The purpose of the present study is to explore the protective effects of sodium butyrate (SB) pretreatment on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced acute liver injury in mice. The model animals were first administered intraperitoneally with SB. Half an hour later, acute liver injury mouse model was established by caudal vein injection with Con A (15 mg/kg). Then, levels of serous alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured using standard clinical method by an automated chemistry analyzer, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were measured by ELISA, and pathological changes in hepatic tissue were observed by using HE staining and light microscopy. The expression and release of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) were assessed by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry and ELISA. The results showed that the pretreatment of SB significantly protected Con A-treated mice from liver injury as evidenced by the decrease of serum ALT, AST (P < 0.01) and reduction of hepatic tissues necrosis. SB also decreased levels of serous TNF-α and IFN-γ (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the expression and release of HMGB1 were markedly inhibited by SB pretreatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These results suggest that the attenuating effect of SB on Con A-induced acute liver injury may be due to its role of reducing the TNF-α and IFN-γ production, and inhibiting HMGB1 expression and release.
Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; metabolism ; Butyric Acid ; pharmacology ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; Concanavalin A ; adverse effects ; Disease Models, Animal ; HMGB1 Protein ; metabolism ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Liver ; pathology ; Mice ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of baicalin solid dispersion (BSD) on D-galactosamine (D-GalN) induced acute hepatic injury in mice, and to compare it with baicalin alone.

METHODSSixty mice were randomly divided into six groups, i.e., the normal control group, the D-GalN model group, the bifendate group (at the daily dose of 200 mg/kg), the baicalin group (at the daily dose of 50 mg/kg), the low dose BSD group (at the daily dose of 50 mg/kg), and the high dose BSD group (at the daily dose of 100 mg/kg), 10 in each group. 0.5% CMC-Na at 20 mL/kg was administered to mice in the normal group and the model group by gastrogavage, while corresponding medication was administered to mice in the other three groups by gastrogavage. Seven days after administration, acute hepatic injury model was induced by intraperitoneal injection of D-GalN. The liver index and the spleen index were calculated. The serum activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and asparate aminotransferase (AST), the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver homogenate were measured. The pathological changes of the liver tissue were observed by HE staining.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, widespread inflammation and necrosis was significant in the liver tissue of the D-GalN model group; the liver index, serum ALT and AST levels and hepatic MDA content obviously increased, hepatic SOD activity decreased, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the liver index, the serum levels of ALT and AST, and hepatic MDA decreased, hepatic SOD increased, the degree of hepatic tissue injury was significantly improved in the low dose and high dose BSD groups. Besides, better effects were obtained in the low dose BSD group than in the baicalin group with statistical difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONBSD could significantly protect D-GalN induced acute hepatic injury of mice, and its effect was superior to that of baicalin alone.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; blood ; drug therapy ; Flavonoids ; therapeutic use ; Galactosamine ; adverse effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy and safty of sorafenib in Child-Pugh class B to class C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSIn this three-center open-label study from November 2011 to May 2013, we randomly assigned 189 patients with advanced Child-Pugh class B or C HCC patients into two groups, one group with 95 patient to receive sorafenib (400 mg a time, twice a day) and the other group with 94 patients to receive best supportive care. The primary end points were progression-free survival and overall survival.

RESULTSThe median progression-free survival was 2.2 months and 1.9 months in the sorafenib group and best supportive care group respectively (Hazard ratio in the sorafenib group, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.40-0.75; P=0.002). The median overall survival was 4.0 months and 3.5 months in the sorafenib group and best supportive care group respectively (Hazard ratio in the sorafenib group, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-0.68; P<0.001). The main adverse effect of sorafenib was rash and acne of the skin (in 51.7% patients). The incidences of severe rash, diarrhea, and dry skin were 5.6%, 5.6%, and 2.2% in the sorafenib group. One patient reached partial response in the sorafenib group.

CONCLUSIONSSorafenib is safe in patients with liver function impaired advanced HCC. It is effective in terms of progression-free survival and overall survival compared with best supportive care. Liver functions are the important predictive factors.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology ; Cross-Over Studies ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Liver Function Tests ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; mortality ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Niacinamide ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Phenylurea Compounds ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Acrylamides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aniline Compounds ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lung Diseases, Interstitial ; chemically induced ; diagnosis ; Male