Objective　To study the mechanisms of Pericarpium Arecae. Methods　A total of Wistar rats were randomly divided into Pericarpium Arecae group and control group, Pericarpium Arecae decoction or distilled water were given respectively. Changes of gastrointestinal motility rats were assayed by Dextran blue-2000 after 1 and 6 hours. The distributions of SP and VIP in antrum and jejunum were investigated by immunohistochemistry assay. Results　The gastrointestinal motility of rats was markedly enhanced (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The expressions of SP increased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05) and the expressions of VIP decreased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in antrum and jejunum of rats at 1 and 6 h after Pericarpium Arecae decoction was given. The changes were more obvious at 1 h than at 6 h. Conclusion　The kinetogenic effect of Pericarpium Arecae is closely correlated to the increase of SP expression and the decrease of VIP expression in gastrointestinal tract.

Objective： This study was designed to determine the serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), soluble Fas (sFas), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in colorectal cancer and analyze their clinical significance. Methods： Serum sFas and IL-6 were tested in pre-operated and post-operated 162 patients with colorectal cancer using double antibody sandwich ELISA method, serum CEA and immune indicators were also examined. Results： Levels of serum CEA, sFas and IL-6 [(32.52± 10.81)μ g/L, (20.97± 8.19) ng/L, (36.87± 11.20) ng/L, respectively] in the colorectal cancer patients with the positive rate (sFas： 53.7％ ;IL-6： 67.91％ ; CEA： 41.98％ ) were significantly higher than those in healthy control group and benign patients （ P<0.01), the post operated patients showed a lower levels CEA, sFas, and IL 6 than the pre operation patients （ P< 0.01） , serum levels of sFas and IL 6 in post operated patients were the lowest. Serum sFas level was correlated with tumor metastases, serum concentration of IL 6 was correlated strongly with tumor size and metastases (P< 0.01). Serum concentration of sFas was correlated negatively with lymphocyte transformated rate, NK or LAK killing rate, and had marked correlation among CEA, IL 6, and sFas. Conclusion： The positive rates of serum sFas and IL 6 in the colorectal carcinoma patients were higher than those of the serum CEA. Serum sFas and IL 6 levels reflected indirectly situation of proliferation and metastases in tumors. sFas may inhibit the patients immune function and tumor cells apoptosis, and IL 6 may accelerate proliferation of the colorectal carcinoma cells. These results indicate that combinative measuring of the serum levels of CEA, sFas, and IL 6 may be an useful method for clinical diagnosis, disease prognosis, and treatment effect in colorectal patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of recombinant human hepatopoietin (rhHPO) and partial hepatectomy on rapidly induced expression of immediate early gene.

METHODSWe investigated the different gene expression within 1 hour after 2/3 partial hepatectomy by representational difference analysis and in primary cultured hepatocytes system.

RESULTSIn the expressed sequence tag (EST) library, we identified that most of these genes were immediate early gene, and found one new gene PC3 that might be associated to liver regeneration in the EST library. Moreover, PC3 gene was rapidly induced after 2/3 partial hepatectomy and the expressing peak was within 1~2 hours after operation. HPO can rapidly induce the expression of these genes (c-fos, LRF-1, and PC3, etc.) in primarily cultured rat hepatocyte, which might be one of HPO molecular mechanism on stimulating hepatocyte proliferation.

CONCLUSIONSrhHPO and partial hepatectomy can rapidly induce the expression of immediate early gene. PC3 gene is immediate early gene related to liver regeneration.

Animals ; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases ; genetics ; Blotting, Northern ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Genes, Immediate-Early ; Hepatectomy ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; pharmacology ; Liver Regeneration ; genetics ; Proprotein Convertases ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology