Objective To discuss the effects of extract of Ginkgo BilobaLeaves(EGb) on expression of cytokine of renal interstitial fibrosis induced by transforming growth factor-?1 (TGF-?1) and extracellular matrix. Methods Cultured human kidney cells(HKC) were divided into three groups: control group,TGF-?1(8 ng/mL) group,and TGF-?1(8 ng/mL) added EGb(25,50,100,150 mg/L)group.After 72 h,expression of ?-SMA was detected by cell immunochemistry ABC,and collagen type I by Real-time PCR and Western blotting. Results Treated with TGF-?1(8 ng/mL) for 72 h,expression of ?-SMA and collagen type Ⅰ were up-regulated markedly compared with control group.Treated with EGb(25,50,100,150 mg/L)and TGF-?1(8 ng/mL)concomitantly for 72 h,expression of ?-SMA and collagen typeⅠ were down-regulated in dosage dependent manner compared with TGF-?1 group. Conclusion EGb can inhibit expression of ?-SMA and collagen type I in HKC induced by TGF-?1,and the possible mechanism might be related to the inhibition of EGb on renal tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation.

Adult ; Carbon Disulfide ; poisoning ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiphasic Screening ; Neural Conduction ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; physiopathology

Adult ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; injuries ; Male ; Spinal Fractures ; surgery ; Surgical Wound Infection ; therapy

Hemopexin (HPX) is a plasma protein with the strongest binding capacity to heme and widely involved in modulation of a variety of physiological and pathological processes. The main physiological function of HPX is to bind and transport free toxic heme. Recent studies indicate that HPX also plays roles of anti-oxidant, anti-apoptosis, immune regulation and organic protection. In addition, HPX participates in regulation of cell differentiation and extracellular matrix reconstruction. In recent years, a great deal of progress has been made in studies of the mechanisms of HPX protective effects and on possible clinical application. In the past few years, especially, a number of proteomic studies have demonstrated that HPX could be served as positive molecular biomarkers for cancers of lung, liver, kidney, colon, and uterine myoma as well as osteoarthritis. In this review, recent progress in the biochemical characteristics and function of HPX and its possible clinical applications are summarized.
Heme ; Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) ; Hemopexin ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans

OBJECTIVETo investigate the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and expression of receptor for AGEs (RAGE) in streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats, and the role of antioxidants on the AGEs-RAGE signaling.

METHODSDiabetic rats were induced by once intraperitoneal injection of STZ at the dose of 60 mg/kg, and randomly divided into the DN group (n=12, treated with normal saline by intraperitoneal injection, once daily), the extract of Ginkgo biloba (EGb) group (n=14, treated with EGb 300 mg/kg by oral administration, once every other day), and the alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) group (n=12, treated with ALA at the dose of 35 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection, once every other day). Rats of the normal control group (n=10) were given vehicle citrate buffer at the dose of 60 mg/kg. Rats were sacrificed at the 12th week and the 20th week of this study. The four groups were compared in terms of body weight, blood glucose, renal function, 24-h urine protein. Renal pathological changes were observed by PAS staining. Oxidative stress indices were detected using spectrophotometry. The concentrations of AGEs were measured using fluoro spectrophotometry, and the expressions of RAGE were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the 24-h urine protein quantitation was higher and the glomerular filtration rate increased in rats at the 12th week and the 20th week. The pathological tissue staining showed dilated glomerular mesangium, proliferated glomerular matrix, vacuolar degeneration of the renal tubular epithelium. Malonaldehyde (MDA) levels and 8-hydroxide radical guanine deoxyriboside (8-OHdG) levels increased, and catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione hormone (GSH) levels decreased. The AGEs contents in serum and renal tissue homogenate increased. The expressions of RAGE mRNA and protein increased in the DN group at the 12th and the 20th week. The 24-h urine protein quantitation was reduced in the EGb group and the ALA group, with alleviated pathological changes, lowered MDA and 8-OHdG levels, increased CAT and GSH levels, decreased AGEs contents, and down-regulated RAGE expressions.

CONCLUSIONSAGEs contents increased and RAGE expression up-regulated in the circulation and local renal tissues in DN rats. EGb and ALA could inhibit AGEs production and down-regulate RAGE expressions by reducing oxidative stress, thus further improving the renal tissue structure and renal functions of DN rats. It had better application prospect in treatment and prevention of DN.

Animals ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; metabolism ; Ginkgo biloba ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; metabolism ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; metabolism ; Thioctic Acid ; pharmacology

Objective To retrospectivel y analyze the abdominal CT findings and pathological results of the chronic schist osomiasis so as to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the disease. M ethods The plain abdominal CT scanning was performed in 103 cases an d enhanced CT scanning in 81 cases. The pathological specimen which was consist ent with the section of CT scan was obtained in each cases. Results On CT scanning, liver cirrhosis was seen in 84 cases, various calci fication in liver in 71 cases, liver cancer in 12 cases, enlargement of sple en in 78 cases, calcification in spleen in 13 cases, wall-thickening in colon i n 27 cases, calcification in colon in 31 cases, and colon cancer in 9 cases. Pa thological examination revealed various fibrosis and formation of pseudolobule. The eggs and calcification could be seen in pseudolobule and septa, colonic sub mucosa, and regional lymph nodes. Fibrous hyperplasia in colonic wall and hyper plasia in mucous membrane were obvious. Fibrous hyperplasia and calcification w ere seen in spleen, but the eggs were not found. Conclusion The liver and colon are the major organs affected by chronic schistosomias is in abdomen, and the CT findings are obvious too. The pathological features o f spleen are accompanied with liver cirrhosis. CT is the important imaging meth od in diagnosing chronic schistosomiasis and pathological changes.

70 bpm during scan),the proportion of segments that could not be assessed because of motion artifact were 0.1%(1/759),1.1%(7/649),2.5% (10/407),42.6%(103/242),and 75.5%(108/143),respectively.With conventional selective coronary angiography as the golden standard,the sensitivity,specificity,positive and negative prediction values to detect≥50% stenotic lesions in the assessable segments were 79.2%,96.0%,83.8%,and 94.6%,respectively.There was a significant correlation between the number of segments per patient not assessable because of motion artifact and heart rate during the scan(r=0.655,P=0.000).Conclusion MSCT is capable of achieving high accuracy for detection of coronary artery stenosis,and is a reliable technique to diagnose coronary artery disease.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of the treatment of hilar biliary malignant obstruc tion with multiple stent drainage.Methods One hundred and twenty-seven patients with malignant biliary hilar obstruction were enrolled.The obstructions at the common hepatic duct within less than 1 cm to the junction of the left and the right hepatic duct were found in 66 cases,at the proximal common hepatic duct and the left and the right hepatic ducts in 45 cases,at the right hepatic duct in 5 cases and at the both left and right hepatic duets in 11 cases.Sixty-six patients received stent placement through the right biliary ducts and the common bile duct by puncturing the right mid-axillary line.The other 37 patients received 2 stents placement (disposed"Y"style) through the left and the right hepatic duct punc turing routway.Seven patients received 2 stents placement (disposed"┌"style) through the right hepatic duct and the common bile duct with a stent placed between the left and the right hepatic duct.Three patients had right hepatic duct stent placed first,followed by right hepatic duct and common hepatic duct stent. Twelve patients had stents placed in the right hepatic duct with external drainage from the left hepatic duct. Two patients had multiple strictures at the right hepatic duct,who got multiple external drainages.The total serum bilirubin levels were measured pre-and post-operatively.Results One hundred and twenty-seven patients with bi[iary obstraction had internal stents placed for drainage.The average total bilirubin levels among 121 patients were (283.4?175.4 )?mol/L pre-operation and (63.2?11.8)?mol/L post-operation (P

The clinical characteristics of patients who presented in poor clinical grade due to ruptured middle cerebral artery aneurysms (MCAAs) associated with large sylvian hematomas (SylH) were analyzed and an ingenious designed prophylactic hinged craniectomy was introduced. Twenty-eight patients were graded into Hunt-Hess grades IV-V and emergency standard micro-neurosurgeries (aneurysm clipping, hematoma evacuation and prophylactic hinged craniectomy) were performed, and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. 46.43% of the patients reached encouraged favorable outcomes on discharge. The favorable outcome group and the poor outcome group significantly differed in terms of patients' anisocoria, Hunt-Hess grade before surgery, extent of the midline shift and time to the surgery after bleeding (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in age, sex, volume and location of the hematoma, size of aneurysm between the favorable and poor groups (P>0.05). However, ingenious designed prophylactic hinged craniectomy efficiently reduced the patients' intracranial pressure (ICP) after surgery. It was suggested that preoperative conditions such as Hunt-Hess grading, extent of the midline shift and the occurrence of cerebral hernia affect the prognosis of patients, but time to the surgery after bleeding and prophylactic hinged craniectomy are of significant importance for optimizing the prognosis of MCAA patients presenting with large SylH.

A comparison of the volatile compounds in Rhizomes Curcumae （Ezhu） and Radix Curcumae （Yujin） was undertaken using gas chromatography mass spectrometi-y （GC-MS）. Ultrasonic extraction and GC-MS methods were developed for the simultaneous determination of five sesquiterpenes, namely, α-pinene, β-elemene, curcumol, germacrone and curdione, in Ezhu and Yunjin. Good linearity （r〉0.999） and high inter-day precision were observed over the investigated concentration ranges. The validated method was successfully used for the simultaneous determination of five sesquiterpenes in Ezhu and Yujin. The quantitative method can be effectively used to evaluate and monitor the quality of Chinese curcuma in clinical use.