Objective To study the effect of emodin on biochemical indicators of drug‐induced intrahepatic cholestasis model and the interstitial cells of cajal (ICC) in bile duct and to explore the role of ICC and emodin in intrahepatic cholestasis .Methods Fif‐teen rats were randomly divided into drug‐induced intrahepatic cholestasis group ,emodin intervention group and control group(n=5) .Rat cholestatic hepatitis model and emodin intervention model were established .RT‐PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect liver function ,c‐kit mRNA and protein expression levels in drug‐induced intrahepatic cholestasis group ,emodin interven‐tion group and control group .Results The degree of liver dysfunction and bilirubin level in drug‐induced intrahepatic cholestasis group were significantly higher than those in control group(P<0 .05);the above indicators in emodin intervention group were sig‐nificantly higher than those in control group but lower than those in drug‐induced intrahepatic cholestasis group(P<0 .05) .The c‐kit mRNA expression located at 548 bp was observed in control group ,emodin intervention group and drug‐induced intrahepatic cholestasis group .Relative expression level of c‐kit mRNA in drug‐induced intrahepatic cholestasis group was significantly lower than that in emodin intervention group and control group (P<0 .05) .Meanwhile ,there was no significant difference in relative ex‐pression level of c‐kit mRNA between emodin intervention group and control group (P>0 .05) .Immunohistochemistry results indi‐cated that expression of c‐kit in drug‐induced intrahepatic cholestasis group was significantly lower than those in control group and emodin intervention group(P<0 .05) .Conclusion There may be close relationship between the forming process of drug‐induced in‐trahepatic cholestasis and decrease of ICC in bile duct .The therapeutic effect of emodin on intrahepatic cholestasis may be related with the number of ICC in bile duct or the positive effect on ICC.

Abdominal Pain ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde ; Diverticulum ; diagnostic imaging ; Duodenal Diseases ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Pancreas ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression profile of long non-coding RNA H19 (LncRNA H19) in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell lines, and to study its biological functions on cell invasion. METHODS: Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR(Q-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of LncRNA H19 in MCF-7W and MCF-7R cells. To further explore its biological function, RNA interference was applied. siRNA H19 was transfected to down-regulate H19 expression, and transfection efficiency was evaluated by Q-PCR. The epidermal mesenchymal transition-related transcription gene Snail 2 was also evaluated by Q-PCR. Transwell assay was performed to evaluate the effect of H19 expression on invasion potential of MCF-7R cells. RESULTS: Compared with MCF-7W cells, MCF-7R cells exhibit a relatively high expression of lncRNA H19 and Snail2. LncRNA H19 expression was down-regulated in MCF-7R after transfection of siRNA H19 for 24 h. Snail 2 mRNA expression was significantly inhibited after down regulating H19 expression (P<0.01). Transwell assay indicated that inhibition of LncRNA H19 by siRNA H19 could repress cell invasion (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The expression of LncRNA H19 is significantly up-regulated in MCF-7R, and its downregulation attenuated the invasion behavior and related gene expression of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell. H19 may be a drug treatment target of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer metastasis.

Objective To evaluate the influence of different cannulation technique in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopanereatography (ERCP) on success rate, risk of post-ERCP complication and operation time of the procedure. Methods The data of 120 patients who underwent ERCP from June 2000 to June 2008 because of biliary duct disorders were retrospectively studied. Conventional carmulation technique was applied in 60 patients and guide-wire eannulation was used in other 60. The success rate, total time of ERCP operation and the incidence of post-ERCP complications including acute pancreatitis and biliary system infec-tion within 7 days were assessed. Results Compared with conventional carmulation technique, selective can-nulation with a standard ERCP catheter under the assistance of guide-wire proved a higher success rate and a shorter operation time (P<0.05). Incidences of postoperative pancreatitis and infection with conventional cannulation were 10.0% (6/60) and 23.3% (14/60), respectively, while with guide-wire assisted cannu-lation were 3.3% (2/60) and 10.0% (6/60), respectively. No complication of bleeding was observed in either group. Conclusion Guide-wire assisted cannulation in ERCP can shorten operation time, improve success rate and reduce post-ERCP complications. Further evaluations are warranted.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the correlation between the polymorphism of genotype of site-1296 in alpha2A-AR receptor gene and the susceptibility of vestibular function. METHOD: Ninety-four blood samples were collected from pilot cadets, consisting of susceptible and tolerance groups to vestibular function. Genomic DNA was isolated, and the coding region of alpha2A-AR receptor gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were analyzed by gene sequencing. Gene frequency was calculated, and, the coincidence between the polymorphism of alpha2A-AR receptor gene in the groups and Hardy-Weinberg balance was evaluated. The allele frequency of the two groups was compared by Chi square test. RESULT: G/C polymorphism was existed in Site-1296 of alpha2A-AR gene regulation zone, including GG, GC, CC. The express of GG Genotype in susceptible group exceeded that of the other group. There were significance differences in both genotype constituent ratio and alleles frequency of the two groups. CONCLUSION The polymorphism of genotype of site-1296 in alpha2A-AR receptor gene is possibly correlated with the susceptibility to vestibular function.
Adult ; Alleles ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 ; genetics ; Vestibular Function Tests ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; physiology ; Young Adult

This paper introduces double ultrasound pulse transmitting and receiving circuits used in ultrasound thermometry. Using the circuits, double ultrasound pulses could be made synchronously to satisfy the requirements of ultrasound thermometry, and the weak ultrasound echo signals are received successfully. The crux experiment waveform offered shows that the circuits have high reliability.
Equipment Design ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; instrumentation ; Neoplasms ; therapy ; Pulse ; Temperature ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography ; instrumentation ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To study the morphological characteristics of femurs of adult human and 11 kinds of adult animals from cattle, horses, pigs, goats, sheep, dogs, cats, rabbits, geese, ducks, chickens, and to establish an effective species identification method among various species. METHODS: The 4 cm mid-diaphyseal segment of the femur from adult human (older than 20 years old) at autopsy was obtained. Addi-tionally, the 4 cm ones from 11 kinds of adult animals were obtained. After decalcification, all femurs were made into slices, and then were observed by optical microscope. The 25 indexes were selected and analyzed by step discriminant analysis according to differences between human and mammal, human and poultry, and human and 11 kinds of animals. RESULTS: The histological structure of bone mineral density of middle part of femur had obvious characteristics among the species. And the morphology and number of osteon showed the trend of obvious biological evolution. There were 11 indexes with significant differences between human and 11 kinds of animals to establish some mathematical models to discriminate all species. The correct discrimination rate was 96.3% between human and mammal. The correct discrimination rate was up to 100% between human and poultry, and was 89.4% among human, mammal and poultry. CONCLUSION The mathematical models have good correct discrimination rate among human and the other animals, which could be applied in the practical species identification cases.
Adult ; Animals ; Autopsy ; Bone Density ; Cadaver ; Cats ; Cattle ; Chickens ; Discriminant Analysis ; Dogs ; Femur/ultrastructure* ; Forensic Anthropology ; Haversian System/ultrastructure* ; Horses ; Humans ; Sheep ; Species Specificity ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on apoptosis of mouse dendritic cells (DC 2. 4) and the activation of caspase-3, caspase-8.

METHODSMycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain was co-cultured with DC 2. 4 cells. The morphological changes of DC 2. 4 cells were observed with fluorescence microscope after DAPI staining and transmission electron microscope. The apoptosis of DC 2. 4 cells were examined by DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. The activities of caspase-3 and caspase-8 were detected by colorimetric assay.

RESULTSBacterial invasion was observed while DC 2. 4 cells and H37Rv were co-cultured for 2 h; and the rates of invasion were (16.1 ± 4.3)%, (35.8 ± 5.1)%, (50.2 ± 5.7)%, (58.3 ± 6.2)% and(65.9 ± 6.9)% at 4, 6, 8,10, 12 h, respectively. The phenomenon of nuclear condensation and marginalization were shown by DAPI staining and transmission electron microscope in DC 2. 4 cells at 6 h of co-cultivation with H37Rv. The characteristic bands of apoptosis by DNA electrophoresis were detected. The activities of caspase-3 and caspase-8 were increased in a time-dependent manner. The rates of DC 2. 4 cell apoptosis were (6.4 ± 2.5)%, (11.8 ± 5.3)% and (31.1 ± 8.7)% at 6 h,12 h and 24 h after co-cultivation with H37Rv, respectively. The maximal activities of intracellular caspase-3 and caspase-8 at 10 h and 6 h were (2.01 ± 0.09) U/μg and (2.40 ± 0.07)U/μg, respectively, which was significantly different compared with the control groups(P<0.05). The activation of caspase-8 was earlier than that of caspase-3.

CONCLUSIONMycobacterium tuberculosis can induce the apoptosis of DC 2. 4 cells, which is associated with the activation of intracellular caspase-3 and caspase-8.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; metabolism ; pathology ; Mice ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis

OBJECTIVETo study the primary effects of Niuhuang Qingwei wan on the gastrointestinal function in aninmal for justifying its efficacies in clinic.

METHODMice were twice administered with Niuhuang Qingwei wan (0.83, 1.67, 3.33 g x kg(-1), ig) and rats were twice administered with Niuhuang Qingwei wan (0.59, 1.18, 2.36 g x kg(-1), ig). The effects on the stomach function were evaluated by the gastric emptying test in mice and the gastric analysis in rats. The effect on the intestinal function were evaluated by the propulsive motility of the total gastrointestinal tract test in mice by recording the time and frequency of excreting carbo medicinalis. Its analgesia was explored by using the abdominal constriction test induced by acetic acid.

RESULTNiuhuang Qingwei wan decreased the activity and secretion of pepsin in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), the gastric juice volume at middle and high doses (P <0.01, P <0.05), and the gastric acid volume at high dose (P <0.05); However, it had no significant effects on the gastric emptying in normal mice and the acidity in gastric juice. It shortened the excreting time of feces and increased the frequency of defecation (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). It also inhibited abdominal constriction responses at high dose, and the inhibition rate was 40.0% (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONNiuhuang Qingwei wan can promote gastrointestinal motility, decrease gastric acid volume and activity of pepsin and show certain analgesia effect. Those findings are consistent with its treating stomach heat in clinic.

Animals ; Defecation ; drug effects ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Gastric Acid ; metabolism ; Gastric Emptying ; drug effects ; Gastric Juice ; metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Motility ; drug effects ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Pepsin A ; secretion ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Stomach ; drug effects ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the three different methods in monitoring the lamivudine-resistant HBV mutants in lamivudine-treated patients with chronic hepatitis B.

METHODSThe sensitivity and specialty of melting curve assay and polymerase chain reaction microplate nucleotide hybridization-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (PCRmnh-ELISA) were compared with those of mismatch polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (mPCR-RFLP) and sequence analysis, through detection of HBV YMDD mutants in 44 serums from chronic hepatitis B patients receiving lamivudine monotherapy at the time of viral breakthrough.

RESULTSmPCR-RFLP assay was more sensitive (10(4) copies/ml) than both PCRmnh-ELISA (10(5) copies/ml) and melting curve assay (10(6) copies/ml). 26 YMDD mutants and 18 wild-types were determined by the means of mPCR-RFLP. Among the 26 mutants, only 16 and 18 mutants were found by melting curve assay and PCRmnh-ELISA, respectively. Whereas, out of the 18 wild-types, 2 and 13 mutants were detected by melting curve assay and PCRmnh-ELISA, respectively. To confirm the different results determined by the three methods in 16 samples, sequence analysis was conducted and showed that the rate of consistency with sequencing was 93.8% by mPCR-RFLP, 43.8% by melting curve, and 18.8% by PCRmnh-ELISA, respectively (chi2=18.7, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe mPCR-RFLP assay is reliable to monitor HBV YMDD mutations. Melting curve assay and PCRmnh-ELISA should be further improved to increase their sensitivity and specialty.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Drug Resistance, Viral ; Female ; Gene Products, pol ; genetics ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Sensitivity and Specificity