The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of somatostatin (SS) receptor, a brain-gut peptide receptor which is capable of inhibiting central neurons, on the pathogenesis of hepatic encephaiopathy (HE). By means of radioligand binding assay, SS receptors in crude synaptosomal membrane of rat brains were investigated in a rat model of HE induced by partial hepatectomy following carbon tetrachloride intoxication and in controls. Binding to SS receptor was studied using¹²⁵ I-SS as radiolgand Scatchard analysis of binding data was linear, yielding a dissociation constant (K_d) of 3. 99 ±0. 22 nmol/L and a maximal binding capacity (B_max) of 238 ±14.2 fmol/mg of protein in HE rats. Only increased B_max values were observed (P<C 0. 005), while the K_d values were statistically unchanged (P>0.50), in HE rats as compared with those in controls. The results suggest that the changes of SS receptors in brains play a significant role in the pathogenesis of HE. The mechanism of HE induced by the alterations of SS receptors in the brains was discussed in this paper.

A new therapeutic measure-step by step-embolization of every feeding vessel in dealing with liver cancer has been proposed on the base of the following criteria after reviewing the coeliac and superior mesenteric arteriographies in 100 cases of liver cancer. The emphasis is put on: 1. Anatomic variation of hepatic arteries. 2. Multiple feeding vessels, and 3. The importance of the presence of stenosis after embolization and the formation of collateral circulation.

The isolated mice peritoneal macrophages in degradation of calcium phosphate compound artificial bone-collagen/hydroxylapatite (CHA), hydroxylapatite (HA), beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP) ceramics, have been studied by use of both Ca⁺⁺, P concentration assay in cultured supernatant and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The solubility of Ca^{+ +}, composition of materials increased more significantly when macrophages were inoculated than when macrophages were not seeded (P< 0.001), and it was shown that the ground materials were wrapped and phagocytized or resorbed extracellularly by macrophages under SEM, suggesting that macrophages could mediate the degradation of calcium phosphate compound artificial bone by phagocytizing and/or degrading extracellularly.

At high concentration (50 μg/ml), diallyl trisulfide (DATS) had an inhibitory effect on T cell activation (compared with control group,P<0.05). But at appropriate concentrations (3.125–12. 5 μg/ml), DATS augmented the activation of T lymphocytes by Con A (compared with control group,P<0. 01). The augmentation of T cell activation by DATS was related to its inhibitory effect on the production of nitric oxide (NO) by macrophages. In a wide range of concentrations (1–100 μg/ml), DATS can inhibit the production of NO by macrophages (P<0.05,P<0.01). In addition, DATS can antagonize the inhibition of tumor-derived immunosuppressive factors produced by S180 cells and Ehrlich ascitic cancer cells on the activation of T cells, and reduce the inhibitory rate significantly (P < 0.01). DATS, despite its inhibition of the production of NO by macrophages, can significantly enhance the production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) by macrophages. When macrophages were pretreated with DATS for 24 h, the cytotoxicity % of macrophages to three tumor cell lines was significantly higher than that in corresponding control group (P<0.05,P<0.01). In the presence of both DATS and LPS, the cytotoxicity of macrophages was further enhanced so that the cytotoxicity % of macrophages to tumor cells was significantly higher than either that in the presence of DATS alone or that in the presence of LPS alone (P<0. 05,P<0. 01). These results indicate that DATS can augment the activation of T cells and enhance the anti-tumor function of macrophage, suggesting that DATS may be potentially useful in tumor therapy.

The inhibitory effect of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM) on hypoxic structural remodeling of intra-acinar pulmonary arteries (IAPA) was observed by light and electron microscopy and morphometry. It was found that RSM can not only dilate IAPA and relieve the hypoxic injuries to endothelia cells, but also inhibit the active muscularization of IAPA in the hypoxic animals, suggesting that RSM plays a very important role in inhibiting structural remodeling of IAPA and pulmonary hypertension.

By injection of C-BSA, immune-complex in situ type glomerulonephritis was duplicated in rabbits and treated with Mai-Luo-Tong and natural Indigo. The results showed that proteinuria in the treated groups M and Q was decreased. The difference between group M and control group is statistically significant (P<0.05). Under light and electron microscope, although glomerular basement membrane was irregularly thickened and subepithelial dense electron deposited in the treated group, but microthrombus, erythrocytes and platelets aggregation and leukocytes impaction were not seen within glomerular capillaries. Also in groups C, Q, M, mesenteric cell count was 99.40±18.53, 92.87±17.89, 66. 55±7. 75 respectively, the M. Q groups are compared with group C, the result is of statistical significance (P<0. 05) and there is no apparent glomerular fibrosis in the treated groups.

This paper reports the effects of Tripterygium Wilfordii (TW) on adrenal cortex in rats with adjuvant arthritis. Forty rats were divided into 5 groups. Adjuvant arthritis (AA) models were made with complete freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in groups I -IV. Each of which was treated with sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose, TW. prednisone and cyclophesphamide respectively. The untreated rats allocated to group V served as normal controls. The swelling of AA markedly subsided in groups I, I and IV as compared with group 1 (P<0. 01), whereas no significant differences were noted among groups I, I and IV (P>0.05). The obviously increased plasma corticosterone levels and decreased adrenal ascorbic acid levels were observed in group I, whereas decreased plasma corticcsterone levels and increased adrenal ascorbic acid levels were noted in group I. There was a striking contrast between groups I and I. The morphological changes of adrenal glands under light microscope revealed hypertrophic adrenal cortices in group I, and atrophie adrer.ai cortices in group I. The above findings suggest that the effect of promoting production of corticosteroids may be one of the mechanism by which TW can effectively treating autoimmune diseases.

The contraction of isolated rat and rabbit uteri induced by oxytocin and PGF_2α was markedly inhibited by chlorpheniramine (Chl) and astemizolum (Ast), both of which also decreased the resting tension of uteri, and their spontaneous contraction. The inhibitory effects of both drugs were dose-dependent. At high concentrations, Chl 7.4× 10^-4 mol/L and Ast 10^-4 mol/L could counteract the contraction of the uteri induced by Oxy and PGF_2α, and their spontaneous contraction as well. They decreased the resting tension to the lower level. The mechanism of their non-special relaxed action on uteri could not be completely explained only by their H₁-receptor blocking action. Whether they act by blocking calcium channel or by inhibiting calmodulin (CaM) remains to be further explored.

The effects of amrinone on cardiac contraction and relaxation were assessed in isolated, perfused rat hearts. It was found that the left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP). dp/dt_max and -da/dt_max did not significaptly increase, and the time constant (τ) did not markedly shorten with perfusion of low concentration (1 nmol/L. 100 nmol/L) of amrinone. The perfusion with higher concentration (1000 nmol/L) of amrinone. reduced LVDP (P<0.01), dp/dt_max (P<0.01), -dp/dt_max, (P<0.01), and prolonged τ (P< 0. 05) significantly. It was assumed that amrinone has no direct positive inotropic effect, and can not improve cardiac relaxation. On the contrary, the cardiac contraction and relaxation will be inhibited at higher concentration of amrinone.

The changes of the levels of LTC₄, PGI₂ and TXA₂ in the liver tissue in SD rats with GalN/LPS-induced acute liver injury was studied with radioimmunoassay (RIA). As a result, 12 h after the administration of GaIN/LPS, serum AST (398±37 u), ALT (565 ±43 u) increased (P<0.001) and the concentration of TXA. (12188±588 pg/g · w · wt) in liver tissue increased significantly (P<0.001), while the content of LTC₄ (9713±3557 ng/g · w · wt) and PGI₂(1748±560 pg/g · w · wt) in liver tissue were not obviously changed (P>0.05) and the inflammatory changes of the pathological findings were observed. The improvement of serum ALT (330±168 u) (P<0.05) and AST (273±124 u) (P<0.05) and histopathological damage was observed after the administration of di-ethylcarbamazine (DEC), a LTA₄ synthesis inhibitor, the liver TXA₂ (12740±699) concentration significantly increased (P<0.001), while the levels of LTC₄ (8179±1653) and PGI₂ (2320±630) were not obviously changed. Serum ALT (536±74 u) and AST (416±41 u) (P>0.05) levels and histopathology did not change with administration of indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, but the liver LTC₄ (12166±1327) contents increased (P<0. 05) and TXA₂ (1868±791) reduced significantly (P<0.001). The present study suggests that arachidonic acid metabolism in rats with acute liver injury are significantly abnormal. Leukotrienes and thromboxane are important inflammatory mediators in the liver injury.

A new serum-free culture (SFC) system for human AML-CFU was established and the colony-promoting activity of four recombinant human hematopoietic growth factors (rhHGFs) including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF), interleukin-3 (rhIL-3), erythropoietin (rhEPO) and newly developed stem cell factor (rhSCF) were investigated in this SFC system. Under the orthogonal design condition, it was found that human AML-CFU presented optimal clonal growth in an environment of bovine serum albumin (0.6 %), saturated human transferrin (2× 10^-6 mol/L), cholesterol (2.8 μg/ml), bovine insulin (15 μg/ml), bovine hemin (0. 05 mmol/L), linoleic acid (2. 8 μg/ml), and IMDM. Spontaneously growing colonies were observed in 11 out of14 cases studied. The plating efficiencies obtained by culturing with rhGM-CSF, rhIL-3, and rhSCF were 0. 776±0. 621 %, 0. 574±0. 510 %, and 0. 647±0. 543 % (x±s), respectively. There was one case (M3b) showing no response to all HGFs in both SFC ad SCC. The clonal growth of AML-CFU obtained from peripheral blood of the patient with M6 was unexpectedly marked. As a whole, the newly designed SFC system has been demonstrated to be useful for culture of human AML-CFU from both bone marrow and peripheral blood.

28 cases of hemophilia were examined for HCV infection status by using the Kehua anti-HCV ELISA kit of second generation. It was found that the infection rate was 78. 5% and the infection rate was even higher with patients who had received transfusions or. preparations of coagulatory factors. 10 families of 15 patients were also investigated. It was found that of 15 hemophilia patients., 12 showed positive anti-HCV, while none of their 53 family members exhibited any positive anti-HCV. In 8 children of 9 couples no positive anti-HCV was found. Our results revealed that the hemophilia patient may get infected with HCV by receiving multiple transfusions or preparation of coagulatory factors. The risk of getting infected with HCV via daily-life contact including sexual contact is extremely low.

In order to study the mechanism of decreased blood pressure caused by an acute increase in biliary tract pressure, we observed house rabbit model of self-made caecus for changes in cardiovascular function when biliary tract pressure was increased. It was found that both the blood pressure and cardiac output evidently decreased (P<0.05) parallelly, and the systolic pressure decreased more markedly than diastolic pressure. At the same time there was fluctuation in heart rate and in central venous pressure; but there was no significant difference between them (P>0.05), suggesting that in the absence of infective agents, the increased biliary tract pressure can bring about a decrease in cardiac output, which is an important factor contributing to an early blood pressure decrease in acute cholangitis of severe type (ACST).

This paper presented 51 cases of intractable epilepsy, of which 36 were males, and 15 females, with a mean age of 21. They were all verified through CT/MRI, among which 17 were proved to have lesions on the brain, and 34 to have no lesion. Before operation all the patients were identified by SPECT and cerebral blood flow imaging (CBF). During the operation they were monitored under subdural strip electrode ECoG for the localization of corticoepileptogenic focus. The results showed that the sensitivity rate of localization with SPECT for corticoepileptogenic focus location was 97. 87 %.

Immunologically mediated aplastic anemia in mice were used as animal models to study the the curative effect of Zaizhang-I in term of the changes of two pathogenetic aspects in aplastic mice, namely the defciency of hematopoietic stem cells and the disturbance of immunology. Our results demonstrated that in aplastic mice, after treatment by Zaizhang-I, the loss of mature hematopoietice cells (WBC, RBC, Plt) were reduced, and marrow cellular cytosis, and their clinical findings were improved, indicating a partial remission. The present data show that its curative mechanism lies in the action of promoting the recovery of colony forming unit-spleen (CFU-S) and reversing immunologically-induced plasma colony forming unit granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM) inhibitory activity. Natural killer cells activity (Nka) and interleukin-2 tumor necrosis factors (TNF) were also examined to further understand the mechanism by which Zaizhang-I reverse plasma hematopoietic activity.