Objective　To evaluate the clinical value of detection of urinary interleukin-8（IL-8） in patients with lupus nephritis （LN）.Methods　Urinary levels of IL-8 were determined by using sandwich ELISA in 38 LN patients.Results　In the LN patients during the　stage　of　normal renal function and diminished renal reserve stage， urinary levels of IL-8 were significantly higher than those in healthy controls（P＜0.001），and urinary levels of IL-8 in the patients during diminished renal reserve stage were significantly higher than those in the patients during normal renal function stage（P＜0.01）.High IL-8 levels in LN patients were associated with high levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and lower levels of C3 complement components. Urinary levels of IL-8 in LN patients with microscopic leukocyturia were significantly higher than those without microscopic leukocyturia. In LN patients treated with cyclophosphamide （CTX） and prednisone， urinary IL-8 levels of post-treatment were significantly lower than those of pre-treatment（P＜0.01）. Conclusions 　Urinary levels of IL-8 may be a useful indicator for monitoring disease activity and degree of renal damage in LN. The mechanism of noninfective leukocyturia may be associated with the elevation of urinary IL-8 levels in LN. CTX and prednisone may have a significant effect on inhibiting the production of IL-8 in the immunocytes and renal intrinsic cells.

Objective To explore the protective mechanism of metformin in the process of cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury induced by palmitic acid (PA). Methods HUVECs were cultured in the media of blank,PA,metformin,or PA combined metformin for 24 h,48 h,72 h respectively. Expressions of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were determined by RT-PCR and the expressions of ICAM-1,nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-?B p65) and phospho-I?B? was evaluated by Western blotting. Results Significant increase of the expressions of MCP-1 and ICAM-1 was found in PA group compared with in the control group (P

Objective:To investigate role of interleukin 6(IL 6) in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis(LN) and effect of cyclophosphamide pulse therapy on production of IL 6.Methods:Serum IL 6 levels of pre and post therapy were determined by using sandwich ELISA in LN patients.Results:In the active LN patients,serum levels of IL 6 were significantly higher than those in inactive LN patients and healthy controls(268.26?79 64 ng/L vs 62.40?45 23 ng/L,268 26?79 64 ng/L vs 50.36?42 75 ng/L,P16 g/L were significantly higher than those in other active LN patients (329.58?94.21 ng/L vs 233.22?43.56 ng/L,P

Hormones and epigenetic characteristics in a patient with clinically diagnosed adrenal hypoplasia congenita (AHC) were analyzed. Results indicated that plasma ACTH increased, while cortisol, testosterone, LH and FSH decreased. LH, FSH and testosterone did not sufficiently respond to GnRH or hCG stimulation. Gene analysis indicated that C368F mutation was located in exon 1 of DAX-1 gene.

Background and objectives Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine thiolactone (HcyT), one of the homocysteine metabolites in vivo, is toxic both in vivo and in vitro. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HcyT on apoptotic damage in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the role of antioxidants in the reduction of HcyT-induced apoptosis. Methods HUVECs were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 20% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum cell cultures were maintained in a humidified 5% CO2 atmosphere at 37 ℃. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay,which consists of hypodiploid cells with propidium iodide labeling and intracellular reactive oxygen species levels using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate as the probe by flow cytometry. Results HcyT (250-2000μM) induced HUVECs apoptosis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Reactive oxygen species levels rose in response to increasing HcyT concentrations at 24-h incubation.The reduction of cell apoptosis by N-acetylcysteine, vitamin E, or pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, occurred simultaneously with a significant decrease in intracellular reactive oxygen species levels. Conclusion HcyT exerts its cytotoxic effects on endothelial cells through an apoptotic mechanism involving cellular reactive oxygen species production. The capacity of N-acetylcysteine, vitamin E, and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate to scavenge HcyT-induced cellular reactive oxygen species correlates well with their efficiency to protect against HcyT-promoted apoptotic damage. The protective effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate on cell apoptosis indicates HcyT-generated hydrogen peroxide may provoke cell apoptosis via activating nuclear factor-kappa binding protein.

Objective To investigate the effects of rhein on insulin sensitivity of diabetic rats induced by high fat feeding and low dose streptozotocin (STZ), and the possible mechanisms. Methods (1) Fifty-five Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (NC,n=15) and diabetes group (DM, n=40). The NC rats were fed with regular chow and DM rats were fed with high fat diet. Five weeks later, the DM rats were injected with STZ 30 mg/kg once. The 30 diabetic rats were randomly divided into two subgroups, diabetic control group (DM-C) and diabetic group treated with rhein (DM-T). DM-T rats received intragastric administration of rhein and DM-C rats were given equal doses of solvent. All rats were sacrificed eleven weeks later, the blood sample was collected. The body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG), HbA1C, triglycerides (TG), tolal cholesterol (TC), glycosylated serum protein (GSP) and Fasting insulin (FINS) concentrations were examined.The insulin sensitive index (ISI) and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) werecalculated. (2) The PPART and GLUT-2 expression in hepatic tissue were detected by immunohistoehemistry and Western-blot. Results At the end of experiment the FBG [(22.57±3.23 vs 7.11±1.44) mmol/L,P<0.01],HbA1C[(12.49±1.96 vs 8.36±0.84)%, P<0.01], TG [(0.89±0.29 vs 0.58±0.17)nunoL/L,P<0.01],GSP [(57.29±4.14 vs 13.43±2.70)μmoL/L, P<0.01] and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α,(1.365±0.133 vs 1.233±0.159) μg/L, P<0.05] and the liver weight index (0.032±0.004 vs 0.024±0.002, P<0.01) in DM-C rats were higher than those in NC rats. Besides, the ISI of DM-C rats decreased [In(ISI),-5.46±0.61 vs -4.81±0.75, P<0.05] and HOMA-IR elevated [In(HOMA-IR),2.34±0.64 vs 1.70±0.78,P<0.05]. The expression of PPARγ [11 131.7(5 723.1-18 979.4) vs 48 782.1(21 576.7-108 829.5), P<0.01] and GLUT-2 (0.98±0.35 vs 1.29±0.27, P<0.05) of DM-C rats decreased markedly compared with NC rats. Compared with DM-C rats, FBG [(15.94±3.16) mmol/L], HbA1C[(10.51±1.74)%], GSP[(47-31±6.09) μmol/L] in DM-T and the In (HOMA-IR), (1.86±0.30) rats decreased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and In (ISI), of DM-T rats increased (-4.97±0.29, P<0.05). The expressions of PPARγ [35 156.3(24 554.3-86 660.9)] and GLUT-2 (1.55±0.55) of DM-T rats were up-regulated markedly compared with DM-C rats (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion Rhein decreased FBG, HbA1C and GSP, and improved the insulin sensitivity in diabetic rats, which might be related to the up-regulated expressions of PPARγ and GLUT-2 in hepatic tissue.

IL-18, as a polyphonic cytokine, is important in immune response and physiologic function. We designed one pair of primers, amplified the porcine IL-18 gene fused with a C-terminal 6xHistidine tag, and then subcloned into the pFastBacDual of Baculovirus transfer vector and transformed into DH10Bac containing a shuttle vector of Bacmid. After co-transfecting the recombinant plasmid into insect cells, the 18 kDa expressed protein of porcine IL-18 was detected by SDS-PAGE; the specificity of expressed protein was confirmed by Western blotting. The purified porcine IL-18 protein induced obvious proliferation of porcine T lymphocytes in vitro, which indicated that the expression of IL-18 had high biological activity.
Animals ; Baculoviridae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Genetic Vectors ; genetics ; Insecta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Interleukin-18 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; immunology ; Swine ; Transfection

Objective:To explore the application and diagnostic value of low-dose scan technique of chest computed tomography(CT)combined with three dimensional(3D)reconstruction for ribs in chest trauma.Methods:A total of 118 patients with highly suspected rib fracture who admitted to the 904th Hospital of People's Liberation Army Joint Service Support Force were selected,and all cases underwent low-dose scan technique of chest CT combined with 3D reconstruction for ribs.The image qualities of chest CT scans with different low-doses combined with 3D reconstruction for ribs were analyzed,and the diagnostic accuracies among low dose scan technique of chest CT,3D reconstruction for ribs and the combination of them for chest trauma were compared.Results:Both the sharpness and clarity of the edges of the bronchi,blood vessels,lung parenchyma,interlobular septum,mediastinum and ribs were poorer,and the artifacts of soft tissue were more and the noise were more when the tube current of CT scan was 50 Ma.Both the sharpness and clarity of the edges of the bronchi,blood vessels,lung parenchyma,interlobular septum,mediastinum and ribs were general,and a part of soft tissues existed artifacts and the noise amounts were less when the tube current of CT scan was 70 Ma,which did not affect the diagnosis.The radiation dose as 50 mA was significantly higher than that as 70 mA,with a statistically significant difference(t=10.969,P<0.05).In 118 patients with chest trauma,the examination of low-dose scan technique of chest CT combined with 3D reconstruction for ribs indicated that there were 112 cases of rib fractures and 7 cases of costal cartilage fractures.In the examined 388 fractures of rib and costal cartilage,355 fractures(91.49%)were rib fractures and 33 fractures(8.51%)were costal cartilage fractures.In 118 patients with chest trauma,76 cases(64.41%)complicated with pulmonary contusions and lacerations,and 41 cases(35.75%)complicated with pleural effusion,and 10 cases(8.47%)complicated with thoracic vertebral fractures,and 6 cases(5.08%)complicated with splenic contusions and lacerations,and 5 cases(4.24%)complicated with mediastinal and subcutaneous emphysemas.The most direct imaging sign of rib fracture was visible and transparent low-density shadow.Chest CT scan can generally better display dislocation of the fractured end.The 3D reconstruction image showed a visibly line-like shadow on one side of rib if only one side of ribs fractured and the other side was intact.A total of 395 rib and costal cartilage fractures were confirmed by 3D reconstruction,which included 363 rib fractures(91.90%)and 32 costal cartilage fractures(8.10%).A total of 410 rib and costal cartilage fractures were confirmed by low-dose scan technique of chest CT combined with 3D reconstruction for ribs,which included 375 rib fractures(91.46%)and 35 costal cartilage fractures(8.54%).In the comparison of 418 rib injuries that were confirmed during surgery,the accuracy of low-dose scan technique of chest CT was 92.82%(388/418)in diagnosing rib and costal cartilage fractures,and the accuracy of 3D reconstruction for ribs was 94.50%(395/418)in diagnosing that,and the accuracy of low-dose scan technique of chest CT combined with 3D reconstruction for ribs was 95.69%(410/418)in diagnosing that.There was a significant difference in accuracy among the three types of examinations(x2=13.062,P<0.05).Conclusion:Low dose scan technique of chest CT combines with 3D reconstruction for ribs can be used in the diagnosis of chest trauma,which has higher accuracy and can provide reliable imaging information for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose is the leading cause of drug-induced liver injury, and its prognosis depends on the balance between hepatocyte death and regeneration. Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) has been reported to protect against oxidative stress-associated DNA damage. But whether SIRT6 regulates APAP-induced hepatotoxicity remains unclear. In this study, the protein expression of nuclear and total SIRT6 was up-regulated in mice liver at 6 and 48 h following APAP treatment, respectively.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of intervention with oral probiotic METHODS: This study were conducted among 155 women in the third trimester of pregnancy with positive results of GBS culture in the Outpatient Department of Zhujiang Hospital from March to November, 2019. After excluding 32 patients who received lactobacillus intervention for less than 2 weeks or underwent postpartum GBS retesting, the women were divided into oral probiotics intervention group (60 cases) and non-intervention group (63 cases). According to the results of GBS retesting, the 60 women in the intervention group were divided into GBS-negative group (18 cases) and persistent GBS-positive group (42 cases). At the end of the intervention, the rates of negative GBS culture result were calculated and the pregnancy outcomes were compared. From 5 women randomly selected from the intervention group, samples of vaginal secretions were collected before and after the intervention for amplicon sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. RESULTS: At the end of the intervention, the GBS-negative rate in the intervention group was 30% (18/60), as compared with 23% (3/13) in the non-intervention group. Probiotic intervention significantly reduced the incidence of premature rupture of membranes ( CONCLUSIONS Intervention with oral probiotics can reduce vaginal GBS colonization in late pregnancy and improve the pregnancy outcome.
Female ; Humans ; Lactobacillus reuteri ; Lactobacillus rhamnosus ; Microbiota ; Pregnancy ; Probiotics/therapeutic use* ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; Vagina