[The effect on myocardial perfusion and clinical outcome of intracoronary nicorandil injection prior to percutaneous coronary intervention in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction].

Objective: To investigate the effect of intracoronary administration of nicorandil prior to primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) on myocardial perfusion and short-term clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A total of 158 patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI from January 2014 to December 2015 in Fuzhou General Hospital were enrolled consecutively in this prospective controlled randomized trial. Patients were assigned into three groups with random number table: the nicorandil group (patients received intracoronary administration of 6 mg nicorandil after guide wire or balloon successfully crossed the target lesion, n=53), the nitroglycerin group (patients received intracoronary administration of 300 µg nitroglycerin after after guide wire or balloon successfully crossed the target lesion, n=52) and the control group(patients received routine treatment, n=53). The primary outcomes were myocardial perfusion, including the levels of corrected TIMI frame count (cTFC), and the incidence of no reflow or slow flow after PPCI. The secondary outcomes included the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization (all-cause death, reperfusion arrhythmia within 2 hours after PPCI, angina within 24 hours after PPCI, new heart failure or worsening cardiac function, and repeat revascularization) and within 3 months of follow-up (all-cause death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, post-infarction angina, and re-hospitalization for congestive heart failure). Results: The age of enrolled patients was (62.9±11.3) years old, and 130 cases (82.3%) of them were male. The median time of symptom-onset to balloon was 4.50 (3.20, 6.43) hours. There were significantly difference in cTFC immediately after PPCI((21.68±7.43)frames, (24.74±8.66)frames, and(27.06±10.40)frames), incidence of no reflow or slow flow after PPCI(5.7%(3/53), 13.5%(7/52), and 22.6%(12/53)), ST-segment resolution at 2 hours after procedure(90.6%(48/53), 84.6%(44/52), and 74.5%(38/53)), and reperfusion arrhythmia at 2 hours after procedure(15.1%(8/53), 36.6%(19/52), and 34.0%(18/53)) among the 3 groups(P<0.01 or 0.05). In the multivariate logistic regression models, intracoronary administration of nicorandil could lower the cTFC level (OR=0.17, 95%CI 0.10-0.41, P=0.001), acted as a protecting factor on lowering the incidence of no reflow or slow flow (OR=0.13, 95%CI 0.02-0.96, P=0.045) and reperfusion arrhythmia (OR=0.26, 95%CI 0.09-0.74, P=0.012), as well as facilitating the ST-segment resolution at 2 hours after procedure (OR=4.62, 95%CI 1.14-18.82, P=0.033). However, observed parameters were similar between intracoronary administration of nitroglycerin group compared with control group (all P>0.05). MACE within 3 months of follow-up were similar among the 3 groups(all P>0.05). Conclusion: Intracoronary administration of nicorandil prior to balloon dilation can significantly improve the myocardial perfusion and reduce the occurrence of reperfusion arrhythmia during PPCI for STEMI, but does not affect the short-term prognosis in STEMI patients.

10 x 112Gb/s PDM-QPSK transmission over 5032 km in few-mode fibers.

Few-mode fibers (FMFs) are used for the first time to transmit over 5000 km. Ten WDM channels with 50GHz channel spacing at 112 Gb/s per channel using PDM-QPSK are launched into the fundamental mode of the FMFs by splicing single-mode fibers directly to the FMFs. Even though few-mode fibers can support an additional spatial mode LP(11) at 1550 nm, the signal remains in the fundamental mode and does not experience mode coupling throughout fiber transmission. After each span the signal is collected by a second single-mode fiber which is also spliced to the FMF. Span loss is compensated by single-mode EDFAs before it is launched to the next FMF span. The lack of mode coupling ensures that the signal does not suffer any impairments that may result from differential mode delay or excess loss. Therefore the FMFs used in this "single-mode operation" have the same bandwidth as single-mode fibers. Experimental results verified that FMFs have the significant advantage of large core size which reduces the nonlinear impairments suffered by the signal. It is shown that FMFs with an effective area of 130 µm(2), have an optimum launch power 2 dB higher compared to standard single-mode fibers and as a result a 1.1 dB improvement in the Q-factor is obtained after 3000 km.

Mechanical injuries to the ipsilateral non-diseased lobes(s) during pulmonary resection--another factor causing postoperative complications.

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of complications after major pulmonary resection is known to be related to various factors. However, peri-surgical injuries to the ipsilateral non-diseased lobes(s) occurring during resection have never been mentioned in the literature. This study aimed to verify the injury in cases after lobectomy and wedge resection. METHODS: Data from eighteen patients who underwent lobectomy or wedge resection for malignant tumor between January 2003 and January 2004 were collected. All patients had pre- and postoperative examinations of alveolar-capillary membrane (A/C) permeability using 99m TC-DPTA radioaerosol. RESULTS: Ten lobectomies and eight wedge resection were performed. Using the paired t-test with each patient's pre-operative A/C permeability as his own control data, the postoperative A/C permeability of the ipsilateral non-diseased lobe(s) was found to be significantly increased. The degree of increase in the lobectomy group was the same as that in the wedge resection group. However, no significant change was found on the contralateral side in both groups. CONCLUSION: The degree of increase of permeability was the same in both groups, indicating that the effects of stretch on the surviving lung are not a contributing factor to the change in A/C permeability. The mechanical injuries during the pulmonary surgical procedure alter the permeability, which could be a possible factor causing postoperative pulmonary complications.

The importance of classification in sympathetic surgery and a proposed mechanism for compensatory hyperhidrosis: experience with 464 cases.

BACKGROUND: Compensatory hyperhidrosis is the most troublesome side effect and the leading cause of regret with sympathetic surgery. A new classification is proposed to make the procedure more selective and to minimize the side effects and regret rate. Also, a proposed mechanism for compensatory hyperhidrosis is discussed. METHODS: Between January 2002 and July 2003, 464 patients with various sympathetic disorders underwent thoracoscopic sympathectomy/sympathicotomy (ETS) or sympathetic block by clipping (ESB) at various levels according to the authors' classification. The surgery was performed on an outpatient basis. The rates of success, compensatory hyperhidrosis, and regret were recorded. RESULTS: All the patients were followed up for 17 to 35 months. All excessive sweating was effectively stopped to varying degrees. The 25 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis who insisted on receiving ETS of T4 experienced no compensatory hyperhidrosis. Of the 54 patients with facial blushing who received ESB of T2, 23 experienced compensatory hyperhidrosis. Nine patients expressed regret and requested removal of the clips. Of the 33 patients with craniofacial hyperhidrosis who received ESB of T3, 9 experienced compensatory hyperhidrosis. Three expressed regret, and reverse procedures were performed. For 324 patients with palmar hyperhidrosis receiving ESB of T4, no compensatory hyperhidrosis was found. Only two expressed regret because of discomfort. No compensatory hyperhidrosis or regret was noted with 28 patients who received ESB of T5 for axillary sweating. There was no recurrence in the entire series. CONCLUSIONS: Different procedures are recommended for different sympathetic disorders according to the classification. The higher the level of sympathetic ganglion blockade, the higher is the regret rate. Therefore, for T2 and T3 ganglion, endoscopic thoracic sympathetic block by the clipping method is strongly recommended because of its reversibility.

Alveolar-capillary membrane permeability for early prediction of response of inhaled steroid on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Glucocorticosteroid reversibility-testing is undertaken over a period of 3 months to identify whether patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) would benefit from long-term inhaled corticosteroids. This study assessed whether alveolar-capillary membrane (a/c) permeability testing can be used as an early alternative test method for the same purpose. METHODS: Fourteen patients with severe and symptomatic moderate COPD (group S) were prescribed inhaled steroid 800 microg/day for 3 months. Before inhalation and 4 weeks after inhalation therapy, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) and a/c permeability using (99m)Tc-DTPA were performed. FEV(1) was recorded again at the end of the third month. Another 10 patients with COPD of comparable severity (group B) prescribed with inhaled bronchodilators were examined and studied as controls. RESULTS: In group S, the permeability decreased in eight patients (group D) and increased in six patients (group I). No significant change was noted in FEV(1) at the end of the first month. However, seven patients in group D showed significant improvement in FEV(1) at the end of the third month, whereas in patients in group I no significant changes were observed. In group B, no significant change in a/c permeability was observed, although the FEV(1) increased by 12-17%. CONCLUSION: With steroid inhalation, the a/c permeability at 4 weeks predicts future changes in lung functions. Long-term inhaled corticosteroids are likely to be useful if permeability decreases. This test, which needs further validation, appears to provide much earlier prediction of response than glucocorticoid reversibility testing.

Bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy vs. extended transsternal thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: a prospective study.

The optimal approach to thymectomy remains controversial. This study is designed to prospectively compare the results between bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy (BVTx) and extended transsternal thymectomy (ETTx) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) without thymoma. Fifteen patients who had undergone BVTx and 16 patients who had undergone ETTx were compared for age, gender, severity of disease, preoperative duration of disease, operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative complications, hospital stay, duration of chest tube drainage, thymic histopathology, pain perception by visual analog scale (VAS), remission and improvement rate, period of follow-up, and activities of daily living (ADL). Fisher's exact test, t test and paired t test were used for statistical analysis. BVTx had longer operative time and less intraoperative blood loss than that of the ETTx. Their remission rates and their degree of postoperative ADL improvement were not significantly different. However, the lowering of VAS was significantly greater in the sternotomy group at 3 months. All other parameters were not significantly different. No mortality was noted in the series. We consider BVTx as an effective alternative procedure to the transsternal approach for patients with nonthymomatous MG. As more and more people care about cosmetics, BVTx could become the future trend.

Video-assisted thoracic surgery is minimally invasive, but is it less traumatic?

BACKGROUND: Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) is a minimally invasive procedure. This study aimed to evaluate whether the procedure is less traumatic to the ipsilateral non-diseased lobe(s) than open thoracotomy (OT) during pulmonary resection by a comparison of alveolar-capillary membrane (A/C) permeability. METHODS: Wedge resections were performed in twenty-seven patients with various types of primary and secondary malignant, solitary, pulmonary nodules. Fifteen patients had OT, while 12 patients had VATS. (99 m)Tc-DTPA radioaerosol studies were performed on the day before surgery and on the third or fourth day postoperatively. The images of the ipsilateral non-diseased lobe(s) were compared. RESULTS: Postoperatively, all patients had significantly increased A/C permeability at the ipsilateral non-diseased lobe(s). However, the degree of increase in the VATS group was the same as that of the OT group. Postoperative A/C permeability of the contralateral lung was not significantly different. CONCLUSIONS: Both procedures caused injury to the ipsilateral non-diseased lobe(s) in terms of A/C permeability at the same degree. Although VATS has been considered as a minimally invasive procedure, the trauma caused by VATS to the "disease-free lung" is the same as that caused by open thoracotomy.

Color Doppler ultrasound detection and classification of the tangential hepatic vein before laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Unexpected fatal bleeding from the gallbladder bed during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is often associated with injury to the middle hepatic vein. This paper studies whether preoperative color Doppler ultrasound is effective in reducing the risk of injury. Also a venous classification is suggested. METHODS: Between June 1999 and February 2004, 2,146 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy by standard method received preoperative color Doppler ultrasound examinations. The closest distance between the hepatic vein and the gallbladder was studied. Also, cases of liver cirrhosis, number of conversions to open cholecystectomy, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, complications, and hospital stay were recorded (group D). At the end of the study, we retrospectively reviewed the same parameter of another 2,146 patients who received laparoscopic cholecystectomy without preoperative color Doppler ultrasound between the period of March 1995 and June 1999 (group ND). RESULTS: In group D, 108 patients had cirrhosis. Four hundred and ninety-six patients (27 cases of cirrhosis) had a closest distance of 1 mm or less between the vein and the gallbladder. There were two conversions to open cholecystectomy, but none related to gallbladder bed bleeding. In group ND, there were five conversions, including four cases of gallbladder bed bleeding from the middle hepatic vein and one case of severe adhesion. The conversion rate was significantly higher. In group ND, the mean intraoperative blood loss in the cases of liver cirrhosis was significantly greater. Also, the operative time of patients with the closest vein and gallbladder distance of 1 mm or less in group D was significantly longer. CONCLUSIONS: Color Doppler ultrasound is an effective method for detecting the presence of potential bleeders. Although the operative time will be a bit longer, the operation can be done under meticulous care and complete preparation, so that the conversion rate and the risk of fatal hemorrhage can be reduced, especially in patients with liver cirrhosis.

A study of reactive oxygen species in mainstream of cigarette.

UNLABELLED: Reactive oxygenated species (ROS) not only exist in living organisms, they also exist in our environment. Combustion process and photochemical reactions are the major source of environmental ROS, and combustion process produced ROS has been gradually gaining attention in recent years. The purpose of this study is to determine the concentrations of ROS in the mainstream smoke of cigarettes sold in the marketplace using the DCFH2 fluorescence method and to understand particulate and gaseous concentrations of ROS. This research will also discuss the relationship between ROS and nicotine, found in popular cigarette brands, as well as the effectiveness of cigarette filters to remove ROS. Results indicate that the ROS concentration of mainstream smoke is 18.64-54.81 nmol H2O2/l while the correlation coefficients of nicotine and tar to total ROS are 0.959 and 0.909, respectively. Gaseous ROS concentrations are 14.32-39.03 nmol H2O2/l, and make up 71.21-85.99% of the total. It can be clearly seen therefore, that ROS exist mainly in the gaseous phase. Particulate ROS is dominant at PM2.5 (ROS(TSP)/ROS(PM2.5) is 0.652-0.959). The experimental results involving the tobacco leaves and cigarette ash show that ROS in mainstream smoke comes from the combustion process and not from the tobacco leaves. There is no effective means of eliminating ROS from mainstream smoke, regardless of whether a cigarette filter contains active charcoal. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: This study showed that cigarette combustion will produce high concentration of ROS, and this high concentration of ROS in mainstream cigarette smoke probably is one major factor contributing to a high incidence of lung cancer in smokers. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or second-hand smoke is a major indoor air pollutant that could potentially harm non-smokers. We will try to determine the ROS in ETS in the future.

Fiber-optic bronchoscopic classification of inhalation injury: prediction of acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND: Fiber-optic bronchoscopy is widely used for the early diagnosis of inhalation injury. However, there is no current bronchoscopic classification of inhalation injury for the prediction of acute lung injury (ALI). Our goal was to devise such a classification. METHODS: Between February 1993 and January 2002, 167 patients with highly suspicious inhalation injuries were collected. All patients received fiber-optic bronchoscopy within 24 h after their accident. In total, 108 patients were diagnosed as positive under direct inspection. The patients were divided into three groups (G(1), G(2), and G(3)) according to the depth of mucosal damage. Six patients were found to be positive by biopsy and were assigned to group Gb. Of these 114 positive cases, 27 developed ALI. Meanwhile, 53 patients were diagnosed as negative; these patients were assigned to group G(0). RESULTS: After analysis, the following results were noted: G(0) (n = 53), two ALI (3.8%); G(1) (n = 49), two ALI (4%); G(2) (n = 46), 15 ALI (33%); G(3)(n = 13),10 ALI (77%); Gb (n = 6), no ALI. We discovered that the deeper the mucosal injuries, the higher the rate of ALI. There were no deaths related to the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Fiber-optic bronchoscopy is a safe and effective method for the early diagnosis of inhalation injuries. Also, it is a good predictor of ALL. We hope that in the near future, this classification will serve as a treatment guideline for the early prevention of ALI. The more severe the damage, the more alert clinicians need to be to improve the patient's chances for survival.

Separation of dsDNA in the presence of electroosmotic flow under discontinuous conditions.

Separations of phiX-174/HaeIII DNA restriction fragments have been performed in the presence of electroosmotic flow (EOF) using five different polymer solutions, including linear polyacrylamide (LPA), poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC), hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC), and agarose. During the separation, polymer solutions entered the capillary by EOF. When using LPA solutions, bulk EOF is small due to adsorption on the capillary wall. On the other hand, separation is faster and better for the large DNA fragments (> 872 base pairs, bp) using derivative celluloses and PEO solutions. Several approaches to optimum resolution and speed by controlling EOF and/or altering electrophoretic mobility of DNA have been developed, including (i) stepwise changes of ethidium bromide (0.5-5 microg/mL), (ii) voltage programming (125-375 V/cm), (iii) use of mixed polymer solutions, and (iv) use of high concentrations of Tris-borate (TB) buffers. The DNA fragments ranging from 434 to 653 bp that were not separated using 2% PEO (8,000,000) under isocratic conditions have been completely resolved by either stepwise changes of ethidium bromide or voltage programming. Compared to PEO solutions, mixed polymer solutions prepared from PEO and HEC provide higher resolving power. Using a capillary filled with 600 mM TB buffers, pH 10.0, high-speed (< 15 min) separation of DNA (pBR 322/HaeIII digest, pBR 328/ Bg/l digest and pBR 328/Hinfl digest) has been achieved in 1.5% PEO.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic management of an anterior mediastinal teratoma: report of a case.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a newly developed technique, the advantages of which mainly benefit the patient. Its feasibility and indications have been described widely, but to the best of our knowledge no report of the successful VATS management of a large mediastinal teratoma has ever been documented. When such a tumor is encountered, conversion to thoracotomy would usually be carried out. We report our experience of removing a large teratoma, 8 x 7 x 11 cm in size, from the anterior mediastinum, employing VATS and utilizing only four small intercostal incisions without spreading the ribs.

Mutation of p53 gene codon 63 in saliva as a molecular marker for oral squamous cell carcinomas.

The inactivation of tumor suppressor gene (TSG) is important during multistage carcinogenesis. The p53 TSG is frequently mutated in oral squamous cell carcinomas. These mutations can serve as very specific markers for the presence of tumor cells in a background of normal cells. In this study, 10 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients and 27 normal dental students were collected from Chung Shan Medical and Dental College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. Extractions of DNA from saliva were obtained. Exon 4 and intron 6 within the p53 gene were amplified with polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) followed by DNA sequence analysis. DNA sequence analysis of PCR products revealed that five of eight (62.5%) tumor saliva samples and five of 27 (18. 52%) healthy saliva samples contained p53 exon 4 codon 63 mutations. These results were significantly different by using Chi-square test (P<0.05). The majority of the base substitutions were C deletions. Probable hot spots for the mutation were identified at exon 4 codon 63, which has not been observed before in head and neck cancers. Our study indicated that mutation of p53 codon 63 in saliva might be a molecular marker for oral squamous cell carcinomas. In addition, the amount of DNA recovered from saliva in most cases is sufficiently large and its quality suitable to enable PCR amplification which could be used in the search for mutations. The protocol described is rapid, cheap, and easy to perform, and may be useful for epidemiological studies for oral carcinogenesis.

Cytotoxic and nongenotoxic effects of phenolic compounds in human pulp cell cultures.

Phenolic compounds are widely used in clinical dentistry as sedatives for the dental pulp, as disinfectants for caries, and as root canal medications. The pathobiological effects of various phenolic compounds on human dental pulp fibroblasts were investigated with Hoechst 33258 fluorescence assay and DNA precipitation assay. All phenolic compounds showed cytotoxicity in Hoechst 33258 fluorescence assay by inhibiting cellular DNA in a concentration-dependent manner. The 50% inhibition concentrations required to decrease the cellular DNA contents by guaiacol, phenol, eugenol, and thymol were 9.8, 4.5, 0.9, and 0.5 mM, respectively. However these phenolic compounds did not cause DNA single-strand breaks in cultured human pulp fibroblasts. These results indicate that phenolic compounds are cytotoxic agents but are without genotoxic effects on human pulp fibroblasts in vitro. However care should be taken to reduce the possibility of pulpal as well as periapical irritations from inadvertent extrusion of these substances in clinical usage.

Loss of heterozygosity of p53 gene of oral cancer detected by exfoliative cytology.

The p53 tumor suppressor gene is a 16-20-kb section of cellular DNA located on the short arm of human chromosome 17 at position 17 P 13.1. Allelic deletions and/or point mutations in p53 gene are now known to be associated with the development of carcinogenesis. A hallmark of p53 is that both alleles are generally altered during transformation, which usually represents a loss of heterozygosity (LOH). In this study 30 normal dental students and 22 oral cancer patients were collected from the affiliated hospital of Chung Shan Medical and Dental College, Taichung, Taiwan. Extractions of DNA from the buccal mucosa or cancer surface were sampled by cytology brush. The two polymorphic restriction sites exon 4 and intron 6 within the p53 gene were amplified with polymerase chain reactions followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism assay. In heterozygous individuals, 66% of oral cancers demonstrated loss of p53 gene heterozygosity at the exon 4 site, and 50% showed LOH at the intron 6 site. These results indicate that inactivation of p53 gene is associated with development and/or progression of oral cancer. The essential advantages of oral exfoliative cytology are the non-invasiveness, painlessness, rapidity, ease and cost-effectiveness of cell sampling and DNA extraction. Furthermore, this experimental assay might be useful for preliminary screening of carcinogenesis in human beings.

Reduction of ornithine decarboxylase antizyme (ODC-Az) level in the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis model.

Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity is elevated in and necessary for oral carcinogenesis, but the mechanism for its deregulation is unclear. Using subtractive hybridization, a 1029 bp full-length cDNA encoding a 222 amino acid open reading frame has been isolated from normal hamster oral keratinocytes. The hamster cDNA is homologous to the human, mouse and rat ornithine decarboxylase antizyme gene (ODC-Az). The hamster ODC-Az gene demonstrated a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) upon Southern blot analysis comparing normal and tumor hamster genomic DNA. Northern blot analysis revealed that normal hamster oral keratinocytes express readily detectable level of ODC-Az mRNA. Malignant oral keratinocytes demonstrate reduced expression of the ODC-Az mRNA. In contrast, malignant hamster oral keratinocytes have elevated ODC mRNA levels and lengthened ODC protein half-life when compared to the normal counterparts. This was corroborated by direct measurement of ODC enzymatic activity. These data support the hypothesis that the reduced and/or loss of expression and function of the ODC-Az gene is an important event for the early de-regulation of cellular proliferation during oral tumor development.

Detection of alphafetoprotein-expressing cells in the blood of patients with hepatoma and hepatitis.

The presence of tumour cells in the blood circulation may predict disease recurrence and metastasis. We have evaluated the specificity and sensitivity of detecting hepatoma cells in blood using nested polymerase chain reaction with primers specific for the alphafetoprotein (AFP) gene. The nested polymerase chain reaction amplified a 270-base pair AFP DNA fragment from cDNA of Hep 3B hepatoma cells. In a reconstitution experiment, AFP mRNA was detected from peripheral mononuclear cells isolated from 10 ml of blood containing as few as ten Hep 3B cells. Peripheral mononuclear cells from the blood of 20 hepatoma patients were analysed, and 19 patients showed positive AFP mRNA expression. Seven of 13 samples from hepatitis patients also showed positive AFP mRNA expression. All five paired samples of peripheral blood or umbilical cord blood from pregnant mothers and their babies, respectively, showed positive AFP expression. None of 22 control samples was positive. The presence of AFP mRNA in the blood of hepatitis or hepatoma patients suggests the presence of circulating hepatoma cells or hepatocytes in the circulation. The high incidence of AFP mRNA in the blood of hepatoma patients supports the notion of early haematogenous spreading of the disease.

[Actions of salvianolic acid A on CCl4-poisoned liver injury and fibrosis in rats].

AIM: To study the actions of salvianolic acid A (SA-A) on liver injury and liver fibrosis. METHODS: The liver fibrotic rat was made by i.p. injection of CCl4. The model rats were divided into 3 groups treated with SA-A, colchicine (Col), and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SMB), respectively. Six wk later the rat liver pathology was examined, type I and III collagen in the liver were examined by immunohistochemistical method. Also hydroxyproline (Hyd) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the liver, alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT), aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT), and albumin (Alb) levels in the serum were measured. RESULTS: SA-A inhibited serum AlaAT and AspAT activities, decreased MDA and Hyd contents, alleviated liver fibrogenesis, protected deposition of type I and III collagen in liver matrix. The actions of SA-A on liver fibrosis were similar to those of Col and SMB, action of SA-A decreasing MDA was better than that of Col. CONCLUSION: SA-A has marked effects against liver injury and fibrosis, associated with its anti-lipid peroxidation actions.