Objective To explore the effects of kurorinone on the serum level of TNF-? and IL-6 in the patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods 87 patients with CHB were randomly divided into groups A and B. Patients in group A (n=45) and group B (n=42) received kurorinone and diammonium glycyrrhizin treatment, respectively, for 3 months. The liver histopathological changes were observed, and liver function and the serum level of TNF-? and IL-6 in the patients with CHB were detected after treatment. Results Compared with group B, liver injury and liver function of the patients in group A were obviously ameliorated, and the serum level of TNF-? and IL-6 significantly decreased (P

Objective To evaluate the effects of kurorinone combined with thymosin on the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Methods 178 patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly divided into group A, B and C. 64 patients in group A received kurorinone combined with thymosin for 3 months. 58 patients in group B received kurorinone only, and 56 patients in group C received thymosin only. Results At the end of treatment, HBeAg and HBV DNA negative-transformed rates were respectively 51.8% and 53.6% in group A, but 32.7% and 34.6% in group B, 21.6% and 21.6% in group C, the differences were statistically significant (P

Objective To explore the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-?) and endotoxin(LPS) in upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis patients and the preventive and treatment mechanism of rhubarb. Methods 45 liver cirrhosis patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding were treated with rhubarb, and its efficacy was compared with cemetidine's efficacy. Liver function, and serum levels of TNF-? and LPS were measured before and after the therapy. Results Patients’symptoms and liver function were improved, and serum levels of TNF-? and LPS significantly decreased after treated with rhubarb. Conclusions TNF-? and endotoxin might play an important role in upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis patients. Rhubarb has protective and treatment effect on upper gastrointestinal bleeding in cirrhosis patients by reducing TNF-? and LPS release.

BACKGROUND:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can differentiate into renal paranchymal cells including renal intercapillary cells.BMSCs can repair kidney structure and function after damage.OBJECTIVE:To investigate renal histology and function changes following BMSC transplantation in a rat model of radiation-inducad damage.DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:The cytological in vitro study was performed at the Laboratory of the Department of Hematology,Zhujiang Hospital from January to October 2009.MATERIALS:A total of 35 clean male Sprague Dawley rats were selected.Of them,20 were used to prepare BMSCs.The remaining was randomly assigned to a normal control,model and cell transplantation groups,with 5 in each group.METHODS:Rat BMSCs were incubated by the whole bone marrow method.When 90% cells were confluent,BMSCs were digested in trypsin for subculture.In the model and cell transplantation groups,rats were used to establish radiation-induced models,and then underwent X-ray general irradiation,at a dose of 500 cGy/min,100 cm from the target,6 Gy each,once per week,for consecutively 3 weeks.24 hours following irradiation,BMSCs of 3 passage were collected at logarithmic phase.In the cell transplantation group,1 mL cell suspension was infused into the rat caudal vein,containing 3×10~6 cells,totally three times.In the normal control and model groups,rat caudal vein received an equal volume of saline.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The following parameters were measured:results of hematoxylin-eosin staining;serum and kidney malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity;serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels.RESULTS:Kidney histopathology demonstrated thin renal cortex,increased number of mesenchyme,uneven renal corpuscle,and disordered structure of renal glomerulus,narrow renal glomerular vessel,partial disappeared capsular space,and degeneration and sclerosis of some glomerulus in the model group.In the cell transplantation group,renal cortex became thick,with clear structure;interstitial hyperemia and edema was significantly relieved;many complete renal corpuscles were observed;partial renal glomerulus presented degeneration and sclerosis;significant capsular space could be seen.Oxygen free radical examination results showed that compared with the model group,SOD activity was significantly higher (P ＜ 0.05),MDA levels were significantly lower (P ＜0.05) in the cell transplantation group.Renal function examination results demonstrated that compared with the model group,serum creatinine and urea nitrogen levels were significantly reduced in the cell transplantation group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION:BMSC transplantation can effectively treat renal radiation injury and improve renal function.

Objective The beam data is compared with those obtained from Monte Carlo (MC)simulation and measurement to investigate their feasibility and reliability for X-ray small fields.MethodsThe beam data,including the total scatter factor (Scp),percentage depth dose (PDD) was acquired byneasurement and calculation with the field size ranging from 0.5 cm × 0.5 cm to 10 cm x 10 cm.The resultswere compared and analyzed.Results All the data is most consistent for the fields size of ≥3.5 cmx 3.5cm,but they are obvious different for the fields size of ≤ 3.0 cm × 3.0 cm.The measurements seem toreliable using the chambers of CC04 and CC13 for the fields size of ≥2.0 cm x 2.0 cm.Conclusions It isdemonstrated that the accurate measurements and calculations of Scp and PDD can be obtained for the fieldssize of ≥2.0 cm ×2.0 cm,but they needed morc rcscarchcs for thc smaller fields.

Objective To explore clinical characteristics and surgical treatment of pancreatic duct stone.Methods Clinical data of 25 cases pancreatic duct stone undergoing operation from 1990 to 2008 were retrospectively analyzed. Results All of the 25 cases suffered upper abdominal pain, among whom 8 cases were concomitant with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 5 with steatorrhea, 2 with obstructive jaundice, 1 with pancreatic head cancer and 6 with acute pancreatitis recurrence history. All cases were confirmed by imaging diagnosis, such as ultrasonography, abdominal X-ray film, CT, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. 20 cases underwent pancreolithotomy with Roux-en-Y side-to-side pancreaticojejunostomy. 4 cases underwent body-tail pancreatectomy with pancreatojejunostomy and 1 case underwent pancreatoduodenectomy. No complication was found. 25 cases were followed for 2 months to 4 years after operation. Among all 25 cases with upper abdominal pain, 20 cases got rid of the symptoms and 5 cases were relieved postoperatively.Among 8 cases with diabetes mellitus, 4 cases resumed normal blood glucose postoperatively. Among 5 cases with steatorrhea, steatorrhea disappeared in 2 cases and 1 case were alleviated postoperatively. Conclusions Imaging examinations are the main diagnostic methods for pancreatic duct stone. Pancreolithotomy and Roux-en-Y side-toside pancreaticojejunostomy are effective operative techniques.

Objective To investigate the role of micro-RNAs (miR-101 and miR-125a-5p) in autophagy of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived human THP-1 macrophages.Methods Human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 was cultured in vitro,and it was differentiated into macrophages after being induced with phorbol (50 μg/L) for 48 hours.THP-1 macrophages were stimulated with LPS in 0,250,500,1 000 μg/L respectively for 12 hours,miR-mimic was transfected into THP-1 macrophages as induced by Lipofectamine RNAiMAX,and the transfection efficiency of miRNA was determined with fluorescence microscopy.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and monocyte chemotaxis protein-1 (MCP-1) in the supernatants of culture.Western Blot was used to detect the protein expressions of autophagy proteins ATG4D,Beclin1,and LC3 Ⅱ.The expression levels of miR-101 and miR-125a-5p were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).Results ① The releasing levels of TNF-α and MCP-1 induced by LPS with 250,500,1 000 μg/L were significantly increased as compared the cells without LPS stimulation [TNF-α (ng/L):1 336.1 ± 18.5,1 340.6±24.8,1 364.5± 14.9 vs.47.6±4.4;MCP-1 (ng/L):996.3 ±51.3,934.6±84.3,974.2±69.5 vs.21.3±6.5,all P ＜ 0.01],but no significant differences were found among the three LPS stimulation groups.The protein expressions of ATG4D,Beclin1 and LC3 1Ⅱ were up-regulated in the presence of different LPS concentrations (0,250,500,1 000 μg/L) for 12 hours in THP-1 macrophages (when compared with the cells without LPS stimulation,t value of ATG4D was 8.103,38.410,52.020,P value was 0.015,0.001,＜ 0.001;t value of Beclin1 was 3.026,5.328,3.482,P value was 0.047,0.034,0.037;t value of LC3 Ⅱ was 3.836,6.200,4.665,P value was 0.018,0.003,0.010),and the optimal concentration was 500 tg/L LPS.When THP-1 macrophages were stimulated with 500 μg/L LPS for 12 hours,the expression levels of miR-101 and miR-125a-5p were down-regulated significantly as compared with the cells without LPS stimulation [miR-101 (2-△ △Ct):0.68 ± 0.08 vs.1.95 ±0.26,t =8.047,P =0.001;miR-125a-5p (2-△ △Ct):0.23 ± 0.06 vs.1.69± 0.42,t =5.975,P =0.004].② The higher transfection efficiency was showed under fluorescence microscope.Westem Blot results showed the protein expressions of ATG4D,Beclin1 and LC3 Ⅱ were down-regulated as induced by an over-expression of miR-101 or miR-125a-5p in THP-1 macrophages,and more obviously down regulated by co-transfected with miR-101 and miR-125a-5p (compared with negative control group,t value was 14.550,5.855,14.180,P value was 0.005,0.014,＜ 0.001).Conclusion miR-101 and miR-125a-5p can inhibit the autophagy in LPS challenged THP-1 macrophages,and the potential mechanism might be related to target regulation of ATG4D.

Objective To study the efficacy of interferon ? 2b (IFN? 2b) combined with kurorinone in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. Methods 146 patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly divided into four groups(A,B,C,D). Based on the similar general treatment(group D),37 patients in group A was treated with IFN ? 2b and kurorinone. However, 37 patients in group B and 36 patients in group C received IFN ? 2b and kurorinone,respectively.Dynamic changes and relationships among liver histopathology,expression of TGF ? in liver tissue and serum levels of TGF ?,HBeAg,HBV DNA were studied using immunohistochemistry,radioimmunoassay and ELISA before and after treatment of IFN ? 2b and kurorinone. Results The score of histological hepatitic fibrosis,expression of TGF ? in liver tissue and serum levels of TGF ?,HBeAg, HBV DNA in group A showed significant lower than in group B and group C ( P

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of topical interferon alfa-1b cream in the treatment of herpes zoster. Methods A randomized, double-blind, parallel placebo-controlled clinical study was conducted. The test drug was topically used in herpes zoster patients, three times a day for 2 weeks. Patients whose skin lesions cleared completely were followed for 29 days to observe postherpetic neuralgia. Results One hundred and twenty-eight patients with herpes zoster were enrolled into this trial. Sixty-five patients were randomly selected to receive interferon alfa-1b cream and sixty-three patients received vehicle cream. After following up for 11, 14, 22, 29 days the cure rates were 69.2%, 81.5%, 90.8%, 95.4% respectively in the study group and were 57.1%, 71.4%, 84.1% and 84.1% respectively in the control group(P

Objective To analyze the expression of Galectin-3 in thyroid follicular tumors and its clinical significance in differential diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid follicular tumor.Methods The expression of Galectin-3 in 120 cases of thyroid follicular carcinoma and 80 cases of thyroid follicular adenoma was detected by immunohistochemical technique.Results The expression rate of Galectin-3 in thyroid follicular carcinoma was significantly higher than that in follicular adenoma(84％ vs 19％,P ＜ 0.01).Strong positive expression of Galectin-3 was found in 40％ cases of thyroid follicular carcinoma and no case of thyroid follicular adenoma.Conclusions The expression of Galectin-3 can be regarded as an important parameter for differential diagnosis between benign and malignant thyroid follicular tumor.