Angelica ; chemistry ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Count ; Female ; Fetal Hypoxia ; pathology ; Hippocampus ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Neuroglia ; cytology ; Neurons ; cytology ; Pregnancy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To explore the effects and mechanisms of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) on high glucose-induced rat mesangial cells proliferation and phenotype transformation. Methods Rat mesangial cells were cultured and incubated in media containing either 5 mmol/L D-glucose or 30 mmol/L D-glucose with or without addition of wortmannin, or uPA (105 U/L) for different time periods. At the end of the incubation period, mesangial cells proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis. Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and p27kip1 expression and activation of Akt were evaluated by Western blotting and Akt kinase assay respectively. Furthermore, the expression and distribution of α-SMA were detected with laser confocal microscopy. Results MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that high glucose induced mesangial cells proliferation (P＜0.05) and an incresed proportion of cells in G2/M+S stage after 24 h incubation (P＜0.01), which were attenuated by uPA or wortmannin (P＜0.01). High glucose induced the enhance of Akt activity after 3 h (P＜0.05), and the effect was inhibited by wortmannin or uPA (P＜0.01). High glucose did not alter CDK2 expression (P＞0.05),but significantly inhibited p27kip1 expression (P＜0.05), which was attenuated by wortmannin or uPA (P＜0.01). High glucose induced the up-regulation of α-SMA expression and perinucleus location in mesangial cells after 24 h (P＜0.01), which were alleviated by wortmannin or uPA (P＜0.01). Conclusion uPA up-regulates p27kip1 expression and counteracts high glucose-induced mesangial cells proliferation and phenotype transformation via blocking PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Objective To observe the anticoagulant effect of low molecular weight heparin on induced hemodialysis in patients with acute renal failure.Method One hundred and eight patients with acute renal failure treated with induced hemodialysis were randomly divided into low molecular weight heparin(LMWH)group and unfractionated heparin(UFH)group.A bolus disc of UFH was given at first and then maintained by continuous infusion in UFH group,whereas a single bolus dose of LMWH with 2000AFXa IU to 4000AFXa IU in LMWH group.Results Anticoagulant effect between LMWH and UFH did not show significant discrepancy during induced hemodialysis.The bleeding from internal jugular vein catheter increased in the UFH group much more than that in the UFH group was significantly higher than that in the LMWH group.Anti-FXa blood levels were significantly higher in LMWH group than in UFH group.Conclusions LMWH has minor influence on aPTT and TT,while its anticoagulation effect approximates to that of UFH.LMWH represents a realistic alternative agent UFH in acute renal failure induced hemodialysis.

Objective: To evaluate the role of the MAPK subtypes (p38MAPK, ERK and JNK) in ANG Ⅱ induced apoptosis of cultured human podocytes. Methods: The cultured podocytes were incubated in media containing either vehicle, SB202190(5 ?mol/L, an inhibitor of p38MAPK), PD98059 (1 ?mol/L, an inhibitor of ERK), SP600125 (5 ?mol/L, an inhibitor of JNK), ANG Ⅱ (10 -8 mol/L) with or without SB202190、PD98059 and SP600125 for 18 hours; the cells were assayed for apoptosis by morphologic staining with H 33342 and propidium iodide and DNA fragmentation assays; the cell proteins were probed for phosphorylated MAPKs to determine the activation of specific MAPK subtypes. Results: ANG Ⅱ promoted podocyte apoptosis in a time and dose dependent manner; ANG Ⅱ stimulated p38MAPK, but inhibited JNK; SB202190 inhibited both ANG Ⅱ induced podocyte apoptosis and p38MAPK phosphorylation; Inhibition of ERK by PD98059 had no effect on ANG Ⅱ induced cell apoptosis. Conclusion: ANG Ⅱ induced apoptosis through stimulation of p38MAPK and inhibition of JNK in human podocytes.

Objective To evaluate the effects of rehabilitation training on muscle strength and exercise toleranee in hemodialysis patients with muscle atrophy.Methods Nine hemodialysis patients with muscle atrophy because of end renal failure were recruited in this study. A structured exercise program(90 minutes a sedssion.3 sessions a week)was administered to all the subjects for 6 month.Immediately before and at the end of the exercise programme,the muscle strength of the lower limbs,the motor conduction velocity of the peroneal nerve and maximal oxygen consumption of the patients were examined. Results It was shown that all the patients had impaired exercise capacity,weakend muscle strength and slowed nerve conduction velocity before rehabilitation training.After the exercise programme,the patients' exercise capacity as reflected by the maximal oxygen consumption and exercise time was significantly increased.The muscle strength and the motor nerve conduction velocity were significantly increased.Conclusions Muscle atrophy in hemodialysis patients results in poor exercise tolerance, but rehabilitation exercise programme improves amyotrophy and therefore has beneficial effects on the patient's overall work performance.

Objective: To study the characteristics of P300 and topographic dist ribution mapping in obsessive-compulsive patients. Methods: The P300 and topog raphic distribution mapping were recorded in 36 patients, using a Bneuro Galileoinstrument. Results: Compared with normal subjects, the wa ve patterns of obsessi ve-compulsive patients were unstable; the frontal wave variation and dissymmetry between the two sides was 63.9%; the N2 and P3 latency was prolonged; the P2 an d P3 amplitude was decreased; the P3 topographic distribution mapping was uneven ly distributed, the normal high amplitude in the parietal region was absent. For the patient group, energy levels below grade 5 in the left brain area, the fron tal area, and for both were 42.3%, 30.3%, 15.15% respectively. Conclu sion: P300 and topographic distribution might be served as an objective index for reflectin g cognitive activity in obsessive-compulsive patients.

ObjectiveTo investigate whether aldosterone infusion induces glomerular or podocyte injury in rats and to evaluate the effects of eplerenoen (EPL), andodipine (CCB) and telmisartan (ARB) on aldosterone- induced injury. MethodsThirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: control, subcutaneous infusion of aldosterone (1.5 μg/h, ALD group) and aldosterone infusion plus eplerenone (100 mg·kg-1·d-1, EPL group), amlodipine(10 nag·kg-1·d-1 CCB group), telmisartan (3 mg·kg-1·d-1, ARB group), respectively. Systolic blood pressure(SBP) and urinary albumin excretion ratio(UAER) were measured at day 0, 7, 14, 21, 28. Blood samples were harvested to detect plasma angiotensin Ⅱ, plasma aldosterone, serum sodium, serum potassium and serum creatinine at day 28. Glomerular damge was quantified by morphological glomerular injury score (GIS). Immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR were performed to evaluate podocyte lesion, and apoptosis ratio of pedocyte (ARP) in a glomerular cross section was analyzed by TUNEL. ResultsALD infusion progressively increased SBP and UAER compared with CTL (P＜0.01). SBP was significantly reduced in EPL, CCB or ARB-treated animals, meanwhile, UAER was decreased in EPL and ARB group, but not in CCB group. The ALD-infused rats exibited hypernatremia and hypopotassaemia, which were blocked by EPL adminstration but not by CCB or ARB treatment. ARB group had a significant increase in plasma angiotensin Ⅱ compared with ALD, CCB and EPL groups(P＜0.01). The ALD-infused animals developed hyperaldosteronemia compared with CTL, but with no difference of plasma aldosterone among ALD, EPL, CCB and ARB-treated rats. Treatment with EPL prevented an increase of GIS and ARP compared with CCB and ARB (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Protein and mRNA expression of nephfin was up-regulated in ALD group (P＜ 0.01), but was significantly prevented by EPL treatment(P＜0.01), whereas CCB and ARB therapy had no such effect. Conclusion ALD infusion significantly induces glomerular and pedocyte injury which is blocked by EPL but not by CCB or ARB independently on systemic hemodynamics.

Objective To evaluate the prophylactic effects of propranolol, propranolol plus endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) and propranolol plus endoscopic sclerotherapy (EVS), and to determine the most effective combination for secondary prevention of esophageal variceal bleeding.Methods After hemostasis, a total of 78 patients with esophageal variceal bleeding were randomly assigned to receive propranolol (propranolol group), propranolol plus EVL (ligation group) or propranolol plus sclerotherapy (EVS group), with 26 in each group.All patients were followed up for 12 months, and the rates of variceal re-bleeding, mortality, portal hypertensive gastropathy (PHG), re-occurrence of esophageal varices and formation of gastric fundus varices were compared among different groups.Results During the 12-month follow-up, the rate of re-bleeding in EVL group (30.77%) was significantly lower than those of the EVS group (42.31%) or propranolol group (53.85%) (P<0.05).The occurrence of PHG and fundal varices in patients of EVL group was similar to that of propranolol group, which were both lower than that of EVS group (P<0.05), but the re-occurrence of esophageal varices in EVL group was significantly higher than that of EVS group (P<0.05).Conclusion EVL plus propranolol might be the most effective therapy for secondary prophylaxis of esophageal variceal bleeding.

BACKGROUND:At present, a great quantity of research has shown the effectiveness of traditional Chinese medicine and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s for vascular restenosis. However, studies concerning their combined application to restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with diabetes mel itus are presently lacking.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of combined application of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s and benefiting-Qi nourishing-Yin and dissolving-congestion prescription on restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in dogs with diabetes mel itus.
METHODS:A dog model of vascular restenosis with diabetes mel itus was established by bal oon injury of femoral artery and intravenous injection of al oxan. After successful model induction, 22 dog models were randomly divided into three groups:model group (n=6), treatment with Chinese medicine (n=8), and combined treatment with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s and Chinese medicine (n=8). Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay preoperatively and at 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks postoperation. Samples of vessels were taken to conduct pathomorphological observation and quantitative analysis of proliferation degree. Tissues, including heart, liver, kidney and pancreatic gland, were col ected to evaluate the safety of stem cel transplantation using hematoxylin-eosin staining at 8 weeks postoperation.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels began to increase at 1 week postoperation in the Chinese medicine group and combined treatment group, at 4 weeks postoperation in the model group compared with preoperation (P<0.05). At al time points, serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels were highest in the combined treatment group, but lowest in the model group (P<0.05). Quantitative analysis of vascular proliferation demonstrated that at 8 weeks postoperation, new intimal area, new intimal/medial areas and stenosis rate were highest in the model group, but lowest in the combined treatment group at 8 weeks postoperation (P<0.05). Safety assessment of stem cel transplantation showed morphological structures of the heart, liver, kidneys and pancreas were normal, no necrosis. In a word, the effects of the combined application of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cel s and benefiting-Qi nourishing-Yin and dissolving-congestion prescription were much pronounced in preventing restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in dogs with diabetes mel itus rather than single therapy of Chinese medicine. It is a safe and effective treatment to prevent vascular restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in dogs with diabetes mel itus.

Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lead ; blood ; Lead Poisoning ; blood ; epidemiology ; Middle Aged