Objective To investigate the effect of remifentanil on protein kinase C (PKC) activity during renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Seventy-five male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 250-300 g,were randomly divided into 5 groups (n=15 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),I/R group,remifentanil group (group R),naloxone group (group N),and naloxone + remifentanil group (group NR).Renal ischemia was induced by clamping the bilateral renal arteries for 45 min using an atraumatic clamp followed by reperfusion.In R and NR groups,remifentanil 1.0 μg · kg-1 · min-1was infused via the caudal vein starting from 15 min before ischemia until 30 min of reperfusion.In N and NR groups,naloxone 0.3 mg/kg was injected via the caudal vein at 20 min before ischemia and 35 min of ischemia,respectively.The rats were sacrificed at 24 h of reperfusion and the kidneys were removed for determination of the ultrastructure of the renal tubular epithelial cells (using transmission electron microscope),activity of PKC in renal tissues (by ELISA),and expression of the PKC in renal tissues (by immuno-histochemistry).Results Compared with group S,the activity of PKC in renal tissues was significantly increased in the other four groups,and the expression of the PKC in renal tissues was up-regulated in group R.Compared with group I/R,the activity of PKC in renal tissues was significantlyincreased,the expression of PKC in renal tissues was up-regulated,and the pathological changes were attenuated in group R.Compared with group R,the activity of PKC in renal tissues was significantly decreased,the expression of PKC in renal tissues was down-regulated,and the pathological changes were aggravated in N and NR groups.Conclusion The mechanism by which remifentanil attenuates renal I/R injury may be related to up-regulation of PKC expression and increase in PKC activity through activating opioid receptors in rats.

Objective To investigate the effect of remifentanil on nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 1 (NOD1) mRNA expression in rats with renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury.Methods Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 220-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =20 each):sham operation group (S group),I/R group and remifentanil group (R group).Renal ischemia was induced by occlusion of bilateral renal arteries for 45 min followed by 24 h reperfusion in groups I/R and R.Remifentanil 1.0 μg· kg-1 · min-1 was infused until 30 min of reperfusion starting from 15 min before ischemia in group R,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in S and I/R groups.The animals were sacrificed at 15 min before ischemia and at 3,6,24 h of reperfusion and the kidneys were removed for microscopic examination and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) count and for measurement of NOD1 mRNA expression (by RT-PCR).The apoptotic rate was determined by flow cytometry double staining method.Results Compared with group S,NOD1 mRNA expression was up-regulated,and the apoptotic rate and PMN count were significantly increased at each time point during reperfusion in group I/R,and the apoptotic rate and PMN count were significantly increased at each time point during reperfusion,and NOD1 mRNA expression was up-regulated at 6 and 24 h of reperfusion in group R (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with I/R group,NOD1 mRNA expression was down-regulated,and the apoptotic rate and PMN count were significantly decreased at each time point during reperfusion (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),and the pathological changes were significantly attenuated in group R.Conclusion Remifentanil can reduce the renal I/R injury by down-regulating the expression of NOD1 mRNA and inhibiting inflammatory response and apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the role of opioid receptors in remifentanil-induced attenuation of renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats.Methods Seventy-five male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into 5 groups ( n =15 each):sham operation group (group S),group I/R,remifentanil group (group R),naloxone group (group N),and naloxone + remifentanil group (group NR).Renal ischemia was induced by clamping the bilateral renal arteries for 45 min using an atraumatic clamp followed by reperfusion.In groups R and NR,remifentanil was infused at 1.0 μg· kg-1 · min-1 via the caudal vein starting from 15 min before ischemia until 30 min of reperfusion,while groups S,I/R and N received the equal volume of normal saline instead of remifentanil.In groups N and NR,naloxone 0.3 mg/kg was injected via the caudal vein at 20 min before ischemia and at 35 min after ischemia respectively,while groups S,I/R and R received the equal volume of normal saline instead of naloxone.Blood and urine samples were collected from the femoral vein and urinary bladder respectively at 24 h of reperfusion for determination of the levels of serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN),urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT).The rats were sacrificed at 24 h of reperfusion and the renal tissues were removed for determination of nalondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity.Pathological changes in renal tissues were observed with light microscope.Results Compared withgroup S,the levels of serum Cr and BUN,urinary NAG and γ-GT,and MDA were significantly increased,while the activity of SOD was significantly decreased in the other 4 groups ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ) and pathological changes in renal tissues were observed in the other 4 groups.Compared with group I/R,the levels of serum Cr and BUN,urinary NAG and γ-GT levels,and MDA were significantly decreased,while the activity of SOD was significantly increased ( P ＜ 0.01 ),and the pathological changes were reduced in group R,and no significant change was found in the parameters mentioned above in groups N and NR ( P ＞ 0.05).The pathological changes were similar in groups I/R,N and NR.Compured with group R,serum Cr and BUN concentrations,urinary NAG and γ-GT levels and MDA concent were increased,while SOD activity were decreased ( P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01 ).Conclusion Opioid receptors mediate remifentanil-induced attenuation of renal I/R injury in rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of remifentanil on Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) mRNA expression during renal ischemia-reperfusion (Ⅰ/R) in rats.Methods Fifty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 200-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=18 each) using a random number table:sham operation group (group S),Ⅰ/R group and remifentanil group (group R).Renal Ⅰ/R injury was produced by clamping the bilateral renal arteries for 45 min followed by reperfusion in Ⅰ/R and R groups.Bilateral renal arteries were only exposed but not clamped in group S.Remifentanil 1.0 μg · kg-1 · min-1 was infused via the tail vein starting from 15 min before ischemia until 30 min of reperfusion in group R,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead in S and Ⅰ/R groups.The animals were sacrificed at 15 min before ischemia and 6 and 24 h of reperfusion,and the renal specimens were obtained for examination of the pathological changes (with light microscope) and for determination of the contents of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (by ELISA) and expression of TLR2 mRNA (by RT-PCR) and cell apoptosis (by double staining and flow eytometry).The apoptotic rate was calculated.Results Compared with group S,TLR2 mRNA expression was significantly up-regulated,and the contents of TNF-α and IL-6 and apoptotic rate were increased at 6 and 24 h of reperfusion in Ⅰ/R and R groups.Compared with group Ⅰ/R,TLR2 mRNA expression was significantly down-regulated,and the contents of TNF-α and IL-6 and apoptotic rate were decreased at 6 and 24 h of reperfusion in group R.The pathological changes were significantly attenuated in group R as compared with group Ⅰ/R.Conclusion The mechanism by which remifentanil reduces renal Ⅰ/R injury is related to down-regulation of TLR2 expression and decrease in TLR2 activity and inhibition of inflammatory responses in renal tissues and cell apoptosis in rats.

Objective To evaluate the effect of remifentanil on cell apoptosis during renal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) in rats.Methods Seventy-five male Sprague-Dawley rats,weighing 220-250 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =25 each):sham operation group (group S),I/R group,and remifentanil group (group R).Renal ischemia was induced by occlusion of the bilateral renal arteries for 45 min followed by reperfusion in groups I/R and R.Remifentanil was infused at 1.0 μg· kg-1 · min-1 via the caudal vein starting from 15 min before ischemia until 30 min of reperfusion in group R,while the equal volume of normal saline was given instead of remifentanil in groups S and I/R.At 15 min before ischemia (T0) and 3,6,12,24 h of reperfusion (T1-4),5rats were anesthetized and sacrificed,and renal specimens were obtained to detect the apoptotic rate and expression of Bax and Bcl-2 protein (by flow cytometry) and mRNA (by RT-PCR).The ratios between Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were calculated.The pathological changes of renal tubules were scored.Results Compared with group S,the pathological scores and apoptotic rate were significantly increased at T1-4,and ratios between Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were increased at T1,2,while decreased at T3,4 in groups R and I/R (P ＜0.01).Compared with group I/R,the pathological scores and apoptotic rate were significantly decreased at T1-4,while the ratios between Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were increased in group R (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).Compared with the baseline value at T0,the pathological scores and apoptotic rates were significantly increased at T1 4,and the ratios of Bcl-2/Bax protein and mRNA expression were increased at T1,2,while decreased at T3,4 in groups R and I/R (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Regulation of Bcl-2/Bax expression and inhibition of cell apoptosis in renal tissues are involved in the mechanism by which remifentanil reduces renal I/R injury in rats.

Objective To explore the expression of Metastasis-associated in colon cancer-1 (MACC1) in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and its relationship with clinical pathologic characteristics and prognosis Methods The expression of MACC1 was detected in 130 cases of NPC and the relationship among the MACC1 expressions, clinical pathologic characteristics and prognosis of NPC was analyzed. Results Positive expression rate of MACC1was 68.5% in the NPC and MACC1 expression was associated with advanced T stages, lymph node metastasis and advanced clinical stages of NPC (P < 0.05). The results of Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the five year overall survival rate in patients with positive expressions of MACC1 (45.9%) was significantly lower than that of those with negative expressions (73.7%) and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05), Cox multi-factor analysis results showed that MACC1 expression was an independent prognostic factor for NPC (P = 0.004). Conclusion MACC1 abnormal expression is closely related to the invasion and metastasis of NPC and it is expected to become a new target for gene therapy of NPC.

Objective To investigate the effects of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)gene in the apoptosis of human trophoblastic cells.Methods The siRNA specific-targeting SHBG gene was transfected into human trophoblastic cells and they were divided into six groups:trophoblasts without transfection in normal control groups(group Ⅰ);transfect liposome in blank control groups(group Ⅱ);transfect nonspecific siRNA in negative control groups(group Ⅲ);transfect SHBG siRNA-Ⅰ,SHBG siRNA-Ⅱ,SHBG siRNA-Ⅲ respectively in trans-fection group(group Ⅳ,Ⅴ,Ⅵ).Hoechst 33258 dying method was used to detect cell apoptosis.SHBG and Caspase-3 mRNA profiling and the level of SHBG and caspase-3 protein were detected by real-time PCR and Western blot.Results There was no statistical significant difference in the gene expression and protein level of SHBG and caspase-3 in group Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ (P >0.05).In Ⅳ,Ⅴ and Ⅵ group,there was no statistical significant difference in the expression level of SHBG and caspase 3 (P >0.05).Compared with group Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ,the a-mount of SHBG gene expression decreased obviously,the caspase-3 mRNA and protein level increased obviously and the trophoblast cell ap-optosis increased markedly (P <0.05).Conclusion Through siRNA interference technology can reduce SHBG gene expression in human trophoblastic cells,and it can lead to excessive apoptosis of human trophoblasts cells.

Objective To observe the role and related mechanism of chemerin and its receptor ChemR23 in glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) stimulated by high glucose.Methods Mouse GEnCs were cultured and divided into control group,20.0 mmol/L high glucose group,40.0 mmol/L high glucose group and mannitol control group.Then the expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in cell culture supematant as well as the expressions of intracellular protein and mRNA of chemerin,ChemR23,IL-6 and TNF-α were detected.Lentiviral transfection targeting ChemR23 was applied before high glucose-or Chemerin-stimulated,and expressions of supernatant and intracellular mRNA of IL-6 and TNF-α were measured.Meanwhile whether p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) pathway was activated by high glucose was detected.The specific inhibitor of p38 MAPK was added prior to high glucose-stimulated,then supernatant and intracellular mRNA expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α was detected.The supernatant expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were measured by ELISA.The intracellular protein expression and p38 MAPK phosphorylation activity were detected by Western blotting.The mRNA expression was detected by real time PCR.Results Compared with those in the control group,in high glucose groups the expressions of IL-6,TNF-α and chemerin were significantly increased (all P ＜ 0.05),however,the expressions of ChemR23 did not change (all P ＞ 0.05);the supernatant and mRNA expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were also elevated in the chemerin group (all P ＜ 0.05).Lentivirus baring shRNA could efficiently suppress ChemR23 expression,and the Chemerin-or high glucose-induced expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were reduced (all P ＜ 0.05).Also it could significantly reduce the expression of phosphorylated-p38 MAPK (p-p38 MAPK) induced by high glucose (P ＜ 0.05),as high glucose group had higher p-p38 MAPK than control group (P ＜ 0.05).While the high glucose-elevated expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly attenuated by p38 MAPK inhibitor (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions High glucose stimulation can induce the expression of chemerin in GEnCs.By binding to ChemR23,chemerin activates p38 MAPK signaling pathway,and then promotes the expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α.These inflammatory cytokines aggravate inflammation of GEnCs.

Dyslipidemia is one of the most common complications of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). This article reviews the latest research on lipid profile, the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and treatment of PBC with hyperlipidemia. Different from other liver diseases, PBC with hyperlipidemia has a unique lipid profile, which changes dynamically with disease progression. It is generally not considered that there are increased risks of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. For those who have indications for treatment, statins are recommended as the first choice. In the future, more in-depth systematic studies are needed to clarify its diagnosis, treatment, and management processes.

Objective To investigate the effect of miRNA-199a-3p overexpression on the expression of MAP3K4 protein in gastric cancer. Methods 35 gastric cancers and the matched adjacent tissue specimens were collected. Expression of miRNA-199a-3p and MAP3K4 were detected by stem-loop real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot. Cell transfection was employed to explore the regulation of miRNA-199a-3p on MAP3K4 gene. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to identify target MAP3K4 gene. Results Com-pared with the adjacent tissue specimens ,miRNA-199a-3p was upregulated in the gastric cancers ,and MAP3K4 protein was down-regulated in the gastric cancers. Cells transfected with miR-199a-3p mimics showed lower MAP3K4 protein. MAP3K4 was identified as target gene of miR-199a-3p. Conclusions miRNA-199a-3p acts as an oncogene in gastric cancer and functions by targeting MAP3K4.