AIM:To investigate and compare the inhibitory effects of rapamycin in the different stages of liver fibrosis.METHODS:We performed bile duct ligation(BDL)in male Wistar rats(n=24).The experimental rats were classified ...AIM:To investigate and compare the inhibitory effects of rapamycin in the different stages of liver fibrosis.METHODS:We performed bile duct ligation(BDL)in male Wistar rats(n=24).The experimental rats were classified into four groups:the BDL+/Rapa-group(untreated control,n=4),the BDL+/Rapa+group(treated14 d after BDL,n=8),the BDL+/Rapa++group(treated on the day after BDL,n=8),and the BDL-/Rapagroup(un-treated,sham-operated control,n=4).The BDL+/Rapa+and BDL+/Rapa++groups were administered rapamycin(2 mg/kg)for 28 d.The liver tissues were tested by immunohistochemical staining forα-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and cytokeratin.RESULTS:The liver mRNA levels of transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)were measured using the polymerase chain reaction.The protein levels of liver p70s6K and p-p70s6k were determined using Western blotting.α-SMA expression was lowest in the BDL+/Rapa++group.TGF-β1and PDGF expression levels in the rapamycin-treated group were lower than those in the un-treated group and higher than those in the control groups(TGF-β1:0.23±0.00 vs 0.34±0.01,0.23±0.0 vs 0.09±0.00,P<0.0001;PDGF:0.21±0.00 vs 0.34±0.01,0.21±0.0 vs 0.09±0.00,P<0.0001).The p70s6k and p-p70s6k levels decreased in the treated groups and were lowest in the BDL+/Rapa++group(p70s6k:1.05±0.17 vs 1.30±0.56,0.40±0.01 vs 1.30±0.56,P<0.0001;p-p70s6k:1.40±0.5 vs 1.67±0.12,0.70±0.01 vs 1.67±0.12,P<0.0001).CONCLUSION:The results of our study indicate that rapamycin has inhibitory effects on liver fibrosis,and the treatment is most effective in the early stages of fibrosis.展开更多
Pulmonary tuberculosis is an opportunistic infection that can be reactivated in immunocompromised conditions, for example, in malignancy or after liver transplantation. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high mortal...Pulmonary tuberculosis is an opportunistic infection that can be reactivated in immunocompromised conditions, for example, in malignancy or after liver transplantation. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high mortality rate because it is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage. Although surgical resection is the established curative measure for HCC, it is only feasible for earlystage HCC. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the most common treatment modality for patients with unresectable HCC. However, repeated TACE sessions and, occasionally, the tumor itself can further impair the reserve hepatic function and immunity. We report 3 recent cases of HCC with reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis after TACE.展开更多
文摘AIM:To investigate and compare the inhibitory effects of rapamycin in the different stages of liver fibrosis.METHODS:We performed bile duct ligation(BDL)in male Wistar rats(n=24).The experimental rats were classified into four groups:the BDL+/Rapa-group(untreated control,n=4),the BDL+/Rapa+group(treated14 d after BDL,n=8),the BDL+/Rapa++group(treated on the day after BDL,n=8),and the BDL-/Rapagroup(un-treated,sham-operated control,n=4).The BDL+/Rapa+and BDL+/Rapa++groups were administered rapamycin(2 mg/kg)for 28 d.The liver tissues were tested by immunohistochemical staining forα-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA)and cytokeratin.RESULTS:The liver mRNA levels of transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)were measured using the polymerase chain reaction.The protein levels of liver p70s6K and p-p70s6k were determined using Western blotting.α-SMA expression was lowest in the BDL+/Rapa++group.TGF-β1and PDGF expression levels in the rapamycin-treated group were lower than those in the un-treated group and higher than those in the control groups(TGF-β1:0.23±0.00 vs 0.34±0.01,0.23±0.0 vs 0.09±0.00,P<0.0001;PDGF:0.21±0.00 vs 0.34±0.01,0.21±0.0 vs 0.09±0.00,P<0.0001).The p70s6k and p-p70s6k levels decreased in the treated groups and were lowest in the BDL+/Rapa++group(p70s6k:1.05±0.17 vs 1.30±0.56,0.40±0.01 vs 1.30±0.56,P<0.0001;p-p70s6k:1.40±0.5 vs 1.67±0.12,0.70±0.01 vs 1.67±0.12,P<0.0001).CONCLUSION:The results of our study indicate that rapamycin has inhibitory effects on liver fibrosis,and the treatment is most effective in the early stages of fibrosis.
文摘Pulmonary tuberculosis is an opportunistic infection that can be reactivated in immunocompromised conditions, for example, in malignancy or after liver transplantation. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high mortality rate because it is frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage. Although surgical resection is the established curative measure for HCC, it is only feasible for earlystage HCC. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is the most common treatment modality for patients with unresectable HCC. However, repeated TACE sessions and, occasionally, the tumor itself can further impair the reserve hepatic function and immunity. We report 3 recent cases of HCC with reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis after TACE.
