Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the shear-wave elasticity (SWE) imaging technology on the quantitative diagnosis of chronic nephrosis stage.Methods Sixty patients with nephrosis (nephrosis group) were evaluated with SWE and the renal function test.The Young's modulus value and the renal function were measured,and the results were compared with those of twenty healthy subjects (control group).Results Twenty cases of healthy control group were definited as R0.Sixty patients of nephrosis group were divided into four groups according to renal function:R1-R4.The Young's modulus of the nephrosis group was significantly higher than the control group (P ＜0.01).There were also statistically significant differences among each stage of the nephrosis group (except R1 and R2 of nephrosis group)(P ＜ 0.01).According the ROC curve,the cut-off value of the Young's modulus was 5.53 kPa when maximum area under the curve equal to 0.886,the sensitivity and specificity were 81.70％ and 80.40％.The Young's modulus value and renal function were positively correlated with the stage of nephrosis.The areas under the ROC curves for the Young's modulus,urea nitrogen and csytatin C were 0.965,0.950,0.965 for ≥R3,0.978,0.912,0.961 for =R4,respectively.Conclusions SWE imaging technology provided a new quantitative index for the stage of nephrosis through quantizing the elasticity of the tissue.

AIM: To observe the expression of HIF-1? mRNA, HIF-1?, VEGF and iNOS proteins and to investigate their relationship in h ypoxia-treated SW480 cells. METHODS: HIF-1?, VEGF and iNOS proteins were measured by immuno cytochemistry. Western-blot was used to detect HIF-1? protein. HIF-1? mRNA wa s measured by in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Under hypoxic condition, SW480 cells expressed proteins of HIF-1?, VEGF and iNOS more strongly than that under normoxia condition. How e ver, under hypoxia condition, these three proteins expressed weakly or negativel y when the cells treated with genistein, the inhibitor of HIF-1?. Expressions o f HIF-1? and VEGF proteins in cultured SW480 cells under hypoxic condition were completely or partially inhibited by the addition of SNP but the expression of iNOS was unaffected. Another NO donor NOC5, however, induced the expression of t hese three proteins. L-NAME, a non-specific inhibitor of NOS, inhibited the expr ession of HIF-1?, VEGF and iNOS. The levels of HIF-1? mRNA changed slightly i n different oxygen condition or addition of genistein, NO donor or iNOS inhibitor . CONCLUSIONS: Hypoxia induces the expression of HIF-1?, therefor e upregulates the production of VEGF and iNOS. During hypoxia, SNP inhibits but N OC5 promotes HIF-1? expression, indicating that different NO donor acts on the cells through different mechanisms.

Objective To explore the value of shear wave elastography (SWE) in diffuse thyroid disease.Methods The elastic modulus were detected by SWE in 41cases of diffuse thyroid disease [including 16 cases of Graves' disease (GD),16 cases of Hashimoto' s thyroiditis (HT) and 9 cases of subacute thyroiditis(SAT)] and 30 cases of healthy volunteers.The elastic modulus,including Emean,Emin and Emax,were measured and compared.Results Compared with the normal group[Emean(15.7-± 2.5)kPa,Emin(11.6 ± 2.4)kPa and Emax (20.2 ± 3.0)kPa],the Emean[(20.4 ± 4.7)kPa],Emin[(14.4-± 3.8)kPa] and Emax [(27.8 ± 7.3)kPa] of GD,the Emean [(18.4-± 5.0)kPa] and Emax [(25.2 ± 5.8)kPa] of HT,and the Emean[(11.0 ± 2.9)kPa] and Emin [(6.0 ± 2.7)kPa] of the SAT were different significantly(P =0.001,0.007,0.001 ; P =0.045,0.001 ; P =0.000,0.000).There were significant differences between the SAT and the other two groups,namely GD and HT (P ＜0.05).Such differences,however,were not found between GD and HT (P ＞0.05).Conclusions SWE can be used to measure the elastic modulus of the thyroid tissue quantitatively and objectively,serving as a useful technique to predict the diffuse thyroid disease.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pathogenic factors of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections.

METHODSTotally 36 serum samples were obtained from early pregnant woman and examined with ELISA for anti-HCMV antibody IgG and IgM. After artificial abortion,chorionic villus and decidua were also examined with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for HCMV-DNA. When the results of PCR were positive, pathological changes of these chorionic villus and decidua were analyzed.

RESULTSThe results showed that only 10 samples were PCR positive while IgG and/or IgM antibody to HCMV was positive. After infection with HCMV, different changes occurred in chorionic villus and decidual trophoblastic cells placental villus were hyperplasic and decidua cells degenerated and necrotized followed by lymphocytes infiltration.

CONCLUSIONThese pathological changes may be one of pathogenic factors of HCMV.

Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Chorionic Villi ; pathology ; virology ; Cytomegalovirus ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; pathology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Decidua ; pathology ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; pathology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo examine the expression of calreticulin (CRT) and the changes of intracellular free calcium and neuronal apoptosis in the cerebral cortex of neonatal rats with hypoxic-ischemic brain damage (HIBD), and to investigate the intervention effects of Shenfu injection.

METHODSSeven-day-old rats were randomly assigned to three groups: control, hypoxic-ischemia (HI) and Shenfu-treated. Each group (n=50) was subdivided into 5 groups sacrificed at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 72 hours. Rat models of HIBD were prepared according to the Rice's method. Rats in the control group only underwent the separation of right common carotidartery. Shenfu injection was administered by intraperitoneal injections right after HI insults and then once daily at a dosage of 10 mL/kg for 3 days in the Shenfu-treated group. The expression of CRT in the cerebral cortex was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. The free calcium concentrations were determined under a fluorescent microscope. The apoptosis rate was measured by the flow cytometry.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the expression levels of CRT in the HI and the Shenfu-treated groups were obviously up-regulated (P<0.05), and the expression levels of CRT in the Shenfu-treated group were notably higher than those in the HI group (P<0.05) at all time points. The concentrations of intracellular free calcium and the apoptosis rate of neurons in the cerebral cortex in the Shenfu-treated group were significantly reduced compared with those in the HI group (P<0.05), but increased significantly compared with those in the control group at all time points (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSShenfu injection may have neuroprotective effects against HIBD by up-regulation of CRT expression and relief of calcium overload.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calreticulin ; analysis ; Cerebral Cortex ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Injections ; Male ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism of APL cell resistance to ATRA.

METHODSThe ATRA sensitive and resistant APL cell lines, NB4 and NB4-R1, were used as in vitro models. The effects of specific inhibitors and activators of adenylate cyclase (AC) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) on ATRA-induced differentiation was evaluated by cell morphology, cell surface antigen expression and nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assays.

RESULTSSQ22536, a specific antagonist of AC, could dramatically block ATRA-induced NB4 cell differentiation. When ATRA + SQ22536 group compared with ATRA group, the positivity of CD11b decreased from (95.9 +/- 2.5)% to (60.3 +/- 7.1)%, while the A(540) in NBT reduction assay decreased from 0.585 +/- 0.092 to 0.170 +/- 0.028 (P < 0.05). Forskolin, an agonist of AC, could overcome the resistance of NB4-R1 cells to ATRA. When ATRA + forskolin group compared with ATRA group, the positivity of CD11b increased from (34.3 +/- 5.3)% to (94.6 +/- 2.4)%, while the A(540) in NBT reduction assay increased from 0.110 +/- 0.028 to 0.395 +/- 0.049 (P < 0.05). In contrast, the specific antagonist and agonist of PDE, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and calmodulin, exerted little impact on ATRA treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe defaults in the initiation of AC activation may contribute to the resistance to ATRA in some APL cells.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors ; Adenylyl Cyclases ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; CD11b Antigen ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases ; metabolism ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVESTo test in vitro the spermatozocidine drug which can also prevent sex transmitting diseases (STD) pathogens.

METHODSChlorheridine diacetate and other three chemical compounds were applied in vitro spermatozocidine and sperm inhibitting tests.

RESULTSThe lowest concentrations of chlorheridine diacetate and p-nitrophenol which can inhibit human sperm in 20 seconds were 1.25 mg/ml. The minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration of chlorheridine diacetate and p-nitrophenol on Streptococcus albus Stemberg were 0.125 to 0.50 mg/ml and 0.25 to 1.00 mg/ml.

CONCLUSIONSChlorheridine diacetate and p-uitrophenol have strong spermatozocidine and antibacteria effects.

Acetates ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae ; drug effects ; Nitrophenols ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; prevention & control ; Spermatocidal Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Streptococcus ; drug effects

Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; Child, Preschool ; Favism ; complications ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the optimal starvation conditions of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and establish a highly efficient and stable method for separating HUVECs.

METHODSHUVECs harvested from human umbilical cords by digestion with 0.1% collagenase II for 15 min were cultured in endothelial culture medium (ECM) containing 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 1% endothelial cell growth factor (ECGS) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin solution(P/S) at 37 degrees celsius; in 5% CO2. The cells were observed for cell morphology under an inverted microscope and identified with immunofluorescence assay. The purity of HUVECs was detected using flow cytometry (FCM). The cell cycles of HUVECs cultured in the presence of 0, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% FBS for 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h were analyzed with flow cytometry.

RESULTSs The purity of HUVECs harvested by digestion with 0.1% collagenase II reached 99.67%. The primary HUVECs showed a cobblestone or volute appearance in vitro. Immunocytochemistry showed that HUVECs highly expressed VIII-related antigen. Cell culture in the presence of different concentrations of FBS for 6 h resulted in 70% G0/G1 phase cells, which increased to 80%-90% at 12 h of cell culture, and further to around 95% at 18 and 24 h.

CONCLUSIONDigestion with 0.1% collagenase II can obtain high-purity primary HUVECs. Culturing HUVECs in serum-free medium for 12 h can result in a high purity (over 80%) of G0/G1 phase cells.

Cell Culture Techniques ; Cell Cycle ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; Flow Cytometry ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 ; chemistry ; Serum

BACKGROUNDImplantation of tissue-engineered scaffolds is one of the most promising therapeutic strategies for inducing nerve regenerations following spinal cord injuries. In this paper, we report a novel bioengineered hybrid scaffold comprised of three major extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.

METHODSECM-scaffolds (ECM-S) were prepared by gelling fibrinogen, fibronectin and laminin using fresh rat plasma. Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) were isolated from fresh rat olfactory mucosa, purified under differential adhesion, and assessed by immunofluorescent staining. OECs were seeded onto ECM-S and cultured. The effects of the scaffolds on the seeded cells were detected using the immunofluorescent staining, Western blotting, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSTissue-engineered ECM-S could be easily molded into mat-like or cylindrical shapes and gelled by addition of fresh plasma. Observations by electron microscopy show that the ECM-S forms a stable three-dimensional porous network. Studies on the effects of the ECM-S on the biological behaviors of OECs in vitro indicate that the scaffold can promote OEC adhesion, proliferation and process extensions. Additionally, OECs seeded on the scaffold maintained the expression of nerve growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-3 and matrix metalloproteinase-9.

CONCLUSIONWe developed a biosynthetic hybrid gel which could be used as a scaffold for OEC transplantation; this gel can promote nerve regeneration following spinal cord injuries.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Immunoblotting ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Olfactory Bulb ; cytology ; physiology ; transplantation ; Olfactory Mucosa ; cytology ; physiology ; transplantation ; Rats ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy ; Tissue Engineering ; methods ; Tissue Scaffolds