AIM:To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the expression of IL-1beta and IL-6 mRNA in ulcerative colitis rats.METHODS:The SD rat ulcerative colitis model was created by immunological method associate...AIM:To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the expression of IL-1beta and IL-6 mRNA in ulcerative colitis rats.METHODS:The SD rat ulcerative colitis model was created by immunological method associated with local stimulation. Colonic mucosa was prepared from human fresh surgical colonic specimens, homogenized by adding appropriate amount of normal saline and centrifuged at 3000r/min. The supernatant was collected for measurement of protein conentration and then mixed with Freund adjuvant. This antigen fluid was first injected into the plantae of the model group rats, and then into their plantae, dorsa, inguina and abdominal cavities (noFreund adjuvant for the last injection) again on the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st day. When a certain titer of serum anti colonic antibody was reached, 2% formalin and antigen fluid (no Freund adjuvant) were administered separately by enema. The ulcerative colitis rat model was thus set up. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: model control group (MC, n = 8), electro acupuncture group (EA, n = 8), herbs partition moxibustion group (HPM 8), normal control group (NC,n = 8). HPM: Moxa cones made of refined mugwort floss were placed on the medicinal pad (medicinal pad dispensing: Radix Aconiti praeparata, cortex Cinnamomi, etc) for Qihai (RN 6) and Tianshu (ST 25, bilateral) and ignited. Two moxa cones were used for each acupoint once a day and 14 times in all. EA: Tianshu (bilateral) and Qihai were stimulated by the intermittent pulse with 2Hz frequency, 4mA intensity for 20 minutes once a day and 14 times in all. After treatment, rats of all four groups were killed simultaneously. The spleen was separated and the distal colon was dissected. Total tissue RNA was isolated by the guanidinium thiocyanate phenol chloroform extraction method. RT-PCR technique was used to study the expression of IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNA.RESULTS:IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNAs were not detected in the spleen and colonic mucosa of the NC rats, whereas they were significantly expressed in 展开更多
AIM To investigate the mechanisms ofsalvianolic acid A（SA-A）against liver fibrosisin vitro.METHODS NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were culturedroutinely,and incubated with 10<sup>-4</sup>mol/L-10<sup>-7</s...AIM To investigate the mechanisms ofsalvianolic acid A（SA-A）against liver fibrosisin vitro.METHODS NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were culturedroutinely,and incubated with 10<sup>-4</sup>mol/L-10<sup>-7</sup>mol/L SA-A for 22 h.The cell viability wasassayed by[<sup>3</sup>H]proline incorporation,cellproliferation by[<sup>3</sup>H]TdR incorporation,cellcollagen synthetic rate was measured with[<sup>3</sup>H]proline impulse and collagenase digestionmethod.The total RNA was prepared from thecontrol cells and the drug treated cellsrespectively,and α（1）I pro-collagen mRNAexpression was semi-quantitatively analyzedwith RT-PCR.RESULTS 10<sup>-4</sup>mol/L SA-A decreased cellviability and exerted some cytotoxiciy,while10<sup>-5</sup>mol/L-10<sup>-7</sup>mol/L SA-A did not affect cellviability,but inhibited cell proliferationsignificantly,and 10<sup>-6</sup>mol/L SA-A had the besteffect on cell viability among theseconcentrations of drugs.10<sup>-5</sup>mol/L-10<sup>-6</sup>mol/LSA-A inhibited intracellular collagen syntheticrate,but no significant influence on extracellularcollagen secretion.Both 10<sup>-5</sup>mol/L and10<sup>-6</sup>mol/L SA-A could decrease α（1）I pro-collagen mRNA expression remarkably.CONCLUSION SA-A had potent action againstliver fibrosis.It inhibited NIH/3T3 fibroblastproliferation,intracellular collagen syntheticrate and type I pro-collagen gene expression,which may be one of the main mechanisms of thedrug.展开更多
AIM:To analyze whether high-intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU) ablation is an effective bridging therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:From January 2007 to December 2010,49 consecutive HCC pa...AIM:To analyze whether high-intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU) ablation is an effective bridging therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:From January 2007 to December 2010,49 consecutive HCC patients were listed for liver transplantation(UCSF criteria).The median waiting time for transplantation was 9.5 mo.Twenty-nine patients received transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) as a bringing therapy and 16 patients received no treatment before transplantation.Five patients received HIFU ablation as a bridging therapy.Another five patients with the same tumor staging(within the UCSF criteria) who received HIFU ablation but not on the transplant list were included for comparison.Patients were comparable in terms of Child-Pugh and model for end-stage liver disease scores,tumor size and number,and cause of cirrhosis.RESULTS:The HIFU group and TACE group showed no difference in terms of tumor size and tumor number.One patient in the HIFU group and no patient in the TACE group had gross ascites.The median hospital stay was 1 d(range,1-21 d) in the TACE group and two days(range,1-9 d) in the HIFU group(P < 0.000).No HIFU-related complication occurred.In the HIFU group,nine patients(90%) had complete response and one patient(10%) had partial response to the treatment.In the TACE group,only one patient(3%) had response to the treatment while 14 patients(48%) had stable disease and 14 patients(48%) had progressive disease(P = 0.00).Seven patients in the TACE group and no patient in the HIFU group dropped out from the transplant waiting list(P = 0.559).CONCLUSION:HIFU ablation is safe and effective in the treatment of HCC for patients with advanced cirrhosis.It may reduce the drop-out rate of liver transplant candidate.展开更多
INTRODUCTION Salvianolic radix,one of the most commonly usedtraditional Chinese herbs,was widely studied aboutits actions against liver injury and fibrosis,and wasone of the focuses of recent research.Salvianolic acid...INTRODUCTION Salvianolic radix,one of the most commonly usedtraditional Chinese herbs,was widely studied aboutits actions against liver injury and fibrosis,and wasone of the focuses of recent research.Salvianolic acid-A(SA-A)was an aqueous solublecomponent of Salvianolic radix.In our展开更多
The effects of the calorimetric buffer solutions were investigated while the two colorimetric reactions of AI-ferron complex and Fe-ferron complex occurred individually, and the effects of the testing wavelength and t...The effects of the calorimetric buffer solutions were investigated while the two colorimetric reactions of AI-ferron complex and Fe-ferron complex occurred individually, and the effects of the testing wavelength and the pH of the solutions were also investigated. A timed complexatian colorimetric analysis method of Al-Fe-ferron in view of the total concentration of {AI + Fe} was then established to determine the species distribution of polymeric Al-Fe. The testing wavelength was recommended at 362 net and the testing pH value was 5. With a comparison of the ratios of n(Al)/n(Fe), the standard adsorption curves of the polymeric Al-Fe solutions were derived from the experimental results. Furthermore, the solutions' composition were carious in both the molar n(Al)/n(Fe) ratios, i.e. 0/0, 5/5, 9/1 and 0/10, and the concentrations associated with the total ( Al + Fe which ranged from 10(-5) to 10(-4) mol/L..展开更多
AIM To investigate the role of bloodtransfusion in TT viral infection(TTV).METHODS We retrospectively studied serumsamples from 192 transfusion recipients whounderwent cardiovascular surgery and bloodtransfusion betwe...AIM To investigate the role of bloodtransfusion in TT viral infection(TTV).METHODS We retrospectively studied serumsamples from 192 transfusion recipients whounderwent cardiovascular surgery and bloodtransfusion between July 1991 and June 1992.Allpatients had a follow-up every other week for atleast 6 months after transfusion.Eightyrecipients received blood before screeningdonors for hepatitis C antibody(anti-HCV),and112 recipients received screened blood.Recipients with alanine aminotransferase level】2.5 times the upper normal limit were testedfor serological markers for viral hepatitis A,B,C,G,Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus.TTV infection was defined by the positivity forserum TTV DNA using the polymerase chainreaction method.RESULTS Eleven and three patients,whoreceived anti-HCV unscreened and screened'blood,respectively,had serum ALT levels】90 IU/L.Five patients(HCV and TTV:1;HCV,HGV,and TTV:1;TTV:2;and CMV and TTV:1)were positive for TTV DNA,and four of them hadsero-conversion of TTV DNA.CONCLUSION TTV can be transmitted viablood transfusion.Two recipients infected byTTV alone may be associated with the hepatitis.However,whether TTV was the causal agentremains unsettled,and further studies arenecessary to define the role of TTV infection inchronic hepatitis.展开更多
The one-bead-one-compound （OBOC） combinatorial peptide library is a powerful tool to identify ligand and receptor interactions. Here, we applied the OBOC library technology to identify mimotopes specific to the immu...The one-bead-one-compound （OBOC） combinatorial peptide library is a powerful tool to identify ligand and receptor interactions. Here, we applied the OBOC library technology to identify mimotopes specific to the immunoglobulin E （IgE） epitopes of the major shellfish allergen tropomyosin. OBOC peptide libraries with 8-12 amino acid residues were screened with serum samples from patients with shellfish allergy for IgE mimotopes of tropomyosin. Twenty-five mimotopes were identified from the screening and their binding reactivity to tropomyosin-specific IgE was confirmed by peptide ELISA. These mimotopes could be divided into seven clusters based on sequence homology, and epitope mapping by EpiSearch of the clustered mimotopes was performed to characterize and confirm the validity of mimotopes. Five out of six of the predicted epitopes were found to overlap with previously identified epitopes of tropomyosin. To further confirm the mimicry potential of mimotopes, BALB/c mice were immunized with mimotopes conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and assayed for their capacity to induce tropomyosin-specific antibodies. BALB/c mice that received mimotope immunization were found to have an elevated level of tropomyosin-specific immunoglobulin G, but not mice that received an irrelevant mimotope. This study pioneers the successful application of the OBOC libraries using whole sera to screen and identify multiple shrimp allergen mimotopes and validates their mimicry potential using in vitro, in vivo, and in silico methods.展开更多
BACKGROUND:Recurrence of hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection after liver transplantation can lead to graft loss and a reduction in long-term survival.The purpose of this review is to summarize the current therapeutic opt...BACKGROUND:Recurrence of hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection after liver transplantation can lead to graft loss and a reduction in long-term survival.The purpose of this review is to summarize the current therapeutic options for preventing HBV recurrence in liver transplant recipients.DATA SOURCES:Up to January 2013,studies that were published in MEDLINE and EMBASE on prevention of HBV recurrence after liver transplantation were reviewed.RESULTS:There have been remarkable advancements in the past two decades on the prevention of HBV recurrence after liver transplantation,from the discovery of hepatitis B immune globulin(HBIG) and lamivudine monotherapy to the combination therapy using HBIG and lamivudine.With the development of newer and stronger antiviral agents,the need for life-long HBIG is doubtful.With their low resistance profile,oral antiviral prophylaxis using these new agents alone is sufficient and is associated with excellent outcome.CONCLUSIONS:Restoration of host HBV immunity with adoptive immunity transfer and vaccination may represent the ultimate strategy to withdraw prophylactic treatment and to achieve a drug free regimen against HBV recurrence after liver transplantation.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Controversy exists over whether living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) should be offered to patients with high Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores. This study tried to determine whether a hi...BACKGROUND: Controversy exists over whether living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) should be offered to patients with high Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores. This study tried to determine whether a high MELD score would result in inferior outcomes of right-lobe LDLT. METHODS: Among 411 consecutive patients who received right-lobe LDLT at our center, 143 were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups according to their MELD scores: a high-score group (MELD score ≥25; n=75) and a low-score group (MELD score 【25; n=68). Their demographic data and perioperative conditions were compared. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify risk factors affecting patient survival. RESULTS: In the high-score group, more patients required preoperative intensive care unit admission (49.3% vs 2.9%; P【0.001), mechanical ventilation (21.3% vs 0%; P【0.001), or hemodialysis (13.3% vs 0%; P=0.005); the waiting time before LDLT was shorter (4 vs 66 days; P【0.001); more blood was transfused during operation (7 vs 2 units; P【0.001); patients stayed longer in the intensive care unit (6 vs 3 days; P【0.001) and hospital (21 vs 15 days; P=0.015) after transplantation;more patients developed early postoperative complications (69.3% vs 50.0%; P=0.018); and values of postoperative peak blood parameters were higher. However, the two groups had comparable hospital mortality. Graft survival and patient overall survival at one year (94.7% vs 95.6%; 95.9% vs 96.9%), three years (91.9% vs 92.6%; 93.2% vs 95.3%), and five years (90.2% vs 90.2%; 93.2% vs 95.3%) were also similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the high-score group had signifi-cantly more early postoperative complications, the two groups had comparable hospital mortality and similar satisfactory rates of graft survival and patient overall survival. Therefore, a high MELD score should not be a contraindication to right-lobe LDLT if donor risk and recipient benefit are taken into full account.展开更多
Cyprinidae is the largest fish family in the world and contains about 210 genera and 2010 species. Appropriate DNA markers must be selected for the phylogenetic analyses of Cyprinidae. In present study, the 1st intron...Cyprinidae is the largest fish family in the world and contains about 210 genera and 2010 species. Appropriate DNA markers must be selected for the phylogenetic analyses of Cyprinidae. In present study, the 1st intron of the S7 ribosomal protein (r-protein) gene is first used to examine the relationships among cyprinid fishes. The length of the 1st intron obtained by PCR amplification ranges from 655 to 859 bp in the 16 cyprinid species investigated, and is 602 bp in Myxocyprinus asiaticus. Out of the alignment of 925 nucleotide sites obtained, the parsimony informative sites are 499 and occupy 54% of the total sites. The results indicate that the 1st intron sequences of the S7 r-protein gene in cyprinids are rich in informative sites and vary remarkably in sequence divergence from 2.3% between close species to 66.6% between distant species. The bootstrap values of the interior nodes in the NJ (neighbor-joining) and MP (most-parsimony) trees based on the present S7 r-protein gene data are higher than展开更多
AIM: To investigate the age differences in the risk factors, clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment of female breast cancer patients. METHODS: Seven thousand one hundred and fiftytwo women with ...AIM: To investigate the age differences in the risk factors, clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment of female breast cancer patients. METHODS: Seven thousand one hundred and fiftytwo women with primary breast cancer from the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Registry were recruited after receiving patients' consent, they were asked to complete standardized questionnaires which captured their sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors associated with breast cancer development. Among them, clinicopathological data and patterns of treatment were further collected from medical records of 5523 patients with invasive breast cancers. Patients were divided into two groups according to the age at diagnosis: younger(< 40 years old) vs older patients(≥ 40 years old) for subsequent analyses.RESULTS: Analysis on the sociodemographic characteristics and exposure to risk factors were performed on 7152 women with primary breast cancer and the results revealed that younger patients were more likely to have unhealthy lifestyles; these include a lack of exercise(85.4% vs 73.2%, P < 0.001), having high stress in life(46.1% vs 35.5%, P < 0.001), having dairy/meat-rich diets(20.2% vs 12.9%, P < 0.001),having alcohol drinking habit(7.7% vs 5.2%, P = 0.002). Younger patients were also more likely to have hormone-related risk factors including nulliparity(43.3% vs 17.8%, P < 0.001) and an early age at menarche(20.7% vs 13.2%, P < 0.001). Analyses on clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment were performed on 5523 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. The invasive tumours in younger patients showed more aggressive pathological features such as having a higher percentage of grade 3 histology(45.7% vs 36.5%, P < 0.001), having a higher proportion of tumours with lymphovascular invasion(39.6% vs 33.2%, P = 0.003), and having multifocal disease(15.7% vs 10.3%, P < 0.001); they received different patterns of treatment than their older counterparts.CONCLUSION: Younger patients in Hong Kong are mo展开更多
AIM To analyze the outcomes of living-donor liver transplantation(LDLT) using left-lobe(LL) or right-lobe(RL) small-for-size(SFS) grafts.METHODS Prospectively collected data of adult patients who underwent LDLT at our...AIM To analyze the outcomes of living-donor liver transplantation(LDLT) using left-lobe(LL) or right-lobe(RL) small-for-size(SFS) grafts.METHODS Prospectively collected data of adult patients who underwent LDLT at our hospital in the period from January 2003 to December 2013 were reviewed. The patients were divided into the RL-LDLT group and the LL-LDLT group. The two groups were compared in terms of short-and long-term outcomes, including incidence of postoperative complication, graft function, graft survival, and patient survival. A SFS graft was defined as a graft with a ratio of graft weight(GW) to recipient standard liver volume(RSLV)(GW/RSLV) of < 50%. The Urata formula was used to estimate RSLV.RESULTS Totally 218 patients were included for analysis, with 199 patients in the RL-LDLT group and 19 patients in the LL-LDLT group. The two groups were similar in terms of age(median, 53 years in the RL-LDLT group and 52 years in the LL-LDLT group, P = 0.997) but had significantly different ratios of men to women(165:34 in the RL-LDLT group and 8:11 in the LL-LDLT group, P < 0.0001). The two groups were also significantly different in GW(P < 0.0001), GW/RSLV(P < 0.0001), and graft cold ischemic time(P = 0.007). When it comes to postoperative complication, the groups were comparable(P = 0.105). Five patients died in hospital,4(2%) in the RL-LDLT group and 1(5.3%) in the LLLDLT group(P = 0.918). There were 38 graft losses, 33(16.6%) in the RL-LDLT group and 5(26.3%) in the LL-LDLT group(P = 0.452). The 5-year graft survival rate was significantly better in the RL-LDLT group(95.2% vs 89.5%, P = 0.049). The two groups had similar 5-year patient survival rates(RL-LDLT: 86.8%, LL-LDLT: 89.5%, P = 0.476).CONCLUSION The use of SFS graft in LDLT requires careful tailormade surgical planning and meticulous operation. LLLDLT can be a good alternative to RL-LDLT with similar recipient outcomes but a lower donor risk. Further research into different patient conditions is needed in order to validate the use of LL graft.展开更多
The microstructural features of NiCrAlY alloy powders with different particle size fractions and their effects on the overlay coating property have been investigated. It is shown that the finer (20 similar to 30 mu m)...The microstructural features of NiCrAlY alloy powders with different particle size fractions and their effects on the overlay coating property have been investigated. It is shown that the finer (20 similar to 30 mu m) powder particles experience rapid recalescence and heat extraction to the surroundings resulting in microcellular structure, whereas the coarser (40 similar to 50 mu m) powder particles exhibit a coarse cellular and dendritic mixed structure because of recalescence followed by slow cooling. In addition, it is also indicated that the finer the powder particle sizes, the higher the mechanical property and the metallurgical thermal stability of the overlay coatings deposited by as-atomized powders, which is presumably attributed to the formation of dense fine grain structure and oxide layer for the fine size fraction of the powders.展开更多
A mechanism for the catalytically growth of vapor grown fibrous carbon (VGFC) preparing from the floating catalyst method has been proposed, in which liquid diffusion-determined diffusion of carbon atoms through catal...A mechanism for the catalytically growth of vapor grown fibrous carbon (VGFC) preparing from the floating catalyst method has been proposed, in which liquid diffusion-determined diffusion of carbon atoms through catalyst particles is described mathematically, and the physical and chemical properties of the catalyst particles during the growth process are taken into account. From the model the growth rate and grown length of VGFC are calculated theoretically which coincides with the experimental data; and the necessity of reducing gas such as hydrogen in preparing VGFC is explained as to reduce Fe3C, which acts as intermediate catalyst shown by the model. Fe3C formed on the surface of gamma-Fe will stop the growth of carbon fiber if they can not be reduced at once. Additionally, the growth temperature and diameter of VGFC are also discussed in the paper.展开更多
Analytical and numerical investigation is made of the source potential for-floating structure with forward speed in waves. A particular form is selected for numerical applications, where the double integral of the Gre...Analytical and numerical investigation is made of the source potential for-floating structure with forward speed in waves. A particular form is selected for numerical applications, where the double integral of the Green function is transformed into the single one and the oscillation characteristics for integrands in the specific computation domain are treated numerically. A comparison of calculated examples with published data is given and it shows that the numerical simulation is satisfactory and the accuracy is adequate to engineering application.展开更多
The morphology of the melt-equenched Ti-5Al-4Sn-2Zr-1Mo-9.25Si-1Nd alloy is uniformly distributed Nd-rich phase particles in matrix. The particles within grains are spherical, and the particles at grain boundaries are...The morphology of the melt-equenched Ti-5Al-4Sn-2Zr-1Mo-9.25Si-1Nd alloy is uniformly distributed Nd-rich phase particles in matrix. The particles within grains are spherical, and the particles at grain boundaries are elliptical. The Nd-rich phase particle calculated is 6.6 nm in diameter, which is within the 6-15 nm range of average particle diameter experimentally observed in the alloy. The practical interface velocity (0.5 m/s) is much greater than the critical velocity (0.15 m/s), hence the Nd-rich phase particles are trapped by the liquid-solid interface.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG)on endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR).Methods:Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)rats and SHR were divided into four groups;WKY control...Objective:To investigate the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG)on endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR).Methods:Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)rats and SHR were divided into four groups;WKY control,SHR control and SHR treated with EGCG(50 mg/kg/day)or losartan(10 mg/kg/day).The treatment was given daily for 4 weeks by oral gavage and the blood pressure was monitored by tail-cuff method every 3 days.Acetylcholineinduced endothelium-dependent relaxations were assessed in isolated phenylephrine-precontracted aortic rings at the end of treatment.The vascular levels of reactive oxygen species,nitric oxide,tetrahydrobiopterin,and cyclic guanosine monophosphate were also measured.Moreover,the expression of angiotensinⅡtype 1(AT_(1))receptor protein was determined.Results:The systolic blood pressure was significantly decreased in SHR treated with EGCG.The impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly improved in aortic ring isolated from the EGCG-treated SHR group.EGCG also significantly increased the levels of nitric oxide,tetrahydrobiopterin,and cyclic guanosine monophosphate,while decreasing the level of reactive oxygen species and the protein expression of AT_(1)receptor in SHR.Conclusions:EGCG attenuates endothelial dysfunction in SHR by decreasing oxidative stress and increasing vascular nitric oxide bioavailability,which may be modulated partly by inhibition of vascular AT_(1)receptors.An increase in endothelium-dependent relaxation may contribute to a decrease in blood pressure in hypertensive animals.展开更多
THE hydrothermal activity area investigated is located at the middle of the trough (126°50′—127°30′E; 27°20′—27°50′N). Some surface sediment samples and core samples were collected, with othe...THE hydrothermal activity area investigated is located at the middle of the trough (126°50′—127°30′E; 27°20′—27°50′N). Some surface sediment samples and core samples were collected, with other samples from non-hydrothermal activity area (128°20′—129°10′E; 30°30′—31°40′N) in the north of the trough for comparison. Analyses for elements and展开更多
基金Supparted by the Ntiona1 Natura1 Science Foundation of China No.39670899.
文摘AIM:To observe the effect of acupuncture and moxibustion on the expression of IL-1beta and IL-6 mRNA in ulcerative colitis rats.METHODS:The SD rat ulcerative colitis model was created by immunological method associated with local stimulation. Colonic mucosa was prepared from human fresh surgical colonic specimens, homogenized by adding appropriate amount of normal saline and centrifuged at 3000r/min. The supernatant was collected for measurement of protein conentration and then mixed with Freund adjuvant. This antigen fluid was first injected into the plantae of the model group rats, and then into their plantae, dorsa, inguina and abdominal cavities (noFreund adjuvant for the last injection) again on the 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st day. When a certain titer of serum anti colonic antibody was reached, 2% formalin and antigen fluid (no Freund adjuvant) were administered separately by enema. The ulcerative colitis rat model was thus set up. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: model control group (MC, n = 8), electro acupuncture group (EA, n = 8), herbs partition moxibustion group (HPM 8), normal control group (NC,n = 8). HPM: Moxa cones made of refined mugwort floss were placed on the medicinal pad (medicinal pad dispensing: Radix Aconiti praeparata, cortex Cinnamomi, etc) for Qihai (RN 6) and Tianshu (ST 25, bilateral) and ignited. Two moxa cones were used for each acupoint once a day and 14 times in all. EA: Tianshu (bilateral) and Qihai were stimulated by the intermittent pulse with 2Hz frequency, 4mA intensity for 20 minutes once a day and 14 times in all. After treatment, rats of all four groups were killed simultaneously. The spleen was separated and the distal colon was dissected. Total tissue RNA was isolated by the guanidinium thiocyanate phenol chloroform extraction method. RT-PCR technique was used to study the expression of IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNA.RESULTS:IL-1 beta and IL-6 mRNAs were not detected in the spleen and colonic mucosa of the NC rats, whereas they were significantly expressed in
文摘AIM To investigate the mechanisms ofsalvianolic acid A（SA-A）against liver fibrosisin vitro.METHODS NIH/3T3 fibroblasts were culturedroutinely,and incubated with 10<sup>-4</sup>mol/L-10<sup>-7</sup>mol/L SA-A for 22 h.The cell viability wasassayed by[<sup>3</sup>H]proline incorporation,cellproliferation by[<sup>3</sup>H]TdR incorporation,cellcollagen synthetic rate was measured with[<sup>3</sup>H]proline impulse and collagenase digestionmethod.The total RNA was prepared from thecontrol cells and the drug treated cellsrespectively,and α（1）I pro-collagen mRNAexpression was semi-quantitatively analyzedwith RT-PCR.RESULTS 10<sup>-4</sup>mol/L SA-A decreased cellviability and exerted some cytotoxiciy,while10<sup>-5</sup>mol/L-10<sup>-7</sup>mol/L SA-A did not affect cellviability,but inhibited cell proliferationsignificantly,and 10<sup>-6</sup>mol/L SA-A had the besteffect on cell viability among theseconcentrations of drugs.10<sup>-5</sup>mol/L-10<sup>-6</sup>mol/LSA-A inhibited intracellular collagen syntheticrate,but no significant influence on extracellularcollagen secretion.Both 10<sup>-5</sup>mol/L and10<sup>-6</sup>mol/L SA-A could decrease α（1）I pro-collagen mRNA expression remarkably.CONCLUSION SA-A had potent action againstliver fibrosis.It inhibited NIH/3T3 fibroblastproliferation,intracellular collagen syntheticrate and type I pro-collagen gene expression,which may be one of the main mechanisms of thedrug.
文摘AIM:To analyze whether high-intensity focused ultrasound(HIFU) ablation is an effective bridging therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).METHODS:From January 2007 to December 2010,49 consecutive HCC patients were listed for liver transplantation(UCSF criteria).The median waiting time for transplantation was 9.5 mo.Twenty-nine patients received transarterial chemoembolization(TACE) as a bringing therapy and 16 patients received no treatment before transplantation.Five patients received HIFU ablation as a bridging therapy.Another five patients with the same tumor staging(within the UCSF criteria) who received HIFU ablation but not on the transplant list were included for comparison.Patients were comparable in terms of Child-Pugh and model for end-stage liver disease scores,tumor size and number,and cause of cirrhosis.RESULTS:The HIFU group and TACE group showed no difference in terms of tumor size and tumor number.One patient in the HIFU group and no patient in the TACE group had gross ascites.The median hospital stay was 1 d(range,1-21 d) in the TACE group and two days(range,1-9 d) in the HIFU group(P < 0.000).No HIFU-related complication occurred.In the HIFU group,nine patients(90%) had complete response and one patient(10%) had partial response to the treatment.In the TACE group,only one patient(3%) had response to the treatment while 14 patients(48%) had stable disease and 14 patients(48%) had progressive disease(P = 0.00).Seven patients in the TACE group and no patient in the HIFU group dropped out from the transplant waiting list(P = 0.559).CONCLUSION:HIFU ablation is safe and effective in the treatment of HCC for patients with advanced cirrhosis.It may reduce the drop-out rate of liver transplant candidate.
文摘INTRODUCTION Salvianolic radix,one of the most commonly usedtraditional Chinese herbs,was widely studied aboutits actions against liver injury and fibrosis,and wasone of the focuses of recent research.Salvianolic acid-A(SA-A)was an aqueous solublecomponent of Salvianolic radix.In our
基金TheNationalNaturalScienceFoundationofChina (No .2 96 770 0 4)
文摘The effects of the calorimetric buffer solutions were investigated while the two colorimetric reactions of AI-ferron complex and Fe-ferron complex occurred individually, and the effects of the testing wavelength and the pH of the solutions were also investigated. A timed complexatian colorimetric analysis method of Al-Fe-ferron in view of the total concentration of {AI + Fe} was then established to determine the species distribution of polymeric Al-Fe. The testing wavelength was recommended at 362 net and the testing pH value was 5. With a comparison of the ratios of n(Al)/n(Fe), the standard adsorption curves of the polymeric Al-Fe solutions were derived from the experimental results. Furthermore, the solutions' composition were carious in both the molar n(Al)/n(Fe) ratios, i.e. 0/0, 5/5, 9/1 and 0/10, and the concentrations associated with the total ( Al + Fe which ranged from 10(-5) to 10(-4) mol/L..
文摘AIM To investigate the role of bloodtransfusion in TT viral infection(TTV).METHODS We retrospectively studied serumsamples from 192 transfusion recipients whounderwent cardiovascular surgery and bloodtransfusion between July 1991 and June 1992.Allpatients had a follow-up every other week for atleast 6 months after transfusion.Eightyrecipients received blood before screeningdonors for hepatitis C antibody(anti-HCV),and112 recipients received screened blood.Recipients with alanine aminotransferase level】2.5 times the upper normal limit were testedfor serological markers for viral hepatitis A,B,C,G,Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus.TTV infection was defined by the positivity forserum TTV DNA using the polymerase chainreaction method.RESULTS Eleven and three patients,whoreceived anti-HCV unscreened and screened'blood,respectively,had serum ALT levels】90 IU/L.Five patients(HCV and TTV:1;HCV,HGV,and TTV:1;TTV:2;and CMV and TTV:1)were positive for TTV DNA,and four of them hadsero-conversion of TTV DNA.CONCLUSION TTV can be transmitted viablood transfusion.Two recipients infected byTTV alone may be associated with the hepatitis.However,whether TTV was the causal agentremains unsettled,and further studies arenecessary to define the role of TTV infection inchronic hepatitis.
文摘The one-bead-one-compound （OBOC） combinatorial peptide library is a powerful tool to identify ligand and receptor interactions. Here, we applied the OBOC library technology to identify mimotopes specific to the immunoglobulin E （IgE） epitopes of the major shellfish allergen tropomyosin. OBOC peptide libraries with 8-12 amino acid residues were screened with serum samples from patients with shellfish allergy for IgE mimotopes of tropomyosin. Twenty-five mimotopes were identified from the screening and their binding reactivity to tropomyosin-specific IgE was confirmed by peptide ELISA. These mimotopes could be divided into seven clusters based on sequence homology, and epitope mapping by EpiSearch of the clustered mimotopes was performed to characterize and confirm the validity of mimotopes. Five out of six of the predicted epitopes were found to overlap with previously identified epitopes of tropomyosin. To further confirm the mimicry potential of mimotopes, BALB/c mice were immunized with mimotopes conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin and assayed for their capacity to induce tropomyosin-specific antibodies. BALB/c mice that received mimotope immunization were found to have an elevated level of tropomyosin-specific immunoglobulin G, but not mice that received an irrelevant mimotope. This study pioneers the successful application of the OBOC libraries using whole sera to screen and identify multiple shrimp allergen mimotopes and validates their mimicry potential using in vitro, in vivo, and in silico methods.
文摘BACKGROUND:Recurrence of hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection after liver transplantation can lead to graft loss and a reduction in long-term survival.The purpose of this review is to summarize the current therapeutic options for preventing HBV recurrence in liver transplant recipients.DATA SOURCES:Up to January 2013,studies that were published in MEDLINE and EMBASE on prevention of HBV recurrence after liver transplantation were reviewed.RESULTS:There have been remarkable advancements in the past two decades on the prevention of HBV recurrence after liver transplantation,from the discovery of hepatitis B immune globulin(HBIG) and lamivudine monotherapy to the combination therapy using HBIG and lamivudine.With the development of newer and stronger antiviral agents,the need for life-long HBIG is doubtful.With their low resistance profile,oral antiviral prophylaxis using these new agents alone is sufficient and is associated with excellent outcome.CONCLUSIONS:Restoration of host HBV immunity with adoptive immunity transfer and vaccination may represent the ultimate strategy to withdraw prophylactic treatment and to achieve a drug free regimen against HBV recurrence after liver transplantation.
文摘BACKGROUND: Controversy exists over whether living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) should be offered to patients with high Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores. This study tried to determine whether a high MELD score would result in inferior outcomes of right-lobe LDLT. METHODS: Among 411 consecutive patients who received right-lobe LDLT at our center, 143 were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups according to their MELD scores: a high-score group (MELD score ≥25; n=75) and a low-score group (MELD score 【25; n=68). Their demographic data and perioperative conditions were compared. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to identify risk factors affecting patient survival. RESULTS: In the high-score group, more patients required preoperative intensive care unit admission (49.3% vs 2.9%; P【0.001), mechanical ventilation (21.3% vs 0%; P【0.001), or hemodialysis (13.3% vs 0%; P=0.005); the waiting time before LDLT was shorter (4 vs 66 days; P【0.001); more blood was transfused during operation (7 vs 2 units; P【0.001); patients stayed longer in the intensive care unit (6 vs 3 days; P【0.001) and hospital (21 vs 15 days; P=0.015) after transplantation;more patients developed early postoperative complications (69.3% vs 50.0%; P=0.018); and values of postoperative peak blood parameters were higher. However, the two groups had comparable hospital mortality. Graft survival and patient overall survival at one year (94.7% vs 95.6%; 95.9% vs 96.9%), three years (91.9% vs 92.6%; 93.2% vs 95.3%), and five years (90.2% vs 90.2%; 93.2% vs 95.3%) were also similar between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although the high-score group had signifi-cantly more early postoperative complications, the two groups had comparable hospital mortality and similar satisfactory rates of graft survival and patient overall survival. Therefore, a high MELD score should not be a contraindication to right-lobe LDLT if donor risk and recipient benefit are taken into full account.
基金This work was supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KSCX2-SW-101B)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 39830050).
文摘Cyprinidae is the largest fish family in the world and contains about 210 genera and 2010 species. Appropriate DNA markers must be selected for the phylogenetic analyses of Cyprinidae. In present study, the 1st intron of the S7 ribosomal protein (r-protein) gene is first used to examine the relationships among cyprinid fishes. The length of the 1st intron obtained by PCR amplification ranges from 655 to 859 bp in the 16 cyprinid species investigated, and is 602 bp in Myxocyprinus asiaticus. Out of the alignment of 925 nucleotide sites obtained, the parsimony informative sites are 499 and occupy 54% of the total sites. The results indicate that the 1st intron sequences of the S7 r-protein gene in cyprinids are rich in informative sites and vary remarkably in sequence divergence from 2.3% between close species to 66.6% between distant species. The bootstrap values of the interior nodes in the NJ (neighbor-joining) and MP (most-parsimony) trees based on the present S7 r-protein gene data are higher than
文摘AIM: To investigate the age differences in the risk factors, clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment of female breast cancer patients. METHODS: Seven thousand one hundred and fiftytwo women with primary breast cancer from the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Registry were recruited after receiving patients' consent, they were asked to complete standardized questionnaires which captured their sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors associated with breast cancer development. Among them, clinicopathological data and patterns of treatment were further collected from medical records of 5523 patients with invasive breast cancers. Patients were divided into two groups according to the age at diagnosis: younger(< 40 years old) vs older patients(≥ 40 years old) for subsequent analyses.RESULTS: Analysis on the sociodemographic characteristics and exposure to risk factors were performed on 7152 women with primary breast cancer and the results revealed that younger patients were more likely to have unhealthy lifestyles; these include a lack of exercise(85.4% vs 73.2%, P < 0.001), having high stress in life(46.1% vs 35.5%, P < 0.001), having dairy/meat-rich diets(20.2% vs 12.9%, P < 0.001),having alcohol drinking habit(7.7% vs 5.2%, P = 0.002). Younger patients were also more likely to have hormone-related risk factors including nulliparity(43.3% vs 17.8%, P < 0.001) and an early age at menarche(20.7% vs 13.2%, P < 0.001). Analyses on clinicopathological characteristics and patterns of treatment were performed on 5523 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. The invasive tumours in younger patients showed more aggressive pathological features such as having a higher percentage of grade 3 histology(45.7% vs 36.5%, P < 0.001), having a higher proportion of tumours with lymphovascular invasion(39.6% vs 33.2%, P = 0.003), and having multifocal disease(15.7% vs 10.3%, P < 0.001); they received different patterns of treatment than their older counterparts.CONCLUSION: Younger patients in Hong Kong are mo
文摘AIM To analyze the outcomes of living-donor liver transplantation(LDLT) using left-lobe(LL) or right-lobe(RL) small-for-size(SFS) grafts.METHODS Prospectively collected data of adult patients who underwent LDLT at our hospital in the period from January 2003 to December 2013 were reviewed. The patients were divided into the RL-LDLT group and the LL-LDLT group. The two groups were compared in terms of short-and long-term outcomes, including incidence of postoperative complication, graft function, graft survival, and patient survival. A SFS graft was defined as a graft with a ratio of graft weight(GW) to recipient standard liver volume(RSLV)(GW/RSLV) of < 50%. The Urata formula was used to estimate RSLV.RESULTS Totally 218 patients were included for analysis, with 199 patients in the RL-LDLT group and 19 patients in the LL-LDLT group. The two groups were similar in terms of age(median, 53 years in the RL-LDLT group and 52 years in the LL-LDLT group, P = 0.997) but had significantly different ratios of men to women(165:34 in the RL-LDLT group and 8:11 in the LL-LDLT group, P < 0.0001). The two groups were also significantly different in GW(P < 0.0001), GW/RSLV(P < 0.0001), and graft cold ischemic time(P = 0.007). When it comes to postoperative complication, the groups were comparable(P = 0.105). Five patients died in hospital,4(2%) in the RL-LDLT group and 1(5.3%) in the LLLDLT group(P = 0.918). There were 38 graft losses, 33(16.6%) in the RL-LDLT group and 5(26.3%) in the LL-LDLT group(P = 0.452). The 5-year graft survival rate was significantly better in the RL-LDLT group(95.2% vs 89.5%, P = 0.049). The two groups had similar 5-year patient survival rates(RL-LDLT: 86.8%, LL-LDLT: 89.5%, P = 0.476).CONCLUSION The use of SFS graft in LDLT requires careful tailormade surgical planning and meticulous operation. LLLDLT can be a good alternative to RL-LDLT with similar recipient outcomes but a lower donor risk. Further research into different patient conditions is needed in order to validate the use of LL graft.
文摘The microstructural features of NiCrAlY alloy powders with different particle size fractions and their effects on the overlay coating property have been investigated. It is shown that the finer (20 similar to 30 mu m) powder particles experience rapid recalescence and heat extraction to the surroundings resulting in microcellular structure, whereas the coarser (40 similar to 50 mu m) powder particles exhibit a coarse cellular and dendritic mixed structure because of recalescence followed by slow cooling. In addition, it is also indicated that the finer the powder particle sizes, the higher the mechanical property and the metallurgical thermal stability of the overlay coatings deposited by as-atomized powders, which is presumably attributed to the formation of dense fine grain structure and oxide layer for the fine size fraction of the powders.
文摘A mechanism for the catalytically growth of vapor grown fibrous carbon (VGFC) preparing from the floating catalyst method has been proposed, in which liquid diffusion-determined diffusion of carbon atoms through catalyst particles is described mathematically, and the physical and chemical properties of the catalyst particles during the growth process are taken into account. From the model the growth rate and grown length of VGFC are calculated theoretically which coincides with the experimental data; and the necessity of reducing gas such as hydrogen in preparing VGFC is explained as to reduce Fe3C, which acts as intermediate catalyst shown by the model. Fe3C formed on the surface of gamma-Fe will stop the growth of carbon fiber if they can not be reduced at once. Additionally, the growth temperature and diameter of VGFC are also discussed in the paper.
文摘Analytical and numerical investigation is made of the source potential for-floating structure with forward speed in waves. A particular form is selected for numerical applications, where the double integral of the Green function is transformed into the single one and the oscillation characteristics for integrands in the specific computation domain are treated numerically. A comparison of calculated examples with published data is given and it shows that the numerical simulation is satisfactory and the accuracy is adequate to engineering application.
文摘The morphology of the melt-equenched Ti-5Al-4Sn-2Zr-1Mo-9.25Si-1Nd alloy is uniformly distributed Nd-rich phase particles in matrix. The particles within grains are spherical, and the particles at grain boundaries are elliptical. The Nd-rich phase particle calculated is 6.6 nm in diameter, which is within the 6-15 nm range of average particle diameter experimentally observed in the alloy. The practical interface velocity (0.5 m/s) is much greater than the critical velocity (0.15 m/s), hence the Nd-rich phase particles are trapped by the liquid-solid interface.
基金funded by the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Research fund(IPSR/RMC/UTARRF/2019-C2/L08)。
文摘Objective:To investigate the effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate(EGCG)on endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR).Methods:Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)rats and SHR were divided into four groups;WKY control,SHR control and SHR treated with EGCG(50 mg/kg/day)or losartan(10 mg/kg/day).The treatment was given daily for 4 weeks by oral gavage and the blood pressure was monitored by tail-cuff method every 3 days.Acetylcholineinduced endothelium-dependent relaxations were assessed in isolated phenylephrine-precontracted aortic rings at the end of treatment.The vascular levels of reactive oxygen species,nitric oxide,tetrahydrobiopterin,and cyclic guanosine monophosphate were also measured.Moreover,the expression of angiotensinⅡtype 1(AT_(1))receptor protein was determined.Results:The systolic blood pressure was significantly decreased in SHR treated with EGCG.The impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly improved in aortic ring isolated from the EGCG-treated SHR group.EGCG also significantly increased the levels of nitric oxide,tetrahydrobiopterin,and cyclic guanosine monophosphate,while decreasing the level of reactive oxygen species and the protein expression of AT_(1)receptor in SHR.Conclusions:EGCG attenuates endothelial dysfunction in SHR by decreasing oxidative stress and increasing vascular nitric oxide bioavailability,which may be modulated partly by inhibition of vascular AT_(1)receptors.An increase in endothelium-dependent relaxation may contribute to a decrease in blood pressure in hypertensive animals.
文摘THE hydrothermal activity area investigated is located at the middle of the trough (126°50′—127°30′E; 27°20′—27°50′N). Some surface sediment samples and core samples were collected, with other samples from non-hydrothermal activity area (128°20′—129°10′E; 30°30′—31°40′N) in the north of the trough for comparison. Analyses for elements and
