Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Rats ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of compound decoction on notoginsenosides in Panax notoginseng.

METHODNotoginsenoside R1, Rg1, Re, Rb1 and pH were used as the parameters to investigate the changes on the content of notoginsenosides in different compound extractions by heating for two hours and their correlation with pH.

RESULTWhen the pH values of solution of P. notoginseng with Fructus ligustri, P. notoginseng with Eupolyphaga seu steleophaga, P. notoginseng with Pheretima asiatica, and Zhitangjiang Fang (free of Hirudo) were rept higher than 5.7, the reserved rate (RR) of notoginsenside were higher than 90%; When the pH values of decoetion of P. notoginseng with Salvia miltiorrhiza, P. notoginseng with Paeonia lactiflora, P. notoginseng with Platycodon grandiflorum, P. notoginseng with Arctium lappa were kept 4.5-5.5, their RR of notoginsenside were 60% - 85%; When the pH values of the decotction of P. notoginseng with Hirudo nipponica was decreased to 3.4, its RR of of notoginsenside was 38.4%; When the pH values of Zhitangjiang Fang extraction was regulated by 0.1% NaOH solution to pH 6. 3, and the RR of notoginsenside increased to 97%.

CONCLUSIONThe pH of other Chinese herbal medicines extraction with P. notoginseng compound is a critical effect on the stability and yields of notoginsensides.

Animals ; Arctium ; chemistry ; Cockroaches ; chemistry ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Ginsenosides ; analysis ; Hirudo medicinalis ; chemistry ; Hot Temperature ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Ligustrum ; chemistry ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Oligochaeta ; chemistry ; Paeonia ; chemistry ; Panax ; chemistry ; Platycodon ; chemistry ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo explore the role of glutamine in LPS and D-Gal induced acute hepatic injury.

METHODSA total of 61 Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, model group and GLN pretreated group. The animal model was established by LPS and D-Gal intraperitoneal injection. GLN at dose of 1 g/kg was intragastrically administrated for 7 d before intraperitoneal injection. To evaluate the hepatic injury, the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TBiL) were detected by automatic biochemistry analysator. The liver and bowel tissue was observed by lightmicroscope and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The apoptosis of hepatocyte was detected by TUNEL. HPLC-PED was used in the study of intestinal permeability.

RESULTSNo significant differences were noted between ALT, AST, TBIL level, death rate and intestinal permeability (L/M) between model group and GLN pretreated group; In microscope, the confused structure of hepatic injury and inflammatory infiltration were similar between model group and GLN pretreated group. The injury of bowel was not obviously. Compared with the model group, there was better trend in liver and bowel in GLN pretreated group by transmission electron microscope (TEM). The apoptosis index in GLN pretreated group were lower than those in model group.

CONCLUSIONLPS can induce acute liver injury in D-Gal-sensitized rats.Glutamine has't the trend of protecting liver function and intestinal barrier function,decreasing death rates.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Female ; Glutamine ; administration & dosage ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Intestinal Mucosa ; drug effects ; enzymology ; physiology ; Liver ; drug effects ; injuries ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

BACKGROUNDMammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is involved in a caspase independent form of programmed cell death called autophagy. The aim of this research was to investigate the effects of rapamycin and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) on autophagy, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell-cycle parameters of rat bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).

METHODSMononuclear cells isolated from rat bone marrow were treated with rapamycin (0.01, 0.1, 1, or 10 µg/L) or 3-MA (1.25, 2.5, 5, or 10 mmol/L) for 24 hours. Expression of the autophagy marker protein LC3-II was analyzed by Western blotting. Apoptosis and cell-cycle progression were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cell proliferation was measured using the MTT assay.

RESULTSRapamycin treatment of EPCs induced apoptosis and autophagy and inhibited proliferation and cell-cycle progression in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 5 mmol/L 3-MA promoted cell proliferation; in contrast, treatment with 10 mmol/L 3-MA promoted apoptosis and induced S-phase arrest.

CONCLUSIONSRapamycin treatment of EPCs induced apoptosis and autophagy. Low concentrations of 3-MA had no significant effect on the proliferation and apoptosis of EPCs; The 5 mmol/L group promoted cell proliferation, but had no effect on the apoptosis; the 10 mmol/L group inhibited the proliferation and promoted apoptosis through the cell cycle.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Autophagy ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Rats ; Sirolimus ; pharmacology

Austria ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Europe ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; therapy ; Humans ; Internationality ; Liver Cirrhosis ; therapy ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy ; Liver Transplantation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of emodin for regulating aquapoin-2 (AQP2) in NRK cells cultured in vitro.

METHODSExperiments on NRK cells cultured with alpha-DMEM medium in vitro were conducted in two steps. (1) Cells were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, and the three emodin treated groups treated with different dosages of emodin (5, 10 and 20 mg/L) respectively. After 24 h treatment, the location of AQP2 was decided by indirect immunofluorescene, and the AQP2 protein and mRNA expression levels were detected by Western blot and semiquantive RT-PCR. (2) Cells were randomly divided into 4 groups, the control group, and the three treated groups treated respectively with 10 mg/L 8-Bromo-cAMP, 20 mg/L emodin, and 20 mg/L emodin +10 mg/L 8-Bromo-cAMP. The activity of protein kinase A (PKA) in NRK cells after 24 h treatment was determined with non-radioactive detecting method.

RESULTSAQP2 was located at the cell membrane of NRK cells. Western blot and semiquantitive RT-PCR found that AQP2 protein and mRNA expressions were significantly decreased in NRK cells of groups treated by 10 mg/L and 20 mg/L emodin (P < 0.05). PKA activity determination showed significantly decreased phosphorylation level of PKA in NRK cells of groups treated with 20 mg/L emodin group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONEmodin can inhibit the genetic transcription and the translation of AQP2 gene in NRK cells, which demonstrates that the change of AQP2 expression regulated by emodin may be correlated with the diuresis effect of rhubarb, and it is likely that the regulation is going through PKA signal pathway.

Animals ; Aquaporin 2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases ; metabolism ; Emodin ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

Objective To study the mlationship between dietary soy isoflavones and blood lipids among residents of 40-65 years old,in Guangzhou.Methods Dietary soy isoflavones and other nutrients intakes were assessed with quantitative food frequency questionnaire(FFQ).Total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG),HDL cholesterol(HDL-C)and LDL cholesterol(LDL-C)in plasma were measured with colorimetry.Results Ranges of dietary soy isoflavones intake among 134 males and 261 females were fxom 0 mg/day to 61.96 mg/day and 0 mg/day to 82.52 mg/day,with means of 11.95 mg/day,14.90 mg/day,respectively.After adjusted for total energy intake and fat percent energy,difiefences of TC,LDL-C in total population and TC in women were statistically significant between groups(P value was 0.002,0.008,0.004,respectively) and dose-effect relationships(P value was <0.001.0.012.0.001,respectively)were observed between dietary soy isoflavones intake and the upper mentioned three indices.Compared with the low-intake group,tbese three indices lowered 7.06%,10.13%and 7.48%,respectively in high-intake group.Critical significance of LDL-C was observed both in women and men between groups.Further controlled for age,BMI and WHR,no obvious change of the results was observed.Conclusion Moderate intakes of soy isoflavone as part of a regular diet seemed to be associated with favorable blood lipid levels.

OBJECTIVESTo detect the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of circulating DNA in the plasma of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to assess its potential as a clinical predictive marker.

METHODSThree high-polymorphic microsatellite markers D8S277, D8S298 and D8S1771 located at chromosome 8p were selected to detect LOH in plasma DNA of 62 HCC patients. The associations between LOH and its clinicopathological features, including HBsAg, liver cirrhosis, serum AFP level, tumor size, tumor cell differentiation, and intrahepatic metastasis were also examined.

RESULTSIn plasma DNA of the 62 HCC patients, LOH was found at one or several loci in 36 (58.1%), and heterozygosity at D8S277, D8S298, and D8S1771 loci was 74.2% (46/62), 75.8% (47/62), and 69.4% (43/62), respectively. LOH frequency at D8S277, D8S298 and D8S1771 was 32.6% (15/46), 44.7% (21/47), and 46.5% (20/43), respectively. LOH in plasma DNA was more frequently detected in the patients with intrahepatic cancer metastasis than those without metastasis (62.5 percent vs. 26.1 percent, P < 0.05); however, no statistically significant correlations were observed between LOH at these loci and other clinicopathological features analyzed in this study.

CONCLUSIONSLOH at D8S298 in plasma DNA may be a potential predictive marker of intrahepatic metastatic recurrence after surgical resection of the HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; DNA ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo summarize the clinical data in preventing HBV recurrence after liver transplantation and explore a optimal individual protocol in prophylaxis of HBV recurrence.

METHODSWe retrospected outcomes in 195 recipients who underwent a liver transplantation for HBV-related liver disease between June 2004 and July 2008. According to the anti-virus protocol these recipients are divided into two groups as following: group A received a protocol of combination treatment of lamivudine with HBIG, and group B with combination treatment of adefovir with HBIG. With mean follow-up of 23.7 months, HBV recurrent rate was observed in overall and each group separately.

RESULTSA total of 195 liver transplant recipients were identified that met the study criteria. At the sixth and eleventh month after operation, HBV recurrence appeared in 2 recipients, each in two groups, which were due to LAM cessation and HBV mutation respectively. Recurrent rate was 0.6% in group A, 3.7% in group B and 1% in total. There was no significant difference in HBV recurrent rate between group A and B.

CONCLUSIONLamivudine combined with HBIg should be considered as a reliable method in preventing HBV recurrence after liver transplantation. Better outcomes can be achieved by individual anti-virus protocol and HBIg administration according to HBV status in recipient.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; prevention & control ; surgery ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Liver Transplantation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Young Adult

Rhubarb is well-known for its cathartic effect, and this cathartic effect, which is closely correlated with "whter" of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is brought into play in colon. Recent researches about the relation between formation and effects have identified that the anthraquinone glycosides with 1,8-dio-hydroxy and without hydroxyl in the 2, 3, 6, 7 location, such as emodin, rhein, chrysophanol, et al, can bring about fairly obvious effects of "Watery Diarrhea". Aquaporins (AQPs) are expressed abundantly in colonic epithelial cells, and the abnormal expression of AQPs can lead to the less absorption of water in colon and/or the more secretion of intestinal juice, which suggest that AQPs might be one kind of the effector molecules, which some drugs playing pharmacologic actions in colon depend on. This assumption provides a novel field of vision. Is this "Watery Diarrhea" effect induced by rhubarb concerned with the location alteration or the expression change of AQPs. We deduce that the regulative effects of AQPs by rhubarb in colon might provide a new pharmacologic explation about the cathartic effect through the exploration of TCM and Chinese herbal drugs, with TCM theory and the analysis of data about efficiency and pharmacologic researches of rhubarb and the researches of AQPs. This deduction might be used to reveal why rhubarb can bring about multi-efficiency.
Cathartics ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Rheum ; chemistry