Objective To observe the effect of Rhizome Atractylodis Macrocephalae (RAM) on electrogastric arrhythmia in rats and its mechanisms. Methods A total of 30 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, model group and RAM plus model group. The frequency of slow wave(FSW), coefficient of variation(CV) and abnormal rhythm index(ARI) were recorded and analyzed by computer. The substance P(SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP) and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) nerves in antral myenteric plexus were observed by immunohistochemical staining. Results Compared with those of the control group, the CV and ARI in model group markedly increased( P 0.05). The denites of SP nerves markedly decreased( P 0.05). Conclusion RAM has regulative effect on the electrogastric arrhythmia in rats and the mechanisms may be related with the increased SP nerves and decreased VIP and NOS nerves in antral myenteric plexus.

Patients with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) positive peptic ulcer were randomly treated with Hp-killing or Hp-nonkilling anti-ulcer drugs, and 19 patients with healed peptic ulcer were followed up to determine the relapse rate of peptic ulcer. It was found that there was a close relationship between Hp infection and the existence of active chronic gastritis, and the clearance of Hp infection could not alleviate the activity of chronic gastritis or influence the 3-week healing rate of peptic ulcer. The relapse rate of the Hp-positive ulcer patients was higher than those Hp-negative cases.

To study the effect of pericarpium arecae on gastric electro arrhythmia in rats and its mechanisms, 30 Wistars were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, model group and pericarpium arecae plus model group.The frequency of slow wave, coefficient of variation (CV) and abnormal rhythm index (ARI) were recorded and analyzed by computer, meanwhile the cholinergic and nitrigic nerves in antral myoenteric plexus were observed with histochemical staining. The results showed that, compared with control group, the CV and ARI in model group markedly increased ( P 0 05) after treatment with pericarpium arecae; the density of cholinergic nerves markedly decreased( P 0 05) after treatment with pericarpium arecae. It suggested that pericarpium arecae has regulative effect on the gastric electro arrhythmia in rats, and the increased cholinergic nerves and decreased nitrigic nerves in antral myoenteric plexus may be its underlying mechanisms.

Objective After partial hepatectomy, hepatopoietin(HPO) increase rapidly. The present study was designed to investigate how rhHPO and partial hepatectomy induce the expression of immediate early gene. Methods The Wister rats were divided into hepatectomy group and control group. The different gene expression within 1 h after 2/3 partial hepatectomy and in primary cultured hepatocytes system were examined by using representational difference analysis. Results In the expressed sequence tag(EST) library, most of these genes were identified as immediate early genes, and one new gene Tec that might be associated with liver regeneration in the EST library was found. Moreover, the Tec gene was rapidly induced by 2/3 partial hepatectomy. The expression peak achieved within 1 2 h after operation. HPO can rapidly induce the expression of these genes(c fos, LRF 1 and Tec, etc.) in primarily cultured rat hepatocytes. Conclusion rhHPO and partial hepatectomy can rapidly induce the expression of immediate early gene. This is the first report that Tec gene is an immediate early gene related to liver regeneration.

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 To assess the effects of splenectomy on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Methods Wistar rats were injected with CCl4 subcutaneously for 3 to 15 weeks to develop liver fibrosis. Two hundred and thirty-six rats were divided into 9 groups: (1) model group without splenectomy; (2) splenectomized group in which operation was performed before induction of fibrosis; (3) sham-operated group in which caparotomy was done before induction of fibrosis; (4)(5)(6) groups in which splenectomy was performed at the 6th, 9th and 12th week after induction of fibrosis, respectively; and (7) (8) (9) sham operation was also performed at the 6th, 9th and 12th week after induction of fibrosis, respectively. The spleen and liver biopsy, hepatic hydroxyproline, liver homogenate levels of procollagen type Ⅲ (PC Ⅲ), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN) and volume density of collagen were examined at different times. Results The results showed that the degree of hepatic damage and liver fibrosis in splenectomized group was significantly milder than that in model group and sham-operated groups. Splenectomy might delay the progress of liver fibrosis for about 3 weeks. The role of preventing rat liver fibrosis was also observed when splenectomy was performed after CCl4 induction of fibrosis for 6 and 9 weeks. Conclusions These results suggest that splenectomy may be of a preventive role against CCl4-induced rat liver fibrosis to a certain degree.