AIM: To establish the technique of precision-cut fibrotic liver slice (PCLS) and grope the optimal cultural conditions for researching the liver xenobiotic metabolism in vitro and the drug interaction. METHODS: Complex factors (higher fat diet, alcohol and CCl 4) were used to make the animal model of liver fibrosis. Fibrotic liver slices were prepared and cultivation system was established. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and 3[4,5-Dimethythiazole-2-yl]-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction were chosen as indexes to assess the viability of the slice in different thickness, medium pH and cultural time. RESULTS: Rats were in earlier hepatic fibrosis after administration for 3 weeks. When the thickness of slices was 300 ?m and medium pH was 7.0, the LDH leakage, GST activity and MTT reduction could maintain on a steady level in 6 h. CONCLUSION: A 300 ?m of thickness, 7.0 of medium pH and 6 h of cultural time are the optimal slicing and culturing conditions for fibrotic liver slice.

Analysis of metabolic activities of cytochrome P450 isoenzyme is a crucial index to study drug/toxicant metabolism, drug-drug interaction, polymorphism and et al. Due to this practice, it is important to use the proper probe substrate and to conduct the experiment under optimal conditions. The validation information in literatures on the most common and newest in vitro probe substrates have been reviewed.

Objective To observe the clinical effects of short-term intermittent ganeiclovir treatment on infants with cytomegalovirus (CMV) hepatitis. Methods The clinical data of infants with CMV hepatitis were analyzed retrospectively. The liver functions including total bilirubin (TBil), direct bilirubin (DBil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) of the patients in treatment group (85 cases) and control group (37 cases) were collected before and after treatment. Meanwhile, the side effects of ganciclovir during treatment were observed. The measurement data were compared by analysis of variance and numeration data were compared by chi-square test. Results After short-term intermittent ganciclovir treatment in treatment group, TBil level was decreased from (109.1±677.8)μmol/L to (62.9±68.1)μmol/L (F=15.34,P<0.01); ALT level was decreased from (160.2±395.3) U/L to (68.1±56.0) U/L (F=4.73, P<0.05). In control group, TBil level was decreased from (94.9±647.4)μmol/L to (49.2±631.5) μmol/L (F=14.80, P<0.01) ; while ALT level was decreased from (131.6±206.2) U/L to (55.3±631.2) U/L (F=3.50, P=0.067). The readmission rate in control group was significantly higher than that in treatment group (21.6% vs 10.6%). Only one case (0.8%) received three times of intermittent ganciclovir treatment. The longest hospitalization time was six weeks. Conclusions Short-term intermittent ganciclovir treatment may be more suitable for infants with CMV hepatitis. There is no obvious side effect observed during the treatment and the hospitalization time can be shortened.

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of the changes of serum complement,immunoglobulin and inflammatory cytokines in children with mycoplasma pneumonia (MP).Methods:60 cases of children with MP infection were collected as MPP group,60 cases of healthy children as control group.The serum levels of complement (C3,C4) and immunoglobulin (IgA,IgG,IgM) were detected by INA,the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-8,IL-10,IL-13,TNF-α) were detected by ELISA.Results:①The serum levels of IgM,C3,C4,IL-8,TNF-et and IL-13 in MPP group in acute stage were significantly higher than those in the recovery stage and control group (P＜0.05),the levels of IL-8,TNF-et,IL-13 in the recovery stage were significantly higher than those in control group (P＜0.05);the serum levels of IgA,IL-10 in MPP group in acute stage were significantly lower than those in the recovery stage and control group,and these were still significantly lower than the control group (P＜0.05);the IgG in MPP group in acute stage was not significant difference with control group (P＞0.05),but it in recovery stage was significantly higher than the acute stage and the control group (P＜0.05).②The serum levels of IgM,IgG,C3,C4,IL-8,TNF-et and IL-I 3 in MPP group in severe were significantly higher than those in the mild stage and control group (P＜0.05),and the levels of IgM,IL-8,TNF-αt,IL-13 in the severe stage were significantly higher than those in control group (P＜0.05);the serum levels of IgA,IL-10 in MPP group in severe stage were significantly lower than those in the mild stage and control group,and these in mild stage were still significantly lower than the control group (P＜ 0.05).Conclusion:Children with MP infection have a significant cellular and humoral immune dysfunction,the detection of the changes of serum complement,immunoglobulin and inflammatory cytokines is valuable to assessing the disease staging and degree.

Objective To assess the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist on prostate epithelial cells in vitro.Methods The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ(PPARγ) was studied by immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence study.The RWPE-1 human prostate epithelial cell line was treated with PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone 100 μmol/L for 48 h.Analysis of apoptosis was performed by Caspase 3/7 activity assay.Mitochondria depolarization was measured by using the potential-sensitive color,JC-1.The expression of apoptosis-related proteins-Bax was investigated by immunohistochemistry.Results PPARγ mainly located in nucleus and perinucleus.RWPE-1 cell line treated with PPARγ agonist rosiglitazone showed higher Caspase 3/7 activity (10636±1032 RLU) than in control (5936±620 RLU),P＜0.01 and significantly upregulated Bax level (8250±694 vs.6017±563)than in control group,P＜0.01.In addition,mitochondrial membrane potential was depolarized in rosiglitazone treated cells.Conclusions PPARmay play important roles in the pathophysiology of BPH.The mechanism might be that PPARγ regulates cell apoptosis.It is suggested that the mitochondrial and Bax pathway might be involved in signaling PPARγ induced cell apoptosis.

Objective Published literatures on the relationship between IL-13 gene polymorphism and the susceptibility of children to bronchial asthma in China were comprehensively analyzed with the use of Meta-analysis to evaluate this relationship.Methods The data were collected from the Medline database,Ovid database,the Cochrane library,and Chinese Biomedical database,and the references of eligible studies were manually screened.Published data related to case-control studies reporting the link between IL-13 polymorphisms and asthma in Chinese children were retrieved through those database.Meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether the IL-13 gene polymorphisms were associated with asthma.Results Eighteen studies were finally accepted for analysis.There were three studies focusing on C-1 112T polymorphism,and six studies focusing on C + 1923T polymorphism,and fourteen studies focusing on G + 2044A polymorphism.There was no evidence to confirm that the genotypes in position IL-13-1112 C/T were associated with asthma in Chinese children [odds ratio(OR) =1.00,95％ CI 0.82-1.22,P =0.98].The OR of asthma for TT/CC genotypes was 1.15 (95 ％ CI 0.57-2.33,P =0.69) and for CT/CC was 1.01 (95 ％ CI 0.82-1.25,P =0.89).There was significant evidence to confirm that the genotypes in position + 1923 C/T were associated with asthma in Chinese children(OR =1.86,95％ CI 1.29-2.67,P =0.000 9).The OR of asthma for TT/CC genotypes was 2.12 (95 ％ CI 1.27-3.56,P =0.004) and for TC/CC was 1.67 (95％ CI 1.18-2.35,P =0.003).There was no correlation between IL-13 + 2044G/A polymorphism and the susceptibility (OR =1.33,95％ CI 0.94-1.88,P =0.11).The OR of asthma for AA/GG genotypes was 1.30 (95 ％ CI 0.76-2.20,P =0.34) and for AG/GG was 1.24(95％ CI 0.90-1.70,P =0.19).Conclusions IL-13 gene + 1923 TT and TC genotypes should be associated with susceptibility of asthma in Chinese children,and the T allele could increase the risk of asthma.No clear relationship was found between the genotype TT/TC at the IL-13-1112 site and the incidence of asthma of children in China,and so was the genotype AA/AG at the IL-13 +2044 site and the incidence.

BACKGROUND:Our previous study has already manifested that Chinese medicine Xiaokening can effectively prevent and treat the early diabetic nephropathy. OBJECTIVE:To compare the effect of rhein and archen on the apoptosis of mesangial cells of rats cultured with high glucose. METHODS:Mesangial cells were stimulated by different concentrations of rhein and archen (20, 40 and 80 μmol/L). Morphology of apoptotic cells was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Karyon apoptosis was examined by fluorescence staining of DAPI. cellapoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The outcome of hematoxylin-eosin staining and DAPI staining indicated that the effect of rhein was much stronger than that of archen on the apoptosis of mesangial cells in the rats cultured with high glucose. Comparison of the apoptosis rate also indicated that the rhein had a stronger effect on the earlier and the later stage apoptotic rate of mesangial cells than archen. Both rhein and archen with different concentrations can induce apoptosis of mesangial cells, but the effect of rhein is much stronger.

Objective To investigate the relationship between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and peripheral neuropathy in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods Clinical data of elderly patients with T2DM in Endocrinology Department in Beijing Hospital were retrospectively collected.Global and sectorial retinal nerve fiber layer(RNFL)thicknesses were measured by using optical coherence tomography(OCT),and never conduction velocity measurements were performed in all patients.Diabetic peripheral neuropathy was diagnosed by the criteria in diabetic neuropathies update(2010,American Diabetes Association).RNFL thickness was compared between diabetic nonperipheral neuropathy group (control group,n =30)and diabetic peripheral neuropathy group (DPN group,n=17)and between different sub-groups.Results The RNFL thicknesses of temporal,nasal,superior and inferior visual fields and the mean RNFL thickness were less in DPN group than in control group,among which there were significant differences in the RNFL thicknesses of superior,inferior visual fields and the mean RNFL thickness [(107.7±27.4)μm vs.(128.1±17.3)μm,(112.9 ±20.8)μm vs.(130.8±21.8)μm,(88.2±15.5)μm vs.(100.5± 11.3)μm,F=7.446,7.468,7.988,respectively,P=0.009,0.009 and 0.007].RNFL thickness was decreased along with the aggravation of DPN from the control group,the subclinical DPN group to the DPN group successively(all P＜ 0.05).Conclusions Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness is associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes,and the relationship is more significant in patients with serious DPN.

Objective To explore the protective effect of L-carnitine on neonates with myocardial injury caused by as?phyxia. Methods Forty-four neonates with myocardial injury caused by asphyxia were randomly divided into L-carnitine treatment group (21 cases) and control group (23 cases). Patients in control group were received routine treatment and pa?tients in treatment group were given L-carnitine 0. 1 g/(kg · d) on the basis of routine treatment for 7 days. Symptoms and physical signs were observed before therapy and during the treatment in two groups. Before and after the treatment, plasma levels of free L-carnitine and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) were detected with the method of colorimetric assay and chemilumi?nescent, respectively. Results The clinical effective rate was significantly higher in treatment group than that of control group (90.48%vs 60.87%, P<0. 05). Compared with the control group, there was a significantly higher plasma concentra?tion of free L-carnitine in treatment group after treatment [(27.00±5.69)μmol/L vs (13.20±3.04)μmol/L, P<0.05]. In treat?ment group, plasma concentration of free L-carnitine was significantly higher after treatment than that of pre-therapy [(14.87 ± 3.95)μmol/L,P<0.05]. Compared with the control group, there was a significantly lower plasma concentration of cTnI after treatment in treatment group [(0.025±0.006)μg/L vs (0.046±0.010)μg/L, P<0.05]. In the treatment group, there was a significant correlation between decreased plasma concentration of cTnI and increased plasma concentration of free L-carnitine (r=0.899, P<0.05). Conclusion Administration of L-carnitine can effectively decrease the abnormal plasma lev?el of cTnI in neonates with myocardial injury caused by asphyxia, and thereby protect the myocardium.

Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Autoimmune Diseases ; pathology ; Benzamides ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Movement ; Cell Survival ; Eosinophilia ; chemically induced ; pathology ; Eosinophils ; cytology ; physiology ; Helminthiasis ; pathology ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Hypersensitivity ; pathology ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Piperazines ; therapeutic use ; Pyrimidines ; therapeutic use