Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and its pathogenic effects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Objective：To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and its pathological effect in the experimental nonalcoholic fatty liver of rats, and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods：The rat NAFLD model was established by giving a fat-enriched diet. The blood samples were obtained form abdominal aorta and the levels of serum ALT, AST and IL-1, changes in the hepatic tissue 6-k-PGF1 α TXB2 were measured. The expression level of COX-2 in rats livers were assayed by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Westernblot. Results： Light microscope analysis revealed that hepatocytes were injured in the model group and slightly in the treatment group. The levels of serum TXB2 and IL-1 in the fatty liver rats were increased. Compared with the model group, the IL-1 and TXB2 increased significantly（P〈 0.05）, on the contrary, compared with the normal group, the hepatic tissue 6-Keto-prostagland decreased significantly in the model group（P 〈 0.05）, the treatment group also increased but P 〉 0.05. There was no positive expression of COX-2 in hepatic tissue of normal rats. In the model group, there was positive expression of COX-2 antigen and the number of COX positive cells progressively increased at 4, 8, 12 wks. The intensity of expression of COX-2 had significantly increased（P 〈 0.05 ） and the intensity of COX-2 expression in the treated group decreased remarkably compared with the model group（P 〈 0.05）. The expression of COX-2 mRNA and the level of COX-2 protein were significantly stronger in the liver of model rats compared with normal rats, and significantly weaker in treated rats, than in 8W and 12W model rats（P 〈 0.05）. Conclusion：The increase of COX-2 expression in NAFLD is closely associated with the severity of liver inflammation and damage. COX-2 may play an important role in the progression of rat NAFLD, and the expression of COX-2 mRNA is downregulated by cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, which can depress the oxidative stress and control inflammatory response efficiently.

Detection of maternal serum thromboxane B2 in different durations of pregnancy and prediction of preeclampsia

This study was aimed to detect maternal serum levels of thromboxane B2(TXB2)in different durations of pregnancy and explore the predictive value of TXB2 for preeclampsia.By employing a prospective and double-blind study method,180 pregnant women with previously normal blood pressures during their progestation were included in the study.Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained during 10+0–14+6(period I),20+0–24+6(period II)and 30+0–34+6(period III)weeks of gestation.Maternal serum levels of TXB2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay.The pathogenetic condition and pregnancy outcomes of these cases were observed.(1)Among the 180 previously normotensive women,ten developed preeclampsia(case group;four severe and six mild preeclampsia).One hundred and seventy remained normal till the end of pregnancy(control group).(2)With development of pregnancy,the levels of maternal serum TXB2 in the 180 cases gradually ascended as seen through the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test.There was a statistical significance in maternal TXB2 levels between two different gestational stages(P<0.01).(3)The levels of maternal serum TXB2 were slightly higher in the case group than in the control group during period I of gestation,but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05);the levels of TXB2 were significantly higher in the case group than in the control group during periods II and III of gestation(both P<0.05).(3)The best cutoff points of maternal TXB2 were 3750 and 4400 ng/mL during periods II and III of gestation by receiver operator characteristic(ROC)curve;and the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and odds radio of TXB2 in predicting preeclampsia were 80%,69.5%,13.3%,98.33%,9.11 and 90%,68.82%,13.84%,99.13,19.86,respectively.Higher levels of maternal serum TXB2 were detected a long time before clinical symptoms appeared.The maternal serum TXB2 after 20 weeks of gestation had predictive value,and the index after 30 weeks was superior to that prior to 30 weeks.

The Resrch on the PreventiOn and Treetment of Bronchial Asthma by Chuanxiong Antiasthma Mixture

Chuanxiong Antiasthma Mixture is a prescription for bronchial asthma which we have adoptedin the clinic for many years. The results of the animal experiment showed that it lias the function of relaxing ,the isolated bronchial smooth muscle spasm of the animal, lowering the experimented animal's asthma inci-dence and mortality. On the basis ot these results, we have expanded our clinical observation samples set-ting up the Chuanxiong antiasthma group : 100 cases and the control group : 50 cases. The results showed thatthe mixtore can apparently increase the ratio of 1 second forcoful expiration volume/ forceful vital capacity(FEV1%) and redce the value of thromboxane B2. The total effective rate is 92 % which is obviously superi-or than the control group (P<0. 05) . It suggests that the mixture has the antagonistic effect toward the syn-thesis and release of thromboxane B2. Also it has the fonction of relaxing the smcoth muscle and improve thepulmonary fonction.

Clinical Observation on Treatment of Pediatric Intractable Nephropathy with Modified Taohong Siwu Decoction(桃红四物汤)

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of Modified Taohong Siwu Decoction (MTSD) in treating pediatric intractable nephropathy (PIN). Methods: Ninety-five patients with PIN were divided into 2 groups at random. The 60 patients in the treated group were treated with MTSD and the 35 patients in the control group were treated with heparin. The clinical therapeutic effect and levels of thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and 6-keto-prostacyclin F1α (6-keto-PGF1α) before and after treatment were observed. Results: The total effective rate in the treated group was 81.7%, which was similar to that in the control group (80.0%, P>0.05). The levels of TXB2 and TXB2/6-keto-PGF1α ratio were higher in both groups of the patients as compared with those of the healthy control (P<0.01). After treatment, the two criteria were significantly improved in the two treated groups, as compared with those before treatment, the difference was significant (P<0.01), while in comparison between the MTSD treated group and the control group, no significant difference was found (P>0.05). Conclusion: MTSD has good effect in treating PIN, it could improve the metabolic unbalance of thromboxane and prostacyclin.