Objective To investigate the effects of long-term glucocorticoid therapy on bone mineral density(BMD) in the patients with glumerulose disease. Methods 41 patients with glumerulose disease were prospectively studied. The BMD of lumbar spine (L 2-4 ) and femur was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at base line, and at every 3 to 6 months interval after receiving glucocorticoid therapy. Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism was detected using PCR-RFLP. Results ⑴ Every measured site BMD decreased(29 9～83 8)mg/cm 2 after 15-month administration of glucocorticorids, and BMD decrease in L 2-4 and femoral trochanter was significantly greater (P

Objective To study the role of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ( sICAM-1 ) in the pathogenesis of adults bronchial asthma and analyze the relationship between the level of sICAM-1 and the severity of bronchial asthma.Methods Serum levels of sICAM-1 in 134 cases with different periods of bronchial asthma patients and healthy volunteers were measured by ELISA and pulmonary functions of acute asthma patients were determined by pulmonary function analyzer. Results Serum sICAM-1 levels in 63 cases of acute asthma patients were increased significantly when compared with those in remission asthma patients and healthy volunteers and its value was increased significantly with the exacerbation of asthma;A negatively correlation between FEV1％ of pulmonary function and serum sICAM-1 level in patients with acute asthma was found in this study. Conclusion sICAM-1 was one of the important adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. It could be used as one indicator of disease severity and guide the drug application in clinic.

Objective:To evaluate the changes of the left atrial systolic function in patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI)using quantitative tissue velocity imaging(QTVI).Methods:The systolic velocities of the middle of left atrial lateral wall,anterior wall,inferior wall and atrial septum were measured with QTV1 in 45 patients with AMI.The left atrial volume and active atrial emptying fraction(AA-EF)were measured using single-plane Simpson method.Results:(1)Compared with the control group(30 normal subjects),the diameter and volume of the left atrium,as well as AA-EF,increased obviously in patients with AMI(P ＜ 0.01).(2)Compared with the control group,the systolic velocities of the middle of left atrial lateral wall,anterior wall,inferior wall and atrial septum,as well as the average value,increased significantly in patients with AMI (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01).In addition,the average value of left atrial systolic velocity was closely correlated with AA-EF(r=-0.906,tr=14.001,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion:QTVI could be used to evaluate the left atrial systolic function accurately in patients with AMI.

Objective To observation the changes of left atrium and pulmonary veins(PV)in patients with atrial fibrillation(AF) by transthoracic two-and three-dimensional echocardiography. Methods Transthoracic echocardiography were applied in 126 patients,which were divided into sinus rhythm(SR) group(64 cases)and AF group(62 cases),AF group were further divided into two subgroups:the paroxysmal AF and non-paroxysmal AF group.Left atrial area(LAA),left atrial volume(LAV),left atrial diameter(LAD)were measured by 2-dimensional echocardiography imaging.PV diameters were measured by three-dimensional echocardiography. Results Compared with SR group,PV diameters were significantly increased in AF group(P＜0.05).In patients with AF,PV diameters in non-paroxysmal AF group were larger than paroxysmal AF group.The four PV diameters in SR,paroxysmal AF and non-paroxysmal AF group did not show statisticant difference(P＞0.05).Compared with SR group,LAD,LAA,LAV were increased in AF group.LAD,LAA,LAV were larger in non-paroxysmal AF group than SR group and paroxysmal AF group(P＜0.05).Conclusions Left atrium and PV dilate significantly in patients with AF,transthoracic echocardiography could be a non-invasive method to observe left atrium and PV.

Objective To construct vectors expressing small interfering RNA targeting the Toll like receptor-4 (TLR4) gene and obtain TLR4 knock downed vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). Methods Three small hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the TLR4 gene were designed, synthesized and cloned into the pSilence 2.1-U6 neo vector. Positive clones were verified with double enzyme digestion and sequencing. Then the recombinants were transfected to SMC by the cationic lipid method respectively.SMC were stably transfected with an expression plasmid and screened by G418. TLR4 mRNA and protein expression were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot methods. Results The pSilence2.1-siTLR4 ex-pression vectors were successfully constructed and a TLR4 knock-downed SMC cell line was established. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis confirmed that the expression of TLR4 was significantly down-regulated in the infected SMC cell line, and pSilence2.1-siTLR4-1was the most efficacious recombinant vector.Conclusion Recombinant vectors carrying shRNA targeting the TLR4 gene were successfully constructed and the TLR4 expression in vascular SMCs was inhibited.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy and safety of modified Ponticelli regimen in treating patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN).Methods A retrospective analysis was performed in 90 patients with IMN (type Ⅰ / Ⅱ,79/11 respectively) diagnosed by clinical data and renal biopsy.The patients were divided into modified Ponticelli group (n =23),steroid plus cyclophosphamide (CTX) (CTX group,n =39) and steroid plus cyclosporine A(CsA) (CsA group,n =28) according to the treatment.Liver function,renal function,serum lipid,proteinuria were recorded before and after treatment.Efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated in three groups.Results (1) In all three groups,the quantity of proteinuria after treatment for 3 months [(3.33 ± 1.53) g/d,(4.70 ± 2.97) g/d,(3.92 ± 2.57) g/d],6 months [(1.60 ± 1.10) g/d,(2.34 ± 1.61) g/d,(2.25 ± 1.78) g/d] was significantly decreased compared with baseline level[(7.26 ± 2.06) g/d,(7.50 ± 2.55) g/d,(7.54 ± 2.70) g/d;P ＜ 0.05].Serum albumin levels at 3 months [(31.42 ± 3.86) g/d,(30.59 ± 5.79) g/d,(30.90 ± 7.87) g/d],6 months [(36.25 ± 4.20) g/d,(34.70 ± 6.70) g/d,(35.36 ± 8.29) g/d] were significantly increased compared with baseline levels [(24.13 ± 2.61) g/d,(23.98 ± 3.79) g/d,(22.94 ± 4.57) g/d;P ＜ 0.05],whereas serum creatinine at 3 and 6 months had no significant changes (P ＞ 0.05).(2) After treatment for 3 months,partial remission rates in modified Ponticelli group,CTX group and CsA group were 39.1％,35.9％,35.7％ respectively and complete remission rates were 8.7％,5.1％,10.7％,which were not statistically significant in all three groups (P ＞ 0.05).At 6 months,partial remission rates in three groups were 56.5％,41.0％,42.9％ respectively and complete remission rates were 21.7％,20.5％,28.6％,which did not suggested significant difference in all three groups either (P ＞ 0.05).(3) In modified Ponticelli group,steroid diabetes,impaired liver dysfunction,infections and gastrointestinal adverse events occurred in 1,1,2 and 2 patients,respectively.In CTX group,steroid diabetes,infections and gastrointestinal adverse events occurred in 5,8 and 2 patients,respectively.In CsA group,steroid diabetes and infections occurred in 1 and 3 patients,respectively.Conclusion Modified Ponticelli regimen to treat patients with IMN has a trend of better outcome than classic CTX regimen.The efficacy is not inferior to CsA regimen with fewer side effects.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the cytotoxic activity of Arca subcrenata Lischke anticancer protein(ASAP)constituents on human myeloid leukemia K562 cells in vitro and analyze its anticancer mechanisms. METHODS ASAP was extracted by low temperature water and ammonium sulfate precipitation. Protein concentration of ASAP was detected by Bradford method. Morphological changes of cultured K562 cells treated with ASAP were observed under the inverted phase-contrast micro?scope. The cell and nucleus changes were analyzed by Giemsa staining. The cytotoxicity of ASAP on K562 cells was detected by MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis and cell cycle of K562 cells treated with ASAP. The expression of apoptosis and cell cycle related proteins procaspase 3, caspase 3,P53 and programmed cell death 4(PDCD4)were analyzed by Western blotting. RESULTS ASAP exhibited significant cytotoxic effect on K562 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The concentration-effect correlation coefficient of ASAP 50,100 and 200 mg · L-1 on K562 cells for 24, 48 and 72 h was 0.851,0.8977 and 0.8997,respectively. Under an optical microscope,K562 cells showed cytomorphosis,or nuclear fragmentation after treatment with ASAP 200 mg · L-1 for 48 h. Flow cytometry analysis and Giemsa staining assay indicated that apoptotic cells increased and G2/M phase cells accumulated significantly with the increase of ASAP concentration. After treatment with ASAP 200 mg · L-1 for 48 h,the early and late apoptosis cell rate increased to(32.8 ± 0.1)%and(31.2 ± 2.2)%vs control group(3.7 ± 1.1)% and (9.9 ± 0.8)%(P<0.01),respectively,and the G2/M phase cells increased to (55.2 ± 1.7)% vs (15.3 ± 0.8)% in control group(P<0.01). After treatment with ASAP 200 mg · L-1 for 0-40 h,the expression of apoptotic protein procaspase 3 was down-regulated and its active form caspase 3 was significantly up-regulated at 32 h,while PDCD4 and P53 protein expression was down-regulated significantly in 0-40 h. CONCLUSION Apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induced in G2/M phase may account for ASAP cytotoxic activity to K562 cells. K562 cell apoptosis induced by ASAP depends on caspase 3 signal pathway. Down-regulated expression of PDCD4 and P53 proteins may be related to K562 cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in G2/M phase by ASAP.

Objective To investigate the effects of pioglitazone on atrial ionic channel remodeling in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbit models.Methods A total of 32 rabbits were randomly (random number) divided into control (CN) group,diabetes mellitus (DM) group,diabetes mellitus + pioglitazone 4 mg/ (d · kg) (DPG) group and diabetes mellitus + double pioglitazone 8 mg/ (d · kg) (DPI) group.The diabetic state was examined by quantitative determination of blood glucose levels of ≥ 14 mmol/L.Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts were used to isolate single atrial myocyte,and whole-cell patch-clamp technique was used to record action potential duration (APD) and atrial ionic channel currents (ICa,L and INa).Variables with normal distribution were compared with One-way ANOVA and LSD-t test.Results Compared with controls,APD90 and APDS0 of left atrial myocytes were significantly prolonged in DM group (P ＜0.05 vs.CN),and there was no significant difference in APD90 frequency adaptation between them (P ＞0.05 vs.CN).The densities of INa were reduced and the densities of ICa,L were increased in DM group (P ＜ 0.01 vs.CN).The above variables were markedly attenuated in DPG and DPI group.Conclusions Pioglitazone may inhibits atrial ionic channel remodeling in diabetic rabbit models.

Objective To explore the effect of clinical and pathological features on the incidence of Hyperuricemia (HUA) in renal glomerular disease.Methods A retrospective analysis was applied to review the clinical and pathological date collected from 3547 patients with renal glomerular disease.These patients were diagnosed as renal glomerular disease by renal biopsy from January 2007 to December 2011.Results (1) HUA incidence was 21.8％ (773/3547) in all of the patients,in which the incidence in secondary glomerular disease 27.2％ (240/882) was much higher than that in primary glomerular disease 20.7％ (552/2665),and the difference was significant (x2 =153.642,P ＜ 0.05).In primary glomerular disease,HUA incidence was the lowest in membranous nephropathy 14.4％ (96/665),while HUA incidence in lupus nephritis (LN) 45.3％(110/243) was the highest and small blood vessel infammation kidney damage 34.7％ (17/49) was the second in secondary glomerular disease.(2) With the increasing of glomerulosclerosis index,tubulointerstitial score,renal vascular lesions score and the stage of chronic kidney disease,HUA incidence increased (x2 =17.798-298.216,P =0.000).(3)Logistic regression analysis showed that high tubulointerstitial score,glomerulosclerosis index and renal dysfunction,male,overweight or obese,hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia were risk factors for hyperuricemia (OR:1.011-7.513,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The uric acid level is increased in nearly a quarter of patients with renal glomerular disease.Severe tubulointerstitial lesion,high glomerulosclerosis index,low glomerular filtration rate,male,overweight or obese,hypertension and hypertiglyceridemia were independent risk factors for HUA.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of serum galactomannan platelia aspergillus kit in the diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal infection(IFI) patients. MethodsA total of 178 serum samples from 74 high risk patients were collected. ELISA assay was used to detect the level of GM antigen. Refer to domestic IFI diagnostic criteria, 16 patients include the proven cases and probable cases were defined as study group, while 29 patients of improbable cases defined as control group. Fourflod table was founded,by which the sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value, negative predictive value of this GM test were calculated. Meanwhile, a total of 53 patients received antifungal therapy which divided into GM-positive group(21 patients with I≥0. 5) and GM-negative group(32 patients with I ＜0. 5). The therapeutic effect comparison of two groups was made according to curative effect criterion. ResultsAccording to the certainty level of IFI diagnosis, 1,9,10 and 4 patients were identified as GM positive in proven, probable,possible and improbable IFI groups respectively. The prevalence of GM in these 4 groups was 50％ ,64％ ,34％ and 14％ ,respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of galactomannan ELISA assay were 63％ ,86％ respectively. The positive and negative predictive values were 71％ and 81％ respectively. The diagnose accordance rate was 78％, the Younden index was 0. 49. The efficacy of fluconazole in GM-positive patients was significant lower than in GMnegative patients( x2 =4. 95 ,P ＜0. 05) ,while The efficacy of non-fluconazole drug was superior to that in GM-negative patients( x2 =4. 88,P ＜ 0. 05). After antifungal therapy, the GM value of GM-positive patients decreased significantly( t =2. 13 ,P ＜0. 05). ConclusionThe galactomannan ELISA assay with high specificity, could be helpful in diagnosis and choicing effective anti-fungi drug in clinic.