Objective To investigate the protective effect and mechanism of tanshinone ⅡA on D-galactosamine(D-GalN)-induced acute liver failure in rats.Methods SD rats were randomly di-vided into control group,model group(intraperitoneal injection of 1.1 g/kg D-GalN),low-dose group(intraperitoneal injection of 1.1 g/kg D-GalN+daily gavage of 25 mg/kg tanshinone ⅡA),and High-dose group(intraperitoneal injection of 1.1 g/kg D-GalN+daily gavage of 50 mg/kg tan-shinone ⅡA).Liver function indicators[aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),and γ-glutamyltransferase(γ-GT)]were measured using a Hitachi7600-210 biochemical an-alyzer,and serum total bilirubin(TBIL)and direct bilirubin(DBIL)levels were determined.The mitotic index(MI)and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)positivity in liver tissues were examined.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was used to detect plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-1β,IL-10,and IL-6 in rats from each group.Kits were employed to measure superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione(GSH),and malondialdehyde(MDA)contents in liver tissues of rats from each group.The TUNEL method was adopted to detect hepatocyte apoptosis rates in liver tissues,and immunoblotting was used to assess the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2(p-ERK1/2)and extracellular signal-regu-lated kinase 1/2(ERK1/2)proteins in liver tissues.Results Compared with the control group,the model group exhibited increased p-ERK1/2 protein expression(P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,both the low-dose and high-dose groups showed decreased p-ERK1/2 protein expres-sion(P＜0.05).The model group had an increased hepatocyte apoptosis index compared with the control group(P＜0.05).Both the low-dose and high-dose groups demonstrated decreased hepato-cyte apoptosis indices compared with the model group(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the model group had increased MDA levels and decreased SOD and GSH levels(P＜0.05).Both the low-dose and high-dose groups exhibited decreased MDA levels and increased SOD and GSH levels compared with the model group(P＜0.05).The model group showed increased levels of TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-10,and IL-6 compared with the control group(P＜0.05).Both the low-dose and high-dose groups had decreased levels of TNF-α,IL-1 β,IL-10,and IL-6 compared with the model group(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,the model group had decreased MI and PCNA positivity rates(P＜0.05).Both the low-dose and high-dose groups exhibited increased MI and PCNA positivity rates compared with the model group(P＜0.05).The model group had in-creased AST,ALT,γ-GT,TBIL and DBIL values compared with the control group(P＜0.05).Both the low-dose and high-dose groups showed decreased AST,ALT,γ-GT,TBIL and DBIL val-ues compared with the model group(P＜0.05).Conclusion Tanshinone ⅡA may alleviate D-GalN-induced acute liver failure in rats through the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Objective To evaluate the application of Sigma stent in treatment for esophagn-tracheal fistula. Methods Clinical data of 22 cases of esophago-tracheal fistula treated with Sigma stent were retrospectively analyzed, including 17 cases of esophageal cancer and 5 cases of benign esophageal diseases, with length of 4 days to 2 months. One single stent was placed in 5 cases, two stents ( both in trachea and esophagus each) in 15 cases, and three stents in 2 cases, and 18 eases with tube-type trachea stent, 3 with obtuse angle L-type and 1 with Y-type. Placement of stent was by interventional method or/and endoscopy. Results Forty-one stents were successfully placed in 22 patients with no death in the procedure. And, all patients with fistula were healed successfully and could have normal eating 2 to 4 days after operation, except 1 patient who received a tracheal stent inserted first, but an esophageal stent inserted again due to incomplete seal of the fistula and another benign case who received surgical operation 1 year after stent placement due to protracted unsealed fistula, with an overall cure rate of 91% (20/22). Conclusions Placement of Sigma stent in the esophagus or/and trachea could effectively heal esophago-tracheal fistula. All the patients can eat normally after the procedure. Stent can be recycled and formation of secondary esophago-traeheal fistula can be prevented effectively with such procedure.