The pitiutary function tests in diabetes insipidus were compared by means of analyses of clinical data. It is considered that the water deprivation-ADH test is more reliable than the hypertonic saline test in differential diagnosis of complete diabetes insipidus from partial diabetes insipidus and central diabetes insipidus from nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Some suggestions on the time of water deprivation test, the improvement of hypertonic saline solution test and diagnosis of partial nephrogenic diabetes insipidus were made in this paper.

BACKGROUND: Studies of biological characteristics of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and regulatory factors that influenced the differentiation of MSCs have shown that the proportion of the natural differentiation from in vitro primarily cultured MSCs into hepatocytes was low, and to select a suitable inductor is important to enhance the differentiation of MSCs into hepatocytes.OBJECTIVE: To verify the feasibility of induced differentiation of rat bone marrow MSCs (BMSCs) into hepatocytes using the combination of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF-4).DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The cytological in vitro study was performed at the Experimental Center, Weifang Medical College in August 2007.MATERIALS: Totally 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were supplied by the Experimental Animal Center, Weifang Medical College.METHODS: Rat BMSCs were incubated by adherent method. BMSCs at passage 3 were assigned to 2 groups. BMSCs in the blank control group were treated with L-DMEM containing 10% fetal bovine serum. BMSCs in the combination group were treated with 10 μg/L FGF, 8 μg/L HGF and 8 μg/L EGF following above-mentioned procedures.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Inverted microscope was used to observe the morphological changes in cells.Immunofluorescence method was used to observe the expression of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and albumin (ALB). PAS was employed to detect the expression of glycogen. Fox green intake experiment was conducted. Enzymology was utilized to test the contents of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).RESULTS: BMSCs in the combination group presented polygonal, orbicular or round shape. BMSCs in the blank control group remained spindle. BMSCs in the combination group were positive for AFP and ALB at day 14 following culture, and a few PAS-positive and fox green-positive cells were found at day 7. Positive cells became more over time. Synthesis of ALT, AST and ALP was detected at day 14, reached a peak at 21 days, and then decreased. Above-described indexes were negative in the blank control group.CONCLUSION: After induced by the FGF, HGF and EGF, BMSCs have the ability to differentiate into hepatocytes in vitro.

Objective To investigate the effect of at-RA in macrophage accumulation in tubulointerstitium of rats with renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.Methods Unilateral ureteral obstructive(UUO) rat animal models were used for the study.40 SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: sham group,UUO group,benazepril group,low-dose at-RA groups and high-dose at-RA groups.The rats were under intragastric administration by benazepril(10mg/(kg?d)) in benazepril group,and by(at-RA)(10mg/(kg?d)) in low-dose at-RA group and 20mg/(kg?d) in high-dose at-RA group and by sodium chloride in tales doses in sham group and UUO group from the day before the operation to 14 day after operation.Immunohistochemistry staining of CD68 and Col Ⅲ was used to define the macrophage accumulation and expression of interstitial Col Ⅲ.The degree of tubulointerstitial damage was scored by HE and Masson staining.Results Tubulointerstitial macrophage infiltration were all significantly reduced by(at-RA) or benazepril treatment.They also improved the histological changes of UUO rats and inhibited interstitial colⅢ deposition.Conclusion Reduction of interstitial macrophage infiltration may be an important event by which(at-RA) or benazepril prevents renal injury caused by UUO.

Objective To investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid(atRA) on the urinary TGF?_1 excretion and glomerular lesion of diabetic rats at early stage.Methods SD rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups: atRA treated group,diabetic control group and normal control group.Streptozotocin(STZ)-induced early diabetic male SD rat were used.The atRA treated group were treated with daily subcutaneous injections atRA of 10mg/kg for 7 days(n=6),and then the excretion of urinary protein and TGF?_1 and NO level of plasma,urine and renal tissue were measured,and pathological changes of their kidneys were observed.Results The diabetic control rats showed increased urinary excretion of protein and TGF?_1 and NO level of plasma,urine and renal tissue and deposit of glomerular matrix,while atRA prevented these changes.Conclusion AtRA can prevent the development of diabetic nephropathy,which is relevant with the inhibition of secretion of TGF?_1 and NO.

Objective:To investigate the effects of rapamycin on the autophagy activation of M2 macrophages and the radiosensitivity in colorectal cancer xenograft.Methods:THP-1 cells were induced into Type-Ⅱ macrophages with PMA and/or IL-4. Rapamycin and Bafilomycin A1 were uesd to activate and suppress autophagy of M2 macrophage, respectively. Colorectal cancer LoVo cells were inoculated on BALB/c-nu/nu nude mice. After the xenograft tumor size approached to 10 mm in diameter, the nude mice were divided into the following groups randomly: M2 macrophage autophagy inactive group and active group, autophagy downregulation of the activated group, and nontreatment control group. The tumors in mice were irradiated with 8 Gy X-rays in two fractions, and the radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer xenograft in each group was analyzed.Results:The expression levels of M2 macrophage markers Arg-1 and CCL-22 were significantly higher than those in M0 macrophage. The tumor weight, volume [(1.93±0.05)g, (2.14±0.06)cm 3] and micro-vessel density (36.37±1.04) in M2 autophagy inactive group were higher than those in control group [(1.35±0.05)g, (1.77±0.02)cm 3, 25.69±1.34] ( t=20.07, 14.56, 10.92, P < 0.05). After activation of M2 autophagy, the tumor weight, volume and micro-vessel density were significantly decreased to (0.89±0.03)g, (1.24±0.01)cm 3, and 13.60±1.52 ( t=44.37, 40.32, 21.43, P < 0.05). After down-regulation of M2 autophagy with bafilomycin A1, the tumor weight, volume and micro-vessel density were increased to (1.02±0.07)g, (1.37±0.02)cm 3, and 21.06±1.41 ( t=4.67, 13.79, 6.23, P < 0.05). Autophagy inaction suppressed the expression of Livin and Survivin in tumor ( t=2.64, 7.90, P < 0.05), and the activation of M2 autophagy further down-regulated the expression of Livin, Survivin ( t=5.43, 9.39, P < 0.05). The expression levels of Livin and Survivin were increased after the treatment with bafilomycin A1 ( t=2.80, 3.17, P<0.05). Conclusions:M2 macrophagy promoted the growth of colorectal cancer xenograft by inducing the formation of micro-vessels in the tumor, which is one of the mechanisms of tumor-associated macrophages participating in the radiotherapy resistance of colorectal cancer. Activation of M2 autophagy by rapamycin inhibited the ability of M2 macrophagy in promoting tumor growth, and induced apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells after radiotherapy by down-regulating the expression of anti-apoptotic genes Livin and Survivin, thus increased the radiosensitivity of colorectal cancer.