[Research Progress on the Effect of Synthetic Cathinones on Animal Behavior].

ABSTRACT: Synthetic cathinones are a class of new psychoactive substances with a structure similar to amphetamine drugs, which can produce excitatory effects similar to drugs such as amphetamine and cocaine after being taken. In recent years, the abuse of synthetic cathinones worldwide has become increasingly serious, posing a serious threat to social security and public health. This article focuses on several common synthetic cathinones, collects their research results in animal autonomous activity experiments and drug dependence model experiments and summarizes their relevant experimental conclusions in animal body temperature regulation, learning and memory, and anxiety, in order to provide data reference and method guidance for the domestic development of related drug research.

[Strategy and clinical outcome of deceased donor kidney transplantation for presensitized recipients].

Objective: To explore the management strategy and clinical outcome of renal transplantation in presensitized recipients using deceased donor kidneys. Methods: From January 2011 to June 2018, twenty-one presensitized patients, including 8 with positive donor specific antibodies (DSA) and 13 with positive panel-reactive antibodies (PRA) but no DSA, received renal retransplantation from deceased donors in our center. The incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) and acute rejection (AR), changes of DSA, and the graft and patient survival were retrospectively analyzed. Results: None of the renal allografts had primary non-function (PNF) and DGF after transplantation. Four of the 13 recipients with PRA(+)/DSA-had a total of 5 episodes of acute cell-mediated rejection (CMR), while 5 of 8 recipients with pre-existing DSA(+) developed AR, including 3 cases with CMR alone and 2 cases with mixed AR. All episodes of rejection were successfully reversed after targeted treatment. Interestingly, of the 8 recipients with positive preformed DSA, 4 cases with positive DR-DSA and/or class Ⅰ-DSA had their DSA disappeared after transplantation, whereas DQ-DSA remained positive in 4 of 5 recipients. After a median follow-up of 26 months, all recipients maintained normal renal allograft function, and the survival rates of both graft and recipient were 100%. Conclusions: With the use of deceased donors, kidney transplantation can be successfully performed in presensitized patients by appropriate HLA-matching screening, choosing donor kidneys with good quality, and the combination of optimal perioperative treatment.

[Clinical efficacy of tonsillectomy in renal transplant patients with recurrent IgA nephropathy].

Objective: To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of tonsillectomy for patients with recurrence of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) after kidney transplantation. Methods: From May 2014, tonsillectomy was performed in 11 renal transplant patients with biopsy-proved recurrent IgAN. In a median follow-up of 14 (4-38) months, data of proteinuria, hematuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and serum levels of IgA in these patients were compared before and after tonsillectomy.Patient's survival and renal graft survival were also summarized. Results: A remission of proteinuria was observed in 8 patients after tonsillectomy, and this status maintained well in the subsequent follow-up.Three patients had no or minimal reduction of proteinuria after tonsillectomy and returned to dialysis within 1 year after tonsillectomy.Possible causes could be severe primary IgAN of crescentric glomerulonephritis, IgAN recurrence in kidney retransplantation, and late tonsillectomy after IgAN recurrence.Serum levels of IgA significant decreased and no patients developed acute rejection or infection after tonsillectomy.In the 1-year follow-up, no patients died and grafts survived well in 8 out of 11 patients. Conclusions: Tonsillectomy may represent an effective and reliable way to treat recurrence IgAN after kidney transplantation, and may be applied widely in the future clinical management. However, early intervention is critical and effects may depend on the pathological features of primary IgAN.

[Comparison of clinical outcomes between antithymocyte globulin and basiliximab in renal transplantation from donation after citizen death: a matched pair study].

Objective: To compare the safety and effectiveness between antithymocyte globulin (ATG) and basiliximab in deceased donor renal transplantation within matched groups where paired recipients received graft donations from same donors. Methods: A total of 124 cases of deceased donor kidney transplantation performed at Wuhan Tongji Hospital from January 2013 to November 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Based upon their induction therapies, the recipients receiving graft donations from same donors were divided into two groups, namely ATG group (n=62) and basiliximab group (n=62). Clinical data were gathered and comparisons were made between the two groups. Results: Delayed graft function (DGF) implicated less patients in the ATG group (11, 17.7%) compared with basiliximab group (21, 33.9%) (P=0.040). Duration of DGF was also significantly shorter in the ATG group than in the basiliximab group[(14.92±6.23) vs(20.26±7.89)days, P=0.048]. The rates of DGF were 5/18 in the ATG group and 10/15 in the basiliximab group (P=0.025), when subgrouping the patients with elevated risk factors (donor age >50 or a history of hypertension or graft cold ischemia time >24 h) for DGF. The acute rejection rates did not differ between the two groups significantly; comparable one-year graft and patient survival were observed between the ATG and basiliximab groups(all P>0.05). Conclusions: The duration of DGF and DGF rate after deceased donor renal transplantation is reduced by ATG, when compared with basiliximab. Moreover, in recipients with elevated risk factors for DGF, ATG diminishes DGF incidence significantly.

[Effectiveness and safety of conversion therapy with the combination of sirolimus with low dose cyclosporine in renal transplantation recipients: a five-year clinical observation].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of the conversion therapy from traditional cyclosporine (CsA) triple immunosuppression therapy to sirolimus (SRL) combined with low dose CsA and prednisone (Pred) in renal transplantation recipients in a five-year follow-up period. METHODS: A prospective, open-label non-randomized study was performed with 46 renal allograft recipients who visited Tongji Hospital regularly for follow-up visits between January 2007 and May 2011 and were taking CsA+ mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)+ Pred. Conversion therapy to SRL+ low dose CsA+ Pred was initiated after renal transplantation. The recipients were allocated to 2 groups according to their renal function and proteinuria before the conversion: active conversion group [n=27, serum creatinine (SCr) ≤ 140 µmol/L with no or minimal proteinuria] and passive conversion group [n=19, SCr>140 µmol/L with less than moderate proteinuria]. After conversion, dosages of SRL and CsA were adjusted for trough levels of 5-7 µg/L and 20-60 µg/L, respectively. SCr and urine protein were compared before and after the conversion in five-year follow-up. Incidence of acute rejection, renal graft survival and SRL-related adverse effects of the immunosuppressive regimen were also observed. RESULTS: After conversion, an average 63% dose reduction of CsA was achieved in all the patients. In the active conversion group, the mean SCr level was (110±19) µmol/L at the time of conversion. Eight patients in this group withdrew from the study during the follow-up period for the following reasons: arthralgia (1 case), deteriorated proteinuria (2 cases), chronic diarrhea (2 cases), mild or suspicious acute rejection (2 cases), and recurrent fever (1 case). The rest patients (19/27) with a mean follow-up time of 5 years had a stable SCr level [(103±12) µmol/L] and a 100% 5-year graft survival. In the passive conversion group, the mean SCr level was (205±45) µmol/L at the time of conversion. There were 4 patients quitting the study, 2 for deteriorated proteinuria and 2 for lost to follow-up. Chronic allograft failure developed in 10 patients in this group 1-50 months after conversion, while the remaining 5 patients had a stable SCr during the 5-year follow-up period [(218 ±46) µmol/L before conversion vs (205±73) µmol/L 5 years after conversion]. The overall 5-year graft survival after the conversion therapy in the passive conversion group was 33.3%, significantly lower than that of the active conversion group (P<0.001). Acute rejection was observed in 2 cases in the active conversion group, while not observed in the passive conversion group. None of the patients developed leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, oral ulcer, or pneumonia in the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The combination therapy of SRL and low dose of CsA is overall a safe and effective maintenance immunosuppressive regimen, but it is important to initiate at an appropriate stage. More favourable long-term benefits may be obtained from the conversion therapy in patients with normal or only slightly impaired renal graft function. It may offer an option of individualized immunosuppressive therapy after renal transplantation.

Expression profiles of regulatory and helper T-cell-associated genes in nasal polyposis.

BACKGROUND: Nasal polyposis (NP) is a Th2-skewed inflammatory disorder, but it is unclear what role regulatory T cells (T-reg) play in disease pathology. We investigated the expression profiles of T-reg and T-helper-cell-associated genes and their response to glucocorticosteroid (GC) treatment in Chinese patients with NP. METHODS: Biopsies were obtained from 29 non-treated NP patients for comparison with inferior turbinates collected from healthy controls. In 13 patients, NP samples were collected both before and after short-term oral GC treatment. Levels of mRNA for T-cell markers were determined by microarray and quantitative PCR. Cellular infiltrates were assessed by histo- and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: FOXP3(+) T-reg were increased in GC-naïve NP, and numbers were negatively correlated with eosinophil infiltration. Helios staining was not detected, suggesting that FOXP3(+) cells in NP are not thymus-derived T-reg. Compared with controls, mRNA levels corresponding to T-reg genes were significantly increased in NP (FOXP3, TGFB1, IL10, SMAD3, IL2RA, and JAK3), but transcription factors associated with Th2 (GATA3) or Th17 responses (RORc) were significantly reduced. FOXP3 mRNA levels positively correlated with other T-reg cell markers. Microarray analysis showed that most Th2-related markers (e.g., Eotaxin-1, CCL13, and CCL18) were upregulated in GC-naïve NP vs controls. GC therapy significantly suppressed eosinophilic inflammation in NP, but did not significantly alter the expression levels of T-reg/Th2-associated genes. CONCLUSIONS: Upregulation of FOXP3(+) -inducible T-reg cells and downregulation of Th2 and Th17 markers in NP indicate a regulatory response occurring at a site of persistent mucosal inflammation. However, immune regulation fails to control the underlying tissue pathology. Expression of T-reg/Th2 markers after GC treatment was unaltered, suggesting that T-cell-driving NP inflammatory mediators are GC resistant.

[Current practice patterns of preoperative bowel preparation in elective colorectal surgery: a nation-wide survey of Chinese surgeons].

Objective: To understand the current practice of preoperative bowel preparation in elective colorectal surgery in China. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted through wechat. The content of the questionnaire survey included professional title of the participants, the hospital class, dietary preparation and protocol, oral laxatives and specific types, oral antibiotics, gastric intubation, and mechanical enema before elective colorectal surgery. A stratified analysis based on hospital class was conducted to understand their current practice of preoperative bowel preparation in elective colorectal surgery. Result: A total of 600 questionnaires were issued, and 516 (86.00%) questionnaires of participants from different hospitals, engaged in colorectal surgery or general surgeons were recovered, of which 366 were from tertiary hospitals (70.93%) and 150 from secondary hospitals (29.07%). For diet preparation, the proportions of right hemicolic, left hemicolic and rectal surgery were 81.59% (421/516), 84.88% (438/516) and 84.88% (438/516) respectively. The average time of preoperative dietary preparation was 2.03 days. The study showed that 85.85% (443/516) of surgeons chose oral laxatives for bowel preparation in all colorectal surgery, while only 4.26% (22/516) of surgeons did not choose oral laxatives. For mechanical enema, the proportions of right hemicolic, left hemicolic and rectal surgery were 19.19% (99/516), 30.04% (155/516) and 32.75% (169/516) respectively. Preoperative oral antibiotics was used by 34.69% (179/516) of the respondents. 94.38% (487/516) of participants were satisfied with bowel preparation, and 55.43% (286/516) of participants believed that preoperative bowel preparation was well tolerated. In terms of preoperative oral laxatives, there was no statistically significant difference between different levels of hospitals [secondary hospitals vs. tertiary hospitals: 90.00% (135/150) vs. 84.15% (308/366), χ(2)=2.995, P=0.084]. Compared with the tertiary hospitals, the surgeons in the secondary hospitals accounted for higher proportions in diet preparation [87.33% (131/150) vs. 76.78% (281/366), χ(2)=7.369, P=0.007], gastric intubation [54.00% (81/150) vs. 36.33% (133/366), χ(2)=13.672, P<0.001], preoperative oral antibiotics [58.67% (88/150) vs. 24.86% (91/366), χ(2)=12.259, P<0.001] and enema [28.67% (43/150) vs. 15.30% (56/366), χ(2)=53.661, P<0.001]. Conclusion: Although the preoperative bowel preparation practice in elective colorectal surgery for most of surgeons in China is basically the same as the current international protocol, the proportions of mechanical enema and gastric intubation before surgery are still relatively high.

Oral steroids enhance epithelial repair in nasal polyposis via upregulation of the AP-1 gene network.

BACKGROUND: Chronic mucosal inflammation, epithelial damage and aberrant tissue remodelling are common features in nasal polyposis (NP). A study was undertaken to characterise the gene expression profile in NP tissues and to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the ameliorative effects of glucocorticosteroids (GCs) in NP. METHODS: Two sets of NP biopsies (before and after GC treatment) were taken from 10 patients with untreated (GC-naïve) bilateral NP. Biopsy specimens of inferior turbinate from 6 patients who underwent surgery for nasal septal deviation served as nasal mucosal controls. DNA microarrays containing 38 500 genes were used to characterise the global gene expression profile. Functional network analysis was applied to identify the key molecular pathways and genes in response to GC treatment (GC-treated). Selected genes were retested by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry in the same polyps and control samples. RESULTS: 64 genes were differentially expressed in GC-treated vs GC-naïve NP tissues. The highest scoring network was assembled around activation protein 1 (AP-1), a heterodimer of c-Fos and c-Jun oncoprotein, and five AP-1-related genes (COX-2, IL-6, AREG, HBEGF and EGR1) with tissue repair function. Quantitative PCR confirmed that AP-1 and its related genes were markedly repressed in GC-naïve polyps and were upregulated after GC treatment. Immunohistochemical staining indicated that epithelial restitution in GC-treated polyps was associated with increased expression of c-Jun protein. CONCLUSIONS: Oral steroids promote epithelial repair in NP via upregulation of the AP-1 (especially c-Jun) network and its related genes.

[Feasibility and safety of the medial approach "four-step method" in the laparoscopic mobilization of splenic flexure].

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and safety of the medial approach "four-step method" in the laparoscopic mobilization of splenic flexure. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Clinical data of 157 colorectal cancer patients undergoing the medial approach "four-step method" in the laparoscopic mobilization of splenic flexure at Gastrointestinal Surgical Department of Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from July 2015 to June 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. Of 157 cases, 17 were transverse colon cancer, 94 were descending colon cancer, 25 were sigmoid cancer and 21 were rectal cancer; 89 were male and 68 were female; mean age was (61.8±10.3) years and mean body mass index was (23.2±3.7) kg/m(2). The medial approach "four-step method" in the laparoscopic mobilization of splenic flexure was performed as follows: (1) The root vessels were treated with the "provocation" technique to expand the Toldt's gap. This expansion was extended from the lateral side to the peritoneum reflex of left colonic sulcus, from the caudal side to the posterior rectal space, and from the cephalad side to the lower edge of pancreas. (2) The left colonic sulcus was mobilized, converging with the posterior Toldt's gap. Mobilization was carried out from cephalad side to descending colon flexure, freeing and cutting phrenicocolic ligament and splenocolic ligament, and from caudal side to peritoneal reflex. (3) Gastrocolic ligament was moblized. Whether to enter the great curvature of stomach omentum arch when the gastrocolic ligament was cut, that was, whether to clean the fourth group of lymph nodes, should be according to the tumor site and whether serosal layer was invaded. (4) Transverse mesocolon was moblized and transected at the lower edge of the pancreatic surface, merging with the posterior Toldt's gap, and from lateral side to lower edge of the pancreatic body, merging with the lateral left paracolonic sulcus. Safety and short-term clinical efficacy of this surgical procedure was summarized. Results: All the patients completed this procedure. During operation, 3 cases were complicated with organ injury, including 1 case of colon injury, 1 case of spleen injury and 1 case of pancreas injury. No operative death and conversion to open surgery was found. The average operation time was (147.5±35.1) minutes, the average intra-operative blood loss was (40.8±32.7) ml and the average number of harvested lymph node was (16.1±5.8), including (4.0±2.3) of positive lymph nodes. The first exhaust time after surgery was (41.3±20.6) hours, the fluid intake time was (1.5±1.3) days, the postoperative hospital stay was (5.2±2.3) days. Eight (5.1%) cases developed postoperative complications, and all were improved and discharged after conservative treatments. According to the TNM classification system, postoperative pathology revealed that 31 patients were stage I, 51 were stage II, 53 were stage III, 22 were stage IV. Conclusion: The medial approach "four-step method" is safe and feasible, which can effectively decrease the operation difficulty of the laparoscopic mobilization of the splenic flexure.

Correction of truncus arteriosus with autologous arterial flap in neonates and small infants.

BACKGROUND: This study describes the results of techniques using the autologous truncal wall and part of the pulmonary artery for correction in anticipation of the growth of the pulmonary tract in patients with truncus arteriosus. METHODS: Seven consecutive patients with truncus arteriosus were reviewed. The posterior wall of the pulmonary tract was obtained by anastomosing the lower edge of the truncal arteriotomy to the upper corner of the ventriculotomy from the truncus in types I and II. Anterior translocation of the pulmonary artery was performed in a type III. A pericardial patch with or without a monocusp was placed to complete the right ventricular outflow tract. RESULTS: There were two hospital deaths, one of which was unrelated to a cardiac problem. Postoperative right-to-left ventricular peak pressure ratio was less than 0.55. There was one left pulmonary stenosis due to monocusp adherence in the late postoperative period. The sizes of the pulmonary tract at anastomosis were between 107% and 166% of the normal value between 7 months and 3.8 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The use of autologous arterial wall instead of a conduit is recommended for the repair of truncus arteriosus to expect growth of the pulmonary tract.

Protection of the spinal cord with pentobarbital and hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic spinal cord damage during thoracic aortic operations has not been eliminated despite application of various adjuncts. We experimentally investigated the protective effects of pentobarbital and hypothermia on the spinal cord subjected to ischemia. METHODS: Among nine groups of 6 rabbits each, groups AI to AIII underwent 20-minute infrarenal aortic occlusion, and groups BI to BVI underwent 40-minute occlusion. Five milligrams per kilogram of pentobarbital was administered to groups AII and BII; 10 mg/kg in groups AIII, BIII, and BVI; 20 mg/kg in group BIV; and none in groups AI, BI, and BV. In groups BV and BVI, hypothermia was induced. Forty-eight hours postoperatively, the motor function of the lower limbs was evaluated. RESULTS: Statistically significant recovery of motor function was observed in animals in groups AII, AIII, BIII, BIV, BV, and BVI. CONCLUSIONS: Pentobarbital showed dose-dependent protective effects of the spinal cord. Moderate hypothermia alone also showed protective effects. Combined use of pentobarbital and hypothermia resulted in highly significant recovery of spinal cord function.

Truncus arteriosus with interrupted aortic arch: successful correction using autologous flap.

A newborn baby with type II truncus arteriosus and type B interrupted aortic arch was successfully treated by creating a pulmonary tract using autologous flap made from truncal wall without excision of the pulmonary artery and by reconstructing the aortic arch with direct anastomosis. This method provided excellent hemodynamics with wide reconstruction of the pulmonary tract without conduit.

Effects of aminoguanidine on nitric oxide production induced by inflammatory cytokines and endotoxin in cultured rat hepatocytes.

AIM: To study the effects of aminoguanidine (AG) and two L-arginine analogues N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) on nitric oxide (NO) production induced by cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mixture (CM) in the cultured rat hepatocytes, and examine their mechanisms action. METHODS: Rat hepatocytes were incubated with AG, L-NAME, L-NNA, Actinomycin D (ActD) and dexamethasone in a medium containing CM (LPS plus TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma) for 24h. NO production in the cultured supernatant was measured with the Griess reaction. Intracellular cGMP level was detected with radioimmunoassy. RESULTS: NO production was markedly blocked by AG and L-NAME in a dose-dependent manner under inflammatory stimuli condition triggered by CM in vitro. The rate of the maximum inhibitory effects of L-NAME (38.9%) was less potent than that obtained with AG(53.7%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the inhibitory effects of AG and two L-arginine analogues on intracellular cGMP accumulation in rat cultured hepatocytes. Non-specific NOS expression inhibitor dexamethasone (DEX)and iNOS mRNA transcriptional inhibitor ActD also significantly inhibited CM-induced NO production. AG(0.1 mmol x L(-1)) and ActD (0.2 ng x L(-1)) were equipotent in decreasing NO production induced by inflammatory stimuli in vitro, and both effects were more potent than that induced by non-selectivity NOS activity inhibitor L-NAME (0.1 mmol x L(-1)) under similar stimuli conditions (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: AG is a potent selective inhibitor of inducible isoform of NOS,and the mechanism of action may be not only competitive inhibition in the substrate level, but also the gene expression level in rat hepatocytes.

The survival and value of liver transplantation for liver carcinoma: a single-center experience.

UNLABELLED: Liver transplantation for liver carcinoma with cirrhosis is a treatment still in dispute. The objectives were to summarize the survival and cost of 50 liver transplant cases performed for liver carcinoma over nearly 3 years. METHODS: We performed 138 liver transplants from January 1999 to February 2002. There were 50 cases (36.2%) of liver carcinoma with HBV cirrhosis, which were divided into three stages based on the tumor pathology: Stage 1 cases showed a single mass (< or = 5 cm), 4 cases; Stage 2, a single mass > 5 cm or intrahepatic multiple masses without PV cancer embolus, 32 cases; and Stage 3: tumor invasion of the PV or perihepatic lymph nodes or organs, 14 cases. All patients received three to six courses of chemotherapy postoperatively. RESULTS: All four cases of stage 1 survived > 1 year; one of them is at 3 years with good liver function and tumor free. The mean half-year medical cost was $27.100 +/- 108 in stage 1. The half-year survival and medical costs were 62.5% and $31,500 +/- 260 in stage 2 and 15.0% and $35,500 +/- 134 in stage 3. CONCLUSION: Liver transplantation is an effective treatment for early-stage liver carcinoma, that achieves good medical and economic results, but should be limited to advanced liver cancer.

Case report: right subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm due to perforation of esophageal cancer.

A 51-year-old man presented with massive hematemesis. Perforation of upper esophageal cancer, which had already occurred at least six days earlier, progressed to upper mediastinitis. The mediastinitis contiguous to the right subclavian artery was considered to have caused a pseudoaneurysm. Rupture of the pseudoaneurysm into the esophagus resulted in massive hematemesis. Both enhanced computed tomography and angiography were diagnostic for the pseudoaneurysm. Transluminal endovascular stent-grafts placement was successful in preventing subsequent hemorrhage.

[Effects of Ganoderma polysaccharides on the activity of DNA polymerase alpha of splenocytes and immune function in aged mice].

The activity of DNA polymerase alpha in splenocytes of 24-month-old mice was about 35.6% lower than that of 3-month-old mice. Aged mice were intraperitoneally administered Ganoderma polysaccharides (GL-B) once a day for 4 days and then the activity of the enzyme was assessed. The results showed that GL-B at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg-1 enhanced the activity of the enzyme in aged mouse splenocytes by 44.0 and 58.8% respectively. In addition, the mixed lymphocyte response to alloantigen, automatic proliferation and IL-2 production of splenocytes in aged mice declined as compared with that in young adult mice. GL-B (50, 100, 200 micrograms.ml-1) was found to restore those parameters to the levels of that of young mice in vitro.

[A new triterpene from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum].

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum. METHODS: Individual constituents, isolated and repeatedly purified on silica gel column, were identified by physicochemical constants and structurally elucidated by spectral methods. RESULTS: From the alcohol extract, compound 2 was obtained and identified as 3 beta,7 beta-dihydroxy-4,4,14 alpha-trimethyl-11,15-dioxo-5 alpha-chol-8-en-24-oic acid. In addition, two known compounds, lucidenic acid A (1) and C (3) were obtained. CONCLUSION: Compound 2 is a new triterpene compound.

[Effect of Tremella polysaccharide on IL-2 production by mouse splenocytes].

Tremella polysaccharide (TP) is an important component isolated from Tremella fuciformis Berk. In this study, the in vitro effect of TP on IL-2 production was examined in activated mouse splenocytes. TP (1, 5, 10 and 50 micrograms/ml) significantly increased mouse splenocyte IIL-2 production. In aged mice, the level of IL-2 production is much lower than that in young controls. TP (0.05, 0.5 and 5 micrograms/ml) restored the IL-2 production to normal level as the young control. Furthermore, TP (0.05, 0.5 and 5 micrograms/ml) was found to partly antagonize the suppressive effect of hydrocortisone on IL-2 production. The antagonistic effect of TP (5 micrograms/ml) on the inhibitory activity of cyclosporin A was also observed.

Effect of Ganoderma polysaccharides on T cell subpopulations and production of interleukin 2 in mixed lymphocyte response.

Mixed lymphocyte response was used as a main model through all the experiments In a series of concentrations (25, 50, 100, and 200 micrograms/ml), Ganoderma polysaccharides (GL-B) promoted the production of interleukin 2 (IL-2) in a concentration-dependent manner after initiation of culture for 12 h and increased the total cell recovery as well as that of Lyt 2+ and L3T4+ cells after 4 days of culture. The data also show that the polysaccharides markedly enhanced the cytotoxicity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which was increased by 100% at the concentration of 200 micrograms/ml.

[Effects of Tremella polysaccharide on cytoplasmic free calcium concentration in murine splenocytes].

Effects of Tremella polysaccharides (TP) isolated from Tremella fuciformis Berk. on the cytoplasmic free calcium concentration in murine splenocytes were observed using Fura-2, a fluorescence indicator, technique. TP increased the cytoplasmic free calcium concentration of Fura-2-loaded murine splenocytes in a concentration-dependent manner and showed synergetic effect with Con A. No effect was found in the release of intracellular calcium without extracellular calcium. Verapamil (10 micrograms.ml-1), a calcium channel blocker, was shown to inhibit the effect of TP on cytoplasmic free calcium, indicating that TP can affect the influx of extracellular calcium.