In chronic kidney disease (CKD), inflammatory responses during the progression of renal tissue and tissue injury related causes its progression to end-state renal disease. Among them, nuclear factor (nuclear factor, NF)-kappaB signaling pathway by regulating the corresponding nuclear expression of target gene transcription, as well as affecting the synthesis of inflammatory mediators, induction of inflammation lead to kidney damage and renal fibrosis. Some single herbs and their extracts (such as Astragali Radix, Scutellariae Radix, Ginkgo Folium) and some traditional Chinese medicine (such as Danggui Buxue decoction, Qilian decoction) can reduce the inflammatory damage induced by renal tissue NF-kappaB signaling pathway and delay the progression of CKD.
Animals ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo establish the steriod-induced osteoporosis model with the type of Kidney-Yin deficiency.

METHODSTotally 45 female Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group and Liuwei Dihuang pills(Chinese character: see text)group. The model was established by intramuscular injecting of Dexamethasone. Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group was administered orally with Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text). The signs and symptoms of mice were observed dynamically. All the animals were sacrificed at the end of the 6th weeks. The level of ACTH, cAMP, cGMP, TSH and E2 in serum were detected to evaluate deficiency of Kidney-Yin. Morphological changes and bone density were observed to evaluate osteoporosis.

RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, mice in model group appeared obvious Kidney-Yin deficiency symptoms, including hair dry, restlessness, excitability, hard stool, and yellow. (2) Compared with control group,the weight of mice in model group gained slower (P<0.01); the index of adrenal gland,liver and spleen decreased (P<0.01, P<0.01 ,P<0.01); the level of ACTH and TSH increased (P<0.01 ,P<0.01), the level of E2 decreased (P<0.01) and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP increased (P< 0.05). (3)Compared with control group,the bone density of lumbar vertebra and femur in model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); HE staining revealed osteoporosis in model group mice. (4)However, the Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group can partly antagonize the inhibition of the HPA axis, alter the disordered sex hormone and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP, and reverse the osteoporosis partly.

CONCLUSIONthe model of osteoporosis with type of Kidney-Yin deficiency could be established by Dexamethasone intramuscular injection. With less interference, it wight be a stable and reliable modeling method for integration of disease and syndrome in TCM.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Dexamethasone ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Osteoporosis ; chemically induced ; Yin Deficiency ; complications

Objective To analyse the effects of serum estradiol levels during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) on the outcomes of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Methods The clinical data of 472 patients undergoing IVF-ET with GnRH analogues recombinant FSH long protocol were retrospectively analysed. The area under the curve (AUC) of estradiol (E2) level was calculated during COH, and patients were categorized into groups according to the percentile of AUC of E2(AUCE2) during COH. The general characteristics and parameters related to the outcomes of IVF-ET were compared among groups. Results The 10th percentile and 90th percentile of AUCE2 were 3 347.0 pmoL/L and 14 414.3 pmol/L, respectively. Four hundred and seventy-two patients were divided into lower reaction group (AUCE2 3 347.0 pmol/L, n=48), normal reaction group (14 414.3 pmol/L>AUCE2 > 3 347.0 pmol/L, n=376) and higher reaction group (AUCE2≥14 413.3 pmol/L, n=48). There was no significant difference in age, body mass index, baseline follicle stimulating hormone level, time of treatment with gonadotropin, endometrium thickness on day of transfer and embryos transferred(P>0.05). Compared with lower reaction group and normal reaction group, the number of oocytes per retrieval and number of embryos frozen were significantly larger(P<0.01) and the mild/severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome rate was significantly higher in higher reaction group(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in fertilization rate, cumulative embryo score, high-grade embryo rate, clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate among groups (P> 0.05). Conclusion Sustained snpraphysiological serum E2 levels during the COH process do not adversely affect the quality of oocytes and embryos, clinical pregnancy rate and implantation rate to some extent in IVF-ET.

Asian People/genetics* ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics* ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Genetic/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the concentration of teeth DNA extracted by three different pretreatment methods and to explore a simple, economical and practical pretreatment method with high concentration of extracted DNA from teeth. METHODS: A total number of 21 molars were collected from 7 corpses. The pretreatment of 3 molars from each individual was randomly performed by tooth crumb method, ball-milling method and liquid nitrogen milling method and 50 mg tooth crumb was weight and DNA was extracted by AutoMate Express forensic DNA extraction system. Subsequently, the concentration of DNA and corresponding STR genotyping of three methods were compared. RESULTS: The DNA concentration extracted by tooth crumb method, ball-milling method and liquid nitrogen milling method was 0.055 6-1.989 1 ng/μL, 0.036 6-1.175 6 ng/μL and 0.037 8-1.249 0 ng/μL, respectively. The DNA concentration obtained by tooth crumb method was higher (P < 0.05) and the success rate of STR genotyping was high. CONCLUSION Combined with AutoMate Express forensic DNA extraction system, tooth crumb method is an efficient and feasible method to extract DNA from teeth, which can be applied in forensic practice.
DNA/isolation & purification* ; DNA Fingerprinting/methods* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Tooth

Objective To discuss the value of digital tomosynthesis for detection of pulmonary nodules. Methods Thirty patients suspected of having pulmonary nodules underwent chest radiography, digital tomosynthesis and CT examination. Above image data were transferred to postprocessing work station and were reviewed by 2 radiologists with 3 years of chest-radiology diagnosis experience in a double-blind method. The number, location and size of nodules were recorded. Then, 2 radiologists reviewed the all images once more, and discuss in consensus. The sensitivities of chest radiography and digital tomosynthesis for detection of pulmonary nodules were respectively calculated according to the CT results. Chi-square test was used for radiography, digital tomosynthesis and CT examination. Results Of 30 patients, 21 were detected having pulmonary nodules by X-ray radiography and 9 were negative, the total number of 40 nodules was detected, while 89 nodules in 26 patients were detected by digital tomosynthesis, and only 4 patients were negative. CT demonstrated 102 nodules in 27 patients, and 3 patients were negative. Taking CT as "gold standard", the sensitivities of X-ray radiography and digital tomosynthesis were 27.4%(28/102)and 87.2%(89/102), X~2=4.35, P<0.05, respectively. Conclusion Digital tomosynthesis has a high sensitivity for detection of pulmonary nodules compared with X-ray radiography, and could be an excellent and necessary supplementary technique of X-ray radiography.

Objective To evaluate morphological structure of uterosacral ligament (USL) and cardinal ligament (CL) in patients with severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP) by MRI technology, and to analysis and discuss its clinical significance. Methods From November 2013 to February 2014 in Peking University People′s Hospital, 26 elderly patients withⅢ-Ⅳdegree of POP were selected as the POP group and 18 healthy elderly volunteers were selected as the control group during the same period. Pelvic MRI examination were performed in the two groups. The morphological characteristics of left and right side of the uterosacral-cardinal ligament on MRI and the attachment site of the starting and ending points between two group were described and compared. Results In POP group, 25 cases of left USL starting point were located in the sacrospinous ligament/coccygeal muscle complex [58% (15/26)] or coccygeal muscle [38%(10/26)], ending point were located in the cervix and vagina [58%(15/26)] or cervix [38%(10/26)];24 cases of right USL starting point were located in the sacrospinous ligament/coccygeal muscle complex [31%(8/26)]or coccygeal muscle [62%(16/26)], 26 cases of right USL ending point were located in the cervix and vagina [62% (16/26)] or cervix [38% (10/26)]; the left and right CL in the POP group and the control group were both from the sacroiliac joint at the top of the greater sciatic foramen from the ipsilateral pelvic side wall;1 case (4%, 1/26) of left CL in the POP group completely connected to the bladder, 10 cases (38%, 10/26) partly connected to the bladder;14 cases (54%, 14/26) of right CL partly connected to the bladder, the rest ending points of left and right CL were located in cervix and (or) vagina. In the control group, 17 cases of left USL starting point were located in the sacrospinous ligament/coccygeal muscle complex (10/18) or coccygeal muscle (7/18), ending point were located in the cervix and vagina (12/18) or cervix (6/18);18 cases of right USL starting point were located in the sacrospinous ligament/coccygeal muscle complex (10/18) or coccygeal muscle (8/18), ending point were located in the cervix and vagina (13/18) or cervix (5/18);8 cases (8/18) of left CL partly connected to the bladder;15 cases (15/18) of right CL partly connected to the bladder, the rest ending points of left and right CL were located in cervix and (or) vagina. There was no significant difference between the two groups on the starting and ending points (P>0.05). Conclusions The observation of MRI could be consistent with the clinical anatomy on the starting and ending points, direction of travel in the uterosacral-cardinal ligament. The starting and ending points of the left and right side USL and the ending points of the left and right side CL are not completely symmetrical, the variation degree is large, some CL could be completely or partly inserted to the bladder.

Objective To investigate the specific immune responses induced by DNA vaccine com-bined with recombinant adenovirus carrying major outer membrane protein ( MOMP) gene of Chlamydia trachom-atis (Ct) serovar E.Methods Recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid pVAX 1-MOMP and recombinant adenovirus Ad-MOMP were constructed and purified .Four immunization strategies were designed including DNA immunization (DNA group), recombinant adenovirus immunization (Ad group), DNA prime-recombinant ade-novirus boost regimen ( DNA/Ad group ) and recombinant adenovirus prime-DNA boost regimen ( Ad/DNA group) .Two weeks after the final immunization , vaginal wash specimens , blood samples and spleens were col-lected from all mice for the evaluation of humoral and cellular immune responses .Results Th1 responses and mucosal responses were not found in DNA group .Ad group induced both Th 1 responses and local mucosal re-sponses , and its IgG and IgA levels were significantly higher than those in DNA group .DNA/Ad group and Ad/DNA group induced stronger Th 1 responses and humoral responses than DNA and Ad group .Serum antibodies and mucosal antibodies in DNA/Ad group were higher than those in Ad/DNA group, but Th1 responses in DNA/Ad group were impaired than those in Ad/DNA group.Conclusion The recombinant adenovirus could induce Th1 responses and genital mucosal responses .Combined immunization of DNA/Ad or Ad/DNA showed enhanced specific immune responses in comparison with the single immunization with DNA or Ad .The differ-ences between the two combination methods were that DNA /Ad group stimulated higher levels of specific anti-body responses , while Ad/DNA group produced stronger Th 1 responses .The study provided a reference for the enhancement and development of vaccines against Chlamydia trachomatis in further studies .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy mechanisme of chicory extract interventing abdominal obesity rat from the aspect of gut bacteria.

METHODMale SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, namely the normal group, model group, large and small dose group of chicory and the fenofibrate group. Normal group was given deionized water, the other group was given fructose water and give the medical treatment of chicory and fenofibrate. Assay triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL by biochemical methods and measure body weight and abdominal circumference and microscopicly observe the count changes of gut bacteria through real-time PCR method.

RESULTCompared with normal group, the triglyceride level and abdominal circumference were significantly higher (P < 0.05), weight and high-density lipoprotein increased but no significant changes and E. coli, lactobacillus increased significantly. Compared with model group, chicory extract large and small dose group and the fenofibrate group can significantly reduce triglyceride levels (P < 0.05), reduce the number of E. coli and Lactobacillus and increase the number of bifidobacteria. The fenofibrate group can significantly reduce total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein levels.

CONCLUSIONThe chicory's treatment effect on abdominal obesity is significant. The efficacy mechanisme intervention abdominal obesity may be related to the reduction of the number of lactic acid bacteria and E. coli and the increase of bifidobacteria.

Animals ; Bacteria ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Biodiversity ; Chicory ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Microbiota ; Obesity, Abdominal ; metabolism ; microbiology ; Plant Extracts ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Triglycerides ; metabolism

Objective To summarize the experience on diagnosis and treatment of splenic neoplasm. Methods Clinical data of 40 patients with primary splenic space occupying lesion treated in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Results Thirty four out of the 40 cases were diagnosed as primary splenic neoplasm preoperatively. The detectable rate of B-US was 94%, and that of CT was 96%. The discrimination rate of benignancy and malignancy by CT was 84%. Serum AKP and ?-GT were significanfiy increased in most of the malignancies. Seventeen among 22 cases with benignancy were treated by splenectomy, and the others underwent partial splenectomy or tumor resection. Sixteen of 18 patients with malignancy underwent splenectomy, and two did biopsy. Pathology revealed cysts in 13, angiocavernoma in 4, inflammatory pseudotumor in 3, caverous lymphangioma in 1, and cystic degeneration of liomyoma in 1; malignant lymphoma and lymphsarcoma in 9, hemangiosarcoma in 3, and fibrosarcoma, liomyosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma in 1 each. Three cases with malignancy have survived more than 5 years. Conclusions Splenic neoplasm is diagnosed mainly according to clinical manifestation and image examination. The discrimination of benignancy and malignancy depends on CT, angiography, and serous AKP and ?-GT level. Radical operation and complex treatment could improve the prognosis of splenic malignant tumor.