Objective To observe the effects of calcitriol on cellular proliferation and apoptosis,and on the expression of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)-induced α-SMA and extracellular matrix(ECM)synthesis in renal interstitial fibroblasts,so as to illustrate its potential roles and underlying mechanisms in preventing renal interstitial fibrosis. Methods In NRK-49F of cultured rats in vitro,cellular proliferation was detected by MTY.The cellular cycle and apoptosis were assessed by flow eytometry using annexin-V FITC/propidium iodide(PI).Real-time PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression of α-SMA,CTGF and FN,and Western blot was performed to detect the protein expression of α-SMA and FN. Results Cellular proliferation was inhibited by calcitriol through G1-arrest (P＜0.05).But calcitriol had no effect on cell apoptosis(P＞0.05).Increased expression of α-SMA,CTGF and FN mRNA induced by TGF-β1were significantly suppressed by calcitriol as compared with TGF-β1 treated group (P＜0.05).However,there was no significant difference among the groups with various concentration of calcitrol (P＞0.05).The similar phenomenon of the level of α-SMA and FN protein expression was observed in all groups by Western blot. Conclusion Caleiniol inhibits cellular proliferation of renal interstitial fibroblast by G1-arrest,but has no effect on cell apoptosis,and can prevent renal interstitial fibrosis caused by TGF-β1.

Objective To study the expression of transforming growth factor ?(TGF-?) and connective tissue growth factor(CTGF) in renal interslitium of patients with lupus nephritis(LN) and itssignificance. Methods Expression of TGF-?1, CTGF, CD3, CD68, proliferative nuclear cell antigen(PCNA) and ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) in renal interstitium of LN patients were detected byimmunohistochemical staining. The degrees of staining in LN patients were compared to those in patients withminimal change disease (MCD) . Results Expression of TGF-?1 and CTGF in renal interstitium elevatedsignificantly in LN patients as compared to those in MCD patients. There was a positive correlation betweenthe expression of TGF-?1 and CTGF ( r = 0. 5316, P = 0. 023). The expression of ?-SMA and the numbersof CD3, CD68 and PCNA positive cells in renal intersitium were significantly increased in LN patients as compared with MCD cases. The expression of a-SMA in renal interstitium was correlated with the degree of renal interstitial lesions or fibrosis( r = 0. 436, P = 0.032) . Conclusion The increased expression ofTGF-?1 and CTGF in LN patients may be involved in the damage of renal interstitium and the infiltration ofinflammatory cells.

Objective:To evaluate the effect and adverse reaction of thymosin ?1(T?1) in the treatment of malignant tumor.Methods:MEDLINE,Chinese hospital knowledge database(CHKD),Chinese Biomedical Database(CBM) were searched by key word ,and the obtained references were screened for clinical controlled trials(CCT) on the introduction of T?1 in therapy of malignant tumor.The CCT results of efficacy and safety were pooled and analyzed with a fixed or random effects model after Chi-Square testing for heterogeneity.Results:Six CCTs were included for efficacy analysis.It was found that the efficacy rate in T?1 group(70.63%) was significantly higher than that in control group(52.99%),and the value of odds ratio was 1.28 with the 95% confidence interval from 1.06 to 1.55(P

Observing the effects of Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser(RGDS) peptides on the actin organization and apoptosis in human glomerular mesangial cells, in order to explore the interaction mechanism of extracellular matrix (ECM)-integrin receptor-cy-toskeleton. Methods The alterations of actin microfilaments in glomerular mesangial cells were observed under laser scanning confocal microscope. And DNA electrophoresis and flowcytometry were used for assessing apoptosis. Results After two hours of incubation with RGDS peptides, some of the attached glomerular mesangial cells began to round up, with a prominent marginaliza-tion of the actin microfilaments which were bundled in thick aggergates to one edge of the cell. Later these cells detached and floated in the culture medium.The above sequently-occuring changes showed a time-dependent pattern. After ten hours of incubation with RGDS peptide, most of the cells had detached, and features of apoptosis appeared in them, such as inter-nucleo-somal DNA fragmentation and decreased DNA content. Conclusion RGDS tetrapeptide can disrupt the organization of cytoplasmic actin mi-crofilament, inhibit the attachment of the cultured glomerular mesangial cells and cause apoptosis in them.

Objective To evaluate the effect and mechanism of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin on experimental interstitial fibrosis. Methods Experiments on rat 5/6 nephrectomy chronic renal failure model and primary cultured renal interstitial fibroblast cells were conducted in this study. The cell proliferation, extracellular matrix, c-fos mRNA expression of rat interstitial fibroblasts were measured by MTT assay, immunohistochernitry, semi-quantitative reverse-transcript PCR methods, respectively. Results Serum cholesterol, triglyceride and creatinine of treated group were significantly reduced by simvastatin as compared with controls. No statistical significance in BUN was observed between untreated and simvastatin-treated rats. Histological examination revealed that simvastatin caused a reduction in the glomeruli with sclerosis. Tubulointerstitial injury paralleled the degree of glomerular damage. Simvastatin in a dose-dependent manner inhibited the proliferation of renal intersititial fibroblasts, decreased the secretion of lamimn( LN), and suppressed the expression of c-fos mRNA, as compared with normal controls. No obvious effect on hyaluronic acid( HA) secretion of fibroblasts was found. Conclusions Simvastatin is anti-proliferative in interstitial fibroblasts and decreases the secretion of laminin. This effect is exerted, at least in part, via inhibition of the c-fos and c-jun-dependent mitogenic pathway. Simvastatin may prevent interstitial fibrosis development and attenuate renal damage in uremic rats with hvperlipidemia.

Objective To investigate the effect of hypoxia on renal tubular cells and the mechanism of renal interstitial fibrosis. Methods Effect of chronic hypoxia on the proliferation, cell cycle and expression of TGF-?1 mRNA in cultured MDCK cells was examined. Quiescent cells were exposed to hypoxia (3%O2) or normoxia (18%O2) for 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. At the end of each incubation, cellular proliferation and cell cycle were assessed by MTT method and flow cytometry, respectively. TGF-?1 mRNA level of cells were analyzed by semi-quantity RT-PCR. Results Exposure of MDCK cells to hypoxia induced a significant increase in proliferation and a significant decrease in the percentage of G0-G1 stage and a significant increase in the percentage of G2-M stage at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Meanwhile, TGF-?1 mRNA expression increased in a time-dependent manner as compared with normoxia group when MDCK cells were stimulated with 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours in hypoxia condition. Conclusion Chronic hypoxia-induced proliferation of MDCK cells is associated with increased expression of TGF-?1. Chronic hypoxia of renal tubular cells may be one of the causes of renal interstitial fibrosis.

Objective:To study the effects of treatment of Angle Ⅱ division 2 malocclusion with upper/lower arch expansion and Class Ⅱ elastics in adults. Methods:Expanding upper/lower arch and Class Ⅱ elastic were used to treat Angle Class Ⅱ division 2 malocclusion in 15 adults. Study models and cephalograms were analyzed before and after treatment. Results:Before and after treatment the maxillary variables of cephalograms showed no significant differences, the mandibular variables showed significant differences in sagittal and vertical direction. U1-NA, U1-PP, L1-NB, L1-MP, U1-L1 and L6-Ptm were significantly increased after treatment(P

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of interferon-? on adult patients with HBV associated glomerulonephritis.Methods Nine patients with HBV associated glomerulonephritis diagnosed in Shanghai Ruijin Hospital from September 1996 to March 2003 were treated with interferon-? at a dose of 3 million units every other day and the total period was 6 to 9 months.The proteinuria,serum HBV marks and bDNA were measured before and after therapy.Results At the end of the therapy urinary protein excretion significantly reduced(P

Chronic low back pain is a common type of pain which is related to the dysfunction of low back muscles. In recent years, the pressure biofeedback has been widely used for the assessment and treatment of chronic low back pain. This paper reviewed the reliability and validity of pressure biofeedback unit in the evaluation of lumbar and abdominal muscles activity, as well as its application on the rehabil-itation of chronic low back pain, which mainly related to the assessment and treatment of lumbar muscle activity and lumbar spine stability.

Objective To evaluate the short term outcome after mitral valve replacement with the Perimount bovine pericardial valve. Methods Eighty-eight patients underwent mitral valve replacement with the bovine pericardial valve in hospital were included in this study. Postoperative general condition including mortality and cerebral hemorrhage was observed. The hemodynamic and New York heart disease association (NYHA) heart function classification were recorded by Doppler echocardiograms before operation, postoperative 1 week, 3 months and 1 year after mitral valve replacement. Values of the different time points of NYHA, left atrial diameter (LA), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVDD), left ventricular end systolic diameter (LVSD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) were compared. The hemodynamic parameters were also compared including the peak cross valve pressure (PG), mean cross valve pressure (MG), peak cross valve velocity (PV) and effective orifice area (EOA) 1 week, 3 months and 1 year after surgery. Results There were two cases (2.3%) dead in one year (one died of cerebral hemorrhage and another one died of thromboembolism). There was 1 perivalvular leakage (1.2%). There was no endocarditis or structural valve deterioration. NYHA cardiac function was improved at postoperative 3 months and 1 year (P < 0.05). The values of LA, LVDD and PAP were significantly decreased at postoperative 1 week, 3 months and 1 year compared with those before operation (P<0.05). Values of LVSD and LVEF were significantly decreased at postoperative 1 week compared with those before operation (P<0.05). The value of LVEF was significantly increased at postoperative 3 months and 1 year (P<0.05). Compared with postoperative 1 week, the values of LA and LVEF were significantly increased at postoperative 3 months and 1 year (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in PG, MG, PV and EOA between postoperative 1 week, 3 months and 1 year. Conclusion With the excellent performance of cardiac function recovery, left ventricular restoration and hemodynamic, the Perimount bovine pericardial valve remains a reliable choice as a mitral tissue valve.