We have investigated comprehensively the effects of thyroid function on gallstone formation in a mouse model. Gonadectomized gallstone-susceptible male C57BL/6 mice were randomly distributed into three groups each of ...We have investigated comprehensively the effects of thyroid function on gallstone formation in a mouse model. Gonadectomized gallstone-susceptible male C57BL/6 mice were randomly distributed into three groups each of which received an intervention to induce hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or euthyroidism. After 5 weeks of feeding a lithogenic diet of 15% （w/w） butter fat, 1% （w/w） cholesterol, and 0.5% （w/w） cholic acid, mice were killed for further experiments. The incidence of cholesterol monohydrate crystal formation was 100% in mice with hyperthyroidism, 83% in hypothyroidism, and 33% in euthyroidism, the differences being statistically significant. Among the hepatic lithogenic genes, Tr~ was found to be up-regulated and Rxr down-regulated in the mice with hypothyroidism. In contrast, Lxra, Rxr, and Cyp7al were up-regulated and Fxr down-regulated in the mice with hyperthyroidism. In conclusion, thyroid dysfunction, either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, promotes the formation of cholesterol gallstones in C57BL/6 mice. Gene expression differences suggest that thyroid hormone disturbance leads to gallstone formation in different ways. Hyperthyroidism induces cholesterol gallstone formation by regulating expression of the hepatic nuclear receptor genes such as Lxra and Rxr, which are significant in cholesterol metabolism pathways. However, hypothyroidism induces cholesterol gallstone formation by promoting cholesterol biosynthesis.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Hypersecretion of biliary cholesterol is believed to be one of the important causes of lithogenic bile. Sterol carrier protein-2 ( SCP2 ) participates in choles- terol trafficking and metabolism and may pl...BACKGROUND: Hypersecretion of biliary cholesterol is believed to be one of the important causes of lithogenic bile. Sterol carrier protein-2 ( SCP2 ) participates in choles- terol trafficking and metabolism and may play a key role in cholesterol gallstone formation. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of liver SCP2 mRNA in pa- tients with cholesterol gallstone and those patients with non-cholesterol gallstone. METHODS: The expression of liver SCP2 mRNA was studi- ed in 36 patients with cholesterol gallstone and 30 patients with non-cholesterol gallstone by reverse transcription-poly- merase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULT: The expression of SCP2 mRNA was increased more significantly in patients with cholesterol gallstone than in patients with non-cholesterol gallstone. CONCLUSION: The SCP2 gene was overexpressed in pa- tients with cholesterol gallstone, indicating that SCP2 may be one of the important causes of cholesterol gallstone.展开更多
Temporal and spatial distribution of biogenic （BSi） and lithogenic （LSi） silica were studied in the Changjiang （Yangtze River） Estuary and its adjacent area. The annual average BSi and LSi concentrations were （...Temporal and spatial distribution of biogenic （BSi） and lithogenic （LSi） silica were studied in the Changjiang （Yangtze River） Estuary and its adjacent area. The annual average BSi and LSi concentrations were （1.714-1.79） #mol/L and （0.564-1.41） mmol/L, respectively. Both BSi and LSi were high ii~. tbe inshore ar- eas, where they received terrigenous discharge from the Changjiang, and decreased towards the offshore region. BSi and LSi were most abundant at the near bottom layer due to the high sedimentation rates and resuspension of sediment. Diatom blooms occurred in summer with high Chl a concentration in the sur- face layer, which induced that BSi in the surface layer during summer was obviously higher than that in the surface layer of other seasons. LSi concentration was maximal in autumn and spring and minimum in summer, associated with the seasonal variation of SPM values. Drifting investigation and mesocosm exper- iments were conducted during dinoflagellate bloom, aiming to understand the effect of nutrients on BSi by changing the phytoplankton composition. The results show that the low dissolved inorganic phosphorus concentration and high molar ratio of N/P （dissolved inorganic nitrogen vs. dissolved inorganic phospho- rus）, were the important factors for decreasing diatom biomass in the study area, and it would subsequently decrease the BSi concentration in aquatic ecosystem.展开更多
ABSTRACT Objective： To observe the effect of Lidan Granule （利胆冲剂, LDG） on bile lithogenic tendency and biliary 33.5 kd vesicular protein （VP） and to explore its mechanism. Methods： Sixty patients with choled...ABSTRACT Objective： To observe the effect of Lidan Granule （利胆冲剂, LDG） on bile lithogenic tendency and biliary 33.5 kd vesicular protein （VP） and to explore its mechanism. Methods： Sixty patients with choledocholithiasis combined with cholecystolithiasis were randomly assigned to the LDG treated group, the sodium cholate treated group for positive control, and the untreated control group, 20 patients in each group. The 4 bile lithogenic trend indexes, including lithogenic index （LI）, unconjugated bilirubin percent （UCB%）, unconjugated bilirubin saturation index （BSI） and Z-value, were determined before and after treatment. The content of VP in bile was determined as well. Results： Before treatment, the LI, UCB%, BSI and Z-value in the LDG treated group were 1.298 ± 0.265, 34.72 ± 2.96, 0.353± 0.093 and 0.556 ± 0.499, respectively, which was decreased after the 2-week treatment to 0.926± 0.208, 8.93± 1.19, 0.154 ± 0.056 and 0.257± 0.211, respectively （all P〈0.05）. Meantime, the content of VP was also lowered from 0.050 ± 0.005 g/L to 0.032 ± 0.005 g/L. However, no significant change in any of the above-mentioned indexes was found in the other two groups. Conclusion： LDG could effectively suppress bile lithogenic trend and reduce 33.5 kd VP in bile.展开更多
The terms biliary sludge and cholesterol microlithiasis(hereafter referred to as microlithiasis)were originated from different diagnostic techniques and may represent different stages of cholesterol gall-stone disease...The terms biliary sludge and cholesterol microlithiasis(hereafter referred to as microlithiasis)were originated from different diagnostic techniques and may represent different stages of cholesterol gall-stone disease.Although the pathogenesis of biliary sludge and microlithiasis may be similar,micro-lithiasis could be preceded by biliary sludge,followed by persistent precipitation and aggregation of solid cholesterol crystals,and eventually,gallstone formation.Many clinical conditions are clearly associated with the formation of biliary sludge and microlithiasis,including total parenteral nutrition,rapid weight loss,pregnancy,organ transplantation,administration of certain medications,and a variety of acute and chronic illnesses.Numerous studies have demonstrated complete resolution of biliary sludge in approximately 40%of patients,a cyclic pattern of disappearing and reappearing in about 40%,and progression to gallstones in nearly 20%.Although only a minority of patients with ultrasonographic demonstration of biliary sludge develop gallstones,it is still a matter of controversy whether micro-lithiasis could eventually evolve to cholesterol gallstones.Biliary sludge and microlithiasis are asymp-tomatic in the vast majority of patients;however,they can cause biliary colic,acute cholecystitis,and acute pancreatitis.Biliary sludge and microlithiasis are most often diagnosed ultrasonographically and bile microscopy is considered the gold standard for their diagnosis.Specific measures to prevent the development of biliary sludge are not practical or cost-effective in the general population.Laparoscopic cholecystectomy offers the most definitive therapy on biliary sludge.Endoscopic sphincterotomy or surgical intervention is effective for microlithiasis-induced pancreatitis.Ursodeoxycholic acid can effectively prevent the recurrence of solid cholesterol crystals and significantly reduce the risk of recurrent pancreatitis.展开更多
Aluminum(Al)serves as a crucial tracer for water mass movement and lithogenic input in the ocean.This study presents dissolved Al(dAl)and total dissolvable Al(tdAl)concentrations in seawater samples,as well as dAl con...Aluminum(Al)serves as a crucial tracer for water mass movement and lithogenic input in the ocean.This study presents dissolved Al(dAl)and total dissolvable Al(tdAl)concentrations in seawater samples,as well as dAl concentration in rainwater samples,collected during two spring cruises in 2021 and 2022 in the tropical western Pacific Ocean(TWPO;3°S-21°N,135°E-163°E).The Al concentration in surface waters shows a spatial pattern of higher levels in the north and lower levels in the south,with elevated values observed near the coast.Based on calculation,atmospheric Al deposition(dry+wet)did not significantly contribute to surface dAl concentrations.The primary factor controlling the distribution of dAl in the surface layer was water mass mixing,as indicated by the relationship between dAl and salinity.Subsurface layer near the equator showed elevated dAl and tdAl,transported eastward by the Equatorial Undercurrent(EUC).Sedimentary Al flux from New Guinea Island was several orders of magnitude higher than atmospheric input to the TWPO.The residence time of dAl and tdAl in the EUC were 67-160 days and 71-164 days,respectively,matching the time of EUC flowing across the study region(56-140 days),indicating strong zonal transport.The relationship between salinity and d Al concentrations in the intermediate water suggested that Al distribution in the TWPO was mainly controlled by the mixing of North Pacific Intermediate Water,and modified Antarctic Intermediate Water,which loaded a high dAl concentration from the Solomon Sea and New Guinea Island.In the deep layer,both dAl and tdAl exhibited elevated concentrations,likely due to sediment resuspension and/or release from clay minerals.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81001084)
文摘We have investigated comprehensively the effects of thyroid function on gallstone formation in a mouse model. Gonadectomized gallstone-susceptible male C57BL/6 mice were randomly distributed into three groups each of which received an intervention to induce hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, or euthyroidism. After 5 weeks of feeding a lithogenic diet of 15% （w/w） butter fat, 1% （w/w） cholesterol, and 0.5% （w/w） cholic acid, mice were killed for further experiments. The incidence of cholesterol monohydrate crystal formation was 100% in mice with hyperthyroidism, 83% in hypothyroidism, and 33% in euthyroidism, the differences being statistically significant. Among the hepatic lithogenic genes, Tr~ was found to be up-regulated and Rxr down-regulated in the mice with hypothyroidism. In contrast, Lxra, Rxr, and Cyp7al were up-regulated and Fxr down-regulated in the mice with hyperthyroidism. In conclusion, thyroid dysfunction, either hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, promotes the formation of cholesterol gallstones in C57BL/6 mice. Gene expression differences suggest that thyroid hormone disturbance leads to gallstone formation in different ways. Hyperthyroidism induces cholesterol gallstone formation by regulating expression of the hepatic nuclear receptor genes such as Lxra and Rxr, which are significant in cholesterol metabolism pathways. However, hypothyroidism induces cholesterol gallstone formation by promoting cholesterol biosynthesis.
基金This study was supported by a grant from the Health Bureau of Tianjin, China(No. 00kyzd8).
文摘BACKGROUND: Hypersecretion of biliary cholesterol is believed to be one of the important causes of lithogenic bile. Sterol carrier protein-2 ( SCP2 ) participates in choles- terol trafficking and metabolism and may play a key role in cholesterol gallstone formation. This study was undertaken to investigate the expression of liver SCP2 mRNA in pa- tients with cholesterol gallstone and those patients with non-cholesterol gallstone. METHODS: The expression of liver SCP2 mRNA was studi- ed in 36 patients with cholesterol gallstone and 30 patients with non-cholesterol gallstone by reverse transcription-poly- merase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULT: The expression of SCP2 mRNA was increased more significantly in patients with cholesterol gallstone than in patients with non-cholesterol gallstone. CONCLUSION: The SCP2 gene was overexpressed in pa- tients with cholesterol gallstone, indicating that SCP2 may be one of the important causes of cholesterol gallstone.
基金The National Natural Sciences Foundation of China under contract Nos 40925017 and 40876054the Ministry of Science&Technology of P.R.China under contract Nos 2011CB409802 and 2001CB409703
文摘Temporal and spatial distribution of biogenic （BSi） and lithogenic （LSi） silica were studied in the Changjiang （Yangtze River） Estuary and its adjacent area. The annual average BSi and LSi concentrations were （1.714-1.79） #mol/L and （0.564-1.41） mmol/L, respectively. Both BSi and LSi were high ii~. tbe inshore ar- eas, where they received terrigenous discharge from the Changjiang, and decreased towards the offshore region. BSi and LSi were most abundant at the near bottom layer due to the high sedimentation rates and resuspension of sediment. Diatom blooms occurred in summer with high Chl a concentration in the sur- face layer, which induced that BSi in the surface layer during summer was obviously higher than that in the surface layer of other seasons. LSi concentration was maximal in autumn and spring and minimum in summer, associated with the seasonal variation of SPM values. Drifting investigation and mesocosm exper- iments were conducted during dinoflagellate bloom, aiming to understand the effect of nutrients on BSi by changing the phytoplankton composition. The results show that the low dissolved inorganic phosphorus concentration and high molar ratio of N/P （dissolved inorganic nitrogen vs. dissolved inorganic phospho- rus）, were the important factors for decreasing diatom biomass in the study area, and it would subsequently decrease the BSi concentration in aquatic ecosystem.
文摘ABSTRACT Objective： To observe the effect of Lidan Granule （利胆冲剂, LDG） on bile lithogenic tendency and biliary 33.5 kd vesicular protein （VP） and to explore its mechanism. Methods： Sixty patients with choledocholithiasis combined with cholecystolithiasis were randomly assigned to the LDG treated group, the sodium cholate treated group for positive control, and the untreated control group, 20 patients in each group. The 4 bile lithogenic trend indexes, including lithogenic index （LI）, unconjugated bilirubin percent （UCB%）, unconjugated bilirubin saturation index （BSI） and Z-value, were determined before and after treatment. The content of VP in bile was determined as well. Results： Before treatment, the LI, UCB%, BSI and Z-value in the LDG treated group were 1.298 ± 0.265, 34.72 ± 2.96, 0.353± 0.093 and 0.556 ± 0.499, respectively, which was decreased after the 2-week treatment to 0.926± 0.208, 8.93± 1.19, 0.154 ± 0.056 and 0.257± 0.211, respectively （all P〈0.05）. Meantime, the content of VP was also lowered from 0.050 ± 0.005 g/L to 0.032 ± 0.005 g/L. However, no significant change in any of the above-mentioned indexes was found in the other two groups. Conclusion： LDG could effectively suppress bile lithogenic trend and reduce 33.5 kd VP in bile.
基金This work was supported in part by research grants DK101793,DK114516 and DK106249,and AA025737(to D.Q.-H.Wang),as well as P30 DK020541(to Marion Bessin Liver Research Center),all from the National Institutes of Health(United States Public Health Service).
文摘The terms biliary sludge and cholesterol microlithiasis(hereafter referred to as microlithiasis)were originated from different diagnostic techniques and may represent different stages of cholesterol gall-stone disease.Although the pathogenesis of biliary sludge and microlithiasis may be similar,micro-lithiasis could be preceded by biliary sludge,followed by persistent precipitation and aggregation of solid cholesterol crystals,and eventually,gallstone formation.Many clinical conditions are clearly associated with the formation of biliary sludge and microlithiasis,including total parenteral nutrition,rapid weight loss,pregnancy,organ transplantation,administration of certain medications,and a variety of acute and chronic illnesses.Numerous studies have demonstrated complete resolution of biliary sludge in approximately 40%of patients,a cyclic pattern of disappearing and reappearing in about 40%,and progression to gallstones in nearly 20%.Although only a minority of patients with ultrasonographic demonstration of biliary sludge develop gallstones,it is still a matter of controversy whether micro-lithiasis could eventually evolve to cholesterol gallstones.Biliary sludge and microlithiasis are asymp-tomatic in the vast majority of patients;however,they can cause biliary colic,acute cholecystitis,and acute pancreatitis.Biliary sludge and microlithiasis are most often diagnosed ultrasonographically and bile microscopy is considered the gold standard for their diagnosis.Specific measures to prevent the development of biliary sludge are not practical or cost-effective in the general population.Laparoscopic cholecystectomy offers the most definitive therapy on biliary sludge.Endoscopic sphincterotomy or surgical intervention is effective for microlithiasis-induced pancreatitis.Ursodeoxycholic acid can effectively prevent the recurrence of solid cholesterol crystals and significantly reduce the risk of recurrent pancreatitis.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.42176042)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China Shiptime Sharing Project(Grant No.42049909)+3 种基金the High-end Users Program of“Kexue”(Grant No.KEXUE2019GZ01)the Major Science and Technology Infrastructure Renovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.DSS-WXGZ-2021-0011)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2023YFF0805001)the Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province。
文摘Aluminum(Al)serves as a crucial tracer for water mass movement and lithogenic input in the ocean.This study presents dissolved Al(dAl)and total dissolvable Al(tdAl)concentrations in seawater samples,as well as dAl concentration in rainwater samples,collected during two spring cruises in 2021 and 2022 in the tropical western Pacific Ocean(TWPO;3°S-21°N,135°E-163°E).The Al concentration in surface waters shows a spatial pattern of higher levels in the north and lower levels in the south,with elevated values observed near the coast.Based on calculation,atmospheric Al deposition(dry+wet)did not significantly contribute to surface dAl concentrations.The primary factor controlling the distribution of dAl in the surface layer was water mass mixing,as indicated by the relationship between dAl and salinity.Subsurface layer near the equator showed elevated dAl and tdAl,transported eastward by the Equatorial Undercurrent(EUC).Sedimentary Al flux from New Guinea Island was several orders of magnitude higher than atmospheric input to the TWPO.The residence time of dAl and tdAl in the EUC were 67-160 days and 71-164 days,respectively,matching the time of EUC flowing across the study region(56-140 days),indicating strong zonal transport.The relationship between salinity and d Al concentrations in the intermediate water suggested that Al distribution in the TWPO was mainly controlled by the mixing of North Pacific Intermediate Water,and modified Antarctic Intermediate Water,which loaded a high dAl concentration from the Solomon Sea and New Guinea Island.In the deep layer,both dAl and tdAl exhibited elevated concentrations,likely due to sediment resuspension and/or release from clay minerals.
