Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; methods

Serum creatinine was determined by enzymatic method.99mTc-GFR was measured by 99mTc-DTPA dynamic renal imaging and considered as GFR marker in 210 males and 180 females with type 2 diabetes,eGFR was calculated by Cockcroft-Gault formula,MDRD equation7,abbreviated MDRD equation,modified MDRD equation for Chinese (c-7GFR4 and c-aGFR4),and CKD-EPI equation.They were analyzed by correlation,regression,Bland-Altman analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.The correlation coefficients for Cockcroft-Gault formula,MDRD equation7,abbreviated MDRD equation,c-7GFR4,c-aGFR4,and CKD-EPI equation were 0.79,0.76,0.77,0.76,0.76,0.81 respectively.And the differences were-14.99,-18.85,-23.79,-25.85,-32.07,and-7.16,respectively.The area under ROC curves were 0.91,0.88,0.89,0.88,0.90,and 0.92,respeetively.Kappa values were 0.67、0.52、0.39、0.49、0.46、0.54respectively.The CKD-EPI equation seams to be the most accurate measurement among the six methods when the serum creatinine was determined by enzymatic method in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; surgery ; Carotid Body Tumor ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety,particularly eye safety of hydroxychloro-quine(HCQ)treatment in primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome(pSS)patients.Methods Forty pSS patients were en-rolled and treated with HCQ 400 mg/day for 12 months.This is a prospective open-label study.Clinical mani-festations,clinical efficacy,biochemical and immunoserological parameters as well as ophthalmological exami-nations were investigated every three months to assess the safety and tolerability.Results There were signifi-cant decrease in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),immunoglobulin G(IgG),immunoglobulin M (IgM)and rheumatoid factor(RF)level after 6 months treatment with HCQ(P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).No changewas detected in serum antinuclear antibody(ANA),anti-SSA/SSB antibodies after treated for 12 months.Somepatients had partial improvement in symptoms such as dry mouth,dry eyes and arthralgia.During the treat-ment,no significant effect on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),blood urea (BUN),serum creatinine (Cr),whole blood count(WBC)or hemoglobin(Hb)could be discovered.Central semus retinopathv(CSR)was found in one patient after 6 months treatment with HCQ.However,its association with HCQ could not be confirmed since it was not compatible with the usual HCQ retinopathy.Conclusion HCQ can improve svmp-toms of some pSS patients and can significantly decrease ESR,IgG,IgM and RF level.The safety profile of HCQ is generally good.However,ophthalmological examination before and after a 6-month interval may be necessary in long term HCQ treatment.

Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Glioblastoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Pineal Gland ; pathology

Abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays an important role in several pathological processes of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the effects of XCT790, a potent and selective inverse agonist of estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRalpha), on rat VSMCs proliferation and related signal pathways were investigated. The proliferative activity of VSMCs was determined by CCK-8 assay. The mRNA levels of ERRalpha, PGC-1alpha, OPN and MCAD were assayed by RT-PCR. The protein levels of ERRalpha, ERK2 and p-ERK1/2 were evaluated by Western blotting. ELISA was used to assess the protein expression of VEGF. The results showed that XCT790 (5-20 micromol x L(-1)) inhibited rat VSMCs proliferation, and the expression of ERRalpha and its target genes, as well as p-ERK1/2, were also inhibited. XCT790 inhibited VSMCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner at the dose range from 5 to 20 micromol x L(-1) and in a time-dependent manner at the dose range from 10 to 20 micromol x L(-1). These findings demonstrate that XCT790 inhibits rat VSMCs proliferation by down-regulating the gene level of ERRalpha and thus inhibiting the ERK signal pathway, suggesting that ERRalpha may be a novel potential target for therapeutic approaches to inhibit VSMCs proliferation, which plays an important role in several cardiovascular diseases.
Animals ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; GTPase-Activating Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thiazoles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To observe the level of reduced glutathione(GSH) and oxidized glutathione(GSSG)in a mouse bone cell line MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to fluoride.Methods MTT method was used to detect cell viability of M C3T3-E1 cells exposed to varying concentrations and periods of fluoride [F-concentration:0(control),0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0,8.0,12.0,20.0 mg/L; F-periods:1,2,4 and 10 days].The Xevo TQ MS was employed to test the levels of GSH,GSSG and glutamine (Gln).Results The MC3T3-E1 cell viability was significantly higher in the 2 mg/L group(0.57 ± 0.05) 1 day after the exposure compared to the respective control(0.49 ± 0.03,P ＜0.01); conversely,cell viability was markedly lower in the 8 mg/L(0.49 ± 0.07) and 12 mg/L(0.47 ± 0.09)groups 4 days after the exposure in comparison to the control(0.63 ± 0.06,P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01).The cell viability in the 8 mg/L group(1.52 ± 0.29) 10 days after the exposure was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.86 ± 0.23,P ＜ 0.01),however,the value in the 20.0 mg/L group (0.54 ± 0.07) was significantly lower(P ＜0.01).The level of cell GSH decreased significantly in the 20 mg/L groups 2 days[(13.92 ± 4.63)μmol/L]and 10 days [(0.53 ± 0.30)μmol/L]after exposure compared to the respective comtrols [(26.42 ± 3.67),(24.85 ± 5.68)μmol/L,all P ＜ 0.01].The level of cell GSSG markedly increased in the 2 mg/L group 2 days [(1.12 ± 0.62)μ mol/L]and the 8 mg/L group 4 days [(2.13 ± 0.62)μ mol/L]after exposure compared to the controls[(0.55 ± 0.22),(1.46 ± 0.46)μmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05].The similar change was observed in the 8 mg/L group[(2.97 ± 1.30)μmol/L] 10 days after exposure compared to the control [(1.35 ± 0.50)μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05].The level of Glndecreased significantly in the 2 mg/L group[ (62.80 ± 17.4l)μ mol/L] 4 days and in the 8 and 20 mg/L groups 10 days[ (122.26 ± 19.51), (19.38 ± 8.11)μmol/L] after exposure compared to the controls [ (83.28 ±14.32), ( 147.15± 16.95) μmol/L , all P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 ]. Conclusions Fluoride exposure can significantly promote the changes of GSH, GSSG and Gln levels in the osteoblast, thus affecting the intracellular redox equilibrium.

Objective To respectively analyze the patterns and possible predictors of recurrent strokes among patients with initial ischemic stroke.Methods Three hundred and sixty-one patients with recurrent strokes (acute ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage) after initial ischemic strokes were collected from Jan 2004 to Dec 2009.The data about conventional risk factors such as smoking,heavy alcohol drinking,hypertension,diabetes,hyperlipidemia,heart diseases,head trauma,migraine,family history of cardiovascular disease,and the use of preventive medications were collected and analyzed among patients with different types of recurrent strokes.Results Patients (n =361) were divided into ischemic stroke group (n =321) and hemorrhagic stroke group (n =40) according to the recurrent stroke type.The ischemic stroke group was further divided into the anterior circulation stroke subgroup (n =234),the posterior circulation stroke subgroup (n =75) and watershed cerebral infarction or multiple infarction subgroup (n =12).Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that older age at initial stroke onset (OR =1.036,95 ％ CI 1.006-1.067,P =0.02) and hyperlipidemia (OR =2.253,95 ％ CI 1.092-4.647,P =0.028) were both the independent risk factors for the recurrent ischemic stroke.Comparing the subgroups,multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that atrial fibrillation (OR =4.217,95％ CI 1.489-11.942,P =0.007) was the independent risk factor for the recurrent ischemic stroke in the posterior circulation territory.Conclusion Aging and hyperlipidemia are possible predictors of recurrent ischemic stroke after the initial ischemic stroke which would be useful for individualized secondary prevention of stroke.

Purpose To investigate the clinicopathlogical characteristics, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ovarian small cell car-cinoma hypercalcemic type ( OSCCHT) associated with acute renal dysfunction. Methods A case of OSCCHT associated with acute renal dysfunction was reported. The clinical and pathologic data, treatment and pathological examinations were analyzed and the related literatures were reviewed. Results A 29-year-olds women was presented to hospital with inappetence and significant weight loss for 2 months. The laboratory examination showed abnormal renal function, and pelvic cavity mass, possibly coming from adnexa of the uterus was seen by radiography. Serum levels showed significantly increased serum calcium with acute renal dysfunction. An emergency opera-tion was performed just after renal function partially recovered by 2 times hemodialysis. During surgery, right ovary tumor with a size of 12 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm was inspected. Microscopically, the tumor cells were arranged in a diffuse solid pattern, mutiple nodules were separated by fibrous tissue. some small folliculars and pseudoglandular cavities with acidophilia secretion within nodules could been ob-served. Tumor cells were medium to large with eosinophilic cytoplasm, round or oval vesicular nucleus, increased karyoplasmic ratio and pathologic mitosis. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the tumor cells expressed EMA, CKpan, C-erbB-2 ( +) , CA125 ( focal+) and Ki-67 proliferation index was about 60%, while ER, PR, Syn, CgA, PTH, Inhibin, CD99, AFP, PLAP, CD30 and CD20 were not expressed. Conclusion Ovarian small cell carcinoma hypercalcemic type with acute renal dysfunction is a very rare with a rapidly progressive and highly malignant tumor. The final diagnosis mainly lies on clinical information ( hypercalcaemia) , morphology and immunohistochemistry, combined with electron microscopy and molecular biological detection when necessary.

[Summary] Propylthiouracil-induced anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies ( ANCA ) positive vasculitis ( APV) is an autoimmune diseases with multi-system damage. Its basic pathological lesions are characterized by necrotizing vasculitis. We present a case of propylthiouracil-induced APV, with regard to its pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for futher understanding this disease.