Objective To explore the preventive and therapeutic role of silencing type Ⅰ rat platelet-binding protein motifs depolymerization protein-like metalloproteinase 2(ADAMTS2)by siRNA on experimental liver fibrosis in vitro.By studying the mechanism of siRNA silencing of ADAMTS2,we also aim to evaluate the feasibility of ADAMTS2 as a target for anti-liver fibrosis therapy.Methods Three pairs of siRNAs targeting ADAMTS2 mRNA 2237,2597 and 690 targets were designed and synthesized by utilizing RNA design software.The most effective siRNA was chosen to transfect HSC-T6 cell line to test the tendency of hepatic stellate cell(HSC)activation and ex pression of ADAMTS2,COL1α1,COL(I),α-SMA,TGF-β1,MMP-2 and TIMP-3.These were quantified using real time-PCR,Western blotting,and MTT assays.Results Of the same dosage and time of injection,siRNA 2237 inhibited ADAMTS2 gene expression significantly more than other siRNAs.siRNA-ADAMTS2 2237 markedly inhibited ADAMTS2 gene and protein expression of HSCT6 with more than 80％ efficiency.Conversely,siRNA-ADAMTS2 2237 markedly reduced the gene and protein expressions of COL(I),α-SMA and TGF-β1 on HSC-T6 and inhibited the proliferation of HSC.Conclusions siRNA-ADAMTS2 2237 could effectively knockdown the gene and protein expression of ADAMTS2 in HSC-T6 cell lines.Silencing ADAMTS2 by siRNA significantly inhibited the activation,proliferation of HSC and the gene and protein expressions of COL(I),α SMA,and TGF-β1,and it may have a potential anti-fibrotic effect.ADAMTS2 might be an efficient target for anti-fibrotic therapy.

Aim To investigate the effects of chronic corticos-terone injection on anxiety and depression-like behavior of tree shrews, evaluate the predictability of drug and establish a novel animal model of anxious depression .Methods Twelve Chinese and Burma tree shrews were randomly divided into normal group, model group and venlafaxine group .The anxious depres-sion model of tree shrew was established by chronic corticoster-one injection ( ih, 27 mg· kg-1 , 21 d) .The venlafaxine group received intragastric administration (6 mg· kg-1).Autonomous activity score, sugar water preference test and Morris water maze test were used to evaluate the anxiety and depression-like behav-ior of tree shrews .The expressions of CRH , ACTH and COR in the tree shrew plasma were determined by Elisa kit .The con-tents of monoamine neurotransmitters of tree shrews in the hippo-campus , amygdala and prefrontal cortex were detected by HPLC-ECD.Results Compared with the normal group , the autono-mous activity score , sugar water partial eclipse degree and the learning and memory ability significantly decreased (P<0.01), while the contents of CRH , ACTH and COR significantly in-creased ( P<0.05) , and the contents of 5-HT, NE and DA in the hippocampus , amygdala and prefrontal cortex declined in the model group(P<0.05).In the venlafaxine group, the learning and memory abilities of the tree shrews were improved , the lev-els of CRH and COR in plasma were significantly decreased ( P<0.05), and the contents of 5-HT, NE and DA were increased (P<0.05).Conclusions The tree shrews of anxious depres-sion have obvious HPA axis hyperactivity and monoamine neuro-transmitter disorder , and venlafaxine can reverse this phenome-non, indicating that the tree shrews model of anxious depression has drug predictability , which is a kind of novel animal model of anxious depression closer to human in clinic .

The technique of liquisolid compress is a new technique developed in 1990s, which was considered to be the most promising technique to improve the dissolution of water-insoluble drugs. In this article, tanshinone II(A) and the extracts of the ester-solubility fractions were chosen as the model drugs to evaluate the effects of the liquisolid technique for enhancement of dissolution properties of tanshinone II(A). Several liquisolid tablets (LS) formulations containing different dosage of drugs and various liquid vehicle were pre-pared and for all the formulations, microcrystalline cellulose and silica were chosen as the carrier and coating materials to evaluate their flow properties, such as angle of repose, Carr's compressibility index and Hausner's ratio. The interaction between drug and excipients in prepared LS compacts were studied by differential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The dissolution curves of tanshinone II(A) from liquisolid compacts were investigated to determine the technique's effect in improving the dissolution of tanshinone II(A) and its impacting factors. According to the results, the dissolution increased with the rise in the dissolution of the liquid-phase solvent. The R-value and drug dosage can significantly affect the drug release, but with less impact on active fractions. This indicated that liquisolid technique is a promising alternative for improvement of dissolution property of water-soluble drugs, and can make a synergistic effect with other ester-soluble constituents and bettern improve the release of tanshinone II(A). Therefore, the technique of liquisolid compress will have a better development prospect in traditional Chinese medicines.
Calorimetry, Differential Scanning ; Diterpenes, Abietane ; chemistry ; Solubility ; X-Ray Diffraction

Objective To detect the variation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the splanchnic vessels under portal hypertension (PHT) and explore its mechanism and influence on the process of hyperdynamic circulation.Methods In humans,the level of VEGF pathway related proteins were detected in the splenic artery of PHT patients in clinical trials.In animal experiments,the following parameters were observed for rats in the control group (group N,n =7) and the CCl4 induced portal hypertension group (group PHT,n=7):portal vein diameter,portal vein blood flow velocity (PBV),portal vein blood flow (PBF),portal vein pressure (PP),norepinephrine (NE) reactivity in the isolated mesenteric artery microcirculation,contractile reactivity and degree of endothelial ni tric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation in the mesenteric artery by selectively inhibiting the VEGF signal pathway with SU5416.In cell experiments,primary culturing of arterial endothelial cells in vitro were used to verify the effects of VEGF on eNOS activation.Results The results showed that VEGF expression levels in the splenic artery of PHT patients significantly increased.In animal experiments,there was not a significant difference in portal vein diameter between group N and group PHT.How ever,the PBV and PBF of group PHT were lower than those of group N,and SU5416 had no clear effect on PBV and PBF in group PHT.PP of group PHT was much higher than that of group N,and SU5416 had little influence on reducing PP in group PHT.The contractile response of mesenteric artery microcirculation to NE in group PHT decreased significantly,EC50 increased a lot,and SU5416 improved this hypoergia partially.The protein levels of VEGF,VEGFR-2,eNOS,and p-eNOS in the mesentery artery of group PHT raised quite a lot compared to group N,and SU5416 decreased the protein level of VEGFR-2 and activation of eNOS significantly.Experiments in vitro confirmed that VEGF could promote the activation of eNOS.Conclusion The excessive VEGF produced in visceral arteries under PHT may participate in the process of hyperdynamic circulation partially through promoting the synthesis and activation of eNOS and then reducing visceral arteries' response to NE.

Objective To assess the clinical value of high-frequency electrocautery in the treatment of massive hemorrhage of presacral venous plexus. Methods The clinical data of 8 patients with presacral venous hemorrhage treated with high-frequency electrocautery from February 2005 to March 2008 were analyzed. Once the presacral venous hemorrhage happened, the bleeding site was pressed with a gauze or finger and the accumulated blood was aspirated. Then, while simultaneously withdrawing the gauze or finger over the bleeding sites, high-frequency electrocautery was applied with a power of 80-100 W to coagulate all the bleeding sites. Results High-frequency electrocautery was used to stop bleeding in the 8 patients, and no electrocautery related complica-tions occurred postoperatively. Conclusions High-frequency electrocautery for massive hemorrhage of presacral venous plexus is simple, efficient and safe.

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Hamartoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Leiomyoma ; pathology ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth ; pathology ; Phyllodes Tumor ; pathology

Objective To investigate the mechanism of hearing loss after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.Methods A total of 60 healthy male adult SD rats were included in this study and randomly divided into 2 groups, ischemia-reperfusion(I/R) group and sham operated control, with 30 rats in each group.The rats in I/R group were operated for suture-occluded method to establish middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO)model, with ischemia for 60 mins followed by reperfusion for 24 hrs.The control group was only to be isolated cervical vessels, with no thread embolism inserted.The auditory brainstem response (ABR) was tested before operation and at 24 hrs post-operation respectively.At 24 hrs post-operation, we scored neurological functions, measured the changes of water content in the brain using the dry-wet weight method, and determined the infarct volume through TTC method.We also evaluated the integrity of blood-brain barrier(BBB) by viewing the exudation of Evans blue and observed the apoptosis of neurocyte by TUNEL method to conclude apoptotic index(AI).The expression of MMP-9,Claudin-5,Occludin and CX-43 were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the sham group,the neurological function scores,the infarct volume and water content of the brain increased, with the elevated thresholds of ABR significantly and AI went up in I/R group.The expression levels of MMP-9 and CX-43 were significantly up-regulated,but the expressions of Claudin-5 and Occludin were obviously down-regulated.All of the differences above had statistical significances.Conclusion The mechanism of hearing loss after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats is possibly related to MMPs activation,neurocyte apoptosis,BBB breakage and gap junction damage.

Objective To study the mechanism of endoplamic reticulum stress(ERS)pretreatment induced by 2-DG on the auditory cortex injury after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Methods The SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups,sham group,I/R group,and ERS pretreatment group. Tread occlusion was used to prepare the model of MCAO in the mice for 60 min followed by reperfusion for 24 h. Neurological assessment was exercised and brain infarction volume was evaluated. The auditory brainstem response was tested. The pathological changes were observed by HE staining. Neurocyte apoptosis was observed by Tunel ,and the apop-tosis index(AI)was determined. Expression of GRP78 and Caspase-12 were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the sham group,the neurological scores,ratio of infarct volume and the hearing thresh-olds in I/R group increased significantly. HE staining showed the normal structure disappeared ,and apoptotic index increased significantly. Expression of GRP78 and Caspase-12 protein significantly up-regulated. Compared with I/R group,the indicators above showed improvement to some degrees. Conclusions The ERS pretreatment can alleviate the ischemia-reperfusion injury and neuron apoptosis in auditory cortex ,and reduce the possibility of hearing loss.

Objective To evaluate the clinical application and safety of CT-guided pereutaneous transthoracic biopsy in the diagnosis of mediastinal masses.Methods Thirty three cases were undertaken CT- guided percutaneous transthoraeie biopsy with automatic biopsy gun and then the sampling specimens were undergone histological examination.The accuracy of puncture,diagnostic correctness and complications were analyzed.Results The operations were performed successfully in all 33 cases(100%),the definite pathologic diagnosis were made in 28 out of 33 cases(85%)and no complications occurred.Conclusion As for midiastinal masses,CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic biopsy is a feasible,successful,efficient interventional diagnostic method with high accuracy in localization,puncture,diagnosis and few complications, which should he recommended in clinical use more widely.(J Intervent Radiol,2007,16:852-854)