bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 in hepatic stellate cells
Authors: Lungen Lu , Minde Zeng , Jiangao Fan , Jing Hua , Jiqiang Li , Dekai Qiu , Zhuping Fan 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) in hepatic stellate cells (HSC). METHODS: Via in situ perfusion with proteinase and collagenase and density‐gradient centrifugation with Nycodenz, HSC were isolated and cultured from the livers of both normal Wistar rats and the livers of rats treated with carbon tetrachloride. Expression of ICAM‐1 in HSC was detected by an immunohistochemistry assay and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). RESULTS: No ICAM‐1 was expressed in the freshly isolated HSC of normal rats, but ICAM‐1 was found in primary cultures of HSC at day 10 and in secondary cultures of HSC at day 7. Additionally, the intensity of the expression increased over time. Expression of ICAM‐1 was observed in freshly isolated HSC from the livers of rats treated with carbon tetrachloride. CONCLUSIONS: Expression of ICAM‐1 is related to the activation of HSC, hepatic inflammation and hepatic fibrogenesis.
Effects of high‐intensity focused ultrasound and anti‐angiogenic agents on the ablation of experimental liver cancers
Authors: Shuqun Cheng , Xinda Zhou , Zhaoyou Tang , Yao Yu , Susu Bao , Dechu Qian 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of high‐intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) when combined with heparin and cortisone acetate in treating experimental liver cancer LTNM4 implanted subcutaneously in nude mice. METHODS: High‐intensity focused ultrasound treatment was administered with a focused 1.1 MHz transducer at a peak intensity of 750 W/cm2 for a continuous exposure of 20 s and, 1 day later, heparin (300 U/mL) was given orally in drinking water and an initial dose of 250 mg/kg cortisone acetate was injected subcutaneously into each mouse. Forty‐eight mice with tumors were randomly divided into four groups. Group I (n = 12) were controls; Group II (n = 12) received heparin and cortisone therapy; Group III (n = 12) received HIFU therapy only; Group IV (n = 12) received both HIFU, heparin and cortisone therapy. RESULTS: Significant inhibition of tumor growth was seen in groups II, III and IV as compared with group I (P < 0.05), with the tumor growth inhibition rate on the 28th day being 86, 90 and 99%, respectively. All mice in group IV were cured, with no evidence of tumors by the 35th day and, histologically, no tumor cells remained. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that HIFU can destroy liver cancer effectively and that HIFU combined with treatment using the anti‐angiogenic agents heparin and cortisone may constitute a comprehensive treatment to ablate liver cancer.
Recombinant human growth hormone and glutamine synergistically improve the adaptation of the remnant small intestine in rats with short bowel syndrome
Authors: Gu Yan , Xie Jianxin , Wu Zhaohan , Zhuo Huanchen 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects and the underlying mechanism of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) and glutamine (Gln) on the adaptation of the remnant small intestine in parenterally nourished, short bowel syndrome (SBS) rats. METHOD: Four parenteral nutrition (PN) treatment groups of SBS rats were randomly arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design as follows: (i) STD (standard PN) group (–rhGH, –Gln); (ii) Gln group (–rhGH, +Gln); (iii) rhGH group (+rhGH, –Gln); and (iv) rhGH + Gln group (+rhGH, +Gln). Morphological changes of the intestinal mucosa were investigated and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the occurrence of apoptosis were observed by immunohistochemical staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transfer‐mediated dUTP‐biotin nick end‐labeling (TUNEL) methods. The level of intestinal insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) mRNA was determined by northern blotting. RESULTS: The mucosal thickness, villous height, crypt depth and villous surface area of the remnant small intestine in the rhGH + Gln group were increased significantly as compared with the other three experimental groups, and there were synergistic effects between rhGH and Gln (P < 0.01). The expression of PCNA was higher in the rhGH + Gln group than in the rhGH, Gln and STD groups (24.95 ± 3.93 vs 19.28 ± 3.25, 17.27 ± 3.38, and 8.37 ± 2.23 positive cells per crypt of Lieberkuhn, respectively; P < 0.01) but the rate of apoptosis was lower in the rhGH + Gln group than in the rhGH, Gln and STD groups (5.68 ± 2.07 vs 8.06 ± 2.33, 10.00 ± 2.24 and 22.32 ± 3.84 positive cells per 100 cells, respectively; P < 0.01). The intestinal IGF‐1 mRNA was also expressed at a higher level in the rhGH + Gln group than in the rhGH, Gln and STD groups (0.73 ± 0.05 vs 0.62 ± 0.04 vs 0.51 ± 0.04 and 0.41 ± 0.22, respectively; P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The synergistic combination of rhGH and Gln can significantly improve the adaptation of the remnant small intestine in parenterally fed SBS rats. An increase in cell proliferation and a decrease in cell apoptosis are both responsible for the intestinal adaptation. An increase in local IGF‐1 plays an important role in this process.
Trichosanthin‐induced apoptosis in gastric cancer is related to the downexpression of bcl‐2
Authors: Zhang Shu , Hu Meijie , Wu Yuxin , Jiang Shihu , Wu Yunlin , Yuan Yaozong 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: To study: (i) the induction of apoptosis in gastric cancer cells by trichosanthin; and (ii) the relationship between apoptosis and the expression of bcl‐2. METHODS: During in vitro experiments, morphological studies and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP–digoxigenin nick end‐labeling (TUNEL) method were used to detect apoptosis in gastric adenocarcinoma cell line SGC‐7901 before and after trichosanthin treatment. An immunohistochemical staining method and northern blot hybridization were used to detect the expression of the apoptosis‐related gene bcl‐2 before and after trichosanthin treatment. RESULTS: When SGC‐7901 cells were treated with trichosanthin (0.1 μg/mL, 36 h), they presented some typical apoptotic morphological changes that were observed by fluorescent staining. These morphological changes included nuclear condensation and nucleosomal fragments forming a lunate body under the nuclear membrane. When SGC‐7901 cells were treated with trichosanthin (0.1 μg/mL) for 36, 42 or 48 h, TUNEL staining revealed a significant increase in the apoptotic index (AI), from 3.78 ± 1.11%, 3.98 ± 1.12% and 3.85 ± 1.08%, to 11.30 ± 2.33%, 10.22 ± 2.00% and 11.18 ± 1.85% (P < 0.01), respectively. When SGC‐7901 cells were treated with trichosanthin (0.1 μg/mL, 32 h), immunohistochemical staining revealed a decreased expression of the bcl‐2 protein product: the staining density decreased from ++/+++ to –/+ (P < 0.01). When SGC‐7901 cells were treated with trichosanthin (0.1 μg/mL, 24 h), northern blot hybridization showed a decreased expression of bcl‐2 RNA: hybridization decreased from 35.19 ± 2.34 to 22.27 ± 3.90 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Trichosanthin is able to induce apoptosis in gastric cancer. The apoptosis may be mediated by the downexpression of the apoptosis‐related gene bcl‐2.
Clinical symptoms and pedigree analysis in two families with benign familial persistently elevated α‐fetoprotein
Authors: Zhu Hongyao 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the nature of persistently elevated α‐fetoprotein (AFP) in a family and the importance of correct recognition and diagnosis of familial AFP elevation. METHODS: In 1984 and 1997, a series of AFP radio‐immunoassays from two families with persistently elevated AFP were investigated and the family pedigrees were subanalyzed. RESULTS: Of the 29 members in the two families, 15 were examined. The AFP level of 10 people was persistently elevated, two of these had been misdiagnosed with primary hepatocellular carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS: Familial elevation of AFP is benign in nature. It should be kept in mind during mass surveys of AFP.
Expression of COX‐1, COX‐2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in superficial gastritis, mucosal dysplasia and gastric carcinoma
Authors: Luo Yuqin , Wu Kaichun , Sun Anhua , Pan Borong , Zhang Xueyong , Fan Daiming 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of the expression of cyclooxygenase‐1 (COX‐1), cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in superficial gastritis, gastric mucosal dysplasia and gastric carcinoma, and to study the relationship between COX‐2, iNOS, gastric carcinoma and Helicobacter pylori infection. METHODS: Polyclonal antibodies to COX‐1, COX‐2 and iNOS were used detect their expression and the status of H. pylori infection in 92 specimens of paraffin‐embedded gastric tissue. Of the 92 patients, 33 had superficial gastritis, 30 had gastric mucosal dysplasia and 29 had gastric cancer. Helicobacter pylori was detected by toluidine blue staining. RESULTS: Expression of COX‐2 and iNOS in gastric cancer (65.5%, 62.1%) was significantly higher than that in gastritis (18.2%, 18.2%; P < 0.01). Expression of COX‐2 and iNOS in gastritis with H. pylori infection was higher than that in gastric mucosal dysplasia with H. pylori infection. The expression of COX‐2 and iNOS occurred concomitantly in gastritis, dysplasia and gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: Inflammation and H. pylori infection may be able to stimulate the expression of COX‐2 and iNOS, which might be involved in gastric carcinogenesis.
Construction and identification of the eukaryotic expression vector of vaccinia virus expressing human interleukin‐2
Authors: Gao Hengjun , Zhu Hongyin , Gu Weiqi , Lou Yi , Ren Weiping , Xiao Shudong 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: Cancer gene therapy using interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) has generated much interest because of the potent antitumor effect of this cytokine. There is ongoing research into one promising new gene therapy approach for cancer using the vaccinia virus vector. The purpose of this study was to construct a vaccinia eukaryotic expression vector, pMJ601, which contains human IL‐2 (hIL‐2; pMJ601hIL‐2) and can be used for the treatment of gastric carcinomas. METHODS: Genetic engineering techniques such as plasmid extraction, agarose gel electrophoresis, restriction analysis, ligation, preparation of competent cells, transformation and DNA sequence analysis were used to clone the hIL‐2 gene into pBluescript II SK+/– and pMJ601 and identify these vectors. RESULTS: Fragments of hIL‐2 DNA from pLXSN from an EcoR1–BamHI restriction enzyme digest were successfully cloned into pBluescript II SK+/–. In addition, hIL‐2 DNA from pBluescript II SK+/– with a SalI‐BamHI restriction enzyme digest was also successfully cloned into pMJ601. CONCLUSION: Constructing a pMJ601 vector that expresses the hIL‐2 gene is an important step toward being able to treat gastric carcinoma using gene therapy.
Regulation of telomerase activity by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor in vitro
Authors: Xie Weifen , Lin Yong , Zhang Xingrong , Chen Weizhong , Zhang Xin , Zhang Zhongbing , Wang Hao 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor (rhTNF) on telomerase activity and promoter expression of catalytic protein subunit–human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in hepatoma cell lines HepG2 cells and HepG1‐6. METHODS: The tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase– enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method (TRAP‐ELISA) was used to determine telomerase activity in HepG2 and HepG1‐6 cells that had been treated with different concentrations of rhTNF. The plasmid TERTluc(800), which contained 800 bp of the hTERT promoter, was transiently transfected into HepG2 cells by using Lipofect, and different concentrations of rhTNF were added into the culture media 2 h later. The activity of the hTERT promoter was tested 48 h after transfection. RESULTS: The telomerase activity of hepatoma cells was suppressed by rhTNF in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, the transient transfection of HepG2 cells with the TERTluc(800) plasmid revealed that hTERT promoter activity is not affected by 10 IU/mL rhTNF, whereas the expression of the hTERT promoter is inhibited by rhTNF at concentrations ranging from 10 to 1000 IU/mL; the extent of inhibition is linearly related to the rhTNF concentration. The activity of the hTERT promoter in cells treated with 1000 IU/mL of rhTNF decreased to 60.3% of that of the control. No extra suppressive effect was observed when a concentration of 10 000 IU/mL was used. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the antitumor activity of rhTNF may be attributed to its inhibitory effect on hTERT promoter expression. Together with other studies, it may indicate that telomerase is not only involved in carcinogenesis, but is also one of the main targets of anticancer cytokines. Further analysis of the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of telomerase by TNF and isolation of the related transcription factor may provide new means for cancer gene therapy.
Clinical efficacy analysis and safety evaluation of ultrasonographically guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in liver cancers
Authors: YUAN Ai Li , ZHANG Zhen Shu , HOU Shu Qin , GUO Wen , CUI Sheng Da , LIN Huan Jian , JIANG Bo , BAN Lan , LAN Lin 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) ablation in treating liver cancers. The indications, contraindications and side‐effects of the technique were also evaluated. METHODS: One hundred and fifty‐four patients with liver cancers were treated between May 1999 and July 2000. One hundred and thirty‐two cases were hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and 22 cases were metastatic liver cancers. The diameter of the cancers ranged from 1.5 to 19.0 cm, with a mean diameter of 7.07 cm. All patients were treated with RF2000TM RF under ultrasonographic guidance and the results and side effects were evaluated. RESULTS: One hundred and fifty‐four patients were treated 182 times, with the average number of treatments for each patient being 1.18 and the average number of therapeutic points was 5.74. Symptoms improved after therapy and the levels of α‐fetoprotein (AFP) dropped from 1553.68 to 883.70 ng/mL. The AFP level declined in 60.8% of patients, remained unchanged in 32.7% of patients and was elevated in 6.5% of patients. After RF ablation, the size of the tumor was reduced in 87 cases (56.6%), stabilized in 52 cases (33.7%) and enlarged in 15 cases (9.7%). The common side‐effects of RF were local pain, fever and leukocytosis; no life‐threatening complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Percutanous RF ablation of liver cancers is a simple, safe, effective method. It can be curative for small liver cancers but for large liver cancers multiple treatments combined with arterial chemoembolization therapy may be needed to enhance its effectiveness.
Clinical study of sulindac in the treatment of sporadic colorectal adenomas
Authors: QIAN Yue Qing , LU Yu Min , YE Si Mao 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE:  To investigate the efficacy of sulindac in the treatment of sporadic colorectal adenomas.METHODS:  Thirty‐six patients who were diagnosed colonoscopically and pathologically with sporadic colorectal adenomas were randomly divided into two groups. The sulindac group took 400 mg sulindac daily for 4 months and the patients in the control group were given a placebo treatment for the same period of time. All patients underwent pancolono­scopy at the end of the study. The number, size, morphology, and degree of atypia of the adenomas were compared before and after treatment.RESULTS:  Four patients were dropped from the study (three in the sulindac group, one in the control group). Sixteen patients in each group completed the trial. In the sulindac group, the average diameter of 59 adenomas before treatment was 3.6 ± 2.2 mm, which was significantly larger than that after treatment (2.4 ± 1.5 mm; P < 0.001). The morphology of adenomas also changed significantly. The degree of atypia of adenomas also decreased after treatment (P < 0.001). No severe side‐effects of sulindac were found during the study. In the control group, the average diameters of adenomas before and after treatment were 4.6 ± 2.5 mm and 3.7 ± 2.2 mm, respectively. There was no significant difference between the average diameters of the adenomas before or after treatment (P > 0.05), nor was there any change in the morphology or the degree of atypia of the adenomas.CONCLUSIONS:  Sulindac is effective in reducing the size and degree of atypia of adenomas. This trial demonstrated that sulindac has a regressive effect on sporadic colorectal adenomas. However, its long‐term effect remains to be tested.
Prevalence of subclinical hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis determined by psychometric tests
Authors: NIE Yu Qiang , LI Yu Yuan , SHA Wei Hong , ZENG Zheng , HU Zhong Wei , YANG Fu Ying , PING Li , JIA Lin 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE:  To investigate the prevalence of subclinical hepatic encephalopathy (SHE) in patients with stable hepatic cirrhosis.METHODS:  One hundred and seventy‐five consecutive cirrhotic patients (mean age 53 years, range 27−72 years) without overt clinical encephalopathy were screened for SHE using the number connection test (NCT) part A and symbol digit test (SDT). Subclinical hepatic encephalopathy was defined as the presence of at least one abnormal psychometric test. The age‐corrected normal value was defined as the mean ± 2SD obtained from 356 subjects without liver disease and in normal mental condition. Illiterate patients and patients with concurrent use of alcohol or psychotropic drugs, and those with previous portosystemic shunt and were excluded.RESULTS:  In different age subgroups, the NCT scores and SDT quotients for cirrhotic patients were significantly different compared with those for controls (P < 0.05−0.001). Fifty patients (28.6%) were found to be abnormal in both the NCT and SDT, 16 (9.1%) patients were abnormal only in the SDT and 34 patients (19.4%) only in the NCT. Taken together, SHE was diagnosed in 100 patients (57.1%) by using the two tests. The prevalence of SHE increased from 46.8% and 53.0% in Child−Pugh grades A and B, to 76.6% in Child−Pugh grade C (P < 0.05). No significant correlation was found between the development of SHE and the etiology of cirrhosis, patient age and smoking habit.CONCLUSION:  By using a combination of NCT and SDT, SHE was diagnosed in 57.1% of cirrhotic patients without overt clinical encephalopathy. The prevalence of SHE was significantly correlated with the severity of liver cirrhosis.
Rapid induction of mRNA for Tec genes by hepatopoietin and partial hepatectomy
Authors: WANG Ge , LENG En Ren , HU Lu , WANG Jun , FANG Dian Chun , YANG Xiao Ming , ZHANG Yong , HE Fu Chu 
Published: March 2003

OBJECTIVE:  To investigate how hepatopoietin (HPO) and partial hepatectomy induce the expression of immediate early genes.METHODS:  mRNA expression related to liver regenera­tion was investigated within 1 h after a two‐thirds partial hepatectomy by representational difference analysis and with the addition of HPO in a primary cultured hepatocyte system by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.RESULTS:  In the expressed sequence tag library, most of the genes identified were immediate early genes, and one Tec gene that might be associated with liver regeneration was found. Moreover, the Tec gene was rapidly induced after partial hepatectomy, with peak expression (7−10‐fold) within 1−2 h after the operation as identified by northern blotting. Hepato­poietin was able to rapidly induce the expression of immediate early genes (e.g. c‐fos, LRF‐1, Tec) in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. The c‐fos and LRF‐1 mRNA were also known to be induced during the early hours of liver regeneration, and increased after treatment of isolated hepatocytes with HPO. Addition of HPO resulted in rapid and transient induction of Tec mRNA with a peak at 0.5−2 h (3−5‐fold), which might be one of the molecular mechanisms of the effect of HPO on the stimulation of hepatocyte proliferation.CONCLUSION:  Hepatopoietin and partial hepa­tectomy can rapidly induce the expression of the immediate early genes. Our results suggest that the Tec gene is an immediate early gene related to liver regeneration.
Periventricular lucency evaluated by second‐derivative finger plethysmography
Authors: Iwamoto Toshihiko , Miyaji Hiroko , Kanaya Kiyoshi , Takasaki Masaru 
Published: March 2003

Background:The purpose of the present paper was to clarify the etiologic and pathophysiologic bases of periventricular lucency (PVL).Methods:The relationship between PVL severity and hemodynamic variables derived by second‐derivative finger plethysmography (SD‐PTG) was studied. A total of 307 consecutively examined outpatients 60 years or older (mean age: 77.7 years; 149 men, 158 women) was enrolled. On the basis of brain computed tomography, PVL was classified into four grades (0–3) according to a modification of the classification of van Swieten. The grade of PVL was assessed at two points in each patient: anterior and posterior. The heights of the a, b, and d waves on the SD‐PTG waveform were measured from baseline. The b/a ratio, indicating distensibility of the aorta, and the d/a ratio, indicating peripheral resistance, were calculated.Results:An anterior PVL of grade 3 had a significantly higher b/a ratio and a significantly lower d/a ratio than that of grade 0 or grade 1 (both P < 0.05). For posterior PVL, the b/a ratio and the d/a ratio were similar for all four grades. The anterior PVL grade was compared with the posterior PVL grade in individual subjects. This comparison yielded six groups: four in which PVL grade was similar (0, 1, 2 or 3) in both regions, one in which the grade for anterior PVL was higher than that for posterior PVL (predominantly anterior group), and one in which the grade for posterior PVL was higher than that for anterior PVL (predominantly posterior group). In patients with predominantly anterior PVL, the b/a ratio and incidence of lacunae were significantly higher than that in patients with predominantly posterior PVL.Conclusion:These findings indicate that the frontal white matter is susceptible to hemodynamic stress. It is suggested that decreased aortic distensibility may promote fibrohyaline thickening of the medullary arteries, increasing the risk of PVL.