Objective To approach the effect of ulinastatin (UTI) on protection of vascular endothelial cells in rats with sepsis and its mechanism.Methods Fifty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were randomly divided into a normal saline pretreatment group (control group) and a UTI pretreatment group (UTI group), each groupn = 26. The rats in two groups were given lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 mg/kg) intra-peritoneal injection for the establishment of rat septic models. In UTI group, 18 hours before LPS injection, intraperitoneal injection of UTI 100 kU/kg dissolved in 5 mL normal saline was given, while in the control group, 3 hours before LPS injection, intraperitoneal injection of 5 mL normal saline was given to the rats for pretreatment. Respectively, at 0.5, 2, 4, 12, 24, 72 hours after model establishment, tail venous blood and myocardial tissue were taken. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukins (IL-6, IL-10), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the correlation between TNF-α and ICAM-1 was analyzed; the expression of ICAM-1 in myocardial cell was determined by immunohistochemistry.Results After model establishment, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, ICAM and VCAM in two groups were gradually increased, reaching the peaks at 24, 12, 12, 72, 72 hours, respectively. Compared with control group, the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, ICAM-1, VCAM of UTI group were significantly lower at various time points [24 hours TNF-α (ng/L): 119.8±28.9 vs. 190.2±30.4, 12 hours IL-6 (ng/L): 327.8±26.9 vs. 948.7±63.8, 72 hours VCAM (ng/L): 36.3±3.2 vs. 68.8±2.4, 72 hours ICAM-1 (ng/L): 115.6±11.6 vs. 129.4±8.2,P < 0.05 orP < 0.01], IL-10 was significantly increased [12 hours (ng/L): 80.7±1.9 vs. 42.3±4.9,P < 0.01]. TNF-αwas positively correlated to ICAM significantly (UTI group:r = 0.907,P = 0.050; control group:r = 0.961, P = 0.010). Immunohistochemistry showed that after modeling for 0.5 hour, basically no positive expression of ICAM-1 in myocardial cells was found in the two groups; in the control group, at 12 hours the positive expression of ICAM-1 was increased, and in UTI group, a little expression of ICAM-1 was seen; at 72 hours, the expression of ICAM-1 was significantly increased in both groups.Conclusion UTI can protect the function of endothelial cells in rats with sepsis by regulating the expressions of proinflammatory cytokine, anti-inflammatory cytokine, adhesion molecules, and improving the microvascular permeability.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway in erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by the absence of testosterone (T).

METHODSWe randomly divided 30 eight-week-old healthy male SD rats into groups A (control) , B (castration), and C (castration + androgen replacement). The rats in groups B and C were castrated surgically, and those in C injected with T undecanoate (100 mg/kg) at 1 week after castration, while the others with 0.9% normal saline instead. At 1 month after treatment, we determined the serum T level, intracavernous pressure (ICP), and mean carotid arterial pressure (MAP) of the rats, and detected the expressions of ERK1/2 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by Western blot.

RESULTSThe serum T level was significantly lower in group B ([1.27 ± 0.48] nmol/L) than in A ([17.14 ± 1.07] nmol/L) and C ([16.24 ± 1.90] nmol/L) (P < 0.05), and so were ICP and MAP (P < 0.05). The expression of ERK1/2 showed no statistically significant differences among the three groups (P > 0.05), that of phosphatase ERK1/2 was markedly higher while that of eNOS remarkably lower in group B than in A and C (both P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAndrogen replacement may improve the erectile function of castrated rats by regulating the ERK1/2 pathway.

Androgens ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Orchiectomy ; Penile Erection ; Penis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Testosterone ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

Three sesquiterpenoids and nine iridoids were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Valeriana jatamansi by various chromatographic methods. Their structures were identified by physicochemical properties, NMR and MS data. Among them, valeriananoid G (1) was a new patchoulol-type sesquiterpenoid, and compound 3 was isolated from the genus Valeriana for the first time. Compounds 3 and 10 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production induced by lipopolysaccharide in RAW 264.7 macrophages, with IC₅₀ values of 19.00 and 3.66 μmol·L^-1, respectively. In addition, compounds 4, 6 and 12 showed anti-influenza virus activity with IC₅₀ values of 51.75, 51.40 and 102.08 μmol·L^-1, respectively.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the etiology, pathology, and mechanism of pathogenesis of Moyamoya disease.

METHODSA total of 15 human autopsies were analyzed. In addition, in order to create an animal model of the disease, 21 Japanese rabbits were divided randomly into two groups and subjected to injections of horse serum either intravenously or locally in the area of the sympathetic ganglia. Pathological and immunohistochemical characteristics were observed.

RESULTSThe pathological features of the autopsies and the animal models both involved intima hyperplasia and stenosis or even occlusion of the lumen in the terminal ends of the internal carotid artery and the anterior and middle cerebral arteries. Disconnections or even breakages of the inner layer of the lumen were also observed, without an obvious inflammatory response. Hyperplasic smooth muscle cells of the medial membrane had extended inward through broken portions of the internal elastic lamina, with intima cell hyperplasia resulting in lumen stenosis. The hyperplastic vascular walls were positive for IgG and IgM.

CONCLUSIONSThe etiology of Moyamoya disease may involve allergic angiitis. A possible mechanism is that proximal portions of the circle of Willis first develop chronic stenosis or occlusion, leading to compensatory small vessel proliferation, which perforates into the cerebral parenchyma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; pathology ; Child ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; pathology ; Moyamoya Disease ; etiology ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Tunica Intima ; pathology

Adenoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 ; genetics ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diploidy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; WT1 Proteins ; metabolism ; Wilms Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the impact of experimental varicocele (EV) on the ipsilateral testis in rats.

METHODSEV was induced by partial ligation of the left renal vein in male SD rats, the control rats subjected to sham operation, and the testes of the EV models and controls were extirpated 6, 12, and 18 weeks later. Johnson's score, ultrastructure of seminiferous tubules, intratesticular testosterone concentration (ITC) and germ cell apoptotic index (AI) of each left testis were evaluated.

RESULTSJohnson's scores were (6.92 +/- 0.52), (4.83 +/- 0.41) and (2.95 +/- 0.26), ITCswere (6.32 +/- 0.85), (5.17 +/- 0.76) and (4.11 +/- 0.69) and AIs were (5.32 +/- 1.23), (15.21 +/- 0.97) and (21.13 +/- 1.12) respectively in the 6 w , 12 w and 18 w EV groups, significantly lower than in the corresponding control groups, (9.56 +/- 0.35, 9.63 +/- 0.31, 9.39 +/- 0.46), (9.64 +/- 1.23, 9.38 +/- 0.69, 9.73 +/- 0.49) and (3.21 +/- 1.15, 3.43 +/- 1.21, 3.61 +/- 1. 15) (P < 0.05), the former two showing a gradual decline while the latter a significant elevation with the increasing duration of varicocele. The damage to the ultrastructure of seminiferous tubules was aggravated with the prolonging of varicocele.

CONCLUSIONEV can cause a progressive decline of ITC, dyszoospermia and increased AI of germ cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Disease Models, Animal ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Seminiferous Epithelium ; cytology ; ultrastructure ; Testis ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; metabolism ; Varicocele ; metabolism ; physiopathology

Objective To investigate the incidence of de novo malignant tumors of the digestive system after liver transplantation (LT) in China. Methods Relevant literature review was performed from Wanfang data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Chongqing VIP. The retrieval time started from the establishment of each database to May 9, 2019. The Chinese search terms were liver transplantation+ postoperative/de novo+ malignant tumor/cancer. The age distribution, sex composition, time of diagnosis, involved organs, treatment and clinical prognosis of recipients with de novo malignant tumors of the digestive system after LT in China were retrospectively analyzed. Results After literature screening, 16 articles were eventually selected including 47 cases of de novo malignant tumors of the digestive system after LT. A majority of them were male recipients. The age of the recipients was 51 (23-65) years old, most of them were middle age (45-59 years old). The average time of diagnosis of de novo malignant tumors of the digestive system after operation was 43 (2-156) months, with the highest number of cases within postoperative 1-3 years. Colon and stomach were the most common tumor sites. Surgery combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy remained the main treatment option. However, the overall clinical prognosis of patients with de novo malignant tumors of the digestive system after LT was poor with a mortality rate of 51%. Conclusions In China, colon cancer and gastric cancer are the main de novo malignant tumors of the digestive system after LT. The overall clinical prognosis of patients with de novo malignant tumors of the digestive system is poor. Sufficient attention should be paid to postoperative monitoring and prevention.

OBJECTIVETo study the feasibility of inducing the differentiation of rat adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) into smooth-muscle-like cells in monolayer culture in vitro.

METHODSADSCs were obtained from the adipose of the inguinal region of the SD rat. A growth curve of the ADSCs was drawn. The fourth passage ADSCs were induced to differentiate into adipocytes with adipogenic inducing fluid and determined by Oil Red O staining, into osteoblasts with osteogenic inducing fluid and determined by Von Kossa staining, as well as into smooth-muscle-like cells with inducing fluid containing beta-mercaptoethanol, and the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was detected by the immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSThe ADSCs presented spindle and polygon shapes and proliferated rapidly in vitro. The growth curve showed the ADSCs in the logarithmic growth phase two days after subculture. The fourth passage ADSCs exhibited red stained lipid droplets characteristic of adipocytes in the cytoplasm on Oil Red O staining after induction with adipogenic inducing fluid, and calcium nodes on Von Kossa staining after induction with osteogenic inducing fluid. The immunohistochemical results of the ADSCs induced into smooth-muscle-like cells showed that the positive rate of alpha-SMA in the beta-mercaptoethanol induced cells was (29.80 +/- 6.89)%, significantly higher than in the uninduced ones ([2.89 +/- 1.24]%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONADSCs displayed obvious characteristics of smooth muscle cells after induction, and could be a new source of cells in the tissue engineering studies of smooth muscle related diseases.

Adipocytes ; cytology ; Animals ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Differentiation ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and biologic behavior of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with rhabdoid features.

METHODSTen cases of RCC with rhabdoid features collected during the period from 1995 to 2005 were enrolled into the study. The clinical findings were analyzed and the hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy were also performed.

RESULTSThe age of patients ranged from 33 to 69 years (mean age = 52 years). Nine of the patients were males and 1 female. Five patients showed evidence of perinephric invasion. Two patients presented with regional lymph node metastases and 1 patient showed distant metastasis to the lung. Histologically, the rhabdoid foci were characterized by loosely cohesive trabeculae, acini, lobules and clusters of rhabdoid cells in otherwise clear cell RCC (9 cases) or papillary RCC (1 case). The rhabdoid cells were round to polygonal in shape and contained globular eosinophilic inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm, eccentric nuclei, vesicular chromatin pattern and prominent nucleoli. Coagulative tumor necrosis was commonly seen. Immunohistochemical study showed that the rhabdoid cells were diffusely positive for CD10 (10/10), cytokeratin AE1/AE3 (10/10), epithelial membrane antigen (10/10) and vimentin (10/10). Focal staining for neuron-specific enolase and S-100 protein was also noted. They were negative for CK7, CK20 and myogenic markers (including myogenin, smooth muscle actin and muscle-specific actin). The mean Ki-67 labeling index of the rhabdoid component was higher than that of the non-rhabdoid component (P < 0.05). Follow-up information was available in 8 patients. While 6 patients are still alive without recurrence, 2 patients died of the disease 6 and 29 months respectively after the operation.

CONCLUSIONSRCC with rhabdoid elements are mainly observed in clear cell RCC and need to be distinguished from oncocytic renal tumors and malignant rhabdoid tumor of kidney. The higher proliferative activity in the rhabdoid areas may indicate more aggressive biologic behavior.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Nephrectomy ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Rhabdoid Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of a novel marker, kidney-specific-protein (Ksp)-cadherin, in renal epithelial neoplasms and its clinicopathologic significance.

METHODSImmunohistochemical study (using EnVision method) for Ksp-cadherin, CD10, vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen and CK7 was carried out in normal human kidney samples, as well as in 166 cases of primary renal neoplasms (including 120 cases of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 20 cases of papillary RCC (type I papillary RCC 15 cases and type II papillary RCC 5 cases), 18 cases of chromophobe RCC and 8 cases of oncocytoma).

RESULTSKsp-cadherin was expressed in distal convoluted tubules of normal kidney in a membranous pattern. It was also detected in 23% (27/120) of clear cell RCC, 20% (4/20) of papillary RCC, 100% (18/18) of chromophobe RCC and 75% (6/8) of oncocytoma. High expression of CD10 and vimentin was noted in clear cell RCC and papillary RCC. CD10 was also expressed in chromophobe RCC in cytoplasmic pattern, compared with membranous staining in the other tumors. CK7 expression was mainly seen in chromophobe RCC and papillary RCC, while epithelial membrane antigen was expressed in all variants of RCC. On the other hand, the expression of Ksp-cadherin in clear cell RCC correlated with tumor stage and grade.

CONCLUSIONSKsp-cadherin is expressed in normal distal convoluted tubules and the related neoplasms. It carries relatively high specificity and sensitivity in diagnosis of chromophobe RCC and oncocytoma. The expression of Ksp-cadherin also correlates with biologic behavior of clear cell RCC.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Tubules ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism