Heme oxygenase-1 regulates the major route involved in formation of immune hepatic fibrosis in rats / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Heme oxygenase (HO) plays roles in some liver diseases, but what it does in immune liver fibrosis is rarely reported. We investigated the regulation mechanisms of HO-1 in rat immune liver fibrosis to find routes for intervention.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control group (N, n = 12), fibrosis group (F, n = 20), cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) inducing group (Co, n = 20) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) inhibiting group (Zn, n = 20). In groups F, Co and Zn, immune liver fibrosis was established with human serum albumin. At the attacked stage, CoPP (5 mg/kg) and ZnPP (5 mg/kg) were intraperitoneally injected in groups Co and Zn, respectively. After establishment of rat models, the numbers of rats reduced to 11, 15, 17 and 12 in groups N, F, Co and Zn respectively, because of death during the process. HO-1 in liver was detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The indexes of fibrosis were assessed by radioimmunoassay. Concentrations of serum transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinses (TIMP-1) were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) and proliferation degree of fibrosis were assessed by pathological examination. Data analysis was performed by SPSS 10.0 software.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of HO-1 in group F was significantly higher than that in group N, but lower than that in group Co (P < 0.05); while that in group Zn was lower than in group F (P < 0.05), but still higher than that in group N (P < 0.01). Compared with group N, liver functional and liver fibrosis indicators were increased in group F (P < 0.01), while comparing to group F, they were decreased in group Co (P < 0.05) and increased in group Zn (P < 0.05). CoPP reduced the extent of hepatocellular injury and hepatic fibrosis in comparison with group F (P < 0.01), being the opposite effect of ZnPP (P < 0.01). HSC was observed using indirect method and the result showed that the number of HSC in group F increased more than that in groups N and Co, while much less than in group Zn. The concentration of TGF-β1 decreased when HO-1 expressed increasingly (group Co: (3.5 ± 1.0) ng/ml, group F: (7.8 ± 1.3) ng/ml, P < 0.01) and enhanced (group Zn: (9.6 ± 13.6) ng/ml) when HO-1 presented less (P < 0.01). The concentrations of TIMP-1 were (151.1 ± 32.0), (472.0 ± 34.8), (232.3 ± 41.3) and (533.2 ± 37.2) ng/g liver wet weight in groups N, F, Co, and Zn, respectively. It was reduced in group Co (P < 0.01) and increased in group Zn compared with group F (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Inducing HO-1 expression appropriately may lighten hepatic fibrosis, and in contrast, inhibiting it strengthens the lesion. HO-1 interferes with the main ways to form liver fibrosis.</p>

Brucellosis prevalence rate in outpatients of brucellosis in Songyuan city of Jilin province in 2009 / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To investigate the prevalence, common clinical symptoms and complications, transmission routes and media of brucellosis among human in the city of Songyuan in Jilin province, and to provide practical basis for brucellosis intervention and related control measures. Methods Use self-designed questionnaire to collect information from outpatients in brucellosis clinic in Songyuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention from January to June 2009, and to analyze the related data from the survey: prevalence, time and geographical distribution, clinical symptom, transmission route and media. Results Of the total 620 cases investigated, there were 284 patients accounting for 45.8% (284/620), 75 suspected patients accounting for 12.1% (75/620), 13stealth patients accounting for 2.1% (13/620) and 248 negative people accounting for 40.0% (248/640). Main common symptoms of the patients were fever[66.5%( 189/284)], muscle and joint pain[38.7%( 110/284)],fatigue[27.5%(78/284)], hyperhidrosis[25.0%(71/284)]and low back pain[17.3%(49/284)]. The patients group had a significantly higher prevalence of mucocutaneous infection, contacting infected animal abortion flow,fur, soil, faeces and dust than the uninfected group(χ2 value were 27.12, 22.75, 8.90, 6.65, 6.39, 6.39, all P< 0.01 or < 0.05). Conclusions The positive rate of brucellosis in the brucellosis clinic of Songyuan city is high,and patients have typical symptoms. We should take comprehensive control measures to protect the high-risk group and reduce the local infectivety.

Nucleoside from Cordyceps kyushuensis and the distribution of two active components in its different parts / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To rapidly separate and determine the nucleosides from natural and cultured Cordyceps kyushuensis Kob., and to compare the content of cordycepin and adenosine in different parts of Cordyceps kyushuensis Kob., which are the main nucleoside active components in medicinal fungus belonging to Cordyceps (Fr.) Link.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The nucleosides were separated and determined by the high performance capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE). Beckman P/ACE system MDQ apparatus equipped with a PDA detector and a uncoated fused-silica capillary (41 cm x 45 microns ID, 30 cm effective length) were used. The experimental conditions were as follows: the running buffer was borax solution (adjust to pH 9.4 with sodium hydroxide), applied voltage was 20 kV, operated temperature was 20 degrees C and the detector wavelength was 258 nm. The content of cordycepin and adenosine in the fruiting body, stroma and host worm of natural and cultured C. kyushuensis were respectively investigated and quantitatively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There are at least 8 kinds of nucleoside or nitrogen base in Cordyceps kyushuensis Kob. The content of cordycepin which is a bio-active substance with anti-tumor activity in C. kyushuensis is significantly higher than that in C. sinensis and C. militaris, and furthermore the cordycepin in the cultured C. kyushuensis is notably higher than the natural one. Adenosine was mainly found from the stroma of C. kyushuensis, While the cordycepin content is high in the stroma of both natural and cultured C. kyushuensis as well as in the host worm of the cultured one.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There are some differences about the nucleoside components between the natural and cultured C. kyushuensis and between the different parts of them. With a high cordycepin content, C. kyushuensis should have a considerable medicinal potential.</p>