Expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 and connective tissue growth factor in congenital biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis liver tissue.

We investigated the expression of transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the liver tissue of infants with congenital biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis, as well as the relationship between the expression of the two factors and liver fibrosis. Thirty-six infants who met the cholestasis criteria were classified into congenital biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis groups. All specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome, and the degree of liver fibrosis was assessed. The scope and level of CTGF and TGF-ß1 expression in the different specimens was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and observation. Liver fibrosis in the congenital biliary atresia group was more advanced than that in the neonatal hepatitis group, and the difference was significant (P < 0.01). In the neonatal hepatitis patients, CTGF and TGF-ß1 were mainly expressed in the hepatocytes, while they were expressed in both hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells in the congenital biliary atresia patients, and in these patients the expression was significantly stronger than in the neonatal hepatitis patients (P < 0.01). With the aggravation of hepatic fibrosis, CTGF and TGF-ß1 expression levels in liver tissue gradually increased, and their expression levels were significantly correlated (P < 0.01). Liver fibrosis is present in both congenital biliary atresia and neonatal hepatitis patients. The gradual increase of CTGF and TGF-ß1 expression levels in liver tissue is associated with liver fibrosis. Early expression of CTGF and TGF-ß1 in biliary epithelial cells may be involved in the pathogenesis of congenital biliary atresia.

Repair of large segmental bone defects in rabbits using BMP and FGF composite xenogeneic bone.

The objective of this study was to determine the ability of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) to repair large segmental radial bone defects in rabbits. We treated calf cancellous bones with 3 mg/L BMP (Group A), 5 µg/L FGF (Group B), or 3 mg/L BMP plus 5 µg/L FGF (Group C). A bone damage model was established using healthy radii from rabbits. The complexes were implanted in the areas of the bone defects in the radii. After successful transplantation, the rabbits underwent radiographic imaging, and bone graft specimens were detected by histopathology methods. Biomechanical indexes were also assessed in order to observe the healing status of the bone defects. Our results indicated that the repair of bone defects was significantly better in Group C compared to the other 2 groups. Therefore, we concluded that combining BMP and FGF significantly promoted bone defect repair and achieved effects that were superior to the use of BMP alone.

Risk factors for severe hemorrhagic cystitis following BMT.

Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a common toxicity of preparative regimens for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Severe HC often requires prolonged and expensive hospitalization, and occasionally can result in death. To investigate the risk factors for severe HC, we conducted a retrospective study among 1908 patients who received BMTs at the University of Minnesota during 1974 to 1993. A previous report from our institution reported on 977 of these patients. We identified all patients with genitourinary complication within 100 days post-BMT from the BMT database. Medical charts for these patients were reviewed to determine whether the patient had HC and also the grade of HC. A total of 208 HC cases were identified during the study period. Of them, 92 patients had severe HC, an incidence of 5% (95% CI = 4-6%). We found that grade II-IV graft-versus-host disease (RR = 2.56; 95% CI = 1.43-4.56), use of busulfan (RR = 2.69; 95% CI = 1.35-5.35), and age at transplant (RR = 2.20; 95% CI = 1.27-3.81, for age of 10-30 compared to age of 0-9) were related to an increased risk of HC. In contrast, transplant year was inversely associated with the risk of HC (trend test, P < 0.01). We did not find any significant difference in HC with the use of prophylactic Mesna.