Objective To examine the effects of benazepril and losartan on glomerular podocyte autophagy in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and investigate the underlying mechanisms of renal-protective effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI)/angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB).Methods Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKYs) were used as the normal control (NORM) group (2 ml physiological saline per day).SHRs were randomly divided into 4 groups:the CTRL group (2 ml physiological saline per day),the ACEI group (10 mg · kg-1 · d-1),the ARB group (30 mg· kg-1 ·d-1) and the combined group (10 mg· kg-1 · d-1 benazepril and 30 mg· kg-1 · d-1),with six 18-month-old make rats in each group.The experiments were conducted during a 4-month period.Blood pressure was monitored regularly.At the end of the experiments,we measured the levels of urine protein,urine creatinine,serum creatinine (SCR),blood urea nitrogen (BUN),and serum and renal cortex angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ).Ultrastructural changes in the kidney were examined under light and transmission electron microscopy.The expressions of nephrin,LC3BⅡ,Atg5 and p62 in the glomerulus were analyzed by Western blot analysis.Results After treatment,the blood pressure and the urine albumin/creatinine ratio of the four SHR groups were still significantly higher than those of the NORM group,but the blood pressure and the urine albumin/creatinine ratio of the ARB group and the combined group were significantly lower than those of the CTRL group (all P＜ 0.05);There were no significant differences in SCR and BUN levels among these five groups (P＞ 0.05);The level of serum AngⅡ of the combined group was significantly higher than that of the CTRL group [CTRL (0.08±0.00) μg/L,Combined (0.12±0.01) μg/L,P＜0.05];The levels of cortex AngⅡ of the four SHR groups were significantly lower than those of the NORM group,while the level of cortex AngⅡ of the ARB group was significantly higher than that of the CTRL group (all P＜0.05);Renal ultrastructural examination revealed shrunken glomeruli,fused or effaced epithelial cell foot processes,and focal atrophy of renal tubules in the four SHR groups.These pathological changes were more serious in the CTRL group but less so in the combined group.There were significantly more autophagosomes in the NORM group and the combined group than in the CTRL group (P＜0.05).Compared with the NORM group,the expressions of nephrin,LC3BⅡ,Atg5 and p62 in the CTRL group were suppressed significantly (P ＜ 0.05).The expressions of nephrin,LC3BⅡ and Atg5 in the ACEI group and the expressions of nephrin,LC3BⅡ,Atg5 and p62 in the ARB group and the combined group were higher than in the CTRL group (P＜0.05).Conclusions ACEI/ARB can decrease the autophagic activity of glomerular podocytes.The renal-protective effects of ACEI/ARB may be mediated by glomerular podocyte autophagy,which is induced by AngⅡ.

Objective To study the changes of renal cortex angiotensin Ⅱ (AngⅡ) expression and podocyte autophagy in aging rats with normotension versus hypertension,to further investigate the possible mechanism of renal injury in hypertension during aging.Methods Normotensive Wistar-Kyoto-rats (WKYs) were allocated to three groups by age of 3-month-old group,13-month-old group,22-month-old group.Gender,age and number-matched spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) served as controls.Blood pressure was monitored.Levels of urinary albumin,urinary creatinine,serum creatinine (SCR),blood urea nitrogen (BUN),Ang Ⅱ in serum and in renal cortex were detected.The kidney ultrastructural changes and podocyte autophagosomes were observed under light and transmission electron microscopy.Expressions of nephrin,LC3B Ⅱ,Atg5 and p62 in glomeruli were analyzed by Western blotting.Results Blood pressure was significantly higher in SHRs than in WKYs (P＜0.05).During aging from 3-month-old to 13-month-old and to 22 monthold group,the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio was increased significantly in SHRs with hypertension and in WKYs with normotension [WKY:(0.12±0.01) g/mmol,(0.14±0.04) g/mmol vs.(0.34± 0.05) g/mmol;in SHR:(0.29±0.04) g/mmol,(0.31±0.05) g/mmol vs.(0.72±0.16) g/mmol,P＜0.05],but SCR and BUN levels had no significant difference in SHRs and WKYs during aging (both P＞0.05).And Ang Ⅱ levels in both serum and renal cortex had no significant change in normotension group during aging three time points (both P＞0.05).An age-dependent decrease of Ang Ⅱ level in renal cortex appeared during aging three time points in hypertensive rats [SHR:(0.02 ±0.00) μg/L,(0.02±0.00) μg/L vs.(0.01±0.00) μg/L,P＜0.05],but serum level of Ang Ⅱ had no significant difference during aging three time points (P＞ 0.05) in hypertension group.The structural changes,including glomerulosclerosis,tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis were observed during aging three time points both in normotensive and hypertensive rats,but these pathological changes were more serious in hypertensive rats.Autophagosomes relatively accumulated in aging normotensive rats.The protein expressions of LC3B Ⅱ,Atg5 and p62 were increased in normotensive rats during aging (all P＜0.05).While the protein expressions of nephrin,LC3B Ⅱ,Atg5 and p62 were decreased in aging hypertensive rats (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Ang Ⅱ expression level in renal cortex is decreased during aging in hypertensive rats.Podocyte autophagic activity is relatively decreased during aging in normotensive rats,but is relatively increased during aging in hypertensive rats.Ang Ⅱ-induced podocyte autophagy may be involved in the pathogenesis of renal injury in hypertension during aging.

Diabetic skin pruritus is a common chronic complication of diabetes mellitus, especially in elderly patients. This article reviews the clinical reports of diabetic skin pruritus in the recent five years. It is believed that traditional Chinese medicine has a significant effect on alleviating skin pruritus. The treatment principle includes the eliminating wind and nourishing yin, activating blood and nourishing blood, no matter what administration is, such as oral traditional Chinese medicine, soaking and washing of traditional Chinese medicine, auricular points pressure and acupuncture. It comes to the conclusion that there are few clinical reports on diabetic skin pruritus, so more research should be conducted.

Objective:To summarize the precision fluid management of patients with severe blast injury in the emergency intensive care unit, so as to help patients smoothly pass through the dangerous period and recover smoothly.Methods:Based on the experience of fluid management in 6 patients admitted to the Second Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine in the tanker truck explosion on 14 June, 2020. The main measures included: fluid volume management and dynamic adjustment; assessment of intake, output and urine volume, and dynamic adjustment of infusion volume and speed; monitoring of pulmonary oxygenation and timely adjustment of fluid resuscitation strategies; monitoring indexes and providing nursing care strategies for fluid management.Results:Finally, among 6 patients with severe blast injury, 5 patients were discharged from the hospital with follow-up treatment after they suffered from the shock and infection phases and refined fluid management, 1 patient died due to severe injury and ineffective rescue.Conclusions:Adopting individualized, phased, and refined liquid management strategy has clinical significance for patients with severe blast injury to smoothly pass the risk period.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects and possible mechanisms of Jianpi Bushen Formula （健脾补肾方） on radiation-induced immune function damage of mice. MethodsFifty mice were randomly divided into four groups： normal group， model group， thymosin group， high- and low-dose groups of Jianpi Bushen Formula， with 10 mice in each group. Except for the normal group， the mice in the other groups were irradiated with a single whole-body dose of 6.0 Gy X-rays to establish a radiation-injured mouse model. After the successful modeling， the low- and high-dose groups of the Jianpi Bushen Formula were given respectively 13 g/（kg·d）、 26 g/（kg·d） of the formula by gavage， while the thymosin group was given 11.7 mg/（kg·d） of thymosin by gavage， and the normal group and model group were given 0.1 ml/（10g·d） of 0.9% sodium chloride solution by gavage. Each group was administered once a day for 7 consecutive days. After the last gavage， the mice were weighed， and their spleens were separated and weighed to calculate the spleen index. The levels of interferon gamma （IFN-γ） and interleukin 2 （IL-2） in the spleen tissue were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. The autophagosomes in the spleen were observed by transmission electron microscopy. The mRNA expression levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase （PI3K）， protein kinase B （Akt）， and mammalian target of rapamycin （mTOR） in the spleen were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. The protein expression of PI3K， Akt， and mTOR in the spleen， as well as the expression of autophagy-related proteins microtubule-associated light chain protein 3 （LC3）， Beclin1， and p62 were detected by Western blot. ResultsCompared with the normal group， the model group showed significant decreases in body weight， spleen index， and levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 in the spleen （P＜0.01）； the mRNA and protein expression levels of PI3K， Akt， and mTOR in the spleen were also significantly reduced （P＜0.01）； the expression of Beclin1 protein， the ratio of LC3-II/LC3-I significantly increased （P＜0.01）， while the level of p62 protein expression significantly decreased （P＜0.01）. And transmission electron microscopy showed a significant increase in the number of autophagosomes in the spleen and severe cell structure damage in the model group. Compared with the model group， all the above indicators in each medication group were significantly improved （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. In the high-dose Jianpi Bushen Formula group， partial intact cristae were visible in the fine mitochondria of the spleen， and there were more autophagosomes. In the low-dose Jianpi Bushen Formula group and thymosin group， the structure of the fine mitochondria in the spleen was relatively intact， and there were fewer autophagosomes. The improvement effect of the low-dose Jianpi Bushen Formula group was better than that of the high-dose group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）， and there was no significant difference between the low-dose group and the thymosin group in terms of each indicator （P＞0.05）. ConclusionJianpi Bushen Formula may alleviate the structural damage of the spleen， promote the recovery of immune function， and achieve a best effect at a low dose by enhancing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in the spleen and inhibiting the over-activation of autophagy induced by radiation.

Aberrant activation of oncogenic signaling pathways in tumors can promote resistance to the antitumor immune response. However, single blockade of these pathways is usually ineffective because of the complex crosstalk and feedback among oncogenic signaling pathways. The enhanced toxicity of free small molecule inhibitor combinations is considered an insurmountable barrier to their clinical applications. To circumvent this issue, we rationally designed an effective tumor microenvironment-activatable prodrug nanomicelle (PNM) for cancer therapy. PNM was engineered by integrating the PI3K/mTOR inhibitor PF-04691502 (PF) and the broad spectrum CDK inhibitor flavopiridol (Flav) into a single nanoplatform, which showed tumor-specific accumulation, activation and deep penetration in response to the high glutathione (GSH) tumoral microenvironment. The codelivery of PF and Flav could trigger gasdermin E (GSDME)-based immunogenic pyroptosis of tumor cells to elicit a robust antitumor immune response. Furthermore, the combination of PNM-induced immunogenic pyroptosis with anti-programmed cell death-1 (αPD-1) immunotherapy further boosted the antitumor effect and prolonged the survival time of mice. Collectively, these results indicated that the pyroptosis-induced nanoplatform codelivery of PI3K/mTOR and CDK inhibitors can reprogram the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and efficiently improve checkpoint blockade cancer immunotherapy.