Weixin Niu

Fudan University, Shanghai, Shanghai Shi, China

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Publications (4)7.6 Total impact

  • Article: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program attenuates stress and accelerates recovery in patients after radical resection for colorectal cancer: a prospective randomized controlled trial.
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    ABSTRACT: The aim of this trial was to compare the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program with conventional perioperative management in patients who underwent radical resection for colorectal cancer. A combination of evidence-based and consensus methodology was used to develop the ERAS protocol. Five hundred ninety-seven consecutive patients who underwent elective colorectal resection were randomized to either the ERAS (n = 299) or the control group (n = 298). Outcomes relating to nutrition and metabolism index, stress index, and recovery index were measured and recorded. Demographic and operative data were similar between the two groups. Patients in the ERAS group showed improved nutritional status when compared with those of the control group. On postoperative day (POD) 1, the HOMA-IR (insulin resistance index) of the ERAS group was lower than that of the control group (p < 0.001). The cortisol level of the control group was elevated on both POD 1 (p = 0.007) and POD 5 (p = 0.002) compared to the preoperative level. However, the cortisol level of the ERAS group was not increased until POD 5 (p = 0.001). Reduced levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IFN-γ in the ERAS group indicated less postoperative stress responses. In addition, ERAS was associated with accelerated recovery of gastrointestinal function. The postoperative length of stay (p < 0.001) and expense (p < 0.001) for the ERAS group were reduced in comparison to the controls. Twenty-eight cases in the control group and twenty-nine in the ERAS group suffered complications, which was not significantly different. The ERAS protocol attenuates the surgical stress response and accelerates postoperative recovery without compromising patient safety.
    World Journal of Surgery 11/2011; 36(2):407-14. · 2.36 Impact Factor
  • Article: Depletion of activated hepatic stellate cell correlates with severe liver damage and abnormal liver regeneration in acetaminophen-induced liver injury.
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    ABSTRACT: Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are important part of the local 'stem cell niche' for hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) and hepatocytes. However, it is unclear as to whether the products of activated HSCs are required to attenuate hepatocyte injury, enhance liver regeneration, or both. In this study, we performed 'loss of function' studies by depleting activated HSCs with gliotoxin. It was demonstrated that a significantly severe liver damage and declined survival rate were correlated with depletion of activated HSCs. Furthermore, diminishing HSC activation resulted in a 3-fold increase in hepatocyte apoptosis and a 66% decrease in the number of proliferating hepatocytes. This was accompanied by a dramatic decrease in the expression levels of five genes known to be up-regulated during hepatocyte replication. In particular, it was found that depletion of activated HSCs inhibited oval cell reaction that was confirmed by decreased numbers of Pank-positive cells around the portal tracts and lowered gene expression level of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) in gliotoxin-treated liver. These data provide clear evidence that the activated HSCs are involved in both hepatocyte death and proliferation of hepatocytes and HPCs in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury.
    Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica 02/2011; 43(4):307-15. · 1.38 Impact Factor
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    Article: Proliferation and differentiation potential of mouse adult hepatic progenitor cells cultured in vitro.
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    ABSTRACT: This study aimed to isolate the stem cells or progenitors, if exist, from normal adult mouse liver and investigate their potential of proliferation and differentiation. Hepatocytes were isolated by modified two-step liver perfusion method and centrifugation, and then cultured in modified serumcontaining DMEM for observation more than 60 days. Immunofluorescence technique was applied to check the hepatocytes and to examine the formation of colonies with albumin, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and cytokeratin 19 (CK19). Results showed that some hepatocytes that were strongly positive for hepatocyte specific markers albumin on Day 1 in culture, could be activated at Days 2-3, followed by rapid proliferation and formation of colonies. The colonies could expand continually for more than 60 days. On Day 5, all the cells in the colony expressed hepatic stem cell (HSC) markers AFP. With the time of culture, some cells in colonies lost ability to divide at Days 13-15, and differentiated into cells which had a large cytoplasm and some two nuclei, similar to the appearance of mature hepatocytes morphologically. These differentiated cells demonstrated strong expression of albumin. Around Day 30, some big cells appeared in colonies and expressed bile duct cell marker CK19. Therefore, this subpopulation of mouse hepatocytes could acquire some characteristics of immature hepatocytes and showed the profile of hepatic progenitor cells with a high proliferating ability and bi-potential of differentiation. They were isolated from normal adult mouse, hence, named adult hepatic progenitor cells (AHPCs). Mouse AHPCs may be used as an HSC model for hepatocytes transplantation and hepatopathy study.
    Acta Biochimica et Biophysica Sinica 02/2010; 42(2):122-8. · 1.38 Impact Factor
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    Article: Transplantation of bone marrow derived cells promotes pancreatic islet repair in diabetic mice.
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    ABSTRACT: The transplantation of bone marrow (BM) derived cells to initiate pancreatic regeneration is an attractive but as-yet unrealized strategy. Presently, BM derived cells from green fluorescent protein transgenic mice were transplanted into diabetic mice. Repair of diabetic islets was evidenced by reduction of hyperglycemia, increase in number of islets, and altered pancreatic histology. Cells in the pancreata of recipient mice co-expressed BrdU and insulin. Double staining revealed beta cells were in the process of proliferation. BrdU(+) insulin(-) PDX-1(+) cells, Ngn3(+) cells and insulin(+) glucagon(+) cells, which showed stem cells, were also found during beta-cell regeneration. The majority of transplanted cells were mobilized to the islet and ductal regions. In recipient pancreas, transplanted cells simultaneously expressed CD34 but did not express insulin, PDX-1, Ngn3, Nkx2.2, Nkx6.1, Pax4, Pax6, and CD45. It is concluded that BM derived cells especially CD34(+) cells can promote repair of pancreatic islets. Moreover, both proliferation of beta cells and differentiation of pancreatic stem cells contribute to the regeneration of beta cells.
    Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 07/2008; 371(1):132-7. · 2.48 Impact Factor