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AIMTo investigate the hepatic differentiation potential of human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) and to evaluate their therapeutic effect on liver fibrosis/cirrhosis.METHODSA CCl4-induced liver fibrotic/cirrhotic rat model was used to assess the effect of hUC-MSCs. Histopathology was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson trichrome and Sirius red staining. The liver biochemical profile was measured using a Beckman Coulter analyzer. Expression analysis was performed using immunofluorescent staining, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time PCR.RESULTSWe demonstrated that the infused hUC-MSCs could differentiate into hepatocytes in vivo. Functionally, the transplantation of hUC-MSCs to CCl4-treated rats improved liver transaminases and synthetic function, reduced liver histopathology and reversed hepatobiliary fibrosis. The reversal of hepatobiliary fibrosis was likely due to the reduced activation state of hepatic stellate cells, decreased collagen deposition, and enhanced extracellular matrix remodeling via the up-regulation of MMP-13 and down-regulation of TIMP-1.CONCLUSIONTransplanted hUC-MSCs could differentiate into functional hepatocytes that improved both the biochemical and histopathologic changes in a CCl4-induced rat liver fibrosis model. hUC-MSCs may offer therapeutic opportunities for treating hepatobiliary diseases, including cirrhosis.

Background: Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori ) cannot usually be detected in the gastric juice and it is thought that H. pylori may reside under the mucus layer for long term. The mechanisms of action of proton pump inhibitor (PPI)for H. pylori eradication are not entirely clear. Our study aimed to determine the role of PPI on the movement of H. pylori across the mucus layer to the gastric lumen and the mechanism of PPI on H. pylori eradication. Methods: Patients with H. pylori infection were intravenous injected with PPI (intervention group, n=31) or without PPI (control group, n=37). The presence of H. pylori in the gastric juice was evaluated by the rapid urease test (RUT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and culture methods. Results: The H. pylori positive detection rates were all significantly higher among patients in the intervention group than among patients in the control group by the RUT ( P < 0.0001), PCR ( P < 0.0001), and culturing ( P = 0.0386). Conclusion: H. pylori can penetrate across the mucus layer to the gastric lumen following PPI intervention, and thus it might represent a novel target in the eradication of H. pylori . BackgroundHelicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most common bacterial infections, potentially lasting for decades in an individual, and infection can lead to multiple diseases. The prevalence of H. pylori infection is higher than 50% in many regions of the world, for example 68.6% in Chile, 71.6% in Italy 1 , 51.7% in Japan, 63.5% in India, and 35.6% in United States 2 . It ranges from 41.35% to 72.3% in China, with an average of 56.22%. 3 H. pylori is widely regarded as one of the most common gastric pathogens 4-6 causing chronic gastritis, functional dyspepsia, peptic ulcer, gastric adenocarcinoma, and lymphoma. 7, 8 It has also been found to be associated with multiple extra gastrointestinal diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, hematological system diseases, diabetes, and immune diseases. In 1994, the International Agency for Research on Cancer consensus group listed H. pylori as a class I human carcinogen. 9 The eradication of H. pylori is a major global public health issue. Currently, several diagnostic tests are available for determining the presence of H. pylori, such as rapid urease test (RUT), histology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), culture, urea breath test (UBT), and serology.

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) cannot usually be detected in the gastric juice and it is thought that H. pylori may be implanted under the mucus layer for long term. The mechanisms of action of proton pump inhibitor (PPI), antibiotics, and bismuth for H. pylori eradication are not entirely clear. Our study aimed to determine the role of PPI on the movement of H. pylori across the mucus layer to the gastric lumen and the mechanism of PPI, antibiotics, and bismuth on H. pylori eradication.Methods: Patients with H. pylori infection were intravenous injected with PPI (intervention group, n=31) or without PPI (control group, n=37). The presence of H. pylori in the gastric juice was evaluated by the rapid urease test (RUT), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and culture methods.Results: The H. pylori positive detection rates were all significantly higher among patients in the intervention group than among patients in the control group by the RUT (P < 0.0001), PCR (P < 0.0001), and culturing (P = 0.0386).Conclusion: H. pylori can penetrate across the mucus layer to the gastric lumen following PPI intervention. The direct antimicrobial activity of PPI might because of diminished numbers of H. pylori due to probiotics in the gastric lumen. Antibiotics and bismuth might play a local sterilization role in the gastric lumen when H. pylori penetrate across the mucus layer.

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPeM) is an incurable cancer strongly associated with asbestos exposure and characterised by poor prognosis. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the prognostic and predictive value of CD146 and survivin expression in MPeM. Diagnostic biopsies from 60 patients with MPeM were collected and analysed for CD146, survivin and Ki-67 expression using immunohistochemistry. Complete clinical and follow-up information was obtained from patients' records. CD146 was expressed in 31/60 MPeM specimens and survivin in 34/60 specimens, with both expression levels being significantly associated with the Ki-67 labelling index (Ki-67LI). Kaplan-Meier and univariate Cox regression analyses revealed that a lower peritoneal cancer index (PCI), tumour-directed treatment, stage I, lower Ki-67LI and lower CD146 and survivin expression had a statistically positive effect on overall survival (OS). Cox regression analysis revealed that PCI [hazard ratio (HR)=1.99; 95% CI, 1.04-3.83; P=0.038], survivin (HR=1.47; 95% CI, 1.03-2.10; P=0.034) and treatment protocol including intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HR=0.28; 95% CI, 0.14-0.57; P=0.013) and systemic chemotherapy (HR=0.13; 95% CI, 0.04-0.42; P=0.013) retained independent prognostic significance for OS. All of these were included in the nomogram. Calibration curves showed good agreement between nomogram-predicted and observed survival. The C-index of the nomogram for predicting OS was 0.77. A lower PCI, intraperitoneal chemotherapy, systemic chemotherapy and a lower level of survivin were powerful prognostic markers in patients with MPeM. The proposed nomogram provides individual survival prediction for patients with MPeM.