Interleukin-34 drives macrophage polarization to the M2 phenotype in autoimmune hepatitis

BackgroundAutoimmune hepatitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, the abnormal immunological function is the main pathogenesis. Interleukin-34 is a newly identified cytokine that shares the same receptor as colony stimulating factor-1.MethodsWe used interleukin-34 knockout and wild-type mice in a Con A-induced hepatitis model and cocultured RAW264.7 macrophage cells with interleukin-34. We then detected associated inflammatory cytokine and chemokine levels to elucidate the role of interleukin-34.ResultsIn this study, we found that the loss of interleukin-34 resulted in higher sensitivity to Con A-induced hepatitis. RAW264.7 macrophage cells were able to differentiate to the M2 phenotype upon interleukin-34 stimulation.ConclusionsWe conclude that interleukin-34 may protect the liver from Con A-mediated hepatitis by driving M2 macrophage polarization and suppressing inflammation.     

乳果糖口服溶液联合谷氨酸钾注射液治疗肝性脑病的疗效观察

目的探讨乳果糖口服溶液联合谷氨酸钾注射液治疗肝性脑病的临床疗效。方法选取2014年4月—2017年4月在天门市第一人民医院治疗的肝性脑病患者114例为研究对象,将所有患者随机分为对照组和治疗组,每组各57例。对照组静脉滴注谷氨酸钾注射液,60 mL加入到生理盐水500 mL中,1次/d。治疗组在对照组的基础上口服乳果糖口服溶液,30 mL/次,3次/d。两组患者均连续治疗7 d。观察两组的临床疗效,比较两组的生化学指标和Child-Pugh评分。结果治疗后,对照组和治疗组的总有效率分别为75.44%、92.98%,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组血氨、总胆红素(TBil)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)和天门冬氨酸氨基转氨酶(AST)水平均显著下降,同组治疗前后比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);且治疗组这些生化学指标明显低于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。治疗后,两组Child-Pugh评分均显著下降,同组治疗前后比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);且治疗组Child-Pugh评分明显低于对照组,两组比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论乳果糖口服溶液联合谷氨酸钾注射液治疗肝性脑病具有较好的临床疗效,能改善精神状况,降低血氨水平,改善肝脏功能,安全性较好,具有一定的临床推广应用价值。     

Transaminases in the acquired pellicle

Objective

Transaminases (AST, aspartate amino transferase; ALT, alanine amino transferase) are relevant enzymes in physiology and pathology of the human organism. The aim of the present in situ study was to demonstrate the presence of these enzymes in the enamel pellicle.

Methods

Bovine enamel slabs were fixed on buccal sites of individual upper jaw splints and worn for 3, 30 and 120 min by 5 subjects to allow pellicle formation. The in situ pellicles were tested for AST and ALT. Enzyme activities were measured photometrically via determination of the products pyruvate and oxalacetate using lactate-dehydrogenase and malate-dehydrogenase, respectively.

Results

Enzymatic AST- as well as ALT-activities are present in the acquired pellicle within 3 min. The enzyme activities exposed at the pellicles’ surfaces increased slightly with the pellicle formation time (ANOVA, AST: n.s., ALT: p = 0.021). However, the two enzymes show considerable intraindividual and interindividual variability. The mean AST-activity of the pellicle amounted to 1.07 ± 0.81 mU/cm² (ALT 1.18 ± 0.52 mU/cm²). The ALT-activity of the centrifuged saliva was 26.62 ± 11.09 mU/ml (AST 35.98 ± 29.35 mU/ml).

Conclusions

AST as well as ALT are present in the in situ pellicle layer and may contribute to the intrinsic maturation of pellicle proteins.     

Decreased small dense LDL levels in Gilbert's syndrome

Objective

To investigate the role of small dense low density lipoprotein cholesterol (sd-LDL-C) in the mechanism of decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease in Gilbert's syndrome (GS).

Design and methods

sd-LDL-C, ox-LDL, and high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were investigated in subjects with GS (n = 42) and compared to healthy controls (n = 52).

Results

Age, gender and body mass index (BMI) distributions were similar between the two groups. sd-LDL-C, ox-LDL and hs-CRP levels were lower in GS than the healthy controls (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Unconjugated bilirubin was negatively correlated with sd-LDL-C, ox-LDL and hs-CRP (r = −0.594, p < 0.001; r = −0.249, p = 0.016 and r = − 0.373, p < 0.001 respectively). In addition, sd-LDL-C was positively correlated with ox-LDL (r = 0.307, p = 0.003).

Conclusions

The findings of this preliminary study suggest that reduced sd-LDL-C, ox-LDL and hs-CRP levels may have a role in preventing atherosclerosis in subjects with GS.     

Comparison of biliary atresia with and without intracranial hemorrhage

Background/Purpose

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe complication of biliary atresia (BA). We aimed to compare the clinical data of BA patients with and without ICH.