Objective To observe the effect of octreotide acetate on plasma ETX and serum inflammatory cytokine of the rabbit with hepatic ischcmia reperfusion injury. Methods Pringle's maneuver rabbit hepatic ischemia-repeffusion models were established. 24 adult New Zealand rabbits were random divided into equal 3 groups: sham operative group(group A), iacbemia reperfusion group(group B)and octreotide acetate preconditioning group(group C). Endotoxin (ETX) in the plasma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and intcdeukin-1beta (IL-1β) were detected in every rabbit at the time before iachemia (T1), 30min after ischemia (T2), 30min (T3) and 120min (T4) after reperfusion. Results From T2 to T4, the ETX in group B and C were higher than that in group A (P < 0.05), the ETX of group C were lower than that in group B (P<0.05). From T2 to T4, the TNF-α of group B and C were higher than that of group A(P<0.05). From T3 to T4 the TNF-α of group C were higher than that of group A(P<0.05). From T2 to T4,the IL-1β of group B and group C were higher than that of group A(P<0.05), and the IL-1β of group C were lower than that of group B (P<0.05). Conclusion Octreotide acetate can decrease plasma ETX and down-regulate inflammation factors, such as TNFαand IL-1β, in serum of the rabbit with hepatic iacbe-mia-reperfusion injury, which may be the protective mechanism of oetreotide acetate on rabbit hepatic isehemia-reperfusiun injury.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated that quantitation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in sera of HBsAg-positive patients is more useful test for the assessment of infectivity and for the evaluation of disease status than previously utilized numerous serological markers and qualitative polymerase chain reaction for the detection of HBV DNA. We tried to measure serum HBV DNA using a branched DNA (bDNA) signal amplification assay, which is recently introduced and known to be a simple and nonradioisotopic method. METHODS: Total forty patients with HBsAg were randomly selected and serum HBV DNA was measured with duplication using bDNA signal amplification assay (QUANTIPLEXTM HBV DNA ASSAY, Chiron, USA). Quantitation was determined from a standard curve and expressed as HBV DNA equivalents/mL (Eq/mL; 1 Eq = 1 molecule of the primary HBV DNA standard). Serum HBeAg, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) , and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were compared with HBV DNA. RESULTS: Serum HBV DNA was quantitated in 13 patients (32.5%) (range 6.4x106-7.4x109 Eq/mL, mean 1.8x109 Eq/mL, CV 8.1%). All eleven patients (100%) with both HBsAg and HBeAg an4 2 of 29 patients (6.9%) with HBsAg but not with HBeAg showed measurable HBV DNA (p < 0.001). In addition, serum levels of AST, ALT, and sIL-2R were significantly higher in HBV DNA measured patients compared with those of unmeasured patients. CONCLUSIONS: Above results show that more than half the HBsAg-positive patients do not have enough HBV DNA which is measurable with boNA signal amplification assay but all of HBeAg-positive patients and some of HBeAg-negative patients do. In addition, HBV DNA quantitation might be correlated with the disease activity in HBsAg-positive patients because serum levels of AST, ALT, and sIL-2R are higher in patients measured with HBV DNA than unmeasured.
Alanine Transaminase ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Branched DNA Signal Amplification Assay* ; DNA ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND: T cell mediated immune destruction is an important mechanism of liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R) seem to serve as a marker for the T cell activation and progressive liver injury, This study examined serum levels of sIft-2R and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in patients with chronic HCV infection to determine the correlation with the severity of chronic hepatocellular damage. METHODS: Serum levels of sIft-2R in 73 patients with HCV infection (chronic hepatitis 52, liver cirrhosis 9, hepatocellular carcinoma 12) and 40 healthy controls were measured by sandwich enzyme immunoassay (CELLFREE, T Cell Sciences, USA). HCV RNA was quantified by QUANTIPLEX(TM) HCV RNA 2.0 assay (Chiron, USA) with duplication. This assay is a sandwich nucleic acid hybridization procedure using branched DNA amplification for the quantitation of HCV RNA. RESULTS: The sIL-2R levels of 52 patients with chronic hepatitis (591.4+/-238.7U/mL), 9 with liver cirrhosis(949.4+/-721.9 U/mL), and 12 with hepatocellular carcinoma (1,167.4+/- 554.4 U/mL) were significantly higher than those of healthy controls(370.8+/-71.8 U/mL) (p<0.001). A progressive and significant increase occurred in sIL-2R levels with chronic hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in order (p(0.001). The HCV RNA was detected in all patients and the means of HCV viral load were 3.3 MEq/mL in chronic hepatitis, 2.8 MEq/mL in cirrhosis, and 3.7 MEq/mL in HCC. There was no significant correlation between HCV RNA and the severity of liver injury in chronic HCV infection. There were no correlations among sIL-2R, HCV RNA and serum ALT. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that chronic hepatocellular injury by HCV progress mainly by T cell mediated immune response, not by direct cytopathic injury. Also, sIL-2R can be useful as a marker in monitoring the patients with HCV infection at high risk of getting HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; DNA ; Fibrosis ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Interleukin-2* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; RNA ; Viral Load

BACKGROUND: T cell mediated immune destruction is an important mechanism of liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Serum levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R) seem to serve as a marker for the T cell activation and progressive liver injury, This study examined serum levels of sIft-2R and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA in patients with chronic HCV infection to determine the correlation with the severity of chronic hepatocellular damage. METHODS: Serum levels of sIft-2R in 73 patients with HCV infection (chronic hepatitis 52, liver cirrhosis 9, hepatocellular carcinoma 12) and 40 healthy controls were measured by sandwich enzyme immunoassay (CELLFREE, T Cell Sciences, USA). HCV RNA was quantified by QUANTIPLEX(TM) HCV RNA 2.0 assay (Chiron, USA) with duplication. This assay is a sandwich nucleic acid hybridization procedure using branched DNA amplification for the quantitation of HCV RNA. RESULTS: The sIL-2R levels of 52 patients with chronic hepatitis (591.4+/-238.7U/mL), 9 with liver cirrhosis(949.4+/-721.9 U/mL), and 12 with hepatocellular carcinoma (1,167.4+/- 554.4 U/mL) were significantly higher than those of healthy controls(370.8+/-71.8 U/mL) (p<0.001). A progressive and significant increase occurred in sIL-2R levels with chronic hepatitis C, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in order (p(0.001). The HCV RNA was detected in all patients and the means of HCV viral load were 3.3 MEq/mL in chronic hepatitis, 2.8 MEq/mL in cirrhosis, and 3.7 MEq/mL in HCC. There was no significant correlation between HCV RNA and the severity of liver injury in chronic HCV infection. There were no correlations among sIL-2R, HCV RNA and serum ALT. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that chronic hepatocellular injury by HCV progress mainly by T cell mediated immune response, not by direct cytopathic injury. Also, sIL-2R can be useful as a marker in monitoring the patients with HCV infection at high risk of getting HCC.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; DNA ; Fibrosis ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis C, Chronic* ; Hepatitis* ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Interleukin-2* ; Liver ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; RNA ; Viral Load

Plasmid vectors with either RSV or CMV promoter are frequently used for DNA- mediated immunization due to the availability in commercial. Consequently, influence of the vector constituents, such as promoter, enhancer and transcription termination signal etc. on vaccination efficiency is not studied extensively. As an initial attempt to develop an efficient vector system for DNA-rnediated immunization, influence of promoter for antigen gene expression on vaccination efficiency has been analyzed. Initially, plasmids with either B-actin or muscle creatine kinase (MCK) promoter were constructed from the plasmid with prototype CMV promoter. In addition, ovalbumin (OVA) antigen gene has been cloned into each vectors to generate the plasmid vectors with different promoters for induction of the anti-OVA immune responses. Antigen protein expression in antigen gene transfected mouse muscle myoblast cells showed that the level from MCK promoter containing plasmid was slightly higher than those from either CMV or B-actin promoter containing plasmids. Also, the same plasmid turned out to be slightly more efficient than other plasmids in antibody imrnune response induction in vivo, when they were applied both through intramuscularly and intradermally. These results suggest that the commonly used CMV promoter containing plasmid vector could be further modified to develop an efficient vector for DNA-mediated immunization.
Animals ; Clone Cells ; Creatine Kinase, MM Form ; Gene Expression ; Immunization ; Mice ; Myoblasts ; Ovalbumin ; Plasmids* ; Vaccination*

The microstructure of cationic cyclopeptide (TD-34) treated Caco-2 cell membrane was observed, and we discussed the relationship between membrane structure and insulin transmembrane permeability. Atomic force microscope (AFM) was used to observe living cell membrane in air condition and tapping mode. Results showed that the surface of Caco-2 cell membrane treated with TD-34 lost its smoothness and nearly doubled its roughness. Apparent permeability coefficients (P(app)) of insulin in Caco-2 cell monolayers increased 2.5 times. In conclusion, AFM can be used to observe microstructure of cationic cyclopeptide treated cell membrane and cationic cyclopeptide enhanced insulin delivery across Caco-2 cell membrane by increasing membrane fluidity.

AIM: To establish the simultaneous determination of camphor,menthol,synthetic borneol and methyl salicylate in Shexiang Zhuanggu Plaster(Camphor,Mentholum,Borneolum Syntheticum,etc). by GC. METHODS: The sample solution was distilled in volatile oil determination apparatus.Naphthalene was used for the internal standard.The GC system consisted of capillary column,PEG-20M as the stationary phase,nitrogen as the carrier gas,FID as the detector.The programmed temperature-GC and internal standard method was employed to determine four kinds of components in Shexiang Zhuanggu Plaster. RESULTS: Camphor,menthol,synthetic borneol(borneol and isoborneol) and methyl salicylate in Shexiang Zhuanggu Plaster and naphthalene have been separated well under the same chromatographic condition.The average recovery of camphor,menthol,synthetic borneol and methyl salicylate were 96.92%(RSD=2.42%),98.03%(RSD=1.81%),99.02%(RSD=1.47%) and 98.15%(RSD=1.59%),respectively. CONCLUSION: The method is simple,accurate and separable,and can be used to control the quality of Shexiang Zhuanggu Plaster

No abstract available.
Humans ; Infant, Newborn*

BACKGROUND: A hand hygiene policy has been introduced by the Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards for Hospitals (JCI); the purpose of this policy is to ensure that systematic standards are continuously practiced at hospitals in order to improve the quality of medical care and the safety of patients and health care workers. This policy requires that phlebotomists wear new gloves and disinfect their hands before attending a patient to prevent nosocomial infections and to protect the phlebotomists. This study aimed to assess the responses of patients and guardians regarding the hand hygiene procedures. METHODS: Between January and February 2010, a questionnaire survey was performed at our hospital for 310 outpatients, 93 inpatients, and 189 guardians. RESULTS: In all, 70.8% of respondents answered that phlebotomists did not require considerable time to remove and wear gloves, and 69.9% responded that phlebotomists could readily detect veins even with their gloves on. Besides, 81.9% respondents thought that it was sanitarily important for phlebotomists to remove their gloves and disinfect their hands after a venipuncture, whereas only 2.8% thought that this practice caused discomfort. CONCLUSION: The patients and guardians recognized that the hand hygiene procedures were important for their own safety and encouraged their application rather than considering them uncomfortable or inappropriate. Introduction and maintenance of the hand hygiene policy of JCI would not be difficult because patients or guardians recognized its importance.
Accreditation ; Cross Infection ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Dietary Sucrose ; Gloves, Protective ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Joints ; Outpatients ; Phlebotomy ; Veins

Though the primary carcinoma of the vermiform appendix is rare, the secondary carcinoma of the vermiform appendix is extremely rare. About fourty cases have been reported through the world. The breast is most common primary site, and adenocarcinoma is most common form. The metastatic carcinoma of the vermiform appendix, from squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix, were extremely rare. The authors experienced a case of metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the vermiform appendix, in thirty-two years old housewife. She was diagnosed with carcinoma of the uterine cervix on December, 1983, and treated with a radical hysterectomy on February, 1984, at Chicago, and with a radiation therapy. She had been suffered from palpable masses on left axilla and left neck region, and and coughing and chest pain. After an excision biopsy, on August, 1984, she showed intestinal obstruction sign including abdominal distension with abdominal pain. A right-sided hemicolectomy was performed on November, 1984. During gross examination, the wall of the distal portion of the vermiform appendix was moderatery thickened, and showed homogeneous light yellow cut surface. On microscopic examination, there were clusters of tumors that had negative stained preparations. On electron microscopic examination, the secretory granules were not found, and the characteristics of squamous cells, including intercellular spaces, desmosomes and tonofibrils, were noted.
Adenocarcinoma ; Neoplasm Metastasis