Seropharmalogical effects of Fuzheng Huayu decoction on rat Ito cell morphology and function in culture

AIM: To investigate the mechanisms of anti-liver fibrosis actions of Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY) decoction, which acts to strengthen the body’s resistance and promote blood circulation.

METHODS: Ito cells were isolated from rats and cultured. Serum samples were collected from healthy (normal) rats after administration of FZHY decoction and added to the subcultured cells. The effects of FZHY decoction on the Ito cells were investigated by contrast microscopy (to observe cell morphology), [³H]Pro incorporation assay (cell viability), [³H]TdR incorporation and MTT colorimetric assay (cell proliferation), and [³H]Pro incorporation and collagenase digestion (collagen synthesis rate).

RESULTS: The rat sera samples from rats treated with FZHY decoction had no influence on Ito cell morphology, but improved cell viability and markedly inhibited cell proliferation and collagen synthesis. The magnitude of these effects showed dependence on treatment dosage and drug concentration in serum.

CONCLUSION: The seropharmalogical method can be efficiently used to investigate the pharmacological mechanism of anti-fibrotic traditional Chinese herbs and formulae. Inhibition of Ito cell proliferation and collagen synthesis may be two of the major mechanisms underlying the anti-fibrosis actions of the FZHY decoction.

Anti-human AFP variant monoclonal antibody in radioimmunodetection of primary hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To investigate the affinity of AFP-R-LCA monoclonal antibody (AFP-R-LCA McAb) for AFP-positive primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

METHODS: AFP-R-LCA McAb was labeled by ¹³¹I. Eleven cases of HCC with AFP positivity, 6 with AFP negativity, and 4 with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis were investigated by radioimmunodetection.

RESULTS: The ¹³¹I-AFP-R-LCA McAb immunoreacted with 9 of the HCC AFP-positive cases (9/11), but with none of the 6 AFP negative HCC cases or of the 4 cirrhosis patients. ¹³¹I-AFP-R-LCA McAb at a small dose (7.4 × 10⁷ Bq/300 μg) was associated with no side effects as determined by the liver function test, prothrombin time (Pt) test and thyroid gland function test (P > 0.05). Two cases of AFP-positive HCC were not imaged because of large tumor size (diameter > 10 cm) and higher AFP concentration in serum (20000 μg/L).

CONCLUSION: AFP-R-LCA McAb has a strong and special affinity to AFP-positive HCC cells and may be useful as a carrier for radioimmunodetection and radioimmunotherapy.

Effects of endotoxin on expression of ras, p53 and bcl-2 oncoprotein in hepatocarcinogenesis induced by thioacetamide in rats

AIM

To evaluate the relationship between expression of ras, p53 and bcl-2 gene products and hepatocarcinogenesis since the endotoxemia produced from lipopolysaccharide administration and/or the hypophagocytic state of splenectomy significantly accelerated hepatocarcinogenesis induced by thioacetamide.

METHODS

The hepatocarcinoma model was induced by 6-mo oral intake of 0.03% thioacetamide. During the hepatocarcinoma modeling process, rats were additionally treated with splenectomy and/or lipopolysaccharide administration. The techniques of flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry and immunoelectronmicroscopy were applied for quantitative analysis of the expression of oncogene proteins.

RESULTS

In this model system, overexpression of ras p21 protein mainly occurred in the precancerous cell population or in cells in the early stage of hepatocyte transformation. The levels of ras p21 declined when nuclear DNA aneuploidy increased. Expression of bcl-2 protein slowly and steadily rose, with more hepatocytes staying in S + G2M phases, as the hepatocarcinoma became more malignant. p53 was moderately expressed during hepatocarcinogenesis. There was no statistical correlation between endotoxemia levels and the changes in levels of ras, p53 and bcl-2 gene products.

CONCLUSION

Overexpression of oncogene ras p21 was considered likely to be a precursor of premalignant hepatocytes and possibly as responsible for the initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis. Bcl-2 protein expression is proportional to the severity of malignancy in hepatocarcinogenesis. p53 may be involved in a key pathway underlying the transformation and development processes of hepatocarcinoma. This study confirmed the hypothesis that there are multiple genes and multiple steps involved in hepatocarcinogenesis. Expression of oncogene proteins reflects the properties of the premalignant and malignant cells, but is not directly related to endotoxemia statistically.

Analysis of amino acid constituents of gallstones

AIM: To seek drugs that will efficaciously dissolve bilirubin, glycoprotein and black stones and that will represent improved lithotriptic agents to resolve cholesterol stones, and to study the amino acid constituents of gallstones.

METHODS: According to characteristics determined by infrared spectroscopy and to the contents of bilirubin determined by semi-quantitative chemical analysis, 30 of 148 cases of gallstones were selected and divided into 5 groups. Amino acids of the 30 cases were detected by high-speed chromatography.

RESULTS: The quantity of amino acids was highest in black stones (226.9 mg/g) and lowest in pure cholesterol stones (1.4 mg/g). In the 5 groups of gallstones, the quantity of amino acids followed the hierarchy of black stone > mixed bilirubin stone and glucoprotein stone > mixed cholesterol stone > pure cholesterol stone. The proportions were: 95.95:29.02 and 28.05:5.78:1. Aliphatic amino acids accounted for approximately 50% of the total amino acids in the gallstones, with glycine accounting for 15.3% of the total amount of the 17 kinds of amino acids.

CONCLUSION: For mixed stones, the higher level of bilirubin, the higher content of amino acids. Acidic amino acids were relatively higher in bilirubin stones than in cholesterol stones.

Comparative study of different interventional therapies for primary liver cancer

AIM: To compare the therapeutic effect of three types of inter-ventional management for primary liver cancer.

METHODS: A total of 468 patients with primary liver cancer were randomly allocated to the following three groups: 138 cases treated with chemotherapy alone using mitomycin C, adriamycin and 5-FU (group A); 158 cases treated with chemoembolization using lipiodol (group B); and 172 cases with chemoembolization using lipiodol and gelfoam (group C). All patients were angiographically and sonographically followed-up.

RESULTS: In group C, 67.5% patients had AFP value decreased by > 50%, which was much higher than the 43.3% in group B and 32.2% in group A. Tumor size reduction by ≥ 50% occurred in 20.3% of patients in group A, 41.2% of patients in group B and 44.8% of patients in group C. The intergroup differences between group A and group B or C were significant (P < 0.01). The 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 20.5% ± 3.6% and 1.9% ± 2.4% for group A, 51.3% ± 4.4% and 10.1% ± 4.9% for group B, and 63.0% ± 2.4% and 13.9% ± 5.0% for group C, respectively. The differences between all three groups were significant (P < 0.05). The mean survival time for patients in groups A, B and C were 9.6 mo, 16.1 mo and 17.9 mo, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Chemoembolization with lipiodol and gelfoam was the most effective therapy for primary liver cancer in this study. The position of the embolization should be far and middle sections of the hepatic artery, and the proximal section should be reserved as the route of the next intra-arterial chemoembolization.

Comparative study of biliary trace elements and clinical phenotypes in Wilson’s disease

AIM: To further explore the etiological mechanism of Wilson’s disease (WD) by comparing the changes of biliary trace elements and its clinical phenotype.

METHODS: WD patients with different types and conditions (n = 20), non-WD patients with chronic liver damage (n = 22), and healthy volunteers (n = 10; used as controls) were studied. Biliary samples were taken by duodenal drainage. Atom absorption spectrophotometer was used to assay the copper and zinc content of each sample.

RESULTS: In WD, the copper content and copper/zinc ratio of biliary juice were evidently lower than those of non-WD patients with chronic liver damage and of healthy controls (F = 14.76, 25.4; 14.92, 26.2 respectively; P < 0.01), while the biliary zinc level had no significant difference from the two non-WD control groups (P > 0.05). There were significant differences in biliary copper excretion among patients with different types and conditions (F = 3.75, P < 0.05; F = 6.20, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Copper excretion by liver and the biliary system decreases obviously in WD, which plays a key role in the phenotypic copper retention, and the biliary copper retention is closely related with the severity of hepatic injury and illness.

Plasma D (-)-lactate as a new marker for diagnosis of acute intestinal injury following ischemia-reperfusion

AIM: To observe the kinetics of D (-)-lactate alteration in both portal and systemic circulation systems, and its relationship with intestinal injury in rats subjected to acute intestinal ischemia-reperfusion.

METHODS: Anesthetized rats underwent a 75-min superior mesenteric artery occlusion followed by a 6-h reperfusion. Plasma D (-)-lactate levels were measured by an enzymatic spectrophotometric assay.

RESULTS: Intestinal ischemia for 75 min resulted in a significant elevation of D (-)-lactate levels in the portal vein, as compared with the baseline values (P < 0.05). Plasma D (-)-lactate levels had a tendency to further increase after reperfusion, up to 6 h. Similar alterations in D (-)-lactate were also found in systemic circulation, and there were no significant differences between the portal and systemic circulations at any time point. Moreover, the macropathological evaluation scores were significantly correlated to the portal D (-)-lactate levels in animals at various time points (r = 0.415, P < 0.01). In addition, there was a remarkable rise of endotoxin concentration within the portal vein at the end of the 75-min ischemic period (P < 0.05), reaching a peak at 2 h post-reperfusion.

CONCLUSION: Acute intestinal ischemia is associated with failure of the mucosal barrier resulting in increased plasma D (-)-lactate levels in both portal and systemic blood. The subsequent reperfusion might further increase D (-)-lactate levels, which are correlated to the macropathological alterations. Plasma D (-)-lactate may be a useful marker of intestinal injury following both ischemia and reperfusion insults.

Clinical significance of CD44v mRNA detection by PCR in peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

AIM: To study the clinical significance of detecting the expression of CD44v mRNA in the blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS: The expression of CD44v mRNA was detected in blood with RT and diploid PCR, and the clinical significance was discussed based on the result of pathological examination and follow-up.

RESULTS: CD44v mRNA was detected in the blood of 10/15 patients, giving a positive rate of 66.67%. In the 13 patients who showed response in the follow up period, the CD44v mRNA expression was positive in 9 and negative in 4. Recurrence rate was higher in the patients with positive CD44v mRNA expression than in those with negative CD44v mRNA expression, and the clinical pathological indices were also higher in the former than in the latter.

CONCLUSION: Detection of the expression level of CD44v mRNA in blood of the patients with HCC can be used as an adjuvant means for differential diagnosis, prediction and monitoring of HCC recurrence.

Pharmacokinetics of four 5-FU preparations administered rectally to rats and rabbits

AIM: To compare the pharmacokinetic characteristics of four preparations of fluorouracil (5-FU) administered rectally using a rat model.

METHODS: Concentrations of 5-FU were measured in plasma, the rectal wall and mesentery lymph tissues of rats and rabbits by high performance liquid chromatography. Differences between the main pharmacokinetic parameters were compared by statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The 5-FU concentrations in the rectal wall and mesenteric lymph tissues were significantly higher than the concentration in blood following rectal administration for all four of the preparations (P < 0.01). The drug level in the rectal wall was higher in the animals received delivery of an emulsion, compared to those who received delivery as a suppository (P < 0.05). Moreover, the animals who received a lipophil-based suppository had lower plasma level of drug than those who received a hydrophil-based suppository, and the animals who received the simple (o/w) emulsion had lower plasma level than those who received the complex (w/o/w) emulsion. The differences found in the rat model were confirmed in rabbits (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: The lipophil-based suppository and the simple emulsion of 5-FU might be more suitable for rectal administration for treatment of rectal cancers.

Comparative study of changing patterns of concanavalin A-binding proteins in early stage of cholesterol gallstone formation

AIM: To elucidate the importance and the changing patterns of biliary concanavalin A-binding proteins (CPs) in the early stage of cholesterol gallstone formation.

METHODS: CP concentration and nucleation activity were measured by lectin affinity chromatography in bile samples of patients with cholesterol gallstones, pigment gallstones, gallbladder cholesterosis and non-biliary diseases.

RESULTS: The concentrations of CPs were much higher in patients with cholesterol gallstones (0.39 ± 0.11 g/L, n = 36, P < 0.01) or gallbladder cholesterosis (0.40 ± 0.09 g/L, n = 9, P < 0.01) than in those with pigment gallstones (0.2 ± 0.12 g/L, n = 7) and/or non-biliary diseases (0.27 ± 0.09 g/L, n = 10). Pronucleating activities were much stronger in patients with cholesterol gallstones (nucleation time ratio: 0.57 ± 0.21, n = 5, P < 0.01 vs pigment gallstones and/or non biliary diseases) and gallbladder cholesterosis (nucleation time ratio: 0.44 ± 0.23, n = 5, P < 0.01 vs pigment gallstones or non-biliary diseases). The binding percentages of CPs to model biliary vesicles were also higher for patients with cholesterol gallstones (n = 6) than those with pigment gallstones (n = 6) (2.4% ± 0.9% vs 0.9% ± 0.5%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Hypersecretion of CPs, especially those in vesicular phase, may be an important change in the early stage of cholesterol gallstone formation.

Gastric emptying and plasma levels of gastrointestinal hormones in patients with peptic ulcer

AIM: To study the plasma level of gastrointestinal hormones and the time of gastric emptying in patients with peptic ulcer.

METHODS: Thirty patients with gastric ulcer (GU), 29 patients with duodenal ulcer (DU), and 12 healthy controls were studied. Plasma levels of somatostatin (SS), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) were measured by radioimmunoassay. Gastric emptying half-time (GET_1/2) was measured by the TC-99^m resin/solid meal method.

RESULTS: GET_1/2 was significantly longer in the GU patients than that in the healthy controls (65.9 ± 14.8 min vs 53.3 ± 4.3 min, P < 0.01) and plasma VIP levels were significantly higher (37.5 ± 10.7 ng/L vs 18.4 ± 5.9 ng/L, P < 0.05).There was a significant positive correlation between GET_1/2 and plasma VIP levels (r = 0.55, P < 0.01). No significant differences were found in SS and SP levels when GU patients were compared with healthy controls (P > 0.05). GET_1/2 was markedly shorter in the DU patients than in the healthy controls (41.7 ± 10.2 min vs 53.3 ± 4.3 min, P < 0.01) and plasma SS levels were significantly lower (6.4 ± 2.5 ng/L vs 11.9 ± 3.4 ng/L, P < 0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between GET_1/2 and SS levels (r = 0.56, P < 0.01). Plasma SP levels in the DU patients were significantly higher than those in the healthy controls (54.4 ± 12.7 ng/L vs 41.6 ± 5.8 ng/L, P < 0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between GET_1/2 and SP levels (r = -0.68, P < 0.01). No significant differences were found in the plasma VIP levels when DU patient were compared to healthy controls (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Elevation in VIP may contribute to occurrence of GU and its associated delay in GET_1/2. Increased SP and reduced SS may play important roles in GET_1/2 acceleration and in the pathogensis of DU.

Multicenter randomized study on Me-CCNU, 5-FU and ADM vs ACNU, 5-FU and ADM for treatment of advanced gastric cancer

AIM: To compare the efficacy of a combined chemotherapy regimen of 5-fluouracil (5-FU) and adriamycin (ADM) with nimustine hydrochloride (ACNU; brand name Nidran), a new nitrosourea agent, or with methyl-CCNU for advanced gastric cancer.

METHODS: One-hundred-and-three cases of advanced gastric cancer were randomly allocated into Group A (Me-CCNU, 5-FU and ADM combination) and Group B (ACNU, 5-FU and ADM combination). The quality of life (QOL) questionnaire, composed of 11 ordinal categorical items, was used to collect data from these patients.

RESULTS: Group A had no case of complete remission (CR) or partial remission (PR), while Group B had no CR but 8 PR (8/46 cases), for a response rate of 0% in Group A and 17.4% in Group B. The median survival time in Group A was 108 d and in Group B was 112 d. Both groups tolerated the treatment well and there were no serious adverse effects. QOL evaluations showed better psychological and physical feelings of tiredness for Group B than for Group A, and scores based on facial scaling showed a more pleasant inclination for the former.

CONCLUSION: ACNU combination is superior to the Me-CCNU combination for advanced gastric cancer patients.

Comparative study on proliferation activity in small hepatocellular carcinoma related to hepatitis virus B and C

AIM: To compare the proliferation activity of small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV).

METHODS: Sixty liver biopsy specimens were obtained from patients with small HCC (≤3 cm in diameter) and examined immunohistochemically using anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen monoclonal antibody. Of the 60 specimens, 30 were HBV-related and 30 were HCV-related. The 60 patients providing the samples for study were matched by sex and morphologic features of the HCC specimens.

RESULTS: The labeling index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen was 7.9% in the HBV-related HCC specimens and 12.5% in the HCV-related HCC specimens. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION: In the early phase, or small stage, of HCC, HBV-related HCC shows similar proliferating activity to that of HCV-related HCC; this finding suggests that in the early phase, HBV-related HCC has similar malignancy to HCV-related HCC.

Effect of garlic on micronuclei frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes of rats with N-methyl-N’nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced gastric carcinoma and precancerous lesions

AIM: To investigate the effects of garlic on micronuclei frequency (MNF) in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) of Wistar rats with N-methyl-N’nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric carcinoma (GC) and precancerous lesions (PLs).

METHODS: Wistar rats were exposed to MNNG at 1.25 mg/5 mL per day for 10 mo to induce GC and PLs (MNNG group, n = 30); rats not exposed to MNNG served as unmodeled controls (control group, n = 16). The MNNG rats were randomly divided into a prevention treatment group (n = 30; receiving 10 mL of a 10% garlic solution per day) and an untreated model control group (n = 20; receiving tap water). MNF in PBLs were detected at experiment months 10 and 16 mo by the microculture technique.

RESULTS: The MNNG group had similar MNF levels at months 10 and 16. Compared to the control group, the MNNG, prevention and untreated model control groups had remarkably higher MNF levels (P < 0.01). The level of PLs was significantly lower in the prevention treatment group than in the untreated model control group (P < 0.01). The prevention group showed significantly lower MNF than the MNNG group (P < 0.01), and the MNF level was reduced in month 16 compared to month 10 (P < 0.01). However, the difference in MNF levels in groups given prevention or treatment was not significant.

CONCLUSION: MNNG exposure exerted continuous mutagenicity and carcinogenicity properties on PBLs, and garlic exerted a remarkable anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic effect. MNF in PBL may be a novel marker of early-stage GC.

Altered expression of tumor suppressors p16 and Rb in gastric carcinogenesis

AIM: To determine whether expression of the tumor suppressors p16 and Rb is altered in gastric carcinoma.

METHODS: Mucosal biopsies were endoscopically obtained from patients with superficial gastritis (n = 12), atrophic gastritis (n = 15), atypical hyperplasia (n = 20) and gastric cancer (n = 40). Upon obtainment, all samples were immediately fixed with 10% buffered formalin, embedded in paraffin, and sectioned serially. Protein expression of p16 and Rb was detected by immunohistochemistry (ABC method).

RESULTS: The gastric epithelium samples showed various degrees of nuclear immunostaining for p16 and Rb according to the different stage of lesion. Progressive pathology of the lesions was associated with a decreasing trend in positive immunostaining for p16 protein (83.3% > 73.3% > 30.0% > 27.5%) but an increasing trend for Rb protein (25.0% > 46.7% > 60.0% > 67.5%). A negative correlation was found between these two parameters and gastric cancer. Correlation analysis of the 40 cases of gastric cancer identified a negative correlation for 20 of the cases. When positive (n = 9) and negative tissues (n = 11) were compared, a statistically significant difference was found (50.0%, 22.5%, 27.5%) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Abnormal expression of p16 and Rb may play an important role in gastric carcinogenesis.

Effects of somatostatin analog on splanchnic hemodynamics and plasma glucagon level in portal hypertensive rats

AIM: To investigate the effects of somatostatin analog on splanchnic hemodynamics and plasma glucagon level in portal hypertensive rats.

METHODS: Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into a intrahepatic portal hypertension (IHPH) model group (n = 14, established by injection of CCl₄) and a prehepatic portal hypertension (PHPH) model group (n = 14, established by stenosis of the portal vein). Animals in each group were subdivided into an octreotide treatment (injection) group and a control (normal saline injection) group. Seven age-matched unmodeled/untreated normal rats served as controls. The mean systemic arterial pressure (MSAP) and free portal venous pressure (FPP) were measured. The splanchnic blood flow was detected by injection of toad blood red cell labelled with ⁵¹Cr and ¹²⁵I·T₃. The concentration of plasma glucagon was determined by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS: All rats with portal hypertension showed significantly decreased splanchnic blood flow and FPP in response to octreotide treatment, as well as markedly increased splanchnic vascular and portal venous resistance. The octreotide treatment did not appear to significantly lower the plasma glucagon levels in either the peripheral or the portal veins.

CONCLUSION: Octreotide induces a decrease in splanchnic blood flow in rats with portal hypertension, and this effect results primarily from direct vasoconstriction and to a lesser extent from decreased plasma glucagon level.

Clinical significance of CA19-9 in diagnosis of digestive tract tumors

AIM: To evaluate the clinical value of CA19-9 in diagnosing and differentiating gastrointestinal tumors and in monitoring patients treated surgically.

METHODS: Patients with gastric cancer (n = 70), colorectal cancer (n = 90), pancreatic cancer (n = 7), esophageal cancer (n = 10) and benign disorders (n = 30), and normal adults (n = 111; used as healthy controls), were studied. Fasting blood samples were obtained from each study participant. The serum CA19-9 concentration was measured with radioimmunoassay.

RESULTS: The mean CA19-9 level was significantly higher in patients with gastric cancer (170.69 ± 91.45 kU/L) and patients with colorectal cancer (87.21 ± 39.55 kU/L) than in the healthy controls (11.254 ± 6.00 kU/L). Compared with the healthy controls, the CA19-9 level was also much higher in patients with pancreatic cancer (1266.58 ± 521.31 kU/L) (P < 0.01). However, the CA19-9 concentrations in patients with non-recurrent gastric cancer (12.63 ± 3.62 kU/L), colorectal cancer (14.14 ± 3.26 kU/L) and benign disorders (14.23 ± 2.60 kU/L) were statistically similar to those in the healthy controls (P > 0.05). The demarcation value of CA19-9 between negative and positive was < 31.0 kU/L. The sensitivity of CA19-9 for gastric, colorectal, pancreatic and esophageal cancers and for gastrointestinal benign disorders was 47.3%, 50.0%, 83.3%, 20.0% and 0%, respectively. The specificity of CA19-9 for digestive system malignant diseases was 100% for all.

Analysis of two constitutive forms of microsomal heme oxygenase in different rat tissues

AIM: To isolate and purify the heme oxygenase (HO) isoform in microsomal fractions of Sprague-Dawley rat liver and brain in order to understand the characteristics of the two constitutive forms and the mechanism of the occurrence of hyperbilirubinemia.

METHODS: After induction by hematin and phenylhydrazine, the rat liver and brain microsomal fractions were isolated and purified by DEAE-Sephacel and hydroxyapatite. Activity and the apparent molecular weight of the two isoforms [heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2)] were measured. Kunming mice were used to prepare antiserum against purified liver HO-2. Rat liver HO-1 and brain HO-2 preparations were analyzed by the western immunoblotting technique.

RESULTS: Two isoforms were purified and identified in the treated rat liver, and HO-1 was the predominant form with a ratio of 2:1. In the native state, HO-2 activity was detectable but HO-1 activity was increased in response to hematin and phenylhydrazine, while HO-2 activity was fully refractory to these agents. The apparent molecular weights of HO-1 and HO-2 were about Mr 30000 and Mr 36000 under reducing conditions, respectively. In the untreated liver and treated brain, only one peak of HO activity exhibiting an elution profile similar to that of HO-2 of the treated liver was detected. The presence of an activity peak was not found in the elution profile at the region where the inducible isoform of HO (HO-1) was expected. The apparent molecular weight in treated brain preparation was identical to that of the purified liver HO-2. Cross-reactivity of HO-2 in the brain microsomal preparation was established, but a reactivity of HO-1 in the liver was not observed by western immunoblotting analysis when antiserum to liver HO-2 was applied.

CONCLUSION: Two constitutive forms of HO, designated as HO-1 and HO-2, exist in the treated rat liver. HO-1 is an inducible enzyme. In the treated rat brain only HO-2 exists and is a molecular entity similar to that found in liver. The two constitutive forms were different in molecular weight and in inducibility and immunochemical properties.

AgNOR and rasp21 expression in gastric mucosal lesions caused by Helicobacter pylori infection

AIM: To investigate AgNOR and rasp21 expression levels in gastric mucosal lesions caused by Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection in order to gain insight into the related biological processes (i.e. tumor-like behavior) and possible underlying mechanism supporting Hp pathogenesis.

METHODS: Hp infection was diagnosed in using the standard Campylobacter-like organism test along with Wathin-Starry staining. The expression of AgNOR was detected by the silver colloid staining technique. The expression of rasp21 was detected by monoclonal antibody and immunohistochemical staining using the ABC method. The study included a total of 278 patients with endoscopically- and pathologically-confirmed gastric mucosal lesions, representing chronic superficial gastritis (CSG), chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG), intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia, and gastric cancer. Among these, 146 of the patients were Hp-positive and 132 were Hp-negative.

RESULTS: The Hp-positive group of patients showed significantly greater AgNOR in the gastric mucosal lesions than the Hp-negative group, with the exception of the CSG sub-group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The positive rate of rasp21 expression in gastric mucosal lesions in the Hp-positive group was also significantly higher than that in the Hp-negative group, with the exception of the CSG and CAG sub-groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Hp-positive gastric mucosal lesions show biological behaviour of tumors. Hp may act as a promoter to activate the ras gene and to stimulate cell over-proliferation.

Clinical and experimental studies on stomach carcinoma treated with Yangwei Kangliu granules

AIM

To study the anti-cancer mechanism of Yangwei Kangliu (YWKL) granules from the view point of red blood cell (RBC) immunity and to investigate the relationship between RBC immunity and T lymphocyte immunity.

METHODS

Fifty patients with advanced gastric carcinoma were treated with a combination of YWKL granules and chemotherapy. Venous blood samples were obtained before treatment and after one course of treatment. The rosette rate of c-3b-receptor (RBC-C-3bRR), tumor and red cell (RRTR) and RBC immune complex (RBC-ICR) were measured under microscopy by counting the rosettes formed by sensitized or unsensitized yeast adherence. The T lymphocyte subset was observed by the method of APAAP. Control patients were treated with chemotherapy alone (n = 20). In addition, mouse tumor studies were performed to investigate the dynamic changes of RBC-C-3bRR, RRTR and RBC-ICR in response to treatment with YWKL granules (n = 30). Mice treated with chemotherapy alone (n = 30) or water alone (n = 30) were used as controls.

RESULTS

The clinical therapeutic effect of combination treatment with YWKL granules and chemotherapy (i.e. the treatment group) was markedly superior to that of chemotherapy alone (i.e. the control group) (P < 0.01). In the treatment group, the rosette rates of RBC-C-3bRR and of RRTR were significantly increased (P < 0.01) after treatment, the rate of RBC-ICR was markedly decreased (P < 0.01), and the ratio of CD4 to CD8 was obviously elevated (P < 0.01). Moreover, CD8 was much lower (P < 0.01) and the ratio of CD4 to CD8 was much higher (P < 0.01) than that in the control group. The RRTR rate was positively correlated with the ratio of CD4 to CD8. In mice, on day 9 of bearing cancer, the tumor weight in the group treated with YWKL granules alone was much lower than that of the tumors in the control mice groups; in addition, the YWKL treated mice showed higher RBC immune function than the mice of the two control groups. On day 13 of bearing cancer, however, the differences in both tumor weight and RBC immune function had disappeared.

CONCLUSION

The anti-cancer mechanism of YWKL granules may involve enhancement of RBC immunity and of T lymphocyte immune function, which is supported by the finding of RBC immune function being correlated with T lymphocyte immune function.

Clinicopathogenic studies of acute diarrhea in children

AIM: To identify etiologic pathogens of acute diarrhea in children and to determine the diagnostic value of stool pH.

METHODS: From May 1988 to April 1992, 368 children with acute diarrhea were studied. Fresh stools were routinely examined, and stool pH was tested with pH paper. Samples were placed in Cary-Blair culture medium and were sent to the lab for bacterial isolation and identification. Rotavirus was identified in the supernatant by ELISA.

RESULTS: Thirty-one pathogens and 385 bacterial strains were found in the 368 samples, with a detection rate of 67.7%, including 37.8% of mixed infections. Among the bacteria families, vibrionaceae was the most common (39.7%), and among bacteria genera, aeromonas was the most common (26.8%). In bacterial diarrhea, stool pH tended to be basic, while in viral diarrhea it tended to be acidic.

CONCLUSION: There are 31 pathogens for children’s acute diarrhea in this area. It is quite difficult to make an etiologic diagnosis only by clinical signs. However, stool pH is of some value for early disease diagnosis.