Biomedical subjects

Zong-Fang Li

Publications and source records attributed to Zong-Fang Li.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Inhibitory effect of Huangqi Zhechong decoction on liver fibrosis in rat.

AIM: To assess the inhibitory effect of Huangqi Zhechong decoction on hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by CCl(4) plus alcohol and high fat low protein diet. METHODS: Male SD rats were randomly divided into hepatic fibrosis model group, control group and 3 treatment groups consisting of 12 rats in each group. Except for the normal control group, all the rats were subcutaneously injected with CCl(4) at a dosage of 3 mL/kg. In 3 treated groups, either high-dose group (9 mL/kg), or medium-dose group (6 mL/kg), or low-dose group (3 mL/kg) was daily gavaged with Huangqi Zhechong decoction, and saline vehicle was given to model and normal control rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and biochemical examinations were used to determine the changes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), type-III-procollagen-N-peptide (PIIIP), and type IV collagen content in serum, and hydroxyproline (Hyp) content in liver after sacrificing the rats. Pathologic changes, particularly fibrosis were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Van Gieson staining. RESULTS: Compared with the model control group, serum ALT, AST, HA, LN, PIIIP and type IV collagen levels dropped markedly in Huangqi Zhechong decoction groups, especially in the medium-dose Huangqi Zhechong decoction group (1 954+/-576 U/L vs 759+/-380 U/L, 2 735+/-786 U/L vs 1 259+/-829 U/L, 42.74+/-7.04 ng/mL vs 20.68+/-5.85 ng/mL, 31.62+/-5.84 ng/mL vs 14.87+/-1.45 ng/mL, 3.26+/-0.69 ng/mL vs 1.47+/-0.46 ng/mL, 77.68+/-20.23 ng/mL vs 25.64+/-4.68 ng/mL, respectively) (P<0.05). The Hyp content in liver tissue was also markedly decreased (26.47+/-11.24 mg/mgprot vs 9.89+/-3.74 mg/mgprot) (P<0.01). Moreover, the stage of the rat liver fibrosis in Huangqi Zhechong decoction groups was lower than that in model group, and more dramatic drop was observed in medium-dose Huangqi Zhechong decoction group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Huangqi Zhechong decoction can inhibit hepatic fibrosis resulted from chronic liver injure, retard the development of cirrhosis, and notably ameliorate the liver function. It may be a safe and effective therapeutic drug for patients with fibrosis.

Alanine Transaminase↗

PubMed2004

[Expression and significance of Toll-like receptor 4 of splenic macrophage in patients with hypersplenism due to portal hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the change in expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) of splenic macrophage in patients with hypersplenism due to portal hypertension (PH), and investigate the role of TLR4 of splenic macrophage in hypersplenism. METHODS: Splenectomy was performed on 20 patients with hypersplenism due to PH (hypersplenism group) and 6 patients with rupture of spleen by trauma (control group) and the specimens of spleen were collected. The splenic macrophages were isolated by adhibit wall method. The expression of TLR4 of splenic macrophage was detected by immunohistochemical method (SABC), and the result was analyzed by the image analysis system. The phagocytosis of splenic macrophage was measured by chicken red blood cell (CRBC) phagocytosis assay. The level of serum endotoxin was detected before the operation by limulus assay. The results of these 2 groups were compared, and correlation analysis was made among different results of the hypersplenism group. RESULTS: The expression of TLR4 of splenic macrophage was 109 +/- 32 in the hypersplenism group, significantly higher than that of the control group (62 +/- 5, P < 0.01). The rate of phagocytosis and index of phagocytosis of splenic macrophage in the hypersplenism group were 12.6% +/- 3.0% and 0.146 +/- 0.035 respectively, both significantly higher than those of the control group (6.9% +/- 0.5% and 0.076 +/- 0.008 respectively, both P < 0.01) The level of endotoxin of the hypersplenism group was 0.28 EU/ml +/- 0.21 EU/ml, significantly higher than that of the control group (0.054 EU/ml +/- 0.014 EU/ml, P < 0.05). The rate of phagocytosis and the index of phagocytosis of splenic macrophage were notably positively correlated with the expression of TLR4 (r = 0.601, P < 0.01 and r = 0.553, P < 0.05), and the level of endotoxin (r = 0.724 P < 0.01 and r = 0.506, P < 0.05). The expression of TLR4 of splenic macrophage was positively correlated with the level of endotoxin (r = 0.525, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of TLR4 of splenic macrophage in patients with hypersplenism due to PH was increased significantly. It may be one of the important factors of hypersplenism due to PH that "endotoxemia-->increase of expression of TLR4 of splenic macrophage (activation of TLR of splenic macrophage)-->increased destruction of red blood cells by macrophage".

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[New developments in application of laser capture microdissection].

Isolation of pure targeted cells is an important and essential step for the molecular analysis of tissue lesion occurred in the progression of disease. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is a novel technique that can be applied to obtain pure targeted cell subgroup or even a single cell quickly and precisely under the microscope, thus the problem of tissue heterogeneity in molecular analysis can be tackled successfully. In this article, the principles, advantages and disadvantages of LCM were introduced. New developments in the application of LCM were summarized in two fields (DNA analysis and gene expression analysis) respectively. Meanwhile, possible directions of the future developments of LCM were put forward.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Effects of neurotrophins on gastrointestinal myoelectric activities of rats.

AIM: To observe the effects of mouse nerve growth factor (NGF), rat recombinant brain derived neurotrophic factor (rm-BDNF) and recombinant human neurotrophin-3 (rh-NT-3) on the gastrointestinal motility and the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) in rat. METHODS: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled experiment was performed. 5-7 days after we chronically implanted four or five bipolar silver electrodes on the stomach, duodenum, jejunum and colon, 21 experimental rats were coded and divided into 3 groups and injected NGF, rm-BDNF, rh-NT-3 or placebo respectively via tail vein at a dose of 20 microg x kg(-1). The gastrointestinal myoelectrical activity was recorded 2 hours before and after the test substance infusions in these consciously fasting rats. RESULTS: The neurotrophins-induced pattern of activity was characterized by enhanced spiking activity of different amplitudes at all recording sites, especially in the colon. In the gastric antrum and intestine, only rh-NT-3 had increased effects on the demographic characteristics of electrical activities (P<0.05), but did not affect the intervals of MMCs. In the colon, all the three kinds of neurotrophins could significantly increase the frequency, amplitude and duration levels of spike bursts, and also rh-NT-3 could prolong the intervals of MMC in the transverse colon (25+/-11 min vs 19+/-6 min, P<0.05). In the distal colon rh-NT-3 could evoke phase III-like activity and disrupt the MMC pattern, which was replaced by a continuously long spike bursts (LSB) and irregular spike activity (ISA) for 48+/-6 min. CONCLUSION: Exogenous neurotrophic factors can stimulate gut myoelectric activities in rats.

Animals↗