Objective To observe the effect of Yiqi Huaxian Decoction (YHD) on transforming growth factor ?1(TGF-?1 )mRNA expression in rats alveolar macrophages (AM) and pulmonary interstitial macrophages (IM).Methods Ninety-six Wistar rats were randomized into sham-operation group,model group,YHD (4 g?kg-1?d-1) group,and hydrocortisone (20 mg?kg-1?d-1) group.Bleomycin A5 was injected into the rats' trachea to induce pulmonary fibrosis.AM and IM were isolated for the culturing after modeling for 7 and 28 days.Molecular in-situ hybridization (ISH) was used for the detection of TGF-?1 expression in AM and IM.Results Percentage of cells in AM and IM with TGF-?1 positive expression and the score of optic density were increased in the model group (P

Objective To explore the clinical features of renal and urinary lesions in IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD).Methods Clinical manifestation,laboratory profiles,iconography images,pathologic findings,treatment and prognosis of 6 IgG4-RD patients with renal and urinary system involvement from Peking Union Medical College Hospital during Aug 2010 to Dec 2011 were analyzed retrospectively.Results Six patients had renal and/or urinary lesions among IgG4-RD cases diagnosed in our hospital,including 4 males and 2 women,with median age of 59 years (36 to 72 years) and median disease course of 10.5 months.All the patients presented multiple organ involvement simultaneously.Urinary system lesion varied,including renal dysfunction,abdominal pain and edema.Hyperglobulinemia,elevated serum IgG (median 23.3 g/L) and IgG4 (median 4227.0 mg/L),tubular proteinuria were found in all the 6 patients,and elevated Scr (median 237 μmol/L) in 5 cases.Kidney CT image often showed renal swelling,hydronephrosis,multiple low density focus with attenuation and kidney atrophy.Renal pathology revealed interstitial inflammatory cells infiltration comprising predominantly plasma cells and lymphocytes,with a high prevalence of IgG4-positive cells often admixed with fibrosis,which fit the features of tubulointerstitial nephritis.Patients with IgG4-RD nephropathy presented good response to glucocorticoids.After therapy,the symptoms were improved and serum IgG,IgG4 and Scr decreased.Conclusions Renal and urinary lesions of IgG4-RD are heterogeneous in clinical manifestation,and are often complicated with various organ lesions.The feature of renal histopathology is tubulointerstitial nephritis infiltrated by plasma cells and lymphocytes with positive IgG4.Glucocorticoids treatment is effective for this disease.

Objective To observe the effect of intra-articular injection of berberine on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13,ADAMTS-5,Aggrecan and Collagen Ⅱ in the cartilage of rabbits with osteoarthritis.Methods Thirty male New Zealand White rabbits underwent bilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT).On the basis of randomization one knee of each rabbit was treated with 0.3 ml 100 μmol/L berberine resolved in the normal saline (NS) (the experimental group) and the other knee was treated under the same schedule using NS (the placebo group) 4 weeks after transection,once a week for five weeks.Nine weeks after ACLT,all rabbits were killed and the knee joints were evaluated by histology and biochemistry.The mRNA expression of MMP-13,ADAMTS-5,Aggrecan and Collagen Ⅱ in the cartilage was analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).All data were analyzed using Student's t test.Results Mankin histological evaluation showed that the extent and grade of cartilage damage in the experimental group (6.9±1.9) were less severe than the placebo group (9.3±1.2)(t=3.394,P＜0.01).The mRNA expression of MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5 decreased (160±54;166±47) (t=3.311,P＜0.01;t=2.651,P＜0.05) while that of Aggrecan (261±50) and Collagen Ⅱ (335±64) increased in cartilage compared to the placebo group (233±45;234±67;186±64;254±69),the differences were significant (t=2.941,P＜0.01;t=2.743,P＜0.05).The content of hydroxyproline (Hyp) and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in cartilage [(23.5±2.8) μg/mg;(30±3) μg/mg] increased significantly in the experimental group (t=2.941,P＜0.01;t=2.743,P＜0.05) compared to the placebo group [(19.9±2.8) μg/mg;(27.4±2.9) μg/mg].Conclusion Berberine protects against cartilage degradation and inhibits the progression of osteoarthritis by suppressing MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5 expression.

Objective To construct the pCDNA3.1-ING4 eukaryotic expression vector and investigate its effect on the proliferation of melanoma cell line M14. Methods The targeted cDNA fragment encoding ING4 was cloned by reverse transcription-PCR with normal gastric mucosa from patients with gastric ulcer, and subcloned into eukaryotie expression vector pcDNA3.1. PCR and DNA sequencing were performed to identify the eukaryotic expression vector pCDNA3.1-ING4, which was then transfected into M14 cells with Lipofectamine 2000 reagent. The expression of ING4 was detected in untransfected, pCDNA3. 1-ING4-transfected and pcDNA3.1-transfected M14 cells by Western blot and immunocyto-chemistry, and cell proliferation by MTT assay. Results A fragment of expected size (750 bp) was amplified by PCR analysis, and DNA sequencing confirmed the correctness of the recombinant plasmid. As shown by immunocytochemistry, the percentage of cells positive for ING4 protein was significantly higher in pCD NA3. 1-ING4-transfected MI4 cells than in non-transfected M14 cells and pcDNA3.1-transfected M14 cells (71.80%±9.88% vs 4.20%±3.35%, P < 0.01). Western blot also revealed an increased expression of ING4 in pCDNA3.1-ING4-transfected cells. Decreased cell viability was observed in ING4-transfected cells compared with nontransfected cells and pCDNA3.1-transfected cells (both P < 0.01). Conclusions The pCDNA3. 1-ING4 eukaryotic expression vector has been constructed successfully, and M14 cells transfected by this recombinant plasmid could effectively express ING4 protein, which may inhibit the cell proliferation of M14 cells.

Objective To evaluate clinical features,predisposing factors,therapeutic regimen and prognosis of non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis.Methods Clinical picture,therapeutic regimen and prognosis were investigated in 39 cases with non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis by retrospective analysis.Results Non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis mostly presented fever,asthenia,myalgia and/or muscular tenderness,swelling of involved muscles,red urine and oliguria or anuria.The complications and comorbidity of rhabdomyolysis included acute renal failure(ARF),disorders of metabolites and electrolytes,compartmental syndrome,infection,and multiple organ dysfunction.Infection(33.3%)was the most common etiology of non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis,followed by drugs(25.6%),metabolite or electrolyte derangements(10.3%)and alcohol intoxication(7.7%)etc.Therapeutic regimen covered treatment of the underlying diseases,volume repletion,alkalization and dealing with the complications.For the patients with established renal failure,renal replacement therapy was essential.Overall mortality was 15.4%,while the mortality in the patients with ARF was 20.7%.If surviving ARF,the patients' renal function promised to be normalized consequently.Conclusion Non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome with a variety of causes,different clinical presentations and versatile combination of complications,which confounds the diagnosis.However,if treated properly and in time,the survivors in all probability will recover from ARF.

Objective To analyze serum amyloid protein A (SAA) subtype and amino acid mutation sequence of the renal biopsy specimens from patients with renal amyloidosis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) by laser microdissection combined with mass spectometry.Methods Kidney biopsy formalin-preserved paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimen slices were stained by Congo red,the positive areas of Congo red staining were selected by microdissection,after trypsin hydrolysis and filtration,peptide samples were subjected to liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.Analysis softwares were used to evaluate the results,and the patient's amino acid sequence of SAA protein was compared to mutant amino acid sequence reported by literature or deduced from mutant SAA gene to determine whether there was a variation.Results SAA1 and SAA2 proteins with high abundance were identified by mass spectrometry,serum amyloid P and apolipoprotein E were also detected.No variation of SAA1 and SAA2 protein was detected.Conclusions The SAA1 and SAA2 proteins in AA amyloidosis secondary to ASwere identified for the first time,which enriched the pathogenesis of amyloidosis secondary to AS and provided a new method for the accurate classification of AA amyloidosis.

Objectives To investigate the overall prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in subjects hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),and explore the prevalence of the major CVD complications and trends in patients with COPD over a 10-year period.Methods Medical records in the PLA General Hospital,Beijing Union Medical College Hospital,and Beijing Hospital from 2000/01/01 to 2010/03/03 were retrospectively reviewed.A total of 4960 patients with COPD were reviewed in the study (3570 males,mean age,72.2 ± 10.5 years; 1390 females,mean age,72.0 ± 10.4 years).Results The prevalence of CVD in COPD patients was 51.7％.The three most prevalent CVDs were ischemic heart disease (28.9％),heart failure (19.6％),and arrhythmia (12.6％).During the 10-year study period,the prevalence of various CVDs in COPD patients showed a gradual increasing trend with increasing age.There was higher morbidity due to ischemic heart disease (P ＜ 0.01) in male COPD patients than in the female counterparts.However,heart failure (P ＜ 0.01)and hypertension (P ＜ 0.01) occurred less frequently in male COPD patients than in female COPD patients.Furthermore,the prevalence of ischemic heart disease decreased year by year.In addition to heart failure,various types of CVD complications in COPD patients tended to occur in younger subjects.The prevalence of all major types of CVD in women tended to increase year by year.Conclusions The prevalence of CVD in patients hospitalized for COPD in Beijing was high.Age,sex and CVD trends,as well as life style changes,should be considered when prevention and control strategies are formulated.

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship of body fat distribution with serum lipid and its potentially predictive value for dyslipidemia.MethodsA total of 784 Beijing rural residents were enrolled in this study using a cluster sampling method.The body height,weight,waist circumference (WC),hip circumference,body composition,high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( HDL-C ),low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C),total cholesterol ( TC),and triglycerides (TG) were measured.The body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated.ResultsThe age-adjusted partial correlation analysis showed that WC had the best correlation with HDL-C ( r =- 0.310) and LDL-C ( r =0.204 ),while WHR with TC ( r =0.151 ) and TG ( r =0.271 ).Subgroup analysis with different BMI,WC,WHR,and trunk fat mass (TFM) showed that WC,WHR,and TFM sensitively reflected the changes of body lipids,whereas BMI,WC,WHR,and TFM sensitively reflected the low HDL,high TG,and risk of dyslipidemia.Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the predictive curves of WC,WHR,BMI,and TFM were above the reference line,and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of WHR (0.684,0.630),WC (0.667,0.616),and TFM (0.661,0.604) showed high tendencies than BMI (0.629,0.597) for both male and female subjects,although no statistically significant differences were found ( all P ＞ 0.05 ).ConclusionsCompared with BMI,the body fat distribution indicators including WHR,WC,and TFM have higher predictive values in evaluating the risk of dyslipidemia.When the maximum Youden index for predicting the risk of dyslipidemia is applied,the ideal cutoff points was 24 kg/m2 for BMI,0.91 for WHR,85cm for WC,7.5kg for TFM in males,and 25 kg/m2,0.91,87cm,and 9.5 kg,respectively,in females.

ObjectiveTo establish the urinary proteome profile of the metabolic syndrome ( MetS ) patients,compare the different urinary proteins between the MetS patients and the normal individuals,and analyze the function of the different proteins,so as to explore the pathogenesis of MetS.MethodsOvernight urine were collected from normal controls (n =6) and MetS patients ( n =6).Acetone precipitation method was used to precipitate proteins of urine.Intra-group proteins were mixed together,identified by reversed phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry and quantified relatively using spectral counting method.The functions of differential proteins were analyzed using Panther.ResultsA total of 807 and 630 proteins were identified respectively in normal controls and MetS patients.Comparing MetS patients with normal controls,sixty different proteins were found,of which 23 proteins were up-regulated and 37 proteins were down-regulated in MetS patients.In the up-regulated proteins,plasminogen was involved in the plasminogen activation cascade and isoform of alphaenolase,phosphoglycerate kinase 1 and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase B down-regulated in MetS patients were involved in the process of glycolysis and fructose metabolism.ConclusionsThe urinary proteome profile of patients with MetS was established by reversed phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry.Different proteins between MetS patients and normal people were identified.The plasminogen activation cascade,glycolysis and fructose metabolism play key roles in the pathogenesis of MetS.

ObjectiveTo investigate the protein wasting and energy reserve in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients undergoing maintaining hemodialysis (HD) at different ages.MethodsA total of 129 CRF patients (62 men and 67 women) aged (56.33 ± 14.14) years on HD were enrolled in this study.They were divided into four age groups:below 40,40-69,60-69,and over 70 years.Nutritional status was assessed by body mass index (BMI),normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR),and biochemical parameters including pre-albumin,cholesterol,and creatinine.Body composition was tested with multi-frequency bioelectric impedance analysis.Meanwhile,83 healthy subjects,matched for age and sex,were enrolled as controls.ResultsBMI showed no significant difference between healthy controls and HD patients.Among HD patients,38％ had an BMI higher than the normal high limit and 6.2％ had a BMI less than 18.5kg/m2 ; patients with a low body weight accounted for 0,6.2％,4.8％,and 11.1％ in the ＜40 years group,40-59 years group,60-69 years group,and above 70 years groups,respectively.nPCR in the above 70 years group was ( 1.46 ±0.28) g/( kg·d),which was significantly lower than that in the 40-59 years group [ (1.54 ±0.28) g/( kg·d) ; P =0.004) ; the serum creatinine in the the above 70 years group was (834.08 ± 184.96) μmol/L,which was significantly lower than that in 40-59 years group [ (976.24 ± 186.86) μmol/l ] ( P=0.037) ; the prealbumin in the the above 70 years group was (272.65 ±79.78) mg/L,which was significantly lower than that in 40-59 year group [ (332.07 ± 73.03 ) mg/L] ( P =0.026).Body cell mass in HD patients was (22.81 ±8.12) kg,which was significantly lower than that in the control group [ (29.95 ±6.73) kg] (P＜0.001) ; furthermore,the lean tissue mass (LTM) [ (40.16±11.90) kg vs.(47.22 ±9.84) kg] and fat [ (17.45± 8.83)vs.(13.66±7.28) kg] were also significantly lower (both P=0.001 ).The lean tissue indicators in the below 40 years group were also significantly lower than those in the healthy controls ( P =0.012).For the fat tissue ingredients,the below 40 years group ( P =0.013 ) and over 70 years group (P =0.039) showed significant differences with the controls,while the 60-69 years group (P =0.191 ) showed no such difference.ConclusionsNutritional status is different among HD patients at different ages.HD patients below 40 years and abover 70 years are more susceptible to malnutrition.Although BMI shows no difference with the normal subjects,protein wasting and increased fat tissue storage do exist in HD patients.The nutrition changes are slightest in 40-59 years old and much severer in over 70 years old patients.