The Effect of Wenxin Keli on the mRNA Expression Profile of Rabbits with Myocardial Infarction

Aims. The molecular mechanisms of Chinese traditional medicine Wenxin Keli (WXKL) were unknown. This study was aimed at exploring the effects of WXKL on the gene expression profile and pathological alteration of rabbits with myocardial infarction. Methods. Twenty male adult rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham, model, WXKL, and captopril groups. Model, WXKL, and captopril groups underwent the ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery while sham group went through an identical procedure without ligation. WXKL (817 mg/kg/d), captopril (8 mg/kg/d), and distilled water (to model and sham groups) were administered orally to each group. After 4 weeks, the rabbits were examined with echocardiography and the hearts were taken for expression chip and pathological staining (H&E, Masson, and Tunel) studies. Results. The data revealed that WXKL downregulated genes associated with inflammation (CX3CR1, MRC1, and FPR1), apoptosis (CTSC and TTC5), and neurohumoral system (ACE and EDN1) and upregulated angiogenesis promoting genes such as RSPO3. Moreover, the results also showed that WXKL improved cardiac function and prevented histopathological injury and apoptosis. Conclusion. The present study demonstrated that WXKL might play an important role in inhibiting inflammation, renin-angiotensin system, and apoptosis. It might be a promising Chinese medicine in the treatment of patients with myocardial infarction

Outcomes of Technical Variant Liver Transplantation versus Whole Liver Transplantation for Pediatric Patients: A Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Objective</p><p>To overcome the shortage of appropriate-sized whole liver grafts for children, technical variant liver transplantation has been practiced for decades. We perform a meta-analysis to compare the survival rates and incidence of surgical complications between pediatric whole liver transplantation and technical variant liver transplantation.</p><p>Methods</p><p>To identify relevant studies up to January 2014, we searched PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane library databases. The primary outcomes measured were patient and graft survival rates, and the secondary outcomes were the incidence of surgical complications. The outcomes were pooled using a fixed-effects model or random-effects model.</p><p>Results</p><p>The one-year, three-year, five-year patient survival rates and one-year, three-year graft survival rates were significantly higher in whole liver transplantation than technical variant liver transplantation (OR = 1.62, 1.90, 1.65, 1.78, and 1.62, respectively, <i>p</i><0.05). There was no significant difference in five-year graft survival rate between the two groups (OR = 1.47, <i>p</i> = 0.10). The incidence of portal vein thrombosis and biliary complications were significantly lower in the whole liver transplantation group (OR = 0.45 and 0.42, both <i>p</i><0.05). The incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis was comparable between the two groups (OR = 1.21, <i>p</i> = 0.61).</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Pediatric whole liver transplantation is associated with better outcomes than technical variant liver transplantation. Continuing efforts should be made to minimize surgical complications to improve the outcomes of technical variant liver transplantation.</p></div

Basic characteristics of the studies included in this meta-analysis.

<p>*.The details of patients age were unknown</p><p>†.The median age of total patients in each study</p><p>Abbreviation: NA, not available; WLT, whole liver transplantation; RLT, reduced-size liver transplantation; SLT, split liver transplantation; LLT, living donor liver transplantation.</p><p>Basic characteristics of the studies included in this meta-analysis.</p

Cumulative meta-analysis of 1-year survival rate and complication incidence between WLT and TVLT: (A) 1-year patient survival rate in WLT and TVLT; (B) 1-year graft survival rate in WLT and TVLT. The incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) (C), portal vein thrombosis (PVT) (D), and biliary complications (BC) (E) in WLT and TVLT.

<p>Cumulative meta-analysis of 1-year survival rate and complication incidence between WLT and TVLT: (A) 1-year patient survival rate in WLT and TVLT; (B) 1-year graft survival rate in WLT and TVLT. The incidence of hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) (C), portal vein thrombosis (PVT) (D), and biliary complications (BC) (E) in WLT and TVLT.</p

Flow diagram of study identification.

<p>Flow diagram of study identification.</p

Meta-analysis of survival rate between WLT and TVLT: (A) 1-year patient survival, (B) 3-year patient survival, and (C) 5-year patient survival rate between WLT and TVLT; (D) 1-year graft survival, (E) 3-year graft survival, and (F) 5-year graft survival rate between WLT and TVLT.

<p>Meta-analysis of survival rate between WLT and TVLT: (A) 1-year patient survival, (B) 3-year patient survival, and (C) 5-year patient survival rate between WLT and TVLT; (D) 1-year graft survival, (E) 3-year graft survival, and (F) 5-year graft survival rate between WLT and TVLT.</p