OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Qingdan Capsule (QDC) and Yanggan Lidan Granule (YGLDG), two kinds of compound traditional Chinese herbal medicines, on biochemical parameters in guinea-pigs with pigment gallstones. METHODS: An animal model of pigment gallstones was established in male guinea-pigs by hypodermic injection of lincomycin. The guinea-pigs were randomly divided into blank control group, untreated group, QDC group and YGLDG group. There were 8 guinea-pigs in each group. After ten-day treatment, animals were sacrificed and sampled to calculate the rate of stone formation, total bilirubin (TB), unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) and Ca2+ density in bile of the four groups. RESULTS: In comparison with the untreated group, the rates of stone formation in the QDC and YGLDG groups were significantly decreased (P<0.01). TBIL, UCB and Ca2+ content of bile in both QDC and YGLD groups was also significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: QDC and YGLD have good effects on biochemical changes of animal model of pigment gallstone in reversing the lithogenesity of bile by reducing the content of TB, UCB and Ca2+, hence resulting in clinical treatment and prevention of pigment gallstone disease.

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of the center of cellular immune thymus and the interference of Jinhong Tablet, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, during the course of cholangitis. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. Ligation group, simple ligation of bile duct without producing infection and fed with normal saline; untreated group, reproduce acute cholangitis and fed with normal saline; Jinhong Tablet-treated group, reproduce cholangitis and treated with Jinhong Tablet. Five days after modeling, the rats were sacrificed and the thymus were sampled to observe the morphological changes with an electronic microscope, count the index of thymus and apoptosis and assay the expressions of Bcl-2 gene coding protein and Fas gene coding protein. RESULTS: The frequency of apoptosis of thymus in the untreated group was higher than that in the Jinhong Tablet-treated group and the ligation group, and the frequency of apoptosis of thymus in the Jinhong Tablet-treated group was higher than that in the ligation group. Compared with the Jinhong Tablet-treated group and the ligation group, the weight and index of thymus were lower and the index of apoptosis of thymus was higher significantly in the untreated group (P<0.01). The expression of Bcl-2 gene coding protein in the ligation group and the Jinhong Tablet-treated group were much higher than that in the untreated group (P<0.01), but there were no significant differences of the expression of Fas gene coding protein among the three groups. CONCLUSION: There exists a promotion of non-physiological apoptosis of cellular immune center such as decrease of the weight and the index of thymus and increase of the index of apoptosis of thymus during acute cholangitis, which may be inhibited by up-regulation of Bcl-2 gene coding protein with antipyretic and purgative herbs Jinhong Tablet.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of intracellular free calcium level ([Ca(2+)]i) in gallbladder cells of guinea pigs with gallstones so as to study the mechanisms of gallstone formation and the prevention and treatment function of traditional Chinese herbs for nourishing the liver. METHODS: Eighty guinea pigs were randomly divided into four groups, which were normal control group, untreated group, nourishing-liver Chinese drug (NLCD) group and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) group, with 20 guinea pigs in each group. Gallstones were induced in the guinea pigs of the latter 3 groups by the feed of diet inducing cholelithiasis with high cholesterol, while the corresponding medicines were used in NLCD group and UDCA group for prevention and treatment for 7 weeks. Then the state of the guinea pigs, the formation of gallstones, and the changes of [Ca(2+)]i in gallbladder cells were observed. RESULTS: The [Ca(2+)]i in gallbladder cells of guinea pigs in the untreated group was decreased significantly. NLCD improved the behavioral signs of the guinea pigs, significantly decreased the formative rate of gallstones and increased the [Ca(2+)]i in gallbladder cells. CONCLUSIONS: The [Ca(2+)]i in gallbladder cells is the important factor for contractile function of gallbladder and the information of gallstones. Traditional Chinese herbs for nourishing the liver may significantly increase the [Ca(2+)]i in gallbladder cells to facilitate contraction of the smooth muscle cells of gallbladder and relieve the cholestatis. It may be one of the mechanisms of traditional Chinese herbs for nourishing the liver in preventing and treating cholelithiasis.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients after intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for hepatocellu-lar carcinoma (HCC) with portal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) or inferior vena cava tumor thrombosis (IVTT). Methods:A registry data-base of 41 patients treated with IMRT for HCC with PVTT or IVTT in Radiotherapy Center of No.3 Hospital of Beijing Chinese People Armed Police Forces between January 2013 and May 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. The biological effective dose of radiation was ranged 48-94Gy. Short-term effects and prospective efficacy were observed. Log-rank test, Cox regression were used for survival analysis and prognostic factor identification. Results: Grade 2 or higher level gastrointestinal reaction was observed in 12 patients (29.3%). Hematological toxicity was observed in 11 patients (26.8%), and radiation-induced liver disease was observed in 6 patients (14.6%). We found that 29.3%of patients achieved a complete response and 31.7%of patients achieved a partial response. The stable and progressive disease rates were 39.0%and 0.0%, respectively. Median patient survival was 11 months, and the 1-year survival rate was 34.1%. The significant independent variables associated with the overall survival included Child-Pugh grade, AFP test, and CHE lev-el. Conclusion:IMRT is a safe and effective treatment for PVTT or IVTT in patients with HCC.

Objective To explore the feasibility and application of determining the center of the inferior portion of the glenoid on a standard anteroposterior view of the normal glenoid. Methods Seventy shoulders of 35 mature adults were measured in this study. A 64-slice CT 3D reconstruction was performed for each glenoid. A standard anteroposterior view and the scale of glenoid were made at a 3D workstation by one radiologist, and then transferred to software AutoCAD as 2D images. The 2D images were analyzed with AutoCAD respectively by 3 radiologists. The line was drawn between the most anterior and the most inferior points of the glenoid bony rim. On the same image, another line was drawn between the most posterior and the most inferior points of the glenoid bony rim. Two perpendicular bisectors of the 2 lines were drawn. The cross point of the 2 perpendicular bisectors was regarded as the circle center of the inferior part of the glenoid. The distances from the circle center to the anteroinferior and the posteroinferoir rims of the glenoid and the most posterior point were measured. Measurements were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation. Several related samples Friedman rank sum test was used to compare the measurements (the distance from the circle center to the most posterior point) by the 3 radiologists. Paired t tests were used to compare the differences between the left and right glenoids. Results The mean distance from the circle center to the most posterior point was ( 14. 1 ± 1.6) mm, the anteroinferior rim was ( 14. 0 ± 1.7) mm, and the posteroinferoir rim was ( 14. 1 ±1.6) mm. No significant differences were found ( P>0. 05) between measurements by the 3 radiologists. No significant differences were found ( P>0. 05) between the measurements of the both-side glenoids. Conclusions The method of determining the center of the inferior portion of the glenoid based on the most anterior,posterior and inferior points of the glenoid on a standard 3D anteroinferior view of the normal glenoid is easy,practical and highly repeatable. The radius of the left glenoid is comparable to the radius of the right side in normal shoulders. This method can be used to quantify a glenoid bone defect precisely.

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanisms of Shengqing Capsules, a compound Chinese herbal medicine for dispersing stagnated liver qi and promoting bile flow, in prevention and treatment of pigment gallstone. METHODS: Liver cells from guinea pigs with pigment gallstone were primarily cultured in vitro. The serums containing different concentrations of Shengqing Capsules were prepared by serum pharmacological method. The primary cultured hepatocytes with excessive expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) were stimulated with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and the effects of the drug-containing serums on the NF-kappaB expression were detected by Western-blotting. RESULTS: Shengqing Capsules down-regulated the NF-kappaB expression increased by LPS stimulation. The effect is dose-dependent. CONCLUSION: Shengqing Capsules can down-regulate the NF-kappaB expression increased by LPS stimulation. It may be one of the important mechanisms of this Chinese herbal medicine in prevention and treatment for pigment gallstone formation and the inflammatory reaction in biliary tract.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of the inhibiting effects of recipe for dispersing stagnated liver qi to promote bile flow (Danshijing Tablets) on cholesterol gallstone formation and provide experimental evidence for its clinical application. METHODS: Eighty guinea pigs were randomly divided into 4 groups, which were normal control group, untreated group, ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA)-treated group and Danshijing Tablets-treated group. The gallstones in guinea pigs were induced by high-cholesterol diet. UDCA and Danshijing Tablets were given orally to guinea pigs in the corresponding group respectively for seven weeks. Then the physical signs of the guinea pigs, the rates of gallstone formation and the histomorphological changes of the gallbladder were examined. RESULTS: The behavior of guinea pigs in the Danshijing Tablets-treated group was obviously improved and the rate of gallstone formation was significantly decreased as compared with those in both untreated and UDCA-treated groups (P<0.05). The inflammation reaction of mucous membrane in gallbladder was evidently reduced in the Danshijing Tablets-treated group and its morphological appearance turned to be approximately normal. CONCLUSION: Recipe for dispersing stagnated liver qi to promote bile flow may decrease gallstone formation. Its mechanism may be related to reducing pathologic changes in gallbladder tissues, which will reduce the damages of cholesterol to the smooth muscle in gallbladder and enhance the contractility of gallbladder.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the molecular mechanisms of Shengqing Capsules in treating cholelithiasis. METHODS: Sixty female guinea pigs were randomized into 3 groups: group I (fed with normal diet), group II (fed with low-protein diet) and group III (fed with low-protein diet and Shengqing Capsules). After six-week feeding, the gallstone formation and the expressions of bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (B-UGT) mRNA and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) mRNA were observed. RESULTS: The proportions of stone-formed in groups I, II and III were 2/14, 9/12 and 4/14, respectively. There were significant differences among the three groups (P<0.05). The expressions of B-UGT and CYP7A1 mRNAs were higher in both group I and group III as compared with those in the group II (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Shengqing Capsules can reduce the rate of stone-formation, which may be due to its interference of metabolism of bilirubin and cholesterol and up-regulation of the expressions of B-UGT and CYP7A1 mRNAs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of antipyretic and purgative herbs on intestinal mucosal barrier and inflammatory response in the treatment of acute cholangitis. METHODS: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into group A (untreated group, acute cholangitis was induced, n=20), group B (treatment group, acute cholangitis was induced and treated with antipyretic and purgative herbs, n=20) and group C (sham operation group, n=20). At the third or fifth day after operation, the rats were sacrificed and sampled. The serum endotoxin, cytokines and inflammatory mediators were tested and the numbers of labeled bacteria in the liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes translocated from the gut were assayed. RESULTS: As compared with group A, the serum content of endotoxin, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, CRP and NO was significantly lower and that of IL-2 was significantly higher, and the translocated numbers of labeled bacteria from gut were reduced in both group B and group C (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Antipyretic and purgative herbs can play therapeutic roles in the treatment of acute biliary tract infections, including the protection of intestinal mucosal barrier from bacterial translocation, reduction of serum endotoxin content and regulation of inflammatory response.

OBJECTIVE: To further probe the mechanisms of herbs for nourishing and smoothing the liver in reversing bile lithogenicity of guinea pig. METHODS: Sixty guinea pigs were divided randomly into control group (fed with normal diet, n=20), model group (fed with lithogenic diet, n=20) and treatment group (fed with lithogenic diet plus herbal medicine, n=20). After four-week feeding, the animals were sacrificed and sampled, the rates of gallstone formation in each group were estimated, and the total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (TBIL), conjugated bilirubin (CB), unconjugated bilirubin (UCB), and calcium ion in the bile were determined, and the different bilirubins were analyzed by HPLC. RESULTS: (1) The rate of gallstone formation was 5% in normal group, 81.25% in model group and 31.25% in treatment group (P<0.05). (2) The bile TBIL, CB, UCB and Ca(2+) were higher and the bile TBA was lower significantly in model group than that in the other two groups (P<0.05). (3) HPLC analysis revealed that MCB was higher and DCB was lower significantly in model group (P<0.01), and there were no significant differences of UCB and IPA among the three groups. (4) The percentages of MCB and UCB were much higher and the percentage of DCB was remarkably lower in model group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Herbs for nourishing and smoothing the liver can significantly reduce the rate of gallstone formation and has effect of reversing lithogenicity of bile in guinea pigs fed with lithogenic diet.