To investigate HCV extrahepiatic infection and replication site as well as its relation with liver damage,bone-marrow mononuclear cells from 20 cases of nutreated chronic hepatitis C virus infect- ed patients were studied by digoxin-labeled in situ hybridization.Positive HCV RNA stained were de- tected in 18 of 20 cases (90%).Negative HCV RNA stained were not detected in any cases.The results suggested that there was HCV RNA in the bone-marrow of the patients with hepatitis C and bone-mar- row could be infected by HCV.But bone-marrow cell is not the HCV replication site.This study has some significance in HCV elucidating the pathogenicity of as well as the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C.

ObjectiveTo explore the treatment and economic burden of urine incontinence (UI) in the rural elderly,and provide evidences for preventive intervention.MethodsA cluster sampling was carried out in 743 people (aged 60 years and over) from 5 villages dominated by Yanliu and Dafengshang health centers,Jixian County,Tianjin from 2007 to 2008.The information about general state of health,treatment and economic burden of disease were analyzed. Results The prevalence of UI was 33.4％ (248 cases) among the 743 elderly people.Only 12 patients (4.8％) with UI ever visited community health-care service centers or hospitals for diagnosis and treatment,among whom only 1 case visited hospital within 1 year,8 cases during 1 to 5 years,and 3 cases over 5 years.And the method of treatment was all drug therapy.Among 248 cases with UI,there were 227 cases (91.5％) without any treatment,9 cases (3.6％) buying medicines by themselves.The direct cost for treatment of UI was 80-12000 yuan RMB,including 2 cases below 100 yuan RMB,2 cases 100-1000 yuan RMB,7 cases 1001-5000 yuan RMB and 1 case over 10000 yuan RMB. Conclusions Prevalence of UI is high while hospital-visiting rate is very low,and the financial burden of disease is serious,thus intervention measures for UI should be taken for the elderly people in rural areas of Jixian County,Tianjin.

Background:Cold storage and ischemia-reperfusion injury of liver grafts are critical for the prognosis of patients undergoing liver transplantation. Establishing a stable cold storage and reperfusion animal model is a fundamental measure for related studies. Aims:To establish a modified isolated perfused rat liver model for comprehensive assessment of liver grafts in studies on preservation of liver grafts before transplantation. Methods:Twelve Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into two groups. Livers of rats in control group were retrieved and perfused immediately for 90 minutes without preservation. In experimental group,liver grafts underwent a 30-minute warm ischemia followed by 24-hour cold storage before ex vivo perfusion. The perfusate was collected dynamically for monitoring the levels of transaminases,electrolytes and pH value;the portal vein pressure of liver grafts was measured by pressure sensor,and the hepatic hydrogen peroxide (HPO)level was assessed by microprobe for free radicals. The bile production was recorded after the ex vivo perfusion;meanwhile,the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA)and superoxide dismutase (Cu/ Zn SOD),the histopathological changes and apoptosis of hepatocytes of liver grafts were examined. Results:Compared with the control group,the levels of AST and ALT,the portal vein pressure and the HPO level of liver grafts in experimental group were obviously increased throughout the perfusion. Furthermore,the bile production and level of Cu/ Zn SOD of liver grafts in experimental group were significantly decreased. The histopathological injury and hepatocytes apoptosis of liver grafts were milder in control group. Conclusions:The liver function and antioxidant effect were reduced in warm ischemic and cold preserved liver grafts. The modified isolated perfused rat liver model established in this study is useful for monitoring and evaluation of the cold storage and reperfusion injury in liver grafts.

To explore the expression of Fas/Fas-L in liver tissue of hepatitis gravis patients and its implication in hepatocyte apoptosis, Fas/Fas-L expression and cell apoptosis was detected by the means of inmmunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). It was found that in the 20 patients with clinical hepatitis gravis, Fas in hepatocytes showed strong expression and Fas-L also showed intensive expression in infiltrating lymphocytes and scattering hepatocytes. The apoptosis existed in all the samples, scattering in the area of inflammatory, necrotic area and hepatic lobule. It was suggested that the overexpression of Fas/Fas-L could cause the death of hepatocytes and thus the occurrence of hepatitis gravis. The apoptosis caused by Fas might be one of the important pathogeneses of hepatitis gravis. Among the detected samples, apoptosis and necrosis coexisted, indicating that both two types of cellular death were closely associated with the pathogenesis of hepatitis gravis.

To explore the expression of Fas/Fas-L in liver tissue of hepatitis gravis patients and its implication in hepatocyte apoptosis, Fas/Fas-L expression and cell apoptosis was detected by the means of inmmunohistochemistry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). It was found that in the 20 patients with clinical hepatitis gravis, Fas in hepatocytes showed strong expression and Fas-L also showed intensive expression in infiltrating lymphocytes and scattering hepatocytes. The apoptosis existed in all the samples, scattering in the area of inflammatory, necrotic area and hepatic lobule. It was suggested that the overexpression of Fas/Fas-L could cause the death of hepatocytes and thus the occurrence of hepatitis gravis. The apoptosis caused by Fas might be one of the important pathogeneses of hepatitis gravis. Among the detected samples, apoptosis and necrosis coexisted, indicating that both two types of cellular death were closely associated with the pathogenesis of hepatitis gravis.

Objective To evaluate the effects of perioperative probiotics administration on patients with colorectal cancer and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods Seventy patients with colorectal cancer who were scheduled to undergo radical colorectomy at Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital between May 2011 and July 2011 were randomly divided with random number table into the control group (n =35) and the treatment group (n =35).The two groups in 5 days preoperatively and 7 days postoperatively were given daily doses of probiotics preparation consisting of two combined live bacteria and placebo,respectively.The structure of intestinal epithelial tight junction was observed by electron microscopy in colorectal tissue specimens collected during the operation.The expression of tight junctional protein was detected using Western blot and real-time RT-PCR technology.Intestinal epithelial permeability was evaluated by Ussing Chamber system.Stool samples and blood samples were collected on the 7th day after operation.The diversity of faecal flora was analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) technique,and the quantitative detection of specific bacteria was conducted by bacterial culture.Clinical parameters including the first exhaust and defecate time,distension and diarrhea incidence,systemic inflammatory response,and postoperative infective complications were recorded.Results Compared with the control group,the treatment group showed better intestinal epithelial tight junction ultrastructure.The expression of tight junction proteins occludin,claudin-1,and ZO-1 (protein:all P ＜ 0.001 ; mRNA:P =0.005,0.001,0.006) and the transepithelial electrical resistance [(28.3 ±5.2) Ω · cm2 vs.(22.1 ± 4.7) Ω · cm2,P =0.002] were significantly increased,the large molecule permeability [(0.91 ± 0.17) ％ vs.(1.65 ± 0.33) ％,P ＜ 0.001] reduced,the diversity of intestinal flora (P=0.006) increased,the growth of intestinal Bifidobacteria [(143.4 ±35.9) vs.(100.0 ±0.0),P=0.002] and Lactobacilli [(111.3 ± 52.9) vs.(100.0 ± 0.0),P ＜ 0.001] promoted,and the growth of Clostridium perfringens [(66.2 ±23.7) vs.(100.0 ±0.0),P ＜0.001] inhibited in the treatment group.The treatment group also showed shorter postoperative exhaust [(2.5 ± 1.7) d vs.(4.5 ±2.0) d,P ＜0.001] and defecate time [(5.0 ± 1.3) d vs.(6.3 ± 1.1) d,P =0.002],lower incidence of diarrhea (20％ vs.40％,P =0.005) and abdominal distension (35 ％ vs.60％,P =0.021).Conclusion Probiotics used perioperatively in patients with colorectal cancer can effectively enhance the intestinal epithelia barrier function,maintain the homeostasis of gut flora,shorten the postoperative first exhaust and defecate time,reduce the incidence of diarrhea and abdominal distension,and promote the recovery of intestinal function.

Objective To analyze mRNA expression of silent information regulator 6 (SIRT6) gene in the blood of population with family history of longevity in Bama county of Guangxi and to explore its association with SIRT6 gene polymorphism and its protein Methods One hundred and thirty-seven people (aged 30 ~ 106, 70 males, 67 females, 6.57% Han nationality, 93.43% Zhuang and Yao nationalities) with family history of longevity (long-lived family history group), and 91 people (aged 22~89, 51 males, 40 females, all Zhuang and Yao nationalities) without family history of longevity were recruited in the study (non-long-lived family history group). Real-time fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect mRNA expression of SIRT6 gene in two groups. Results SIRT6 mRNA expression of total and femals in long-lived family history group were higher than those in non-long-lived family history group (P<0.05). mRNA expression of GG and CG genotype of SIRT6 (rs350846) and G allele carriers in long-lived family history group were all higher than those in non-long-lived family history group and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). SIRT6 mRNA expression was not associated with serum SIRT6 protein in long-lived family history group (P>0.05). Conclusion The expression of mRNA in SIRT6 gene may be associated with familial aggregation of longevity in Bama County of Guangxi and high expression of mRNA of SIRT6 in G allele carriers contributes to longevity.

Objective To investigate the prevention of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis or bone loss in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients by Bugu capsules.Methods Sixty-six patients with SLE were randomly divided into A and B groups:34 patients in Group A were treated by glucocorticoid and Bugu capsules,and 32 patients in Group B by glucocorticoid alone.All patients were measured for bone mineral density (BMD) in Wards triangle,and for related biochemical parameters such as serum calcium, phosphonium,alkaline phosphatase,parathyroid hormone (PTH) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) before and after the treatment.As the control group,thirty healthy subjects were measured for the above parameters.Results There was significant difference in the serum level of IL-6,calcium and PTH between the Group B and con- trol group (P＜0.01).The occurrence rate of osteoporosis or bone loss in group A was significant lower than that in group B [2/34 (5.88%) vs 9/32 (28.13%),P=0.0364].Conclusion Bugu capsules can prevent glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis or bone loss in SLE patients,possibly by restoring the balance among serum IL-6,calcium and PTH.

Chinese medicine pairs (CMP) are specific compatibility with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory as principle, which was formed on basis of effect and treatment theory of TCM. The compatibility of CMP can enhance the effect, or reduce the toxicity. So, compatibility effects of CMP were studied from different pharmacology levels including animals, tissues and organs, cell and molecular levels, their synergy and compatibility attenuation were also evaluated with monomer component-component (group) compatibility-single herb-CMP-formulae as the main line, and the action mechanisms were investigated, all of which can provide scientific basis for the clinical applications of CMP and creation of TCM new drugs.
Animals ; Drug Interactions ; Drug Synergism ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; adverse effects ; methods

Objective To investigate the expression and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2), its upstream molecule, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and downstream transcription factor, Ets-like protein 1 (ELK-1), in lesions of psoriasis vulgaris, and to evaluate the relationship between ERK pathway and psoriasis vulgaris. Methods Tissue samples were obtained from the lesions of 40 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and normal skin of 20 normal human controls. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed to detect the expressions of phosphorylated ERK1/2, EGFR and ELK-1 in the tissue samples.Results As immunohistochemistry showed, the integrated optical density (IOD) of p-ERK1/2, p-EGFR and p-ELK-1 was 269.85 ± 57.96, 136.88 ± 30.33 and 237.61 ± 56.29 respectively in the psoriatic lesions, significantly higher than that in the normal controls ( 140.24 ± 24.42, 110.66 ± 28.99 and 119.04 ± 21.99, respectively, all P ＜ 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between the expression of p-EGFR and p-ERK1/2(r = 0.57, P ＜ 0.05) and between that of p-ERK1/2 and p-ELK-1 (r=0.72,P＜0.05) in psoriatic lesions.Conclusion The enhanced signal transduction through phosphorylated EGFR→ERK1/2→ELK-1 pathway may play a certain role in the pathophysiological process of psoriasis vulgaris.