w reticular the vocal fold scars basically form. LOX, HSP70, HA play different roles at early, middle, and late stages in the vocal fold scar formation, and they can be used as a more sensitive index for vocal fold scar formation.

Effect of age of winter flounder on some properties of the sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) from winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) of various ages was investigated with regard to fluorescent age pigment (FAP), potential of enzymic lipid peroxidation, fatty acid composition, protein pattern and Ca2+-sequestering ability. FAP accumulation, protein pattern and Ca2+-sequestering ability were also evaluated after the SR were incubated in vitro with the peroxidizing cofactors: NADH, ADP and Fe3+. No difference in FAP content was observed in SR isolated from fish of different ages. However, a higher accumulation of FAP in muscle tissue from old fish was observed. A slow but significant increase in FAP in SR was observed when the SR from both young and old fish were incubated with peroxidizing cofactors. It was demonstrated that 4-year-old fish had higher levels of NADH-dependent lipid peroxidation in their SR than 2-year-old fish. No differences in fatty acid composition were observed in the SR of fish aged from 2 to 8 years old. Two species of high-molecular-weight protein were found to increase in SR isolated from aging fish. These species resembled the polymerized proteins derived after incubation of the SR with the peroxidizing cofactors. Ca2+-uptake decreased when the SR was incubated with peroxidizing cofactors, but the results are difficult to interpret since Ca2+-uptake of SR was affected by captive stress.

[Measurement of superoxide dismutase activity in the blood of radiation workers].

In this study, we measured the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase GPX) activities in the peripheral blood of radiation workers (111 cases) and the controls (108 cases), also analyzed chromosome aberrations in blood lymphocytes by means of G-banding technique. The chromosome deletions were not found in the controls. There were 7 cases chromosome deletions found by G-banding in 111 cases of radiation workers, their SOD activities were markedly lower than those in the controls (P less than 0.05). SOD and CAT activities in the other 104 cases of radiation workers were significantly higher than those in the controls (P less than 0.01). But there was no difference of GPX activity between the radiation workers and the controls. However, increase of SOD activity mainly occurred in radiation workers who were exposed to radiation over 0.0177 +/- 0.0032 Gy. The possible mechanism of this phenomenon was discussed.

[Adenosine deaminase activity and isozyme test for differentiation diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy].

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity and isozyme were studied on 78 patients with pleural fluid. ADA activity in pleural fluid was higher in 49 cases of tuberculosis than those in 29 cases of non-tuberculosis (P < 0.01). The ratio of pleural fluid to serum for ADA was greater than 1 in tuberculous pts, whereas less than 1 in non-tuberculosis pts (P < 0.01). ADA isozyme III was higher in tuberculosis than those in non-tuberculosis pts (P < 0.01). It was suggested that these indexes may be useful in differentiating tuberculous pleurisy from non-tuberculous pleurisy.

In vitro lipid oxidation modifies proteins and functional properties of sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Changes in protein and fatty acid compositions of flounder sarcoplasmic reticulum during NADH plus ascorbate-dependent lipid peroxidation in vitro were related to the ability of the sarcoplasmic reticulum to sequester Ca+2. Progressive accumulation of high-molecular-weight protein components occurred concomitantly with loss of Ca+2-sequestering activity. Part of this polymerized protein may be the dimer or trimer of Ca+2, Mg+2-ATPase. Loss in Ca+2, Mg+2-ATPase protein could account for over 60% of the polymerized protein. Rate of loss of polyunsaturated fatty acids was C22:6 greater than C20:4 greater than C20:5 greater than C22:5. Loss of polyunsaturated fatty acids and accumulation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances occurred concomitantly with protein polymerization.

Isolation and characterization of viruses related to the SARS coronavirus from animals in southern China.

A novel coronavirus (SCoV) is the etiological agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). SCoV-like viruses were isolated from Himalayan palm civets found in a live-animal market in Guangdong, China. Evidence of virus infection was also detected in other animals (including a raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides) and in humans working at the same market. All the animal isolates retain a 29-nucleotide sequence that is not found in most human isolates. The detection of SCoV-like viruses in small, live wild mammals in a retail market indicates a route of interspecies transmission, although the natural reservoir is not known.