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BackgroundNormal hepatic functional reserve is the key to avoiding liver failure after liver surgery. This study investigated the assessment of hepatic functional reserve using liver shear wave velocity (LSWV) combined with biochemical indicators, tumor volume, and portal vein diameter.MethodsIn this single-center prospective study, a total of 123 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were divided into a test group (n=92) and a validation group (n=31). All patients were Child-Pugh grade A. The indocyanine green retention rate at 15 min (ICG-R15), liver shear wave velocity (LSWV), portal vein diameter (Dpv), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GGT), albumin (ALB), prothrombin time (PT), and also liver tumor volume (maximum diameter ≤5 cm) were measured. In the test group, multiple parameters were used to evaluate hepatic functional reserve, and the multiparametric model was established. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to assess the diagnostic performance of the multiparametric model. In the validation group, the predictive effectiveness of the multiparametric model was analyzed using consistency tests.ResultsIt was revealed that LSWV, ALB, and PT were statistically significant in evaluation of the hepatic functional reserve (P

BackgroundLiver cirrhosis is closely associated with cardiac dysfunction. The aims of this study were to evaluate left ventricular systolic function in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis by non-invasive left ventricular pressure-strain loop (LVPSL) technique, and to explore the correlation between myocardial work indices and liver function classification.MethodsAccording to the Child-Pugh classification, 90 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis were further divided into three groups: Child-Pugh A group (n = 32), Child-Pugh B group (n = 31), and Child-Pugh C group (n = 27). During the same period, 30 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control (CON) group. Myocardial work parameters, which included global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), and global work efficiency (GWE), were derived from the LVPSL and compared among the four groups. The correlation between myocardial work parameters and Child-Pugh liver function classification was evaluated, and the independent risk factors affecting left ventricular myocardial work in patients with cirrhosis were investigated by univariable and multivariable linear regression analysis.ResultsGWI, GCW and GWE of Child-Pugh B and C groups were lower than those of CON group, while GWW was higher than that of CON group, and the changes were more obvious in Child-Pugh C group (P

To some extent, the photosynthetic traits of developing leaves of maize are regulated systemically by water and nitrogen. However, it remains unclear whether photosynthesis is systematically regulated via water and nitrogen when maize crops are grown under close (high density) planting conditions. To address this, a field experiment that had a split-split plot arrangement of treatments was designed. Two irrigation levels on local traditional irrigation level (high, I2, 4,050 m3 ha−1) and reduced by 20% (low, I1, 3,240 m3 ha−1) formed the main plots; two levels of nitrogen fertilizer at a local traditional nitrogen level (high, N2, 360 kg ha−1) and reduced by 25% (low, N1, 270 kg ha−1) formed the split plots; three planting densities of low (D1, 7.5 plants m−2), medium (D2, 9.75 plants m−2), and high (D3, 12 plants m−2) formed the split-split plots. The grain yield, gas exchange, and chlorophyll a fluorescence of the closely planted maize crops were assessed. The results showed that water–nitrogen coupling regulated their net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (Tr), quantum yield of non-regulated non-photochemical energy loss [Y(NO)], actual photochemical efficiency of PSII [Y(II)], and quantum yield of regulated non-photochemical energy loss [Y(NPQ)]. When maize plants were grown at low irrigation with traditional nitrogen and at a medium density (i.e., I1N2D2), they had Pn, Gs, and Tr higher than those of grown under traditional treatment conditions (i.e., I2N2D1). Moreover, the increased photosynthesis in the leaves of maize in the I1N2D2 treatment was mainly caused by decreased Y(NO), and increased Y(II) and Y(NPQ). The coupling of 20%-reduced irrigation with the traditional nitrogen application boosted the grain yield of medium density-planted maize, whose Pn, Gs, Tr, Y(II), and Y(NPQ) were enhanced, and its Y(NO) was reduced. Redundancy analysis revealed that both Y(II) and SPAD were the most important physiological factors affecting maize yield performance, followed by Y(NPQ) and NPQ. Using the 20% reduction in irrigation and traditional nitrogen application at a medium density of planting (I1N2D2) could thus be considered as feasible management practices, which could provide technical guidance for further exploring high yields of closely planted maize plants in arid irrigation regions.

Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC) is thought to be driven by a collaborative mechanism between TNFα/NFκB and TGFβ signaling, leading to inflammation, Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT), and metastasis. Initially, TGFβ is a tumor suppressor, but in advanced metastatic disease it switches to being a tumor promoter. TGFBR2 may play a critical role in this collaboration, as its expression is driven by NFκB and it is the primary receptor for TGFβ. We have previously reported that the cardenolide drug digitoxin blocks TNFα/NFκB-driven proinflammatory signaling. We therefore hypothesized that digitoxin might break the collaborative process between NFκB and TGFβ by also inhibiting expression of TGFBR2. We therefore tested whether TGFβ-driven EMT and resulting metastases would be suppressed. Here we show, in vitro, that digitoxin inhibits NFκB-driven TGFBR2 expression, as well as Vimentin, while elevating E-cadherin expression. Digitoxin also significantly reduces HSPB1 mRNA and the HSPB1/RBFOX2 mRNA ratio in PC3 cells. In vivo, in a syngeneic, immune competent rat model of metastatic CRPC, we show that digitoxin also suppresses Tgfbr2 expression, as well as expression of other genes classically driven by NFκB, and of multiple EMT genes associated with metastasis. Concurrently, digitoxin suppresses tumor growth and metastasis in these animals, and prolongs survival. Gross tumor recurrence following tumor resection also appears prevented in ca 30% of cases. While the existence of a collaboration between NFκB and TGFβ to drive EMT and metastasis has previously been appreciated, we show here, for the first time, that chronic, low concentrations of digitoxin are able to block CRPC tumor progression, EMT and the ensuing metastatic disease.