The proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic duct epithelial cells in remnant pancreas during regeneration after partial pancreatectomy in rats were studied, and the source of pancreatic stem cells was characterized. Partial (90 %) pancreatectomy was performed on 4- to 5-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats, and different duct epithelial cells and acinar cells were detected by immunohistrochemical stain method and scored using 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling index (LI) at various time points after partial pancreatectomy. It was found that at 24 h after partial pancreatectomy proliferation started in the main, large and small duct cells, and persisted in small duct cells to day 5. There was significant difference between the experimental group and the control group (P<0.001). Acinar cells positive for BrdU were greatly increased and reached the peak LI on day 5. The destroyed lobular architecture almost totally recovered on day 7, and the newly islet cells appeared around the pancreatic ducts. These results suggest that regeneration after partial pancreatectomy is involved in proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic stem cells, and pancreatic stem cells may locate in the pancreatic ductules.

The experience in diagnosis and treatment of bleeding complications in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) by transcatheter arterial embolization was summarized. The clinical data of 19 SAP patients complicated with intra-abdominal bleeding in our hospital from Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2003 were analyzed retrospectively and the therapeutic outcome of TAE was evaluated statistically. The results showed that the short-term successful rate of hemostasis by TAE was 89.5% (17/19), the incidence of re-bleeding after TAE was 36.8% (7/19) and the successful rate of hemostatis by second TAE was 71.4% (5/7). It was concluded that the intra-abdominal bleeding in SAP was mainly caused by the rupture of erosive/infected pseudoaneurysm. Mostly, the broken vessels were splenic artery and gastroduodenal artery; In terms of emergence hemostatis, TAE is the most effective method. Surgical hemostasis is necessary if hemostasis by TAE is failed or re-bleeding occurs after TAE.
Aneurysm, False/diagnosis ; Aneurysm, False/etiology ; Aneurysm, False/therapy ; *Embolization, Therapeutic/methods ; Hemoperitoneum/diagnosis ; Hemoperitoneum/etiology ; Hemoperitoneum/*therapy ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst/diagnosis ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst/etiology ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst/therapy ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing/*complications ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing/therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To sum up the experience on diagnosis and treatment of intraabdominal bleeding in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). Methods The clinical data of 37 SAP patients with bleeding complications from Jan 1999 to Jan 2003 were analyzed retrospectively. The causes of bleeding were of erosive (5 cases), infected (20 cases), intra operative/postoperative (10 cases) and coagulopathy (2 cases). Results The mortality was 10% (2/19) for transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), 30% (7/23) for laparotomy, 50% (2/4) for conservative thepary. The cause related mortality was 0 (0/5), 30% (6/20), 40% (4/10) and 50% (1/2) for erosive, infection, intra/post operative, and coagulopathy respectively. Conclusion In SAP most intra abdominal bleedings are from erosive/infective pseudoaneurysms of splenic artery or/and gastroduodenal artery. The preferred diagnosis methods were CT and selective angiography which often give definite diagnosis. TAE is most effective therapy, when it fails, a surgery is necessary.

OBJECTIVE:To optimize the extraction technology for organic acids in Crataegi fructus. METHODS:Based on sin-gle factor test,using liquid-solid ratio,extraction time and ethanol volume fraction as independent variables,extraction yield of or-ganic acids as dependent variable,central composite design-response surface method was used to optimize the extraction technology of organic acids in Crataegi fructus. RESULTS:The optimal extraction technology was as follow as liquid-solid ratio of 18.5:1, adding 75% ethanol,reflux extraction twice,2.0 h each time. Average extraction yield of organic acids in verification test was 5.22%(RSD=2.70%,n=3),with 1.75% relative error of the predicted value(5.13%). CONCLUSIONS:Optimized extraction technology for organic acids in Crataegi fructus is simple,with good reproducibility and predictability.

To investigate the protein and mRNA expression of pancreas/duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1), a transcription factor as a marker for pancreatic stem cells, in pancreatic ductal cells of rats after partial (90%) pancreatectomy and evaluated the significance of the PDX-1 expression. Western blot and Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to detect the expression of PDX-1 protein and mRNA respectively. PDX-1 protein was only faintly detected in pancreatic ductal cells on the day 1 after partial pancreatectomy. On the day 2 and 3 after operation in operation group, a 2-3 fold increased PDX-1 protein was observed, corresponding to the characteristic 42-kD protein in Western blot. There was significant difference between operation group and sham-operation group (P<0.05). PDX-1 protein expression on the day 5 and 7 after operation had already been no difference from control group (P>0.05). RT-PCR revealed the PDX-1 mRNA expression showed no significant difference between operation group at various time points and sham-operation group (P> 0.05). These results indicate that there was overexpression of PDX-1 in the cells of pancreatic epithelium during the regeneration of remnant pancreas after partial pancreatectomy in adult rats, suggesting the pancreatic stem cells in pancreatic ductal epithelial cells are involved in the regeneration of remnant pancreas and the expression of PDX-1 in ductal cells was regulated posttranscription.
Epithelial Cells/metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins/*biosynthesis ; Homeodomain Proteins/genetics ; Pancreatectomy/methods ; Pancreatic Ducts/cytology ; Pancreatic Ducts/*metabolism ; RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger/genetics ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Trans-Activators/*biosynthesis ; Trans-Activators/genetics

Background Our pervious antibacterial studies on several traditional Chinese medicines have found that Patchouli oil from Pogostemon cablin had significant antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),which has spread worldwide and infected innumerable people.In order to find the more active natural substances in Patchouli oil,one of the major components,Pogostone,was isolated and its antibacterial activity was evaluated in vitro and in vivo in this study.Methods In vitro test,Pogostone was screened for antimicrobial properties against 83 bacteria comprising 35 gram positive and 48 gram negative bacteria strains via the agar double dilution method.In vivo test,specific pathogen free (SPF) strain of both male and female white Kunming mice,weighing 18-22 g,were used to test the protective ability of Pogostone after being injected with the median lethal doses (MLDs) of the tested strains.Results In vitro test,Pogostone could inhibit both gram negative bacteria (0.098-1 600 μg/ml) and gram positive bacteria(0.098-800 μg/ml).For Corynebacterium xerosis and some Chryseobacterium indologenes,the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of Pogostone were extremely low (＜0.098 μg/ml).It was significant that Pogostone was also active against some drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA.Furthermore,Pogostone showed antibacterial activity in vivo against Escherichia coli (E.coli) and MRSA via intraperitoneal injection.Ninety percent of the mice infected with E.coil could be protected at the concentrations of 50 and 100 mg/kg,and 60％ of the mice at 25 mg/kg,while the rate of protection for the mice infected with MRSA was 60％ and 50％ at doses of 100 and 50 mg/kg,respectively.Conclusion Pogostone could be developed as a potential antibacterial agent for clinical therapy.

Animals ; Cold Temperature ; adverse effects ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Inflammation ; physiopathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Particulate Matter ; adverse effects ; Rats

Blood Coagulation ; Blood Coagulation Disorders ; virology ; Coronavirus Infections ; complications ; Humans ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; complications

The experience in diagnosis and treatment of bleeding complications in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) by transcatheter arterial embolization was summarized. The clinical data of 19 SAP patients complicated with intra-abdominal bleeding in our hospital from Jan. 2000 to Jan. 2003 were analyzed retrospectively and the therapeutic outcome of TAE was evaluated statistically. The results showed that the short-term successful rate of hemostasis by TAE was 89.5 % (17/19), the incidence of re-bleeding after TAE was 36.8 % (7/19) and the successful rate of hemostatis by second TAE was 71.4 % (5/7). It was concluded that the intra-abdominal bleeding in SAP was mainly caused by the rupture of erosive/infected pseudoaneurysm. Mostly, the broken vessels were splenic artery and gastroduodenal artery. In terms of emergence hemostatis, TAE is the most effective method. Surgical hemostasis is necessary if hemostasis by TAE is failed or re-bleeding occurs after TAE.

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic efficacy of dietary boron supplement on retinoic acid-induced osteoporosis in rats, so as to provide experimental evidence for clinical management of osteoporosis with boron.

METHODSThirty-two SD rats were randomized into normal control group (8 rats) and osteoporotic group (24 rats), and osteoporosis was induced in rats of the latter group by intragastric retinoic acid administration at the daily dose of 80 mg/kg for 15 consecutive days. The osteoporotic rats were subdivided into control group (8 rats) without treatment, boron treatment group (8 rats) and estradiol treatment group (8 rats). After 30 days of treatment, the serum contents of Ca, P, boron and the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) in the rats were assayed, the bone mineral density (BMD) of the whole body, lumbar vertebrae and tibia were determined, and the morphological changes of the femurs were observed.

RESULTSThe serum contents of Ca and P in the rats of the 4 groups differed scarcely, but the content of boron in boron treatment group was markedly higher than that in the other three groups. In the osteoporotic control group, the activities of serum AKP and TRAP, the masses of spongy bone and cortical bone of the femurs, and the quantity of the osteoclasts were increased, with the BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and tibia decreased, suggesting osteoporotic conditions. The mean trabecular plate density and thickness, trabecular bone volume and cortical bone volume of the femurs in the osteoporotic rats treated with boron or estradiol were significantly increased, but the active osteoclast quantity in the spongy bone and serum TRAP activities were obviously decreased, and the bone quality was comparable with that of the normal group. In addition, the serum AKP activity and the active osteoblast quantity in the spongy bone were obviously increased in boron treatment group.

CONCLUSIONThe dietary boron supplement can increase the serum content of boron of osteoporotic rats to stimulate bone formation and inhibit bone resorption, producing therefore obvious therapeutical effect against osteoporosis.

Acid Phosphatase ; blood ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; blood ; Animals ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Boron ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Femur ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Isoenzymes ; blood ; Osteoporosis ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tartrate-Resistant Acid Phosphatase ; Time Factors ; Tretinoin