Cholestyramine alters bile acid amounts and the expression of cholesterol-related genes in rabbit intestinal and hepatic tissues.

Objective: Cholestyramine (CHO), as a bile acid sequestering exchange resin, has been widely used to treat hypercholesterolemia. The aim of this study was to explore how CHO regulated serum cholesterol amounts and bile acid levels in animal models.

Methods: New Zealand White rabbits were randomly assigned to the control (given distilled water) and CHO-treated (given CHO solution 1 g/kg per day for 2 weeks) groups.

Interventional effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on the progression of gastric precancerous lesions in rats.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Ginkgo biloba extract on gastric precancerous lesions in rats.

Methods: 80 4-week-old Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: a control group, a model group, a low and a high dose Ginkgo biloba extract intervention group; 20 in each group. Gastric precancerous lesions were induced by giving them 100 mg/L N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) solution to drink ad libitum for 20 weeks.

Bioconcentration kinetics of PCBs in various parts of the lifecycle of the tadpoles Xenopus laevis.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Xenopus laevis have been reported only for a few congeners. Additionally, there is very little information on the ability of Xenopus laevis to bioconcentrate PCBs. To address these issues, the tadpole Xenopus laevis was exposed to Aroclor1254 mixtures in water at room temperature for 110 d followed by an additional 110 d of nonspiked PCBs in the water for the control group.

L-[1-13C] phenylalanine breath test results reflect the activity of phenylalanine hydroxylase in carbon tetrachloride acute injured rat liver.

L-[1-13C] phenylalanine breath tests (PheBTs) have been used to determine the hepatocyte functional capacity of patients. This study investigated the relationship between the PheBT parameter 13C excretion rate constant (PheBT-k) and activity of the phenylalanine metabolic rate-limiting enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) in rat liver. We noted that the time-course curves of 13C excretion presented as a single peak, which appeared 2 min after administration of L-[1-13C] phenylalanine (13C-Phe).

[Expressions of aquaporin-1 on peritonea in hepatic cirrhotic rats with ascites].

Objective: To investigate the changes of aquaporin (AQP-1) expressions on peritonea in liver cirrhotic rats with ascites, and to study the correlation between AQP-1 expressions and ascites form.

Methods: 32 healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into two groups randomly, 20 rats were used to produce liver cirrhotic models induced with phenobarbitol sodium and CCl(4). The distribution and protein expressions of AQP-1 on the rats' peritonea were measured with immunohistochemistry assay, and the expressions of APQ-1 mRNA were tested with relative GAPDH quantitative RT-PCR.

Clinical application of 13C-Hiolein breath test in assessing pancreatic exocrine insufficiency.

Objective: To examine the feasibility and significance of 13C-Hiolein breath test in evaluating chronic pancreatitis-related exocrine insufficiency and efficacy of enzyme treatment.

Methods: The 13C-Hiolein breath test was used in 8 healthy volunteers (group 1), 8 chronic pancreatitis (CP) patients without steatorrhea (group 2), and 8 CP patients with steatorrhea (group 3). To evaluate the function of pancreatic exocrine, 13CO2 was determined following 13C-Hiolein diet.