AIM:To investigate the effects of high concentration of glucose on the expressions of serum and glucocorticoid induced protein kinase 1 (SGK1) and fibronectin in human podocytes and detect the production of fibronectin in human podocytes transfected with active and mutant forms of SGK1.METHODS: The expressions of SGK1 and fibronectin in human podocytes exposed in high glucose for 24 h were detected by using Western blotting. Human podocytes were transfected with three kinds of plasmid: pIRES2-EGFP-SGK1SD (SGK1-active plasmid), pIRES2-EGFP-SGK1KN (SGK1-mutant plasmid) and pIRES2-EGFP (empty vector plasmide). The synthesis levels of fibronectin were detected by immunofluorescence.RESULTS: The expression of SGK1 in normal human podocytes was observed and the expression level was up-regulated in podocytes exposed to high glucose for 24 h (50?4 vs 35?3), parallelly with the high expression of fibronectin (19?4 vs 12?2). The secretion of fibronectin was increased obviously in SGK1-active plasmid (SGK1SD) transfected podocytes compared with the vector transfected podocytes. Whereas, the fibronectin level was decreased significantly but not completely abolished in SGK1-mutant plasmid (SGK1KN) transfected podocytes, compared with SGK1SD transfected podocytes. CONCLUSION: SGK1 may be involved in the synthesis of fibronectin in human podocytes induced by high glucose and play a critical role in the activation of human podocytes during early stage of diabetic nephropathy.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of mouth gag which can inserted into lavage tube during gastric lavage. Methods The Sixty- six cases of acute poisoning patients with gastric lavage according to random number table method were randomly divided into two groups, 33 cases in each group. Observation group used the inserted mouth gag, and the control group used the metal ones. Results The observation group were lower than the control group at the time required to insert the lavage tube [(2.23±0.19)s to (3.26±0.30)s] and the incidence of complication rate [18.2%(6/33) to 45.5%(15/33)], the oral cavity bleeding [6.0%(2/33) to 30.3%(10/33)], lavage tube displacement [0(0/33)to 24.2%(8/33)], lavage tube twisting[0(0/33) to 24.2%(8/33)], the difference was statistically significant (P<0.01), while higher in the rate of successful intubation[100.0%(33/33)] to [54.5%(18/33)], the difference was statistically significant, χ2=19.4,P<0.01. Conclusions The application of the mouth gag which can insert into gastric lavage improved the successful intubation rate, saved the rescue time, reduced the complication and improved the nursing quality.

Objective:To investigate the expression and clinical significance of PD-L1 in colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods:A total of 210 CRC patients who accepted radical surgery in our hospital from January 2015 to January 2016 were divided into three groups, namely, high-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-H), low-frequency microsatellite instability (MSI-L), and microsatellite stable (MSS). The expression of PD-L1 was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the expression characteristics of PD-L1 in different types of CRC were analyzed. Results:CRC cases with low differentiation had a higher expression of PD-L1 than CRC patients with high differ-entiation (P<0.05). PD-L1 had a positive rate of 75.8%in the MSI-H group and a rate of 9.3%in the MSI-L and MSS groups, wherein the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion:PD-L1 was positively expressed in some CRC tu-mor tissues, and its positive rate was significantly higher in MSI-H than in MSI-L and MSS. The therapeutic effect of a PD-L1 blocker for patients with MSI-H CRC might be preferable.

AIM: To investigate the effect of high glucose concentration on serum and glucocorticoid induced protein kinase (SGK) mRNA and protein expressions in human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HKC) and the possible role of SGK in the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) of HKC under the condition of high glucose. METHODS: HKC was divided into 3 groups: control glucose group (CG group, 5 5 mmol/L D-glucose); high glucose group (HG group, 25 mmol/L D-glucose) and osmotic control group (MG group, 19 5 mmol/L mannitol and 5 5 mmol/L D-glucose). The expressions of SGK mRNA and protein were assessed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. The level of secretary and cytoplasmic fibronectin (FN) were detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsordent assay (ELISA) and indirect-immunofluorescence. RESULTS: HKC expressed SGK1, SGK2 and SGK3 at mRNA and protein levels. Their mRNA level were up-regulated since 2 hours after cells exposed to D-glucose and this up-regulation persisted to the end of 8th hour, and SGK1 protein level elevated simultaneously. On the other hand, the increased FN secretion by high glucose was in a time-dependent manner and its improved secretion threshold was just followed by the high expression of SGK1. CONCLUSIONS: In response to high glucose, the expression of SGK1, SGK2 and SGK3 in human proximal tubular epithelial cells were up-regulated which was accompanied with FN accumulation. The high expression of SGK may mediate overproduction of ECM in proximal tubular epithelial cells and contribute to the diabetic nephropathy.

The role of serum and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 (SGK1) pathway in the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression was investigated in cultured human mesangial cells (HMCs) under high glucose. By using RT-PCR and Western blot, the effect of SGK1 on the CTGF expression in HMCs under high glucose was examined. Overexpression of active SGK1 in HMCs transfected with pIRES2-EGFP-S422D hSGK1 (SD) could increase the expression of phosphorylated SGK1 and CTGF as compared with HMCs groups transfected with pIRES2-EGFP (FP) under high glucose or normal glucose. Overexpression of inactive SGK1 in HMCs transfected with pIRES2-EGFP-K127N hSGK1 (KN) could decrease phosphorylated SGK1 and CTGF expression as compared with HMCs groups transfected with FP under high glucose. In conclusion, these results suggest that high glucose-induced CTGF expression is mediated through the active SGK1 in HMCs.
Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor/genetics ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor/*metabolism ; Glucose/*pharmacology ; Immediate-Early Proteins/metabolism ; Immediate-Early Proteins/*physiology ; Mesangial Cells/cytology ; Mesangial Cells/*metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases/*physiology ; Signal Transduction/drug effects

To investigate the expression and the role of three isoforms of Serum and Glucocorticoid-inducible Kinase (SGK) in experimental diabetic nephropathy (DN), 12 male C57BL/6 mice of 8-weeks-old were divided into two groups. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy and normal controls were analyzed at the end of the 4th week after the induction of diabetes. Renal hemodynamics and histological studies were performed. The expression of SGK1 mRNA, SGK2 mRNA and SGK3 mRNA of kidney cortex were measured by RT-PCR, and the cortical SGK1 protein was detected with Western blotting. Our results showed that the blood glucose, blood HbA1c, 24h urinary protein, creatinine clearance and the renal index were all increased in DN group. More extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation was observed. The level of cortical SGK1 mRNA and protein were up-regulated in DN group in comparison with control group. SGK2 and SGK3 mRNA were elevated in DN mice. In DN, mRNA level of three SGK isoforms and SGK1 protein were increased significantly. It is concluded that SGKs may contribute to the early renal injury of DN.

In recent years, tumor immunotherapy with immune checkpoint as the target has attracted much attention because of its remarkable efficacy. However, with the application of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), more and more immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been reported. IrAEs impose an additional risk of death on tumor patients treated with ICIs, limiting the widespread use of ICIs. To help patients actively prevent irAEs, biomarkers with the predictive value of irAEs are of great significance. This paper reviews the biomarkers with predictive value for irAEs from the aspects of serology, genetics and microbiology.

To investigate the expression and the role of three isoforms of Serum and Glucocorticoidinducible Kinase (SGK) in experimental diabetic nephropathy (DN), 12 male C57BL/6 mice of 8-weeks-old were divided into two groups. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy and normal controls were analyzed at the end of the 4th week after the induction of diabetes. Renal hemodynamics and histological studies were performed. The expression of SGK1 mRNA, SGK2 mRNA and SGK3 mRNA of kidney cortex were measured by RT-PCR, and the cortical SGK1 protein was detected with Western blotting. Our results showed that the blood glucose, blood HbA1c, 24-h urinary protein, creatinine clearance and the renal index were all increased in DN group. More extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation was observed. The level of cortical SGK1 mRNA and protein were up-regulated in DN group in comparison with control group. SGK2 and SGK3 mRNA were elevated in DN mice. In DN, mRNA level of three SGK isoforms and SGK1 protein were increased significantly. It is concluded that SGKs may contribute to the early renal injury of DN.

Summary: The role of serum and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 (SGK1) pathway in the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression was investigated in cultured human mesangial cells (HMCs) under high glucose. By using RT-PCR and Western blot, the effect of SGK1 on the CTGF expression in HMCs under high glucose was examined. Overexpression of active SGK1 in HMCs transfected with pIRES2-EGFP-S422D hSGK1 (SD) could increase the expression of phosphorylated SGK1 and CTGF as compared with HMCs groups transfected with pIRES2-EGFP (FP) under high glucose or normal glucose. Overexpression of inactive SGK1 in HMCs transfected with pIRES2-EGFP-K127N hSGK1 (KN) could decrease phosphorylated SGK1 and CTGF expression as compared with HMCs groups transfected with FP under high glucose. In conclusion, these results suggest that high glucose-induced CTGF expression is mediated through the active SGK1 in HMCs.

Objective To compare and analyze the efficacy of PVA particles and Embosphere microspheres for partial splenic embolization (PSE)in the treatment of hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis.Methods Sixty patients underwent PSE for treatment of hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis were analyzed retrospectively.According to different PSE embolization materials,they were divided into two groups:30 patients with PVA particles embolization (group A),and other 30 patients with Embosphere microspheres embolization (group B).The changes of white blood cells (WBC),platelets (PLT),spleen thickness,portal vein diameter and postoperative pain and fever were compared on the 3rd day,the 1st week,the 3rd week,the 1st month,the 3rd month,and the 6th month after PSE and compared between the two groups.Results The WBC and PLT of the 2 groups after PSE were significantly higher than those before PSE (all P＜0.05 ).The spleen shrank after 2 months,and there was no significant difference in spleen thickness and portal vein diameter between the two groups at the same time (all P＞0.05).The postoperative pain in group A was significantly less than that in group B (P＜0.05).Conclusion Both PVA particles and Embosphere microspheres have good curative effect in the treatment of hypersplenism secondary to liver cirrhosis. The price of PVA particles is lower than that of Embosphere microspheres,and the postoperative pain degree is lighter than that of Embosphere microsphere,which suggests PVA particles with more advantages in clinical application.