Objective To observe the expression changes of cytokine RhoA,stress fiber and Vinculin in the formation of hepatic fibrosis in rats, and investigate the role of RhoA in hepatic fibrosis. Methods Forty male SD rats were divided into two groups:model group and control group. The rats in the model group were given 60% CCl 4 by subcutaneous injection(1 ml/kg). The liver tissue was taken out for research at 1st、4th and 8th week respectively, RhoA and Vinculin mRNAs were detected by RT PCR, Vinculin and F actin proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence respectively, RhoA and Vinculin proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results Compared with control group, the expressions of mRNA of RhoA and Vinculin, the proteins of Vinculin, F actin and RhoA were all significantly increased( P

The correlation between pulmonary endothelin receptors and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (A-aDO2) in rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome was investigated. Animals were divided into 2 groups: Sham-operated (Sham) group and common bile duct ligation (CBDL) group. Arterial blood gas was evaluated by a blood gas analyzer. The concentrations of ET-1 in blood and lung tissue sample were evaluated by radioimmunoassay. The distribution and expression of two kinds of subtype receptor of ET-1, ETRA and ETRB were examined by in situ hybridization. The results showed that the level of A-aDO2 was higher in CBDL group than that in Sham group (P < 0.05). The levels of plasma and pulmonary ET-1 in CBDL group were both higher than in Sham group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in average A of ETRA between two groups by imaging analysis (0.21 +/- 0.06 vs 0.22 +/- 0.08, P > 0.05), while that of ETRB was higher in CBDL group than in Sham group (0.58 +/- 0.16 vs 0.28 +/- 0.07, P < 0.05). The expression of ETRB in lung was positively correlated with A-aDO2 (P < 0.05). It was concluded that the widened A-aDO2 may be related with enhancement of the expression of ETRB in lung.
Endothelin-1/metabolism ; Hepatopulmonary Syndrome/*metabolism ; Lung/*metabolism ; Oxygen/*metabolism ; Pulmonary Alveoli/*metabolism ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor, Endothelin A/metabolism ; Receptor, Endothelin B/*metabolism

Objective To explore the mechanism of Didang Qigui Recipe on preventing diabetes. Methods Ten female rats were set randomly as normal group, and others 70 were injected with STZ (60 mg/kg) to establish the diabetic model. After the model was established, 50 model rats were randomly divided into five groups:the model group, Didang Qigui Recipe group, the gliclazide group, Didang Qigui Recipe high-dose group, Didang Qigui Recipe and gliclazide group, with 10 rats in each group. All groups were given a gavage with related medicine. With treatment being given respectively, eight weeks later, contents of IL-1βand IL–2 in serum were detected by ELISA and structure of pancreatic β cells was observed by immunohistochemistry and microscope. Results Compared with the model group, the contents of IL-1βand IL-2 in serum of rats decreased in treatment groups, especially in Didang Qigui Recipe group and Didang Qigui and gliclazide group (P<0.05). The degree of apoptosis in pancreaticβcells, especially in the above two groups, has been less affected than other groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Didang Qigui Recipe has preventive and therapeutic effects on diabetes by inhibition of inflammatory response and protection structure of pancreaticβcells.

Aim To evaluate the effect of 15d-PGJ2 on up-regulated expression of PPAR? and inducing HSC apoptosis and inhibiting HSC proliferation. Methods The rat liver stellate cell line (HSC-T6) was cultured in DMEM, and treated with PPAR? agonist 15d-PGJ2 of different concentrations. The expression of PPAR? mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The protein expression of NF-?B was examined by Western blot. The cell proliferation rate of HSC-T6 was determined by MTT colorimetric assay. The cell cycle and apoptosis ratio were measured using flow cyto -metry analysis. Results The proliferation rate of the rat liver stellate cell line (HSC-T6) was significantly inhibited by 15d-PGJ2 (vs controls, P

AIM: To investigate the different vasoactive effects of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin (ET) on splanchnic arterial and venous vessels in cirrhotic rats. METHODS: Cirrhosis was induced in Wistar rats by subcutaneously administration of carbon tetrachloride. Maximal relaxation (Rmax) and contraction (Cmax) to NO and ET were determined in vitro using isolated vascular strips prepared from portal vein (PV) and mesenteric artery (MA) of both cirrhotic and normal rats, and EC50 was calculated for effects of NO and ET, respectively. RESULTS: Rmax of PV and MA to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (releasing NO) were significantly higher in cirrhotic rats (n=8) than those in normal rats (n=7), and EC50 of NO were dramatically lower in cirrhotic rats than those in control (P

Summary: To determine the biological effects of extracelluar signal regulated kinase (ERK) specific inhibitor PD98059 on pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) activated by platelet-derived factor-BB (PDGF-BB), cultured rat PSCs were co-incubated at 37 ℃ for 24 h with 25 ng/ml PDGF-BB and different doses of PD98059 (ranging from 5 ng/ml to 40 ng/ml). Expression of pERK1 protein was detected by Western blot and collagen α1 (Ⅰ) mRNA was tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Our results showed that there were statistical differences in the expression of pERK1 protein in all groups. Expression of pERK1 protein was up-regulated in the group treated by PDGF-BB, and gradually down-regulated in the other groups treated by PD98059 of different doses. An excellent positive correlation was revealed between the inhibitory effect and PD98059 concentrations. It was also observed that the expression of collagen α1 (Ⅰ) mRNA had similar response to pERK1. The level of collagen α1 (Ⅰ) mRNA was the highest in the PDGF-BB group, and gradually reduced in the other groups treated by PD98059 of different doses. It is concluded that expression of pERK1 protein and collagen α1 (Ⅰ) mRNA was up-regulated in rat PSCs activated by PDGF-BB. Meanwhile, PD98059 could inhibit PSCs activation mediated by PDGF. It is suggested that ERK1 protein plays an important role on PSCs activation mediated by PDGF signal pathway.

Objective To investigate the patterns of mesorectum lymph node (LN) metastases of rectal cancer. Methods Rectal cancer specimens obtained by total mesorectum excision were treated with lymph node revealing solution to retrieve all the nodes, and examined by routine pathology and immunohistochemical staining. Results A total of 443 LN in 26 specimens were harvested, with 128 nodes(28 9%)in 23 cases (88 5%) found positive. Positive nodes with the size less than 5 mm accounted for 59%. Among the 23 metastatic cases, there were 14 cases with tumors locating in the posterior wall, 69 out of 71 positive nodes were found along the superior rectal artery. In the other 9 cases, tumors were found in the lateral wall, 29 out of 57 positive nodes were found around ipsilateral branches of superior rectal artery,7 were around the contralateral branches, 4 were around the ipsilateral branches of middle rectal artery. Conclusions Most positive LN were less than 0 5 cm in diameter. LN metastasis of rectal cancer have close relationship with tumor location. Tumors in the posterior wall tend to spread upward along the superior rectal artery, while tumors in the lateral wall may have upward and lateral LN metastases simultaneously, with most metastatic LN found ipsilaterally.

The correlation between pulmonary endothelin receptors and alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient (A-aDO2) in rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome was investigated. Animals were divided into 2 groups: Sham-operated (Sham) group and common bile duct ligation (CBDL) group. Arterial blood gas was evaluated by a blood gas analyzer. The concentrations of ET-1 in blood and lung tissue sample were evaluated by radioimmunoassay. The distribution and expression of two kinds of subtype receptor of ET-1, ETRA and ETRB were examined by in situ hybridization. The results showed that the level of A-aDO2 was higher in CBDL group than that in Sham group (P＜0.05).The levels of plasma and pulmonary ET-1 in CBDL group were both higher than in Sham group (P ＜0.05). There was no significant difference in average A of ETRA between two groups by imaging analysis (0.21±0.06 vs 0.22±0.08, P＞0.05), while that of ETRB was higher in CBDL group than in Sham group (0. 58±0.16 vs 0.28±0.07, P＜0.05). The expression of ETRB in lung was positively correlated with A-aDO2 (P＜0.05). It was concluded that the widened A-aDO2 may be related with enhancement of the expression of ETRB in lung.

Objective To investigate the surgical methods and experience of laparoscopic radical cystectomy and orthotopic ileal neobladder for invasive bladder cancer. Methods The clinical data of 14 patients with invasive bladder cancer underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy and orthotopic ileal neobladder were collected retrospectively during March 2011 and October 2014. Results The 13 patients with invasive bladder cancer were successfully completed laparoscopic radical cystectomy and orthotopic ileal neobladder. 1 case was treated with laparotomy because of unsatisfactory surgery ifeld caused by excessive tumor bleeding. Twelve cases of the urethra-neobaldder anastomosis were completed through the abdominal incision, while for the other 2 cases, the anastomosis was done under the laparoscope, 2 cases were performed neovesicourethral anastomosis using single-needle running sutures through laparoscopy. The median operative time was 444 minutes, the mean intraoperative blood loss was 490 ml. Postoperative pathologic results conifrmed that 12 cases were bladder transitional cell carcinoma (1 case with partial squamous cell carcinoma) and 2 cases with bladder adenocarcinoma. No severe complication occurred except for 2 cases of urinary leakage and 1 case of urinary incontinence. Patients were followed up for 6-56 months,within which 3 patients were died of distant metastasis, 1 case was detected with intracranial metastasis, 1 case was found with urethra-vesical anastomotic stenosis while cured after urethrotomy. Ten cases were well recovered and the mean volume of the neobladder was 300 ml. Conclusions Laparoscopic radical cystectomy and orthotopic ileal neobladder have the advantage of better therapeutic effects, safety, minimal invasion and rapid recovery, which are the preferred therapeutic methods for invasive bladder cancer.

Animals ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; analysis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; analysis ; L-Selectin ; analysis ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; analysis