Objective To investigate the mechanisms of plasma exchange(PE) in the treatment of chronic severe hepatitis. Methods Twenty five patients with chronic severe hepatitis were divided into two groups: treatment group and control group. The concentration of ammonia, endotoxin, TNF ?, TGF ? 1, HGF and amino acid spectrum were detected before and after therapy, respectively .Moreover, ammonia and endotoxin levels were detected before and after every treatment with ALSS. Results Compared with the control group ,there were significant decreases in the concentration of ammonia, endotoxin, TNF ?,TGF ? 1 in the treatment group( P

Objective To study the expression of protein and mRNA of caspase-3 during hepatocyte apoptosis in the mice with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Methods Liver damage was induced by tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) in D-galactosamine (GalN) sensitized BALB/c mice. Hepatocyte apoptosis was examined by electric microscopy, in site end labeling (ISEL) and DNA electrophoresis on 1.5% agarose gel. The expression of protein and mRNA of caspase-3 was detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results After 1.5 h, 3.5 h, 6 h, and 9 h of administration of GalN and TNF-?, rates of hepatocyte apoptosis were found to be 0.0%, 0.3%, 3.15% and 3.19% respectively. The rates of caspase-3 positive hepatocytes were 0.7%, 4.6% , 17.8% and 24.2% respectively. The relative expressive density of caspase-3 mRNA were 0.26%, 0.29%, 0.41% and 0.38% respectively. Conclusions The expression of caspase-3 is up regulated in the TNF-? induced FHF model and may trigger hepatocyte apoptosis and finally lead to FHF.

Objective In order to explore the role of Toll like receptors 4(TLR4) in recognizing endotoxin and initiating inflammatory response, the expression of TLR4 of the liver in D galactosamine(D Gal) and endotoxin induced acute hepatic injury was analyzed. Methods The BALB/C mice with acute hepatic injury were induced with the combination of D Gal(900 mg/kg)and lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 ?g/kg) by intraperitoneal administration. To evaluate the hepatic injury, serum transaminase (ALT and AST) and plasma TNF ? were determined and the mortality was observed at the various time point following intraperitoneal injection with D Gal/LPS. The level of TLR4 mRNA was measured by semiquantitative RT PCR. Also the protein expression of TLR4 in the liver was detected by immunohistochemistry. The data was analyzed by the SAS software. Results After 4 hours of intraperitoneal injection of D Gal/LPS, the serum transaminase and plasma TNF ? levels were apparently elevated. The treatedmouse began to die at 7 hours. The mortality reached up to 80% at 10 hours. TLR4 mRNA were expressed at low level in normal mice liver, while it was significantly increased and maintained at higher level following intraperitoneal injection with D Gal/LPS (compare to 0 h time point, P

Objective To analyze the effect of N-acetyl-L-cysteine(NAC)on endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated HepG2 cells apoptosis and evaluate the role of NAC in the treatment of liver injury.Methods HepG2 cells were treated with thapsigargin(TG)to establish the model of oxidative endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated apoptosis,and NAC was used to intervene in apoptosis.To evaluate the apoptosis,various methods such as MTT assay,flow cytometry,DNA ladder and Western blot were performed.Results After treated with 2 μmol/L TG for 0,24,36 and 48 hours,the vitality of HepG2 cells decreased.The ratio of apoptotic cells increased along with the prolonged treatment duration of TG(0.7%±0.5%,27.6%±6.3%,29.7%±3.3%,47.9%±3.5% respectively,P<0.05),and the production of reactive oxygen species(ROS)also increased in time-dependent manner(14.0%±0.5%,36.1%±3.0%,38.2%±6.0%,48.3%±12.4%,P<0.05).The HepG2 cells showed typical morphologic change of endoplasmic retieulum stress induced by 2 μmol/L TG after 36 h and 48 h.DNA ladder was observed at the same concentration and time point correspondingly.Endoplasmic reticulum stress mediated-apoptosis was confirmed by Western blot.Both 10 mmol/L and 20 mmol/L NAC could protect ceils from apoptosis.The ratio of apoptotic cells decreased to 14.0%±1.3% and 11.0%±0.3%,respectively.The production of ROS decreased to 34.7%±0.8% and 31.5%±2.9%,respectively.The effect was related to the concentration of NAC.Conclusions As a Ca2+-adenosine triphoshatase inhibitor,TG may disrupt intracellular calcium homeostasis,which can induce endoplasmie reticulum stress and apoptosis.NAC,the precursor of the synthesis of-SH,can directly inhibit the ROS reaction and alleviate liver damage,which may play a role in the treatment of liver failure.

Objective To investigate the clinical epidemiologic characteristics of patients with hepatitis C virus(HCV)infection post blood transfusion.Methods The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELlSA)were used to detect HCV RNA and antiHCV,respectively.Analysis was performed for patients' age distribution,cause of primary diseases,exposure years,ingredient and amount of transfusion,incubation period and liver function damage.The statistical processing were performed with chi-square test,t-test and correlation analysis.Results HCV RNA levels were higher than 3.0 log10 copy/mL in 85.3%infected patients with a median of 5.99log10 copy/mL,among which 19.7%patients showed viral load 3.0 to 4.0 log10 copy/mL and 69.9%showed 5.0 to 6.0 log10 copy/mL.Eighty-one point six percent(40/49)of infected persons were confirmed as HCV RNA positive by HCV RNA qualitative analysis,while 99.7%(383/384)patientswere detected as anti-HCV positive by serological test.The sensitivity of serological test was higher than both HCV RNA quantitative and qualitative assays(F=57.138,P=0.000;F=63.149,P=0.000,respectively).HCV infection post blood transfusion was more common in people of 30 to 60years old.Most cases(84.4%)got the first time exposure during 1990 to 1994.More than 10%cases had primary disease as obstetrics, orthopedics or gastrointestinal tract hemorrhage. Eighty percent received whole blood product transfusion.The mean interval between transfusion and clinical diagnosis was (86.0±54.6 ) months. Eighty nine percent of infected patients had liver function damage, while most of them showed elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with no more than 5 upper limits of normal (ULN). Conclusions Post transfusion HCV infection mainly happened in adulthood. Infected patients usually have liver function damage with elevated ALT with no more than 5 ULN and medium HCV RNA levels.

Objective To evaluate the clinical and histological outcomes in a cohort of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients who had histologically confirmed severe liver fibrosis and received lamivudine (LAM) therapy for up to 10 years. Methods Thirty-nine CHB patients with severe liver fibrosis (Ishak fibrosis score≥4) were treated with LAM for up to 10 years. Disease progression liver histological improvement, virological and biochemical responses were evaluated during follow-up. Data were analyzed using paired t test, Fisher exact test and Willcoxon test. Results Twenty-eight patients completed the 10-year follow-up. There were 5 (17.9% ) patients with disease progression.At the end of follow up, 16 patients received a second liver biopsy, which showed significant improvement of histological activity index (1.1 ± 1.4 vs 7. 1 ± 3.2, t =- 0.82, P＜0.01 ) and Ishak fibrosis score (3.6±2.2 vs 5.3±0.7, t= -2.89, P＜0.05) compared to baseline. There were 3 cases with Ishak fibrosis score improved from F5 to F0. Among 27 patients, 3(11% ) cases achieved hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss and 2 (7 % ) achieved HBsAg seroconversion. At the end of follow-up, 19 out of 23 (83% ) hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive patients obtained HBeAg loss and 9 (39 % ) obtained HBeAg seroconversion. During LAM treatment, 11 patients experienced virological breakthrough or detected documented LAM-related resistance mutation. The viral loads of all patients were below 1 ×103 copy/mL at the end of follow-up after rescued by add-on or switch to another nucleotide analog.Conclusions Long-term LAM therapy can delay the disease progression in CHB patients with severe liver fibrosis, increase HBsAg and HBeAg loss rates, sustain suppression of HBV replication at a low level and even totally reverse the liver fibrosis in some patients. The effect of LAM resistance mutation on disease outcomes would be reduced by rescue therapy.

Objective　To study the transcription effects and cleavage activities of rat caspase-3 specific hammerhead ribozyme (Rz107) in both cell-free conditions and BRL-3A cells. Methods　Rat caspase-3 gene fragment was cloned into the pGEM-T EASY vector under the T7 promoter control. The 32　 P-labeled caspase-3 transcript was the target-RNA. Rz107 genes designed against caspase-3 mRNA were cloned into vector p1.5 between 5'-cis-Rz and 3'-cis-Rz. 32　 P-labeled ribozyme transcripts were incubated with target-RNAs at different conditions and autoradiographed after denaturing gel-electrophoresis. Rz107 was electroporated into BRL-3A cells and the Rz107 expression was analyzed by RT-PCR. Results　In cell-free conditions, Rz107 was active at 37℃. The optimal temperature was 50℃. The Km and kcat were 14.13?nmol/L and 2.31*min-1 respectively. Intracellular cleavage efficiency of Rz107 was 37%, as analyzed by RT-PCR. This indicated that the design of Rz107 was correct, and Rz107 had the activity of common enzymes. Conclusions　Rz107 in cell-free conditions possessed perfect specific catalytic cleavage activity, and it can also cleave the target RNA successfully in cells. The results illustrate the feasibility of ribozyme therapy as a potential alternative approach for treating liver disease caused by apoptosis.

Objective To explore the relationship among cytokine levels and Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2,4 in hepatitis B virus (HBV) related cirrhosis. Methods Heparin anticoagulated venous blood of 35 randomly selected HBV related cirrhosis and 35 healthy volunteers were collected aseptically. Plasma tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentration was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were separated and stained with anti-TLR2,4 monoclonal antibodies, then analysed by flow cytometry. Total RNA was extracted from PBMC and TLR2,4 mRNA expression levels were evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using SYBR Green detection. Means of normal distribution were compared by t test and one factor analysis of variance. The data of abnormal distribution were analyzed using Mann-Whithey U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test and Spearman correlation analysis. Results The plasma concentration of TNF-α in the cirrhotic patients was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls (33.52 ng/L vs 6.07 ng/L, Z=-6.584, P<0. 01), which was parellel with Child-Pugh score. TLR2 positive rate in PBMC from the cirrhotic patients was significantly higher than that from the healthy controls (20.65% vs 12.04%, Z=-4.458, P<0.01), which was positively correlated with plasma TNF-α level (r= 0.448 3, P<0.05), and parellel with Child-Pugh score. Between the cirrhotic and healthy groups, there was no significant difference of TLR4 positive rate in PBMC. The mRNA expression level of TLR2/GAPDH in PBMC from the cirrhotic patients was significantly higher than the controls (0.234 2 vs 0.043 1, Z=-6.83, P<0.01), which was positively correlated with plasma TNF-α level (r=0.411 1, P<0.05), and parellel with Child-Pugh score. Between the two groups, there was no significant difference of TLR4 mRNA expression level in PBMC. Conclusions The expression of TLR2 in PBMC from cirrhotic patients is significantly elevated, which is positively correlated with plasma TNF-α level and the severity of liver disease. The expression of TLR4 in PBMC from cirrhotic patients is unchanged. It suggests that TLR2 but not TLR4, plays an important role in the progression of liver cirrhosis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy and safety of Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FZHY Capsule) against liver fibrosis with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: Multicentric, randomized, double blinded and paralleled control led trial was conducted on patients (aged between 18 and 65) with liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B Indexes observed: (1) hepatic histological changes and HBV markers were observed at 0 and 24th week during the treatment; serological indexes (HA, LN, P-III-P, IV-C) were determined and B ultrasound examination of spleen and liver was taken at 0, 12th, 24th week; liver function (during the period of follow-up, liver function and serological indexes for liver fibrosis were evaluated) were observed at 0, 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th week; (2) indexes for safety: blood and urine routine tests, renal function and ECG were examined. RESULTS: (1) Enrollment and demographic data: There was no significant difference between the trial (110 cases) and control group (106 cases) in demographic feature, vital signs, course of illness, history for drug anaphylaxis, history of previous therapy, liver function, serological indexes for liver fibrosis, liver histological examination (99 cases for test group, 96 cases for control group), HBV markers, and renal function, etc. (2) Histological pathological examination: 93 cases of liver histological examination were taken, of these 50 cases for the trial group and 43 cases for control group which turned out to be at S mean value of 2.33 and 2.11 respectively pretreatment according to criteria for liver fibrosis staging. Post-treatment, the trial showed a significant decrease with S value of 1.80 compared to that of pretreatment; however, there was no significant improvement in control group before and after the treatment with S mean value of 2.14. There was significant difference in reversing rate (decrease at least 1 stage according to criteria for liver fibrosis staging) between the trial (52%) and control (23.3%) after liver biopsy. The trial had a rather good effect on improving inflammatory activity and was superior to control group with a marked decrease of mean value of inflammatory activity and score of inflammation (P<0.05). (3)Serological indexes for liver fibrosis: There was a significant decrease in HA, LN, P-III-P, IV-C content in test group after 12 and 24 weeks' treatment compared to that of pretreatment; the differences of HA, LN, P-III-P, IV-C between 12, 24 weeks' treatment and pretreatment were significantly greater than control group (P<0.01 or 0.05); the effectual was defined as 2 of 4 indexes lowered more than 30% of the baseline, according to this criteria, the trial was 72.7%, while control group 27.4% (P<0.01). (4)Liver function: Obvious improvement of serum Alb, ALT, AST, GGT was seen in 2 groups; compared with control group, marked improvement of GGT and Alb in the trial (P<0.05); the effective rate of serum ALT in the trial group was 72.7%, while control 59.4%. (5)No changes of significant difference between pre- and post-treatment in routine tests for blood and urine, renal function and ECG, etc. There was also no difference in the stable rate of ALT and serological indexes for liver fibrosis between the trial and control group 12 weeks after withdrawal (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Fuzheng Huayu Capsule has good effect on alleviating liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B without any adverse effect and is superior to Heluo Shugan Capsule. Fuzheng Huayu Capsule is a safe and effective medicine for the treatment of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B.