These results suggest that progressive exercise training decreases peripheral neuropathic pain as well as TNF-α and IL-1β overproduction and increases HSP72 expression after CCI of the sciatic nerve.

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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an important cause of cancer death worldwide, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major etiology, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. Lack of sensitive biomarkers for early diagnosis of HCC and lack of effective therapeutics for patients with advanced HCC are the main reasons for high HCC mortality; these clinical needs are linked to the molecular heterogeneity of hepatocarcinogenesis. Animal models are the basis of preclinical and translational research in HBV-related HCC (HBV-HCC). Recent advances in methodology have allowed the development of several animal models to address various aspects of chronic liver disease, including HCC, which HBV causes in humans. Currently, multiple HBV-HCC animal models, including conventional, hydrodynamics-transfection-based, viral vector-mediated transgenic, and xenograft mice models, as well as the hepadnavirus-infected tree shrew and woodchuck models, are available. This review provides an overview of molecular mechanisms and animal models of HBV-HCC. Additionally, the metastatic tumor antigen 1 (MTA1), a cancer-promoting molecule, was introduced as an example to address the importance of a suitable animal model for studying HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis.

BACKGROUNDTreatment of neuropathic pain is still a challenge. Pharmacotherapies provide an effective efficacy for treatment of neuropathic pain, but drugs produce some side effects. Whether exercise training without drug treatment could provide beneficial effects on neuropathic pain.MATERIALS AND METHODSChronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve in male SD rats produces behavioral hypersensitivity and is an accepted model of neuropathic pain. All rats were divided into 6 groups: sham, sham with swimming/treadmill exercise, CCI, CCI with swimming/treadmill exercise. We compared behavior responses and body weight in sham operated and CCI rats with or without exercise training. Thermal hyperalgesia and tactile allodynia was assessed by Plantar test and von Frey filament test.RESULTSOur results showed that treatment with swimming and treadmill exercises attenuated thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia significantly in the CCI rat. The change trend of body weight indicated no significant differences between each group but not the sham group.CONCLUSIONOur preliminary results support both swimming and treadmill exercises training attenuated neuropathic pain in the rat. This study was supported partially by a grant from the China Medical University (CMU98‐S‐35) of Taiwan.