Objective To study the apoptotic changes in hepatocytes and the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins Bax and Bcl-2 in the liver tissue of a rat nonalcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH) model, and explore the relationship between hepatocyte apoptosis and the degree of NASH pathological changes. Methods A rat model of NASH was reproduced with feeding a fat-rich diet for a period of 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks. Cells apoptosis was evaluated by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins was detected by immunohistochemistry in rat liver tissue of control and model groups respectively. Results The number of TUNEL-positive cells was increased in the second week, peaking at the 8th week, and it was significantly correlated with steatosis and hepatic fibrosis (r=0.707 and 0.750, respectively, P0.05). The expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins were mainly located in cytoplasm of hepatocytes, some of which contained lipid droplets. Bax and Bcl-2 positive cells increased gradually with the progression of NASH. In early stage of modeling, the number of Bax positive cells was greater than that of Bcl-2, but the number of the both proteins tended to be about same in the late stage of modeling. Conclusion The cell apoptosis is a main pattern of liver damage in the process of NASH, and it is closely associated with the pathological changes. Proapoptosis protein Bax and antagonisitic protein Bcl-2 might participate in the modulation of hepatocytes apoptosis in the early stage of NASH, and they also have a marked effect in the whole process of NASH.

Objective To examine the feasibility of olfactory detection of lung cancer by trained sniffer dogs. Methods Three police dogs, one Labrador Retriever and two Springer Spaniels, went through the same training course on detecting odor markers of cancer and were subsequently used to differentiate 52 lung cancer patients and 30 healthy subjects. The sensitivity(true-positive rate)and specificity(true-negative rate)of the olfactory detection were calculated. The consistency of the sniffing outcomes was also compared. Results The Labrador Retriever had a sensitivity of 88. 46% and a false-positive rate of 16. 60%. The two Springer Spaniels exhibited an equal ability to detect cancer patients with a sensitivity of 86. 54% and a false-positive rate of 20%. There was no statistically significant difference between the three dogs in detecting lung cancer(P =0. 994). Conclusion Olfactory detection of lung cancer by trained sniffer dogs may be used to assist clinical diagnosis andenhance diagnostic efficacy.

Gouty arthritis is a clinical common joint disease caused by metabolic disorder. TCM therapy has unique advantages, such as good efficacy and few adverse reactions. Professor WEI Zi-xiao advocates differential treatment for this disease. In his opinion, acute gouty arthritis is equivalent to TCM damp-heat arthralgia, and therapy of eliminating dampness and heat should be used. During the intermission, therapy of reinforcing spleen and nourishing kidney is appropriate because of deficiency of them. Deficiency of liver and kidney and phlegm and blood stasis are basic pathogenesis in chronic phase of the disease, therefore, activating blood, reducing phlegm and nourishing liver and kidney should be adopted. In addition, Professor WEI pays attention to pharmacological research achievement of TCM, disease differentiation and life and diet regulating in treatment of the disease.

AIM: To establish an extraction method of emodin from Radix polygoni multiflori . METHODS: Emodin in Radix polygoni multiflori was taken as an evaluating marker and determined by HPLC, the effects of different solvents and extraction models on extraction ratio of the emodin were systematically investigated. And also the orthogonal test was further used to optimize extracting conditions. RESULTS: The refluent extraction with 80% alcohol as much as seven times of the medicine amount for 2hs and twice was more effective. CONCLUSION: The kinds of solvent and models of extraction have a great influence upon the extracting efficiency of emodin.

Objective To study the feasibility and availability of uterine arterial embolization for hysteromyoma with pingyangmycin,lidocaine,iodipin emulsion and absorbable gelatine sponge granules immersed with lidocaine.Methods The observation of pain sensation change of clinical symptoms,size of hysteromyoma,change of uterus volume together with the specimens and pathological features of 68 cases of hysteromyoma during and after the embolization by using pingyangmycin,lidocaine,iodipin emulsion and absorbable gelatine sponge granules immersed with lidocaine were carried out and compared.Results Intramuscular analgesic injection couldn't control the pain in 13 cases,covering 19.1% symptom remission rate was 92.3%,including 89.2% menstruation recovery,90.8% disappearance of pelvic pain,abdominal distension and compression symptoms,78.8% average shrinkage of tumor size and 47.5% reduction of uterus volumes.Conclusion Pingyangmycin,lidocaine,iodipin emulsion and absorbable gelatine sponge granules immersed with lidocaine are the ideal embolization material for treating hysteromyoma.

Objective To compare the specificities of the cell membrane stationary phases(CMSP) with cell membrane chromatography(CMC).Methods Cell chromatographic columns were constructed for both rat aorta tissue cells and cultured rat aorta smooth muscle cells.Then the chromatographic affinities of ten ligands of ?-adrenergic receptor(?-AR) with both said chromatographic columns were investigated.Capacity factors(k'),as a chromatographic parameter,were calculated.Results The correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the rat aorta tissue CMSP and the cultured rat aorta smooth muscle cell CMSP,with correlation factor of r=0.923,P

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of Tangmoning Granule(TMG)in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy with Qi-deficiency and collateral stagnation syndrome.Methods A randomized,positive drug parallel controled,multi-center clinical trial was adopted.The tested group was treated with TMG orally and the control group received Mikebao tablet orally.Treatment course of each group was 8 weeks.Results The marked effective rate and total effective rate on electromyogram was 60.06 %and 68.47 %respectively in the tested group,and those on TCM Syndrome were 23.12 %and 90.99 %respectively.Non-inferiority test with the criterion of 15 %was conducted on the efficacy of electromyogram and TCM Syndrome,and the result showed statistical significant.Conclusion TMG has good efficacy and safety in treating diabetic peripheral neuropathy with Qi-deficiency and collateral stagnation syndrom.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical results of posterior pedicle screw fixation, transpedicular bone grafting and vertebral canaloplasty with ilium autografting in treating serious burst thoracolumbar fracture.

METHODSFrom March 2004 to March 2008,10 patients with serious burst thoracolumbar fracture, including 7 males and 3 females with age for 24-58 years (mean 41 years)were treated by posterior pedicle screw fixation, transpedicular bone grafting and total laminectomy with preservation of spinal process and vertebral canaloplasty with ilium autografting. The operative effects were assessed according to Frankel classification and radiologic results.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up from 1 to 4 years. There was no loosening or broken in instrumentation. The anterior edge height of the fractured vertebrae body was restored from (21.00 +/- 12.00)% to (95.00 +/- 4.20)%, and the posterior edge height of the fractured vertebrae body was restored from (70.00 +/- 15.00)% to (96.00 +/- 3.20)% postoperatively, which both demonstrated improvement compared with preoperative instance (P < 0.01). The Cobb angle was restored from (32.80 +/- 8.20) degrees to (4.20 +/- 1.60) degrees which also demonstrated improvement compared with the preoperative Cobb angle (P < 0.01). At least one grade recovery was observed in all cases except one patient with preoperative Frankel A degree. The result of Denis classification, P1, had 4 cases, P2 had 4, P3 had 1, P4 had 1.

CONCLUSIONPosterior pedicle screw fixation, transpedicular bone grafting and vertebral canaloplasty can obtain satisfactory results treating serious burst thoracolumbar fractures. It is a feasible method with advantages of simple operation, good efficacy, preservation of structure of posterior column which should be applied clinically.

Adult ; Bone Screws ; Bone Transplantation ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radiography ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; injuries ; surgery ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) technology and AST/PLT ratio index (APRI） for the assessment of the liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients.Methods 107 patients with chronic hepatitis C were included,the subjects were underwent liver biopsy,liver function,blood count,as well as real-time acoustic elastography examination.The APRI was calculated according the following formula,APRI =AST (ULN)/PLT (109/L).ARFI and APRI were compared by correlation with liver fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis C.Referring to the histologic fibrosis stage on liver biopsy,all the ARFI and the APRI value were assessed by using ROC curve analysis.The corresponding cut-off values,sensitivity and specificity were also calculated and compared.Results The mean values of ARFI and APRI were (1.26 ± 0.27)m/s and 0.30 ± 0.46 for the patients with S1,(1.45 ± 0.51)m/s and 0.29 ± 0.21 for those with S2,(2.03 ± 0.54) m/s and 0.59 ± 0.56 for those with S3,(2.29 ± 0.82) m/s and 0.63 ± 0.35 for those with S4,respectively.ARFI (r =0.61,P ＜0.001) had a better correlation with liver fibrosis stage in chronic hepatitis C than APRI (r =0.49,P ＜0.001).Cut-off points of ARFI and APRI were 1.529 m/s and 0.170 for S≥2,1.780 m/s and 0.277 for S≥3,1.780 m/s and 0.446 for S =4,respectively.Accordingly,the areas under the ROC curves for ARFI and APRI were 0.779 and 0.724 for S≥2,0.866 and 0.786 for S≥3,0.790 and 0.779 for S=4,respectively.Conclusions As a non-invasive technology,ARFI is more accurate when applied to evaluate liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C than APRI.ARFI technology has potential value for quantitatme evaluation of the liver fibrosis for chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUNDTo explore the clinical and pathological characteristics and pathogenesis of autoimmunohepatitis (AIH).

METHODSThe serum and liver biopsy specimens and clinical data of 26 cases with patients with AIH were analyzed and scored according to the criteria of International autoimmune hepatitis (IAIHG, 1999). The changes of dendritic cells (DC) in the liver tissues were observed with a panel of DC markers (CD-80/B7-1, CD-86/B7-2, CD-1a and HLA-DR) and immunohistochemistry, and the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and the expression of TGF-alpha were also detected. Liver tissue specimens from 10 patients with chronic viral hepatitis B and C respectively and 5 normal liver specimens were chosen as controls.

RESULTSMean aggregate scores of 26 AIH cases, including 21 cases of type B (80.8%) and 5 cases of type C (19.2%), which were 18.6 +/- 1.4 and 19.1 +/- 2.1 respectively. There were significant differences between the type B and type C in the average age levels of serum ALT and AST, and alpha-Glo (P <0.001 or P< 0.01 or P <0.05). Histological features of all the AIH liver tissues showed the lesions of chronic active hepatitis such as interface hepatitis/piecemeal necrosis (100%), obvious lobular inflammation (type B 95.2%, type C 100%), bridging necrosis (57.1% type B, 80.0% type C, P<0.05), rosetting of liver cells (71.4% type B, 100% type C, P<0.01), central lobular confluent necrosis (33.3% type B, 80.0% type C, P<0.001), predominant plasmacytic infiltration (type B 95.2%, type C 20.0%, P<0.001). The rates of increased and concentrated DC in the portal and lobular areas, especially in the active lesions in type B and type C AIH were 85.7% (18/21) and 5/5 respectively. It was found that DC and lymphocytes surrounded the hepatocytes which partly expressed HLA-DR antigen, while there were no or a few HLA-DR positive hepatocytes in controls. Meanwhile, the number of alpha-SMA positive HSC and the expression of TGF- were obviously increased in AIH liver tissues.

CONCLUSIONSSeveral clinical and pathological features of AIH were identified in this study. As an antigen-presenting cell, DC might play an important role in the pathogenesis of AIH. In China, sub-type B of AIH might be more frequent than sub-type C and there were differences in clinical aspects, serology and pathology between the two types.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Female ; Hepatitis, Autoimmune ; blood ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged