OBJECTIVETo observe the changes in the hemodynamics of rats with immunological liver fibrosis and explore the pathogenesis of "blood stasis" in liver fibrosis.

METHODSRat models of liver fibrosis were established by multiple intraperitoneal injections of pig serum. The hematocrit, blood viscosity at the shear rate of 150/s, 30/s, 5/s, and 1/s, serum markers for liver fibrosis, and serum transaminase levels were measured in the control and model rats.

RESULTSThe hematocrit, blood viscosity at different shear rates, hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), procollagen type III (PCIII), type IV collagen (CIV), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (AST) increased significantly in the rats with experimental liver fibrosis appeared as compared with those in the control rats. Positive correlations were noted between blood viscosity at different shear rates and serum concentrations of the fibrosis markers (HA, LN, PCIII, and CIV) in the model rats.

CONCLUSIONThe changes in the hemodynamics in rats with immunological liver fibrosis suggests the role of "blood stasis" in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and provide experimental evidence for therapies to "activate the blood circulation and dissipate blood stasis" for treatment of liver fibrosis.

Animals ; Blood Viscosity ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; blood ; immunology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of sub-micro emulsion composition on cellular uptake and disposition of incorporated lipophilic drug.

METHODSSub-micro emulsions containing 10 % oil, 1.2 % lecithin and 2.25 % glycerol were prepared, and the fluorescent agent coumarin 6 was used as a model drug. The effects of oil types, co-surfactants and cationic lipid on uptake and elimination kinetics of 6-coumarin in HeLa cells were studied. The uptake mechanism of sub-micro emulsions was further investigated.

RESULTSOil type and Tweens had no influence on the cellular uptake. Modifications of surfactants with Span series increased the cellular influx, among which Span 20 with hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) value of 8.6 was the best enhancer. The intracellular drug level reached up to (46.09 ± 1.98)ng/μg protein which had significant difference with control group [(38.54 ± 0.34)ng/μg protein]. The positively charged emulsions significantly increased the uptake rate constant and elimination rate constant which were 4 times and 1.5 times of those in anionic groups, respectively. The uptake enhancement was also observed in cationic emulsions, cellular concentrations at plateau were (42.73 ± 0.84)ng/μg protein, which was about 3 times of that in anionic emulsions [(15.71 ± 0.74)ng/μg protein], when extracellular drug concentration kept at 100 ng/ml. Cationic emulsions delivered the payload mainly by direct drug transfer to contacted cells, while the negative ones depended on both drug passive diffusion and clathrin-mediated endocytosis of drug containing oil droplets which accounted for 20% of the intracellular drug.

CONCLUSIONInterfacial characteristic of sub-micro emulsions such as co-surfactants HLB as well as zeta potentials can influence lipophilic drug both in cellular uptake and elimination.

Anions ; Cations ; Coumarins ; pharmacokinetics ; Emulsions ; Endocytosis ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Surface-Active Agents ; pharmacokinetics ; Thiazoles ; pharmacokinetics

Authors raised that staging based strategies and practice of integrative medicine (IM) by combining syndrome typing and disease identification, and choosing suitable measures in accordance with different persons and seasonal conditions after more than ten years' clinical practice and researches. Radical operation as prior (as evil eliminating) and strengthening vital qi in perioerative period are best strategy for promoting rapid rehabilitation of early stage prostate cancer patients. Strengthening body resistance to eliminate evil was used in treating advanced prostate cancer patients. For example, a comprehensive treatment program for hormone-dependent patients was combined with endocrinotherapy and Chinese herbs for synergisic efficacy-enhancing actions. In this way, these patients' quality of life (QOL) were improved and time to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) was delayed, even some patients were clinically cured. There are lack of effective medicines and methods for CRPC patients. Greatly tonifying original qi is mainly used for improving their clinical symptoms and prolonging survivals. Practice has proved staging based strategies and practice of IM has favorable advantages in treating prostate cancer, especially showing prospect in prolonging survival and postponing progression of advanced prostate cancer patients. Besides, it also could provide beneficial considerations and inspiration for combination of syndrome typing and disease identification.
Disease Progression ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; diagnosis ; Quality of Life

Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; Atrazine ; analysis ; immunology ; Chromatography, Gas ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Food Contamination ; analysis ; Herbicides ; analysis ; immunology ; Mass Spectrometry

OBJECTIVETo study the changes in sciatic nerve blood flow and the expression of collagen type I after electric injury of rabbit nerve with different voltages.

METHODSThirty-six healty rabbits were randomized into 3 groups before receiving injury with electricity in voltages, i.e. 50 v, 75 v, and 100 v groups. The changes in blood flow of sciatic nerve were observed with Laser Doppler Flowmeter immediately after injury and 1, 4, 8 weeks after injury. The changes in the expression of collagen type I was observed by immunohistochemical method, and the positive expression rate was calculated.

RESULTSThe sciatic nerve blood flow increased in all groups immediately after electric injury. In the 75 v and 100v groups, the nerve blood flow [(53 +/- 3 ), (48 +/- 5) PU] was obviously lower than that of normal value [(62 +/- 4) PU, P < 0.05]. There was little collagen type I deposition in 50 v group, while brown collagenous fibers in epineurium and perineurium were observed in 75 v and 100v groups 4 and 8 weeks after injury. The expression of collagen type I in all groups were obviously higher than that of normal value, and that in 75v and 100 v groups were higher than that in 50 v group at bachl time-point (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe restoration of sciatic nerve blood flow is postponed following by the injury with increase of the electrical voltage. The collagen deposition after electrical injury may be one of the reasons for nerve blood flow decrease.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; biosynthesis ; Electric Injuries ; blood ; physiopathology ; Nerve Regeneration ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Sciatic Nerve ; blood supply ; injuries

OBJECTIVESTo construct a stable HCV-producing cell model for anti-HCV drug research.

METHODSThe HCV-ribozyme recombinant plasmid pJFH1-Rbz was constructed to generate the exact 5' and 3' ends of HCV genomic RNA by placing two self-cleaving ribozymes at both ends of the HCV JFH-1 cDNA. The plasmid was then transfected into HepG2 cells and the resultant clones were screened with G418. Subsequently, immunofluorescence and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of HCV core protein, HCV RNA level was quantitated by TaqMan real-time PCR method and HCV particles was detected by electron microscopy.

RESULTSHCV core protein was detected in the screened cell clone, and the level of HCV RNA was up to 1000,0000 copies/ml in the culture medium. Electron microscopy showed the viral particles in the culture suspension were approximately 55 nm in diameter. IFN-treating experiment demonstrated that the HCV RNA level decreased with the increasing concentration of IFN alpha.

CONCLUSIONWe constructed a stable HCV-producing cell model which can be used for anti-HCV drug research.

DNA, Complementary ; Genome, Viral ; Hep G2 Cells ; Hepacivirus ; genetics ; Humans ; Plasmids ; RNA, Catalytic ; genetics ; Transfection ; Viral Core Proteins ; genetics ; Virion ; Virus Replication

OBJECTIVETo describe the clinical and epidemiological features of dead cases with human Streptococcus suis infections, and to find the target population for preventing death and the related indicators.

METHODSEpidemiological investigation on human Streptococcus suis infections was implemented used unified questionnaires. Analysis on dead cases and survival cases (as contrast) was done.

RESULTSThe population with highest fatality rate was in 40-49 age group. 97.37% of dead cases had toxic shock syndrome. The mean interval from onset to admission was 0.76 days, and the mean course was 2.11 days. The progression among dead cases was faster than that among survival cases. Chief clinical manifestations of dead cases that are more frequent than survival cases are purpura (73.68%), diarrhea (50.0%), dyspnea (21.05%), conjunctival congestion (34.21%), etc. Renal impairment and liver involvement in dead cases were more significant than that in survival cases. No significant difference between mean incubation period, exposure rates of main risk factors in dead cases and in survival cases was found.

CONCLUSIONPreventing toxic shock syndrome might reduce the fatality rate. The target population for preventing death is aged > or = 40. Liver function and renal function testing might be indicators for monitoring the progression of human Streptococcus suis infections.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Streptococcal Infections ; blood ; microbiology ; mortality ; pathology ; Streptococcus suis ; physiology ; Young Adult

The multiple components in Chinese herbal medicines (CHMS) will experience complex absorption and metabolism before entering the blood system. Previous studies often lay emphasis on the components in blood. However, the dynamic and sequential absorption and metabolism process following multi-component oral administration has not been studied. In this study, the in situ closed-loop method combined with LC-MS techniques were employed to study the sequential process of Chuanxiong Rhizoma decoction (RCD). A total of 14 major components were identified in RCD. Among them, ferulic acid, senkyunolide J, senkyunolide I, senkyunolide F, senkyunolide G, and butylidenephthalide were detected in all of the samples, indicating that the six components could be absorbed into blood in prototype. Butylphthalide, E-ligustilide, Z-ligustilide, cnidilide, senkyunolide A and senkyunolide Q were not detected in all the samples, suggesting that the six components may not be absorbed or metabolized before entering the hepatic portal vein. Senkyunolide H could be metabolized by the liver, while senkyunolide M could be metabolized by both liver and intestinal flora. This study clearly demonstrated the changes in the absorption and metabolism process following multi-component oral administration of RCD, so as to convert the static multi-component absorption process into a comprehensive dynamic and continuous absorption and metabolism process.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of liver transplantation (LT) and liver resection (LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and to investigate risk factors affecting prognosis. Materials and Methods: A total of 94 HCC patients with PVTT type I (segmental PVTT) and PVTT type II (lobar PVTT) were involved and divided into LR (n=47) and LT groups (n=47). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared before and after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Prognostic factors for RFS and OS were explored. Results: Two treatment groups were well-balanced using IPTW. In the entire cohort, LT provided a better prognosis than LR. Among patients with PVTT type I, RFS was better with LT (p=0.039); OS was not different significantly between LT and LR (p=0.093). In subgroup analysis of PVTT type I patients with α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels >200 ng/mL, LT elicited significantly longer median RFS (18.0 months vs. 2.1 months, p=0.022) and relatively longer median OS time (23.6 months vs. 9.8 months, p=0.065). Among patients with PVTT type II, no significant differences in RFS and OS were found between LT and LR (p=0.115 and 0.335, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed treatment allocation (LR), tumor size (>5 cm), AFP and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels to be risk factors of RFS and treatment allocation (LR), AFP and AST as risk factors for OS. Conclusion LT appeared to afford a better prognosis for HCC with PVTT type I than LR, especially in patients with AFP levels >200 ng/mL.

OBJECTIVEIn mid-July 2005, five patients presented with septic shock to a hospital in Ziyang city in Sichuan, China, to identify the etiology of the unknown reason disease, an epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory study were conducted.

METHODSAn enhanced surveillance program were established in Sichuan, the following activities were introduced: active case finding in Sichuan of (a) laboratory diagnosed Streptococcus suis infection and (b) clinically diagnosed probable cases with exposure history; supplemented by (c) monitoring reports on meningococcal meningitis. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection was confirmed by culture and biochemical reactions, followed by sequencing for specific genes for serotype and virulence factors.

RESULTSFrom June 10 to August 21, 2005, 68 laboratory confirmed cases of human Streptococcus suis infections were reported. All were villagers who gave a history of direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in their backyards where slaughtering was performed. Twenty six (38%) presented with toxic shock syndrome of which 15 (58%) died. Other presentations were septicaemia or meningitis. All isolates were tested positive for genes for tuf, species-specific 16S rRNA, cps2J, mrp, ef and sly. There were 136 clinically diagnosed probable cases with similar exposure history but incomplete laboratory investigations.

CONCLUSIONAn outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections occurred in villagers after direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in Sichuan. Prohibition of slaughtering in backyards brought the outbreak to a halt. A virulent strain of the bacteria is speculated to be in circulation, and is responsible for the unusual presentation of toxic shock syndrome with high case fatality.

Animals ; Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Shock, Septic ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Streptococcus suis ; isolation & purification ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; microbiology