Assessment of myocardial bridging and the pericoronary fat attenuation index on coronary computed tomography angiography: predicting coronary artery disease risk.

BACKGROUND: The fat attenuation index (FAI) is a radiological parameter that represents pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) inflammation, along with myocardial bridging (MB), which leads to pathological shear stress in the coronary vessels; both are associated with coronary atherosclerosis. In the present study, we assessed the predictive value of FAI values and MB parameters through coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for predicting the risk of coronary atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaque in patients with MB. METHODS: We included 428 patients who underwent CCTA and were diagnosed with MB. FAI values, MB parameters, and high-risk coronary plaque (HRP) characteristics were recorded. The subjects were classified into two groups (A and B) according to the absence or presence of coronary plaque in the segment proximal to the MB. Group B was further divided into Groups B1 (HRP-positive) and B2 (HRP-negative) according to the HRP characteristic classification method. The differences among the groups were analysed. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the independent correlation between FAI values and MB parameters and coronary atherosclerosis and vulnerable plaque risk. RESULTS: Compared to the subjects in Group A, those in Group B presented greater MB lengths, MB depths and muscle index values, more severe MB systolic stenosis and higher FAIlesion values (all P < 0.05). In multivariate logistic analysis, age (OR 1.076, P < 0.001), MB systolic stenosis (OR 1.102, P < 0.001) and FAIlesion values (OR 1.502, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of coronary atherosclerosis. Compared to subjects in Group B2, those in Group B1 presented greater MB lengths and higher FAI values (both P < 0.05). However, only the FAIlesion value was an independent factor for predicting HRP (OR 1.641, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with MB, MB systolic stenosis was associated with coronary plaque occurrence in the segment proximal to the MB. The FAI value was not only closely related to coronary atherosclerosis occurrence but also associated with plaque vulnerability. FAI values may provide more significant value in the prediction of coronary atherosclerosis than MB parameters in CCTA.

RAD51 Inhibition Shows Antitumor Activity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the major type of liver cancer, causes a high annual mortality worldwide. RAD51 is the critical recombinase responsible for homologous recombination (HR) repair in DNA damage. In this study, we identified that RAD51 was upregulated in HCC and that RAD51 silencing or inhibition reduced the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells and enhanced cell apoptosis and DNA damage. HCC cells with the combinatorial treatments of RAD51 siRNA or inhibitor and sorafenib demonstrated a synergistic effect in inhibiting HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, as well as inducing cell apoptosis and DNA damage. Single RAD51 silencing or sorafenib reduced RAD51 protein expression and weakened HR efficiency, and their combination almost eliminated RAD51 protein expression and inhibited HR efficiency further. An in vivo tumor model confirmed the RAD51 inhibitor's antitumor activity and synergistic antitumor activity with sorafenib in HCC. RNA-Seq and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) in RAD51-inactivated Huh7 cells indicated that RAD51 knockdown upregulated cell apoptosis and G1/S DNA damage checkpoint pathways while downregulating mitotic spindle and homologous recombination pathways. Our findings suggest that RAD51 inhibition exhibits antitumor activities in HCC and synergizes with sorafenib. Targeting RAD51 may provide a novel therapeutic approach in HCC.

Evaluating renal iron overload in diabetes mellitus by blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance imaging: a longitudinal experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Iron overload plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Non-invasive evaluation of renal iron overload in diabetes in the management and intervention of diabetic nephropathy is of great significance. This study aimed to explore the feasibility of blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating renal iron overload in diabetes using a rabbit model. METHODS: The rabbits were randomly divided into control, iron-overload (I), diabetes (D), and diabetes with iron-overload (DI) groups (each n = 19). The diabetes models were generated by injecting intravenous alloxan solution, and the iron-overload models were generated by injecting intramuscular iron-dextran. BOLD MRI was performed immediately (week 0) and at week 4, 8, and 12 following modeling. The differences in renal cortex (CR2*) and outer medulla R2* (MR2*) and the ratio of MR2*-CR2* (MCR) across the different time points were compared. RESULTS: Iron was first deposited in glomeruli in the I group and in proximal tubular cells in renal cortex in the D group. In the DI group, there was iron deposition in both glomeruli and proximal tubular cells at week 4, and the accumulation increased subsequently. The degree of kidney injury and iron overload was more severe in the DI group than those in the I and D groups at week 12. At week 8 and 12, the CR2* and MR2* in the DI group were higher than those in the I and D groups (all P < 0.05). The MCR in the I, D, and DI groups decreased from week 0 to 4 (all P < 0.001), and that in the I group increased from week 8 to 12 (P = 0.034). CR2* and MR2* values displayed different trends from week 0-12. Dynamic MCR curves in the D and DI groups were different from that in the I group. CONCLUSION: It presents interactions between diabetes and iron overload in kidney injury, and BOLD MRI can be used to evaluate renal iron overload in diabetes.

Long non-coding RNA LINC01207 promotes prostate cancer progression by downregulating microRNA-1972 and upregulating LIM and SH3 protein 1.

Prostate cancer is a heritable and clinically heterogeneous cancer. Both long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and microRNAs (miRs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis and development of prostate cancer. Analysis of microarray data indicated that the lncRNA LINC01207 was differentially expressed in prostate cancer. In silico analysis predicted the interaction between LINC01207 and miR-1972 as well as the interaction between miR-1972 and the mRNAs LIM and SH3 protein 1 (LASP1). Thus, we explored the role of LINC01207 and miR-1972 in the growth and progression of prostate cancer. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that LINC01207 and LASP1 were highly expressed in prostate cancer, while miR-1972 expression was lower. The interaction among LINC01207, miR-1972, and LASP1 was confirmed by RNA-fluorescence in situ hybridization, RNA immunoprecipitation, and dual luciferase reporter assay, which verified that LINC01207 could bind to miR-1972 and downregulate miR-1972, and miR-1972 targeted LASP1 and negatively regulated its expression. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments found that silencing LINC01207 inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion and tumor formation and enhanced apoptosis in prostate cancer cells, suggesting that LINC01207 functioned as a tumor promoter in prostate cancer and that it may represent a novel therapeutic target.

Decreased expression of long non-coding LOC285194 predicts tumour progression and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma after curative hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have been recently implicated as having oncogenic and tumour suppressor roles. LncRNA LOC285194 (LOC285194) expression was significantly reduced in a variety of tumour tissues and cell lines, which promotes cell proliferation and migration. The aim of the present study is to examine the expression pattern of LOC285194 and its clinical significance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after curative liver resection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined the expression of LOC285194 in 120 HCC samples and controls from adjacent non-tumour tissues using real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and analysed its correlation with clinical parameters and prognosis in these patients who have undergone curative hepatic resection with a median follow-up of 3.5 years. RESULTS: The expression level of LOC285194 was significantly lower in tumour tissues and four liver cancer cell lines compared with adjacent normal tissues and normal liver cell line. Furthermore, a low expression of LOC285194 was significantly correlated with advanced tumour stage, microvascular invasion, tumour number and differentiation. Additionally, survival analysis showed that patients with low LOC285194 expression had a significantly worse overall and disease-free survival. Moreover, univariate and multivariate analyses showed that decreased expression of LOC285194 was an independent predictor of long-term survival. CONCLUSIONS: The low expression level of LOC285194 might be a novel candidate biomarker for predicting tumour progression and poor prognosis in HCC patients who have undergone hepatectomy and might be a potential target for gene therapy.

IDUA, NDST1, SAP30L, CRYBA4, and SI as novel prognostic signatures clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Carcinoma of the kidney is one of the most prevalent carcinoma worldwide. The majority types of carcinoma are clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC), which consist more than 80% of the cases. As a genetically diverse disease, identification of prognosis-related genes has utmost importance in the early diagnosis and prognosis of the CCRCC. In this study, we performed gene expression profiling to identify prognosis-related genes for CCRCC. In addition, we developed and validated a gene signature-based risk score to comprehensively assess the prognostic function of differentially expressed genes. Furthermore, we performed a ROC analysis to identify the optimal cut-off point for classification risk level of the patients. Univariate Cox regression models were used to assess the association between differentially expressed genes in relation to the prognosis of patients with different stages of CCRCC. Five genes were identified significantly differentially expressed in CCRCC and associated with their survival time, namely: IDUA, NDST1, SAP30L, CRYBA4, and SI. A 5-gene signature-based risk score was developed based on the Cox coefficient of the individual genes. The prognostic value of this risk score was validated in an internal testing data set. In summary, a gene-based risk score was identified and validated, which can predict CCRCC patient survival. The potential functions of this gene expression signature and individual differentially expressed gene as prognostic targets of CCRCC were revealed by this study. Furthermore, these findings may have important implications in the understanding of the potential therapeutic method for the CCRCC patients.

Chromatin-regulatory genes served as potential therapeutic targets for patients with urothelial bladder carcinoma.

Urothelial bladder carcinoma is the ninth most common cancer in the world, with an estimated 150,000 deaths per year. Two comprehensive analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas urothelial bladder carcinoma reported that chromatin modifier gene mutations were common in bladder cancer. We aimed to find how the mutations and transcriptional profiles of the genes involving in chromatin modification affected the prognosis of patients. The data were retrieved from the Genomic Data Commons data portal and the gene list in pathway Chromatin Modifying Enzymes were obtained from Reactome. The expression levels and mutational profiles of the genes involving in the chromatin were utilized altogether to construct a fusion patient similarity network by similarity network fusion. The genes that were differentially expressed in one clustered group or two were identified. Fifty chromatin-regulating genes had nonsilent mutations in at least 10 patients. KMT2D, KDM6A, CREBBP, ARID1A, and ARID2 had enriched inactivating mutations. Among 399 cases where both the single-nucleotide polymorphism information and the messenger RNA expression profiles were available, 326, 23, and 50 patients were clustered into Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The survival analysis suggested that the patients in these three groups had a different prognosis. Thity-one genes were identified as differentially expressed in any group. The Gene Ontology term enrichment showed that the differentially expressed genes were enriched in the immune response especially in the complement activation. Altogether, chromatin-regulatory genes were key in bladder cancer and can serve, with the differentially expressed genes, as potential therapeutic targets.

Evaluation of renal dysfunction using texture analysis based on DWI, BOLD, and susceptibility-weighted imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of texture analysis based on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), blood oxygen level-dependent MRI (BOLD), and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) in evaluating renal dysfunction. METHODS: Seventy-two patients (mean age 53.72 ± 13.46 years) underwent MRI consisting of DWI, BOLD, and SWI. According to their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the patients were classified into either severe renal function impairment (sRI, eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2), non-severe renal function impairment (non-sRI, eGFR ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2, and < 80 mL/min/1.73 m2), or control (CG, eGFR ≥ 80 mL/min/1.73 m2) groups. Thirteen texture features were extracted and then were analyzed to select the most valuable for discerning the three groups with each imaging method. A ROC curve was performed to compare the capacities of the features to differentiate non-sRI from sRI or CG. RESULTS: Six features proved to be the most valuable for assessing renal dysfunction: 0.25QuantileDWI, 0.5QuantileDWI, HomogeneityDWI, EntropyBOLD, SkewnessSWI, and CorrelationSWI. Three features derived from DWI (0.25QuantileDWI, 0.5QuantileDWI, and HomogeneityDWI) were smaller in sRI than in non-sRI; EntropyBOLD and CorrelationSWI were smaller in non-sRI than in CG (p < 0.05). 0.25QuantileDWI, 0.5QuantileDWI, and HomogeneityDWI showed similar capacities for differentiating sRI from non-sRI. Similarly, EntropyBOLD and CorrelationSWI showed equal capacities for differentiating non-sRI from CG. CONCLUSION: Texture analysis based on DWI, BOLD, and SWI can assist in assessing renal dysfunction, and texture features based on BOLD and SWI may be suitable for assessing renal dysfunction during early stages. KEY POINTS: • Texture analysis based on MRI techniques allowed for assessing renal dysfunction. • Texture features based on BOLD and SWI, but not DWI, may be suitable for assessing renal function impairment during early stages. • SWI exhibited a similar capacity to BOLD for assessing renal dysfunction.

Acute and sub-chronic toxicological studies of the iridoid glycosides extract of Lamiophlomis rotata (Benth.) Kudo in rats.

Lamiophlomis rotata(Benth.) Kudo is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine and its iridoid glycosides extract (IGLR) was the main active ingredient with hemostatic, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects. This study was aimed to evaluate the safety of IGLR using acute and sub-chronic toxicity study methods on Sprague-Dawley rats. In acute toxicity test, IGLR caused slight diarrhea in three dose groups and a decreased of RBC and increased of MCH and Ret (P < .05) were observed in 16 g/kg group. In sub-chronic toxicity study, unscheduled deaths occurred in 1 and 3 rats at 0.40 and 1.00 g/kg groups, respectively. A slight diarrhea was observed in 1.00 g/kg group. Hemolytic anemia was the main toxicity effects of IGLR found in 0.40 and 1.00 g/kg groups, with a significant decrease of RBC, HGB (P < .05) and increase of Ret, MCV, MCH (P < .05) in hematological parameters, a significant decrease of ALT, Crea (P < .05) and increase of TBIL (P < .05) in biochemical parameters, and a significant increase of the percentage of rubricyte, normoblast (P < .05) in bone marrow. Overall, this study found IGLR has a potential toxicity considering with hemolytic anemia and diarrhea to rat. These results provide an important reference for further IGLR-related drug exploration.

A systematic review of robotic-assisted liver resection and meta-analysis of robotic versus laparoscopic hepatectomy for hepatic neoplasms.

BACKGROUND: Robotic-assisted liver resection (RALR) was introduced as procedures of overcoming the limitations of traditional laparoscopic liver resection (LLR). The aim of this review was to evaluate the surgical results of RALR from all published studies and the results of comparative studies of RALR versus LLR for hepatic neoplasm. METHODS: Eligible studies involved RALR that published between January 2001 and December 2014 were reviewed systematically. Comparisons between RALS and LLR were pooled and analyzed by meta-analytical techniques using random- or fixed-effects models, as appropriate. RESULTS: In total, 29 studies, involving 537 patients undergoing RALR, were identified. The most common RALR procedure was a wedge resection and segmentectomy (28.67%), followed by right hepatectomy (17.88%), left lateral sectionectomy (13.22%), and bisegmentectomy (9.12%). The conversion and complication rates were 5.59 and 11.36%, respectively. The most common reasons for conversion were bleeding (46.67%) and unclear tumor margin (33.33%). Intracavitary fluid collections and bile leaks (40.98%) were the most frequently occurring morbidities. Nine studies, involving 774 patients, were included in meta-analysis. RALR had a longer operative time compared with LLR [mean difference (MD) 48.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) 22.49-74.49 min; p = 0.0003]. There were no significant differences between the two groups in blood loss [MD 31.53; 95% CI -14.74 to 77.79 mL; p = 0.18], hospital stay [MD 0.13; 95% CI -0.54 to 0.80 days; p = 0.18], postoperative overall morbidity [odds ratio (OR) 0.76; 95% CI 0.49-1.19; p = 0.23], and surgical margin status (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.33-1.12; p = 0.11); cost was greater than robotic surgery (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: RALR and LLR display similar safety, feasibility, and effectiveness for hepatectomies, but further studies are needed before any final conclusion can be drawn, especially in terms of oncologic and cost-effectiveness outcomes.

Laparoscopic common bile duct exploration in cirrhotic patients with choledocholithiasis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Although laparoscopic common bile duct exploration (LCBDE) has become the standard procedure for most choledocholithiasis patients, the application of this procedure to liver cirrhosis is still in debate. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of LCBDE in choledocholithiasis patients with compensated liver cirrhosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2012, 346 LCBDEs were performed in our hospital. According to the previously defined liver condition, the patients were divided into group A (liver cirrhosis, n=132) and group B (without cirrhosis, n=214). The perioperative data for the 2 groups were retrospectively reviewed and compared. RESULTS: LCBDE was successfully completed in 326 patients. Conversion from laparoscopic to open surgery was necessary for 20 patients (5.7%) mainly because of hemorrhage (5, 25%) and severe adhesions (8, 40%). A T-tube was placed in 211 patients (64.7%), and primary closure was performed in 115 (35.3%) patients. There was a significant difference for groups A and B in terms of intraoperative blood loss (85 vs. 35 mL; P<0.01). However, the 2 groups showed no significant differences with respect to the mean operation time (2.1 vs. 1.9 h; P=0.07), complication rates (10.6% vs. 8.8%; P=0.6), mean hospital stay (4.2 vs. 4.0 d; P=0.6), conversion rate (5.3% vs. 6.1%; P=0.77), and retained choledocholithiasis rate (8.3% vs. 7.1%; P=0.65). There was no mortality in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: LCBDE is a feasible, effective, and safe surgical procedure for choledocholithiasis patients with compensated cirrhosis.

Quality of life can be improved by surgical management of giant hepatic haemangioma with enucleation as the preferred option.

OBJECTIVES: Surgical resection represents the main curative treatment for giant hepatic haemangioma (GHH). The aim of this study was to compare the respective outcomes of hepatic enucleation (HE) and hepatic resection (HR) for GHH. METHODS: Giant hepatic haemangioma was defined as haemangioma of 5-15 cm in size. A prospectively maintained database consisting of a series of consecutive patients who underwent HE or HR of GHH from January 2004 to December 2013 was analysed. RESULTS: Hepatic enucleation was performed in 386 (52.9%) patients and HR in 344 (47.1%) of a final cohort of 730 patients. The median size of GHH was similar in the HR and HE groups (9.8 and 10.6 cm, respectively; P = 0.752). The HE group had a shorter median operative time (150 min versus 240 min; P = 0.034), shorter median hospital stay (5.7 days versus 8.6 days; P < 0.001), lower median blood loss (400 ml versus 860 ml; P < 0.001), and fewer complications (17.6% versus 28.2%; P < 0.001) than the HR group. Quality of life scores in both the HR and HE groups significantly improved compared with preoperative levels and were similar to those found in healthy Chinese individuals following surgery, confirming the efficacy of both treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic enucleation was associated with favourable operative outcomes compared with HR and is a safe and effective alternative to partial hepatectomy for GHH.

[Effects and HPA Axis Related Mechanism of Kaixin-San and Danggui-Shaoyao-San on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Chronic Stress Rats with High-fat Diet].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects and potential mechanism of Kaixin-San and Danggui-Shaoyao-San on glucose and lipid metabolism in chronic stress rats fed with high-fat diet. METHODS: 50 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (distilled water), high-fat diet with chronic stress group (distilled water), melatonin group(20 mg/kg), Kaixin-San group (445 mg/kg) and Danggui-Shaoyao-San group (3360 mg/kg). All drugs were orally administered. In addition to the normal control group, each group of rats were fed with high-fat, diet. Simultaneously, stress were carried out after drugs administration 1 h daily. The duration was lasted for six weeks. The rat body weight daily was recorded, and the 24 h period urine was collected to detect the level of urine corticosterone (CORT) after three weeks. The level of plasma intraperitoneal glucose tolerance (IVGTT) was detected after six weeks. Finally, rats were executed, and serum fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), insulin (INS), adrenocorticotropic hormone releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), CORT and melatonin ( MLT) were determined. The weight of adrenal gland, liver glycogen and muscle glycogen levels were detected. The adrenal gland index, Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) and insulin sensitivity index( ISI) were calculated. RESULTS: Compared with normal group, model rats body weight, IVGTT (120 min), plasm CORT were decreased significantly. Serum TG, TC, LDL-C and urine CORT after three weeks were increased significantly. Kaixin-San and Danggui- Shaoyao-San could regulate the above indexes. CONCLUSION: Kaixin-San and Danggui-Shaoyao-San may regulate the activity of HPA axis, and improve glucose and lipid metabolism disorder in model rats by increasing melatonin secretion.

[Determination of epichlorohydrin in workplace air by gas chromatograph-electron capture detector].

OBJECTIVE: To develop a method for determining epichlorohydrin in the workplace air by gas chromatograph-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). METHODS: Epichlorohydrin in the workplace air was collected by activated charcoal tubes, desorbed using acetone, and analyzed by GC-ECD. RESULTS: A good linearity was obtained in the range of 1.0-50 µg/mL (r=0.999 7). The detection limit was 0.012 µg/ml, while the recovery rate was 88.1% and relative standard deviation ranged from 1.11% to 3.57%. The samples could be stored for seven days at room temperature. CONCLUSION: This method effectively eliminates the interferences of alkanes on determination of epichlorohydrin and improves the sensitivity by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude, which can solve the problem of detection limit above standard in GBZ/T 160.58-2004.

Long-term outcomes after hepatic resection combined with radiofrequency ablation for initially unresectable multiple and bilobar liver malignancies.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic resection (HRE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) offers a surgical option to a group of patients with multiple and bilobar liver malignancies who are traditionally unresectable for inadequate functional hepatic reserve. The aims of the present study were to assess the perioperative outcomes, recurrence, and long-term survival rates for patients treated with HRE plus RFA in the management of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and metastatic liver cancer (MLC). METHODS: Data from all consecutive patients with primary and secondary hepatic malignancies who were treated with HRE combined with RFA between 2007 and 2013 were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 112 patients, with 368 hepatic tumors underwent HRE combined with ultrasound-guided RFA, were included in the present study. There were 40 cases of HCC with 117 tumors and 72 cases of MLC with 251 metastases. Most cases of liver metastases originated from the gastrointestinal tract (44, 61.1%). Other uncommon lesions included breast cancer (5, 6.9%), pancreatic cancer (3, 4.2%), lung cancer (4, 5.6%), cholangiocarcinoma (4, 5.6%), and so on. The ablation success rates were 93.3% for HCC and 96.7% for MLC. The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-y overall recurrence rates were 52.5%, 59.5%, 72.3%, 75%, and 80% for the HCC group and 44.4%, 52.7%, 56.1%, 69.4%, and 77.8% for the MLC group, respectively. The 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-y overall survival rates for the HCC patients were 67.5%, 50%, 32.5%, 22.5%, and 12.5% and for the MLC patients were 66.5%, 55.5%, 50%, 30.5%, and 19.4%, respectively. The corresponding recurrence-free survival rates for the HCC patients were 52.5%, 35%, 22.5%, 15%, and 10% and for the MLC patients were 58.3%, 41.6%, 23.6%, 16.9%, and 12.5%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: HRE combined with RFA provides an effective treatment approach for patients with primary and secondary liver malignancies who are initially unsuitable for radical resection, with high local tumor control rates and promising survival data.

Portal vein arterialization as a bridge procedure against acute liver failure after extended hepatectomy for hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a severe and highly fatal complication arising after extended hepatobiliary surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the primary management experience of portal vein arterialization (PVA) as a bridge procedure to reduce the risk of ALF for hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) after extended hepatectomy. METHOD: Between January 2010 and January 2012, 4 patients with HCCA with possible involvement of the right and/or left hepatic artery underwent resectional surgery with reconstruction of the right or left artery blood flow by arterializations of portal vein. RESULTS: The arteries used for this surgical procedure included gastroduodenal artery (n = 2), common hepatic artery (n = 1), and right gastroepiploic artery (n = 1). PVA was verified as a key point during the course of the disorder between surgery and postoperative recovery. During follow-up, 1 patient suffered secondary portal hypertension and was subsequently cured by interventional artery coil embolization. CONCLUSION: PVA can be indicated where there is arterial involvement in HCCA patients who have undergone extended hepatectomy or trisectionectomy.

[Isolation and identification of nine iridoid glycosides from Lamiophlomis rotata by HPLC combining PDA and MS].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a rapid chromatographic method to separate the iridoid glycosides from Lamioplomis rotata, and to identify the target compounds with PDA and MS. METHODS: Methanol-water gradient elution was used to separate and analyze the target compounds. The fluid fractions were gathered according to the chromatogram and dried with the nitrogen airflow. The mass fractions of the target compounds were determined with RP-HPLC and the structures were identified with PDA and MS. RESULTS: The purity of some compounds exceeded 90% and these 9 compounds were identified as iridoid glycosides, which were Phlorigidoside C (1), Schismoside (2), Sesamoside (3), Shanzhiside methylester (4), 6-O-Acetyl shanzhiside methylester (5), Phloyoside II (6), Penstemoside (7), Loganin (8) and 8-O-Acetyl shanzhiside methylester (9). CONCLUSION: The method is simple and practicable with high efficiency. It can be used to qualitative and quantitative analysis of the 9 iridoid glycosides in Lamiphlomis rotata and its preparations.

[Determination of 24 metal elements and their compounds in air of workplace by ICP-AES].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for determination of the levels of 24 metal elements and their compounds in the air of workplace by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP- AES). METHODS: Sampling filters were digested by microwave, and diluted to 25 ml. Twenty-four elements (Mg, Ni, K, Mo, Zn, Ca, Ba, Pb, Mn, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Sr, Bi, Tl, Sn, Li, Sb, Zr, In, V, Y, and Be) were simultaneously measured by ICP-AES. RESULTS: The detection limits for 24 elements were 0.001∼0.029 mg/L; liner correlation coefficient r values were all equal to or above 0.9994; the relative standard derivations were less than 5%; the recovery rates were 91.2%∼103.9%; the degradation rates in 7 days were less than 9.7%. CONCLUSION: ICP-AES technique is a simple, rapid, accurate, and reliable method, which can be used to measure 24 metal elements and their compounds in the air of workplace.