[Clinical characteristics of 500 hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis: a retrospective analysis from a tertiary hospital in Beijing].

Objective: To understand the clinical characteristics of hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis, so as to provide theoretical basis for disease diagnosis and treatment, formulation of intervention measures, and improve the level of disease diagnosis and treatment. Methods: Hospitalized patients who were initially diagnosed with liver cirrhosis at Peking University First Hospital from August 2017 to December 2018 were selected retrospectively as the research objects. Liver cirrhosis demographic data, etiology, severity classification, incidence of complications, diagnosis and prognosis were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: Among all liver cirrhosis cases, there were 291 males and 209 females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.4:1 and an age of 59.5±12.9 years as at August 2017 to December 2018. HBV infection, alcoholic liver disease, and autoimmune liver diseases were the most common etiology of liver cirrhosis. HBV infection alone, HBV infection combined with other factors, alcoholic liver disease alone, alcoholic liver disease combined with other factors, autoimmune liver disease alone, and autoimmune liver disease combined with other factors were presented in 163 (32.6%), 57 (11.4%), 47 (9.4%), 63 (12.6%), 85 (17.0%), and 22 (4.4.0%) cases, respectively. Ascites (221 cases, 44.2%), followed by esophagogastric varices (214 cases, 42.8%), and other including hypersplenism (137 cases), liver cancer (126 cases), upper digestive system tract hemorrhage (66 cases), hepatic encephalopathy (40 cases), infection (37 cases), portal vein thrombosis (23 cases), hepatorenal syndrome (20 cases) were the most common complications. The most common site of infection was the abdominal cavity (20 cases), accounting for 54.1%; followed by respiratory tract infection (8 cases), accounting for 21.6% in patients with liver cirrhosis with concurrent infection. Among them, there were 32 cases of bacterial infection alone, one case of bacterial infection combined with fungal infection, one case of bacterial infection combined with viral infection, and three cases of unknown pathogens. There were 69 cases in Child Pugh grade C, and the average hospitalization times were 12.6 days in terms of prognosis. There were total seven cases of death, of which five cases were due to upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and two due to hepatic encephalopathy. Conclusion: HBV infection, ascites, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding were the most common etiologies, complications, and causes of death in patients with liver cirrhosis at our hospital.

[Retrospective analysis of risk factors of liver cirrhosis combined with overt hepatic encephalopathy: a single -center case-control study].

Objective: To explore the risk factors of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE) in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: A retrospective study was designed. Patients with liver cirrhosis combined with /without OHE who were hospitalized to our hospital during the same period were selected as the case/control group. Clinical and laboratory data of both groups of patients were compared to analyze the risk factors affecting the occurrence of OHE. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis. A t-test or rank-sum test was used to compare the measurement data. Chi-square test or Fisher's exact probability method was used to compare the count data. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 500 patients with liver cirrhosis diagnosed in our hospital from August 2017 to December 2018 were selected as the case group, and 40 cases with cirrhosis without OHE who were hospitalized during the same period were randomly selected as the control group. The gender composition and age of the case and control group were comparable. Viral hepatitis (mainly hepatitis B) was the main etiology of liver cirrhosis in both groups. There were 52.5% patients in the case group and 57.5% patients in the control group, respectively. Alcoholic liver disease, autoimmune liver disease and so on were the other included causes. With regard to blood biochemical indicators, the serum creatinine levels of both groups were comparable, but in the case group, the serum total bilirubin level was higher (34.30 µmol / L vs. 18.65 µ mol/L, Z = -3.185, P < 0.05), while the serum sodium level was lower (137.00 mmol/L vs. 140.08 mmol/L, Z = -2.348, P < 0.05), and the prothrombin time was longer (14.60 s vs. 12.20 s) s. 078, P < 0.05), and international normalized ratio (1.33 vs. 1.07, Z = - 5.632, P < 0.05), and serum albumin level (30.6 g/L vs. 35.6 g/L, t = 3.386, P < 0.05) was lower. In terms of complications, patients in the case group had a higher proportion of combined gastrointestinal bleeding (30.0% vs. 10.0%, χ(2) = 5.000, P < 0.05), ascites (87.5% vs. 30.0%, χ(2) = 27.286, P < 0.05) and secondary infection (32.5% vs. 10.0%, χ(2) = 7.813, P < 0.05). In terms of severity classification, the proportion of Child-Pugh C in the case group was higher (62.5% vs. 10.0%, χ(2) =26.593, P < 0.05). In terms of outcome, there were 3 deaths in the case group and no deaths in the control group. Multivariate analysis showed that Child-Pugh class C (OR = 12.696), and combined ascites (OR = 10.655) were an independent risk factor for OHE in patients with liver cirrhosis. Conclusion: Our single-center retrospective clinical study shows that patients with cirrhosis combined with OHE are more critical and have more complications. In order to promptly diagnose and treat OHE, more attention should be paid to patients with combined ascites and Child-Pugh class C.

The characterisation and functional ß-cell differentiation of duck pancreas-derived mesenchymal cells.

The generation of insulin-producing pancreatic ß-cells from stem cells in vitro would provide an unprecedented cell source for drug discovery and cell transplantation therapy in diabetes research. The fractionation, expansion and conversion of primary duck pancreas-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PSCs) into functional ß-cells are described in this study. The cell surface antigens of PSCs, FOXA2, SOX9, NKX6.1 and INS were detected by immunofluorescent stain and flow cytometry for determining the biological characteristics of PSCs. The genes CD44, Ki67, Vimentin, C-myc, glucagon, PDX1 and insulin were detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction techniques. The growth curves of different passages were all typically sigmoidal. Karyotype analysis was conducted to estimate the stability of PSCs. A simple protocol was developed to assess functional differentiation by assessing the expression of pancreas ß-cell markers, the staining of dithizone and confirmation of insulin secretion. Insulin and PDX1 were all increased in differentiated cells compared to controls. Differentiated cells secreted insulin in a glucose-responsive manner.

Biological characterization of liver fatty acid binding gene from miniature pig liver cDNA library.

Liver fatty acid binding proteins (L-FABP) are a family of small, highly conserved, cytoplasmic proteins that bind to long-chain fatty acids and other hydrophobic ligands. In this study, a full-length enriched cDNA library was successfully constructed from Wuzhishan miniature pig, and then the L-FABP gene was cloned from this cDNA library and an expression vector (pEGFP-N3-L-FABP) was constructed in vitro. This vector was transfected into hepatocytes to test its function. The results of western blotting analysis demonstrated that the L-FABP gene from our full-length enriched cDNA library regulated downstream genes, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor family in hepatocytes. This study provides a theoretical basis and experimental evidence for the application of L-FABP for the treatment of liver injury.

Recognizing the importance of premarital sex education from sexual intercourse failure.

PIP: 40 couples freshly married and with sexual intercourse failure were counselled by the Advisory Department of Marriage Health Care, founded in 1981. The results of treatment were obtained from original records and recent follow up visits. Of the 49 cases, 18 couples had functional, psychological and physiological problems, including 11 cases of impotence, 2 cases of rejection, 1 case where a man was rejected and 1 case of male sexual organic maldevelopment. The other 31 couples were sexually ignorant, and are the focus of the paper. Characteristics of the patients: 1) husband and wife visited the department together; 2) both were sexually normal (organically); 3) both partners were healthy; 4) men and women were all 1st married; 5) most of then were in love with each other; only a few couples had gaps between themselves after being married for a few years; 6) they were all sexually active and tried for many times, but finished their sexual intercourse and spermatism outside the vagina in as few minutes. Of the 31 cases, the women's ages ranged from 22-32; 13 were between 22-25; 17 were between 26-30 and 1 was older than 30. The sample consisted of 15 technical workers including shop assistants, 4 farmers and 12 executives including technicians, teachers and doctors. The duration of counseling lasted from 2 days until 4 years, 8 cases resolved within 10 days, 11 cases between 10 and 30 days; 8 cases between 1 and 6 months and 3 cases for more than 6 months. Of the 31 cases only one woman had her hymen cut. The other 30 couples were taught sex education by concentrating on new marriages, sex knowledge, female genitalia, anatomy, direction of vagina and position during sexual intercourse. 2 of the 30 cases could not be visited and 28 of 30 cases could complete sexual intercourse satisfactorily (27 couples learned well within a week and 1 couple within 6 months).^ieng