Disrupting RhoA activity by blocking Arhgef3 expression mitigates microglia-induced neuroinflammation post spinal cord contusion.

Excess inflammatory microglia activation deteriorates the pathological degree of spinal cord injury (SCI). We here employed microglia samples in vitro and murine model in vivo to trace the role of inhibition of Arhgef3 in inflammatory response post SCI. From the specimen analysis of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory microglia, we found that Arhgef3 expression was positively relative to microglia activation.

[Association of interleukin 28B polymorphisms with response to pegylatedinterferon plus ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C].

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of gene polymorphisms at rs12979860 of interleukin 28B (IL28B) and explore the relationships between the genetic polymorphisms and the antiviral therapy efficiency for chronic hepatitis C patients in the Sichuan region of China.

Methods: Data from 56 patients treated for 48 weeks with PEG-IFN alpha-2a plus weight-based Ribavirin (RBV), which were followed for 24 weeks after the end of treatment, were analyzed. And the IL28B rs12979860 genotype was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction techniques (PCR) and sequencing analysis.

[Lamivudine-resistant analysis and management for chronic hepatitis B patients with initial lamivudine therapy].

Objective: To study the factors influencing the long-term usage of lamivudine (LAM) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and the management after drug-resistance.

Methods: 383 cases of naive CHB patients in our outpatient clinic were treated with lamivudine (100 mg/d) and followed up for at least over 1 year from 2001 to 2010. 129 cases encountered lamivudine-resistance and were then divided into two groups: patients in group A were switched to adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) alternative treatment and those patients in group B were added with ADV for continuous treatment.

[Association between the influential factors and the effectiveness of pegylated interferon alpha-2a plus ribavirin as a combination treatment for chronic hepatitis C patients].

To evaluate the efficacy and to investigate the association between the length of the treatment period and the cumulative dose of pegylated interferon alpha-2a (PegIFN alpha-2a) plus ribavirin (RBV) and the effectiveness of antiviral therapy. We analyzed data from 117 patients treated for 48 weeks with PEG-IFN alpha-2a (135mug or 180mug/week) plus weight-based RBV (800 mg/d for patients is less than or equal to 65 kg, 1000 mg/d for patients 65-75 kg and 1200 mg/d for patients is more than or equal to 75 kg) under care at West China Hospital. HCV RNA was assessed at baseline, Week 4, 12 and 24, the end of treatment (EOT) and after 24 weeks follow-up (sustained virological response; SVR) with a test range of 1.

[A double-blind, randomized, lamivudine-controlled clinical trial of DAIDING (adefovir dipivoxil) for lamivudine-resistant patients with chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of adefovir dipivoxil (ADV, DAIDING) for Chinese chronic hepatitis B patients with lamivudine (LAM) resistance.

Methods: This study was a multicenter, double-blind clinical trial. 209 chronic hepatitis B patients with LAM resistance were randomly put in an ADV, DAIDING or a LAM group.

[A study of the dosage and efficacy of entecavir for treating hepatitis B virus].

Objective: To evaluate the antiviral activity and safety of entecavir in patients with chronic HBV infection as a preliminarily step in selecting 0.1 mg or 0.5 mg as a better dosage for a further large scale clinical trial.

[Influence of wen-yang herbs on hemodynamics in liver fibrotic rats].

Objectives: To observe the influence of wen-yang herbs on the hemodynamics in liver fibrotic rats.

Methods: Wistar rats with liver fibrosis, induced by carbon tetrachloride and alcohol, were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. The treatment group was administered wen-yang herbs and the control group saline.

Tissue microarray for high-throughput analysis of gene expression profiles in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To study the expression profiles of HBsAg, HBcAg, p21WAF1/CIP1 (p21), Rb genes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to investigate their roles in the hepatocar-cinogenesis.

Methods: HCC tissue microarray containing 120-min tissues of 40 HCC cases was constructed. HBsAg, HBcAg, p21 and Rb proteins were immunohistochemically stained by streptavidin-peroxidase conjugated method (S-P).

[Pathological study of the therapeutic effect of wen-yang herbs on experimental liver cirrhosis].

Objective: To observe the pathological effect of wen-yang herbs on experimental hepatic fibrosis.

Methods: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were used in this study comprising four groups. To start with, 24 rats of three groups were given subcutaneous injection of CCl4 and drinking 10% alcohol so as to make the model of hepatic fibrosis.

[Studies on the nucleotides sequences of extended-spectrum-beta-lactamases encoding genes of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae and the related molecular evolution].

Objective: To identify TEM-type and SHV-type ESBLs encoding genes of ESBLs-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli isolated from clinical species in West China Hospital of Sichuan University and study the molecular evolution of the ESBLs.

Methods: The nucleotide sequences of TEM-type and SHV-type ESBLs encoding genes amplified by PCR were detected by automatic sequencer, and the subtypes of the encoding genes were determined by Blastx searching. The molecular evolution of ESBLs was studied by means of bioinformatics.

[Effects of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae on the PMN-EC adhesion in vitro at the early stage of endotoxemia].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (RSM) on the PMN-EC adhesion in vitro at the early stage of endotoxemia, and to probe into the mechanism there in involved.

Methods: The rabbit endotoxemia model was made, and one group was treated with RSM injection (2 ml/kg) instantly and 24 h after the modeling of endotoxemia. PMN-EC adhesion rate, adhesion molecule (CD11a/CD18 and CD11b/CD18) and TNF-alpha level were measured instantly, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 16 h, 24 h and 48 h after endotoxemia modeling.

Pathomorphological study on location and distribution of Kupffer cells in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To clarify the location and distribution of Kupffer cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to investigate their role in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Methods: Kupffer cells were immunohistochemically stained by streptavadin-peroxidase conjugated method (S-P). The numbers of Kupffer cells in cancerous, para-cancerous and adjacent normal liver tissues of 48 HCCs were comparatively examined.

DNA-based vaccination induces humoral and cellular immune responses against hepatitis B virus surface antigen in mice without activation of C-myc.

AIM:To develop a safe and effective DNA vaccine for inducing humoral and cellular immunological responses against hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg).METHODS:BALB/c mice were inoculated with NV-HB/s, a recombinant plasmid that had been inserted S gene of hepatitis B virus genome and could express HBsAg in eukaryotes. HBsAg expression was measured by ABC immunohis tochemical assay, generation of anti-HBs by ELISA and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), by MTT method, existence of vaccine DNA by Southern blot hybridization and activation of oncogene C-myc by in situ hybridization.