注射用白眉蛇毒血凝酶的内毒性检测

目的:探讨检测白眉蛇毒血凝酶(注射剂)中内毒性的方法。方法:参照最新版《中国药典》中记录的方法检测内毒性,计算其在注射剂中的控制值,利用干扰试验找出无干扰状态下的质量浓度上限值。结果:将注射剂稀释成4倍量,即无干扰状态下质量浓度上限值(0.05KU/mL)。结论:可利用检测内毒性的方法进行白眉蛇毒血凝酶(注射剂)热源检查。

炎症诱导性表达载体的构建及白介素-10基因转染对烫伤内毒素血症小鼠保护作用的实验研究

炎症诱导性表达载体的构建及白介素┐１０基因转染对烫伤内毒素血症小鼠保护作用的实验研究ＣｏｎｓｔｒｕｃｔｉｏｎｏｆｉｎｆｌａｍｍａｔｉｏｎｉｎｄｕｃｉｂｌｅｅｘｐｒｅｓｉｏｎｖｅｃｔｏｒａｎｄｐｒｏｔｅｃｔｉｏｎｏｆｅｘｐｅｒｉｍｅｎｔｉａｌＩＬ┐１...

肠内内毒素增加对实验性酒精性肝病大鼠模型的影响及其临床意义

目的探讨给予外源性内毒素对实验性酒精性肝病模型的影响及其临床意义。方法采用胃造瘘法建立大鼠酒精性肝病模型,经造瘘管肠道内给予LPS后即时测定体内内毒素水平,并观察长期给予LPS对大鼠肝脏生化功能的影响和肝脏病理学变化,以及肠粘膜通透性的改变。由此评价外源性内毒素增加对实验性酒精性肝病模型的影响,探讨其临床意义。结果给予LPS后实验组门脉血内毒素水平即可增高,特别是60 min以后更为明显,未检测到外周尾静脉血毒素水平增高;长期给予LPS(每周1次,持续9周)转氨酶水平增高显著,肝组织病理损伤较对照组突出;肠粘膜通透性在酒精饲喂组增高,其中同时给予LPS组较单纯酒精饲喂组有所增高,但两者的差别无统计学意义。结论给予外源性内毒素可加重实验性酒精性肝病大鼠模型的肝损伤,提示临床中重视对肠源性内毒素的治疗对酒精性肝病病性的改善有积极的意义。

纳洛酮的临床应用

纳洛酮（naloxone，NX）为羟二氢吗啡酮的衍生物，其化学结构与吗啡相似，仅在吗啡的N-位甲基以烯丙基取代，6位羟基变为酮基．而它的药理作用却与吗啡完全相反，是阿片受体的特异性拮抗剂，它与阿片受体的亲和力大于吗啡和β-内啡肽的亲和力．能竞争性阻止并取代吗啡样物质与受体结合，从而阻断吗啡样物质的作用，实现其药效。1960年，Fishman首次成功合成纳洛酮，之后NX就开始用于治疗麻醉剂与麻醉剂过量引起的休克。70年代在人体中发现内源性阿片样物质（B一内啡肽、脑啡肽），并认为β-内啡肽对全身的生理功能起调节作用。1978年，Holady等用纳洛酮成功治疗内毒性休克，1981年Baskin首次报道静脉注射NX治疗脑卒中有效，1985年Bell等报道静脉注射大剂量纳洛酮成功治疗蛛网膜下腔出血．1995年Novikov等将纳洛酮用于治疗颅脑损伤。NX具有拮抗β-内啡肽对中枢神经系统、呼吸系统、心血管系统的抑制作用，目前已广泛应用于急性酒精中毒、有机磷农药中毒、镇静催眠药中毒、各种类型休克、急性脑血管病等。

Persistent toxic substances in urban highway runoff in Shanghai

Urban highway runoff samples from seventeen rainfall events were collected in Shanghai in 2011. The concentrations of ten heavy metals and sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs are analyzed. The results show that the heavy metal concentrations range within 0.50 to 51.80 As 0 to 20.80 Se 13.67 to 445.80 Zn 0 to 44.20 Pb 0 to 15.80 Ni 39.58 to 264.20 Fe 0 to 253.00 Mn 0 to 8.20 Cr 0 to 124.20 Cu and 159.83 to 536.40 μg/L Al . Se Pb Mn and Al concentrations in most samples exceed their corresponding criterion continuous concentrations CCCs while Zn and Cu concentrations exceed their criterion maximum concentrations CMCs .The concentrations ofΣPAHs range within 37.25 to 114.57 ng/L and concentrations of PAHs are all below their corresponding CCCs.Cu Zn and ΣPAHs show the first flush phenomenon. Analysis results of the modified Nemerow index method NIM indicate that runoff from eight rainfall events may have very strong biological toxicity effects four have strong effects three have moderate effects and only two have insignificant effects.Therefore it is concluded that urban highway runoff is a significant pollution source to aquatic ecosystems and needs immediate purification.

Pollution of Environmental Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals(EDCs) in Water and Its Adverse Reproductive Effect on Fish

Environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals （EDCs）, commonly found in the environment, come from industry and agriculture, including pesticides, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, and other chemicals. Nowadays, more and more EDCs were released into the environment. EDCs go into water body via atmosphere sedi-mentation, surface runoff, soil eluviation, etc., so water body becomes the main place for existing. In order to attract scientific and public attention worldwide and to prevent EDCs pol ution, in this study we reviewed the classification of EDCs and their concentrations in natural water bodies, drinking water sources and water plants, and the reproductive toxicity of EDCs to fish were reviewed. EDCs could disturb the endocrine system and make reproductive organs and reproduction abnor-mal, resulting in fertility descending, reproduction function damage, community quan-tity decrease and even species extinction. In addition, EDCs could disrupt the homeostasis maintained by hormones, which would result in defects of neural de-velopment and abnormalities of the endocrine and reproductive systems. The exact molecular mechanisms have not been completely reported, but researches have suggested that multiple mechanisms were involved in the action of EDCs. Although there have been researches on the biohazard of EDCs, there stil exist problems of weakness in fundamental researches, difficulties in recognizing and identifying EDCs and high cost, which restraint the knowledge on them.

Antiviral Activity of the Effective Monomers from Folium Isatidis Against Influenza Virus in Vivo

In order to evaluate the anti-influenza virus activity of the effective monomer from Folium Isatidis (FI) in vivo,we established mice model with viral pneumonia and divided them into 3 different dose groups,then observed their lung indexes,pulmonary pathological changes,pulmonary virus hemagglitination titers,living time and death rates.The results showed that the monomer could reduce the pulmonary index from 2.64 to 1.93,1.63 and 1.40 (P<0.01) and decrease the hemagglitination titer from 1.15 to 0.84,0.70 and 0.59 (P<0.01).In addition,different groups of FI could significantly lessen the mortality rate from 100% to 30%,25% and 15%,and prolong the living time from 5.1d to 6.5d,8.4d and 8.9d respectively(P<0.01).The high dose (75 mg/kg/d) has the similar effect with 100 mg/kg/d dose of virazole(P>0.05),and more effective than 200 mg/kg/d dose of antiviral liquor (P<0.05).

Association of promoter polymorphism of the CD14 C (-159) T endotoxin receptor gene with chronic hepatitis B

AIM: To investigate whether single-nucleotide polymor- phisms in the promoter regions of endotoxin-responsive genes CD14 C (-159) T is associated with chronic hepatitis B. METHODS: We obtained genomic DNA from 80 patients with established diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B and 126 healthy subjects served as a control population. The CD 14 C (-159) T polymorphism was investigated using an allele specific PCR method. RESULTS: Twenty seven percent of chronic hepatitis B patients and 75% of controls were heterozygous for CT genotype. The difference between the chronic hepatitis B and control groups was statistically significant [P < 0.0001; Odds ratio (OR) = 2.887; 95% CI: 1.609-5.178]. Twenty four point six percent of chronic hepatitis B and patients 12.3% of the control group were heterozygous for TT genotype. The difference between groups was not statistically significant (P = 0.256; OR = 0.658; 95% CI: 0.319-1.358). Forty eight point four percent of chronic hepatitis B patients and 12.7% of control were homozy- gote for CC genotype (P < 0.004; OR = 0.416; 95% CI: 0.229-0.755). The frequency of allele C was 61.9% and allele T was 38.1% in hepatitis B patients group. The frequency of allele C was 55.2% and allele T was 44.8% for the control group (P = 0.179; OR = 1.319; 95% CI: 0.881-1.977). CONCLUSION: The TT heterozygous genotype was not a risk factor for chronic hepatitis B. CC homozygote genotype is protective for hepatitis B. Lack of heterozy- gosis of genotype CT is a risk factor for chronic hepatitis B. Alleles C or T were not risk factors for chronic hepatitis B. These findings show the role of a single-nucleotide polymorphism at CD14/-159 on the development ofchronic hepatitis B. Endotoxin susceptibility may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis B.

Detection of PERV by polymerase chain reaction and its safety in bioartificial liver support system

AIM： To establish a method detecting porcine endogenous retrovirus （PERV） in China experimental minipigs and to evaluate the safety of PERV in three individuals treated with bioartificial liver support systems based on porcine hepatocytes. METHODS： Porcine hepatocytes were isolated with two-stage perfusion method, then cultured in the bioreactor, which is separated by a semipermeable membrane （0.2μm） from the lumen through which the patients＇ blood plasma was circulated. After posthemoperfusion, patients＇ blood was obtained for screening. Additionally, samples of medium collected from both intraluminal and extraluminal compartments of the laboratory bioreactor and culture supernate in vitro was analyzed. The presence of viral sequences was estimated by polymerase chain reaction （PCR） and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction （RTPCR）. Finally, the infection of virus in the supernate of common culture was ascertained by exposure to the fetal liver cells. RESULTS： PERV-specific gag sequences were found in the porcine hepatocytes using RT-PCR. and were detected in all samples from the intraluminal, extraluminal samples and culture supernate. However, culture supernatant from primary porcine hepatocytes （cleared of cellular debris） failed to infect human fetal liver cells. Finally, RT-PCR detected no PERV infection was found in the blood samples obtained from three patients at various times post-hemoperfusion. CONCLUSION： The assays used are specific and sensitive, identified by second PCR. PERVs could be released from hepatocytes cultured in bioreactor without the stimulation of mitogen and could not be prevented by the hollow fiber semipermeable membrane, indicating the existence of PERV safety in extracorporeal bioartificial liver support system （EBLSS）.

Effect of Efferent Vagus Nerve Excitation by Electrical Stimulation on Acute Liver Injury in Rabbits with Endotoxemia

Objective:To study the effect of electrical stimulation of efferent vagus nerve on the acute liver injury induced by endotoxemia in rabbits. Methods:Sixteen rabbits were randomly divided into stimulation group(Group A,n=8) and control group (Group B,n=8).They were subjected to bilateral cervical vagotomy and intravenously challenged by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (E.coli 0111:B4,DIFCO,USA) at a dose of 100 μg/kg injected within 30 min.The distal end of the left vagus nerve trunk was placed across bipolar electrodes connected to a stimulation module and controlled by an acquisition system.Stimuli with constant voltage (10V,5Hz,5ms) were applied twice to the nerve for 10 min before and after the administration of LPS in Group A.At the time 30,60,120,180,240,300 min before and after infusion of LPS respectively in each animal,blood samples were taken for late measurement of the serum Alanine aminotransferase (ALT),Aspartate aminotransferase (AST),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10).Immediately after the experiment was finished,autopsy was performed and liver samples were taken to pathologic study. Results:Compared with Group B,the electrical stimulation of efferent vagus nerve could significantly decrease the contents of ALT,AST and TNF-α,but increase the contents of IL-10,in serum of Group A.It could also alleviate inflammation of liver tissue after LPS attack. Conclusion:The results suggest that excitation of the efferent vagus nerve can inhibit the inflammation cascade in liver after LPS challenge.Thus,it might have a protective effect on acute liver damage caused by endotoxemia.

Experimental study on the role of endotoxin in the development of hepatopulmonary syndrome

AIM: To evaluate the role of intestinal endotoxemia in the genesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome. METHODS: A rat model of cirrhosis was prepared with the method of compound factors. At the end of the eighth week, rats with cirrhosis were treated with 300 μg LPS/100 g body weight, and 1 g/rat of glycine about four h prior to LPS. After three h of LPS treatment, blood and tissues were collected for various measurements. Kupffer cells were isolated from male Wistar rats and cultured, and divided into five groups. Supernatant was harvested at 3 h after treatment with LPS for measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). RESULTS: Our results showed that in rats with cirrhosis, slowed and deepened breath with occasional pause was. PaO2, PaCO2 and standard bicarbonate (SB) in arterial blood were decreased. Arterial O2 and actual bicarbonate (AB) were markedly decreased. There was a close correlation between decreased O2 and endotoxin. Metabolic acidosis accompanying respiratory alkalosis was the primary type of acid-base imbalance. The alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient was sharply widened. Massive accumulation of giant macrophages in the alveolar spaces and its wall and widened alveolar wall architecture were observed. The number of bacterial translocations in mesenteric lymph nodes increased. The ratio of TC99M-MAA brain-over-lung radioactivity rose. Endotoxin, and TNF-α, endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO) in plasma and ET-1, carbon monoxide (CO) in lung homogenates increased. After administration of a given dosage of LPS in rats with cirrhosis, various pathological parameters worsened. Plasma level of endotoxin was related to TNF-α, ET-1, NO in plasma and ET-1, NO, CO in lung homogenates. TNF-α level was related to ET-1 and NO in plasma and lung homogenates and CO in lung homogenate as well. The level of TNF-α increased after infusion of LPS into culture supernatant of Kupffer cells in vitro. However, TNF-α significantly decreased after pretreatment with glycine, PD98059 and SB212850. Glycine could antagonize the effect of LPS in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSION: Intestinal endotoxemia accompanying by cirrhosis may be an important mechanism in the development of hepatopulmonary syndrome in rats. Overproduction of TNF-α due to endotoxin stimulation of Kupffer cells via mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway may be a major mechanism mediating the pathologic alterations of hepatopulmonary syndrome.

Endotoxin receptor CD14 gene variants and histological features in chronic HCV infection

AIM:To analyze the correlation between CD14 rs2569190/C-159T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and disease progression in chronic hepatitis C.METHODS: Liver biopsy specimens from a total of 137 and 349 patients with chronic hepatitis C were separately evaluated with respect to necroinflammatory activity (grading) and architectural changes (staging). In one group, further histological lesions characteristic for hepatitis C, hepatitis C virus subtypes, and biochemical parameters of liver disease were also investigated. Samples of genomic DNA were genotyped for the respective SNP by 5'-nuclease assays using fluorescent dye-labeled allele-specif ic probes.RESULTS: Genotype distribution did not deviate from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In the first group, patients homozygous for the variant allele T were found to be younger than C allele carriers (39.6±12.5 vs 45.7±11.5, P=0.008). Among the histological lesions studied, portal lymphoid aggregates were more frequently observed among TT homozygotes than among C carriers (21/37 vs 32/100, P=0.008). The presence of portal lymphoid aggregates was closely correlated with hepatic inflammation (P=0.003) and with bile duct damage (P<0.001). The degree of fibrosis, in contrast, was not found to be related to the CD14 gene C-159T polymorphism.CONCLUSION: The data suggest a possible relationship between CD14 C-159T polymorphism and the formation of portal lymphoid aggregates, but not liver fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis C.

Innate immune reactivity of the liver in rats fed a choline-deficient L-amino-acid-defined diet

AIM： To investigate the innate immune reactivity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）, Toll-like receptor 4 （TLR4）, and CD14 in the liver of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis （NASH） model rats. METHODS： Male F344 rats were fed a cholinedeficient L-amino-acid-defined （CDAA） diet. The rats were killed after 4 or 8 wk of the diet, and their livers were removed for immunohistochemical investigation and RNA extraction. The liver specimens were immunostained for TNF-α, TLR4, and CD14. The gene expressions of TNF-α, TLR4, and CD14 were determined by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Kupffer cells were isolated from the liver by Percoll gradient centrifugation, and were then cultured to measure TNF-α production. RESULTS： The serum and liver levels of TNF-~ in the CDAA-fed rats increased significantly as compared with the control group, as did the immunohistochemical values and gene expressions of TNF-α, TLR4, and CD14 with the progression of steatohepatitis. TNF-α production from the isolated Kupffer cells of the CDAAfed rats was elevated by lipopolysaccharide stimulation. CONCLUSION： The expressions of TNF-α, TLR4, and CD14 increased in the NASH model, suggesting that

Toxicity and Accumulation of Selenite in Four Microalgae

The toxicity and bioaccumulation of selenite in four microalgae, Spirulina platensis, Dunaliella salina, Dunaliella bardawill and Phaeodactylum tricornutum cultured in the presence of selenite were investigated. Lower concentrations of selenite were generally nontoxic and frequently stimulated algal growth, while higher concentrations of selenite inhibited algal growth. Selenite was more toxic to D. salina and D. bardawill than to S. platensis and P. tricornutum . All algae cultured in selenite were able to incorporate Se to different degrees, which depended on algal species. The distributions of selenite among intracellular macromolecular compounds were different among algal species: most of the selenite was associated with proteins in S. platensis, D. salina and D. bardawill , while most of the selenite was associated with lipids in P. tricornutum , which reflected the physiological differences among the algae. These observations suggest that algae are able to accumulate selenite and bind it with intracellular macromolecular compounds when exposed to high concentration of selenite. This may represent a form of storage or detoxification of selenite by the algae.

In vivo Toxicity of Beta-cyfluthrin Insecticide against the Red Palm Weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus （Olivier）

The red palm weevil （RPW） Rhynchophorusferrugineus is one of the most invasive insect pests causing massive damage on date palms over the world. Synthetic pyrethroid insecticide beta-cyfluthrin has been evaluated against developmental stages of RPW under laboratory conditions. These stages were exposed to residual film of the insecticide on transparent cups using a Potter precision laboratory spray tower. Percent mortality of males and females were recorded 0.5, 2.0 and 24 h after treatment. Furthermore, date palm offshoots were infested in mesh house, two months later, offshoots treated with 300 ppm （p.g/mL） beta-eyfluthrin using two methods dipping and injection. Bioassay test showed beta-cyfluthrin at 300 ppm caused 86,7% and 93,3% mortality against males and females after 2 h respectively with LC50 135.74 and 109.4 ppm. By increasing the concentration at 400 ppm, mortality reached 100% against males and females after 24 h, Developmental stages, eggs and larvae were more sensitive toward the insecticide, where at 120 ppm no eggs hatched after 96 h and 86.7% mortality was recorded at 200 ppm against larvae after 30 rain with LC50 93.19 ppm. In addition, dipping method of date palm offshoots in 300 ppm beta-cyfluthrin was a very convenient way to control all RPW stages compared to injection method. So, it possible to recommend this method for treating the date palm offshoots in such insecticide as one of the most important elements of integrated pest management for standardizing insecticide based quarantine protocols.

In vitro toxicologic study of chitin short fiber reinforced polycaprolactone composite

Objective: To investigate the cytotoxicity and cytocompatibility of chitin fiber reinforced polycaprolactone composite in vitro in order to provide useful scientific basis for clinical application. Methods: Cell morphology observation, MTT and DNA assay were used to evaluate the influence of the composite on the morphology, growth and proliferation of cultured L-929 cells. Results: The composite did not impair the morphology of cultured cells in vitro. MTT and DNA assay demonstrated that the growth and proliferation of the cultured cells were not significantly inhibited by the composite. Conclusion : The composites have fine cytocompatibility and are safe for clinical use of reconstruction of chest wall defects.

Structures and Antiviral Activities of Butyrolactone Derivatives Isolated from Aspergillus terreus MXH-23

A new butyrolactone derivative,namely butyrolactone Ⅷ （1）,and six known butyrolactones （2-7） were separated from the ethyl acetate （EtOAc） extract of the fermentation broth of a fungus,Aspergillus terreus MXH-23.The chemical structures of these metabolites were identified by analyzing their nuclear magnetic resonance （NMR） and mass spectrometry （MS）.Known butyrolactone derivatives contain an α,β-unsaturated γ-lactone ring with α-hydroxyl and y-benzyl,and butyrolactone Ⅷ （1） was the first butyrolactones contains α-benzyl and γ-hydroxyl on α,β-unsaturated lactone ring.All of the butyrolactone derivatives were tested for their anti-influenza （H 1N 1） effects.Derivatives 4 and 7 showed moderate antiviral activities while the newly-identified,derivative 1,did not.

Clinical study of three dimensional conformal radiotherapy combined with intracavitary brachytherapy in the treatment of cervical cancer

Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the outcome and complications of cervical cancer patients undergoing conventional intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) treated with 3D-conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). Methods: Sixty cervical cancer patients were divided randomly into the conformal group and the conventional group. Thirty patients treated with 3D-conformal radiotherapy in the 3DCRT group, when the whole pelvic received DT 40 Gy, a planning CT scan of each patient was obtained and the second 3DCRT therapy plan was taken. Then, continued to irradiate to 50 Gy. At last, 3DCRT was boosted at local involved volumes to the total dose of 60 Gy. When 3DCRT was combined with intracavitary brachytherapy, the dose of brachytherapy to point A was 30 Gy/5 fractions. In the conventional group, after a total tumor dose of 40 Gy was delivered by the whole pelvic irradiation, the four-field technique was used to irradiate the total pelvic and regional nodes (median dose of 10 Gy), and the involved volumes were boosted to 60 Gy and the dose of brachytherapy to point A was 30 Gy-36 Gy/5-6 fractions. Moreover, both groups were combined with intracavitary brachytherapy respectively. Results: The 1, 2, 3-year survival rates for the 3DCRT group and the conventional group were 96.7%, 93.3%, 90.0% and 86.6%, 76.7%, 70% respectively (P = 0.04, P = 0.02 and P = 0.02). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Compared to the two groups each other in toxic effects, except for the I-II grade rectal and bladder reaction and pelvic fibrosis which was lower in the 3DCRT group (P = 0. 007, P = 0. 006 and P = 0. 015), the side effects were similar and well tolerated in two groups. Conclusion: The all-course 3DCRT combined with intracavitary brachytherapy can be considered as an effective and feasible approach to cervical cancer and may significantly improve the survival rate and reduce the late toxicity. This new role for 3DCRT merits need further evaluation with large patient numbers and longer follows up.

Influence of chitosan nanofiber scaffold on porcine endogenous retroviral expression and infectivity in pig hepatocytes

AIM: To investigate the influence of chitosan nanofiber scaffold on the production and infectivity of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) expressed by porcine hepatocytes. METHODS: Freshly isolated porcine hepatocytes were cultured with or without chitosan nanofiber scaffold (defined as Nano group and Hep group) for 7 d. The daily collection of culture medium was used to detect reverse transcriptase (RT) activity with RT activity assaykits and PERV RNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real time PCR with the PERV specific primers. And Western blotting was performed with the lysates of daily retrieved cells to determine the PERV protein gag p30. Besides, the in-vitro infectivity of the supernatant was tested by incubating the human embryo kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. RESULTS: The similar changing trends between two groups were observed in real time PCR, RT activity assay and Western blotting. Two peaks of PERV expression at 10H and Day 2 were found and followed by a regular decline. No significant difference was found between two groups except the significantly high level of PERV RNA at Day 6 and PERV protein at Day 5 in Nano group than that in Hep group. And in the in-vitro infection experiment, no HEK293 cell was infected by the supernatant. CONCLUSION: Chitosan nanofiber scaffold might prolong the PERV secreting time in pig hepatocytes but would not obviously influence its productive amount and infectivity, so it could be applied in the bioartificial liver without the increased risk of the virus transmission.

Evaluation of a novel hybrid bioartificial liver based on a multi-layer flat-plate bioreactor

AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a hybrid bioartificial liver (HBAL) system in the treatment of acute liver failure. METHODS: Canine models with acute liver failure were introduced with intravenous administration of D-galactosamine. The animals were divided into: the HBAL treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of HBAL; the bioartificial liver (BAL) treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of BAL; the non-bioartificial liver (NBAL) treatment group (n = 8), in which the canines received a 3-h treatment of NBAL; the control group (n = 8), in which the canines received no additional treatment. Biochemical parameters and survival time were determined. Levels of xenoantibodies, RNA of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) and reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in the plasma were detected. RESULTS: Biochemical parameters were significantly decreased in all treatment groups. The TBIL level in the HBAL group was lower than that in other groups (2.19 ± 0.55 mmol/L vs 24.2 ± 6.45 mmol/L, 12.47 ± 3.62 mmol/L, 3.77 ± 1.83 mmol/L, P < 0.05). The prothrombin time (PT) in the BAL and HBAL groups was significantly shorter than the NBAL and control groups (18.47 ± 4.41 s, 15.5 ± 1.56 s vs 28.67 ± 5.71 s, 21.71 ± 3.4 s, P < 0.05), and the PT in the HBAL group was shortest of all the groups. The albumin in the BAL and HBAL groups significantly increased and a significantly higher level was observed in the HBAL group compared with the BAL group (27.7 ± 1.7 g/L vs 25.24 ± 1.93 g/L). In the HBAL group, the ammonia levels significantly decreased from 54.37 ± 6.86 to 37.75 ± 6.09 after treatment (P < 0.05); there were significant difference in ammonia levels between other the groups (P < 0.05). The levels of antibodies were similar before and after treatment. The PERV RNA and the RT activity in the canine plasma were all negative. CONCLUSION: The HBAL showed great efficiency and safety in the treatment of acute liver failure.