AIM:To explore whether down-regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator (PGC)-1α induces podocyte apoptosis and its mechanism.METHODS:The podocytes were cultured under high glucose (HG) condition and the cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry.The methods of real-time PCR and Western blot were used to analyze the mRNA and protein expression of related molecules in the control, HG-treated or siRNA-treated podocytes.RESULTS:The expression PGC-1α at mRNA and protein levels was significantly decreased in HG-injured podocytes.Down-regulation of PGC-1α expression in vitro by siRNA resulted in podocyte apoptosis.The nuclear protein expression of nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) was significantly increased in HG injured podocytes, indicating the NFAT activation.Down-regulation of PGC-1α expression also decreased the nuclear protein expression of NFAT.Moreover, silencing of NFAT expression by siRNA significantly abolished PGC-1α deficiency-induced podocyte apoptosis.CONCLUSION: Down-regulation of PGC-1α induces podocyte apoptosis.NFAT mediates PGC-1α deficiency-induced podocyte apoptosis.

Objective To study the effectiveness of pro-abdominal exercise in improving the quality of gastroscopy,and provide patients with a better preoperative preparation for gastroscopy.Methods 307 patients who underwent painless gastroscopy from March to July 2023 were selected and divided into three groups according to the random number table method.There were 106 cases in the abdominal massage group,103 cases in the bed turning group and 98 cases in the control group.On the basis of routine medication,different preoperative activity guidance was used to compare and analyze the preoperative preparation time,examination time and gastric mucosal visual field clarity score in each group.Results The gastroscopy time in the abdominal massage group and the bed-turning group was significantly shorter than that in the control group,and the clarity score of the gastric mucosal visual field was significantly lower than that of the control group,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).However,there were no statistically significant differences in the gastroscopy time or visual field clarity score for gastric body,gastric fundus,and gastric antrum between the abdominal massage group and the bed-turning group(P>0.05).The satisfaction rate of endoscopists in the abdominal massage group and the bed turning group was higher than that in the control group,and the differences were statistically significant.Conclusion Abdominal massage and turning over in bed as preoperative preparation methods for gastroscopy can improve the quality of gastroscopy,while abdominal massage can shorten the preparation time before gastroscopy,which is helpful for the efficient operation of digestive endoscopy center and is worthy of clinical application.