Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of Deduhonghua-7 powder on liver fibrosis and its correlation with matrix metalloproteinases ( MMPs) and transforming growth factor β1 ( TGF-β1 ) .Methods The rats were divided into 4 groups, blank group, model group, control group, experiment group, 8 rats each group.The CCl4 was used to induce rat liver fibrosis.The control group was given colchicine pill, CMC sodium cellulosate was used to prepare 2% of colchicine suspen-sion, once time per day, 0.2 mL · kg-1 each time.The experiment group was given Deduhonghua-7 powder, CMC sodium cellulosate was used to prepare 3% of Deduhonghua-7 powder suspension, once time per day, 0.2 mL· kg -1 each time; blank group and model group were given same volume of pure water.All rats were sacrificed after 40 days of medication.Western blot was acted to detect the matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13),tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) protein expression.The PCR was used to detect the changesoftype Ⅰ, Ⅲ collagen, TGF -β1 mRNA gene expression.Results The MMP-1, MMP -13 protein expression in rats of model group was down -regulated compared with blank group ( P<0.05 ).The TIMP-1 protein expression was up-regulated compared with blank group ( P<0.05 ) . The mRNA expressions of typeⅠprocollagen, typeⅢprocollagen and TGF-β1 were increased compared with blank group(P<0.05).The MMP-1, MMP-13 protein expression of control group and experiment group were significant-ly up-regulated compared with model group.The TIMP-1 protein expression significantly down-regulated compared with model group.The mRNA gene expression of type I procollagen, typeⅢprocollagen and TGF-β1 were down-regulated compared with model group ( P<0.05 ).Conclusion Deduhonghua-7 powder regulate and maintain the stabilization of MMP/TIMP to block the expression of TGF-βand inhibit the transcription of type I,Ⅲ collagen and TGF-β1 mRNA to reach the purpose of detention of occurrence and development of liver fibrosis.

Objective To study the influence of hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI)on cardiac and renal energy metabolism in rats.Methods The rats were randomly divided into five groups:the sham operation group,model-0 h group,model-2 h group,model-4 h group,model-6 h group,and ten rats in each group.The hepatic IRI rats model was prepared with non traumatic vascular clamp.The animal were sacrificed immediately after IRI 0,2,4,6 h and samples were collected.The tissue content of Na +-K +-ATPase and Ca2 +-Mg2 +-AT-Pase were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Results The Ca2 +-Mg2 +-ATPenzyme of liver tissue in sham operation group,model-2 h group,model-4 h group were (343.84 ± 22.11),(221.88 ±64.15),(235.02 ± 58.84) μmol · g-1;compared with the sham operated group,the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).The Na+-K +-ATP enzyme of renal tissuein sham operation group,model-2 h group,model-4 h group were (79.46 ± 10.84),(67.28 ± 3.39),(69.09 ± 1.47) μmol·g-1.The Ca2+-Mg2+-ATP enzyme of renal tissue in the three groups were (345.68 ± 21.68),(227.39 ± 50.63),(246.38 ± 64.31) μmol · g-1;compared with the sham operated group,the difference was statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).The Na +-K +-ATP enzyme of myocardium tissue in sham operation group,model -0 h group,model-2 h group,model-4 h group,model-6 h groupwere (68.16 ± 12.17),(71.92 ± 9.91),(61.62 ±7.96),(59.23 ±3.86),(79.72 ±9.91) μrnol · g-1.The Ca2+-Mg2+-ATP enzyme of myocardium tissue in the five groups were (261.05 ±40.52),(279.13 ±34.12),(243.62 ± 23.59),(244.66 ± 17.79),(291.78 ± 36.38) μmol · g-1;compared with the sham operated group,the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).There were no obvious changes in myocardial tissue energy metabolism indexes.Conclusion From energy metabolism indicators,when there is a hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury,the functions of the heart and kidney are all damaged,but the injury of kidney is earlier than that of myocardium.

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of deduhonghua-7 powder on liver fibrosis and explore its relevance with transforming growth factor beta ( TGF-β) and smad protein pathways.Methods The liver fibrosis rat model were randomly divided to A group, B group, C group, D group, 8 rats for each.A group was administered 0.6 g·kg-1 of deduhonghua -7 powder, B group was administered 0.4 mg·kg-1 of colchicines, C group and D group were administered dis-tilled water intragastrically 1 time per day for 40 days.The liver tissue was prepared by histopathology slides, than elastic and collagen fiber staining was acted to observe the degree of fibrosis.Enzyme-linked im-munosorbent assay ( ELISA ) was acted to detect the hyaluronic acid ( HA) , laminin ( LN) content of liver tissue homogenate.Immunohisto-chemistry detecting was acted to determine the changes of smad2, smad3, smad6, smad7, and TGF-β1 protein expressions.Results Compared with D group, the collagen fiber and contents of HA, LN of C group significantly increased (P<0.05).Compared with C group, the collagen fiber and the contents of HA, LA of A group and B group significantly decreased (P<0.05).The TGF-β1, smad2, smad3 protein expressions of C group were up-regulated compared with those of D group with significant differences ( P<0.05).The TGF-β1, smad2, smad3 protein expres-sions of A and B groups were down-regulated compared with those of C group, with significant differences ( P <0.05) .The smad6, smad7 protein expressions of C group were down-regulated compared with those of D group, with significant differences (P<0.05).The smad6, smad7 protein expressions of A and B groups were up-regulated com-pared with C group, with significant differences (P<0.05).Conclusion Deduhonghua-7 powder can regulate the TGF-β/smad protein patheways and block the TGF-βexpression, inhibit the synthesis of extracellular matrixc and degradation of extracellular matrixc to reach the purpose of blocking and deferring the development of liver fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to evaluate the indications, effectiveness and complications associated with arterial embolization as a safe and effective alternative treatment of obstetrical hemorrhage. METHODS: From September 1998 to October 2005, 42 patients who had a pregnancy related hemorrhage which did not respond to treatment using obstetric maneuvers and uterotonic drugs were included in our study. The patients underwent angiographic embolization for the management of intractable obstetrical hemorrhage at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University Medical Center. All available medical records and telephone interviews were reviewed and detailed to collect adequate clinical data such as clinical status, underlying conditions, amount of transfusion, embolization sites, materials of embolization, hospital stay, the success rate and the complications. RESULTS: We have experienced clinically successful embolization in 40 (95.2%) of 42 patients of obstetrical hemorrhage resulting from various causes. After embolization, the patient's vital sign was stabilized. The causes of hemorrhage were atony of uterus (n=17), cervical pregnancy (n=5), abnormal placentation (n=5), laceration of uterine cervix and vagina (n=6). The average amount of blood transfusion was 10.3 unit (range; 0-63 unit). The average duration of hospitalization was 7.4 days (range; 4-18 days). We were able to follow up on 32 patients. The main complications after embolization were hypomenorrhea (n=6), numbness of lower extremities (n=3). In all cases menses resumed spontaneously after procedures. CONCLUSION: The arterial embolization is one of the safe and the effective procedures and offers patients a fertility-preserving alternative to hysterectomy for treatment of intractable postpartum hemorrhage.
Academic Medical Centers ; Blood Transfusion ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Hemorrhage* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Hysterectomy ; Interviews as Topic ; Lacerations ; Length of Stay ; Lower Extremity ; Medical Records ; Menstruation Disturbances ; Obstetrics ; Placentation ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Pregnancy ; Uterus ; Vagina ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: Disability of Activities of daily living (ADL) is the most important factor for care of dementia patients. So Korean Dementia Association has prepared the survey for current state and cognition of active daily living in Korean dementia patients. METHODS: A total of 100 subjects were interviewed. Structured open and closed questions about ADL for dementia were asked. They are main caregivers of dementia patients who working over 5hours per day. Assessments included age, sex, education level, economic status, severity of dementia patients, pattern of the care-giving, current state and cognition of ADL, and needs of the caregivers. RESULTS: The cognition of ADL was very low (51%) and this is correlated with economic status. Increasing of care-giving time is the most stressful for caregivers, they frequently suffered from disability of outgoing and personal hygiene. Dementia patient's ADL disability causes serious economic losses, need of the caregivers about guide lines or education program was very high. CONCLUSION: Considering these results, we should design more detailed study about dementia patient's ADL disability and prepare guide line or program for it.
Activities of Daily Living ; Caregivers ; Cognition ; Dementia ; Humans ; Hygiene

A complete cDNA sequence encoding a pore-forming subunit (Kir6.2) of ATP-senstive potassium channel in the adult worm, Clonorchis sinensis, termed CsKir6.2, was isolated from an adult cDNA library. The cDNA contained a single open-reading frame of 333 amino acids, which has a structural motif (a GFG-motif) of the putative pore-forming loop of the Kir6.2. Peculiarly, the CsKir6.2 shows a lack-sequence structure, which deleted 57 amino acids were deleted from its N-terminus. The predicted amino acid sequence revealed a highly conserved sequence as other known other Kir6.2 subunits. The mRNA was weekly expressed in the adult worm.
Adenosine Triphosphate/metabolism ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Clonorchis sinensis/*genetics/metabolism ; Helminth Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Human ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying/*genetics/metabolism ; RNA, Helminth/chemistry/genetics ; Sequence Alignment ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory, heterogeneous autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production and the potential involvement of almost every organ system. Although vasculitis usually confined to small vessels is a fairly common feature of SLE, ischemic vasculitis with an aneurysm is an uncommon feature. In particular, renal arterial microaneurysms and multiple renal infarctions are very rarely reported in patients with SLE. Furthermore, to the best of the authors' knowledge, there is no report on renal arterial microaneurysms associated with SLE in Korea. Here, this paper presents a case of renal microaneurysms and multiple renal infarctions in a 41-year-old woman with SLE.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Female ; Humans ; Infarction* ; Korea ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Vasculitis

Even though it is a rare complication to have hepatic cyst infection in adult polycystic kidney disease, the patient is expected to be complicated with sepsis or acute cholangitis and die if not treated properly. The typical clinical manifestations of hepatic cyst infection are fever and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Liver enzyme and serum bilirubin levels may be elevated. The clinical outcome of hepatic cyst infection is better when antibiotic and drainage are performed simultaneously than only antibiotic is used. We experienced a case of infected hepatic cyst from a 58-year-old male patient receiving hemodialysis with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Due to his persistent fever and leukocytosis during intravenous antibiotic therapy, we performed percutaneous drainage of hepatic cyst. Because the drainage fluid presented leukocytosis and deep yellow color, we diagnosed the case as a hepatic cyst infection. We applied both percutaneous drainage of infected liver cyst and antibiotic and we observed clinical improvement.
Abdominal Pain ; Adult* ; Bilirubin ; Cholangitis ; Drainage* ; Fever ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Liver ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases ; Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant* ; Renal Dialysis ; Sepsis

PURPOSE: Kidney length and volume are important parameters in the diagnosis of kidney disease. There has been no study for kidney volume in Korea. Therefore, we investigated the normal kidney volume and length using multidetector-row computerized tomography (MDCT). METHODS: One hundred and twenty-three Koreans were scanned for various medical reasons by MDCT. We measured kidney volume with three dimensional reconstruction programs. In the coronal section, we measured the craniocaudal length of both kidneys. Cross sectional kidney size was defined the sum of both sides of the rectangle enclosing the kidney at the level of the renal (hilum) vessel. Patients were excluded when they have the estimated GFR, calculated by modification of diet in renal disease, less than 90 ml/min/1.73m2, diabetes, any urinary abnormalities, renal anatomical abnormality, renal artery disease, more than three cysts and larger than 3 cm of cyst. RESULTS: Kidney volumes were 177+/-34 mL for men and 146+/-28 mL for women. There were no volume differences among age groups. Kidney lengths were 10.5+/-0.9 cm for left and 10.0+/-0.8 cm for right. The cross sectional kidney size was 10.8+/-1.1 cm for left and 10.7+/-1.0 cm for right. There was a high correlation between the kidney volumes and the cross sectional sizes (r=0.80). CONCLUSION: We suggest the reference values for kidney volume and length using MDCT. Measurement of kidney volumes may be more helpful to determine diagnosis and treatment of chronic kidney disease as compared with that of simple measuring kidney length.
Adult ; Diet ; Female ; Glycosaminoglycans ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases ; Korea ; Male ; Reference Values ; Renal Artery ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic

The kinetics of cytokine mRNA expression was studied in porcine alveolar macrophages using an RT-PCR assay. The expression levels of IFN- gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, GM-CSF, IL-12 p35, and IL-12 p40 were examined after 2, 4, 14, 24, 48, and 72 h of incubation in unstimulated control and LPS-stimulated cells. The expression contents of IFN-gamma, IL-2, and IL-4 were not detected in both unstimulated and LPS-stimulated cells. On the other hand, the expression levels of IL-6, GM-CSF, and IL-12 in LPS-stimulated cells were almost always higher than those in control cells. Among those cytokines, IL-6 exhibited the predominant expression, and GM-CSF, IL-12 p40, and IL-12 p35 followed in the descending order. The times to reach the peak expression levels for IL-6, and GM-CSF, IL-12 p35, and IL-12 p40 were 14, and 24 h, respectively. After reaching the peak expression point, the expression levels of IL-6, GM-CSF, and IL-12 p40 reduced to the baseline by 72 h after stimulation, however, IL-12 p35 still kept a substantial expression by the same time. This study demonstrates that porcine alveolar macrophages primarily respond to express IL-6, GM-CSF, and IL-12 by LPS-stimulation and have a cytokine-specific expression profile during the stimulation time.
Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines/*genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation/*drug effects ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor/genetics ; Interferon Type II/genetics ; Interleukins/genetics ; Kinetics ; Lipopolysaccharides/*pharmacology ; Macrophages, Alveolar/*drug effects/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/genetics/metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Swine/*genetics