AIM: To study the effect of garlicin on protecting nonalcoholic fat liver in rats induced by high fat diet and explore the pathogenesis involved. METHODS: According to the dosage of garlicin and diet, fifty SD rats were randomly divided into five equal groups: normal control group, model control group and garlicin (10, 20, 30 mg/kg) groups. Apart from the rats in normal control group, the rats were all fed with high fat and high cholesterol diet. After 12 weeks, the levels of serum endotoxin (ETX), total cholesterols (TC), triglyceride (TG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), transaminase and free fatty acids (FFA) were detected. The levels of MDA, SOD, glutathione hormone (GSH) in hepatic tissue were also detected. Then the features of live pathology were observed. RESULTS: The levels of ETX, TC and TG in garlicin groups were significantly lower than those in model control group (P

Objective To explore the relationship between the CHADS2 score and short-term prognosis in acute ischemic stroke patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. Methods Consecutive ischemic stroke patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who were hospitalized within 7 days after stroke were registered.Patients were divided into 3 groups on the basis of CHADS2 pre-stroke score (0 to 1,2,3to 6).And recovery was assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months follow-up (mRS ≤ 2reflected good prognosis,and mRS ≥ 5 implicated unfavorable outcome).After screening the risk factors affecting prognosis using univariate analysis,the relationship between CHADS2 score and prognosis was estimated using logistic regression model.Results Of 203 patients enrolled,the CHADS2 score of 0-1,2,3-6 were present in 72,53 and 78 respectively.Patients with the higher CHADS2 score had a higher initial NIHSS score (9.8,12.6,13.0,F =3.404,P =0.008 ),more likely to receive nosocomial pulmonary infection( 12.5％,34.0％,39.7％,x2 =14.643,P =0.001 ),negatively related to good prognosis (x2 =28.542,P =0.000 ) and positively related to unfavorable outcome ( x2 =23.575,P =0.000 ).Logistic regression model results suggested that CHADS2 score was an independent predictor of good prognosis and unfavorable outcome. Compared with CHADS2 score 3-6, CHADS2 score 0-1 was independently associated with good prognosis ( OR =5.018,95 ％ CI 2.055-12.560 ).And compared with CHADS2 score 0-1,CHADS2 score 3-6 was independently associated with unfavorable outcome ( OR =6.197,95％ CI1.670-22.996 ).Conclusions CHADS2 pre-stroke score appears to be useful in prediction of stroke outcome for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.After acute ischemic stroke,the patients with the lower CHADS2 score (0-1) are more likely to achieve good prognosis,inversely,the patients with the higher CHADS2 score (3-6) are more likely to achieve unfavorable outcome.

Objective To study the application effect of fibrin sealant(FS) during operation for late-stage portal hypertension caused by schistosomiasis.Methods From Jun,2003 to Jun,2005,92 cases of(late-stage) portal hypertension caused by schistosomiasis treated by portal-systemic disconn-ection(PSD)(operation) were divided into two groups,namely PSD group and PSD+FS group.The early complications such as fever and exudate in splenic fossa,as well as long term complications such as recurrent bleeding,(hypertensive) gastropathy were compared in the 2 groups,and encephalopathy were compared between 64 cases of patients with FS and 28 cases of patients without FS.Results The patients undergoing PSD+FS showed decreased the exudate in splenic fossa and fever(P0 05).Conclusions FS application during operation is effective in attenuating early and long term operative complications of portal hypertension caused by(schistosomiasis),and improving outcome of surgical treatment.

Objective To investigate the relationship between blood pressure(BP) and prognosis in three different ischemic stroke subtypes.Methods The consecutive patients with a brain infarction proven on diffusion-weighted MRI who were hospitalized within 48 hours after stroke onset between April 2007 and April 2008 were registered.All subjects with acute ischemic stroke consecutively admitted to the neurological wards of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College,were registered in the Wenzhou Stroke Registry Program.Data were collected and coded at primary registration.The BP levels were studied during the initial 7 hospital days.Survival and dependency were assessed at 3 months.Outcomes were adjusted age,consciousness level,admission NIHSS score,the decline level of systolic BP,the decline level of diastolic BP,complication and so on. Logistic regression model was used to estimate the relationship between BP and prognosis.Results A U-shaped effect was observed in each subgroup between BP and prognosis.In the subgroups of atherothrombosis,cardioembolism and small artery disease,those who had a BP of 150/95 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)on admission,140/90 mm Hg on day 1-7 would have a better prognosis.In the subgroups of atherothrombosis and cardioembolism,the decrease of BP during the first 24 hours was the independent predictor of the death and disability at 3-month.In the atherothrombosis group,when the decrease of systolic BP during the first 24 hours was greater than 20 mm Hg,the risk of the death and disability at 3-month increased 4.44 times(OR 4.44,95%CI 1.70-11.59,P=0.002).In the atherothrombosis group,when the decrease of diastolic BP during the first 24 hours was greater than 10 mm Hg,the risk of the death/disability at 3-month increased 3.70 times(OR 3.70,95%CI 1.54-8.90.P=0.00).In the cardioembolism group,the risk increased respectively 7.98 times(OR 7.98,95%CI 1.34-47.66.P=0.026)and 6.68 times(OR 6.68.95%CI 1.55-28.79,P=0.01).In the subgroups of small artery disease,the decrease of BP during the first 24 hours was not the independent predictor of the death and disability at 3-month.Conclusions A U-shaped effect is observed in each subgroup between BP and prognosis.In the subgroups of atherothrombosis and cardioembolism,the decrease of BP during the first 24 hours is the independent predictor of the death and disability at 3-month.

Objective To summarize the features of esophageal hiatus hernia (EHH) on contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and investigate the diagnostic value of CEUS in EHH.Methods A retrospective analysis of 88 EHH patients and 50 healthy controls was conducted with focus on their findings on CEUS.Results The structures of the cardiac and abdominal esophagus were clear in 50 healthy controls,and the esophageal hiatus diameters were (1.96±0.39) cm.In contrast,the cardiac and abdominal esophagus in EHH patients were unable to be identified in subdiaphragm region.The esophageal hiatus was wider with a diameter of (3.24±0.76) cm.The difference was statistically significant(t=2.36,P＜0.05).The hernia sacs were found in 78 EHH patients at rest.And the hernia sacs were present on the diaphragm in 10 EHH patients after pressure.The maximum diameter of hernia sac was 7.6 cm.The size of hernia sac may change with abdominal pressure.In sliding EHH patients,the sac wall was found to slide up and down the diaphragm.A mass was found on the wall in 2 patients.The B ring was present in 76 patients.For healthy controls in supine position,contrast-enhanced ultrasound showed that the gastric bottom and diaphragm were at dependent or horizontal position.The gastric bottom and diaphragm was upward in 73 patients.Conclusions The EHH has characteristic appearance on CEUS.It is easy to detect and diagnose EHH with CEUS,which has a diagnostic value in detection of space-occupying lesions in hernia sac.CEUS can be used for EHH screening.

Cirrhosis with portal hypertension is a common disease which has a significant impact on the quality of patients' life. Esophagogastric devascularization (EGDV) has been demonstrated to be an effective method to treat portal hypertension, however certain complications are associated with it. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and clinical outcome of the selective EGDV (sEGDV) for the treatment of portal hypertension. The study was conducted prospectively from Jan. 1 2011 to Dec. 31, 2012, and 180 patients were randomized to the sEGDV group (n=90) or the non-sEGDV (n-sEGDV) group (n=90). Patients' demographics, preoperative lab test results and operative details were comparable between the two groups. Postoperative and short-term complications were analyzed in two groups. There was statistically significant difference (P<0.01) in the PVF reduction between the two groups. Post-operative complications showed no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the incidence of bleeding, ascites, acute portal vein thrombosis, fever and hepatic encephalopathy. Mortality between two groups was comparable. The incidence of splenic fossa effusion after the surgery was lower in sEGDV group than in n-sEGDV group. There were no significant differences in the short-term follow-up data such as esophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy (P>0.05). It is suggested that sEGDV is a safe, simple and effective surgical procedure. It has both the advantages of the shunt and devascularization because it preserves body's voluntary diversion. With the advantage of low incidence of postoperative complications, it is an ideal surgical approach for the treatment of portal hypertension.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression status of 11 different cancer/testis (CT) antigen genes in esophageal carcinoma.

METHODSEsophageal carcinoma tissue and adjacent normal esophageal mucosa taken from 35 esophageal carcinoma patients were assayed for the expression of 11 different CT antigen genes by RT-PCR techniques.

RESULTSOf the 11 CT antigen genes analyzed, none of them was expressed in normal esophageal mucosa. MAGE-3 was found to be the most frequently expressed in esophageal carcinoma tissues (62.9%), followed, in the order of expression frequency, by MAGE4 (31.4%), LAGE-1 (28.6%), MAGE-1 (25.7%), CT10 (20.0%), NY-ESO-1 (20.0%), CT7 (5.7%) and SCP1 (2.9%). No expression of SSX-1, SSX-2 and SSX-4 was found. Among the 35 cases, 28 (80.0%) expressed at least one CT antigen gene, 21 (60.0%) expressed more than 2 CT antigen genes, and 4 of the 21 (19.0%) expressed more than 4 CT antigens, which accounted for 11.4% of total number of patients (4/35). No CT antigen expression was found in the tumor tissue in 7 cases, including 5 cases in stage II and 1 case each in stage I and IV, respectively. Of the 11 CT genes examined, expression of 5 genes (NY-ESO-1, LAGE-1, MAGE-1, MAGE-3 and MAGE-4) was correlated with tumor progression. SCP-1 and CT10 expression was found more frequently in early stage patients. With progression of the disease, the frequency of co-expression of multiple CT antigen genes was significantly increased reaching 28.6% in stage III patients.

CONCLUSIONOf the 11 different CT antigen genes examined by RT-PCR in esophageal carcinoma, 8 genes were detected in various frequencies in 28 of the 35 esophageal cancer patients studied. They are candidate tumor-associated antigens in the preparation of tumor vaccines for immunotherapy in esophageal cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of berberine on lipid metabolism disorder and lipid deposition in liver cells of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats induced by high fat diet.

METHODSAfter one week adaptable feeding, 45 SPF level male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, the normal control group, the model group, and the berberine group, 15 in each group. Except those in the normal control group, all rats were fed with high fat diet to prepare NAFLD model. As for rats in the berberine group, Berberine Hydrochloride was administered by gastrogavage. HE staining and oil red O staining were performed to identify the model after 8 weeks. Hepatocytes were isolated, and their activities and purities were tested by Typan blue staining and flow cytometry (FCM). Serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C were detected using automatic biochemical analyzer. mRNA expression levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were analyzed by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Protein levels of LXRα and FAS in liver cells were examined by Western blot.

RESULTSThe NAFLD rat model was successfully established by high fat diet. The yields of purified liver cells in each rat were (6.0-7.5) x 10(8). The viability of isolated liver cells with purity over 90% (tested by FCM analysis) was higher than 95%. Compared with the normal control group,the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was higher in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the expression of LXRα and FAS at mRNA and protein levels was obviously down-regulated in the berberine group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSLXRα/FAS signaling pathway was one of important signaling pathways of NAFLD lipid metabolism disorders. Berberine could recover hepatocyte fatty deposits in NAFLD rats by adjusting the LXR/FAS signaling pathway of hepatocytes, which might be one of important mechanisms for fighting against NAFLD.

Animals ; Berberine ; therapeutic use ; Diet, High-Fat ; Down-Regulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Liver ; Hepatocytes ; Lipids ; Male ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; drug therapy ; RNA, Messenger ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Pulmonary Veins ; abnormalities ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Varicose Veins ; complications ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of cyclovirobuxinum-D (CVB-D) on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats and explore its mechanisms.

METHODOne hundred and twenty rats were randomly divided into three CVB-D groups (2, 1, 0.5 mg x kg(-1)), Nimodipine group (2 mg x kg(-1)), model group and sham operated group, 20 rats each group. Rat cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury model was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion, the nerve injury symptoms was evaluated, the level of SOD and MDA in brain tissue were determined, the concentration of intracellar Ca2+ of brain was measured, and the pathological change of brain was also observed.

RESULTCVB-D could improve the nerve injury symptoms, reduce the infarction area of brain, the concentration of intracellar Ca2+ and the level of MDA, increase the activity of SOD, and decrease the pathological change of brain.

CONCLUSIONCVB-D has protective effect on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Buxus ; chemistry ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; complications ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; etiology ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism