Objective To investigate the roles and significances of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis by repeated renal biopsy.Methods Seventeen patients diagnosed by renal biopsy as WHO typeⅣlupus nephritis were analyzed by immunohistochemistry staining for MMP-2 and MMP-9. Double staining for MMP-2 and MT1-MMP,MMP-9 and CD68 were also performed.Patients had repeated renal biopsy after followed up for 2.5 years.The relationship between expressions of gelatinases and pathological activity index and clinical data were studied.Results MMP-2 immunoreactivity was detected in normal controls and was increased in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis.MMP-9 staining,which was almost negative in normal giomeruli,was increased much more significantly in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis. The immunoreactivity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was positive in MT1-MMP staining and CD68-positive macrophages, respectively.The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was reduced by 70% and 62% in 10 patients whose clinical condition was partially alleviated,while the expressions in 7 patients whose clinical condition was not alleviated,were only reduced by 27% and 32%.The staining for MMP-2 and MMP-9 were correlated with activity index of lupus nephritis and proteinuria.Conclusion Up-regulation of gelatinases expression in diffuse proliferate lupus nephritis is correlated to activity index of the disease.

The study aims to explore the effects and mechanisms of water extract of Potentilla anserina (PA) on myelosuppression mice induced by cyclophosphamide based on metabonomics. The myelosuppressive mouse model was established by injected with cyclophosphamide and treated with water extract of PA. Thymus and spleen indexes, peripheral hemogram and bone marrow nucleated cells of each group was detected. Bone marrow pathology analysis was performed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The levels of interleukin 3 (IL-3), interleukin 6 (IL-6), erythropoietin (EPO), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in serum were measured. The changes of biomarkers and related metabolic pathways were analyzed by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based metabonomics. Animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Southwest Minzu University. The high doses of PA could significantly improve the decrease of white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC) counts and hemoglobin (HGB) levels of mice induced by cyclophosphamide (P < 0.05), and significantly increase the number of nucleated cells and the area of hematopoietic tissue in femoral bone marrow. The medium and high doses of PA could significantly improve the serum levels of SOD, CAT, MDA, IL-6 and GM-CSF (P < 0.05), and have no significant effect on the expression of IL-3 and EPO (P > 0.05). Serum metabolomics analysis showed that the aqueous extracts of PA could alleviate myrosuppression by regulating the aminoacyl-tRNA, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis mediated by 13 different metabolites such as valine, leucine, asparagine and hydroxyisohexic acid. PA improve the inhibition of hematopoietic function in myelosuppression mouse, and its mechanisms may be related to anti-oxidation and promoting the expression of hematopoietic-related cytokines and regulating the related metabolic pathways.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects and mechanism of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) of low concentration on dynamic changes of intracellular free calcium contents ([Ca2+]i) in cultural rat liver oval cells (WB-F344 cells).

METHODSUsing Fluo-3/Am as fluorescent indicator of [Ca2+]i and it was measured by laser scanning confocal microscope system.

RESULTSThe results showed that: (1) A rapid transient spiking of [Ca2+]i occurred after the stimulation of H2O2 of low concentration (800 nmol/L). (2) The [Ca2+]i increase was abolished by pretreated with catalase (CAT) or by incubated in D-Hank's solution containing EGTA, the chelate of extracellular Ca2+. (3) The [Ca2+]i increase was not inhibited by pretreated nifedipine, Ca2+ channel blocker, but was abolished by pretreated with anthracere-9-cardoxylic acid (A9C), the Cl-channel blocker and which also blocked calcium activated non-selective cation channel (CAN).

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that the increase of [Ca2+]i induced by H2O2 of low concentration may be due to the influx of extracellular Ca2+ through CAN.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Ion Channels ; drug effects ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Rats

Objective To study mental characteristics of children with light lead poisoning. Methods Eighty - six children with light lead poisioning and 33 control children were evaluated with WISC - R and social adaptive capacity(SAB). Results 1. Intelligence quotient( IQ)and SAB of children with light lead poisoning were lower than normal children. 2. There was also deficiency of perception factor and memory/ concentration factor among children with lead poisioning and the blood lead level had negative association with perception factor. Conclusion Light lead poisioning may affect children's IQ, especially in the perception factor and memory /concentration factor.

AIM: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab ( avastin ) injection in patients with exudative age related macular degeneration ( AMD) .
METHODS: The records of patients treated with intravitreal injection of 1. 75mg bevacizumab for AMD were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated by complete ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography and fundus fluorescein and/or indocyanine green angiography. Observation was made on the best corrected visual acuity ( BCVA) , intraocular pressure, and the changes of lens, vitreous, central retinal thickness (CFT) and total macular volume (TMV), at 1d, 3d, 7d, 1mo and 6mo after the treatment and then compared with those of pre - operation. Repeated treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab occurred if there were signs of persistent or recurrent exudation. And all cases were followed up at least 6mo. An intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1. 75mg) was given once every 6wk.
RESULTS:All 50 eyes of 48 patients with the average of 58±20. 46 years old were included. The mean baseline of BCVA and CFT were 0. 82±0. 53, and 364. 97±151. 83μm respectively. Although there was no significant decrease in mean CFT and TMV one week after the injection, the mean BCVA had significant improvement. At the last visit of 9. 7mo follow - up, BCVA, CRT and TMV showed significant improvements over baseline values. BCVA was improved by at least two lines in 32 eyes (64%),remained stabilization in 18 eyes (36%) at the last visit. A total of 98 injections were performed and the average number of injections was 1. 98 for each eye in the group. About 50%of re - injections gained at least two lines of vision improvement one week postoperatively. There were no serious adverse events during the treatment.
CONCLUSION: Intravitreal bevacizumab ( avastin ) injection for managing CNV due to age-related macular degeneration is safe and few side effects. Intravitreal avastin associated with improvement in visual acuity ( VA ) , which can reduce macular edema and choroidal neovascularization leakage. But a prolonged treatment effect needs further observation.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab injection in patients with macular edema (ME) induced by retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
● METHODS: The records of patients treated with intravitreal injection of 1. 75mg bevacizumab for ME induced by RVO were retrospectively reviewed. All patients were evaluated by complete ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography ( OCT) and fundus fluorescein angiography ( FFA ), etc. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure, the change of lens and vitreous, central foveal thickness (CFT) were observed at 1, 2, 3, 6mo after treatment and compared with before treatment. Repeated treatment with intravitreous bevacizumab occurred if there were signs of persistent or recurrent exudation. All the cases were followed up at least 6mo. An intravitreal injection of bevacizumab (1. 75mg) was given at 6wk intervals.
●RESULTS: Fifty patients (56 eyes) with the average of (57±18. 56) years old were included. The mean baseline of BCVA, CFT were (logMAR0. 82±0. 63), (626. 5±178. 0)μm respectively. Although there was no significant decrease in mean CFT at 1wk after injection, the mean BCVA had significant improvement. Followed up at mean 10. 26 ± 5. 87mo, BCVA, CFT showed significant improvements over baseline values. The statistics of CFT at 1, 2, 3mo after injection were significant differences compared with before injection in each of the three groups. CFT at 1, 3, 12mo after injection were (365. 11±23. 212) μ m, (333. 42± 35. 526) μ m, (267. 6 ± 116. 8) μ m, which had a significant difference ( P < 0. 001), namely macular retinal thickness was thinner obviously that before treatment, ME was improved obviously. CFT was no significant difference at each time point after injection in the group of BRVO-ME and CRVO- ME (P> 0. 05). OCT image showed that after injection macular retinal thickness was becoming thinner. FFA showed that after injection macular fluorescein leakage decreased. BCVA was improved by at least two lines in 48 eyes (86%),remained stable in 8 eyes (14%) at the last visit. A total of 112 injections were performed and the average number of injections was 1. 96 in the group. About 50% of reinjections gained at least two lines of vision improvement at 1wk following the retreatment. There was no serious complications during the treatment.
●CONCLUSlON: lntravitreal injection of bevacizumab can improve visual acuity (VA) of RVO (CRVO and BRVO) in patients with ME, relieve ME, reduce the leakage of CNV, and repeated treatment is better. But a prolonged treatment effect needs further observation. There are no serious ocular and systemic complications occurred in our study.

Objective To observe the state of endemic flurosis, construction and running status of water improvement projects in order to provide a scientific basis for prevention and treatment fluorosis. Methods Water samples of the diseased and nondiseased villeges were collected from east, west, south, north and centre of each villege in 2005, and fluoride concentration was determined for each surveyed village with unimproved-water. At the same time, all the tap water and source water samples were collected to determine fluoride concentration in each water-improved village surveyed. In 2008, all the endemic fluorosis villages in Guied county were divided into slight, medium and heavy types according to the water fluoride content before water improved, and 1,1,3 survey villages were chosen from each type. In all of the village children aged 8 to 12 years were tested for dental fluorosis by Dean method. Six copies of the urinary fluoride were sampled in different age groups. The fluorine content in water and urine was determined by F-ion selective electrode. The situation of clinical skeletal fluorosis of adults over 16 years of age was investigated, 20 adults (evenly divided between men and women) in the villages of medium and heavy types were examined by X-ray for skeletal fluorosis. Results In 3 village fluoride content of drinking water exceeded the national drinking water standards ( <1.0 mg/L) of 85 surveyed villages with improved-water. Among the 16 projects, 8 were intermittently running and 3 were retired, leaving only 31.25% of the projects active. Theprevalence of enamel fluorosis was 41.13%( 116/282), that of skeletal flurosis was 47.95%(969/2021) and that of X-ray checked was 20.73% (17/82). The median of urine fluoride was 1.06 mg/L and the scope was 0.20 - 9.44 mg/L.Conclusions Most of the improved-water projects do not normally supply water in the disease ward of Guide county. Therefore, there is an increasing trend of the disease, so further control measures are needed.

AIMPulmonary hypertension is a common complication of congenital heart disease with a left-to right shunt. The mechanism of pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow is still not fully understood. Recent studies showed that hydrogen sulfide (H2S) could relax vascular smooth muscle cells. But the change of the system of H2S in pulmonary hypertension induced by high pulmonary blood flow was not reported. We studied the influence on expression of CSE mRNA and production of hydrogen sulfide in rat lung tissues by L-Arginine, in order to demonstrate a regulating role of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of cystathionine-gamma-lyase/hydrogen sulfide system (CSE/H2S).

METHODSThirty male SD rats were randomly divided into shunting group, shunting with L-Arginine group, and control group. Abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava shunting was produced in rats of the later group. Pulmonary artery mean pressure (mPAP) and the hypertrophy of right ventricle of each rat were analyzed. The expression of lung tissue CSE mRNA was measured using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. The activity of CSE in lung tissue was measured according to chemical analysis.

RESULTSmPAP was significantly increased in shunted rats compared with normal control (P < 0.01), the expression of lung tissue CSE mRNA and the activity of CSE in lung tissue were decreased in shunt group (P < 0.01). However, L-arginine significantly attenuated pulmonary artery pressure, but augmented the expression of lung tissue CSE mRNA as well as the activity of CSE in lung tissue.

CONCLUSIONL-Arginine reverses the down-regulation of CSE/H2S system in high pulmonary blood flow-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Animals ; Arginine ; metabolism ; Cystathionine gamma-Lyase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; Lung ; blood supply ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Astrocytoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Frizzled Receptors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glioblastoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Paraffin Embedding ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled ; genetics ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Wnt2 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the differential gene expression of ependymomas.

METHODSFour fresh samples of ependymomas and 1 of normal brain tissue were collected during operation. The extracted total RNAs were converted as (32)P tagged cDNA probes, which were then hybridized with the Atlas Human Cancer Array, producing the array based hybridization maps following the protocol provided with the kit. A set of special software was applied to the analysis and RT-PCR was performed to test the result.

RESULTIn comparison with the normal brain tissue, there were 31 upregulated gene and 1 downregulated gene in ependymomas, most of which were firstly found to be differentially expressed in this kind of tumor.

CONCLUSIONThe discrepancy of gene expression profiles between ependymomas and normal brain tissues is highly put through and effectively detected with cDNA array, which provides new information for the further research on the molecular mechanisms of this lesion.

Brain ; metabolism ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; Ependymoma ; genetics ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction