In order to provide morphological data and theoretical basis for pig-to-human hepatic xenotransplantation, the difference in morphological parameters and vessel wall structural factors between human and porcine hepatic portal vein was studied. From human subjects and pigs of varying ages, hepatic portal veins were collected, paraffin-embedded and cut into sections. The histological structures were stained with HE, and elastin, collagen and smooth muscles were stained with Weigert, Aniline blue and orange G, respectively. Morphological parameters and relative contents of structural components were determined under microscopy and by computer image analysis system, respectively. The results showed that histological structures of human and porcine hepatic portal vein wall were similar. Caliber, wall thickness, lumen and wall area in pigs increased with age, all in linear correlation to months. Morphological parameters of 6- month-old pigs were similar to those of human. In pigs, collagen content increased gradually with months, elastin content remained relatively stable, smooth muscle content reached the peak at the 3rd month, and collagen/elastin (C/E) rose gradually. The contents of collagen and elastin in porcine hepatic portal vein wall were lower, while the content of smooth muscle was higher than in human, and C/E at the 5th and 6th month was similar to that in human. It is concluded that morphological parameters and contents of structural components of porcine hepatic portal vein vary with age. At the 6 month, its caliber, wall thickness, lumen and wall area are similar to those of human. There are differences in contents of structural components between human and pigs. However, in terms of C/E, mechanic properties of pigs at the 5th and 6th month mimic those of human, hence inosculation is viable in xenotrans-plantation between pigs and human.
Collagen/*analysis ; Elastin/*analysis ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Liver Transplantation ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/cytology ; Portal Vein/*anatomy & histology ; Portal Vein/chemistry ; Swine ; Transplantation, Heterologous

We herein report the use of endoscopic n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate injections to obliterate a gastric varix, which led to cyanoacrylate embolisation in the splenic and portal veins in a single patient. Cyanoacrylate embolisation is a known but uncommonly reported complication of endoscopic sclerotherapy. This case report illustrates the successful management of this complication (i.e. cyanoacrylate embolisation in the splenic and portal veins) with anticoagulation and analyses the presentation and management of other cases of cyanoacrylate embolisation reported in the literature.
Aged ; Anticoagulants ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Blood Pressure ; Cyanoacrylates ; chemistry ; Embolism ; chemically induced ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Portal Vein ; pathology ; Sclerotherapy ; Splenic Vein ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography, Doppler

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) with sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) liquid sclerotherapy of gastric varices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between February 2012 and August 2014, STS liquid sclerotherapy was performed in 17 consecutive patients (male:female = 8:9; mean age 58.6 years, range 44-86 years) with gastric varices. Retrograde venography was performed after occlusion of the gastrorenal shunt using a balloon catheter and embolization of collateral draining veins using coils or gelfoam pledgets, to evaluate the anatomy of the gastric varices. We prepared 2% liquid STS by mixing 3% STS and contrast media in a ratio of 2:1. A 2% STS solution was injected into the gastric varices until minimal filling of the afferent portal vein branch was observed (mean 19.9 mL, range 6-33 mL). Patients were followed up using computed tomography (CT) or endoscopy. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 16 of 17 patients (94.1%). The procedure failed in one patient because the shunt could not be occluded due to the large diameter of gastrorenal shunt. Complete obliteration of gastric varices was observed in 15 of 16 patients (93.8%) with follow-up CT or endoscopy. There was no rebleeding after the procedure. There was no procedure-related mortality. CONCLUSION: BRTO using STS liquid can be a safe and useful treatment option in patients with gastric varices.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Balloon Occlusion ; Contrast Media/*chemistry ; Demography ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Esophageal and Gastric Varices/*therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Portal Vein/radiography ; Sclerotherapy ; Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate/*chemistry ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

To explore the mechanism of the absorption enhancement of Angelica dahurica extract (Ade), the absorption mechanism of baicalin in the Scutcllaria water extraction as well as the effect of Angelica dahurica extract on absorption of baicalin were investigated. In order to determine the main absorption site, everted intestinal sac model was used to study the effect of Angelica dahurica extract on the absorption of baicalin at duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon. In situ single pass intestinal perfusion model was performed to study the absorption of various concentrations of baicalin and the effect of Angelica dahurica extract on the absorption of baicalin at the main absorption site. To authenticate the consequence of perfusion by getting the blood from the hepatic portal vein and determine the concentration of the baicalin in the blood. The result showed that baicalin could be absorbed at all of the four intestinal segments with increasing absorption amount per unit as follows: ileum > colon > jejunum > duodenum. The absorption ofbaicalin in the duodenum significantly increased with Angelica dahurica extract, thus, duodenum was chosen to be the studying site. Apparent permeability values (Papp) and absorption rate constant (Ka) of baicalin in the duodenum increased gradually with higher concentrations. When the concentration of baicalin rises to a certain degree, the absorption increase had a saturable process, the absorption of baicalin may be an active transportation. Baicalin may be not a substrate of P-gp as verapamil which had not significantly affected the Papp and Ka of baicalin. The absorption of baicalin in the duodenum significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the two models with Angelica dahurica extract and the concentration of baicalin in the blood from the hepatic portal vein showed that the Angelica dahurica extract can increase the absorption of baicalin.
Angelica ; chemistry ; Animals ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Duodenum ; metabolism ; Flavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Herb-Drug Interactions ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestines ; metabolism ; Male ; Perfusion ; Permeability ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Portal Vein ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Scutellaria ; chemistry ; Verapamil ; pharmacology

Double cannulation model of conscious rat allowing simultaneous collection of mesenteric lymph and jugular venous blood was established to investigate the intestinal lymphatic transport of breviscapine orally administered in rat. The concentrations of breviscapine in plasma and lymph were determined by HPLC. The pharmacokinetics of breviscapine after oral and intravenous administration was evaluated in the conscious rat model. It was observed that scutellarin distributed from blood circulation to lymphatic system after intravenous injection. The cumulative lymphatic transport amount within 12 h was (2.78 +/- 0.25) microg, equivalent to 0.0792% of intravenous dose. After oral administration of scutellarin to double-cannulation rats, the cumulative lymphatic transport amount within 12 h was (0.92 +/- 0.08) microg, equal to 0.0083% of oral dose. The absolute bioavailability of breviscapine orally administered to double-cannulation rats was 4.91%, indicating that scutellarin was mainly absorbed into the bloodstream through the portal vein. Lymphatic transport of scutellarin appears to reflect high affinity for the lymph lipoproteins to chylomicron. This study provided a biopharmaceutics basis for developing oral lipid delivery system for the promotion of intestinal lymphatic transport to improve oral bioavailability of breviscapine.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Apigenin ; blood ; metabolism ; Area Under Curve ; Biological Availability ; Biological Transport ; Drug Delivery Systems ; methods ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucuronates ; blood ; metabolism ; Injections, Intravenous ; Intestinal Absorption ; Lymphatic System ; metabolism ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Portal Vein ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley