OBJECTIVETo verify the pharmacological hypothesis of prescriptions by studying the targeted distribution of major components in stewed rhubarb in the rat model with acute pancreatitis (AP).

METHODNormal SD rats (control group, n = 5) and the AP model induced with intraperitoneal cerulein (model group, n = 5) were taken as the experimental objects. Rats of the two groups were orally administered with stewed rhubarb granules (20 g x kg(-1)). Their heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney and pancreas were collected two hours after the administration. Such constituents as emodin, chrysophanol, physcion, rhein and aloe-emodin and their concentrations in each tissue homogenate were detected by high performance liquid chromatography-mass-mass.

RESULTAloe-emodin and physcion in stewed rhubarb whose concentrations in liver and kidney of normal rats were higher than that in pancreatic tissues, while the distribution spectrums and concentrations of the remaining components in pancreatic tissues had no significant difference with that of other organs. The concentrations of emodin, aloe-emodin, rhein and chrysophanol in stewed rhubarb in pancreatic tissues of the AP model group were higher than that in other tissues and organs, while their concentrations in pancreatic, renal and splenic tissues were notably higher than that in the normal group.

CONCLUSIONIn the conditions of AP, effective components in stewed rhubarb show a targeted distribution feature in pancreas, which provides experimental basis for the pharmacological hypothesis of prescriptions.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Anthraquinones ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Organ Specificity ; Pancreatitis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rheum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore relations between ALT level and hepatitis B virus (HBV) specific CTL and non-specific CTL in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODS148 cases of CHB were divided into three groups according to ALT level. 35 cases in group A, ALT > or =2 x upper limit of normal value (ULN)--5 x ULN (100-250 IU/L); 53 cases in group B, ALT > 5 x ULN-- < or =10 x ULN (251-500 IU/L); 60 cases in group C, ALT > 10 x ULN ( > 500 IU/L). Flow cytometry is used to determine non-specific CTV. HBV specific CTL was tested on 74 cases of CHB (17 in group A, 27 in group B and 30 in group C) with positive (HLA)-A2. Compare HBV specific CTL, non-specific CTL, HBV DNA levels and positive rate of HBeAg.

RESULTSHBV specific CTL: Group A (0.42 +/- 0.10)% is higher than group B (0.25 +/- 0.08)%, t = 6.37, P < 0.01, group B is higher than group C (0.17 +/- 0.004)%, t = 5.14, P < 0.01; Non-specific CTL: Group A (15.01 +/- 3.01)% is lower than group B (18.1 +/- 5.02)%, t = 2.81, P < 0.01, group B is lower than group C (21.5 +/- 6.11)%, t = 3.07, P < 0.01; HBV DNA level: Group A [(4.97 +/- 0.86) log10 copies/ml] is lower than group B [(5.92 +/- 0.92) log10 copies/ml], t = 4.87, P < 0.01. Group B is lower than group C [(6.37 +/- 0.71) log10 copies/ml], t = 2.92, P < 0.01; Positive HBeAg: Group A (15 cases, 42.86%) is lower than group B (32 cases, 60.38%), chi2 = 2.59, P > 0.05. Group B is lower than group C (41 cases, 68.33%), chi2 = 0.78, P > 0.05. Group A is lower than group C, chi2 = 5.929, P < 0.05.

CONCLUSIONThe higher the non-specific CTL of patients with CHB is, the higher the ALT level would be, whereas the lower the HBV specific CTL is, the stronger the HBV replication would be.

Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; enzymology ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Virus Replication ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo analyze and summarize the clinical and pathological characteristics of intracranial haemangioblastoma and to improve surgery effect.

METHODSeventy-two patients with intracranial haemangioblastoma who were proven by operation and pathology from 1970 to 1988 were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSIntracranial haemangioblastoma tends to occur in the hemisphere of cerebellum (83 tumours, 87%) and the age of them ranged from 20 to 40 years (47 cases, 58.3%) mostly. The ratio of men (46 cases) was higher than women (26 cases). The diagnosis of the disease depends on CT and MR substantive haemangioblastoma. The most effective and reliable treatment of intracranial haemangioblastoma is surgical resection.

CONCLUSIONIntracranial haemangioblastoma is benign tumour which can be, cured by total surgical resection. The key recurrence factors include the young age of initial onset, mistaken exploration and incomplete extirpation of tumour.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Child ; Female ; Hemangioblastoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of serum interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) in patients with esophageal cancer, and to probe the relationship between the levels of IL-2, IL-8, IgG, IgA and IgM and the progress of cancer.

METHODSThe serum levels of IL-2 and IL-8 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for 72 case of primary esophageal cancer, 68 advanced esophageal cancer and 120 healthy controls, and the level of immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) in patients with esophageal cancer was dynamically observed.

RESULTSThe IL-2 level in patients with early esophageal cancer [(1.69 +/- 0.53) ng/ml] or late esophageal cancer [(1.11 +/- 0.60) ng/ml] was lower than the control group [(2.78 +/- 0.51) ng/ml] (P < 0.01), the late esophageal cancer group was lower than early esophageal cancer group (P < 0.05). The level of IL-8 in patients with early esophageal cancer [(85.48 +/- 6.14) ng/L] or late esophageal cancer [(121.41 +/- 6.22) ng/L] was much higher than the control group [(54.48 +/- 12.20) ng/L] (P < 0.01), the late esophageal cancer group was much higher than early esophageal cancer group (P < 0.01); There was correlation between the levels of IL-2 and IL-8 and the worsen-extent of the tumour in patients with early esophageal cancer or late esophageal cancer. But the level of IgG [(12.23 +/- 2.50) g/L], IgM [(1.60 +/- 0.80) g/L] in the patients with esophageal cancer compared with the level of IgG [(11.65 +/- 3.70) g/L], IgM [(1.46 +/- 0.71) g/L] in the health control group have no significant difference (P > 0.05), the level of IgA [(3.50 +/- 1.10) g/L] in patients with esophageal cancer Compared with the control group [(1.88 +/- 1.08) g/L] has significant difference (P < 0.01), and along with the worsen-extent of the tumor in patients the level of IgA has the increased tendency.

CONCLUSIONThe IL-8 might accelerate the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer, and the IL-2 might restrain. The positive correlation between the level of IgA and the patients with esophageal cancer is observed in this study; the immune maladjustment of IL-2, IL-8 and IgA might be correlative to esophageal cancer, and the IL-2, IL-8 and IgA levels might be an available index for the severity of esophageal cancer, Which may be of some help for clinic practitioners to judge the progress, curative effect and prognosis of the cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging

Genotype ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; physiopathology ; virology ; Humans ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic

BACKGROUNDOxymatrine has certain antiviral effects in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but its exact mechanism is unclear. The objective of the present study was to explore oxymatrine's antiviral mechanism by studying its effect on the hepatitis B virus (HBV) specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) surface programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) expression in CHB patients.

METHODSSixty-five CHB patients who had HBV DNA(3)10(4) copies/ml, positive HBeAg, positive human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 2 x upper limit of normal value (ULN) were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group (n = 33), treated with an intravenous infusion of 600 mg oxymatrine in glucose solution once a day for a month, then with a 200 mg oxymatrine oral capsule three times a day, and a 200 mg silibin meglumine tablet three times a day; control group (n = 32) patients were treated only with silibin meglumine tablet, method and dosage were the same as those of treatment group. Three months later, peripheral blood HBV-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression, HBV-specific CTL level, HBV DNA, HBeAg, and results of liver function tests were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSThree months post-treatment, in the treatment group, peripheral blood HBV-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression ((19.42 ± 15.94)%) decreased significantly compared to the pretreatment level ((31.30 ± 24.06)%; P < 0.05), and decreased significantly compared to that of control group three months after treatment ((29.45 ± 21.62)%; P < 0.05). HBV-specific CTL level ((0.42 ± 0.07)%) significantly increased compared with the pretreatment ((0.29 ± 0.15)%; P < 0.01), and the control group posttreatment level was (0.31 ± 0.15)% (P < 0.05). HBV DNA level in 11 cases became negative (HBV DNA < 500 copies/ml, 33.33%), which was higher than that of the control group after treatment (two cases, 6.25%; χ(2) = 7.45, P < 0.01), HBeAg of nine cases turned negative (27.27%), which was higher than that of the control group after treatment (one case, 3.13%; χ(2) = 7.27, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOxymatrine could downregulate peripheral blood HBV-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression in CHB patients, increase HBV-specific CTL level, which may be one of the possible mechanisms by which oxymatrine clears or inhibits HBV in CHB patients.

Adult ; Alkaloids ; therapeutic use ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; analysis ; Quinolizines ; therapeutic use ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the anti-viral mechanism of kurarinol through studying its influence on cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) surface program death receptor-1 (PD-1) expression of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODS69 cases of CHB, HBV DNA > or = 10(4) copies/ml, HBeAg positive, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A2 positive, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 2 x upper limit of normal value(ULN).69 cases were randomly divided into two groups:34 cases in treatment group,600 mg of kurarinol glucose injection was used for intravenous dripping, once a day, one month later, 200 mg of kurarinol capsule was used orally,three times a day and 200 mg of silybin meglumine tablet was used orally, three times a day. 35 cases in control group, only silibin meglumine tablet was used, method and dosage were the same as those of treatment group. Three months later, their peripheral blood HBV specific CTL surface PD-1 expression, non-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression and level of HBV specific CTL,HBV DNA and HBeAg negative rate and liver functions were analyzed and compared.

RESULTS3 months after treatment, peripheral blood HBV specific CTL surface PD-1 expression of the treatment group decreased compared with that before treatment (t = 2.39, P < 0.05), it also decreased compared with that of the control group 3 months after treatment (t = 2.26, P < 0.05), HBV specific CTL increased compared with that before treatment( t = 3.01, P < 0.01), it also increased compared with that of the control group after treatment (t = 2.65, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference of non-specific CTL surface PD-1 expression compared with that before treatment (P > 0.05), and there was no significant difference compared with that of the control group after treatment (P > 0.05). HBV DNA of 11 cases (32.5%) turned negative ( HBV DNA < 500 copies/ ml), higher than that of the control group after treatment (2 cases, 5.71%) chi2 = 7.99, P < 0.01, HBeAg of 9 cases (26.47%) turned negative, higher than that of the control group after treatment (1 case, 2.86%), chi2 = 7.75, P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONKurarinol can increase level of HBV specific CTL by down-regulating peripheral blood HBV specific CTL surface PD-1 expression of CHB patients, which may be one of the possible mechanisms that kurarinol can remove or inhibit HBV of CHB patients.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Flavonoids ; administration & dosage ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hepatitis B virus ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor ; genetics ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; drug effects ; immunology ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Flunarizine (Flu) on T-type calcium currents (ICaT) in spermatogenic cells.

METHODSCa2+ currents were obtained in acutely dissociated mouse spermatogenic cells using whole-cell patch clamp technique and the effects of Flu on ICaT were observed.

RESULTSFlu of 0.1, 1, 10, 100 micromol/L inhibited ICaT in mouse spermatogenic cells significantly with the K50 value of 0.289 micromol/L (P < 0.05). With the holding potential at -90 mV and stimulating potential at -30 mV, the inhibition rates of Flu were (23.34 +/- 2.76)%, (46.04 +/- 3.52)%, (62.52 +/- 3.70)% and (73.52 +/- 3.12)%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONFlu has significant inhibitory effects on ICaT in mouse spermatogenic cells, with concentration dependence. Ca(v)3.2 is the main contributor to T-type Ca2+ currents in spermatogenic cells.

Animals ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Calcium Channels, T-Type ; drug effects ; physiology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flunarizine ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Spermatids ; drug effects ; physiology

This study was designed to compare the curative effect, prognosis and safety of different preconditioning regimens for patients who received autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) for malignant lymphoma (ML). The clinical data of 100 ML patients (Sep 1992 to Aug 2010 in 307 Hospital) were retrospectively analyzed, and were divided into two groups by different preconditioning regimens: the high-dose chemotherapy preconditioning group and high-dose chemotherapy/radiotherapy preconditioning group. The overall survival (OS) rate, progress free survival (PFS) rate and adverse effect were analyzed. The results showed that until Feb 2011, the median follow-up was 33.5 months. All patients were engrafted and their hematopoiesis was reconstituted. The median time of WBC recovery up to > 1.0×1.0(9)/L in high-dose chemotherapy preconditioning group and high-dose chemotherapy/radiotherapy preconditioning group were (6.0 ± 0.4) d and (8.2 ± 0.4) d, platelet up to > 20.0×1.0(9)/L in two groups were (7.1 ± 0.8) d and (11.4 ± 2.5) d (P < 0.05). The 3-year OS rate of the two groups were 67.3% and 68.9%. 5-year OS rates of two groups were 62.8% and 60.6%, 10-year OS rates of two groups were 57.6% and 56.2% respectively; 3-year PFS of two group were 63.6% and 63.2%, 5-year of two group were 59.4% and 58.3%, 10-year of two group were 50.8% and 55.3% respectively (P > 0.05). Meanwhile, the incidence of fever, infection, bleeding, secondary cancer between two groups was not significant different (P > 0.05). It is concluded that the hematopoietic reconstitution of high-dose chemotherapy/radiotherapy preconditioning group is later than that of high-dose chemotherapy preconditioning group. However, there is no significant difference in curative effect and prognosis between the two groups.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation Conditioning ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of clusterin protein in bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC) and it's association with tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis.

METHODSA tissue microarray (TMA) containing 87 informative cases of BTCCs was constructed firstly. The methods of immunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end-labeling were then used to examine the expression of clusterin and Ki-67 protein and the status of cell apoptosis in BTCC, respectively, and the correlations between different markers and the clusterin expression associated with patients' clinico-pathological features were evaluated.

RESULTSIn TMA of 87 BTCCs, 37 (43%) cases were observed overexpression of clusterin. A significant association of clusterin expression with BTCC's pathological grade, as well as with tumors clinical stage was observed (P < 0.01), where the frequency of overexpression of clusterin in poor differentiated BTCCs (G(3), 71%) and tumors in more advanced stage (T(2-4), 62%) was significantly higher than that in well differentiated BTCCs (G(1-2), 29%) and tumors in early stage (T(a-1), 28%). In addition, a significant correlation between clusterin expression and tumors apoptotic index (AI) was evaluated (P < 0.01), in which 57% of BTCCs with overexpression of clusterin were observed a lower AI, while 72% of tumors with normal expression of this protein showed a higher AI, but no correlation between clusterin and Ki-67 expression.

CONCLUSIONSThe overexpression of clusterin is associated positively with BTCC's malignant clinical phenotypes including tumor's differentiation and invasive depth, and it is correlated inversely with AI of tumor cells.

Apoptosis ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Clusterin ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology