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BACKGROUND About 20%-30% of newly diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients are surgically feasible due to a variety of reasons. Active conversion therapy may provide opportunities of surgery for these patients. Nevertheless, the choice of surgical procedure is controversial after successful conversion therapy. We report a patient with HCC who underwent successful laparoscopic right trisectionectomy after conversion therapy with portal vein embolization and transarterial chemoembolization. CASE SUMMARY A 67-year-old male patient presented to our hospital with epigastric distention/ discomfort and nausea/vomiting for more than 1 mo. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen demonstrated multiple tumors (the largest was ≥ 10 cm in diameter) located in the right liver and left medial lobe, and the left lateral lobe was normal. The future remnant liver (FRL) of the left lateral lobe accounted for only 18% of total liver volume after virtual resection on the three-dimensional liver model. Conversion therapy was adopted after orally administered entecavir for antiviral treatment. First, the right portal vein was embolized. Then tumor embolization was performed via the variant hepatic arteries. After 3 wk, the FRL of the left lateral lobe accounted for nearly 30% of the total liver volume. Totally laparoscopic right trisectionectomy was performed under combined epidural and general anesthesia. The in situ resection was performed via an anterior approach. The operating time was 240 min. No clamping was required during the surgery, and the intraoperative blood loss was 300 mL. There were no postoperative complications such as bile leakage, and the incision healed well. The patient was discharged on the 8th postoperative day. During the 3-mo follow-up, there was no recurrence and obvious hyperplasia of residual liver was observed. Alpha-fetoprotein decreased significantly and tended to be normal. CONCLUSION Due to the different biological characteristics of the liver cancer and the pathophysiological features of the liver from other organs, the conversion treatment should take into account both the feasibility of tumor downstaging and the volume and function of the remnant liver. Our case provides a reference for clinicians in terms of both conversion therapy and laparoscopic right trisectionectomy.

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to investigate the microstructure and mechanical properties of dental zirconia manufactured by digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing and the clinical application prospects of this material. METHODS: The experiment (DLP) group was zirconia manufactured by DLP 3D printing, and the control (MILL) group was milled zirconia. The density, grain size, and phase composition were measured to study the microstructure. Flexural strength was measured by using three-point bending tests, while Vickers hardness was determined through a Vickers hardness tester. Fracture toughness was tested using the single-edge V-notched beam method. RESULTS: Zirconia density of the DLP group was (6.019 8±0.021 3) g·cm(−3), and the average grain size was (0.603 0±0.032 6) µm, but without statistical difference with the corresponding values of the MILL group (P>0.05). Tetragonal phase was found in the X-ray diffraction patterns of the DLP and MILL groups. The flexural strength of the DLP group was (1 012.7±125.5) MPa, and Vickers hardness was (1 238.5±10.8) HV(1), which was slightly lower than that of the MILL group (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Zirconia manufactured by DLP 3D printing had microstructure and mechanical properties similar to those of the milled zirconia. Only the flexural strength and the Vickers hardness of the experimental zirconia were slightly lower than those of the milled zirconia. Therefore, DLP-manufactured zirconia has a promising future for clinical use.

Liver dual arterial blood supply (LDABS) could increase blood supply to the liver and maintain normal liver regeneration in patients with compromised portal vein. The current study attempted to examine the underlying molecular mechanisms. Male Sprague‑Dawley rats randomly received partial hepatectomy (PH) alone or PH followed by LDABS. Liver regeneration was assessed by histological examination, liver function and liver regeneration rate (LRR). Whole‑genome oligo microarray analysis was used to compare gene expression profile between rats receiving PH and rats receiving PH plus LDABS. Key genes identification was validated using a MAPK signaling polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array. The extent of liver regeneration in rats receiving PH plus LDABS was comparable to that in rats receiving PH alone. The differentially expressed genes were enriched in 12 signaling pathways in two groups. MAPK signaling pathway, NF‑kappa B signaling pathway, and Toll‑like receptor signaling pathway were involved in LDABS‑mediated liver regeneration, with Retinoblastoma 1 (Rb1), Cyclin D1, Cyclin‑dependent kinase 4, Mitogen‑activated protein kinase 10 (Mapk10) and CAMP responsive element binding protein 1 genes in the initiation phase, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (Kras), tumor protein 53, MYC proto‑oncogene, BHLH transcription factor, Cyclin E1 and Heat shock protein family B (small) member 1 genes in the proliferation phase, Kras, Rb1, Jun proto‑oncogene, AP‑1 transcription factor subunit, Cyclin D2 and Mapk10 genes in the termination phase were identified as key genes in LDABS‑mediated liver regeneration using MAPK signaling PCR array analysis.

Auxiliary partial heterotopic liver transplantation (APHLT) with portal vein arterialization is a valuable procedure to be considered in the treatment of patients with acute liver failure and metabolic liver diseases. The aim of this study was to develop a new rat model of APHLT with liver dual arterial blood supply (LDABS). A total of 20 rats were used. The donor liver was resected, and the celiac trunk was reserved. Left and medial hepatic lobes accounting for 70% of the liver mass were removed en bloc and the suprahepatic caval vein was ligated simultaneously. Thus, 30% of the donor liver was obtained as the graft. Sleeve anastomosis of the graft portal vein and splenic artery were performed after narrowing the portal vein lumen through suturing. The right kidney of the recipient was removed, and sleeve anastomosis was performed between the celiac trunk of the graft and the right renal artery of the recipient. In addition, end-to-end anastomosis was performed between the infrahepatic caval vein of the graft and the right renal vein of the recipient. Following the reperfusion of the graft, the blood flow of the arterialized portal vein was controlled within the physiological range through suturing and narrowing under monitoring with an ultrasonic flowmeter. The bile duct of the graft was implanted into the duodenum of the recipient through an internal stent catheter. A 70% section of the native liver (left and medial hepatic lobes) was resected using bloodless hepatectomy. The mean operative duration was 154.5±16.4 min, and the warm and cold ischemia times of the graft were 8.1±1.1 min and 64.5±6.6 min, respectively. The blood flow of the arterialized portal vein to the graft was 1.8±0.3 ml/min/g liver weight. The success rate of model establishment (waking with post-surgical survival of >24 h) was 70% (7/10). Following successful model establishment, all rats survived 7 days post-surgery (100%; 7/7). The graft was found to be soft in texture and bright red in color following exploratory laparotomy. In conclusion, a new rat model of APHLT with LDABS without stent for vascular reconstruction was developed. This is a feasible and reliable rat model for liver transplantation study.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the dual arterial blood supply method used in auxiliary liver transplantation on the regeneration of grafted and host liver. A total of 72 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups, namely the 68% hepatectomy group (group A), the 68% hepatectomy with dual arterial blood supply group (group B) and the auxiliary liver transplantation with dual arterial blood supply group (group C). Group C was further divided into the host liver subgroup (group Ca) and the transplanted liver subgroup (group Cb). Six animals from each group were sacrificed at 1, 2 and 7 days after surgery. The calculation of the liver regeneration rate (LRR) was based on measuring liver weight. Liver function was assessed by measuring serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Apoptotic changes in the grafts and host livers were evaluated using TUNEL staining. The LRR in each group exhibited a tendency to increase over time. At each time point, the LRR of transplanted livers in group C exhibited no significant difference from that of host livers in group C (P>0.05). The ALT levels for each group exhibited a time-dependent decreasing tendency. The ALT level in group C was significantly higher compared to that in groups A and B at each time point (P0.05). In auxiliary liver transplantation with the dual arterial blood supply method, the capacity of the liver regeneration in the grafts was similar to that of the host livers. Therefore, this technique may reduce the potential risk of graft liver atrophy caused by functional competition.

An inversion method based on multi-output support vector regression (MSVR) is proposed for identifying the mechanical parameters of surrounding rock. This method considers the surrounding rock as a multi-output system during excavation, and the surveyed rock deformations of each monitoring section as its output. First, perform numerical experiments based on the principle of orthogonal test to obtain the calculated deformation values corresponding to different rock parameter combinations, and use them as the samples for training the model of MSVR as reflecting the nonlinear mapping relationship between rock and its deformations. Second, use the PSO to seek the optimal rock parameters based on measured deformations of rock mass. An example is employed to test the presented inversion method. The results showed that compared with the inversion method based on single-output support vector regression (SSVR), the proposed one is more inclined to reach the global optimization goals and achieve more reliable inversion results due to its consideration of the inherent correlativity among the measured deformations of each monitoring section.

The reasonable price of the new technology products is the main factor in the field of the promotion and conversion of advanced new technological achievements. The pricing method is analyzed by the example of “Process of grouting polymer cutoff wall for dams and dikes”, and the fully measurement principle for the equipments is conducted with the intellectual property rights in the new technology during the pricing of products, and the pricing method for forming with the price system of new technology products is proposed.

TNF-α, HGF and TGF-β1 are Involved in Liver Regeneration Following Partial Hepatectomy Using Portal Vein ArterializationsExperiments on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy have shown that TNF-α, HGF and TGF-β1 and other cytokines play important roles in the different stages of liver regeneration, however, the effect of portal vein arterialization (PVA) on the expressions of these cytokines during liver regeneration is not clear. Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the PVA group and control groups, and blood was collected for the detection of ALT using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The expressions of TNF-α, HGF and TGF-β1 in liver tissues were detected by quantitative RT-PCR. The ALT levels in both groups in the early period after surgery were significantly higher than those before operation, and gradually returned to normal at 7 days after surgery. At 12 h and 24 h after operation, the TNF-α expression in the PVA group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P

The nanoparticles of Fe3O4 were prepared with chemical precipitation method, and then used sodium oleate and the lauryl sulfonic aid sodium as bilayer to envelope the ultra-fine Fe3O4 particles. Then stabilized water base magnetic fluid was obtained. The crystallization behavior and the surface of Fe3O4 nanoparticles after the modification were investigated with XRD and IR respectively; the particle size was studied with TEM; the magnetic properties were studied with VSM. The mechanism of bilayer surfactants that modified Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles was explained, and influencing factors of the magnetic fluid were discussed.

Background Interleukin-16 (IL-16), a pleiotropic cytokine, plays a fundamental role in inflammatory diseases. This study investigates the association between IL-16 polymorphisms and the risk of knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a Chinese population. Methods The IL-16 rs11556218, rs4072111, and rs4778889 polymorphisms were determined in 150 knee OA cases and 147 healthy controls through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results The results suggested that the variants in IL-16 gene rs11556218 site were associated with a decreased knee OA risk after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and smoking and drinking status (TG vs. TT: OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.53–0.89; P = 0.006; GG vs. TT: OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.45–0.90; P = 0.042; dominant model: OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.29–0.87; P = 0.002; G vs. T allele: OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.66–0.90; P = 0.003). Similarly, subjects bearing the rs4072111 variant genotypes and alleles also had a lower susceptibility to knee OA compared with those bearing the wild-type (CT vs. CC: OR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53–0.83; P = 0.002; TT vs. CC: OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.40–0.82; P = 0.027; dominant model: OR, 0.65; 95%, CI 0.52–0.80; P

Hepatic arterial pseudoaneurysm with hemobilia occurs less frequently as a complication of minilaparotomy cholecystectomy than laparoscopic cholecystectomy; however, given its severe nature, it needs to be managed promptly. This report presents a case of right hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm with hemobilia in a 36-year-old woman who underwent minilaparotomy cholecystectomy 5 weeks earlier. Angiography with embolization was carried out as definitive treatment.

This study aimed to develop a new auxiliary heterotopic partial liver transplantation (AHPLT) technique in minipigs using a model of liver cirrhosis. Based on our previous study, 14 minipigs were induced to cirrhosis by administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) through intraperitoneal injection. All of the cirrhotic animals were utilized as recipients. The donor's liver was placed on the recipient's splenic bed, and the anastomosis was performed as follows: end-to-end anastomosis between the donor's portal vein and the recipient's splenic vein, end-to-side anastomosis between the donor's suprahepatic vena cava and the recipient's suprahepatic vena cava, and end-to-end anastomosis between the donor's hepatic artery and the recipient's splenic artery. The common bile duct of the donor was intubated and bile was collected with an extracorporeal bag. Vital signs, portal vein pressure (PVP), hepatic venous pressure (HVP) and portal vein pressure gradient (PVPG) were monitored throughout the transplantation. All 8 minipigs that developed liver cirrhosis were utilized to establish the new AHPLT; 7 cases survived. Following the surgical intervention, the PVP and PVPG of the recipients were lower than those prior to the operation (P

The neurotoxicity of aggregated beta-amyloid (Abeta) has been implicated as a critical cause in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). It can cause neurotoxicity in AD by evoking a cascade of oxidative damage-dependent apoptosis to neurons. In the present study, we for the first time investigated the protective effect of pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), an anionic, water soluble compound that acts as a redox cofactor of bacterial dehydrogenases, on Abeta-induced SH-SY5Y cytotoxicity. Abeta(25-35) significantly reduced cell viability, increased the number of apoptotic-like cells, and increased ROS production. All of these phenotypes induced by Abeta(25-35) were markedly reversed by PQQ. PQQ pretreatment recovered cells from Abeta(25-35)-induced cell death, prevented Abeta(25-35)-induced apoptosis, and decreased ROS production. PQQ strikingly decreased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and suppressed the cleavage of caspase-3. These results indicated that PQQ could protect SH-SY5Y cells against beta-amyloid induced neurotoxicity.

To investigate whether CK20 mRNA expression level could be considered as an effective molecular indicator for evaluation of chemotherapy sensitivity.All samples of peripheral blood were taken from 31 gastric cancer patients undergone radical operation a week before postoperative chemotherapy, at the first day of chemotherapy point, and after the first cycle of chemotherapy respectively, and subjected to FQ RT-PCR assay for CK20 mRNA. The chemotherapy scheme was FOLFOX 4. The control group was 15 healthy volunteers.Aomng the 31 gastric cancer patients, the value of CK20 mRNA before postoperative chemotherapy was increased (2.96+/-2.27 vs 2.22+/-2.12, t=2.10, P0.05) in 25 positive cases, and then declined after chemotherapy(2.05+/-1.86 vs 2.96+/-2.27, t=2.50, P0.05) in 24 positive cases. The expression level of CK20 mRNA in patients before chemotherapy was increased in 16 cases(51.6%), declined in 9 cases(29.0%) and stabilized as negative in 6 cases(19.4%). After chemotherapy the level of CK20 mRNA was increased in 7 cases(22.6%), declined in 17 cases (54.8%) and stabilized as negative in 7 cases(22.6%), there was significant difference between the two groups(chi(2)=6.06, P0.05).The expression level of CK20 mRNA in the peripheral blood detected by FQ RT-PCR in patients with gastric cancer declines after postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Different individuals have different sensitivity to chemotherapeutics. Dynamic monitoring CK20 mRNA should be considered as an effective index to evaluate the efficacy of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

This study aimed to develop a new experimental model of liver cirrhosis in swine by using carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and ethanol. Liver cirrhosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 twice a week for 9 weeks. Maize flour was the only food provided and the animals drunk a 5% alcohol-water mixture. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin, bilirubin and portal venous pressure (PVP) levels were determined throughout CCl4 treatment. The animals were sacrificed under general anesthesia at week 9 and liver samples were collected for histological analysis. 83.3% of the swine had liver cirrhosis and 33.3% had died. There was no change of body weight during the course of the experiment (p > 0.05). The AST and ALT levels increased significantly in the early stage of the study but had a trend to decrease during the late phase. The level of bilirubin increased greatly and albumin decreased during the whole experiment (p < 0.05). PVP levels decreased in the early stage in CCl4-treated swine, but increased significantly at the late phase. In conclusion, this study was successful in producing liver cirrhosis and offers an ideal experimental model for observing surgical therapeutic efficacy.

AIM: To investigate the effects of osteopontin (OPN) gene expression knockdown on colon cancer Lovo cells in vitro. METHODS: Four candidate small interfering RNA (siRNA) constructs targeting the OPN gene and a scrambled control sequence (NC-siRNA) were synthesized and inserted into a pGPU6/GFP/Neo expression vector. After confirmation by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing, the recombinant plasmids were subsequently transfected into a human colon cancer cell line (Lovo) using a liposome transfection method. Stably transfected cells were maintained with G418 selection and referred to as Lovo-OPN-1, -2, -3, -4, and Lovo-NC cells. Knockdown efficiency of each of the four siRNA constructs was determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays and western blotting, and the construct with the most effective silencing was used for subsequent experiments. Cell proliferation, adhesion, and Matrigel invasion assays were performed to analyze the effects of OPN knockdown in stably transfected Lovo cells. The levels of four angiogenic factors, namely vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and urokinase plasminogen activator were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: Recombinant vectors containing OPN-specific and scrambled siRNA sequences were successfully constructed and stably transfected into Lovo cells. Compared with the control Lovo and Lovo-NC cells, the levels of OPN mRNA and protein expression in Lovo-OPN-1, -2, -3, and -4 were significantly reduced (all P < 0.05), with the most efficient reduction observed in Lovo-OPN-4 cells (P < 0.05). Relative to untransfected Lovo cells, OPN mRNA expression levels in Lovo-NC and Lovo-OPN-4 cells were 1.008 ± 0.067 and 0.160 ± 0.023, respectively. The relative OPN protein expression levels in Lovo, Lovo-NC, and Lovo-OPN-4 cells were 3.024 ± 0.211, 2.974 ± 0.630, and 0.121 ± 0.008, respectively. Moreover, transfection with the scrambled sequence had no effect on the expression of OPN. After 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of cultivation, absorption values at 450 nm to assess proliferation of Lovo-OPN-4 cells were 0.210 ± 0.017, 0.247 ± 0.024, 0.314 ± 0.037, and 0.359 ± 0.043, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of Lovo (0.244 ± 0.031, 0.313 ± 0.024, 0.513 ± 0.048 and 0.783 ± 0.051) and Lovo-NC cells (0.241 ± 0.029, 0.309 ± 0.022, 0.563 ± 0.023, and 0.735 ± 0.067) (all P < 0.05). The absorption values at 595 nm, which were measured in a cell adhesion assay, showed that adhesion of Lovo-OPN-4 cells (0.215 ± 0.036) was significantly decreased compared to Lovo (0.490 ± 0.037) and Lovo-NC cells (0.462 ± 0.043) (P < 0.05). The number of invasive Lovo-OPN-4 cells (16.1 ± 1.9) was also significantly decreased compared to Lovo (49.9 ± 5.4) and Lovo-NC cells (48.8 ± 4.5) (P < 0.05). ELISA assays showed significant reductions in Lovo-OPN-4 cells compared to Lovo and Lovo-NC cells with regard to the expression of VEGF (1687.85 ± 167.84 ng/L vs 2348.54 ± 143.80 ng/L and 2284.39 ± 138.62 ng/L, respectively), MMP-2 (2966.07 ± 177.36 μg/L vs 4084.74 ± 349.54 μg/L and 4011.41 ± 424.48 μg/L, respectively), MMP-9 (3782.89 ± 300.64 μg/L vs 5062.90 ± 303.02 μg/L and 4986.38 ± 300.75 μg/L, respectively) and uPA (1152.69 ± 120.79 μg/L vs 1380.90 ± 147.25 μg/L and 1449.80 ± 189.92 μg/L, respectively) (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Knockdown of OPN gene expression suppresses colon cancer cell growth, adherence, invasion, and expression of angiogenic factors.