Objective To investigate the anti-HBV mechanism of oxymatrine in vitro.Methods The antiviral mechanism of oxymatrine was analyzed through detecting the expression and function of TLR9 signal pathway and the secretion of antiviral cytokines from PBMCs treated by oxymatrine in vitro.Results Oxymatrine could not only induce IFN-α and IFN-γ secretions from PBMCs directly, but also effectively augmented the expressions of TLR9, MyD88 and TRAF6 at mRNA level, and activated the TLR9 signal transduction pathway. TLR9 ligand could induce IFN-α, IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion a lot from PBMCs pretreated by oxymatrine.Conclusion Oxymatrine possesses an anti-HBV activity via activation of TLR9 signal pathway and secretion of antiviral cytokines.

Objective To investigate the damage of mice liver and kidney with the compatibility application of Paeoniae radix rubra and Veratrum nigrum, and explore its mechanism. Methods We examined the alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactic dehydrogenase, creatinine and urea nitrogen from serum, and glutathion peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) from liver and kidney tissue after intragastric administration of different ratio (4∶1, 2∶1, 1∶1, 1∶2, 1∶4) of Paeoniae radix rubra and Veratrum nigrum in mice for 22 d. Results Paeoniae radix rubra used with Veratrum nigrum did not induce the obvious damage to liver with AST increase, but induced the obvious damage to kidney. At the same time, the depressed GSH-Px activity and the increased MDA content were observed in kidney tissue. When Paeoniae radix rubra and Veratrum nigrum is on a ratio of 2∶1, the kidney injury was the most obvious. Conclusion Paeoniae radix rubra used with Veratrum nigrum in varying proportions could induce the kidney injury in mice which is related to the oxidation-antioxidation balance disturbance.

Objective To explore the role of receptor-interaction proteins(RIP) in phenethylisothiocyanate(PEITC)-induced apoptosis in human leukemia cells.Methods U937 cells were exposed to PEITC at various concentrations of 0,2,4,6 and 8 ?mol/L for 3 and 6 h,or at 8 ?mol/L for different time intervals of 1,3,6,9,12 and 24 h.Cells were stained with Annexin V/PI,and apoptosis was determined by using flow cytometry.Total protein extracts were prepared and subjected to Western blot assay using antibodies against poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase(PARP),Caspase-3,Caspase-8,and RIP.?-actin was used to ensure equivalent loading.Results After exposure to PEITC at concentrations of 2,4,6 and 8 ?mol/L for 3 h,U937 cells showed an increase in cell apoptosis(9% ,25% ,44% and 56% respectively).While when the time expanded to 6 h,the amount of apoptotic cells was increased to 16% ,28% ,51% and 82% respectively.A dose-dependent manner was seen when U937 cells were exposure to PEITC at different concentrations.When U937 cells were treated by PEITC at concentration of 8 ?mol/L for 1,3,6,9,12,and 24 h,the apoptotic cells covered 12% ,57% ,79% ,86% ,90% ,and 91% of all cells respectively,indicating a time-dependent manner.Western blot assay showed that PEITC caused the activation/cleavage of Caspase-3 and-8,and improved the PARP cleavage,and also decreased the expression of RIP.PEITC-induced apoptosis was proceeded by degradation of RIP.Conclusion Our results indicate that PEITC induces the apoptosis in human leukemia cells through a process that involves death receptor pathway,and RIP may play an important role in the apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the protective function of oxymatrine on the renal intestitial fibrosis in rats.Methods Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham group,model group,Lotensin group,large-dose oxymatrine group,and small-dose oxymatrine group.The models were established by unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO) of the left side.On the 14~(th) day after operation,the obstructed kidney was taken out.Then,HE,Massion,and immunohistochemistry staining of transforming growth factor-?_(1)(TGF-?_(1)),(?-smooth) muscle acting(?-SMA) and collagen Ⅲ were conducted.After that,semiquantitative analysis was performed.Results After oxymatrine,treatment,the expressions of ?-SMA,TGF-?_(1) and ColⅢ of the obstructed kidney in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model group(P0.05).Conclusion Oxymatrine may reduce the expression of cytokines such as TGF-?_(1),then the activation of cell producing ECM and then the sendimentation of ECM,thus preventing renal interstitial fibrosis.

Objective To study the effect of Benazepril on the renal connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) expression and interstitial fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO) rats and to illuminate the possible mechanisms.Methods 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into Sham-operated,control and Benazepril groups.From the day before operation,the rats were under intragastric administration of Benazepril 10mg/(kg?d) in Benazepril group,and sodium chloride in tales doses in Sham and control groups.On the 14~(th) day after operation,the obstructed kidney was taken out to be measured by HE,Masson,and immunohistochemistry staining for TGF-?_1,CTGF,?-SMA and ColⅢ.Results The score of renal interstitial lesion and fibrosis index in Benazenpril were significantly lower than those in the control group(P

Objective To evaluate the value of thoracoscopy in the diagnosis ot pleural effussion. Methods 45 cases of pleural effussion were exeamined by thoracoscopy, biopsy took place in the abnormal pleurae under thoracoscopy. Results Positive rate was 91.1% (41/45) under thoracoscopy.The morphology of pleural mesothelioma, metastatic carcinoma and tuberculous pleurisy was different. No serious complication occurred in all cases. Conclusions Thoracoscopy is a safe and effective procedure in the diagnosis of pleural effussion.

Objective To discuss the effectiveness of heart operation through subaxillary minithoracotomy.Methods Subaxillary minithoracotomy heart operation was carried out in 378 cases between March 1995 and October 2004.The operation was performed under beating heart and without the occlusion of the ascending aorta in 81 cases of atrial septal defect, 32 cases of ventricular septal defect,and 16 cases of other diseases.The operation was completed under low temperature and extracorporeal circulation in other 249 cases.Results The operation was accomplished smoothly in all the cases.The operation time was 167?2.0 min,and the extracorporeal circulation time was 28.1?16.6 min.Postoperatively,1 patient with double-chamber anormaly of the right ventricle was given a tracheotomy because of an acute laryngeal edema,1 patient with tetralogy of Fallot died of low cardiac output syndrome,1 patient had a cerebral embolism,2 patients experienced an incision fat liquefaction,and the remaining patients recovered uneventfully.A follow-up for 2 months ~ 10 years(mean,5.1 years) in 366 patients revealed a full range of physical activities.One case of ventricular septal defect with residual shunt and 1 case of cerebral embolism were fully recovered.Conclusions Subaxillary minithoracotomy open heart operation has advantages of minimal invasion,quick recovery,simplicity of performance,and good cosmetic results.

Objective To study the molecular mechanism of benzo( a) pyrene underlying the role of estrogen metabolism-related genes in human endometrial cancer cells. Methods Effect of benzo( a) pyrene on CYP450 was studied by exposing human endometrial cancer cells ( RL95-2) to benzo( a) pyrene at various concentrations ( 0. 016,0. 8,0. 4,2. 0 and 10 ?mol/L BP) for 12 h,or to 2 ?mol/L BP for 6,12,24,36 and 48 h. RL95-2 cells were harvested and cleaved. Expressions of CYP1A1,CYP1B1 and CYP3A4 proteins in RL95-2 supernatant were detected by Western blotting. Supersome in expressed CYP450 was used as a positive control to confirm the reliability of assay methods. Results The expression of CYP1A1 protein was significantly increased in RL95-2 cells 12 h after they were exposed to different concentrations of benzo( a) pyrene or to 2 ?mol/L BP for different periods of time,and reached it peak at 48 h,indicating that expression of CYP1A1 protein depends on the used dose and time of benzo( a) pyrene. Conclusion Benzo( a) pyrene can increase the expression of CYP1A1 in human endometrial cancer cells,cause changes in estrogen metabolism,and inhibit proliferation of human endometrial cancer ells.

To investigate changes in Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) gene expression in postburn Staphylococcus aureus infection, and its potential signaling mechanism, 68 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: normal control group (n=6), scald control group (n=6), postburn sepsis group (n=36),AG126 treatment group (n=10) and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) treatment group (n=10). Tissue samples from the liver, kidney and lung were collected from every group to determine TLR2 and tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) mRNA expression. The results showed that TLR2 mRNA expressions in the liver, kidney and lung from postburn septic animals were up-regulated rapidly, peaking at 0.5-2 hours (P

Objective To observe the change in interleukin-18 (IL-18) mRNA expression in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) induced sepsis, and to investigate its potential role in the pathogenesis of endotoxemia. Methods Fifty-four Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group (n=6), CLP group (n=36) and recombinant bactericidal/permeability increasing protein (rBPI 21) treatment group (n=12). Tissue samples from the liver, lungs and kidneys were collected to determine IL-18 mRNA expression. Meanwhile, tissue endotoxin level and the indexes of organ function were also measured. Results After CLP, endotoxin levels in the liver,lungs and kidneys were significantly increased, peaking at 2-12h (P