Statistical analyses were performed using the random effects model and the results expressed as weighted mean difference for continuous data with 95% confidence intervals. Heterogeneity was measured using the Chi-square and I statistic. Results: The effectiveness LY294002 supplier of Rifaximin in terms of changes in hepatic encephalopathy index was equivalent to oral disscharides and oral antibiotics [ odds ratio 1.02; 95% CI: 0.48–2.18] as well as to change in mental status [odds ratio 0.91; 95% CI 0.18–4.68]. Rifaximin also showed lower serum ammonia levels [weighted mean difference= -34.93; 95%CI -39.41–-30.95; P = <.00001] and less asterixis [WMD = -0.06;

95% CI -0.22–0.10; P = 0.38]. Rifaximin was well tolerated with few side effects. Conclusion: Rifaximin is somewhat equivalent to non-absorbable disaccharides or antibiotics for treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. Adverse effects of rifaximin were mostly minor gastrointestinal complaints. Moreover, no significant difference was found between rifaximin and oral conventional therapy in terms of their efficacies. Key Word(s): 1. Rifaximin; 2. encephalopathy; 3. oral dissacharides;

4. oral antibiotics; Presenting Author: TONGYU TANG Additional Authors: YUNFENG PIAO Corresponding Author: YUNFENG PIAO Affiliations: First hospital of jilin university Objective: Liver fibrosis is characterized by the deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the liver. Previous studies have shown that gene therapy to induce selleck expression of hepatic growth factor (HGF) or transfusion with fetal hepatic progenitor cells (HPC) inhibit the process of liver fibrosis. This study is aimed at investigating whether transfusion with the HGF-expressing HPC could have improved therapeutic effect in inhibiting liver fibrosis in a rat model of CCL4-induced liver fibrosis. Methods: Fetal HPC were purified from Sprague Dawley (SD) rats and

transfected with HGF-expressing 上海皓元 or control plasmids for the establishment of HGF-stably expressing cells, and their proliferation in response to different cytokines were determined. SD rats were treated with CCL4 for inducing fibrosis and randomly assigned into three groups with the treatment of vehicle alone, HGF-expressing or control HPC, respectively. The levels of serum HGF, ALT, AST, Tbil, ALB, TGFβ1 were measured by routine tests or ELISA and their liver pathophysiology and expression of collagen I, III, HGF, TGFβ1 and cMet were characterized by immunohistochemistry. Results: We found that bFGF and LIF were minimal and necessary cytokines for stimulating the proliferation of fetal rat HPC in vitro. Furthermore, transfusion with HPC significantly reduced toxicant-induced liver damage and levels of serum ALT, AST, Tbil, and TGFβ1, but increased the levels of serum ALB, accompanied by reducing the expression of collagen I, III and cMet in the liver tissues.