Objective To observe the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1(TIMP-1) in tubulointerstitial fibrosis(TIF) rats and explore the effects of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in TIF.Methods Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group(n=24) and model group(n=24).Results Tubulointerstitial fibrosis model was established via unilateral ureteral obstruction(UUO). Histological changes were observed in tubulointerstitium injury under microscope and immunohistochemistry staining was performed to investigate both the expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in TIF by semiquantitative score at d7, d14, d21 after experiment onset.The expressions of TIMP-1 in rats from sham-operated group were lower than those of mo-del group rats at d7, d14, d21 (Pa

Objective: To investigate the role of regenerating gene type IV (Reg IV) in the development and progression of gastric adenocarcinoma. Methods: S-P immunohistochemistry method was used to detect the expression of Reg IV, PI3K, and Akt proteins in 63 gastric adenocarcinoma specimens and the corresponding tumor-adjacent normal tissues. Results: The positive expression rates of Reg IV, PI3K and Akt proteins in 63 gastric adenocarcinoma tissues were 50.7% (32/63), 68.3% (43/63) and 60.3% (38/63), respectively, being significantly higher than those in the tumor-adjacent normal tissues (19.0%[2/63], 20.6%[13/63], and 9.5% [6/63], respectively, P<0.05). Reg IV expression was significantly correlated with the differentiation degree of gastric adenocarcinoma (P<0.05) and PI3K protein expression was significantly correlated with the differentiation degree, infiltrative depth, TNM stage and lymph node metastasis of gastric adenocarcinoma (P<0.05). Akt protein expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). We also found that Reg IV protein expression was positively correlated with PI3K and Akt expression (rs=0.284, 0.305, P<0.05), and PI3K expression was positively correlated with Akt protein expression (rs=0.423, P<0.05). Conclusion: Reg IV overexpression is associated with the progression of gastric adenocarcinoma, which may involve activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective To explorethe effect of Bailingcapsule on epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) inrats withadenine-in-duced tubulointerstitial fibrosis .Methods Tubulointerstitial fibrosis ani mal models were established and SDrats were dividedinto mo-del group (n=30) ,treatment group (n=30) andcontrol group(n=30) ,randomly .Experi mental rats were harvested at 7 w,12 w,17 wafter onset of experi ment and functional evaluations were performed. Histology ,i mmunohistology were examined to investigateboth histolopathology changes and the expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7) ,transforming growth factor-?1(TGF-?1)and a-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) in kidneys at three ti me points mentioned above ,respectively .Results Compared with controlgroup ,24 h urinary proteinin model grouplost increasingly and significantly difference appeared at three ti me points relative to controlgroup(P0 .05) rel-ative to control group.There was significant difference at 12 wand 17 w(P

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil(MMF)on children with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome(SDNS).Methods Sixteen children with SDNS,diagnosed at onset,included 12 males and 4 females,aged(5.0?1.6) years,were administrated with MMF[25 mg/(kg?d)] and low-dose prednisone[0.5-1.0 mg/(kg?d),average 0.67 mg/(kg?d)].MMF was reduced to half of initial dosage after 6 months and maintained for 3 months,while dosage of prednisone was tapered gradually based on patients disease profile.Twenty-four hours urinary protein excretion,serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen,liver function were conducted regularly,respectively.The clinical efficacy and safety were assessed after 3 months treatment.Results Thirteen of 16 patients treated with MMF and prednisone remained in complete remission.Three children remained remission partly.Difference markedly was observed in 24 hours urinary protein excretion and serum albumin before and after treatment.Conclusions MMF is an effective and safe immunosuppressive agent for children with SDNS.

Objective To explore the effect of Bailing capsule on epithelial-mesenchymal transition( EMT) in rats with adenine-in-duced tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Methods Tubulointerstitial fibrosis animal models were established and SD rats were divided into mo-del group ( n = 30), treatment group ( n = 30) and control group( n = 30), randomly. Experimental rats were harvested at 7 w, 12 w,17 w after onset of experiment and functional evaluations were performed. Histology, immunohistology were examined to investigateboth histolopathology changes and the expression of bone morphogenic protein-7 (BMP-7), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1 )and a-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in kidneys at three time points mentioned above, respectively. Results Compared with controlgroup, 24 h urinary protein in model group lost increasingly and significantly difference appeared at three time points relative to controlgroup ( P ＜ 0.01 ). Urinary NAG in model group was markedly higher than that in control group from 7 w after onset (P ＜ 0.01 ) andwas increasingly raised at 12 w and 17 w (P＜0.01). The value of blood BUN and Cr in model group increased at 7 w (P＞0.05) rel-ative to control group. There was significant difference at 12 w and 17.w (P ＜ 0.01 ). Histologically, kidneys in model group, at 7 w,exhibited tubular casts and gently tubular dilation, granuloma in cortex, mononuclear cells infiltration in tubulointerstitial areas, andmild interstitial fibrosis. At 12 w, the degree of tubular injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis gradually aggravated. Up to 17 w, diffusetubular dilation or atrophy was observed and focal tubules disappear. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis was exhibited. In normal kidneys, im-munohistochemistry suggested that the light expression of BMP-7 was detected in proximal renal tubular epithelial cells and marked ex-pression was identified in distal tubule, collecting duct, and renal tubular epithelial in junction area between cortex and medulla. How-ever, the expression of BMP-7 in kidneys of model group significantly decreased with increasing tubulointerstitial fibrosis and was nega-tive correlation with the expression of TGF-β1(r = -0. 981 P＜0.01) and α-SMA (r= -0.975 P＜0.01). Bailing capsule ad-ministration protected the expression of BMP-7 and reduced TGF-β1 and α-SMA expression before 12 w(P＜ 0.01 ). Conclusions Ourstudy shows an anti-fibrotic reno-protective function of Bailing capsule in rats with tubulointerstitial fibrosis via prevention of epithelial-mesenchymal transition at early stage. However, the beneficial effect lost with increasing tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Objective To evoke cerebral potentials by stimulating nociceptive fibers with contact heat evoked potentials stimulator (CHEPS)and estimate the nerve conduction velocities of peripheral nerve fibers mediating these responses.Methods Subjects were set in supine position.A heat-foil technology with a rapid rising speed at 70 ℃/s was used to elicit pain and contact heat evoked potentials(CHEP).Contact heat was delivered via one circular thermode (diameter 27 mm,area 573 mm~2).Thermal stimuli were sent at two intensity levels (49.5 ℃ and 54.5 ℃) to three body sites:thenar eminence,the dorsum of hand and proximal volar forarm.Contact heat evoked potentials were recorded from Cz and Pz.A systemic effect between stimulus intensities and pain rating were observed,the main components of this evoked potential were observed.Nerve conduction velocity was calculated from latency difference of CHEP and center to center distance of distal and proximal stimulus arrays.Results The pain intensity rating was 3.2?0.3 and 4.4?0.5 when thenar eminence was stimulated at the temperature of 49.5 ℃ and 54.5 ℃ respectively;the rating was 6.3?0.8 and 7.2?0.5 when the dorsum of hand and proximal volar forarm were stimulated at the temperature of 54.5 ℃ respectively.Three components,Cz/N550,Cz/P750 and Pz/P1000,were found in the evoked potentials.Nerve conduction velocities of the fibers were (12.9?7.5) and (1.7?0.4) m/s respectively,which were corresponding to those of A8 fiber and C fiber.Conclusions CHEPs can be elicited reliably and stably.Velocities of peripheral nerve fibers demonstrate that A8 fiber and C fiber mediate the response.

Objective To establish the method of contact heat evoked potential(CHEP)and to explore the value of this evoked potential in pain testing of patients with cerebral infarction.Methods A total of 100 healthy volunteers and 30 patients were examined.The healthy volunteers were divided into 3 groups according to the length of their arms:(Group A:56.0～65.0 cm ;Group B :65.5～74.0 cm ;Group C :74.5～83.0 cm).A recently de- veloped heat-foil technique with a rapid temperature rising rate at 70℃/s was used to elicit pain and contact heat e- voked potentials.Contact heat was delivered via one circular thermode(diameter 27 mm,area 573 mm~2)and set at two intensity levels(49.5℃and 54.5℃)to three body sites:the thenar eminence,the dorsum of hand and proximal volar forearm.The subjects were asked to rate the pain with numerical rating scale after each stimulus and CHEP was recorded from Cz and Pz.The association between stimulus intensities and pain rating was explored,the main compo- nents of the evuked potential were watched.CHEP,sensory conduction velocity(SCV)and somatosensory evoked potentials(SEP)were performed in patients with hemi-anesthesia caused by cerebral infarction.Results The pain intensity ratings were 3.2?0.3 and 4.4?0.5 at thenar eminence,5.0?0.7 and 6.3?0.8 at the dorsum of hand and 5.3?0.6 and 7.2?0.5 at the proximal volar forearm when the temperature of 49.5℃and 54.5℃was applied, respectively;Three components,Cz/N550,Cz/P750 and Pz/P1000,were identified in the evoked potentials.Cz/ N550 and Cz/P750 appeared when the dorsum of hand and proximal volar forearm were stimulated.In contrast,Pz/ P1000 could be identified when nociceptors of thenar eminence and proximal volar fbrearm were excited.In the pa- tients with cerebral infarction,CHEP disappeared or became abnormal on one side,while SCV and SEP were normal on that side.Conclusion It was suggested that CHEP could be elicited reliably in the controls.CHEP is helpful in the assessment of analgesia in patients with cerebral infarction.

Objective: To investigate the value of the trigeminocervical response (TCR) for revealing bulbar involvement in patients with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). Methods: Thirty patients with SBMA and 30 healthy male controls were included in this study. In all of the normal controls, stimulation of the infraorbital nerve on one side produced bilateral short latency waves consisting of a positive/negative wave, p19/n31, the mean latency of which was measured. The mean square root of the ratio between the amplitude of p19/n31 and the mean rectifi ed surface electromyography (EMG) activity preceding the stimulus, the A value, was estimated. The parameters of the TCR were compared between the two groups. Results: Among the patients with SBMA, 21 (70.0%) had delayed latencies of p19/n31 (P < 0.01) and all (100%) had reduced A values (P < 0.01) relative to the normal controls. Conclusions: All parameters of the TCR were signifi cantly different between the patients with SBMA and the normal controls. T

Dibenzothiophene (DBT) was used as a model compound. A bacteria strain, which can degrade dibenzo-thiophene efficiently, was obtained. This strain was identified as Pseudomonas stutzeris UP-1 according to its morphological, physiological and biochemical characters, and 16S rDNA sequence. The strain exhibits strong degradation capacity of DBT, and the end product of degradation is a kind of soluble compound. After the analysis of product of DBT degradation, it was deduced that the degradation of DBT by Pseudomonas stutzeri UP-1 is in accordance with the Kodama mechanism.