Discussion on Inspiration from TCM Essence, Yin Yang and Five Elements to TCM Regenerative Medicine / 中国中医药信息杂志

Based on essence, yin yang and five elements in basic TCM philosophy, this article proposed that congenital qi plays an important role in the regeneration of tissues and organs in TCM. Combination of medicine stem cell theory of congenital essence of nutrition is the key to stimulate repair of tissue and organ function regeneration;Yin-yang harmony and generation and restriction among five elements are the theoretical basis for functional regeneration regulation of zangfu organs in TCM. It is considered that TCM has unique advantages in preventing functional damage of zangfu organs, promoting tissue regeneration, and preventing abnormal tissue regeneration. Proceeding from traditional thinking of TCM, it may become an innovation and breakthrough for TCM regenerative medicine theory.

Clinical features of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and anti-SP100 autoantibody positivity / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical features of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and positive expression of sp100 autoantibody in order to generate a clinical screening profile that may help to increase early diagnosis and timely initiation of therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 70 patients who were diagnosed with PBC by liver biopsy between January 2006 to December 2009 at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Medicine were retrospectively collected for analysis. The patients were divided according to expression of anti-sp100: positive patients, n = 12; negative patients, n = 58. The groups were comparatively analyzed for differences in clinical, biochemical, immunological, and histopathological parameters. Normally distributed data was compared by t-test, and non-normally data was compared by rank-sum test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in age among the sp100-positive and sp100-negative patients (51.6 +/- 9.5 vs. 50.0 +/- 14.7 years, P more than 0.05). The sp100-positive group had significantly more women (80.0% vs. 61.9%, X2 = 0.32, P more than 0.05) and more patients with atypical symptoms (18.2% vs. 13.8%) but the difference of the latter did not reach statistical significance. The sp100-positive group had significantly higher levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP; 466 vs. 163 U/L, Z = 3.71), gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT; 728 vs. 154 U/L, Z = 3.38), and immunoglobulin M (IgM; 4.25 +/- 2.86 vs. 2.81 +/- 2.15, t = 2.06, P less than 0.05). Forty of the total patients tested negative for antimitochondrial (AMA)-M2 antibodies, and eight of those were sp100-positive (20.0%) while 18 were antinuclear (ANA) antibody-positive (45.0%). There were significantly more AMA-M2-negative/ANA-positive patients than sp100-positive patients (P = 0.021). Anti-sp100 expression was not associated with the pathological stage of PBC (R1 = 5.500, P more than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SP100-positive PBC may show a bias towards the female sex, and may be characterized by enhanced serum levels of ALP, GGT, and IgM. Further clinical differences may manifest as the disease progresses, and changes in autoantibodies' expression and liver function markers should be carefully monitored in follow-up.</p>

Clinical application of the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt in the emergency treatment of esophagogastric varices bleeding due to cirrhosis / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent-shunt (TIPS) in emergency treatment of esophagogastric varices bleeding for the cirrhosis patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>39 cases with esophageal and gastric varices bleeding due to liver cirrhosis received TIPS and were followed-up for 1 to 12 months, the short-term effects including 24 hours haemostasis rates post TIPS, pressure gradient between portal vein and systemic circulation, average pressure of portal vein were observed. The levels of albumin, cholinesterase, total bilirubin and prothrombin time post TIPS were also evaluated were observed and evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>37 cases received TIPS successfully among the 39 patients, with a total effective rate of 94.87% (37/39) and the rate of hemostasis in 24 hours was 100%. PSG dropped from (30.44+/-7.68) cm H2O to (18.78+/-4.71) cm H2O, mean portal pressure declined from (38.22+/-7.40) cm H2O to (27.00+/-5.38) cm H2O (P is less than 0.01). No significant differences existed at the level of albumin(A) and cholinesterase (CHE) before and after operation (P is more than 0.05). The relapse rate of frame stenosis was 5.71% (2/35). The incidence rate of hepatic encephalopathy was 13.51% (5/37). The relapse rate of rehaemorrhagia was 2.86% (1/35). The incidence rate of hepatic failure was 2.70% (1/37). The death rate was 5.71% (2/35).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The effect of TIPS in treating portal hypertension caused by liver cirrhosis is prominent and safe, and is worthy of clinical application.</p>

Effects of electroacupuncture preconditioning at "Neiguan" (PC 6) on gene expression of myocardial opioid receptors in rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the protective effects of electroacupuncture preconditioning at "Neiguan" (PC 6) on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury (MIRI) and the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group (group N), a MIRI group (group M) and an electroacupuncture group (group E). The MIRI model was generated by ligating the left anterior descending artery (LAD) for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 120 min. The partition sutures in group N were passed under the LAD without ligation. The rats in group E were pretreated with electroacupuncture applied at bilateral "Neiguan" (PC 6) for 20 min once a day on 3 consecutive days before ischemia. The area at risk and infarct size and the serum levels of CK-MB and LDH were measured. The morphological changes were observed by light microscopy. The mRNA expressions of delta and kappa opioid receptor (DOR and KOR) were determined by real-time RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The myocardial infarct size in group E was significant smaller than that in group M (P < 0.05). The contents of CK-MB and LDH were (980 +/- 92) U/L and (2 743 +/- 124) U/L in group M which were significant higher than (312 +/- 41) U/L and (530 +/- 56) U/L in group N (both P < 0.01) and (572 +/- 70) U/L and (1 819 +/- 97) U/L in group E (both P < 0.01). The mRNA expressions of DOR and KOR had no significant difference between group M and N (both P > 0.05), while the DOR expression in group E was significant higher than that in group M and N (both P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in KOR expression among three groups (all P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The cardiac protective effects of electroacupuncture preconditioning at "Neiguan" (PC 6) on MIRI may be mediated by increasing expression of delta opioid receptor in myocardium.</p>

Effects of experimental liver injury on the intestinal barrier in rats / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of experimental liver injury on the intestinal barrier, and to evaluate the significance of plasma D(-)-lactate, diamine oxidase (DAO) and endotoxin in live injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-five rats were randomized into the acute liver failure group (group C, n = 25), acute liver injury group (group B, n = 15), and control group (group A, n = 15). The concentrations of D(-)-lactate, DAO and endotoxin in plasma were detected by spectrophotograph. The morphology and subcellular structure were observed under optical microscope and transmission electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Acute liver failure and acute liver injury models were established successfully. The concentrations of D(-)-lactate and DAO in the plasma of experimental groups (group B and C) were significantly higher than those in the control group (P less than 0.05); the concentration of intestinal DAO in experimental groups were significantly lower than that in the control group (P less than 0.05); the level of endotoxin in C group was significantly higher than that in group A and group B (P less than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Liver injury induces hyperpermeability of the rat intestinal mucosal barrier, plasma D(-)-lactate and DAO are sensitive markers for early diagnosis of liver injury, plasma endotoxin may accelerate deterioration of liver function.</p>

Liver histopathology, clinical features and prognostic factors of primary biliary cirrhosis: an analysis of 60 cases / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Clinical and liver pathological features of 60 primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients were reviewed to identify prognostic factors in order to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The general conditions, clinical manifestations, serum biochemical and immunological changes, and liver pathological findings were assessed in 60 PBC patients. All cases were followed up and 5 variables were studied by univariate analysis; the variables linked with survival were included in a Cox model.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Forty-eight patients were females (80%), 12 were males (20%), and the mean age at their diagnoses was (52.5+/-9.4). The symptoms most frequently complained about were jaundice (61.6%), fatigue (51.6%), anorexia (43.3%) and pruritus (25%). Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels were markedly elevated in the majority of the patients [(242.3+/-137.1) U/L and (250.6+/-216.1) U/L, respectively], whereas ALT and AST levels were mildly to moderately elevated [(185.8+/-269.1) U/L and (172.5+/-163.6) U/L, respectively]. Thirty-two patients (53.3%) had a total bilirubin level of > or = 34.2 micromol/L. Twenty-eight patients (59.5%) had elevated serum IgM and 41 patients (68.3%) were anti-mitochondrial antibody AMA/AMA-M2 positive. Forty-two of the 60 patients had liver biopsies. The liver pathological changes: 33.3% of the cases were in I or II stage and 66.6% in III or IV stage. The follow up results: Five patients died of liver failure or massive upper gastrointestinal bleeding; 45 were still alive; the average survival period was 3.92 years; 10 patients were lost in the follow-up. With multivariate analysis (Cox model), age, level of total bilirubin and the stage of the liver pathological changes were found to be independent factors linked to the survival of the patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PBC may not be a rare liver disease in China. The awareness to recognize PBC is important in making an early diagnosis and treatment.</p>

Expression and significance of integrin alpha6beta4 in experimental allergic neuritis / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of the integrin alpha6beta4 in experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) and the relationship of the integrin alpha6beta4 with functional states of Schwann cells (Sc) as well as the injury and repair of the myelin during EAN.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>EAN was induced in Lewis rats and sciatic nerves were resected in 18 EAN and 3 normal rats. The expression of tissue integrin alpha6beta4 was analyzed during the course of EAN induction and in controls by in situ hybridization and semi-quantitative RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The detection of integrin alpha6 and beta4 subunit by hybridization in situ demonstrated that expression of alpha6 subunit present no significant changes during the course of EAN, while expression of beta4 declined in the early phase, showing less positive signals than those of the control, and restored its expression in the later or recovery phase. The changes of expression of integrin alpha6 and beta4 in EAN were confirmed by semi-quantitative PT-PCR, using GAPDH as the internal standard.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The degeneration and injury of Sc caused by inflammation affect the expression of integrin, which shows similar changes in Sc during embryogenesis, indicating alpha6beta4 may be a marker of Sc differentiation and at least an important molecule to mark the course of EAN. The expression of alpha6beta4 correlate with the injury and repair of myelin during EAN.</p>

A correlative study between the expression of aquaporin-4 and molecular mechanism of MR diffusion weighted imaging after the hepatic failure in rats / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To investigate the rule of the cerebral tissues aquaporin-4(AQP-4) expression in acute and chronic hepatic failure mice.To study the molecular biologic mechanism of the diffusion weighted imaging(DWI).Methods Sixty five male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups randomly,including acute(n=25),chronic hepatic failure(n=25)and control group(n=15). Thioacetamide(TAA)intraperitoneal injection produces the acute and chronic hepatic failure models.All rats in groups were examined with MR DWI.We Observed the distribution of abnormal signal on DWI.The DWI single values of top and lateral cortex of parietal lobe,peripheral region of lateral ventricle in the highest hyperintensity section of brain were measured.Blood ammonia values were examined.The pathologic and immuno-histochemistry and RT-PCR examination for brain specimen were performed.All date were analyzed with statistical methods.Results The mean values of blood ammonia were significantly different (P0.05).Conclusions Increase of the blood ammonia was the main cause for the brain energy metabolic abnormality and AQP-4 mRNA and protein expression.The hyperammonemia was the key factor in the occurrence and development of the hepatic brain edema.The abnormal findings in DWI signal could reflect the range and degree of the brain edema and AQP-4 protein expression.