BACKGROUND: p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family. It plays an important role in the development of osteoarthritis. OBJECTIVE: To review the progress of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway in the pathological process of osteoarthritis. METHODS: An online search of CNKI and PubMed databases was performed for articles using keywords of “p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway, osteoarthritis, articular cartilage, chondrocyte” in Chinese and English, respectively. Relevant articles were summarized from three aspects of introduction of p38 signal transduction pathway, the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway in osteoarthritis and the inhibitor of p38 in osteoarthritis. A total of 90 articles were included. According to inclusion criteria, a number of 46 articles were retained at last. RESULES AND CONCLUSION: p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway has a close relation with chondrocyte hypertrophy and calcification, chondrocyte apoptosis, synthesis of cartilage matrix metal oproteinase, production of proinflammatory cytokines, and exerts a significant effect on the development of osteoarthritis. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase is involved in the formation and development of osteoarthritis through a variety of complex mechanisms and plays a very important role. Therefore, blocking p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway may be a new target in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Objective To study the value of CT scan in diagnosis and clinical therapy of thyroid diseases.Methods CT findings in 61 cases with various thyroid diseases confirmed pathologically were analyzed retrospectively.Results ① 9 patients were Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.Of them,5 cases were diffuse lesions and 4 localized at one enlarged lobe and 1 with calcification.② 28 cases with hyperplasia included 2 Graves disease of diffuse lesions with enlargement and 26 nodular hyperplasia.There were calcification in 8 and cystic change in 13.③ 24 cases of thyroid tumor included 14 thyroid adenomas with complete circumscribed enhanced ring around the lesion,10 of them were in company with cystic change and 4 with calcification.13 cases were single lesion and one case was mattiple lesions.10 thyroid carcinoma,3 cases were in company with cystic change and 7 with calcification.Metastasis of cervical lymph nodus was found by CT in 7 cases.Metastatic lymph nodes presented marked enhancement,cystic change and calcification.Conclusion CT scan both plain and contrast-enhanced are beneficial for the detection of thyroid diseases,and is also important for planning the management and predicting the prognosis of this disease.

Objective To examine the changes of histological parameters of radial artery in uremia,and to explore their effects on arterial stiffness.Methods Sixty uremic patients underwent arteriovenous fistula surgery for hemodialysis and 20 healthy subjects received healthy examination were collected as uremia group and control group, respectively.Segments of radial arteries were obtained from all of uremic subjects and were evaluated by HE, Masson, van Kossa staining and electron microscopy.The expressions of osteopontin (OPN), α-SMA and elastin in arterial wall were detected by immunostaining, and apoptotic cells were determined by TUNEL assay.All of the subjects in the two groups received brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) examination and the results were compared.The associations among histological parameters and baPWV were analyzed.Results More than one half (34/60) of artery samples presented uniformly thickening intima, in which most of cells expressed α-SMA and a few cells underwent apoptosis.The subendothelial matrix was abundant in collagen fibers, and no calcium deposition was found.The media thickened obviously, with increased collagen fibers, reduced elastin, unchanged α-SMA expression, and a few apoptotic smooth muscle cells.Two thirds uremic arteries expressed OPN, of which only one half had significant calcium deposition.The adventitia thickened and no calcium deposition was found.The baPWV level in uremic subjects was ( 18.5 ± 3.2 ) m/s, far greater than that in control subjects ( P ＜ 0.001 ).Statistical analysis showed that baPWV value was correlated with media thickness, calcification degree, and collagen content positively, and with elastin expression negatively.For diabetic uremic subjects, the OR values of vascular calcium deposition and remarkably-elevated baPWV value were 3.1, 2.3, respectively.Conclusions Radial arterial intima often presents hyperplasia which is not related with baPWV increment in uremia.Arterial media calcification and collagen content incremental are the most two protuberant characteristics in uremia, especially in ones accompanied with diabetes.Medical calcification, collagen accumulation, and e]astin reduction may contribute to the increased arterial stiffness in uremia.

Objective To investigate the clinical application of MR hydrography (MRH) in diagnosing alveolar echinococcosis (AE). Methods Thirty-four patients with suspected alveolar echinococcosis were examined using MRH in addition to conventional magnetic resonance imaging(cMRI).Thirty-two of the 34 patinets had surgery and the pathological diagnoses were alveolar echinococcosis.Results Among 128 lesions in these 32 patients found at surgery,cMRI examination found 68 lesions and MRH found 108 lesions.The sensitivity of cMRI examination was (53.13 ±0.04) %,the specificity was (92.59 ± 0.05) %,concordance rate was (60.00 ± 0.03) %.The sensitivity of MRH examination was (84.38 ± 0.03) %,the specificity was (81.48 ± 0.08) %,concordance rate was (83.87 ± 0.03) %.Comparing concordance rate of cMRI examination and MRH,significant difference was found (U = 5.44,P < 0.01).Conclusion MRH technique can raise the sensitivity and concordance rote for diagnosing AE. This technique should be employed in the evaluation of patients suspected of AE.

Objective To investigate the expression of inflammatory mediators in renal tubular epithelial cells in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and to explore the possible clinicopathological significance. Methods Twenty-three patients with DN diagnosed by renal biopsy and 10 patients with renal cell carcinoma undergone nephrectomy were allocated into DN group and control group, respectively. The renal expression of NF-κB p50, NF-κB p65, NF-κB p65 mRNA, MCP-1, OPN, α-SMA, and FN was detected by immunohistochemical or in situ hybridization assay. Serum creatinine, urinary N-acetylglucosaminedase (NAG), urinary albumin and 24-hour urinary protein were detected. The correlation between these inflmmnatory markers and clinicopathological data were analyzed. Results (1)Among all the 23 DN patients, granular degeneration of the renal tubular epithelium, focal tubular atrophy, infiltration of inflammatory cells and interstitial fibrosis were apparent, and none of these were found in control group. (2) Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization assay showed that, compared with control group, expression of these factors increased significantly in renal tubular cells or interstitium in DN patients, and expression of α-SMA or FN was not found in tubular epithelial cells. (3)Statistics assay showed the tubular NF-κB p65 protein expression was correlated with all of the following factors: NF-κB p50 protein (r=0.792) and NF-κB p65 mRNA (r=0.763), tubular MCP-1 (r=0.825) and OPN (r=0.869) expression, interstitial α-SMA (r=0.327) and FN (r=0.432) expression, proteinuria(r=0.710), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r=-0.728), and urinary NAG (r= 0.930), P<0.01 respectively. Conclusion Tubular inflammation may play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of DN.

Objective To evaluate the effect of high-frequency chest well oscillation expectoration system on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and time for withdrawing mechanical ventilation (MV) system in ICU patients with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Methods 100 ICU patients with IMV were divided into observationgroup (n = 50) and control group (n = 50). The high-frequency chest well oscillation expectoration was used in the former group and the mechanical vibration expectoration was used in the latter. The two groups were compared in terms of amount of sputum, vital signs (heart rate, breathing, systolic blood pressure and blood oxygen saturation), time for withdrawing MV system and VAP rate. Results On days 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the amount of sputum in the observationgroup was (33.5 ± 4.2)mL/d, (41.1 ± 3.0)mL/d, (38.2± 3 .5) mL/d, (34.8 ± 2.5) mL/d and (31.1 ± 2.1) mL/d, and those of the control group respectively was (27.4 ± 3.1) mL/d, (30.3 ± 3.6) mL/d, (28.1 ± 2.2) mL/d, (25.7±1.8)mL/d and (20.8 ± 1.7)mL/d. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). After sputum expectoration, the blood oxygen saturation of the observationgroup was significantly higher than the control group [(97.5 ± 0.9) vs. (95.2 ± 1.0)] (P <0.05), but there were no statistical differences in heart rate, breathing and systolic blood pressure (P > 0.05). The time for withdrawing MV system in the observationgroup and the control group respectively was (5.8 ± 2.2)d and (9.5 ± 1.8)d, (P < 0.05). The rates of VAP in the observationgroup and the control group respectively was 30.0% (15/50) and 52.0% (26/50), with significant difference between them (P < 0.05). Conclusion The high-frequency chest well oscillation expectoration for ICU patients with invasive mechanical ventilation can promote sputum expectoration , improve blood oxygen saturation , shorten the time for withdrawing the ventilator, and prevent the incidence of VAP.

Objective To investigate the association of radial arterial calcification damage with bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism biomarkers in uremia patients.Methods Sixty-seven incident hemodialysis patients were recruited into uremic group.Serum creatinine,calcium,phosphorus,lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD were measured.Parathyroid hormone (iPTH),25OHD,1,25(OH)2D,fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23,bone specific alkaline phosphates (BAP) and osteocalcin (BGP),type Ⅰ collagen pyridine crosslinked C-telopcptidc (ICTP) were detected.Radial artery calcification was analyzed by von Kossa staining and transmission electron microscopy.Arterial type Ⅰ collagen (Col Ⅰ) expression was examined.Twenty-three healthy cases received serum and BMD examination only as control.Results Uremic patients presented higher serum phosphate,iPTH,FGF23,lower serum calcium,25OHD,1,25 (OH)2D (all P ＜ 0.05),and lower lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD (all P ＜ 0.01) compared to controls.Significant calcium deposit was observed in radial arteries in 24 uremic cases (35.8％),including 10 cases of diabetes.Immunohistochemistric assay confirmed that Col Ⅰ expression increased around calcification site and electron microscope revealed that more calcium and phosphorus plaque attached among collagen fibers.No correlation was showed between iPTH and radial artery calcification (r =-0.08,P =0.306),but after stratified by iPTH levels,correlation of iPTH and calcification was found in low iPTH (＜ 150 ng/L) group and high iPTH group (＞ 300 ng/L) (r =-0.41,0.31,P=0.044,0.023).Diabetes,lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD,ICTP,FGF23 were correlated with arterial calcification (r =0.62,-0.25,-0.43,0.34,0.86,P =0.000,0.001,0.012,0.018,0.000).Multiple regression analysis showed femoral neck BMD,ICTP,FGF23 levels were independently associated with radial arterial calcification (β =-0.221,0.181,0.260,P =0.021,0.024,0.036).Conclusion In uremic patients,reduced BMD,abnormal bone turnover rate,especially accelerated bone reabsorption,and increased serum FGF23 level are independently associated with radial artery calcification.

Objective:To analyze the diagnosis and treatment process of a kala-azar case with prominent renal damage treated with liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB), and to provide theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods:A retrospective analysis method was used to analyze the clinical data, diagnosis and treatment process and laboratory test results of a case of kala-azar with prominent renal damage who presented to the Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University on June 30, 2020.Results:A 56-year-old female patient presented with fever (the highest body temperature was 38.2 ℃) and chills. The results of clinical laboratory tests showed that hemoglobin(55 g/L), red blood cell (2.68 × 10 12/L), white blood cell (1.06 × 10 9/L) and platelet count (8.00 × 10 9/L) were decreased, renal function showed abnormal blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, spleen enlargement, etc., and the diagnosis of kala-azar combined with kidney insufficiency was confirmed by blood and bone marrow Leishmania spp. examination. With the assistance of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), after a small dose of L-AmB was initially and slowly increased and maintained at a low dose, the patient's body temperature was normal, the blood routine showed that the three-lineage cells gradually increased, and the renal function showed blood urea nitrogen and creatinine decreased gradually the spleen was retracted; no recurrence was found at follow-up after 6 months, and renal function returned to normal. Conclusions:L-AmB is safe and effective in the treatment of kala-azar with renal damage as the prominent manifestation. The patient is not only cured by etiology, but is also recovered renal function.

Rituximab is currently used as a first-line therapy for phospholipase A 2 receptor-associated membranous nephropathy due to its good efficacy and safety. Although the remission rate after rituximab treatment is more than 60%, nearly 40% patients still do not respond to treatment. We used obinutuzumab to treat 3 cases of rituximab resistant PLA 2R-associated membranous nephropathy. After the first dose of 1 000 mg with or without additional dose, the amount of anti-PLA 2R antibody and urinary protein decreased significantly and the adverse reactions were mild. The results show that obinutuzumab has a certain therapeutic effect on rituximab resistant PLA 2R-associated membranous nephropathy, but the time of follow-up observation is short and can only be used as individual cases, which needs to be confirmed by a large sample and high-quality prospective cohort study.