[Increased expression of fatty acid binding protein 4 in lungs of preterm rats after hyperoxic lung injury].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) in lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of preterm rats exposed to 60% O2 and to elucidate the relationship between the changes of FABP4 expression and the pathogenesis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). METHODS: Hyperoxic lung injury was induced by exposing to 60% O2 in Spraque-Dawley rats within 6 hours after birth. Rats exposed to air were used as the control group. The lungs from groups aged postnatal days 3, 7 and 14 were removed and dissected from the main bronchi for analysis. Eight rats of each group were used to assess expression of FABP4 in lungs by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. Lung FABP4 mRNA levels were measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The levels of FABP4 in BALF were measured using ELISA. RESULTS: FABP4 immunoreactivity was detected in the majority of alveolar macrophages, bronchial epithelial cells and endothelial cells. FABP4 protein levels in lung tissues in the hyperoxic exposure group increased significantly compared with the control group on days 3, 7 and 14 after birth (P<0.05), and FABP4 mRNA levels in lung tissues also increased significantly in the hyperoxic exposure group compared with the control group on days 7 and 14 after birth (P<0.05). The hyperoxic exposure group demonstrated increased FABP4 levels in BALF compared with the control group on days 7 and 14 after birth (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: FABP4 levels increase in preterm rat lungs after hyperoxic lung injury, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of BPD.

Emergency embolization in the treatment of ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is a rare and life-threatening complication. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the utility of emergency embolization for treatment of ruptured HCC following TACE. METHODOLOGY: Five patients developed rupture of tumor after TACE in 1005 patients of HCC from October 2007 to February 2010, and were studied retrospectively. Emergency selective arterial embolization was performed in all 5 patients because of intractable hemorrhage in the peritoneal cavity or around the liver that could not be controlled by conservative method. The mean hemoglobin level before embolization was 75.6 g/L +/- 20.7 (mean +/- standard deviation). RESULTS: Hepatic angiography did not revealed extravasation of contrast from the tumor in all 5 patients with rupture of HCC following TACE. After selective embolization of feeding arteries of the liver tumor, intraperitoneal bleeding from HCC was stopped immediately in all patients. The mean hemoglobin level after embolization in 48 hours was 102.6 g/L +/- 3.5. No severe complication related to emergency embolization was found after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency arterial embolization is effective for hemostasis of ruptured HCC following TACE in patients with hemodynamically unstable condition.

Impact of personality and coping mechanisms on health related quality of life in liver transplantation recipients.

BACKGROUND: With the great development of liver transplantation in China, long survival and quality of life after liver transplantation have been matters of growing interest. This study was designed to investigate the impact of personality and coping skills on the quality of life after liver transplantation. METHODS: Fifty-five outpatients who had been followed up after liver transplantation at our center were assessed by general quality of life inventory (GQOLI-74), a medical coping modes questionnaire (MCMQ), an eysenck personality questionnaire (EPQ), and a general condition questionnaire(GCQ). RESULTS: The score for material well-being was the lowest(63.22+/-12.67) and for psychological well-being the highest(73.43+/-12.60) in 4 dimensions of the GQOLI in post transplantation patients. Their main coping method was confrontation (21.40+/-3.70). The main characteristics of their personality were extraversation (E score 12.96+/-4.13) and neuroticism (N score 8.20+/-4.90). The total score of the GQOLI was positively correlated with confrontation and E score, and it was negatively correlated with acceptance and N score. The physical well-being positively associated with the E score. The psychological well-being was positively correlated with confrontation and L score, and was negatively correlated with acceptance, P and N score. Social well-being was positively correlated with confrontation and E score, and was negatively correlated with acceptance and N score. Material well-being was not correlated with coping methods and personality. CONCLUSION: The quality of life in post liver transplantation patients is associated with their psychological characteristics.