Aged ; Atherosclerosis ; complications ; Blue Toe Syndrome ; diagnosis ; etiology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Nucleus ; Cholesterol ; blood ; Color ; Epidermis ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Creatinine ; blood ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; metabolism ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Collagen Type IV ; metabolism ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; pathology ; HSP47 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Kidney Glomerulus ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Vimentin ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDConnective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a potent fibrogenic cytokine which has been associated with progressive glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. We investigated the role of CTGF on the progression of a rat model of radiation nephropathy.

METHODSThe model of radiation nephropathy in rats was established as follows: control group (n = 12), underwent only laparotomy; irradiated group (n = 20), underwent a laparotomy, then the rats were subjected to a single dose 25 Gy X-ray to the kidneys. The rats were followed up one, three, six and nine months after renal exposure to radiation.

RESULTSRenal dysfunction was noted early in irradiated rats. Histological analysis showed focal glomerular sclerotic lesions at an early stage after irradiation. Radiation-induced glomerular and tubulointerstitial injuries were particularly severe the sixth month after irradiation as compared to the control group (P < 0.01). By immunohistochemistry, increased expression of CTGF was noted in the irradiated kidneys, which began to increase from the first month after irradiation, and remained significantly higher at the sixth and ninth month after irradiation (P < 0.01). Upon Western blot analysis CTGF protein expression showed an increase in the radiation treated kidneys compared with the control rats. The expression of CTGF closely correlated with the progression of radiation nephropathy. The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, type III collagen and type IV collagen was also high in the irradiated kidney as compared to control rat kidneys (P < 0.05), and was most severe at the sixth and ninth month after irradiation (P < 0.01). By double immunostaining, CTGF expressing cells were found to be alpha-SMA-positive myofibroblasts and vimentin-positive tubular epithelial cells. Glomerular expression of CTGF closely correlated with the glomerular expression of alpha-SMA (r = 0.628, P < 0.01), vimentin (r = 0.462, P < 0.05) and accumulation of type IV collagen (r = 0.584, P < 0.01) in the irradiated kidney. Similarly, the expression of CTGF was positively correlated with the expression of alpha-SMA (r = 0.613, P < 0.01), vimentin (r = 0.629, P < 0.01), deposition of type III collagen (r = 0.741, P < 0.001) and type IV collagen (r = 0.799, P < 0.0001) in the tubulointerstitium of the irradiated kidney. Finally the expression of CTGF after the irradiation of the kidney positively correlated with the levels of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine.

CONCLUSIONOverexpression of CTGF may play an important role in the development and progression of glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in radiation nephropathy.

Actins ; analysis ; Animals ; Collagen Type III ; analysis ; Collagen Type IV ; analysis ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; analysis ; physiology ; Kidney ; radiation effects ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Male ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; etiology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vimentin ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo compare the advantages and disadvantages of TFC/BAK, Prospace and Brantigan I/F carbon cages and summarize their applications.

METHODSOne hundred and twelve cases of Brantigan I/F, 123 cases of TFC/BAK and 45 cases of Prospaces were used in the treatment of degenerated lumbar disorders. The clinical results and complications were observed and analyzed.

RESULTSAll devices restored the height of intervertebral space and achieved immediate stability after insertion. One hundred and twelve cases of Brantigan I/F cages were solid fused, the clinical results were satisfactory. Three cases of TFC/BAK cages subsided into the vertebra and 2 cages retropulsed slightly during follow-up. There was no serious complications of nervous system, but the operation time and amount of bleeding in Brantigan I/F group increased.

CONCLUSIONSCarbon fiber intervertebral cages are an effective method in treating degenerated lumbar disorders. To avoid complications, the indications and techniques must be selected carefully.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orthopedic Fixation Devices ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Diseases ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; instrumentation ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVESTo evaluate the effect of intervertebral carbon fiber cages in the treatment of degenerated lumbar disorders.

METHODSOne hundred and twelve patients of degenerated lumbar disease were analyzed retrospectively with regard to the effect of posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) using intervertebral carbon fiber cage.

RESULTSIn the 112 patients, disc height was 7 mm (3 to 11 mm) on average before operation and 11.2 mm (8 - 14 mm) after operation. Cobb angle was 32 degrees (21 degrees to 42 degrees ) on average before operation and 18.9 degrees (13 degrees to 21 degrees ) after operation. After follow-up for 7.8 months (4 to 13 months) on average, all operative disc spaces showed solid arthrodesis through X-ray images. Disc height was 10.9 mm (8 - 14 mm) on average, and Cobb angle was 18.5 degrees (13 degrees to 21 degrees ) on average. During the follow-up, endplate absorbing, pseudo-articulation, cage displacement, subsidence, and breaking were not found.

CONCLUSIONImplantation of intervertebral carbon fiber cages is an effective method for the treatment of lumbar degenerative disease. Accurate indications and skilled techniques are required to avoid complication.

Aged ; Carbon ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Diseases ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; instrumentation ; methods ; Treatment Outcome

Hepatitis ; immunology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; immunology ; Receptors, Complement ; blood

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the techniques of posterior lumbar interbody fusion and pedicle screws in the treatment of degenerative scoliosis and evaluate their clinical significance.

METHODSTwenty five patients with degenerative scoliosis were treated operatively during 1997 - 2002. Among the 25 patients, 13 patients were treated with Brantigan I/F carbon cages in 28 intervertebral spaces, 7 patients were treated with Prospace cages in 15 spaces, 1 patient was treated with CONTACT cages in 2 spaces. The correcting effects, complications and follow-up results were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSThe average correction rate of scoliosis was 59% and the rate of pain relief was 88%. There was a case of pseudoarthritis and a case of embolism. During follow-up, correction rate and height of disc spaces were not lost nor shift of interbody cages.

CONCLUSIONPosterior pedicle screws combined with interbody fusion is a safe and effective treatment for degenerative scoliosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Humans ; Internal Fixators ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Scoliosis ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion

BACKGROUNDRenal hypertrophy has been regarded as the early feature of diabetic nephropathy (DN), which may eventually lead to proteinuria and renal fibrosis. However, the exact mechanism of renal hypertrophy is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) with renal hypertrophy in uninephrectomized diabetic rats.

METHODSSeventy-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group (group C, n = 32) and diabetic nephropathy (group DN, n = 40). Each group was re-divided into 4 subgroups according to the experimental period. The rats were sacrificed at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks respectively after induction of diabetes. Diabetes was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) after rats had received uninephrectomy. Blood glucose (BG), body weight (BW), 24-h urinary albumin excretion (24hUalb), kidney weight (KW), KW/BW, glomerular tuft area (AG), glomerular tuft volume (VG), proximal tubular area (AT) at each time point, the width of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and tubular basement membrane (TBM) at week 8 were measured when the rats were sacrificed. Renal expression of CTGF and p27kip1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The relationship between CTGF expression and increasing of VG and AT was analyzed.

RESULTSThere was a significant increase of 24hUalb, KW, and KW/BW from week 1 onward in diabetic rats compared to those in group C (P < 0.05, respectively), diabetic rats also had a significant increase of AG, VG, and AT from week 1 onward. It was also shown that diabetic rats had a thickening of GBM [(245.7 +/- 103.0) nm vs (121.8 +/- 19.1) nm, P < 0.01] and TBM [(767.7 +/- 331.1) nm vs (293.0 +/- 110.5) nm, P < 0.01] at week 8. There was a weak expression for CTGF and p27kip1 in normal glomeruli and tubuli, while a significant increasing expression of CTGF and p27kip1 was found in glomeruli and tubuli in diabetic kidney from week 1 onward (P < 0.05, respectively), and the extent of CTGF expression was positively correlated with AG (r = 0.92, P < 0.05), VG (r = 0.86, P < 0.05), AT (r = 0.94, P < 0.01) and positively correlated with the expression of p27kip1 (r = 0.96, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of CTGF increases in diabetic rat kidney at the early stage, which might be an important mediator of renal hypertrophy through arresting cell cycling.

Albuminuria ; etiology ; Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; pathology ; Hypertrophy ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; analysis ; physiology ; Kidney ; pathology ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Streptozocin

Objective To observe the absorption, excretion and retention of fluoride and aluminum after drinking brick tea in healthy adults. Methods The study was conducted in ten healthy volunteers by drinking brick tea solution in which the fluoride and aluminum concentrations were 5.97, 7.53 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of fluoride and aluminum were determined in serum samples collected before and at 0.5,1.0,2.0,3.0,and 24.0 h, and in urine samples collected before and during the periods 1.0,2.0,4.0, ＞ 4.0 - ＜ 24.0 h and 24 h after drinking brick tea solution by ion-selective electrode, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and inductively coupled plasma atomic mess spectrometry. The total amounts of intake and excretion of fluoride and aluminum in healthy volunteers during 24.0 h were calculated from their corresponding fluoride and aluminum ingesting from brick tea and excreting from urine. Results Before and during the periods 1.0,2.0,4.0,＞ 4.0 - ＜ 24.0 h and 24.0 h after drinking brick tea solution, the urinary fluoride concentrations were (0.50 ±0.14), (2.14 ± 0.90), (1.57 ± 0.93), (2.43 ± 1.49), (1.91 ± 0.69), (0.58 ± 0.20)mg/L, respectively, and the aluminum concentrations in the urine samples were (0.35 ± 0.15), (0.65 ± 0.37), (0.50 ± 0.25), (0.52 ± 0.21 ),(0.50 ± 0.23), (0,46 ± 0.27)mg/L, respectively; the 24.0 h excreting rates of fluoride and aluminum from urine were 52.90%(4.64/8.77) and 12.38% (1.37/11.07), respectively. The fluoride concentrations in serum samples collected before and at 0.5,1.0,2.0,3.0,24.0 h after drinking brick tea solution were (0.06 ± 0.02), (0.14 ± 0.01 ), (0.21 ±0.04), (0.17 ± 0.04), (0.10 ± 0.03), (0.04 ± 0.01 )mg/L, respectively, and aluminum in those were (0.30 ± 0.05),(0.27 ± 0.01 ), (0.30 ± 0.12), (0.34 ± 0.19), (0.30 ± 0.10), (0.27 ± 0.09)mg/L, respectively. Conclusions Fluoride in brick tea is easyly to be absorbed and excreted through kidney, and the kidney excretory capacity of aluminum in brick tea is limited. Levels of fluoride and aluminum in urine could be taken as the indicators for monitoring the prevalent extent and evaluating preventive experiment's effect on the brick tea fluoride-aluminum toxicity; and fasting serum fluoride and aluminum levels could be taken as indicators for estimating the toxic condition of the brick tea fluoride-aluminum toxicity.