Objective To investigate the effect of lovaslatin on proliferation of cultured rat mesangial cells. Methods Cultured rat mesangial cells were stimulated by 10% fetal calf serum (FCS) or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in the absence or the presence of lovastain and mevalonate metabolites. 5-Bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation was used to assess DNA synthesis. Results FCS or PDGF caused a marked stimulation of DNA synthesis in the mesangial cells. Lovastatin inhibited FCS or PDGF-stimulated BrdU incorporation and cell proliferation. Mevalonic acid, farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate significantly prevented inhibitory effect of lovastatin on mesangial proliferation induced by FCS. Mevalonic acid and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate also significantly reversed inhibitory effect of lovastatin on mesangial proliferation induced by PDGF. But farnesyl pyrophosphate only partly reversed inhibitory effect of lovastatin. Conclusions Lovastatin, by inhibiting the synthesis of isoprenoid metabolites of mevalonate, can suppress mesangial cell proliferation. It is possible to provide a new approach for treatment of proliferative glomerular diseases.

Aim To investigate the effect of TP on the expression of macrophages inflammatory protein ( MIP-1α) . Methods Total RNA of mouse Ana-1 cells and tumor associated macrophages were extracted, and MIP-1α mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. Mouse S180-xenografts were established by injecting S180 cells subcutaneously into the double abdominal flanks of the mice. The postoperative residual tumor models were generated in the right abdominal tumors when tumors grew into 250 mm3 . Animals were treated with TP or CTX, and tumor tissues were separated and MIP-1α was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results There was no significant difference of the expression of MIP-1α between Ana-1 cells and TAMs. TP couldn’ t affect MIP-1αexpression in Ana-1 cells while it signifi-cantly decrease MIP-1α expression in TAMs in a dose-dependent manner. TP significantly decreased MIP-1αexpression of tumor tissue compared with control group. Conclusions MIP-1α will be a new target of TP anti-cancer. Simple cell line tests in vitro couldn’ t reveal the real state in vivo.

Objective:to investigate the clinical feature and dynamic changes of the cervical dural sac and spinal cord during neck flexion in Hirayama disease(juvenile muscular atrophy of distal upper extremity).Methods:Clinical data were taken and MRI in neutral neck position and a fully flexed neck position were performed on 27 cases of Hirayama disease.Results:(1)All patients were consistent with the diagnostic criteria of Hirayama disease who had asymmetric muscular atrophy and weakness of the hand and forearm.All patients were young males and right handed of whom 77.8% had initial symptoms before they were 19 years old.More patients(20 cases,74%)had muscular atrophy in the right hand than in the left at onset.The duration after disease onset was from 2-72 months[(26.48?15.57)months].(2)In neutral neck position by MIR examination,16 patients showed abnormal cervical curvature,14 showed atrophy of the lower cervical cord and 2 patients had intramedullary abnormal high signal.(3)In a fully flexed position of the neck,all patients showed forward displacement and flattening of the lower cervical cord,and a crescent-shaped high signal area behind the cord.(4)The crescent-shaped area was enhanced on T1-weighed imaging and disappeared after the patient returned to a neural position in one case.Conclusion:Hirayama disease occurs mainly in young males.There are obviously dynamic changes of the cervical cord during neck flexion in Hirayama disease by MRI examination,which can help the doctor make diagnosis in the early stage.

Objective To explore the significance of proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy(1H- MRS)in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS).Methods Single-voxel1 H-MRS was carried on the preeentral gyri in 110 patients with ALS and 24 patients with lower motor neuron syndrome (LMNS) compared with 89 healthy controls.The upper motor neuron involvement of the patients was assessed by upper motor neuron(UMN)signs and the reflex scale,and the disease severity was evaluated by the AIJS function rating scale(ALS-FRS)and APPEL ALS rate scale(AARS).Results Compared with the healthy controls(1.62±0.18),the NAA/Cr of patients with ALS(1.40±0.25)remarkably decreased (t= -5.007,P=0.000),however,it did not change in patients with LMNS(1.60±0.17)as compared with that of the controls.The NAA/Cr of patients with ALS was also lower than that of patients with LMNS(t= -2.660,P=0.009).Furthermore,the NAA/Cr of patients with definite ALS was lower than those of patients with probable and possible ALS(definite vs probable:t=-2.626,P=0.010;definite vs possible: t=-2.537,P=0.013).On the other hand,patients with pronounced UMN signs had a lower NAA/Cr ratio than those with probable UMN signs(t=-2.827,P=0.006).In patients with asymmetric clinical presentation,the NAA/Cr ratio was significantly lower in the precentral gyrus contralateral to the clinically predominantly affected side(t=-2.652,P=0.011).The NAA/Cr was correlated with the reflex scale scores,ALS-FRS score,and AARS and its sub-items(P＜0.05). Conclusions 1H-MRS is useful in studying ALS.The marker NAA/Cr of precentral gyrus may reflect the UMN degeneration in ALS,which is related to the disease severity and progression.However,it might not be helpful in the early diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the disease.