Effects of traditional Chinese medicine on intestinal mucosal permeability in early phase of severe acute pancreatitis

Background Traditional Chinese medicine has been used widely for many years in China to treat acute pancreatitis. We have investigated the effects of Dachengqi decoction on intestinal mucosal permeability and outcome in patients with severe acute pancreatitis （SAP）. Methods Forty patients with sustained SAP that required admission to the surgical intensive care unit were enrolled prospectively in the study. All of these patients were divided randomly into the Dachengqi decoction group （n=-20） and control group （n=-20） on admission. Intestinal permeability was assessed by measuring absorption of two metabolically inert markers, lactulose （L） and mannitol （M）, which were administered orally. Serum concentrations of endotoxin （lipopolysaccharide, LPS） and the ratio of lactulose to mannitol in urine （L/M） were detected in all patients. Results Compared with those in the control group, urinary L/M ratio decreased significantly in the Dachengqi decoction group on the 7th day after admission （P=0.001）. Also, serum concentrations of LPS were reduced on the 5th and 7th day after admission （P=-0.006, P=0.008, respectively）. Incidence of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome （MODS） and pancreatic infection was significantly lower in the Dachengqi decoction group compared with those in the control group （P=-0.038, P=-0.025, respectively）. Conclusion Dachengqi decoction may promote the recovery of intestinal mucosal permeability and decrease the incidence of MODS and pancreatic infection in patients with SAP.

Preliminary research on the pathological role of cathepsin-B in subcutaneous heteroplastic pancreatic carcinoma in nude mice

Background Cathespin-B （cath-B） is an important proteolytic enzyme involved in the disease course of invasion in many types of cancer. Cath-B expression in subcutaneous heteroplastic pancreatic carcinoma in nude mice has not been studied. We investigated the role of cath-B in a model of heteroplastic pancreatic carcinoma in BALB/c nude mice. Methods Thirty-two six-week-old female BALB/c nude mice were equally divided into four groups. PANC-1 cells were inoculated subcutaneously in the left axillary region. Besides volume, weight of subcutaneous tumor, and change in body weight, cath-B expression in each group was measured by immunohistochemical staining, PCR and Western blotting. Its relationship to microvessel density （MVD）, CD44v6, and placenta growth factor （PLGF） was also examined. CA-074Me, a specific inhibitor of cath-B, was injected intraperitoneally （i.p.） at different stages of tumor growth in group B and C. Gemcitabine （GEM）, was also injected （i.p.） in group D to compare anti-tumor efficacy with CA-074Me. Results Expression of cath-B at different levels was related to tumor growth, MVD, and PLGF expression. In group A （control group）, cath-B expression was enhanced more than that seen in other groups. CA-074Me clearly inhibited cath-B expression and tumor growth in group B. There was no difference between group C and D with respect to anti-tumor effect. Conclusions Cath-B correlates with the growth and angiogenesis of tumors, but not with the adhesion induced by CD44v6. CA-074Me clearly inhibited cath-B expression and demonstrated an anti-neoplastic and anti-angiogenesis effect.