Effects of nerve growth factor on proliferation of hepatic stellate cells / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) on proliferation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and investigate the related molecular mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>After incubating cultured HSCs for 24 h with different concentrations of NGF (100, 200 or 400 ng/mL), the cell proliferation was observed by XTT colorimetric assay and cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. Morphological changes in response to a 24 h exposure to 100 ng/mL NGF were observed by transmission electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>NGF significantly inhibited HSC proliferation (P less than 0.05) in a dose-independent manner. The optical densities of the XTT colorimetric assay were 0.66+/-0.03 for 100 ng/mL NGF, 0.69+/-0.03 for 200 ng/mL NGF, and 0.66+/-0.03 for 400 ng/mL NGF, all of which were significantly lower than that of the control group (0.73+/-0.01; P less than 0.05). All concentrations of NGF led to significantly higher numbers of HSCs in the G2 phase (100 ng/mL: 14.83+/-5.41%, 200 ng/mL: 14.73+/-2.50%, and 400 ng/mL: 14.87+/-2.06%), compared to that detected in the control group (7.47+/-4.39%; P less than 0.05). Twenty-four hours of exposure to 100 ng/mL NGF caused morphological changes indicative of apoptosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NGF inhibits the proliferation of HSCs, possibly by arresting the cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. NGF-inhibited cells may also undergo apoptosis.</p>

Preliminary study on mechanism of therapeutic effect of Huganjiexian decoction on hepatic fibrosis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Huganjiexian decoction on rat hepatic fibrosis and the creation of cytokines.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneally injection of carbon tetrachloride. At the same time, these rats were treated with different dosages of Huganjiexian decoction. Sho-saiko-to compound treating group and Fufangbiejiarangan Tablets treating group were used as positive controls. After twelve weeks, all rats were executed. Histopathologic changes were observed after H.E and Masson stainings. The expression of collagen type I, collagen type III, TGF-beta 1 and PDGF-BB in liver were detected by immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with fibrotic group, hepatic fibrosis in decoction groups was significantly improved. In decoction groups, levels of collagen type I, collagen type III, TGFbeta1 and PDGF-BB were decreased, especially in the low-dose curcumin group. The TGF-beta 1 positive percentage were 7.56%+/-2.18%, 29.25%+/-7.84%, 13.54%+/-4.15%, 21.82%+/-6.64%, 20.06%+/-7.14%, 13.78%+/-4.35%, 12.75%+/-3.98% in liver tissues from normal group, model group, low, middle, high curcumin, Sho-saiko-to compound and Fufangbiejiarangan Tablets treating groups respectively (P less than 0.05); while the PDGF-BB positive percentage were 1.68%+/-0.41%, 11.70%+/-2.28%, 3.65%+/-0.76%, 5.24%+/-1.04%, 6.37%+/-1.12%, 4.16%+/-0.61%, 3.38%+/-0.56% in liver tissues from those groups respectively (P less than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Huganjiexian decoction can improve rat hepatic fibrosis, possibly via inhibiting the expression of collagen type I, collagen type III, TGFbeta1 and PDGF-BB.</p>

CGEM 2000 cerebrograph imaging system / 医疗卫生装备

Cerebrograph imaging system is a medical imaging device which is used to diagnose cere- brovascular disease and investigate the function of cerebrum.This system can analyse quantitatively regional Cerebral Blood Flow(rCBF)and map it.Besides that,it can also record and analyse quantitatively electroen- cephalography(EEG)andmap topographical EEG.The measurement of cerebellum-brain stem-cerebral cor- tex is realized and a map is also given.This system first conjugates the technique of nuclear medicine imag- ing with that of electrophysiology.It provides doctors with synthetic information about CBF and the function of cerebrum in the manner of colour rCBF map,topographical EEG and quantitative data.These informa- tion are very important to the diagnosis and the research of cerebropathy,and especially have significant val- ue to earlier diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease.