OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current application situation and the trend of development of oral hypolipidemic drugs in Hangzhou area.METHODS: The consumption sum and the defined daily dose(DDDs) of the oral anti-hyperlipidemia drugs in 20 hospitals in Hangzhou area during 2004～2006 were analyzed retrospectively.RESULTS: The consumption sum of hypolipidemic drugs increased year by year,up 47.4% in 2006 as comapred with that in 2004.Atorvastatin calcium,simvastatin and fenofibrate ranked ahead in both consumption sum and DDDs.CONCLUSION: HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors assumed a dominant role among all the hypolipidemic drugs used in Hangzhou area.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)inhibitor SP600125 against acute liver failure in mice.Methods Fifty-five male C57/BL6 mice were divided into control group (n =30) and SP600125 group (n =25).The animals were given an intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine (D-GalN,400 mg/kg body weight)/lipopolysaccharide (LPS,30 μg/kg body weight).The control group and SP600125 group were given 10％ dimethyl sulfoxide (15 mL/kg body weight) or SP600125 (75 mg/kg body weight) subcutaneously 12 h and 1 h before D-GalN/LPS administration,respectively.D GalN/LPS induced mouse JNK activation was detected by immunohistochemistry for phospho JNK (p-JNK).D-GalN/LPS induced mouse liver cell apoptosis was detected by immunohistochemistry for Caspase-3 and TdT-mediated-dUTP nick endlabeling (TUNEL).Serum alanine transaminase (ALT) level was tested to assess liver injury.Survival rate of mice within 24 h after D-GalN/LPS administration was observed.The comparison between groups was done by t test and survival rate was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method.Results JNK activity in liver tissues,as indicated by observation of p-JNK positive cells by immunohistochemistry,was diminished 4 h after D-GalN/LPS administration in SP600125 group.Reduced Caspase-3 activity was observed 6 h after D-GalN/LPS administration in SP600125 group (as indicated in immunohistochemistry by Caspase-3 positive cells).Mice in SP600125 group showed significantly lower TUNEL-positive cell count than control group (43.0±24.5 vs 194.7±73.8; t=9.743,P=0.000).Serum ALT level 6 h after D-GalN/LPS administration was (24.0±54.7) U/L in SP600125 group,which was significantly lower than that in control group [(1234.4±478.4) U/L; t=4.734,P=0.0015].SP600125 also significantly improved the survival rate within 24 h after D-GalN/LPS administration (4/5 vs 1/10； x2=5.225,P=0.0223).Conclusions JNK inhibitor SP600125 exerts protective effects against D-GalN/LPS induced acute liver failure in mice by suppressing JNK activation and hepatocyte apoptosis.

Acute-On-Chronic Liver Failure ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Hepatitis B ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous

Objective To investigate the safety and therapeutic effects ot a novel multi-layer flat-plate bioartificial liver (BAL) for patients with liver failure.Methods Thirty-eight patients with liver failure from Dec.2010 to Dec.2011 were treated with a novel BAL based on multi-layer flatplate bioreactor and the co-cultured cells of the porcine hepatocytes and mesenchymal stem cells.A total of 48 treatments was performed,4 h each time.The clinical signs and symptoms,liver function,ammonia,coagulation function and complete blood count were evaluated before,during and after the treatment.DNA in the collected PBMCs was extracted for PCR with PERV specific primers and the porcine specific primer Sus scrofa cytochrome B.The RT activity was detected as well.Levels of xenoantibodies (IgG,IgM) were determined by using ELISA kit. Titers of complement were quantified by CH50 kit.Results All treatment procedures were completed successfully without any adverse reaction. All samples presented negative PERV DNA and RT activity. The levels of antibodies were similar before and after treatment.Treatment was associated with a temporary decline in levels of complement,and then the levels were recovered quickly.The clinical symptoms such as acratia,anorexia and abdominal distension were improved.The stage of hepatic encephalopathy in 16 patients was decreased. The liver function and ammonia was reduced disproportionately. Seven patients in all were bridged to liver transplantation,2 patients died and 2 patients gave up the treatment,and the others were turned better.After the outcome judgment according to the standard developed by the Artificial Liver Group,and Chinese Association of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases,there were 9 patients with clinical healing,25 patients with improvement and 4 patients with no effect,and the cure-improvement rate was 89.5％.Conclusion The novel multi-layer flat-plate BAL could be used as a safe and effective therapy for patients with liver failure.