ObjectiveTo study the protective effects of fluvastatin on the renal lesions in diabetic rat. MethodsThe model of diabetic rats was induced by streptozotocin. SD rats were random divided into four groups: Control group, diabetic rats group, low-dose fluvastatin group 2mg/(kg·d) and high-dose fluvastatin group 4 mg/(kg·d). After treatment for 4 weeks, serum cholesterol, serum creatinine and urinary protein were measured respectively. The expression of TGF β1 in the renal cortex was determined by RT-PCR. ResultsFluvastatin inhibited the expression of TGF-β1 Mrna in a dose-dependent manner, and had no influence on urinary protein, serum cholesterol and serum creatinine. ConclusionsFluvastatin inhibits the overexpression of TGF-β1Mrna, which may be related to independent cholesterol decreasing effect.

Objective To investigate the roll of p38MAPK on the expression of osteopontin(OPN) mRNA in cultured renal tubular epithelial cells stimulated by albumin.Methods The normal renal tubular epithelial cells(NRK-52E) were incubated in the presence of albumin(30mg/ml) with or without SB203580,an inhibitor of p38MAPK.Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) was performed to determine the expression of OPN mRNA and the p38MAPK phosphorylation was evaluated by Western blot analysis.Results Albumin stimulated the phosphorylation of p38MAPK in a timedependent manner,and up-regulated the expression of OPN mRNA.SB203580 could inhibit the expression of OPN mRNA.Conclusion The p38MAPK signal pathway plays an important roll in OPN mRNA expression stimulated by Albumin.

Background The circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs)play an important role in postnatal vasculogenesis and restoration of endothelial injury.Previous investigation illustrated that a reduced ocular blood flow and vascular dysfunction caused by endothelial dysfunction plays a role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.However,endothelial system accommodation is accomplished with the circulating EPCs.Objective The present trail was to investigate EPCs change in patients with primary acute angle-closure glaucoma (PACG)and explore the role of EPCs in the pathogenesis of PACG. MethodsA prospective cohort study was designed.Thirty patients with PACG were enrolled in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital as PACG group,and 20 normal subjects served as control group.Periphery bloodsamples were obtained fromall the patients and thenstained with saturating concentrations of monoclonal antibodies,FITC-conjugated anti-CD34 and CD133 mAb.EPCs identified by CD34,CD133 were enumerated by flow cytometry,and the correlation between EPCs change and its relative factors was analyzed.Informed consent was obtained from each subject before any medical procedure. Results No significant differences were found in age,gender,vascular-related risk factor,blood biochemical indicators between PACG group and normal contol group(P＞0.05 ),but a higher intraocular pressure( IOP)was displayed in PACG group compared with normal control group ( P =0.00 ).The numbers of EPCs were ( 48 ± 22 ) cells/ml in PACG group and ( 65 ± 20 )cells/ml in normal control group with a significant difference between them (P=0.004).In PACG group,the numbers of EPCs were(60± 19 )cells/ml and (34 ±7 )cells/ml respeetively in phase 1 and phase 3 of optical nerve damage (Z=-3.015,P=0.002 ).There was a negative correlation between EPCs numbers and baseline IOP within a certain range( r=-0.835,P＜0.05 ).However,no obvious correlations were seen between EPCs numbers and blood lipid Level,blood glucose level or glaucoma course ( r =0.343,P =0.227 ; r =-0.203,P =0.419 ; r =0.198,P =0.610 ).The EPCs numbers in PACG patients with cardiovascular disease were(56±22)cells/ml and that of without PACG were (35± 15 ) cells/ml( P =0.005 ). ConclusionsThe numbers of EPCs decrease in PACG patient.These results imply that EPCs might play role during the restore of the optical nerve damage in PACG eye.

Objective To continually observe the monocyte chemoattraetant protein-1(MCP-1) expression in rats with anilateral ureteml obstruction, and to explore the relationship between MCP-1 and p38MAPK, and as well as the nuclear transcription faetor-кB (NF-кB). Method Thirty-six rots were randomly assigned to sham op-eration group (contorl group) and unilateral ureteral obstruction group (UUO group). Renal tissues were examined under light microscope 8 h,24 h and 72 h after operation, Immunhistochemistry was used to measure the expression of MCP-1 and NF-кB. RT-PCR and Western bot were employed to determine MCP-1 mRNA and p38MAPK pro-tein,respectively.Serum creatinine and ure nitrogen were examined with biochemistry methods. Results Com-pared with control group, the expression of MCP-1 mRNA in UUO group dramatically increased (control group:0.401±0.039;UUO group 8 h:0.894±0.137;24 h: 1.416±0.135;72 h: 1.894±0.14, P<0.05).The explosion of MCP-1 protein in renal interstitium of UUO group also markedly increased (control group: 50.08±3.210. UUO group 8 h:108.25±4.325;24 h: 179.34±3.237;72 h: 230.12±3.026, P<0.05),and the expressions of NF-кB and p38MAPK in UUO group were also stimulated (p38MAPK: control group: 110.65±9.734. UUO group 8 h:200.15±8.326; 24 h:272.74±7.244;72 h:549.11±9.544, P<0.05). There were positive correlations between MCP-1 and p38MAPK as well as NF-кB(r=0.74,r=0.81,P<0.01).Conclusions Tne increased expression of MCP-1 may participate in the injury mechanisms of renal tubulointesti-tinm in UUO rats. The increased expression of p38MAPK may induce NF-кB expression in the tubules, and then NF-кB promotes the expression of MCP-1.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthracosis ; complications ; microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; etiology ; microbiology

Objective To evaluate the MRI features of osteosarcoma.Methods 38 cases of osteosarcoma proved pathologically were retrospectively analyzed.All of them were examined by plain MRI scan,25 cases were examined by enhanced scan.Results The diagnostic accuracy of osteosarcoma of MRI was 93.9%.There were 30 cases of the extension into the medullary cavity,18 cases of soft tissue mass,10 cases of the destruction in epiphysis and 4 cases of the invasion in articular cartilage,especially T2 weighted STIR image and enhanced MRI scans were advantageous in showing the images mentioned above and in judging of the change after treated.Conclusion MRI is very important in diagnosis and clinical therapy of osteosarcoma.

Objective To investigate the effect of astragaloside,one of the active components of astragalus membranaceus,on myocardial nerve growth factor(NGF)expression in murine myocarditis model with coxsackievirus B(CVB_3).Methods One hundred Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 6 groups.Group A [n=10,treated with carboxymethylcellulose(CMC) 0.1 mL,ig,for 1 week] were served as normal controls group and group B(n=10,treated with 9% astragaloside 0.1 mL,ig,for 1 week)as high-dose control.Eighty infected mice treated with CMC and 1%,3%,9% astragaloside 0.1 mL,ig,for 1 week (n=20 in each group)were served as group C(myocarditic control group),D(low-dose intervention group),E(middle-dose intervention group),F(high-dose intervention group),respectively.The mice were killed and their hearts were removed after 14 days.The expression levels of NGF mRNA and protein in the myocardium were examined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry,respectively.Results The mortality was significantly reduced in 9% astragaloside treated infected mice that was 10%(2/20)vs 45%(9/20)in group C(P

Objective To observe the effect of Chinese yam polysaccharide on the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in rats with renal ischemia reperfusion injury. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group and Chinese yam polysaccharide group. Renal ischemia reperfusion injury model in rats was prepared. Seven days before operation, Chinese yam polysaccharide group was gastrically administrated with yam polysaccharide (200 mg/kg) daily, sham operation group and model group with same volume of saline respectively. BUN and SCr were detected postoperative 6 h, the protein expression of HIF-1αin renal tissue was detected by Western Blot, and HIF-1αand VEGF mRNA expression in renal tissue were detected by RT-PCR. Results Compared with sham operation group, serum levels of BUN and SCr of model group and Chinese yam polysaccharides group increased (P<0.01), and the mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1α, mRNA expression of VEGF in renal tissue increased (P<0.01). Compared with model group, serum levels of BUN and SCr of Chinese yam polysaccharide group decreased (P<0.01), and HIF-1α mRNA and protein expression, VEGF mRNA expression in renal tissue increased (P<0.01). Conclusion Chinese yam polysaccharide has obvious protective effect on renal ischemia reperfusion injury, which may be related with up-regulation of HIF-1αexpression and induction of VEGF expression.

Air ; analysis ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Octanes ; analysis ; Workplace

Objective To investigate the prognostic value of heart rate turbulence (HRT) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods From October 2006 to May 2009, a total of 96 elderly CHF inpatients were selected, and the clinic data were recorded. Based on the echocardiogram and dynamic electrocardiogram, the differences of sinus HRT index of patients with different cardiac function classification were analyzed. During 9-28 months medical follow-up, the treatment endpoint was death from heart disease. Based on Logisitc regression, the prognostic values of HRT, age, hypertension, diabetes, myocardial infarction (MI), left ventricular ejection fraction, ACEI and β- adrenergic blocker for death of CHF patients were analyzed.Results There was no significant difference in HRT between grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ cardiac function (χ~2 = 1.60, P>0. 05), and between grade Ⅲ and grade Ⅳ cardiac function (χ~2 = 1.43, P>0. 05). But there was significant difference in HRT between grade Ⅱ and grade Ⅳ cardiac function patients χ~2 =9.84, P<0. 05), and HRT was weaken in grade Ⅳ group. The average follow-up time was (18. 0±9.6) months. Of all 96 patients, there were 34 dead of heart disease. There were correlations of death of CHF with HRT, low LVEF (≤ 45%), age (≥65 years), diabetes, MI and classification of heart function. Conclusions The sinus HRT in CHF patients has a favorable prognostic value.