Objective To examine the levels of serum adipaneetin in patients with incipient chronic kidney disease (CKD, GFR≥ 60ml/min, and identify the relationship between serum adiponectin and albumin (ALB), urinary protein excretion amount, blood lipid and renal function. Methods Forty-two CKD patients and twenty normal healthy persons were involved in this study. These patients were divid- ed into two groups: nephrotic syndrome and non-nephrotic syndrome. The level of serum adiponectin, serum ALB, urinary protein excretion amount, blood lipid, renal function were measured and compared. Results The level of serum adiponectin in nephritic syndrome patients [(21.9±11.3) mg/L] and non-nephrotic syndrome patients [ ( 11.0±7.0) mg/L] was significantly higher than that in normal healthy per- sons[ (5.6±3.3) mg/L] ( P<0.01 ), and the level of serum adiponectin in nephritic syndrome patients was higher than that in non-ne- phrotic syndrome patients( P <0.01 ). Correlative analyses revealed a negatively correlation between serum adiponectin and serum total pro- tein(TP, ALB, BMI( r=-0.5680, r = -0.6241, r = -0.4083,respectively), and a positive correlation between serum adiponectin and urinary protein excretion amount ( r =0.4083). Stepwise regression analyses showed that serum adiponoctin was highly influenced by BMI, ALB and urinary protein excretion amount. Conclusion Serum adipanectin was markedly increased in incipient CKD, especially in patients with macroalbuminura. The effect of high level adiponectin in CKD was still not clear.

Objective To examine the levels of serum adipunectin (ADPN)in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and identify the relationship between serum ADPN and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, high sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) and renal function. Methods Sixty ESRD patients and twenty normal healthy persons were involved in this study. The patients were divided into three groups: patients with chronic renal failure (CRF, 18 cases), patients with hemodialysis (HD,22 cases) and patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD,20 cases). The levels of serum ADPN, TNF-α and hs-CRP were detected by means of ELISA. Differences in continuous variables be-tween the three groups were evaluated. Results The levels of serum ADPN, TNF-α and hs-CRP in CRF, HD and PD patients were signifi-cantly higher than those in control group ( P<0.01 ). Serum ADPN levels in ESRD patients were positive related to serum TNF-α( r≥0.478, P<0.01 ), and negative related to GFR ( r≥-0.582, P<0.01 ). Conclusion The level of serum ADPN was markedly in-creased in patients with ESRD, and correlated with serum TNF-α level and.renal function.

Objective To observe the expression of survivin and Aurora B in human pancreatic cancer BXPC3 cells after the treatment of sulindac and to explore the potential mechanism. Methods MTr assay was used to determine the effect of sulindac on the proliferation of the BXPC3 cells. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of mRNA level of survivin and Aurora B, western blot was used to detect protein expression of survivin and Aurora B Thr-232. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow eytometry (FCM). Results The BXPC3 cells were inhibited by sulindac in a dose and time-dependent manner; the expression of mRNA of survivin and Aurora B were both significantly decreased from 1.5644 and 0.6554 to 0. 4372 and 0.1132 (P< 0.01), the expression of survivin protein and the phosphorylation of Aurora B Thr-232 were also decreased from 1.2735 and 0.4680 to 0.2126 and 0.2546 (P<0.01); the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase was increased from (56.65±1.93)% to (70.58±3.21)% (P<0.01). Conclusions Sulindac had inhibitory effects on the growth of BXPC3 cells, the possible mechanism was via decreasing the expression of survivin which depressed the activity of Aurora B, then the CPC was influenced. The most of the cells were blocked in the G0/G1 phase, and the cells' mitosis was inhibited.

Objective To investigate the levels of serum interleukin(IL)-18 in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF)and its relationship with relevant indexes. Methods Sixty patients with CRF were divided into three groups: patients with CRF (CRF group, n = 18) ,patients with bemedialysis (HD group, n = 22) and patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD group,n = 20). 20 healthy subjects were taken as controls. The levels of serum IL-18, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were detected by means of ELISA. Serum albumin (ALB) ,total cholesterol (TC) ,triglyceride (TG) and serum creatinine (SCr) levels were detected by con-ventional means. The GFR was measured by using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease study (MDRD) equation. Differences in continuous variables between the three groups were evaluated. Results The lev-els of serum IL-18 were significantly increased in CRF[(497.7 ± 120.7) ng/L], HD[(538.1 ± 113.2) ng/L] and PD[(565.7 ± 122.1) ng/L] patients than those in healthy subjects[(163.9±42.2) ng/L] (P <0.01). Further-more,serum IL-18 levels in HD patients were higher than these in CRF patients (P <0.05). Serum IL-18 levels in CRF were positively related to serum TNF-α,hs-CRP and SCr(r =0. 636,0.436,0.367,P <0.01) ,and negatively related to GFR(r = -0.515 ,P <0.05). Conclusion The levels of serum IL-18 are markedly increased in patients with CRF,HD and PD,and related to the levels of TNF-α,hs-CRP and GFR,so IL-18 might be an important marker of sub-clinical inflammation in patients with chronic renal failure.

Objective To investigate the effect of genistein on Notch-1, SHH and HHIP gene expression and on the cell cycle and proliferation of of BxPC3 cells. Methods Human pancreatic cancer cell line BxPC3 was cultured. The BxPC3 cells were treated with genistein and then the total RNA and protein were extracted. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of Notch-1 mRNA, SHH mRNA and HHIP mRNA. Noteh-1 and SHH protein was determined by western blotting. MTT assay was used to detect proliferation of BxPC3 cells. The cell cycle of BxPC3 cells was measured by Propidium iodide (PI) and flow cytometry. Results The inhibiting rate was 67.17%±2.32% when BxPC3 cell lines were treated by 20μg/ml genistein for 48 hours. Notch-1 mRNA was down-regulated from 2.454±0.068 to 1.304±O.169 ; SHH mRNA was down-regulated from 0.959±0.023 to O.472±0.077 ; HHIP mRNA was up-regulated from 0.625±O.158 to 1.761±0.121. Notch-1 protein expression was down-regulated from 1.361±0.109 to 0.760±0.114; SHH protein expression was down-regulated from 0.265±0.018 to 0.129±0.013. (52.77±9.47)% cells were hindered in G2/M stage. Conclusions Genistein could down-regulate Notch-1 expression and inactivate Hedgehog signaling pathway and inhibit the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells.

Objective To explore the value of DWI (diffusion weighted imaging,DWI) in diagnosis of bladder cancer in clinical T stage by comparing DWI and CT.Methods Seventy-five patients with bladder cancer underwent MRI plain scan,enhanced diffusion-weighted imaging and CT scan,to make a diagnosis preoperative clinical T stage according to their image.Then we compared the diffusion-weighted imaging and CT results with pathological staging results to assess the value of DWI in bladder tumor staging.Results For clinical T staging bladder cancer,the diagnostic accuracy rate was 83.5％ and 72％ for DWI and CT,resectively,statistical analysis showed a significant difference (P ＜0.05).Conclusion Magnetic resonance diffusion weighted imaging can accurately diagose the clinical T stage of bladder cancer,and has a higher value than CT.

Objective To compare the dosimetry between three -dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT)and intensity -modulated radiotherapy(IMRT)in the treatment of upper thoracic esophageal carcino-ma,and to provide references to choose radiotherapy program for clinical physician .Methods twenty-five cases with upper esophageal carcinoma (clinical stageⅠ~Ⅲstage)were treated by 3DCRT and IMRT at the concentra three-dimensional radiation treatment planning system .The different exposure doses between target area and effected organs were compared by dose volume histogram ( DVH) with the planed target volume ( PTV) ,which must reach 95% of the prescriptive doses.Results Two different radiotherapy plans of IMRT and 3DCRT:V95, (99.91 ±0.14)%,(95.73 ±4.14)% respectively,P<0.05;targeting maximum doses(Dmax)were(6658.26 ±215.29)cGy,(6 664.20 ±465.16)cGy,P>0.05;targeting minimum dose(Dmin)were(5 458.88 ±184.06) cGy,(4541.60 ±599.0)cGy,P<0.05;targeting average doses(Dmean)were(6 232.80 ±53.00)cGy and (6 105.78 ±163.34)cGy,P<0.05.CI values were (0.76 ±0.04) and(0.57 ±0.05),P<0.05;HI values were(1.07 ±0.02) and(1.12 ±0.06),P <0.05;Spinal cord maximum dose (3 889.68 ±712.69) cGy, (4 337.48 ±178.49)cGy,P<0.05;Lung V20(20.94 ±5.32)%,(21.90 ±6.94)%,P>0.05;Lung V10 (35.39 ±11.41)%,(29.0 ±8.80)%,P<0.05,Lung V5(44.95 ±15.55)%,(37.27 ±11.93)%,P<0.05. Conclusion Intensity-modulated radiotherapy is better than 3DCRT technology in showing PTV volume ,target conformal degrees and the mean index ,spinal cord protection ,However ,The risk of lung injury could be increased with the enlarged area of low -dose irradiation in lung .

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of non-invasive cardiac output parameters:cardiac index (CI) and minute distance (MD), in premature infants with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and determine the cut-off value. Methods Clinical data of 98 premature infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit from January 2015 to June 2015 were collected. These premature infants were divided into the treated PDA group (n=30),the untreated PDA group (n=28) and the normal premature group (n=40) based on the results of echocardiogram in the first three days after birth and the use of drugs. Non-invasive cardiac output parameters were measured in the first three days after birth. The data were analyzed by t test, analysis of variance and SNK-q test. The diagnostic value of CI and MD for PDA was analyzed by the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results By preliminary analysis of the ROC curve,CI and MD were the most representative parameters for the diagnosis of PDA which need to be treated clinically, we thus chose CI and MD in this study. The aortic and pulmonary arterial CI and MD in the treated PDA group were significantly higher than in the untreated PDA group and the normal premature group (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the untreated PDA group and the normal premature group in the aortic and pulmonary arterial CI and MD (all P>0.05). The cut-off value of the aortic CI and MD was 2.95 L/(min·m2) and 21.50 m/min, respectively, while that of the pulmonary arterial CI and MD was 4.55 L/(min·m2) and 26.50 m/min, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the combined aortic CI and MD for the treated PDA group were 0.90 and 0.82, and those of combined pulmonary arterial CI and MD were 0.87 and 0.82;and those of combined aortic and pulmonary arterial CI and MD were 0.80 and 0.88, respectively. Conclusions The non-invasive cardiac output parameters CI and MD have good diagnostic value for the PDA needing clinical treatment, and the combined use of the two parameters can improve specificity, and help formulate the early treatment strategy for premature infants with PDA. When aortic CI was ≥ 2.95 L/(min·m2) and MD was ≥ 21.50 m/min, a preliminary diagnosis of the PDA needing clinical treatment, can be made, and simultaneously when the pulmonary arterial CI was ≥4.55 L/(min·m2) and MD was≥26.50 m/min, the arterial duct should be closed timely.

Objective To explore the expression and significance of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in lupus nephritis (LN) in mice. Methods Female MRL/lpr lupus mice (n=36) were randomly divided into the experimental group and intervention group, and female Kunming mice (n =18) served as controls. Each mice in the intervention group received intraperitoneal injection of 20 μg anti-mice interleukin (IL)-17 antibody. The serum concentrations of NGAL, IL-17,matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). And the protein expressions of NGAL, IL-17, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in renal tissue were detected by immunohistochemisty. One-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) or nonparametric rank sum test was used for the comparisons between the three groups. Associations between these factors were analyzed by Pearson′s test. Results The levels of serum NGAL, IL-17, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the experimental group were obviously increased as compared to those in the control group and intervention group [NGAL: (30.31±1.22) ng/ml vs (11.36±0.14) ng/ml, (20.09±0.35) ng/ml, F=986.524, P<0.001]. The protein expression of NGAL, IL-17, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in the renal tubular epithelial cells in the experimental group was increased as compared to the control group and intervention group[NGAL:(11.27±0.58) vs(0.45±0.19),(9.22±0.67), H=15.158, P =0.001]. In the experimental group, a positive correlation was found between the level of serum NGAL
and the serum levels of IL-17, MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1(r=0.899, 0.789, 0.925, P<0.01). The protein expression of NGAL in renal tissue was positively correlated with IL-17, MMP-9 and MMP-9/TIMP-1 levels (r=0.929, 0.899, 0.723, P<0.01). Conclusion The level of NGAL in the serum and renal tissue is signifi-cantly increased in the MRL/lpr lupus mice. And it is closely correlated with the levels of IL-17 and MMP-9. Our results suggest the potential role of NGAL in the inflammation of lupus nephritis.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To investigate the role of the Notch pathway in Toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR4 )-mediated in-flammatory response in renal ischemia reperfusion injury ( IRI) in rats.METHODS: A total of 75 male sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group , IRI group and DAPT treatment group .Blood samples and the kid-neys were obtained at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after reperfusion .The concentrations of blood urea nitrogen ( BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr) were measured.The serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by ELISA, and the expression of Notch1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the renal tissues was assessed by im-munohistochemistry and Western blot .RESULTS: The serum levels of BUN, Scr, TNF-αand IL-6 in IRI group were markedly increased as compared with sham group (P<0.05).The protein levels of Notch1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in re-nal tubular epithelial cells in IRI group was significantly enhanced as compared with sham group ( P<0.05 ) .In DAPT group, the serum levels of BUN, Scr, TNF-αand IL-6 were significantly reduced compared with IRI group (P<0.05), and the protein levels of Notch1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 were apparently less than those in IRI group (P<0.05).CON-CLUSION:Significant changes of renal function , a rise of serum inflammatory factor including TNF-αand IL-6 and en-hanced expression of Notch 1, TLR4 and NF-κB p65 in the renal tissue occurred in the rats with IRI .γ-Secretase inhibitor DAPT attenuates TLR4-mediated inflammatory response in the renal IRI through the inhibition of Notch 1 and down-regula-tion of NF-κB.