[Significance of the double mutations of C1673T/C1799G in HBV C promoter].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the biological and clinical significance of the double mutations of C1673T/C1799G in HBV C promoter (CP). METHODS: Totally 136 patients were enrolled, including 25 asymptomatic carriers (AsC), 38 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 24 patients with chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB), 36 cases with liver cirrhosis (LC) and 13 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). HBV subgenotypes and mutations in CP of all samples were determined by nested-PCR and direct nucleotide sequence analysis. The C to T mutation at nucleotide 1673 and C to G at nucleotide 1799 were analyzed in different subgenotypes, and the relationships of C1673T/C1799G double mutations with HBV replication, the expression of HBeAg, and with the severity of liver disease after chronic HBV infection were studied. RESULTS: Of the 136 patients, 110 were subgenotype Ba, 1 was Bj, 7 were C1, and 18 were C2. C1673T/C1799G double mutations in Ba were determined in 106 (96. 4%) samples, which was significantly higher than in C1 (14.3%) and C2 (12.5%) subgenotype (P < 0.0001). In contrast to non-mutation group, HBV DNA content in mutation group had no significant difference (P > 0.05). The prevalence of the mutation was lower in HBeAg positive patients (71.4%) than in HBeAg negative patients (87.5%) (P < 0.05). The frequencies of the double mutations were not significantly different among ASC, CHB, CSHB, LC and HCC groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In Ba subgenotype, double mutations of C1673T/C1799G is much popular than in C1 and C2; the mutation has no effect on HBV replication, and may not be associated with the outcome of chronic HBV infection.

[Effects of human urinary tissue kallikreins on vasodilation of basilar artery in rabbits with symptomatic cerebral vasospasm].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of urinary kallidinogenase on subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) in rabbits. METHODS: Rabbits symptomatic cerebral vasospasm model was built though Endo method, among the 40 rabbits, 8 died or had severe nervous system syndrome, the other 32 were randomly divided into 4 groups:group A, control group, injection of normal saline to the cisterna magna;group B, subarachnoid hemorrhage;group C, injection of human urinary tissue kallikreins;group D, treated with Nimodipine. The behavior scores, neurological scores and cerebral angiography changes were observed. RESULTS: Food intake obviously decreased and neurological deficit were seen in group B, while which were attenuated in group C and group D, and group A was normal. Comparing the diameter of basilar artery was (1.9 +/- 0.3) mm before SAH, the diameter of group B 4 d later was (1.5 +/- 0.3) mm, 7 d later (1.4 +/- 0.3) mm, the difference was significant (P < 0.05). Comparing with group C on the day 4th and 7th, the diameters of basilar artery were significantly different (P < 0.001). Comparing with group D on the day 4th, 7th and 14th, there was no obvious improvement. CONCLUSION: Urinary kallidinogenase and Nimodipine can obviously alleviate symptomatic cerebral vasospasm in rabbits remarkably, but the former's effect of attenuating vasospasm is better than that of Nimodipine.

[Effects of human tissue kallikrein on cerebral vasospasm: experiment with rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of human tissue kallikrein (HTK) on symptomatic cerebral vasospasm (CVS) after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). METHODS: Forty rabbits underwent occlusion of bilateral carotid. Two weeks later the 28 surviving rabbits were randomly divided into to 4 groups: shamed-operation group (n = 8) undergoing injection of normal saline into the cisterna magna on day 1 and day 3, SAH group (n = 6) undergoing injection of nonheparinized autologous arterial blood into the cisterna magna, HTK therapy group (n = 6) undergoing blood injection into the cisterna magna and then injection of HTK via ear marginal vein daily for 3 days, and nimodipine (ND) therapy group (n = 6) undergoing blood injection into the cisterna magna and then injection of ND via ear marginal vein. 3-dimension-CT angiography (3-D CTA) was used to measure the basilar artery diameter on D(0) and D(5). On D(6) the rabbits were killed with their basilar arteries taken out to undergo light microscopic examination. RESULTS: Blood could be seen in the basis cephalic of the 3 groups undergoing blood injection. 3-D CTA showed that arteriospasm was seen in the SAH and ND groups but not in the HTK group. Microscopy showed obvious pathological changes in basilar artery in the SAH and ND groups but not in the HTK group. CONCLUSION: HTK given early after SAH effectively alleviates the symptomatic cerebral vasospasm.