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Biomedical subjects

Z B Lin

Publications and source records attributed to Z B Lin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide peptide reduced the production of proinflammatory cytokines in activated rheumatoid synovial fibroblast.

The aim of the current study was to elucidate the potential therapeutic effect of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide peptide (GL-PP) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The effects of GL-PP on cell proliferation and cytokine production were studied in RA synovial fibroblasts (RASF). GL-PP significantly inhibited the proliferation of RASF. Following the incubation with GL-PP, production of interleukin (IL)-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in RASF were significantly increased as expressed as percentage change from basal values. However, the actual effects were minimal due to the low basal values. When RASF were activated by IL-1beta or lipopolysaccharides, IL-8 and MCP-1 production increased many folds. GL-PP significantly suppressed their productions. The inhibitory effects of GL-PP on cytokine production in RASF were at least in part, by inhibiting the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) transcription pathway. Our results demonstrated that GL-PP had the unique ability to modulate cytokine production in RASF and warrants further investigation into its mechanism of action.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

The survival and value of liver transplantation for liver carcinoma: a single-center experience.

UNLABELLED: Liver transplantation for liver carcinoma with cirrhosis is a treatment still in dispute. The objectives were to summarize the survival and cost of 50 liver transplant cases performed for liver carcinoma over nearly 3 years. METHODS: We performed 138 liver transplants from January 1999 to February 2002. There were 50 cases (36.2%) of liver carcinoma with HBV cirrhosis, which were divided into three stages based on the tumor pathology: Stage 1 cases showed a single mass (< or = 5 cm), 4 cases; Stage 2, a single mass > 5 cm or intrahepatic multiple masses without PV cancer embolus, 32 cases; and Stage 3: tumor invasion of the PV or perihepatic lymph nodes or organs, 14 cases. All patients received three to six courses of chemotherapy postoperatively. RESULTS: All four cases of stage 1 survived > 1 year; one of them is at 3 years with good liver function and tumor free. The mean half-year medical cost was $27.100 +/- 108 in stage 1. The half-year survival and medical costs were 62.5% and $31,500 +/- 260 in stage 2 and 15.0% and $35,500 +/- 134 in stage 3. CONCLUSION: Liver transplantation is an effective treatment for early-stage liver carcinoma, that achieves good medical and economic results, but should be limited to advanced liver cancer.

Analysis of Variance↗

Protection of the spinal cord with pentobarbital and hypothermia.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic spinal cord damage during thoracic aortic operations has not been eliminated despite application of various adjuncts. We experimentally investigated the protective effects of pentobarbital and hypothermia on the spinal cord subjected to ischemia. METHODS: Among nine groups of 6 rabbits each, groups AI to AIII underwent 20-minute infrarenal aortic occlusion, and groups BI to BVI underwent 40-minute occlusion. Five milligrams per kilogram of pentobarbital was administered to groups AII and BII; 10 mg/kg in groups AIII, BIII, and BVI; 20 mg/kg in group BIV; and none in groups AI, BI, and BV. In groups BV and BVI, hypothermia was induced. Forty-eight hours postoperatively, the motor function of the lower limbs was evaluated. RESULTS: Statistically significant recovery of motor function was observed in animals in groups AII, AIII, BIII, BIV, BV, and BVI. CONCLUSIONS: Pentobarbital showed dose-dependent protective effects of the spinal cord. Moderate hypothermia alone also showed protective effects. Combined use of pentobarbital and hypothermia resulted in highly significant recovery of spinal cord function.

Animals↗

Effects of aminoguanidine on nitric oxide production induced by inflammatory cytokines and endotoxin in cultured rat hepatocytes.

AIM: To study the effects of aminoguanidine (AG) and two L-arginine analogues N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) on nitric oxide (NO) production induced by cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mixture (CM) in the cultured rat hepatocytes, and examine their mechanisms action. METHODS: Rat hepatocytes were incubated with AG, L-NAME, L-NNA, Actinomycin D (ActD) and dexamethasone in a medium containing CM (LPS plus TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma) for 24h. NO production in the cultured supernatant was measured with the Griess reaction. Intracellular cGMP level was detected with radioimmunoassy. RESULTS: NO production was markedly blocked by AG and L-NAME in a dose-dependent manner under inflammatory stimuli condition triggered by CM in vitro. The rate of the maximum inhibitory effects of L-NAME (38.9%) was less potent than that obtained with AG(53.7%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the inhibitory effects of AG and two L-arginine analogues on intracellular cGMP accumulation in rat cultured hepatocytes. Non-specific NOS expression inhibitor dexamethasone (DEX)and iNOS mRNA transcriptional inhibitor ActD also significantly inhibited CM-induced NO production. AG(0.1 mmol x L(-1)) and ActD (0.2 ng x L(-1)) were equipotent in decreasing NO production induced by inflammatory stimuli in vitro, and both effects were more potent than that induced by non-selectivity NOS activity inhibitor L-NAME (0.1 mmol x L(-1)) under similar stimuli conditions (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: AG is a potent selective inhibitor of inducible isoform of NOS,and the mechanism of action may be not only competitive inhibition in the substrate level, but also the gene expression level in rat hepatocytes.

Animals↗

Case report: right subclavian artery pseudoaneurysm due to perforation of esophageal cancer.

A 51-year-old man presented with massive hematemesis. Perforation of upper esophageal cancer, which had already occurred at least six days earlier, progressed to upper mediastinitis. The mediastinitis contiguous to the right subclavian artery was considered to have caused a pseudoaneurysm. Rupture of the pseudoaneurysm into the esophagus resulted in massive hematemesis. Both enhanced computed tomography and angiography were diagnostic for the pseudoaneurysm. Transluminal endovascular stent-grafts placement was successful in preventing subsequent hemorrhage.

Aneurysm, False↗

[A new triterpene from the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum].

AIM: To study the chemical constituents of the fruiting bodies of Ganoderma lucidum. METHODS: Individual constituents, isolated and repeatedly purified on silica gel column, were identified by physicochemical constants and structurally elucidated by spectral methods. RESULTS: From the alcohol extract, compound 2 was obtained and identified as 3 beta,7 beta-dihydroxy-4,4,14 alpha-trimethyl-11,15-dioxo-5 alpha-chol-8-en-24-oic acid. In addition, two known compounds, lucidenic acid A (1) and C (3) were obtained. CONCLUSION: Compound 2 is a new triterpene compound.

Cholic Acids↗

Effect of kanglemycin C on lymphocyte proliferation induced by tetradecanoylphorbol acetate and ionomycin.

AIM: To compare the suppressions of kanglemycin C (Kan) with that of cyclosporine (Cyc) on lymphocyte proliferations induced by tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) with ionomycin (IM), and concanavalin A (Con A). METHODS: Cell proliferation was quantified with 3-(4, 5-dimetyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) or [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) incorporating method. Calcineurin (CN) activity was measured with molybdate dye colorimetry. RESULTS: Kan (8, 40, 80, and 400 nmol.L-1) strongly suppressed splenocyte proliferation induced by TPA and IM, and the suppressive effect of Kan gradually decreased along with the increasing concentrations of TPA (1-100 micrograms.L-1) and IM (125-500 micrograms.L-1). But, the suppression of Cyc on the splenocyte proliferation induced by TPA was mild. Cyc suppressed CN activity of mouse splenocytes stimulated by Con A stronger than Kan. Moreover, Kan and Cyc strongly suppressed spleen enriched T-cell proliferation induced by Con A and TPA + IM, and the suppression of Kan on proliferation was partly attenuated by exogenous IL-2. CONCLUSION: Kan competitively suppressed the proliferation induced by TPA and IM, and Cyc mainly suppressed IM part of the proliferation induced by TPA and IM.

Animals↗

Stent grafting for aortic dissection.

We report the successful treatment of a patient with Stanford type B aortic dissection, "thrombosed" type with ulcer-like projections, by insertion of a stent-graft. The false lumen completely disappeared within 1 year after surgery. This maturing procedure is promising in the treatment of thrombosed, aggravated aortic dissection.

Aortic Dissection↗

Kanglemycin C vs ciclosporin on immunosuppression in mice.

AIM: To study inhibitory effects of kanglemycin C (Kan) on the mouse immune system, and compare with the effects of ciclosporin (Cic). METHODS: Delayed hypersensitivity (DH) and cyclophosphamide-potentiated DH induced by dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB); heart allograft and skin allograft; hemolysin; the phagocytosis of the peritoneal macrophage. RESULTS: Kan (12.5, 25, 50 mg.kg-1.d-1, ig, 8 d) markedly inhibited DH and cyclophosphamide-potentiated DH induced by DNFB (P < 0.01), prolonged survival times of heart and skin allografts (P < 0.01), and decreased the content of hemolysin (P < 0.01), but had no significant effect on the neutral-red phagocytosis of the peritoneal macrophage (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Kan had marked suppressive effects on cell-mediated and humoral-mediated immune responses, but no effect on phagocytosis of macrophage.

Animals↗

Dinoprostone potentiates cytokines and lipopolysaccharides inducing nitric oxide production in cultured rat hepatocytes.

AIM: To study the effects of dinoprostone (Din) on nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and cytokines mixture (CM) in cultured rat hepatocytes, and the role of cAMP signaling pathway in the induction process. METHODS: Rat hepatocytes were incubated with indometacin (Ind), Din, forskolin (For), or dibutyryl cyclic GMP (db cGMP) in a medium containing CM (LPS plus TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma) for 24 h. NO production in the cultured supernatant was measured with the Griess reaction. Intracellular cAMP level was measured with radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: NO production stimulated by CM was markedly attenuated by Ind in the cultured supernatant, whereas Din and For increased nitrite concentration in the medium. In the presence of CM, both Din and For increased intracellular cAMP level, and had no effect on cAMP level in absence of the stimuli; db cGMP had no influence on the cAMP and NO production both in the presence and absence of same stimuli. CONCLUSION: Din potentiates cytokines and LPS to induce NO production in rat hepatocytes, and the induction may be regulated via intracellular second messenger cAMP signaling pathway.

Animals↗

Suppressive effect of kanglemycin C on T- and B-lymphocyte activation.

AIM: To elucidate the suppressive effect of kanglemycin C (Kan) on lymphocyte proliferation and T-lymphocyte subsets. METHODS: Splenocyte proliferation was quantified with [3H]thymidine ([3H]TdR) pulsing method or 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetery. L3T4+ and Lyt2+ T-cell subsets were measured with fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Splenocyte viability was assessed with trypan blue exclusion. RESULTS: Like ciclosporin (Cic), Kan 8, 40, 80, and 400 nmol.L-1 inhibited the proliferation of 20%-80% incubated mouse splenocytes stimulated by concanavalin A (Con A) 5 mg.L-1, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) 5 mg.L-1, tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA) 10 micrograms.L-1 + ionomycin (IM) 0.5 mg.L-1, and alloantigen (mixed lymphocyte reaction). Kan had no toxicity to the splenocytes at the treated doses. Suppression by Kan was declined with addition time of Kan after culture onset. Furthermore, the suppressive effect of Kan on splenocyte proliferation stimulated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) 10 mg.L-1 was similar to that on splenocyte proliferation mediated by Con A. Unlike Cic, Kan reversed the ratio of L3T4+/Lyt2+ T-cell subsets. CONCLUSION: Kan had a suppressive action on proliferation of T- and B-lymphocytes and had a selective effect on helper-inducer T-lymphocyte (Th) subset from Cic. Suppression by Kan was time-dependent and not associated with toxicity of Kan.

Animals↗

Effects of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid on phagocytosis and cytokines production of peritoneal macrophages in vitro.

AIM: To study the effect of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (HDA) on the macrophages activity of rats in vitro. METHODS: To measure the effects of HDA on phagocytosis, the production of antitumor cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) in vitro. RESULTS: HDA 50, 100 mg.L-1 promoted phagocytic activity from 0.353 +/- 0.017 to 0.39 +/- 0.04 and 0.382 +/- 0.017 A, increased TNF and IL-1 production from 0.23 +/- 0.07% to 0.43 +/- 0.04%, 0.47 +/- 0.04% and from 2384 +/- 180 to 2943 +/- 295, 3825 +/- 450 dpm, respectively. CONCLUSION: The upregulating effects of HDA on phagocytosis of PMO and production of TNF, IL-1 contribute to the host antitumor and immunomodulating mechanism.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗