Effects of neurotrophins on gastrointestinal myoelectric activities of rats

AIM: To observe the effects of mouse nerve growth factor (NGF), rat recombinant brain derived neurotrophic factor (rm-BDNF) and recombinant human neurotrophin-3 (rh-NT3) on the gastrointestinal motility and the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) in rat.METHODS: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled experiment was performed. 5-7 days after we chronically implanted four or five bipolar silver electrodes on the stomach, duodenum, jejunum and colon, 21 experimental rats were coded and divided into 3 groups and injected NGF, rm-BDNF, rh-NT-3 or placebo respectively via tail vein activity was recorded 2 hours before and after the test substance infusions in these consciously fasting rats.RESULTS: The neurotrophins-induced pattern of activity was characterized by enhanced spiking activity of different amplitudes at all recording sites, especially in the colon. In the gastric antrum and intestine, only rh-NT-3 had increased effects on the demographic characteristics of electrical activities (P＜0.05), but did not affect the intervals of MMCs.In the colon, all the three kinds of neurotrophins could significantly increase the frequency, amplitude and duration levels of spike bursts, and also rh-NT-3 could prolong the intervals of MMC in the transverse colon (25±11 min vs 19±6 min, P＜0.05). In the distal colon rh-NT-3 could evoke phase Ⅲ-like activity and disrupt the MMC pattern, which was replaced by a continuously long spike bursts (LSB) and irregular spike activity (ISA) for 48±6 min.CONCLUSION: Exogenous neurotrophic factors can stimulate gut myoelectric activities in rats.

Inhibitory effect of HuangqiZhechong decoction on liver fibrosis in rat

AIM. To assess the inhibitory effect of HuangqiZhechong decoction on hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by CCl4 plus alcohol and high fat low protein diet.METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into hepati cfibrosis model group, control group and 3 treatment groups consisting of 12 rats in each group. Except for the normal control group, all the rats were subcutaneously injected with CCI4 at a dosage of 3 mL/kg. In 3 treated groups, eithe rhigh-dose group (9 mL/kg), or medium-dose group (6 mL/kg),or low-dose group (3 mL/kg) was daily garaged with Huangqi Zhechong decoction, and saline vehicle was given to model and normal control rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biochemical examinations were used to determine the changes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hyaluronic acid (HA),laminin (LN), type-III-procollagen-N-peptide (PIIIP), and type IV collagen content in serum, and hydroxyproline (Hyp) content in liver after sacrificing the rats. Pathologic changes,particularly fibrosis were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Van Gieson staining.RESULTS: Compared with the model control group; serum ALT, AST, HA, LN, PIIIP and type IV collagen levels dropped markedly in Huangqi Zhechong decoction groups, especially in the medium-dose Huangqi Zhechong decoction group (1 954±576 U/L vs 759±380 U/L, 2 735±786 U/L vs 1259±829 U/L, 42.74±7.04 ng/mL vs20.68±5.85 ng/mL,31.62±5.84 ng/mL vs 14.87±1.45 ng/mL, 3.26±0.69 ng/mL vs 1.47±0.46 ng/mL, 77.68±20.23 ng/mL vs 25.64±4.68 ng/mL, respectively) (P<0.05). The Hyp content in liver tissue was also markedly decreased (26.47+11.24 mg/mgprot vs 9.89±3.74 mg/mgprot) (P<0.01). Moreover, the stage ofthe rat liver fibrosis in Huangqi Zhechong decoction groups was lower than that in model group, and more dramatic drop was observed in medium-dose Huangqi Zhechong decoction group (P<O,01),CONCLUSION: Huangqi Zhechong decoction can inhibit hepatic fibrosis resulted from chronic liver injure, retard the development of cirrhosis, and notably ameliorate the liver function. It may be a safe and effective therapeutic drug for patients with fibrosis.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma: A Consensus from Surgical Specialists of China

Cholangiocarcinoma refers to malignant tumors that develop in epithelial lining of biliary system, and it is divided into two categories according to tumor location, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma （ICC） and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma （ECC）. ICC occurs from the epithelial cells of the intrahepatic bile duct, its branches and interlobular biliary tree; and ECC is divided into hilar cholangiocarcinoma and distal cholangiocarcinoma by the circumscription at the confluence of cystic duct and the common hepatic duct.