Wogonin attenuates liver fibrosis via regulating hepatic stellate cell activation and apoptosis.

Liver fibrosis is the representative features of liver chronic inflammation and the characteristic of early cirrhosis. To date, effective therapy for liver fibrosis is lacking. Recently, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has attracted increasing attention due to its wide pharmacological effects and more uses in clinical. Wogonin, as one major active constituent of Scutellaria radix, has been reported it plays an important role in anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-angiogenesis, anti-oxidant and neuro-protective effects. However, the anti-fibrotic effect of wogonin is never covered in liver. In this study, we evaluated the protect effect of wogonin in liver fibrosis. Wogonin significantly attenuated liver fibrosis both in CCl4-induced mice and TGF-ß1 activated HSCs. Meanwhile, wogonin can enhances apoptosis of TGF-ß1 activated HSC-T6 cell from rat and LX-2 cell from human detected by flow cytometry. Additionally, wogonin can largely enhances cle-caspase3, cle-caspase9 expression and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in T6 cells. Pro-apoptosis effect of wogonin in vivo was further verified in situ. In conclusion, wogonin can attenuate liver fibrosis via regulating the activation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells, and may be an effective drug to treat and prevent liver fibrosis.

Initial transcatheter thrombolysis for acute superior mesenteric venous thrombosis.

AIM: To determine the optimal initial treatment modality for acute superior mesenteric vein thrombosis (ASMVT) in patients with circumscribed peritonitis. METHODS: A retrospective review was made of the Vascular Surgery Department's medical records to identify adult patients (≥ 18 years old) presenting with circumscribed peritonitis and diagnosed with ASMVT by imaging or endoscopic examination. Patients were selected from the time period between October 2009 and October 2012 to assess the overall performance of a new first-line treatment policy implemented in May 2011 for patients with circumscribed peritonitis, which recommends transcatheter thrombolysis with local anticoagulation and endovascular mechanical thrombectomy. Of the 25 patients selected for study inclusion, 12 had undergone emergency surgical exploration (group 1) and 13 had undergone the initial catheter-directed thrombolysis (group 2). Data extracted from each patient's records for statistical analyses included method of diagnosis, symptoms, etiology and risk factors, thrombus location, initial management, morbidity, mortality, duration and total cost of hospitalization (in Renminbi, RMB), secondary operation, total length of bowel resection, duration of and findings in follow-up, and death/survival. RESULTS: The two treatment groups showed similar rates of morbidity, 30-d mortality, and 1-year survival, as well as similar demographic characteristics, etiology or risk factors, computed tomography characteristics, symptoms, findings of blood testing at admission, complications, secondary operations, and follow-up outcomes. In contrast, the patients who received the initial non-operative treatment of transcatheter thrombolysis had significantly shorter durations of admission to symptom elimination (group 1: 18.25 ± 7.69 d vs group 2: 7.23 ± 2.42 d) and hospital stay (43.00 ± 13.77 d vs 20.46 ± 6.59 d), and early enteral or oral nutrition restoration (20.50 ± 5.13 d vs 8.92 ± 1.89 d), as well as significantly less total length of bowel resection (170.83 ± 61.27 cm vs 29.23 ± 50.24 cm) and lower total cost (200020.4 ± 91505.62 RMB vs 72785.6 ± 21828.16 RMB) (P < 0.05 for all). Statistical analyses suggested that initial transcatheter thrombolysis is correlated with quicker resolution of the thrombus, earlier improvement of symptoms, stimulation of collateral vessel development, reversal of intestinal ischemia, receipt of localizing bowel resection to prevent short bowel syndrome, shorter hospitalization, and lower overall cost of treatment. CONCLUSION: For ASMVT patients with circumscribed peritonitis, early diagnosis is key to survival, and non-operative transcatheter thrombolysis is feasible and effective as an initial treatment.

Protective effects of capillary artemisia polysaccharide on oxidative injury to the liver in rats with obstructive jaundice.

Obstructive jaundice is a condition caused by blockage of the flow of bile out of the liver. This results in an overflow of bile and its by-products into the blood, and bile excretion from the body is incomplete. Untreated, obstructive jaundice can lead to serious infection that spreads to other parts of the body. We examined the protective effect of capillary artemisia polysaccharide on oxidative damage to the liver in growing rats with obstructive jaundice (OJ). Growing male Wistar rats (n=40, age 3-4 weeks) were randomly divided into four groups (n=10 in each group): normal control group, sham group, OJ group and OJ with capillary artimesia polysaccha-ride treatment group (study group). The rats of the OJ group and the study group were subjected to common bile dust ligation, while the sham group had the bile duct mobilized but not ligated. The rats of the study group recieved 5 ml/kg capillary artimesia polysaccharide (0.5 g/ml) by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection once daily while the other groups were administered 5 ml/kg saline by i.p. injection. After 4 weeks, the rats were sacrificed to obtain liver weight and to compute the liver coefficient. Additional measures included liver homogenate malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT). The liver weight and liver coefficient of rats in the study group were lower than those in the OJ group and higher than those in the control and sham groups (P<0.05). Liver homogenate MDA content in the study group rats was lower than that in the OJ group and higher than that in the control and sham group (P<0.05). SOD, GSH-Px and CAT activities were higher in the study group rats than those in the OJ group and lower than those in other groups (P<0.05). Capillary artimesia capillary artemisia polysaccharide protects the liver from oxidative damage and improves antioxidant defense in growing rats with obstructive jaundice.

Delayed liver laceration following transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt for portal hypertension.

The transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is an acceptable procedure that has proven benefits in the treatment of patients who have complications from portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis. Delayed liver laceration is a rare complication of the TIPS procedure. We describe a patient with portal hypertension due to liver cirrhosis, who suddenly presented with abdominal hemorrhage and liver laceration 8 d after TIPS. Few reports have described complications after TIPS placement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing delayed liver laceration. This potential and serious complication appears to be specific and fatal for TIPS in portal hypertension. We advocate careful attention to the technique to avoid this complication, and timely treatment is extremely important.