Matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 expression in fibrotic rat liver

INTRODUCTIONLiver fibrosis is an excessive deposition ofextracellular matrix(ECM)resulted from bothincreased synthesis and decreased degradation.Matrix metalloproteinases(MMPs)represent agroup of neutral proteinases with variable

Effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on gastric epithelial cell proliferation

INTRODUCTION Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection is one ofthe main pathogens of chronic gastritis and duodenalulcer(DU),and it may be considered as a riskfactor in the incidence of gastric cancer.H.pylori infection may lead to the anomaly of gastricepithelial cell proliferation which is closely relatedto the development of gastric cancer.Vacuolatingcytotoxin(VacA)is an important virulence andvacA subtype determines the toxic activity.According to its signal sequence,it can be groupedinto type sla,slb,slc and s2.Strains harboringvacAsla are more closely related with digestivediseases and may be the strains with high toxicity.The effect of H.pylori infection on

Induction of apoptosis by arsenic trioxide and hydroxycamptothecin in gastric cancer cells in vitro

AIM To study the effects of arsenic trioxide andHCPT on different degrees of differentiated gastriccancer cells（SGC-7901,MKN-45,MKN-28）withrespect to both cytotoxicity and induction ofapoptosis in vitro.METHODS The cytotoxicity of As2O3 and HCPTon gastric cancer cells was determined by MTTassay.Morphologic changes of apoptosis ofgastric cancer cells were observed by lightmicroscopy and transmission electron microscopy.Apoptosis and cell cycle changes of gastric cancercells induced by HCPT and As2O3 were investigatedby TUNEL method and flow cytometry.RESULTS As2O3 and HCPT had remarkablecytotoxic effects on different degrees ofdifferentiated gastric cancer cells.The IC50ofAs2O3 on well differentiated gastric cancer cellMKN-28,moderately differentiated gastric cancercell SGC-7901,and poorly differentiated gastriccancer cell MKN-28 were 8.91 μmol/L,10.57μmol/L,and 11.65 μmol/L,respectively.The IC50of HCPT on MKN-28,SGC-7901,and MKN-45 were9.35 mg/L,10.21 mg/L,and 12.63 mg/Lrespectively after 48 h treatment.After 12 h ofexposure to both drugs,gastric cancer cellsexhibited morphologic features of apoptosis,including cell shrinkage,nuclear condensation, and formation of apoptotic bodies.A typicalsubdiploid peak before G0/G1 phase was observedby flow cytometry.The apoptotic rates of SGC-7901,MKN-45,and MKN-28 were 13.84%,22.52%,and 9.68%,respectively after 48 hexposure to 10 μmol/L As2O3.The apoptotic ratesof SGC-7901,MKN-45,and MKN-28 were 21.88%,12.35%,and 30.26%,respectively after 48 hexposure to 10 mg/L HCPT.The apoptotic indicewere 7%-15% as assessed by TUNEL method.The effect of As2O3 on SGC-7901 showedremarkable cell cycle specificity,which inducedcell death in G1 phase,and blocked G2/M phase.HCPT also showed a remarkable cell cyclespecificity,by inducing cell death and apoptosis inG1 phase and arrest of proliferation at S phase.CONCLUSION As2O3 and HCPT exhibitsignificant cytotoxicity on gastric cancer cells byinduction of apoptosis.As2O3 and HCPT mighthave a promising prospect in the treatment ofgastric cancer,which needs to be further studied.

Multi-factor analysis of initial poor graft function after orthotopic liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: In the early period of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), initial poor graft function (IPGF) is one of the complications which leads to primary graft non-function (PGNF) in serious cases. This study set out to establish the clinical risk factors resulting in IPGF after OLT. METHODS: Eighty cases of OLT were analyzed. The IPGF group consisted of patients with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and/or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) above 1500 IU/L within 72 hours after OLT, while those in the non-IPGF group had values below 1500 IU/L. Recipient-associated factors before OLT analyzed were age, sex, primary liver disease and Child-Pugh classification; factors analyzed within the peri-operative period were non-heart beating time (NHBT), cold ischemia time (CIT), rewarming ischemic time (RWIT), liver biopsy at the end of cold ischemia; and factors analyzed within 72 hours after OLT were ALT and/or AST values. A logistic regression model was applied to filter the possible factors resulting in IPGF. RESULTS: Donor NHBT, CIT and RWIT were significantly longer in the IPGF group than in the non-IPGF group; in the logistic regression model, NHBT was the risk factor leading to IPGF (P<0.05), while CIT and RWIT were possible risk factors. In one case in the IPGF group, PGNF appeared with moderate hepatic steatosis. CONCLUSIONS: Longer NHBT is an important risk factor leading to IPGF, while serious steatosis in the donor liver, CIT and RWIT are potential risk factors.

Involvement of apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells in acute pancreatitis-associated lung injury

INTRODUCTIONAcute pancreatitis in a common and potentially fataldisease which is associated with considerablemorbidity and a mortality rate of approximately30%;its pathogenesis remains unknown.Thecause of death is often due to multiple organ

A study of preoperative methionine-depleting parenteral nutrition plus chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients

AIM To investigate the interference ofmethionine.free parenteral nutrition plus 5-Fu（-MetTPN+5-Fu）in gastric cancer cell kineticsand the side effects of the regimen.METHODS Fifteen patients with advancedgastric cancer were randomly divided into twogroups,7 patients were given preoperatively aseven-day course of standard parenteralnutrition in combination with a five-day courseof chemotherapy（sTPN+5-Fu）,while the other8 patients were given methionine-deprivedparenteral nutrition and 5-Fu（-MetTPN+5-Fu）.Cell cycles of gastric cancer and normal mucosawere studied by flow cytometry（FCM）.Bloodsamples were taken to measure the serumprotein,methionine（Met）and cysteine（Cys）levels,and liver and kidney functions.RESULTS As compared with the resultsobtained before the treatment,the percentage ofG0/G1 tumor cells increased and that of S phasedecreased in the-MetTPN+5-Fu group,while thecontrary was observed in the sTPN+5-Fu group.Except that the ALT,AST and AKP levels wereslightly increased in a few cases receiving-MetTPN+5-Fu,all the other biochemicalparameters were within normal limits.Serum Cys level decreased slightly after the treatmentin both groups.Serum Met level of patientsreceiving sTPN+5-Fu was somewhat higher aftertreatment than that before treatment;however,no significant change occurred in the -MetTPN+5-Fu group,nor operative complications in bothgroups.CONCLUSION -MetTPN+5-Fu exerted asuppressive effect on cancer cell proliferation,probably through a double mechanism ofcreating a state of'Met starvation'adverse tothe tumor cell cycle,and by allowing 5-Fu to killspecifically cells in S phase.Preoperative short-term administration of -MetTPN+5-Fu had littleundesirable effect on host metabolism.

A comparison between intravenous and peritoneal route on liver targeted uptake and expression of plasmid delivered by Glyco-poly-L-lysine

AIM To compare the effects of intravenous routeand peritoneal route on liver targeted uptake andexpression of plasmid delivered by galactose-terminal glyco-poly-L-lysine(G-PLL).METHODS The plasmid pTM/MMP-1 which couldbe expressed in eukaryotic cells was bound to G-PLL,and was then transferred into Wistar rats byintravenous and intraperitoneal injection.Theexpression and distribution of the plasmid wereobserved at different time periods by in situhybridization and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS The plasmid could be expressedsignificantly within 24 h after being transferred invivo by both intravenous and intraperitonealroutes.One week later the expression began todecrease,and could still be observed three weekslater.Although both the intravenous andintraperitoneal route could target-specificallydeliver the plasmid to the liver,the effect of theformer was better as compared to that of the latter.CONCLUSION Intravenous route is better for livertargeted uptake and expression of G-PLL-boundplasmids than the peritoneal route.

Glyco-poly-L-lysine is better than liposomal delivery of exogenous genes to rat liver

AIM To compare the effects of liposomes andglyco-poly-L-lysine on liver targeted uptake andexpression of plasmid in rat liver.METHODS After binding with lipofectamine orgalactose-terminal glyco-poly-L-lysine,theplasmid could be expressed in eukaryotic cellswhen injected into Wistar rats by intravenousroute.At different time intervals after the injection,the distribution and expression of the plasmid inliver of rats were observed and compared using insitu hybridization and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS The expression of the plasmid bindingto liposomes or G-PLL could be markedly observed24 h later,and began to decrease one week later,but it still could be observed up to three weeks.Both liposomes and G-PLL could deliver theplasmid to the liver effectively,but the effect of thelatter was better than the former concerning thedistribution and expression of the plasmid targeteduptake in the liver.CONCLUSION G-PLL is better than liposome asthe targeted carrier for delivering exogenous genesto the liver.

Can the rat donor liver tolerate prolonged warm ischemia?

INTRODUCTIONThe last two decades of the twentieth century havewitnessed increasingly successful rates of livertransplantation.The number of liver transplantations hasincreased steadily while the number of organ donors

Nitric oxide synthase distribution in esophageal mucosa and hemodynamic changes in rats with cirrhosis

AIM To observe the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) distribution in the esophageal mucosa andhemodynamic changes in cirrhotic rats.METHODS NOS distribution in the loweresophagus of rats with carbon tetrachlorideinduced cirrhosis was assessed by using NADPHdiaphorase (NADPH-d ) histochemical method.Concentration of NO in serum were measured byfluorometric assay. Mean arterial pressure(MAP), cardiac output (CO), cardiac index (CI),splanchnic vascular resistance (SVR ), andsplanchnic blood flow (SBF ) were alsodetermined using 5’CO-labeled microspheretechnique.RESULTS Intensity of NOS staining in theesophageal epithelium of cirrhotic rats wassignificantly stronger than that in controls.There was a NOS--positive staining area in theendothelia of esophageal submucosal vessels ofcirrhotic rats, but the NOS staining was negativein normal rats. NO concentration of serum incirrhotic rats were significantly higher incomparison with that of controls. Cirrhotic ratshad significantly lower MAP, SVR and higherSBF than those of the controls.CONCLUSION SPlanchnic hyperdynamiccirculatory state was observed in rats withcirrhosis. The endogenous NO may play animportant role in development of esophagealvarices and in changes of hemodynamics incirrhosis.

Cyclosporin A protects Balb/c mice from liver damage induced by superantigen SEB and D-GaIN

AIM To investigate the pathogenic effect ofSEB and D-GalN on liver and the protection ofcyclosporin A, the relationship between hepaticapoptosis and necrosis and the possiblemechanism of acute hepatic necrosis.METHODS After staphylococcal enterotoxin B(SEB ) mixed with D--galactosamine (D-GaiN )were injected intraperitoneally into Balb/c miceand those previously treated with cyclosporin A,blood samples were collected and livers wereisolated at 2, 6, 12 and 24 h. Patterns othepatocellular death were studiedmorphologically and biochemically, circulatingcytokines (TNF-a, IFN--y ) and mice mortalitywithin 24h was assessed.RESU’LTS The SEB could induce the typicalapoptotic changes of hepatocytes, the D-GaiNcould induce hepatocytes apoptosis anddegeneration at the same time, and the micehaving received the SEB + D-GaiN injectionsdeveloped apoptosis at 2 and 6 h, but after 12 hhepatocytes were characterized by severein jury, whereas all the examinations in thecyclosporin A treated mice were normal.CONCLUSION Hepatic cell apoptosis might berelated to necrosis, and massive hepatocyteapoptosis is likely the initiating step of acutehepatic necrosis in mice. The effects induced bySEB and D--GaiN on hepatocytes might bemediated by T cells, and could be prevented bycyclosporin A.

Preparation and Application of Polymyxin B Affinity Membrane Cartridge

Affinty membrane was used for the endotoxin adsorption. The matrix macropore membrane was prepared from fitterpaper by chemically crosslinking, and polymyxin B was immobilized as affinity ligand. The prepared membrane cartridge can be used for the removal of endotoxin from aqueous solutions. With a cartridge of 40 sheets affinity membrane containing,the endotoxin level of the processed solution can be reduced to a minimum of 4 pg/mL.

Current status of radiology in China

INTRODUCTIONRadiology has been greatly advanced in China sinceits founding in 1949 and has been developed fasterand further more since China adopted the policy ofsocioeconomic reform in 1978.It plays anincreasingly important role in the medical healthcare and treatment in the country and has reachedthe world’s advanced level in certain fields.We nowbriefly review the history of China’s radiology so asto give a clear picture of its development.

Surgical repair of congenital tracheal stenosis associated with complex congenital heart disease in infants

Objective To evaluate results of one stage repair of congenital tracheal stenosis associated with complex congenital heart disease in infants. Methods Two infants with congenital stenosis associated with Tetralogy of Fallot were operated on at the age of 1. 5 and 3 years respectively. In the younger child, the 1. 2 cm long of tracheal stenosis was excised and anastomosed. The other case with 3 cm in length of stenosis at the mid-segment of trachea was excised and repaired with a patch. Results The postoperative progress was uneventful. The patients were followed-up for 6 months to 1 year without any complications. Conclusion One stage repair of congenital tracheal stenosis associated with complex congenital heart disease in infants has got satisfactory results. With cardiopulmonary bypass, the operation can be carried out safely. 6 refs,2 figs.

Relationship between state transition and photoinhibition of photosynthesis in wheat leaves

IT is well known that state transitions can keep even distribution of excitation energy betweenthe two photosystems (PS Ⅱ and PS Ⅰ), favoring efficient operation of the photosyntheticapparatus. However, state transitions are usually thought to be associated with low light con-ditions. Its physiological significance under high light conditions is still a controversial is-suc. Many people think that state transitions occur and take significant effect only under