Objective To study the anti-hepatofibrotic effects of rhubarb and tetrandrine in experimental rat model, and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods The experimental hepatic fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of CCl 4. The rhubarb and tetrandrine were administered through gastric tube respectively. The liver function test was performed by enzyme kinetics and the extracellular matrix (ECM) contents were determined by radioimmunoassay. The pathological changes of liver tissues were detected by HE and VG staining; meanwhile, ultra microstructural changes were observed by electron microscope in randomly selected samples. Results Both rhubarb and tetrandrine could improve the liver function in liver fibrosis, decrease the contents of ECM and reduce the degree of liver fibrosis, with the best results in rats receiving high dosage of rhubarb and low dosage of tetrandrine. Conclusions Rhubarb and tetrandrine could protect hepatocytes, inhibit the ECM synthesis, and thereby could prevent the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in the experimental animal models.

Objective To investigate the medium- and long-term effects and safty of Pipeline embolization device ( PED) for the treatment of large and giant intracranial anterior circulation aneurysms. Methods From December 2014 to December 2016,the data of 36 consecutive patients with large and giant aneurysm ( 36 large and giant intracranial anterior circulation aneurysms ) treated with PED in Donglei Brain Doctor Group were analyzed retrospectively. The diameter of the aneurysms was 12 -33 mm, (mean16.6±4.5mm),andthenecksizewas4-10mm(mean6.1±1.5mm).Eightaneurysmswere located in the carotid cavernous sinus segment,22 in the ophthalmic artery segment,5 in the internal carotid artery posterior communicating segment, and 1 in the M1 segment of middle cerebral artery. Seven aneurysms were only treated by PED,28 aneurysms were treated by PED in combination with coil embolization,and 1 aneurysm was treated by double PEDs. The modified Rankin scale ( mRS) score was used to evaluate the prognosis of the patients. Results (1) The clinical prognosis of the patients was followed up by telephone and outpatient department for 6-33 months. Twenty-five patients were followed up by DSA,23 aneurysms (92%) were occluded totally (Raymond gradeⅠ) and 2 (8％) were occluded near totally ( Raymond grade Ⅱ) . ( 2 ) Seven patients were treated with PED alone. Four patients were cured totally after 6 months follow-up,1 was occluded subtotally,2 were not cured;6 were cured in the last follow-up (33 months),and the other aneurysm was gradually reduced;17 of 28 patients treated with PED in combination with coils received DSA follow-up. They were followed up for 6-8 months. All the aneurysms were totally occluded ( Raymond grade Ⅰ) . 1 aneurysm was treated by 2 PEDs, DSA revealed micro-aneurysm-like development at 8 months after procedure. The aneurysms were basically occluded after 15-month follow-up. (3) MRI confirmed after operation that 10 patients had asymptomatic scattered spotted ischemic foci,4 had cerebral parenchymal hemorrhage,1 of them died,1 recovered well after treatment (mRS 1),and the other 2 were asymptomatic cerebral hemorrhage. The occupying effect of 24 cases disappeared, 8 had obvious improvement,and 3 did not have any obvious change. Conclusions The occlusion rate of the treatment of large and giant intracranial aneurysms with PED was high. The results of medium-term follow-up showed that the occlusion rate of PED in combination with coils in the treatment of aneurysms was higher than that of PED alone. The long-term follow-up results showed that the occlusion rate of patients treated with PED alone (including one or more) was gradually increased with time. The safety of the surgery needs to be further confirmed by a large sample study.

PURPOSE: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the trachea and bronchus is a rare tumor. Although MYB-NFIB oncogene fusion and Notch1 mutation have been identified in ACC, little is known about the expression and clinical significance of Notch1 and its target gene fatty acid binding protein 7 (FABP7) in tracheobronchial ACC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Primary tracheobronchial ACC that were resected between 1998 and 2014 were identified through the pathology and oncology database from five thoracic oncology centers in China. A tissue array was constructed from the patients’ samples and the expressions of Notch1 and FABP7 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. The association between the expression of both markers and survival was determined. RESULTS: Overexpression of Notch1 and FABP7, detected in 37.8% and 38.3% of 368 patients with tracheobronchial ACC, respectively, was an independent prognostic indicator for recurrencefree survival (RFS) by multivariable Cox proportional hazard model (p=0.032 and p=0.048, respectively). Overexpression of Notch1, but not of FABP7, predicted overall survival (OS) (p=0.018). When categorized into four groups according to coexpression of Notch1 and FABP7, patients with overexpression of both Notch1 and FABP7 belonged to the group with the shortest RFS and OS (p=0.01 and p=0.048, respectively). CONCLUSION: Expression of Notch1 and FABP7, and coexpression of Notch1 and FABP7, is strongly associated with poor survival in resected tracheobronchial ACC. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that poor differentiation of tracheobronchial ACC correlates with the activation of Notch signaling.
Adenoids* ; Bronchi ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic* ; Carrier Proteins* ; China ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Oncogene Fusion ; Pathology ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Retrospective Studies* ; Trachea