OBJECTIVETo study the effect of endotoxin on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARa) in the development of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in rats.

METHODSA model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was developed with Wistar rats fed a chow containing 20% maize oil for 14 weeks. The endotoxin group rats were intraperitoneally injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 g/L, 3.0 ml/kg) once 4 hours before the end of the experiment. The concentrations of lipids, endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor-a, malondialdehyde, free fatty acid in plasma and hepatic tissues were determined and the degree of hepatocytic steatosis was studied. The expression of PPARa mRNA in hepatic tissues was measured using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe expression of PPARa mRNA in the hepatic tissue of the LPS group was downregulated markedly in comparison to that of the control group. The level of free fatty acid and endotoxin by secreting tumor necrosis factor-a increased and triglyceride accumulated in the liver caused malondialdehyde content to increase, then lipid peroxidation process enhanced and ALT activity increased. Thus, hepatic injury and inflammatory reaction could be accelerated.

CONCLUSIONEndotoxemia can enhance hepatocellular steatosis and lead to NASH due to its downregulating the expression of PPARa mRNA.

Animals ; Down-Regulation ; Endotoxins ; pharmacology ; Fatty Liver ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; PPAR alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

To study the influence of stir-baked with sand on active ingredients, diarrhea and hepatoprotection of Herpetospermum caudigerum, the contents of herperione and herpetin in H. caudigerum before and after stir-baking with sand were analyzed by HPLC. The effect of stir-baked with sand on diarrhea of H. caudigerum TL was evaluated using the mean stool rate (MSR) and mean diarrheal index ( MDI) and the influence of stir-baked with sand on hepatoprotective effect of H. caudigerum TL was examined using a mouse model of CCl4-induced liver injury based on the analysis of serum ALT and AST activities. The results of HPLC analysis showed the content of herperione in H. caudigerum after stir-baking with sand decreased by 40.9% (P < 0.01) and the content of herpetin had no change. Pharmacodynamic results showed that the MSR and MDI of high-dose and middle-dose group of H. caudigerum TL after stir-baking with sand were significantly lower than that of high-dose and middle-dose group of H. caudigerum TL without stir-baking with sand; The high-dose and middle-dose of H. caudigerum TL with/without stir-baking with sand significantly alleviated liver injury as indicated by the decreased levels of serum ALT and AST, but the ALT and AST levels of high-dose and middle-dose group of H. caudigerum TL after stir-baking with sand were higher than that of H. caudigerum TL without stir-baking with sand. The results revealed that the stir-baking with sand could effectively relieve diarrhea effect of H. caudigerum TL, while it also reduces the hepatoprotection of H. caudigerum TL.
Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cooking ; Cucurbitaceae ; chemistry ; Diarrhea ; chemically induced ; Female ; Liver ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVE To understand the synaptic remodel in inner ear after hearing injury by investigating growth associated protein 43(GAP-43) expression in the inner ear hair cells after exposed Kangmin mice to neural injury noise stimulation to induce permanent threshold shift(PTS) or temporary threshold shift(TTS).METHODS To compare the expressions of GAP-43 of NMDAR signal pathway during neural injury stimulation by immunocytochemistry.RESULTS The sustained GAP-43 increase occurs after 7d and 14d of PTS group,and there is not remarkable difference between them.Compared with normal control,the change is not significant in TTS group.CONCLUSION The increase of GAP-43 in spiral ganglion after 7d trauma reveals the synaptic remodel in inner ear.

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy and safety of sequential intravenous moxifloxacin treatment against cefoperazone/sulbactam in patients with acute biliary tract infection. MethodsA prospective, randomized, non-blind, multi-centric study was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of moxifloxacin 400 mg Ⅳ once daily to cefoperazone-sulbactam (2 g q12 hours) and metronidazole 250 ml once daily to treat patients, from March- December 2009 in 13 hospitals, with acute biliary tract infection.The primary efficacy variable was clinical cure rate after the end of a 5 - 14 day treatment period,bacteriologic outcomes and adverse reaction effects were also determined.ResultsA total of 319 subjects were enrolled, 282 of whom were eligible for protocol efficacy analyses ( 138 moxifloxacin, 144 comparator).Demographic and baseline medical characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. Clinical success rates were 86.2％ for moxifloxacin and 84. 7％ for the comparator(P =0. 7192). Pathogens (55 moxifloxacin, 61 comparator) were isolated from bile or blood cultures and the predominant strains were E. coli, Klebsiella species and Enterococcus species. Bacterial eradication rates were 85.4％ ( 37 of 55 ) with moxifloxacin versus 82. 0％ (50 of 61 ) in the comparator group ( x2 = 0. 2568, P = 0. 6123 ). Both treatments were safe and well tolerated. ConclusionsE. coli, Klebsiella species and Enterococcus species were the most common bacteria isolated from bile or blood from patients with acute biliary tract infection. Moxifloxacin monotherapy has high clinical and bacteriological efficacies and safety for the treatment of acute biliary tract infection.

OBJECTIVETo study the complete genome sequence of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) strain XJ69 isolated in ZheJiang province and explore its evolution.

METHODSOverlapping primers were designed according to the full-length genomes from GenBank. RT-PCR was used to amplify the fragments and RT-PCR products were cloned T vector, sequenced and analyzed.

RESULTSThe genome of strain XJ69 and XJP613 were 10 964 nucleotides in length with a single open reading frame encoding 3432 amino acids. Comparison of the complete genome sequences of different JEV isolates showed XJ69 and XJP613 were 83.5%-99.2% and 83.4%-99.4% nucleotide sequence homology among them respectively, which resulted in 94.8%-99.7% amino acid sequence homology. Phylogenetic analysis through PrM/C,E and full-length genome showed that the XJ69 and XJP613 strain belonged to genotype I.

CONCLUSIONThe nucleotitede sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of XJ69 and XJP613 strain were similar to that of those of genotype I of Japanese encephalitis virus. It belonged to genotype I and were close to the isolates SH17M-07.

Animals ; Cell Line ; China ; Cricetinae ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Encephalitis, Japanese ; virology ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVE Congenital aural atresia repair is difficult owing to unpredictable anatomy. Benefits may be gained from image-guided surgery(IGS) . its exact role and surgery indication were def ined. METHODS From 2001 to 2004,36 ears with bony type C(Schuknecht classification) congenital atresia were performed. In the IGS group(n=18) ,repair surgery was performed with IGS,while in the control group(Non-IGS,n=18) ,similar intervention was applied without IGS. IGS group:aged from 12-29 years,follow-up from 6 months to 1 year. Non-IGS group:aged from 10-27 years,follow-up from 6 months to 3 years. Intra-and post-operative clinical and audiometric findings were compared. RESULTS All of the patients had congenital bony aural atresia,ossicles malformation,tympanic cavity hypoplasia and facial nerve malformation. IGS revealed a malformed horizontal semicircular canal hidden in the bony atresia plate during the operation while computed tomography(CT) did not show preoperatively. IGS computed tomography images correlated well with intra-operative findings,gave the surgeon more securityand reduced operative time(2 hours and 24 minutes) by 25 minutes. The prepare time increased 20 minutes(15-30 minutes) ,but total time decreased 5 minutes in IGS group. The registration accuracy was 0.6-1.3 mm,average 0.84 mm,which was suitable for the otologic surgery. There were 1 case in IGS group and 3 cases in Non-IGS group happened local aural restenosis after operation. But there were no facial nerve paralysis and hearing injury happened in both groups,and all of the patients got the satisfactory hearing after the hearing reconstruction(the air-bone gap with an average of IGS is 31.8dB,Non-IGS is 30.5dB) . CONCLUSION In our estimation,IGS is valuable for type C congenital aural atresia repair. It serves as an educational tool and a guide both for the experienced and inexperienced surgeons in critical situations where anatomical landmarks are distorted and approach is limited. There is no statistically significant between two groups on hearing improvement after operation.

OBJECTIVETo study the potential role of mast cells and the related molecular mechanism in chronic hepatitis (CH) using a rat model system.

METHODSThirty Wistar rats (15 males, 15 females; weight range: 230-290 g) were randomly divided into the normal contrast (NC) group and experimental CH group. The CH group received subcutaneous injection of CCl4 and a diet high in cholesterol and alcohol content and low in protein and choline content. Throughout the 4-week modeling period, aseptic blood samples were taken to test plasma tryptase (TS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) levels. The rats were euthanized to assess the changes in liver mast cells by histology and morphology analyses and the changes in liver expression of c-kit and stem cell factor (SCF) proteins by immunohistochemistry and mRNAs by RT-PCR.

RESULTSCompared to the NC group, the CH group had higher plasma and liver concentration of HA (78.09 +/- 38.55 vs. 145.14 +/- 52.54 ng/ml, 51.58 +/- 20.45 vs. 106.59 +/- 43.15 ng/100 mg; t = 2.457 and 2.825 respectively, both P less than 0.05) and TS (0.416 +/- 0.143 vs 0.753 +/- 0.210 mg/ml; t = 4.165, P less than 0.05). The CH group also showed fatty degeneration and fibrosis with many degranulating and degranulated mast cells filled with purple granula located around the liver blood vessels and in fiber-intervals. The CH livers also showed a significantly higher number of mast cells (2.167 +/- 0.924 vs. NC: 10.92 +/- 1.575; t = 7.633, P less than 0.05) and stronger intensity of c-kit staining (2.783 +/- 0.577 vs. 12.86 +/- 3.126; t = 9.511, P less than 0.05) and SCF staining (3.383 +/- 1.583 vs. 15.58 +/- 6.431; t = 9.625, P less than 0.05). The expressions of c-kit and SCF were positively correlated with HA level (r = 0.478 and 0.556 respectively, both P less than 0.05). The c-kit and SCF mRNA expression levels were also significantly higher in the CH liver tissues.

CONCLUSIONMast cell degranulation and histamine release is significantly increased under conditions of chronic hepatitis, and the related mechanism may involve up-regulation of the membrane receptor c-kit and its ligand SCF.

Animals ; Cell Degranulation ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mast Cells ; metabolism ; physiology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stem Cell Factor ; metabolism

To observe in vitro the effect of rat drug serum on the proliferation of HSC-T6 hepatic stellate cells in the pharmacokinetic model for determining peoniflorin in Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet, in order to discover the rational daily administration frequency of Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet. Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet was orally administered to rats with different daily administration frequency. Their blood was collected from veins behind eye sockets at different time points before the administration and after the first administration, in order to determine the concentration of peoniflorin in blood plasma and the effect of rat drug serums on the proliferation of HSC-T6. A comprehensive analysis was made on the relationship between pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics to determine the rational daily administration frequency of Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet. The results showed a good correlation between the inhibitory effect of Fufang Biejia Ruangan tablet-contained serum on HSC-T6 and the concentration of peoniflorin in blood. The two-time administration group showed higher pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic AUCs than one-time administration and three-time administration groups. In conclusion, Fufang Biejia Ruangan table is recommended to be taken twice a day for treating liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Area Under Curve ; Benzoates ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Glucosides ; administration & dosage ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Monoterpenes ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tablets ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics

OBJECTIVETo study the prognosis of childhood asthma and the factors influencing asthmatic attacks and prognosis.

METHODSThe medical data of 212 children with asthma who were followed up for more than 5 years were retrospectively studied.

RESULTSDuring the 5-year follow up, asthmatic attacks termination was found in 121 cases (57.1%) and asthma persistence was observed in 91 cases. Respiratory tract infections were found as the major factors inducing asthmatic attacks (71.7%), followed by inhaled allergens (17.0%).The children with asthma induced by respiratory tract infections had a higher remission rate of asthmatic attacks (61.2%) than those induced by allergens (41.7%) or exercises (26.3%). Three risk factors for asthma persistence were identified: concurrent allergic rhinitis and eczema, parental asthma and allergy-induced wheezing.

CONCLUSIONSThe 5-year follow-up study demonstrated that asthmatic attacks stopped in the majority of children with asthma. Respiratory tract infections may be the major factors inducing acute asthma attacks. The children with asthma induced by respiratory infections may experience a better outcome. Atopic children or children with the genetic background of atopy are at high risks for the development of persistent asthma.

Asthma ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

Ankylosing spondylitis has become a common disease, whether early stage of the low back pain or disability of the late stage of the disease has a serious impact on life quality. There is an urgent need of safe and effective treatment to treat the disease. This article introduced two cases of ankylosing spondylitis treated by modified Jingang Pills, with significant efficacy.