Effect of hepatitis C virus core protein on cholangiocarcinoma tissues' epithelial-mesenchymal transition / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the role of hepatitis C virus core protein on the infiltration and metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma tissues.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2001 to November 2006, 34 patients with cholangiocarcinoma who had intact follow-up data randomly were chosen. The expression of HCVc protein, epithelium markers and mesenchymal markers in cholangiocarcinoma tissues were examined by SP methods of immunohistochemistry, clinical-pathological data were recorded and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positive expression rate was observed in 47.1% for HCVc protein, 50% for N-cadherin, 44.1% for Vimentin, 55.9% for Fibronectin and the decreased expression rate was E-cadherin for 55.9%, alpha-catenin for 70.6%, beta-catenin for 55.9%. The positive expression of HCVc protein was associated with the decreased expression of E-cadherin, alpha-catenin and the positive expression of N-cadherin, Vimentin, Fibronectin (chi(2) = 4.480, 4.163, 4.250, 7.438, 12.260, P < 0.05). A positive-correlation between the expression of HCVc protein and metastasis of lymph nodes and other organs were found (chi(2) = 5.708, 4.163, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HCVc protein might promote cholangiocarcinoma tissues' infiltration and metastasis by inducing it's epithelial-mesenchymal transition.</p>

Therapeutic effect of qingyi decoction and tetrandrine in treating severe acute pancreatitis in miniature pigs and serum drug level determination / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the therapeutic effect of Qingyi Decoction (QYD) and tetrandrine (Tet), used singly or combind, in treating miniature pigs with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-two Guizhou miniature pigs were made into SAP model by pancreatic duct retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate. They were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, the QYD group, the Tet group and the combined treated group. The serum amylase activity and interleukin-1 and 6 (IL-1, IL-6) contents in serum from vena cava and portal vein were tested by biochemistry and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Serum emodin and plasma Tet levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 24, 48 and 72 hrs after treatment. And the pathological changes of pancreas, lung and liver were observed under microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mortality of SAP pigs was reduced significantly and the inflammatory injury of the organs was ameliorated obviously in all treated groups, and the increased amylase activity and IL-1, IL-6 levels was attenuated. The therapeutic effect was much more obvious, and the plasma Tet level at different time points were much higher in the combined treated group than those in the other two groups treated by single drug (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both QYD and Tet could treat effectively SAP through multiple pathways, combination of them reveals an elevation of serum drug concentration and shows a synergistic effect.</p>