OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of bear bile.

METHODThe compounds were isolated by repeated column HP20 macroporous adsorption resin, Sephadex LH-20, ODS and silica gel as packing materials. The structures were identified on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis and by comparison of their spectral data reported.

RESULTNine compounds were identified as 4',7-dihydroxyisoflavone (1), 4',7-dihydroxy-6-methoxyisoflavone (2), 4',6,7-trihydroxyisoflavone (3), 4'-methoxy-7-hydroxyisoflavone (4), tauroursodeoxycholic acid (5), taurochenodeoxycholic acid (6), ursodeoxycholic acid (7), chenodeoxycholic acid (8), cholesterol (9).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-4 were separated from bear bile for the first time.

Animals ; Bile ; chemistry ; Gallbladder ; chemistry ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Ursidae ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of ephrin-A7 (EphA7) and metadherin (MTDH) and their clinicopathological significances in the benign and malignant lesions of gallbladder.

METHODSEnVisiom immunohistochemical methods was used for determining the expressions of EphA7 and MTDH in routinely paraffin-embedded sections of surgically-resected specimens from 108 cases with gallbladder adenocarcinoma, 15 cases with adenomatous polyp and 35 cases with chronic cholecystitis treated from June 1996 to June 2006. And 46 cases of peritumoral tissues were also harvested as controls (n = 35).

RESULTSThe positive expression rates of EphA7 and MTDH were significantly higher in gallbladder adenocarcinoma than those in peritumoral tissues (χ(2)(EphA7) = 12.65, χ(2)(MTDH) = 13.00; P < 0.01), adenomatous polyp (χ(2)(EphA7) = 8.21, χ(2)(MTDH) = 9.39; P < 0.01) and chronic cholecystitis (χ(2)(EphA7) = 21.21, χ(2)(MTDH) = 23.68; P < 0.01); Moderately-or severely-atypical hyperplasia of gallbladder epithelium was found in the benign lesions with positive expression of EphA7 and/or MTDH. The positive rates of EphA7 and MTDH were significantly lower in the cases of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, maximal diameter of tumor < 2 cm, no-metastasis of lymph node, and tumor with no-invasiveness of regional tissues than those in the poorly-differentiated adenocarcinoma (χ(2)(EphA7) = 12.34, χ(2)(MTDH) = 12.80; P < 0.01), maximal diameter of tumor ≥ 2 cm (χ(2)(EphA7) = 5.22, χ(2)(MTDH) = 5.00; P < 0.05), cases with metastasis of lymph node (χ(2)(EphA7) = 5.15, χ(2)(MTDH) = 5.86; P < 0.05) and cases with invasiveness of regional tissues (χ(2)(EphA7) = 7.06, P < 0.01; χ(2)(MTDH) = 4.13; P < 0.05) in gallbladder adenocarcinoma (P < 0.05). The high consistency was found between the expressive levels of EphA7 and MTDH in gallbladder adenocarcinoma (χ(2) = 13.11, P < 0.01). The univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the increased expression of EphA7 (P = 0.023) and MTDH (P = 0.034) was negatively associated with the overall survival. The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that increased expression of EphA7 and/or MTDH (P(EphA2) = 0.023, P(MTDH) = 0.034) was an independent poor-prognostic predictor for gallbladder adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of EphA7 and/or MTDH might be closely related to the carcinogenesis, progression, clinical biological behaviors and prognosis of gallbladder adenocarcinoma. The positive expression of EphA7 and/or MTDH may predict bad-prognosis in gallbladder adenocarcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Cell Adhesion Molecules ; metabolism ; Cholecystitis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gallbladder ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gallbladder Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyps ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Receptor, EphA7 ; metabolism

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Aged ; Cholecystectomy ; Chondrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Gallbladder ; chemistry ; pathology ; surgery ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratin-3 ; metabolism ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

Cyclins are the regulatory subunits of cyclin-dependent kinase and play an important role in cell proliferation. Many tumors, such as colon, breast and gastric carcinomas are known to be involved in the deregulation or amplification of cyclins, especially cyclin E, which involves the restriction point of G1-S transition. We investigated the expression of cyclin E in benign and malignant epithelial tumors of the gallbladder and compared the results with the activity of cell proliferation by the Ki67 antigen using immunohistochemical staining. Cyclin E was expressed in the adenocarcinoma tissue in 33.3% of patients (4 out of 12 cases), whereas only one out of 8 cases of adenoma expressed cyclin E (12.5%). There was a correlation between cyclin E expression and the Ki67 labeling index. These results suggest that the high expression of cyclin E in adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder is related to a high rate of cell proliferation.
Adenocarcinoma/pathology ; Adenocarcinoma/metabolism* ; Adenoma/pathology ; Adenoma/metabolism* ; Adult ; Aged ; Cyclin E/metabolism* ; Female ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/pathology ; Gallbladder Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Human ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Age

Bile ; analysis ; Calcium Carbonate ; metabolism ; Gallbladder Diseases ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Male ; Middle Aged

BACKGROUND: Malignant cells exhibit increased glycolytic metabolism, and in many cases increased glucose transporter gene expression. The authors hypothesized that GLUT1 glucose transporter expression is increased in gallbladder carcinoma, and the degree of expression might have prognostic significance. METHODS: To evaluate a possible prognostic factor, we studied the expression of GLUT1 glucose transporter by an immunohistochemical method in 56 gallbladder carcinomas from patients and we compared these results with established prognostic factors. RESULTS: Of the 56 cases, 34 (60.7%) were positive for GLUT1. The expression of GLUT1 was not associated with patient age, sex and histologic type. Whereas the expression of GLUT1 was significantly correlated with depth of tumor invasion and lymph node and distant metastases. CONCLUSIONS: GLUT1 glucose transporter expression is strongly associated with poor prognostic factors of the gallbladder carcinoma and the assessment of the extent of GLUT1 immunostaining identifies patient with poorer prognosis.
Gallbladder* ; Gene Expression ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative* ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Metabolism ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis in children which causes coronary arterial dilatation (CAD) and gallbladder distension (GBD). There is a dearth of investigating the relationship between the severity of KD and GBD with lipid profiles. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 80 patients with 'complete KD' who were diagnosed from January 2005 to May 2009 was enrolled in this study. Serum cholesterol {total, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C)}, triglyceride (TG), complete blood count, inflammation markers {erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)} were measured at the time of admission during febrile period. Echocardiography and abdominal sonogram were performed in all patients to determine CAD and gallbladder size. According to GBD, patients with KD were classified as patients with GBD and patients without GBD. Between two groups, demographic and clinical data were analyzed. RESULTS: The serum level of LDL-C was significantly lower in patients with GBD (p=0.03) compared with patients without GBD or febrile control. There was no significant difference in inflammatory indices between patients with GBD and patients without GBD. GBD was not significant risk factor of CAD in this study (odds ratio=2.0, 95% confidence interval=0.82-5.3, p=0.16). CONCLUSION: This is the first study that highlights the relationship between the GBD and lipid metabolism in patients with KD. This study provides clinical insights about potential mechanism underpinning the relationship between the GBD and lipid metabolism.
Blood Cell Count ; C-Reactive Protein ; Child ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Dilatation ; Echocardiography ; Gallbladder ; Gallbladder Diseases ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lipid Metabolism ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Risk Factors ; Systemic Vasculitis

Bile is the major route of cholesterol excretion from the body. It is concentrated in the gallbladder, and often results in supersaturation of cholesterol. The high levels of cholesterol in gallbladder bile has clinical implications with respect to cholesterol gallstone formation and cholesterolosis of the gallbladder wall. Gallbladder epithelial cells (GBEC) are exposed to high cholesterol concentrations on their apical surfaces. Therefore, GBEC are uniquely positioned to play an important role in modulating biliary cholesterol concentrations. Recently, it has been documented that the key-transporter for polarized cholesterol and phospholipid efflux in GBEC is ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and Liver X receptor (LXR) and retinoid X receptor (RXR) in the nucleus of GBEC have a role that regulates ABCA1 expression. In addition, GBEC synthesize apolipoprotein A-I and E as cholesterol acceptors. These results indicate that GBEC has a perfect system for reverse cholesterol transport. We introduce the roles and mechanisms of ABCA1, scavenger receptor class B-I, LXR and RXR related to reverse cholesterol transport in GBEC with a review of our study experience and related literature.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters/metabolism ; Biological Transport ; Cells, Cultured ; Cholesterol/*metabolism ; English Abstract ; Epithelium/metabolism ; Gallbladder/cytology/*metabolism ; Humans ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism ; Retinoid X Receptors/metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the regulatory effect of clearing-Heat secreting-bile regulating-Qi flow and activating blood circulation (CSRA) principle on cholecystokinin receptor (CCK-R) and its mechanism.

METHODSCholecystokinin (CCK) in serum of portal venous blood, maximum binding capacity (Bmax) and affinity (Kd) of CCK-R levels in gallbladder of guinea pigs allocated in four groups (control, high cholesterol, natural recovery and treated groups) were determined using radioimmunoassay and radioligand receptor assay (RRA). At the same time, changes of fasting volume (FV) and postprandial volume (PV) of gallbladder, fasting and postprandial bile (FB and PB) in gallbladder, gallbladder contraction rate (GCR) and cholesterol concentration (CC) in bile were observed.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, after two weeks of high cholesterol feeding, increase of FV, FB, PV, PB and CC (P < 0.05), and decrease of GCR (P < 0.01) and Bmax were found in cholesterol group, but with no significant change in Kd and CCK level. The above-mentioned criteria were restored to normal range in the treated group.

CONCLUSIONCSRA principle could promote the recovery of gallbladder contraction by regulating CCK-R expression in it, its mechanism is possibly correlated with reduction of cholesterol concentration in bile.

Animals ; Bile ; metabolism ; Cholecystokinin ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gallbladder ; physiopathology ; Guinea Pigs ; Hypercholesterolemia ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Random Allocation ; Receptors, Cholecystokinin ; metabolism

Carcinoma ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; genetics ; Gallbladder Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Kangai-1 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; NM23 Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism