AIM: To explore the relationship between caspase activation and the evasion of Legionella from macrophage elimination through a Legionella-infected macrophage model. METHODS: After infected by Legionella, the activity of caspase 3 in macrophages was analyzed by confocal microscopy as well as fluorescence reader. Growth and replication of Legionella in macrophage was assayed. Replication of Legionella was analyzed again to see the effect of caspase 3 inhibition on the growth of Legionella after use of caspase 3 inhibitor. RESULTS: Both confocal microscopy and caspase 3 fluorescent substrate analysis showed that Legionella virulent strain had powerful capability of activating caspase 3 while the mutant non-virulent strain did not have this capability. The virulent strain highly replicated in macrophages and the replication was significantly inhibited by caspase 3 inhibitor. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the intracellular caspase 3 is activated shortly after infection by Legionella virulent strain. The evasion of Legionella from the elimination of macrophages may be mediated by caspase 3 activation to a great degree.

The viewpoint of treating gallbladder and combinedtreatment of liver and gallbladder for liver diseasse isproposed and the therapeutic project of intravenousdrip of Mixture of Radix Bupleuri plus Radix SalviaeMiltiorrhizae is formulated.Sixty eases of chronic hep-atitis of damp—heat of liver—gallbladder with block-age of collaterals by stagnant blood were thus treated.Results revealed the relief of jaundice,decrease of en-zyme and inhibition of viral replication in treatinggroup are all better than the western drug controlgroup.

AIM: To explore the effect of TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL), a new apoptotic inducing molecule on the biological activity of hepatocarcinoma cell line. METHODS: The expression of membrane binding TRAIL on HepG2 cells was detected by immuno-cytochemistry. Quantity of secretory TRAIL was assayed by ELISA method. The cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by TRAIL was detected by MTT and TUNEL method, respectively. The telomerase activity of HepG2 cells was detected by TRAP-PCR assay kit. The expression of hTERT, the catalytic subunit of telomerase, was detected by FCM. RESULTS: TRAIL was constitutively expressed on the membrane of HepG2 cell line. Soluble TRAIL was also expressed to a certain degree. Cytotoxicity assay showed that TRAIL significantly inhibited the growth of hepatocarcinoma cells. TUNEL assay indicated that TRAIL induced apoptosis in hepatocarcinoma cells. Detection of telomerase activity showed that TRAIL inhibited telomerase activity and the expression of telomerase catalytic subunit. CONCLUSION: TRAIL is an effective molecule to inhibit the growth of hepatocarcinoma through multiple pathways, such as inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the activity of telomerase.

BACKGROUND: Conventional hemodialysis mainly for cleaning uremic micro molecule substance, such as urea nitrogen or creatinine; however, few hemodialyses can clean uremic middle molecule substances (MMS). With prolonged dialysis duration, MMS accumulates in vivo and induces a series of complications. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency of adsorptive dialysis (hemoperfusion unites hemodialysis) and conventional hemodialysis in cleaning uremic MMS. METHODS: Totally 60 maintenance hemodialysis patients were averagely divided into the adsorptive dialysis group and conventional hemodialysis group. First of all, hemoperfusion apparatus and dialyser were connected in series to take the adsorptive dialysis in the adsorptive dialysis group (hemoperfusion apparatus were equipped before dialyser). 120 minutes later, the hemoperfusion apparatus was toke off and continues to hemodialysis for 120 minutes. Duration of conventional hemodialysis was 240 minutes. Changes in clinical symptoms and levels of liver function, kidney function, serum electrolytes, hemocytes and uremic MMS were observed prior to and after treatment. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Adsorptive dialysis could remove the MMS notably. Compared with the conventional hemodialysis group, a single 120 minutes treatment could decrease MMS significantly (P < 0.05). The platelet levels were obviously decreased in the adsorptive dialysis group after treatment (P < 0.05), which were significantly different from the conventional hemodialysis group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in liver function, kidney function or serum electrolytes concentration. But related symptoms, such as the skin itch, sleep disorders and myalgia, were relieved more or less.

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury （MIRI） is a serious complication of revascularization in patients with myocardial infarction. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 （Nrf2）/heme oxygenase-1 （HO-1） signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathological process of MIRI. Currently，research has found that traditional Chinese medicine has a good effect on myocardial injury caused by ischemia-reperfusion. Based on the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway，this article summarizes the action mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine formulas and monomers in intervening with MIRI. It is found that traditional Chinese medicine formulas （Yixin formula，Wenyang tongmai formula，Dingxin formula Ⅰ），monomers such as terpenoids （ginkgolides， astragaloside Ⅳ，ginsenosides），phenols （brazilin，hematoxylin A，resveratrol） and quinones （aloe，emodin） can alleviate MIRI by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway，inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions，etc.