Aim To explore the ethanol-induced apoptosis effect on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) cells and its relationship to the expression of apoptosis associated genes, bax and bcl-2. Methods The cytotoxic effect of 20～ 100 mL/ L ethanol on HCC cell line HCC-9204 was tested by thiazolyl-blue (MTT) assay. Then apoptosis of HCC-9204 cells was induced with 60 mL/ L of ethanol for 6 h. The morphological change, DNA breakage and the change of DNA content of different cell cycles of the apoptotic cells were detected by May-Grunwald Giemsa(MGG) staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometer respectively. The changes of expression level of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins were detected by immunocytochemical staining and image analysis. Results The higher the concentration of ethanol was, the stronger the cytotoxic effect on HCC-9204 cells was. 60 mL/ L of ethanol could lead to obviously morphological apoptotic changes of HCC-9204 cells, and majority of the cells were TUNEL positive by TUNEL labeling assay. Typical apoptotic sub G1 peak was observed by flow cytometer. The level of Bax protein expression increased significantly after induced with 60 mL/ L of ethanol for 6 h, no expression of Bcl 2 were found before and after induced with ethanol. Conclusion Low dose of ethanol can induce apoptosis of HCC-9204 cells obviously, and occurance of the apoptosis is related to the increase of the level of Bax protein expression.

Objective To investigate the expression and clinical significance of proapoptotic genes HtraA2 in acute myeloid leukemia.Methods 78 cases of AML patients were divided into newly diagnosed AML group,complete remission group and hard flag group,and another 25 cases treated at the same period were set as the control group.The boue marrow and peripheral blood samples were collected from all the groups for total RNA extraction and detection of expressed HtrA2.The HtrA2 expressions were compared among thc groups.Finally 17 patients were followed up for 1～56 months.Results The HtrA2 expression levels of 3 groups were significantly different (x2 =35.13,P ＜ 0.05),with the ratio of maximum to minimum values up to 68.76.There were no statistically significant differences in the relative expression of gcnes HtrA2 among the FAB type (F =0.004,P ＞ 0.05).HtrA2 gene expression after treatment was significantly higher than before treatment in the patients followed up (P ＞ 0.05).HtrA2 gene might affect the survival time of patients (Wald =4.979,P ＜ 0.05),but age and gender had no influence on survival states (Wald =2.426 and 0.833,P ＞ 0.05).Survival curve analysis showed that the median smvival time was 34.50 months in the patients followed up.Conclusion The expression level of HtrA2 can be beneficial for the diagnosis,treatment and prognostic evaluation of AML.

Three hundred cases of E type viral hepatitis were observed with 100 cases of A type as control. We held that the etiology and pathogenesisof E and A types of viral hepatitis were wind, dampness, heat, poisons and stasis, each with its predominance; For A type, its predominant etiology being wind, heat and stasis, while that of E type, dampness, poisons and stasis. For their therapy, the principle of "similar treatment for different diseases " should, adopted. After treatment, ACT, TB, and a markedly decreased, signs and symptoms markedly improved, Epr, IgG also improved to different extents, the cured rate ( rate of negative virus exam) being 80% and 78% for A type and E type respectively. The effect was especially good for simple infection, and rather poor for mixed infection type.

As the patient of hepatitis B and E overlapping infection of liver and gallbladder damp - heat type compared with the patient of simple hepatitis E of liver and gallbladder damp-heat type, attack was very rapid, jaundice exacerbated progressively and hepatic function damaged severely. Aftertreatment the state of illness restored more slowly and the duration of illness was obviously prolonged. At the same time, it was found that the biochemical indexes (hyaluronic acid, total bile acid) increased significantly at acute stage, and the indexes in the patient of overlapping infection in the time for recovering normality at restoration stage was longer than that in the patient of simple hepatitis E, with a significantly difference between the two groups. It is indicated that lesion of the liver in the patient of overlapping infection of hepatitis B and E was more severe than the simple hepatitis E, with no good prognosis.

3 months) were involved in this study PV electrogram was divided into disorganized and organized patterns Segmental PV isolation was performed during AF guided by the earliest PV potential recorded on the basket catheter determined by the lone pause during disorganized pattern or organized PV electrogram The sites with the most disorganized activity during fast and irregular fibrillatory activity had been regarded as ablative target Elimination of PV potential in all PVs during AF, and confirmed by remapping of PV during sinus rhythm or atrial stimuli after cardioversion had been considered as the ablative end point (segmental PV isolation was performed repeatedly if PV potential still existed during sinus rhythm) Results Of the total 76 PVs in 20 patients who achieved PV isolation, 68 (89 5%) PV isolations were performed during AF Reappearance of PV potential occurred in 23(33 8%) during sinus rhythm after cardioversion, and isolation was achieved during sinus rhythm Procedure duration was 5 3?3 7 hours Fluoroscopy time was 2 7?3 8 minutes Recurrence of AF occurred in 11 (55%) patients during the 8?9 month follow up No operation related complication occurred Conclusion Segmental PV isolation for chronic AF is feasible, safe and effective Ablation guided by electrophysiological mapping can result in the elimination of PV potential Remapping of PV and repeated ablation during sinus rhythm after cardioversion is essential

The bone mineral density (BMD) significantly reduced after complete spinal cord injury, which seriously influence the bone health. This article reviewed the influence of spinal cord injury on bone health, diagnosis and measurement of the BMD, management for bone health.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Qinggan Huoxue Recipe (QGHXR), a compound Chinese herbal medicine, and its decomposed formulas Qinggan Recipe (QGR) and Huoxue Recipe (HXR) on expressions of CD14, Toll like receptor 4 (TLR(4)) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in Kupffer cells. METHODS: The isolated primary rat Kupffer cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for a certain period of time, a series of concentrations of drug-containing serums of QGHXR and its decomposed formulas were added, the expressions of NF-kappaB, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), CD14, and TLR(4) of the Kupffer cells were detected in different culture conditions by using Western blot, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and ELISA methods respectively. RESULTS: QGR could down-regulate the expression of membrane receptor CD14, but the expression of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha were not significantly decreased after QGR treatment. HXR could down-regulate the expression of membrane receptor TLR4 and inhibit the expressions of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha. QGHXR could down regulate the expressions of membrane receptors CD14 and TLR(4) and inhibit the expressions of NF-kappaB and TNF-alpha. CONCLUSION: QGHXR can protect liver cells by down regulating the expressions of CD14, TLR(4) and NF-kappaB and inhibiting TNF-alpha expression.

Objective: To study the relationships between the expressions of E-cadherin and ki-67 in the tissues of heatocellular carcinoma(HCC)and the prognosis of HCC patients after hepatectomy as well as their clinical pathology. Methods: We examine the expressions of E-cadherin and ki-67 in 255 HCC tissues by tissue microarray and PV-6000 two-step method of immunohistochemistry and analyze the correlations between their expressions and clinical pathological data, 1-year recurrent rate and overall survival time after hepatectomy. Results: The expression of E-cadherin correlated with the tumor size and the 1-year recurrent rate of positive group was higher than that of the negative group. The expression of ki-67 correlated with vascular invasion and differentiation of the tumor, the positive group showed a higher 1-year recurrent rate and a shorter overall survival time. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the expression of ki-67 was an independent risky factor. Conclusions: The negative expression of E-cadherin and the positive expression of ki-67 predict a higher recurrent rate of early stage. The expression of ki-67 is an independent risky factor which can be used to evaluate the prognosis of patients with HCC after hepatectomy.