Objective To observe the curative effect of Rougan Granules on rats hepatocirrhosis induced by carbon tetra- chloride(CCl_4)with 10 % alcohol and high fat feed.Method The rat model was established by gastric garage of CCh (CCl_4:salad oil=1:1)1 mL/kg twice a week for two weeks,and with 10 % alcohol as drinking water,high fat feed as food.After administration of CCl_4,the rats were divided into 5 groups:the model group,high-,medium-and low-dosage of Rougan Granules groups,the eolchicine group.And normal control group was also set up.After adminis- tration for 6 weeks,hyaluronic acid,typeⅣcollagen and typeⅢprecollagen in serum were measured and liver histopathol- ogy examination was done.Result The contents of hyaluronic acid,typeⅣcollagen and typeⅢprecollagen in model rats were increased significantly,while Rougan Granules could decrease those increase significantly.Liver histopathology exami- nation showed medium or high fatty degeneration of hepatic cell,obvious hyperplasia of fibrous tissue with fibrous distance broaden and pseudolobuli formed in model group,but in Rougan Granules group the general pathological changes of liver were less.Conclusion Rougan Granules have an effect of experimental anti-hepatocirrhosis in rats.

Objective To analyze the ultrasonic features of thyroid microcarcinoma (TMC) and the causes of misdiagnosis. Methods The ultrasonic features including shape, margin, echogenecity, microcalcification, vascularity and lymphadenopathy were analyzed retrospectively in 26 pathologically-proven TMC patients. Results In 26 cases, 11 cases were diagnosed correctly before operation (11/26, 42.31%), 12 cases were misdiagnosed (12/26, 46.15%) as adenoma or benign nodule, and 3 cases were missed diagnosed (3/26, 11.54%). Among the 23 cases detected on ultrasound, 21 cases were solid and hypoechoic (21/23, 91.30%);19 cases were ill-defined (19/23, 82.61%);12 cases were taller than wide in shape (12/23, 52.17%); 14 cases had microcalcification (14/23, 60.87%); 7 cases showed central or peripheral blood flow signals (7/23,30.43%) with arterial resistance index>0.70 in 3 lesions and<0.70 in 4 lesions. Conclusions Several ultrasonographic features are helpful in identiifcation of TMC, including hypo/iso-echogenecity, ill-deifned margin, taller-than-wide shape, microcalciifcation, arterial signals with high resistance index, and abnormal lymphadenopathy. Moreover, for cases with multiple lesions, to the potential co-existence of benign and malignant lesions should be considered.

OBJECTIVETrying to find out the mechanism of microstructure influencing bacterial adhesion, we prepared different microstructures to compare the adsorptive behavior of graphite powder and adhesive behavior of oral microbe.

METHODSWe used polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to copy 23 microstructures of hydroxyapatite (HA) chip, and cultured them with different sizes graphite powder and oral microbes respectively, to observe and compare their behavior on microstructures.

RESULTSThe adsorption of 30-50 microm powder on different microstructures was insignificant, while 10-20 microm powder had maximum adsorption on 10 microm and 20 microm microstructures. Saccharomyces albicans was most likely to adhere to 5 microm microstructures which was equivalent to its own size. However, microstructures had little effect on adhesion of Streptococcus mutans which grew in a chain.

CONCLUSIONThe size of microstructure was the most effective factor that affects the adsorption of non-living powder, and it also had the same effect on the microbial adhesion; but some special bacteria, such as Streptococcus mutans which grew in a chain, was not affected by the sizes or shapes of microstructures.

Adsorption ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Adhesion ; Durapatite ; Graphite ; Mouth ; microbiology ; Streptococcus mutans

Objective To explore the effects of modified tubo-uterine implantations performed on women with proximal tubal occlusive infertility after femal sterilization with mucilago phenol.Methods Two hundred and eight infertile women who were admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between 1986 and 2004 were included.They all accepted modified tubo-uterine implantation after occlusion of fallopian tubes with mucilago phenol.Results It was found that the occlusions were all located in the interstitial portion or isthmic portion of the fallopian tubes.Different degrees of pelvic adhesions were found in 65 cases.Fifty-seven cases were slightly adhesive,seven cases were of moderate degree and one case was severe.One hundred and ninety-nine cases were followed up after operations(95.7%).One hundred and ninety-three women accepted hydrotubation in the following month just after the operation and 185 women were found to be unobstructed(95.8%).One hundred and forty-three women became pregnant, the pregnant rate being 71.9%(143/199).One hundred and twenty-five women had term deliveries (87.4%),three women were in early pregnancy and two in midtrimester pregnancy.Eleven women had spontaneous abortion(7.7%).Two women had tubal pregnancy(1.0%).None of the 199 cases had any signs of endometriosis.Conelusions Modified tubo-uterine implantations are quite effective for proximal tubal occlusive infertility.It may be a favorable method for such kind of tubal occlusions.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of plasma bilirubin level increase after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

METHODSRats were divided into a sham operation group (A group), a 20 min ischemia-reperfusion group (B group) and a 35 min ischemia-reperfusion group (C group). Study time points were 6 hours and 1, 3, and 5 days after the reperfusion. Pathological changes in the livers were studied with histological slides stained with hematoxilin and eosin. Routine biochemistry methods were used to detect the bilirubin level of blood plasma and the bile drained from the ischemic hepatic lobes. RT-PCR was used to analyze the expression of the multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2) and mRNA. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the localization of MRP2 in the canalicular membrane.

RESULTSB and C groups showed a mild inflammatory reaction without hepatocyte necrosis. At 6 h and 1 day after reperfusion, there was a significant increase of the plasma bilirubin level and a decrease of the bilirubin level of the drained bile in B group. These changes lasted to the day 3 and day 5 in C group. MRP2 mRNA down-regulation was found at 6 h only in the B and C groups. No localization of MRP2 in the canalicular membrane was found but it appeared in "esicules" under the canalicular membrane in C group.

CONCLUSIONSAbsence of MRP2 localization in the canalicular membrane could be the cause of the blood plasma bilirubin level increase after liver ischemia-reperfusion.

Animals ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; Male ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; blood

OBJECTIVETo seek a new method for the categorization of burn severity.

METHODSBurn patients hospitalized in our center from December of 1958 to December of 2004 were enrolled in the study, and they were divided into different age groups according to same mortality, then the patients in each group were subdivided into 4 groups according to the burn severity: i.e., mild burns, moderate burns, severe burns, serious severe burns. The total burn area, the number of cases, the mortality, and the area of DI degree burns were statistically analyzed in each subgroup, and the scope in total burn area and area of III degree burns were taken as standards to define the degree of burns. The logistic regression equation was established with probability of death as the variable, and age, total burn area, burn area of different degrees as concomitant variables to form a logistic regression formula. It was used to predict the probability of death of patients hospitalized in 2005, 50 as to check whether the corresponding indices of these patients were consistant with above standard of categorization into degrees, and to judge hum severity of the patients who had concomitant inhalation injury, severe associated injury, or those with serious disease before burns.

RESULTSThe patients were divided into three groups: less than 2 years of age (including 2 years of age), 2 to 55 years of age(including 55 years of age), and older than 55 years of age groups. The classification standard of burn area was shown in table 2 of the article. The probability of death and corresponding indices predicted hy the logistic regression equation were highly coincident with our standard. Patients with moderate inhalation injury could be regarded as patients with severe or most severe burns, while severity of those with mild inhalation injury could be determined by burn area alone.

CONCLUSIONThe logistic regression equation is a good method to predict the severity of burn patients, with reasonable age specificity grouping, and accurate and practical scoring of division for corresponding burn severity.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Burns ; classification ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Injury Severity Score ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the feasibility of evaluation of CFR for LAD and right coronary artery (RCA) as well as diagnostic accuracy for patency of each vessel by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE).

METHODS65 consecutive patients (age 58 +/- 14, ejection fraction 49% +/- 8%, 48 men and 17 women) were studied for CFR by TTDE with adenosine infusion (140 microg.kg(-1).min(-1)). LAD flow was interrogated nearby the apex in modified 2-ch apical view. RCA flow was interrogated at mid posterior wall on distal part of the posterior descending branch (PDA) in modified 2-ch apical view for PDA.

RESULTSFlow for LAD was detected in all patients (4 with use of contrast agent) and for RCA in 55 patients (5 with contrast agent). Two patients had an occluded RCA. Feasibility of RCA flow detection was 55/63 (87%). In all patients maximal flow of each branch was detected in less than 2 min of adenosine infusion (140 mg.kg(-1).min(-1)). Total time for both CFR estimation was 7.3 +/- 1.6 min. Selecting 2.0 or 1.8 as CFR cut-off value for diagnosis of coronary stenosis (> or = 50% in diameter) or severe stenosis (> or = 70%) was found fitted for both LAD and RCA with similar diagnostic performance (sensitivity 89%/93%, specificity 86%/84%, area under curve 0.89/0.92 respectively, in stenosis diagnosis and sensitivity 88%/89%, specificity 90%/83%, area under curve 0.94/0.95 respectively in severe stenosis diagnosis).

CONCLUSIONSCFR evaluation of both distal LAD and PDA is of high feasibility and can provide high diagnostic yield for relevant vessel patency.

Adult ; Coronary Circulation ; Coronary Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Vessels ; diagnostic imaging ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; methods ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effects of intervention of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFa)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway activation on hepatoma cell proliferation and to explore its mechanism.

METHODSA rodent hepatoma model was established by feeding N-2-fluorenylacetamide (2-N-FAA) to male Sprague-Dawley rats. Human subjects with various liver diseases were enrolled in the study, and serum and peripheral blood nuclear cells were collected for analysis. HepG2 cells were cultured in vitro and treated with anti-TNFa (monoclonal antibody, mAb) to down-regulate its expression or transfected with siRNA targeting the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB to inhibit its activation. The liver cell line L02 was used as a control. Changes in protein and gene expression levels of NF-kappaB and TNFa were analyzed by Western blotting or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and real-time PCR, respectively. Changes in the cell cycle or apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry or Annexin-V/PI double-labeling assay, respectively.

RESULTSTNFa and NF-kappaB expression showed increasing trends during the malignant transformation of rat hepatocytes, and the differential expression patterns showed association with histopathological alterations in the hepatocytes. Following treatment with the TNFa mAb, the HepG2 cells showed a higher percentage of apoptotic cells than the untreated control cells (21.45% +/- 4.07% vs. 5.63% +/- 0.93%, q =10.07, P less than 0.01).There was a significant difference in the rate of cells in the G0/G1 phase in the p65-siRNA transfected cells (66.23% +/- 1.29% vs. untreated control cells: 59.00% +/- 1.02%, q =10.98, P less than 0.01). The decreased expression of TNFa and NF-kappaB in cell culture supernatants was positively correlated with the dose of treatment (r =0.89, P less than 0.01), with the most robust decreases being achieved with the highest concentrations ( P less than 0.01). NF-kappaB expression was significantly higher in the HepG2 cells than in the L02 cells, and transfection of p65-siRNA reduced the mRNA (93%) and protein (62%) levels and increased the cell apoptosis index (to 85%).

CONCLUSIONProliferation of hepatoma cells may be significantly inhibited by intervening in the activation of the TNFa/NF-kappaB signaling pathway, which promotes cell apoptosis and blocks cell cycling.

Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Transfection ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of infliximab combined with surgery in the treatment of perianal fistulizing Crohn disease (CD).

METHODSClinical data of 15 patients with perianal fistulizing CD receiving infliximab combined with surgery in the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from March 2010 to June 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. One week after operation, all the patients received infliximab infusion thrice at weeks 0, 2, and 6. Crohn disease activity index (CDAI), perianal Crohn disease activity index (PDAI), body mass index (BMI), routine blood test and endoscopy were evaluated at week 0, 14. Adverse reactions and healing time were recorded.

RESULTSAt week 14, the response rate was 100% with 86.7% (13/15) complete responders. One patient had local improvement and one developed recurrent fistula. The mean healing time was 32.5 (20-45) d. Anorectal stenosis in 4 patients was significantly improved. At week 14, CDAI decreased to 114.0±90.3 from 230.5±97.5 after IFX treatment. PCDAI decreased to 2.8±3.2 from 9.9±3.4, and BMI increased to (21.5±3.0)kg/m(2) from (19.1±3.1)kg/m(2). C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), platelet and neutrophil were significantly decreased from baseline (all P<0.01). Intestinal mucosa healed completely in one patient. There were no serious adverse events except hypokalemia in one patient and severe infusion reaction in another.

CONCLUSIONInfliximab combined with surgery is effective and safe for perianal fistulizing CD.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Crohn Disease ; complications ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infliximab ; Male ; Rectal Fistula ; drug therapy ; etiology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEto develop a high performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC) for the determination of paraquat in rabbit plasma and study its toxicokinetics in rabbits.

METHODStwelve rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups with giving oral and intravenous administration of paraquat at a single dose of 60 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg respectively. The plasma paraquat concentrations were determined by HPLC and calculated by DAS pharmacokinetics program.

RESULTSthe linear range of paraquat in plasma was 0.05 ∼ 50.00 mg/L (r = 0.9998). The relative recoveries of the assay were 99.41% ∼ 102.32%. The absolute recoveries of the assay were 83.72% ∼ 90.48%. Both the intra-day and inter-day validations were less than 10%. For oral administration, the toxicokinetics parameters of paraquat were as follows: Cmax (14.46 ± 2.35) mg/L, Tmax (1.63 ± 0.31) h, AUC(0-t) (177.61 ± 14.62) mg × h/L, AUC(0-∞) (182.24 ± 14.54) mg × h/L, While for intravenous administration, the toxicokinetics parameters of paraquat: Cmax (35.13 ± 5.53) mg/L, Tmax 0.05 h, AUC(0-t) (121.74 ± 12.30) mg × h/L, AUC(0-∞) (125.12 ± 12.17) mg × h/L, The difference of these parameters between the two groups had statistical significance (P < 0.05). The oral bioavailability was (14.66 ± 1.55)%.

CONCLUSIONthe oral bioavailability of paraquat is relatively low. The biological half life of paraquat is relatively long and there is no significant difference between oral administration and intravenous on biological half life. This method is simple, sensitive and accurate. It can be used for the investigation of paraquat in rabbits.

Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Biological Availability ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Injections, Intravenous ; Male ; Paraquat ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Rabbits