Objective To study the changes of serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and clinical significance in patients with hepatocirrhosis.Methods The serum LDL-C contents in groups from 3 573 cases hepatocirrhosis and 168 cases controls were determined.The relationship between serum LDL-C and the factors of prognosis、grades of liver fuction、some complications etc.in hepatocirrhosis patients were analyzed.Results The serum LDL-C contents in hepatocirrhosis group [(1.67 ± 0.94)mmol/L] was significantly lower than that in control group (2.02 ± 0.67) mmol/L] (t =4.67,P ＜ 0.01).The serum LDL-C contents in death [(1.30 ± 1.11 mmol/L),the grade of liver function Child-pugh B [(1.74 ± 0.92) mmol/L],the grade of liver function Child-pugh C [(1.28 ± 0.97)mmol/L],complicate upper gastrointestinal bleeding[(1.33 ± 0.84)mmol/L],not complicate primary hepatic carcinoma [(1.54 ± 0.82) mmol/L] were significantly lower than that in survival [(1.73 ± 0.90) mmol/L](t =9.45,P ＜ 0.01),the grade of liver function Child-pugh A [(2.04 ± 0.76) mmol/L] (q =11.55,P ＜ 0.01),the grade of liver function Child-pugh A [(2.04 ± 0.76) mmol/L] (q =29.25,P ＜ 0.01) and B [(1.74 ± 0.92) mmol/L] (q =17.71,P ＜ 0.01),not complicate upper gastrointestinal bleeding[(1.76 ± 0.95) mmol/L] (t =11.12,P ＜ 0.01),complicate primary hepatic carcinoma groups [(1.93 ± 1.10) mmol/L] (t =12.02,P ＜ 0.01) with hepatocirrhosis,respectively.significant negative correlation was shown between serum LDL-C contents and liver function grades in patients with hepatocirrhosis (r =-0.43,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The serum LDL-C contents was obviously decreased in hepatocirrhosis,and it is closely correlated to the factors of prognosis,grades of liver fuction,whether complicated upper gastrointestinal bleeding and primary hepatic carcinoma,etc.

Objective To study the characteristics of peptic ulcer (PU) of korean nationality(KN).Method The 4842 cases of PU were detected by gastroscopic technique from Jan 1985 to Apr 1999.The patients were divided into Korean nationality(KN,n=3124) and Han nationality(NH,n=1718) groups,the difference of between two groups was compared and analyzed.Results The morbidity of gastric ulcer C(GU) in KN group was obviously higher than that of HN group,however,the morbidity of duodenal ulcer(DU) was lower in KN group.Morbidity of GU was signifcantly higher than those of DU in KN group.In contrary to KN group,it was lower in HN group.The moraibity of composite ulcer(CU) in KN group was significantly higher than those of HN group in the spring,but in the autumn,the CU morbidity of HN group was higher.PU morbidity of KN group in the spring and winter were markedly higher than those of HN group.The helicobacter pylori(HP) infective rate of the patients with PU in KN group was significantly higher than those of HN group.HP positive rate of the patients with DU was obviously higher than that of the patients with GU.The morbidity of ulcer in KN group was significantly higher than that in HN group at gastric antrum,gastric body,anterior wall of duodenal bulb respectively,but the ulcer morbidity of gastric angle,pyloric canal,greater curvative of duodenal bulb were higher in HN group than that in KN group.The morbidity of all types peptic ulcer in KN group was remarkable higher than that of HN group in age over forty.In constrast,under forty-age-old(or equal to forty),the PU incidence of those anatomical situs of KN group was lower than that of HN group.The average phathogenic attack age of all type ulcer in KN group were significantly higher than that in HN group.The morbidity of ulcer of gastric antrum and anterior wall of duodenal bulb were most in two nationality groups,the autumn was the most season in two nationality groups.Conclusions PU of KN has own characteristics in detectable rate,attack season,pathogenetic situs,age of PU attack as well as HP infection etc.

Objective To investigate the protective effects of Codonopsis lanceolata saponin (CLS) on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) and its mechanism in rats.Methods The rats were divided randomly into 3 groups:sham-operated (SO) group, HIRI group and CLS group.HIRI model was made by Pringle method.CLS group was pretreated with CLS (200 mg · kg-1 · d-1) by intragastric administration for 7 days before operation, while SO group and HIRI group were given with distilled water 10 ml · kg-1 · d-1 for 7 days.ALT, AST, SOD, MDA in serum, and SOD and MDA in hepatic tissue were detected by colorimetric method.IL-18 in serum and hepatic tissue was detected by ELISA.Results The levels of serum ALT, AST, MDA, IL-18, TNF-α and tissue MDA, IL-18 in HIRI group were significantly higher than those in SO group and CLS group (all P ＜ 0.05), respectively.The serum and hepatic tissue SOD activity in HIRI group was significantly lower than that in SO group and CLS group (all P ＜ 0.05).Histological observation revealed that the obvious cell necrotic foci with a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration in the HIRI group, while the lesion was obviously alleviated in CLS group.Conclusions Codonopsis lanceolata saponin preconditioning alleviates hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury.The mechanism may be correlated with inhibiting inflammatory factors and enhancing anti-oxidation.

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanism of Triticum aestivum (TA) on anaphylaxis in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice. Methods: Twenty-five female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups (n=5), including control group, OVA group, 100 mg/kg TA group, 200 mg/kg TA group and DEX (dexamethasone) group. OVA (20 μg) and aluminum hydroxide (1 mg) were dissolved in 100 μl of PBS solution and injected into the abdominal cavity of each experimental mouse, while the mice in the control group were injected with 100 μl of 0.9% normal saline. All mice were given drinking water. The above processes were repeated two weeks later, and different concentrations of experimental drugs were diluted in 1% CMC (carboxymethyl cellulose) solution to feed mice. Allergic symptoms and behaviors of each mouse were scored in the process of feeding. On the 12th day after first sensitization, mice in the control and experimental groups were subcutaneously injected in the auricle with 20 μl of 0.9% saline solution and OVA, respectively. The thickness of each mouse′s auricle was measured 6 and 24 hours later. Histopathologic changes in auricle tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining 24 hours later. The mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation in the 6th week after first sensitization. Abdominal aorta serum samples were collected and tested for specific inflammatory cytokines (IgE, IgG1, TNF-α, IL-4) and anti-OVA antibodies (IgE, IgG1) by ELISA. ELISA and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-12 and IL-13 after spleen lymphocytes were stimulated with different concentrations of drugs. Results: Both the score of allergic symptoms and behavior and the thickness of the auricle of the OVA group were the highest among all groups (P<0.05). A TA dose-dependent decrease was found in both of the two parameters, which was confirmed by histopathological analysis. ELISA results showed that the plasma levels of IgE, IgG1, IL-4 and TNF-α in the experimental groups were significantly higher than those in the control group, but all of them were decreased in a TA dose-dependent manner. TA at the high concentration of 200 mg/kg was similar to DEX in inhibiting the expression of IgE and TNF-α. RT-PCR results showed that Th1 cytokines (IFN-y and IL-12) in the experimental groups increased significantly as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05). Expression of IFN-y and IL-12 was not significantly affected by TA at various concentrations, but markedly inhibited by DEX. The levels of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) in the experiment groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the OVA group, the levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 were significantly reduced in TA groups, especially in the TA 100 μg/ml group in which the expression of the three cytokines was decreased by about 60%, 18% and 20%, respectively. Conclusion TA helps to maintain immune balance by selectively inhibiting the expression of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), IgE and IgG and not influencing Th1 cytokines (IFN-γ and IL-12). It has an anti-allergic effect as it effectively suppresses allergic responses. This research provides both theoretical and experimental basis for further development of novel anti-anaphylactic treatment with TA.