Mapping of HtNB, a gene conferring non-lesion resistance before heading to Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.), in a maize inbred line derived from the Indonesian variety Bramadi.

The gene HtNB confers non-lesion resistance to the fungal pathogen Exserohilum turcicum in maize. To map this gene, we developed two F2 populations, P111 (resistant line) x HuangZao 4 (susceptible line) and P111 x B73 (susceptible). HtNB was located on chromosome 8.07 bin, flanked by MAC216826-4 and umc2218 at distances of 3.3 and 3.4 cM, respectively. HtNB appears to be a new gene responsible for resistance to northern corn leaf blight. Functions of the genes in the region between umc1384 and umc2218 were predicted. In addition, several genes were found to be related to disease resistance, such as the genes encoding Ser/Thr protein kinase and protein-like leaf senescence.

Extent of liver resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The extent of liver resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) remains controversial despite extensive studies. The aim of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of minor and major hepatectomy, selected by predetermined criteria in patients with HC. METHODS: From 2000 to 2007, 187 patients with HC were studied prospectively; 138 patients underwent resection with curative intent. Minor hepatectomy was performed in 93 patients with Bismuth-Corlette type I, II or III HC without hepatic arterial or portal venous invasion, and major hepatectomy in 45 patients with type III HC with hepatic arterial or portal venous invasion, or type IV HC. RESULTS: Overall mortality and morbidity rates were 0 and 29.7 per cent respectively, and the bile leak rate was 1.4 per cent. Actuarial 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates were 87, 54 and 34 per cent respectively in the minor liver resection group, and 80, 42 and 27 per cent for major resection (P = 0.300). CONCLUSION: Minor liver resection for HC, selected by predetermined criteria, had good results. Major liver resection, which had a higher operative morbidity rate than minor resection, should be reserved for Bismuth-Corlette type III HC with vascular invasion, or type IV HC.

Experimental studies on central benzodiazepine receptors in the brains of hepatic encephalopathy rats.

With radioligand binding assay, we studied the central benzodiazepine receptors (CBR) in the different regions of brain including the telencephalon, diencephalon, brain stem and cerebellum in a rat model of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) induced by partial hepatectomy following carbon tetrachloride (CC1(4)) intoxication and in the controls. Affinities (Kd) and densities (Bmax) of [3H]-flunitrazepine binding to crude synaptic membranes in the telencephalon of HE rats were obviously increased as compared with those of the controls. It was only in the diencephalon, the brain stem and the cerebellum of HE rats that increased Bmax values were observed, while the Kd values remained unchanged. The results support the recent suggestion that the alterations of CBR play a significant role in the pathogenesis of HE. Among the ranges of the alterations of CBR in the HE rats, the telencephalon ranked first, the brain stem second, the cerebellum third, and the diencephalon last.

[Vasoactive intestinal peptide receptors in the brains of hepatic encephalopathy rats].

We evaluated the effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptor, a brain-gut peptide receptor, which is capable of exciting central neurons, on the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). By means of radioligand binding assay, VIP receptors in crude synaptosomal membrane of rat brains were investigated in a rat model of HE induced by partial hepatectomy following carbon tetrachloride intoxication and in controls. A dissociation constant (Kd) was found 0.28 +/- 0.01 nmol/L and a maximal binding capacity (Bmax) 9.56 +/- 0.29 fmol/mg of protein in HE rats. Only decreased Bmax values were observed (P < 0.002) and the Kd values were statistically unchanged (P > 0.20) in HE rats as compared with in controls. The results suggest that the changes of VIP receptors in brains play a significant role in the pathogenesis of HE. The mechanism of HE induced by the alterations of VIP receptors in the brains was described.

[An experimental study on brain-gut peptide receptors in brains of rats with hepatic encephalopathy].

By means of radioligand binding assay, two brain-gut peptide, somatostatin (SS) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), receptors in crude synaptosomal membranes of brain were investigated in rats with hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and in controls. In HE rats and in controls, the maximal binding capacity (Bmax) were 238.0 +/- 14.2 and 200.0 +/- 11.3 fmol/mg of protein, the dissociation constant (Kd) was 3.99 +/- 0.22 and 3.89 +/- 0.34 nM respectively for SS receptors. The Bmax values of VIP receptors in HE rats and in controls were 9.56 +/- 0.29 and 10.92 +/- 0.44 fmol/mg of protein, the Kd values were 0.28 +/- 0.01 and 0.29 +/- 0.02 nM, respectively. Increased Bmax values of SS receptors (P < 0.005) and decreased Bmax values of VIP receptors (P < 0.002) were observed in HE rats as compared with those in controls. The results suggest that changes of brain-gut peptide receptors in brains play a significant role in the pathogenesis of HE.

[Experimental studies on peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors in brain in rats with hepatic encephalopathy].

By means of radioligand binding assay, peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors (PBR) in the telencephalon, diencephalon, brain stem and cerebellum, were investigated in a rat model with hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Binding to PBR was studied using [3H]PK11195 as radioligand. It was demonstrated that only densities (Bmax) of [3H]PK11195 binding to crude synaptosomal membranes in the telencephalon, diencephalon of HE rats were obviously increased as compared with those of controls (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 respectively). Increased affinities (Kd) were only observed in brain stem (P < 0.05). The results showed that the alterations of PBR in different regions of the brain play a significant role in the pathogenesis of HE.

Long-term outcome of resection of large hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The role of hepatectomy in the treatment of large hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still controversial. This retrospective study evaluated whether the long-term outcome of hepatectomy for large HCC improved over 14 years in one centre. METHODS: Data from 2102 patients who underwent hepatectomy for large HCC were collected prospectively and divided into two time intervals for analysis: before end of December 1996 (group 1) and after December 1996 (group 2). Clinicopathological data for the two groups were compared, and factors associated with long-term prognosis were further analysed. RESULTS: Cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 71.2, 58.8 and 38.7 per cent respectively in group 2, and were significantly better than respective rates of 67.8, 50.7 and 27.9 per cent in group 1. Cumulative 1-, 3- and 5-year disease-free survival rates were 61.5, 38.6 and 23.8 per cent respectively in group 2, and 56.5, 34.7 and 18.9 per cent in group 1. There was a significant difference in median survival time after recurrence between groups 2 and 1 (17 and 10 months respectively; P = 0.043). CONCLUSION: Hepatic resection in patients with large HCC has improved overall and disease-free survival during the past decade at this institute. Long-term survival can be improved significantly by aggressive treatment of recurrent tumours.

Use of hepatectomy and splenectomy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma with cirrhotic hypersplenism.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the outcome after simultaneous hepatectomy and splenectomy with that after hepatectomy alone for hepatocellular carcinoma with associated hypersplenism. METHODS: Two hundred and four patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and cirrhotic hypersplenism were divided non-randomly into two groups. Ninety-four underwent simultaneous hepatectomy and splenectomy and 110 underwent hepatectomy alone. White blood cell (WBC) and platelet counts, total serum bilirubin levels, immune function, incidence of complications and 5-year survival rates in the two groups were compared. RESULTS: WBC and platelet counts, distribution of T cell subsets, and levels of bilirubin, interferon gamma and interleukin 2 were different between the two groups after operation. All patients who underwent hepatectomy and splenectomy but only 15.5 per cent of those who had hepatectomy alone completed adjuvant chemotherapy. The 5-year tumour-free survival rate was significantly higher after hepatectomy and splenectomy than after hepatectomy alone (37 versus 27.3 per cent; P = 0.003), although overall survival rates were similar. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous hepatectomy and splenectomy was associated with improved 5-year tumour-free survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and hypersplenism.

A new method of superoxide free radical determination in ischemia and reperfusion injury of rat liver.

The present study was designed to utilize the chemiluminescence (CL) method for O2- analysis in ischemia and reperfusion of the whole rat liver. The results indicated that the O2- level was lower after 30 and 60 min ischemia. After 40 min reperfusion, the level of O2- increased obviously, reaching about 8.3-fold (30 min ischemia) and 9.0-fold (60 min ischemia) (P < 0.001, P < 0.01) respectively. The results also show that Chinese Traditional Medicines ligustrazine and salvia compound can scavenge O2- effectively.

An experimental study on somatostatin receptors in the brains of hepatic encephalopathy rats.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of somatostatin (SS) receptor, a brain-gut peptide receptor which is capable of inhibiting central neurons, on the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). By means of radioligand binding assay, SS receptors in crude synaptosomal membrane of rat brains were investigated in a rat model of HE induced by partial hepatectomy following carbon tetrachloride intoxication and in controls. Binding to SS receptor was studied using 125 I-SS as radioligand. Scatchard analysis of binding data was linear, yielding a dissociation constant (Kd) of 3.99 +/- 0.22 nmol/L and a maximal binding capacity (Bmax) of 238 +/- 14.2 fmol/mg of protein in HE rats. Only increased Bmax values were observed (P < 0.005), while the Kd values were statistically unchanged (P > 0.50), in HE rats as compared with those in controls. The results suggest that the changes of SS receptors in brains play a significant role in the pathogenesis of HE. The mechanism of HE induced by the alterations of SS receptors in the brains was discussed in this paper.

Gastromucosal lesions in rabbits with chronic schistosomiasis.

Upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage is one of the most important complications in portal hypertension secondary to schistosomiasis. Esophageal varices and gastric mucosal lesions are additional sources of bleeding. We studied the histologic and ultrastructural features of gastric mucosa in rabbits with chronic schistosomiasis (n = 10), with normal animals (n = 10) as controls. Our results confirm that in schistosomiasis, the gastric mucosa has characteristic functional and morphological features that may predispose it to the various damaging factors. Mucosal specimens reveal dilated submucosal vein with submucosal edema, ectasia of mucosal capillaries and venules. The mucosal vessels have conspicuous endothelial cells with prominent cytoplasm and numerous tiny projections extending into the vessel lumen. The submucosal venules show morphologic feature of arterialization. There are increased submucosal arteriovenous communications with a reduction in the effective mucosal blood flow. In addition, there are a number of eggs seen in the gastric mucosa of the rabbits with schistosomiasis. The granuloma may cause structural damage to the gastric mucosa. This finding suggests that schistosomiasis may play an important role in gastric lesions.

[Experimental studies of embolization of different hepatotropic blood vessels using Bletilla striata in dogs]. / Experimentelle Embolisation unterschiedlicher hepatischer Gefässe beim Hund mit Bletilla striata.

Bletilla striata and gelfoam were used as embolizing agents for the embolization of various hepatotropic vessels in dogs. The results proved that Bletilla striata was superior to gelfoam. The mechanisms of embolization by Bletilla striata are attributable to following factors: non--absobent property, mechanical obstruction; effects on coagulative and anticoagulative systems and secondary obstruction resulted from the injury to wall of blood vessels.

Chinese experience with hepatectomy for huge hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The risks and outcome of hepatic resection for huge hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are controversial. METHODS: The clinical records of 525 patients who underwent resection of HCC greater than 10 cm in diameter were studied retrospectively. Prognostic factors for long-term survival were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Postoperative complications were common (26.8 per cent) and five patients (0.9 per cent) required relaparotomy. The 30-day mortality rate was 2.7 per cent. The main causes of postoperative death were liver failure (nine patients) and bleeding (four). The 3-, 5- and 10-year crude survival rates after liver resection were 34.3, 16.8 and 2.9 per cent respectively. CONCLUSION: Prognostic factors for long-term survival mainly reflected the biological behaviour of the tumour. They can be used only as a guide in balancing the risks of operation against the potential benefits of resection in a patient in poor general condition or with poor liver function. They cannot be used alone to exclude patients from liver resection with curative intent. Liver resection for huge HCC was safe and efficacious. It should be used to treat patients with acceptable surgical risks and resectable tumours.

Hepatic resection under the guidance of B-mode ultrasonography.

From Dec. 1987 to June 1988, we performed hepatic resection on 8 cases of primary liver cancer and 10 cases of benign liver tumor under the guidance of B-mode ultrasound. Of 18 cases, 2 received right hemihepatectomy, 5 underwent left hemihepatectomy or left lateral lobectomy, 9 had segmentectomy and 2 were treated by tumor removal. There was no operative death. Postoperatively, pleural effusion occurred in 3 cases and biliary fistula in 2 cases. The hospitalization time was 14-52 days with a mean of 29 days. Our results showed that the intraoperative B-mode ultrasound could not only demonstrate the number, size and boundary of lesions but also exhibit the location and orientation of the intrahepatic conduit system and its 3-dimensional relation with the lesions. It is very helpful in dealing with the intrahepatic vessels and ducts.