To investigate MT 1 MMP mRNA expression in the development of liver fibrosis and during the reversal of liver fibrosis ,we undertook a dynamic observation by situ hybridization. Liver fibrosis model was established by intraperitoneal injection with CCl 4 in Wistar rats, then allowed them fo recover spontaneously to observe the reversal of liver fibrosis .The results showed that MT 1 MMP mRNA was expressed mainly in mesenchymal cells(such as hepatic stellate cell), also in a part of hepatocytes.The levels of MT 1 MMP mRNA expression were increased gradually in the development of liver fibrosis and decreased gradually during reversal of liver fibrosis. These results suggest that the expression of MT 1 MMP may have an important role in the development of liver fibrosis and its reversal.

Objective To investigate the value of liver function indexes(AApea index) in evaluation of chronic hepatitis pathohistological grading.Methods The biochemical tests and histopathological data of 800 patients who underwent liver biopsy with step discriminant screen,serum ALT,TBil,AST,A/G,EP,PA,and ALB were assayed.A liver function index(AApea index) was calculated according to these biochemical tests,and compared with histopathological data in each patient.Results The AApea index had a significantly positive correlation with the histological inflammatory grading,fibrosis staging,and severe degree(correlation coefficient were 0 559,0 545 and 0 529 respectively,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-damage effect of iminoethyl-lysine on noise-induced cochlea damage in guinea pig.

METHODS40 healthy red eye guinea pigs were randomly divided into 4 groups: Group A, normal control group; Group B, noise group; Group C, noise and drug group; Group D, iminoethyl-lysine group. Guinea pigs of both group B and group C were exposed to 115 dB white noise for 6 hours/day for 6 days. Group C and Group D were treated with iminoethyl-lysine(10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, while Group B were treated with the same volume of physiological saline. ABR hearing threshold was measured in all animals before and after experiment. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(NOS II) in the cochlea was examined by the method of immunohistochemistry. Also the cochlea of four groups were examined with scanning electronic microscope. ABR hearing threshold, expression of NOS II and structure of cochlea of four groups were compared with each other.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference in ABR hearing threshold among four groups before the experiment(P > 0.05). There was no significant ABR hearing threshold shift in Group A and Group D after the experiment(P > 0.05), and there was significant ABR hearing threshold shift in Group B and Group C(P < 0.05). After the experiment, the ABR hearing threshold of group B(60.23 +/- 11.23) dB, was higher than that of Group C(38.46 +/- 7.24) dB, P < 0.05. The expression of NOS II was negative in the cochlea of Group A and Group D, but was stronger in Group B than that in Group C. The damage of outer hair cells of cochlea of Group B was more severe than that of Group C.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of NOS II in the guinea pig's cochlea damaged by noise is positive. Iminoethyl-lysine could inhibit the activity of NOS II and has the anti-damage effect on noise-induced cochlea damage. It is indicated that nitric oxide plays an important role in the pathogenesis of noise-induced hearing loss.

Animals ; Auditory Threshold ; Cochlea ; pathology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; Guinea Pigs ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lysine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; analysis ; Noise ; adverse effects

BACKGROUNDEndostar™ (rh-endostatin, YH-16) is a new recombinant human endostatin developed by Medgenn Bioengineering Co. Ltd., Yantai, Shandong, P.R.China. Pre-clinical study indicated that YH-16 could inhibit tumor endothelial cell proliferation, angiogenesis and tumor growth. Phase I and phase II studies revealed that YH-16 was effective as single agent with good tolerance in clinical use.The current study was to compare the response rate , median ti me to progression (TTP) ,clinical benefit andsafety in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) , who were treated with YH-16 plus vi-norelbine and cisplatin (NP) or placebo plus NP.

METHODSFour hundred and ninety-three histologically or cy-tologically confirmed stage IIIB and IV NSCLC patients , withlife expectancy > 3 months and ECOG perform-ance status 0-2 , were enrolledin a randomized ,double-blind ,placebo-controlled , multicenter trial ,either trialgroup : NP plus YH-16 (vinorelbine 25 mg/m² on day 1 and day 5 ,cisplatin 30mg/m² on days 2 to 4 , YH-167.5mg/m² on days 1 to 14) or control group : NP plus placebo (vinorelbine 25 mg/m² on day 1 and day 5 ,cis-platin 30 mg/m² on days 2 to 4 ,0.9% sodium-chloride 3 .75 ml on days 1 to 14) every 3 weeks for 2-6 cycles .The trial endpoints included response rate ,clinical benefit rate ,time to progression,quality of life and safety .

RESULTSOf 486 assessable patients , overall response rate was 35.4% in trial group and 19.5% in controlgroup (P=0 .0003) . The median TTP was 6 .3 months and 3 .6 months for trial group and control group respectively (P < 0 .001) . The clinical benefit rate was 73 .3 %in trial group and 64.0% in control group (P=0 .035) .In untreated patients of trial group and control group ,the response rate was 40 .0% and 23.9%(P=0 .003) ,the clinical benefit rate was 76 .5 % and 65 .0 % (P=0 .023) ,the median TTP was 6 .6 and 3 .7months (P=0 .0000) ,respectively .In pretreated patients of trial group and control group ,the response ratewas 23.9% and 8.5%(P=0 .034) ,the clinical benefit rate was 65.2% and 61.7%(P=0 .68) ,the median TTP was 5 .7 and 3 .2 months (P=0 .0002) ,respectively . The relief rate of clinical symptoms in trial groupwas higher than that of those in control group ,but no significance existed (P > 0 .05) . The score of quality oflife in trial group was significantly higher than that in control group (P=0 .0155) after treatment . There were no significant differences in incidence of hematologic and non-hematologic toxicity , moderate and severe sideeffects betweentrial group and control group .

CONCLUSIONSThe addition of YH-16 to NP regimen results in significantly and clinically meaningful improvement in response rate , median time to tumor progression,and clinical benefit rate compared with NP alone in advanced NSCLC patients . YH-16 in combination with chemotherapy shows a synergic activity and a favorable toxic profile in advanced cancer patients .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in red blood cell count in patients with different liver diseases and the correlation between red blood cell count and degree of liver damage.

METHODSThe clinical data of 1427 patients with primary liver cancer, 172 patients with liver cirrhosis, and 185 patients with hepatitis were collected, and the Child-Pugh class was determined for all patients. The differences in red blood cell count between patients with different liver diseases were retrospectively analyzed, and the correlation between red blood cell count and liver function status was investigated. The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test, rank sum test, Spearman rank sum correlation test, and chi-square test were performed for different types of data.

RESULTSRed blood cell count showed significant differences between patients with chronic hepatitis, liver cancer, and liver cirrhosis and was highest in patients with chronic hepatitis and lowest in patients with liver cirrhosis (P < 0.05). In the patients with liver cirrhosis, red blood cell count tended to decrease in patients with a higher Child-Pugh class (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor patients with liver cirrhosis, red blood cell count can reflect the degree of liver damage, which may contribute to an improved liver function prediction model for these patients.

Erythrocyte Count ; Hepatitis ; blood ; Humans ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; blood ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; Retrospective Studies

Rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) is a type of psychological visual stimulation experimental paradigm that requires participants to identify target stimuli presented continuously in a stream of stimuli composed of numbers, letters, words, images, and so on at the same spatial location, allowing them to discern a large amount of information in a short period of time. The RSVP-based brain-computer interface (BCI) can not only be widely used in scenarios such as assistive interaction and information reading, but also has the advantages of stability and high efficiency, which has become one of the common techniques for human-machine intelligence fusion. In recent years, brain-controlled spellers, image recognition and mind games are the most popular fields of RSVP-BCI research. Therefore, aiming to provide reference and new ideas for RSVP-BCI related research, this paper reviewed the paradigm design and system performance optimization of RSVP-BCI in these three fields. It also looks ahead to its potential applications in cutting-edge fields such as entertainment, clinical medicine, and special military operations.
Humans ; Brain-Computer Interfaces ; Electroencephalography/methods* ; Brain/physiology* ; Artificial Intelligence ; Photic Stimulation/methods*