New and effective method to develop primary hepatocytes from liver cancer patients.

Liver cancer (LC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Since the mechanism of LC pathogenesis and metastasis cannot be carried out directly on the human body, it is particularly important to establish human liver cancer cell lines for research in vitro. In this study, tissue block adherence method combined with cell clumps digestion method was used to establish primary human hepatocytes (PHHs) with a successful rate of 60% (45/75). Short tandem repeat (STR) analysis proved the cells were derived from its paired tissues. These cells from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) expressed NTCP and secreted ALB and AAT as detected by western blot, and expressed hepatocyte-specific membrane protein ASGR1 as detected by flow cytometry. Liver cancer biomarkers like CK7 in ICC (intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma), AFP, and GPC3 in HCC expressed of different degree as detected by immunohistochemical analysis. These cells displayed typical liver cancer cell morphological characteristics and can passage stably. In conclusion, we developed an effective method to establish PHHs. Further studies are necessary to study if these cells maintaining other liver function and reproduce the physiology of the tumors and how these cells behavior in the drug development.

Hepatectomy combined with microwave ablation of the spleen for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma complicated with splenomegaly: A retrospective study.

The present retrospective study aimed to investigate the mid-term safety and efficacy of hepatectomy combined with microwave ablation of the partial spleen for treatment of liver cancer complicated with hypersplenism. A retrospective analysis was performed on 23 patients who underwent hepatectomy combined with microwave ablation of the partial spleen for liver cancer, complicated with hypersplenism that was secondary to cirrhosis. The splenic and ablated volumes were calculated according to a contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan prior to and 2 weeks after the operation. Complete blood count and liver function tests were examined prior to and following the surgery, and complications and changes in the blood tests were monitored for 6 months. Over this period of investigation, the splenic volume was reduced by a mean value of 34.0%. The levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were increased on the first day after the operation (P<0.05), although they recovered to the normal level within 1 week (P<0.05). The total level of bilirubin increased slightly, along with moderately decreased levels of albumin and cholinesterase on the first day, although these changes were not significant compared with the baseline (P>0.05). The white blood cell count was persistently significantly higher compared with the baseline over the course of the 6 months (P>0.05). The platelet count did not increase significantly for the first week after the operation (P>0.05); however, it was revealed to be significantly increased 1 month after the surgery (P<0.05). No significant complications were occurred during the follow-up period. In conclusion, hepatectomy combined with microwave ablation of the spleen was demonstrated to be a safe and effective procedure for patients with liver cancer and hypersplenism in the mid-term.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha gene polymorphism contributes to pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility: evidence from a meta-analysis.

This study is to estimate the association between polymorphisms in the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gene and pulmonary tuberculosis susceptibility (pTB). Studies were identified by searching PubMed and ISI web of Knowledge. The strength of association between the TNF-α gene and pTB susceptibility was assessed by odds ratios. Totals of 18 studies including 2, 735 cases and 3, 177 controls were identified referring to four single-nucleotide polymorphisms: -308G>A, -863C>A, -857C>T and -238G>A. The significantly associations were found between -308G>A (Dominant model: OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.35-0.81, P=0.004; Homozygote model: OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.33-0.78, P=0.002), -238G>A (Dominant model: OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.18-0.57, P<0.001) and pTB susceptibility. The results showed that the variant genotype of TNF-α -308G>A was protective in pooled groups of patients with pTB in the dominant genetic model (OR 0.16, 95% CI 0.06-0.39, P<0.001), the homozygote comparison (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.06-0.36, P<0.001) in African, while that was with -238G>A in the dominant genetic model (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.18-0.56, P<0.001) in Asian. Our meta-analysis suggest TNF-α -308G>A and -238G>A polymorphisms increases the risk of pTB susceptibility regardless of ethnicity and HIV statue. In Asian population, the significantly association with pTB is TNF-α -238G>A, while TNF-α -308G>A is in African population.

[Study on depressive disorder and related factors in surgical inpatients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and possible influencing factors of depressive disorder in surgical inpatients. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-six surgical inpatients meeting the inclusion criteria were first screened with the self rating depression scale (SDS), and then the subjects screened positive and 20% of those screened negative were evaluated with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID) as a gold standard for diagnosis of depressive disorder. Possible influencing factors were also analyzed by experienced psychiatrists. RESULTS: The standard score of SDS in the surgical inpatients were significantly higher than those in the Chinese norm, and the incidence of depressive disorder in the surgical inpatients was 37.2%. Unvaried analysis showed that depressive disorder were associated with gender, education, economic condition, variety of diseases, hospitalization duration, and treatment methods. Logistic regression analysis revealed that gender, economic condition, treatment methods and previous history were the main influencing factors. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of depressive disorder in the surgical inpatients is high, and it is mainly influenced by gender, economic condition, treatment methods and previous history.