OBJECTIVE:To explore the repairing effect and mechanism of Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula on the mucosal dam-age of rats with ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS:72 rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,mesalamine group(positive control,0.3 g/kg),Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula low-dose,medium-dose,high-dose groups(5,10,20 g/kg),12 in each group. Except for blank group,other groups were induced UC model. After 4 d of modeling,rats in administration groups received related medicines,ig,blank group and model group received normal saline,ig,once a day,for 2 weeks. After administra-tion,disease activity index(DAI)and mucosal damage index(CMDI)of rats were observed;IL-8,TNF-α contents in serum and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression in colon tissue were detected. RESULTS:Compared with blank group,DAI and CMDI scores in model group were increased;IL-8,TNF-α contents in serum were increased;COX-2 expression in colon tissue was en-hanced,with statistical significances (P<0.05). Compared with model group,DAI and CMDI scores in model group were de-creased;IL-8,TNF-α contents in serum were reduced;COX-2 expression in colon tissue was weakened,with statistical signifi-cances (P<0.05). Compared with mesalamine group, the above-mentioned indicators in Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula medi-um-dose,high-dose groups changed more obviously (P<0.05),and effects of Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula showed significant dose-effect relationship. CONCLUSIONS:Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula can improve disease activity status of UC rats and reduce colon mucosal damage,and the effects of medium-dose and high-dose Huazhuo jiedu yukui formula were better than mesalamine, which may be related to reducing inflammatory reaction and inhibiting COX-2 expression in colon tissue.

Objective To observe the influencing factors of polysomnography (PSG) monitoring and to evaluate the efficacy of preventive measures.Methods We selected 205 patients with sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) who accepted PSG from May 2011 to April 2012 in our hospital as the intervention group.They were administered preventive measures,including psychological counseling,intensive grease dispelling of patient skin,arrangement of sensor and electrode.One hundred and fifty-two SAS patients who were administered PSG from May 2010 to April 2011 were selected as the control group.The monitoring successful rates between groups were compared and influencing factors were investigated.Results The monitoring successful rates of control group and the intervention group were 92.1％ and 97.1％ respectively; there was a statistically significant difference between the successful rates of the two groups (x2 =4.499,P ＜ 0.05).The main causes for unsuccessful monitoring were difficulty falling asleep,electrode distortion and high impedance of electrode.Conclusion PSG monitoring has a complex operating procedure and is time-consuming and effective preventive measures can improve the successful rate of PSG.

Objective To investigate the expression of Kuppel-like factor 2( KLF2 )after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion( I/R)injury in rats and the intervention effect of nuclear factor kappa B ( NF-κB)inhibitor. Methods Sixty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group,an I/R group,and a NF-κB inhibitor group( n=20 in each group). A focal cerebral I/R model was induced by the intraluminal suture method,and NF-κB inhibitor( pyrrolidinedithio carbamate,PDTC)was given to intervene. The observation time points were 6,12,24,and 48 hours after I/R. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(PCR)and Western blot were used to measure KLF2 mRNA and protein expression in ischemic brain tissue. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect the levels of serum tumor necrosis factorα( TNF-α),and they were compared among groups. Results Compared with the sham operation group,the expression levels of KLF2 mRNA and protein in I/R group in the ischemic brain tissue at each time point were averagely decreased( the relative expression levels of KLF2 mRNA:0. 46 ± 0. 03 vs. 0. 82 ± 0. 04,0. 30 ± 0. 04 vs. 0. 78 ± 0. 05,0. 18 ± 0. 04 vs. 0. 76 ± 0. 02,0. 26 ± 0. 02 vs. 0. 81 ± 0. 04,respectively;the relative expression levels of KLF2 protein:0. 46 ± 0. 04 vs. 0. 80 ± 0. 02,0. 30 ± 0. 02 vs. 0. 79 ± 0. 02,0. 15 ± 0. 02 vs. 0. 77 ± 0. 01,0. 24 ± 0. 01 vs. 0. 79 ± 0. 02,respectively). They reached the lowest values at 24 hours after I/R,while the serum TNF-αlevels were increased. There were significant differences(all P<0. 05). After giving NF-κB inhibitor PDTC,the expression levels of KLF2 mRNA and protein at 6,12,24,and 48 hours after I/R were upregulated differently compared with the I/R group. The relative expression levels of KLF2 mRNA were 0. 61 ± 0. 04,0. 44 ± 0. 03,0. 34 ± 0. 02,and 0. 43 ± 0. 04, respectively. Those of KLF2 protein were 0. 60 ± 0. 02,0. 43 ± 0. 02,0. 33 ± 0. 01,and 0. 44 ± 0. 03, respectively,while the levels of TNF-αwere decreased. There were significant differences(all P<0. 05). There was a negative correlation between the KLF2 mRNA levels and the serum TNF-αlevels at each time point in the I/R group and the PDTC group( r= —0. 728 ,P<0. 05 ). Conclusions The expression levels of KLF2 mRNA in brain tissue are decreased after I/R,and it is negatively correlated with the serum TNF-α levels. It may be involved in the pathological process of I/R by NF-κB pathway mediated inflammatory reaction.

Objective To investigate protective effects of thrombopoietin ( TPO) on cerebral model control in rats and associated signal transduction pathway. Methods Thread embolism was performed to generate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rat model. Eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model control group, TPO group, TPO and Janus kinase 2 ( JAK2 ) kinase inhibitor ( AG490 ) group. Before 30 min of ischemia-reperfusion, TPO group was given TPO (5 μg·kg-1) by intraperitoneal injection, TPO + AG490 group was given TPO (5 μg·kg-1) before 30 min of ischemia reperfusion, then given AG490 (8 μg·kg-1), and model control group were given the same dose of 0. 9% sodium chloride solution. The observation time points were 6, 12, 24, and 48 h after ischemia reperfusion. Immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting were used to measure the protein levels of Bcl-2, JAK2 and signal transducer & activator of transcription (STAT3). TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect apoptosis. Results Compared with model control group, the number of apoptotic cells were significantly reduced [(67. 50±9. 37) vs. (40. 20±7. 47)], the expression levels of Bcl-2, JAK2 and STAT3 protein were significantly increased [(35. 40±7. 39) vs. (78. 70±9. 75);(35. 68±6. 75) vs. (62.35±7.53); (25.40±9.45) vs.(55.36±9.69), respectively] 24 h after ischeia reperfusion in the TPO group (all P<0. 05). Compared with the TPO group, the Bcl-2, JAK2 and STAT3 protein levels were significantly decreased in TPO and AG490 group [(78. 70±9. 75) vs. (55. 40±9. 35);(62. 35±7. 53) vs. (40. 68±5. 89); (55. 36±9. 69) vs. (30. 40±9. 39), respetively], and the number of apoptotic cells was significantly increased [(40. 20±7. 47) vs. (55. 23±7. 65)] (all P<0. 05). Conclusion TPO can inhibit cell apoptosis after ischemia-reperfusion injury, the mechanism might be related to the activation of JAK2/STAT3 signal transduction pathway through raising the expression of Bcl-2 gene.

Objective: To observe the effects of moxibustion at different times on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), in the uterine tissues of rats with dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention, and to explore the differences and possible mechanisms of moxibustion at different times in easing pain in dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention. Methods: Forty-three female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a blank control group (n=7), a model group (n=9), a pre-moxibustion group (n=9), an immediate-moxibustion group (n=9) and a pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group (n=9). Rat models of primary dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention were established using (0±1) ℃ ice water immersion method combined with injection of estradiol benzoate for 10 d, followed by injection of oxytocin on the 11th day. Rats in the 3 intervention groups received moxibustion to Shenque (CV 8) and Guanyuan (CV 4), 10 min for each acupoint, once a day. Rats in pre-moxibustion group were given mild moxibustion, beginning on the 8th day during modeling, for 3 continuous days; rats in immediate-moxibustion group were given one time mild moxibustion, immediately after injection of oxytocin on the 11th day during modeling; rats in pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group were given mild moxibustion, beginning on the 8th day during modeling till immediately after injection of oxytocin on the 11th day during modeling, for 4 continuous days. The level of PGF2α in the rat uterine tissues was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the levels of PGE2 and AVP in rat uterine tissues were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results: Compared with the blank control group, the levels of PGF2α and AVP, the PGF2α/PGE2 ratio in the model group were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the rat uterine tissues in the model group. Compared with the model group, the writhing latency was significantly prolonged, the writhing number and the total writhing score were all decreased in the pre-moxibustion group, the immediate-moxibustion group and the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group (all P<0.01); the levels of PGF2α and AVP, and the PGF2α/PGE2 ratio were all significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly increased (P<0.01) in the rat uterine tissues of the 3 treatment groups. Compared with the pre-moxibustion group, the writhing number and the total writhing score were all decreased in the immediate-moxibustion group and the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group (all P<0.01), the writhing latency was significantly prolonged in the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group(P<0.01); the levels of PGF2α and PGF2α/PGE2 ratio were significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly increased (P<0.01) in rat uterine tissues in the immediate-moxibustion group and the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group. Compared with the immediate-moxibustion group, the writhing latency was significantly prolonged and the writhing number was decreased (all P<0.05), and the total writhing score was decreased (P<0.01) in the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group; the PGF2α level and the PGF2α/PGE2 ratio were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the PGE2 level was significantly increased (P<0.01) in rat uterine tissues in the pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion group. Conclusion: Moxibustion at different times all can produce obvious analgesic effects on dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness retention in rats, and pre-moxibustion plus immediate-moxibustion ranks the top. The mechanism of this analgesic effect may be via the regulation of abnormal PGF2α, PGE2 and AVP levels, to effectively inhibit the spastic contraction of uterine smooth muscle in dysmenorrhea rat, thereby improving the ischemia and hypoxia in uterus.

Epithelioid Hemangioendotheliomais a rare, low-grade malignant vascular tumour. It’scalled hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma(HEHE), when it occurs in liver. It can be metastatic and postoperative recurrence. There are few cases have been reported in the literature at home and abroad because of its rarity. The treatment of HEHE is also controversial. With the continuous improvement of surgical techniques of liver transplantation, it is increasingly applied to treat liver failure patients caused by HEHE. Our paper reviews the literature on disease characteristics of HEHE, and liver transplantation for HEHE indications, immunotherapy and prognosis, to illustrate the status and progress of liver transplantation for HEHE.

OBJECTIVETo determine whether the miRNA expression profile in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) differs between liver transplant recipients with long-term stable survival and those with acute rejection.

METHODSTwenty-nine liver transplant recipients with long-term stable survival (STA) group, 10 recipients with acute rejection (RJ group), and 17 healthy subjects (control group) were recruited for genome-wide microarray analysis of miRNA expressions in the PBMCs. The differentially expressed miRNAs among the 3 groups were validated by real-time PCR, and the targets of these miRNAs were predicted.

RESULTSCompared with the RJ group, the STA group showed down-regulation of 13 miRNAs in the PBMCs. Of these down-regulated miRNAs, miRNA-18b, miRNA-340 and miRNA-106b were validated by real-time PCR, and the latter two miRNAs were predicted to target the TGF-β pathway.

CONCLUSIONSThe differentially expressed miRNAs in liver transplant recipients with long-term stable survival, namely miRNA-18b, miRNA-340 and miRNA-106b, can be potential clinical biomarkers to predict the outcomes of liver transplantation.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Down-Regulation ; Graft Rejection ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Liver Transplantation ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Survival Rate ; Transforming Growth Factor beta

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the energy metabolism and post transplantation survival of liver graft under different warm ischemia times (WIT) in rats and determine the maximum limitation of liver graft to warm ischemia.

METHODSAccording to WIT, the rats were randomized into 7 groups, and WIT were 0, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60 minutes respectively. The indexes of energy metabolism were measured by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and all liver graft specimens were subjected to ultrastructural observation. After orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx), the recovery of energy metabolism of liver graft after 24, 48 hours and the rats' survival were observed.

RESULTSThe levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and energy charge (EC) decreased gradually after different WIT in a time-dependent manner, and especially significant within 30 minutes. The levels of ATP and EC of liver grafts were largely recovered after 24 hours of OLT within 30 minutes of warm ischemia, partially recovered after 48 hours of OLT with 45 minutes of warm ischemia and hardly recovered even after 48 hours of OLT with 60 minutes of warm ischemia. The rat survival time after OLT was not significantly different within 30 minutes of WIT, while the long-term survival was insulted with 45 and 60 minutes of WIT.

CONCLUSIONSThe levels of ATP and EC after OLT may be the important criteria to evaluate the quality of liver graft. WIT of liver graft is closely related to both the recovery of hepatic energy metabolism and the liver graft survival.

Adenosine Triphosphate ; metabolism ; Animals ; Energy Metabolism ; Graft Survival ; Liver ; blood supply ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the synergic effects of rapamycin and donor bone marrow-derived immature dendritic cells (DCs) in inducing skin allograft tolerance in mice.

METHODSThe recipient BALB/c mice receiving transplantation of skin allograft from C57BL/6 mice were divided into control group (without perioperative treatments), rapamycin group (receiving rapamycin at 1 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) by gavage for 7 consecutive 7 days after skin transplantation), immature DC group (receiving an injection of donor bone marrow-derived immature DCs of 2 x 10(6) via tail vein before skin transplantation), combined group (receiving an injection of the DCs of 2 x 10(6) before transplantation and rapamycin at 1 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) for 7 consecutive days after transplantation). The survival time of the skin allograft was observed in each group.

RESULTSThe survival time of the skin allograft in the control, rapamycin, immature DC and immature DC +rapamycin groups were 6.9-/+1.9, 12.3-/+3.0, 17.0-/+3.4 and 20.8-/+3.6 days, respectively, showing significant differences among the groups (P<0.05), and SNK test also indicated significant differences between every two groups.

CONCLUSIONSRapamycin and donor bone marrow-derived immature DCs have synergic effects in inducing skin allograft tolerance in mice.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Dendritic Cells ; immunology ; Graft Survival ; drug effects ; immunology ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology ; Skin Transplantation ; immunology ; methods ; Transplantation, Homologous

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of orthotopic liver transplantation on fulminant hepatitis B and the preventive efficiency of lamivudine on recurrence of hepatitis B in China.

PATIENTS AND METHODSTen patients with fulminant hepatitis B received orthotopic liver transplantation under veno-venous bypass. All patients had preoperatively serious jaundice, ascites and coagulopathy, and of whom 7 with encephalopathy, 2 with acute renal failure, and 1 with gastro-hemorrhage. RUSULT: Seven of the 10 patients have survived for 3 approximately 18 months, but 3 died of multi-organ failure or recurrence of fulminant hepatitis B. Seven survivors took lamivudine and 6 of them have survived for 3 approximately 18 months without the signs of recurrence of hepatitis B.

CONCLUSIONOrthotopic liver transplantation is an effective therapy for fulminant hepatitis B, and lamivudine may prevent recurrence of hepatitis B after transplantation.

Adult ; Hepatic Encephalopathy ; drug therapy ; etiology ; surgery ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate