OBJECTIVE To compare mycophenolate mofetil(MMF) with azathioprine(AZA) addition to ciclosporin-prednisone protocol after kidney transplantation in aspect of infections,and to study the etiology of pulmonary infection and urinary tract infection in the two groups.METHODS Totally 249 patients with kidney transplantation were analyzed retrospectively.These patients were divided into two groups according to the immunosuppressive regimen: AZA group(89 patients),and MMF group(160 patients).The various infectious complications were analyzed during a 1-year follow-up,and the etiology of pulmonary infection and urinary tract infection was studied in the two groups.RESULTS The total incidence of the infections,the incidences of the pulmonary infection,urinary tract infecion,wound infection,and so on,during a 1-year follow-up,were equivalent between the two groups.But the incidence of ARDS and the mortality of patients with lung infection was significantly different.The etiology of pulmonary infection was different between the two groups.Cytomegalovirous and fungal infections were higher in MMF group than those in AZA group.Also the etiology of urinary tract infection was different,the incidences of Gram-positive bacterial and fungal infections were higher in MMF group than those in AZA group.CONCLUSIONS Comparing with AZA,MMF increased the opportunity of serious lung infection.The incidences of opportunistic infection and fungal and viral infections increased obviously in MMF group.So therapy should be individualized and aimed.

Recent studies reported that thymoquinone (TQ), a component derived from the medicinal spice Nigella sativa (also called black cumin), exhibited inhibitory effects on cell proliferation of many cancer cell lines. This study was performed to investigate the anti-metastatic effect of thymoquinone on the pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that thymoquinone suppressed the migration and invasion of Panc-1 cells in a does-dependent manner. To investigate the possible mechanisms involved in these events, Western blotting analysis was performed, and found that thymoquinone significantly down-regulates NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in Panc-1 cells. In addition, metastatic model simulating human pancreatic cancer was established by orthotropic implantation of histologically intact pancreatic tumor tissue into the pancreatic wall of nude mice. And administration of thymoquinone significantly reduced tumor metastasis compared to untreated control. Furthermore, the expression of NF-kappaB and MMP-9 in tumor tissues was also suppressed after treatment with thymoquinone. Taken together, the results indicate that thymoquinone exerts anti-metastatic activity on pancreatic cancer both in vitro and in vivo, which may be related to down-regulation of NF-kappaB and its regulated molecules such as MMP-9 protein. Consequently, these results provide important insights into thymoquinone as an antimetastatic agent for the treatment of human pancreatic cancer.

Objective:To examine the adiponectin level in gingival crevicular fluid(GCF)in patients of chronic periodontitis with dia-betes mellitus type 2.Methods:20 patients of diabetes mellitus type 2 with chronic periodontitis(DM&CP),20 of periodontitis(CP) and 20 health subjects(H)were included.The periodontal indexes (SBI,PLI,PD and AL)were measured,GCF samples were quan-tified by periotron 8000,the adiponectin content in GCF was tested by adiponectin ELISA kit.The relationship between the adiponectin level in GCF and the periodontal indexes of the DM&CP patients was analyzed statistically.Results:The adiponectin level in GCF in group DM&CP was significantly lower than that in the other 2 groups(P <0.05).The adiponectin levels in GCF in group CP and H were not statistically different.The adiponectin level in GCF was negatively correlated with PD and AL(P <0.05),but had no correlation with SBI and PLI(P >0.05).Conclusion:Decrease of adiponectin in GCF may play a role in the development of DM&CP.

Objective: To study the examination of coronary sinus (CS) and blood flow by transthoracic echocardiography(TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography(TEE).Methods: Thirty patients with supraventricular tachycardia were studied by TTE and TEE. The CS was visualized using modified 4 chamber view. The position of the probe was optimized until the coronary sinus with its ostium into the right atrium could be visualized. CS flow recordings were performed by TEE with Doppler sample volume placed in the CS within a distance of no more than 10 mm from its ostium. Results: In all patients the angle between the doppler beam and the long axis of the CS was <30°. The CS was fully displayed in 18 patients by TTE and 28 patients by TEE. The length and width of the CS were (16.53±2.57) mm and (4.51±1.30) mm by TTE, (24.11±2.46) mm and (5.06±0.97) mm by TEE.The CS flow was characterized by biphasic flow.Its flow velocity was (39±7.8), (31±6.1) and (21±4.7) cm/s respectively. The CS flow velocity-imeintegral was(43±11.6),(43±13.0),(27±8.2) cm/s. Conclusion: Echocardiography is reliable for detecting CS and its flow. TTE is more feasible for detecting CS and its flow than TEE.

Objective To design and prepare an RNA interfering vector for effectively inhibiting the cellular expression of zinc finger protein A20 and observe the effect of A20 gene silence on cellular inflammatory response. Methods Specific RNA interfering oligonucleotide fragments (ASRF) were designed and synthesized artificially and the A20 RNA interfering vector pSUPER-EGFP-A20 siRNA constructed. Human monocyte cell line THP1 was used to infect the pSUPER-EGFP-A20 siRNA by means of genetic transfection technique; then, silence rate of cellular A20 was analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the meantime, the activity of nuclear transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and the level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in culture supernatant were measured by ELISA. Results Of two specific inhibitory oligonueleotide fragments of A20, the fragment M59465-385R/F had a higher inhibition to A20 expression, with rate of A20 gene silence of 83.86%. Preliminary application showed that after A20 gene silence, the activity of NF-κB was increased by 78.13% and the level of TNF-α in cell culture supernatant was increased by 49.30%. Conclusions Vector of A20gene silence with a high efficiency is obtained successfully. Preliminary application indicates that the expression of A20 can down-regulate the degree of cellular inflammatory responses.

AIM To investigate if morphine addiction and relapse to morphine-seeking is related to the change in neurosteroid levels in the brain of rats. METHODS Rats were injected ip morphine (5 mg·kg-1·d-1, 18:00-20:00) and trained in conditioned place preference (CPP) box, once daily for 10 d. CPP test was performed 24 h after the last training. After discontinuation of training for 7 d for CPP extinction, then intermittent and inescapable foot-shock (FS, 0.5 mA, 0.5 s on, 40 s off, 15 min) was applied to rats as the priming stimuli for relapse. CPP test was performed 2 h after FS. When CPP test finished, rats were decapitated and the levels of neurosteroids were analyzed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS CPP was established when rats were injected morphine and trained for 10 d. At the same time, the levels of pregnenolone and allopregnanolone in the brain tissues of rats were significantly increased. When CPP was reinstated in morphine-treated rats by FS-stress after 7 d CPP extinction, the levels of dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate were significantly increased. CONCLUSIONThe development of morphine addiction and relapse may be related to endogenous neurosteroids in rat brain tissues.

Aim To study ethanol-induced changes in the development and neuronal number of visual cortex in C57BL /6 mice. Methods Female mice were fed with ethanol during pregnancy . The neuron density (ND) and cortical thickness (CT) in visual cortex of off spring mice were measured at either P0, P7 and P14 with hematoxylin and eosin (H.E) and Nissl staining. Results Embryonic death and malformationswere found in the ethanol-treated groups. Malformations, such as microcephaly,anencephaly and myeloschisis with spinabifida, etc were found in late-term embryos. The malformation rate was 12%. Compared with control group, the development of visual cortex in ethanol-treated groups was delayed, and its lamination was in disorder. The neuron polarity was disturbed. Neuron loss was found after ethanol exposure. At various ages, the neuron density in ethanol-treated groups was lower than that in control group(P

Aim To investigate effects of glutamate(GLU) and ?-aminobutyric acid(GABA) on levels of neurosteroids synthesized and released by primary cultured rat brain cortical astrocytes.Methods Primary cultured rat brain cortical astrocytes were treated with GLU or GABA for 48 h respectively.Unconjugated(dehydroepiandrosterone,DHEA;pregnenolone,PREG;allopregnanolone,AP) and conjugated neurosteroids(dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate,DHEAS;pregnenolone sulfate,PREGS) in culture media were extracted by solid phase extraction(SPE) and analyzed by HPLC-MS.Results Compared with saline control group,GLU treatment decreased PREG and PREGS levels and increased DHEAS level significantly;GABA treatment decreased PREG level and increased AP level significantly.Conclusion Both GLU and GABA were shown to inhibit the genesis of PREG.While GLU significantly promoted the genesis of DHEAS and GABA promoted the genesis of AP.The genesis of PREGS was also inhibited by GLU treatment in primary cultured cortical astrocytes.

AIM: To investigate the effect of cyclophosphamide(CTX) on proliferation and apoptosis of mesangial cells(GMC) of rat in vitro. METHODS: GMC proliferation was detected by MTT method, GMC apoptosis was examined by inverted microscopy for phase-contract and fluoroscopy and flow cytometry analysis. The levels of Fas and Bcl-2 were also detected by immunohistology. RESULTS: The proliferation of GMC were inhibited by CTX, methylprednisolone(MP), low molecular weight heparin(LMWH). Apoptosis of GMC was induced by CTX, the apoptosis rate of GMC was 8.2%, and the Fas level was increased. CONCLUSION: CTX could inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of GMC possibly by enhancing the Fas level.

Objectives By Oxford pathological classification and analysis of circulating complement complement 3 (C3),renal C3 deposition,and clinical laboratory tests,we discussed the correlation between complement C3 and immunoglobin A nephropathy (IgAN) in pathogenesis.Methods A retrospective study of 558 IgAN cases at Xinhua Hospital from January of 2000 through December of 2013 was performed.All 558 IgAN diagnoses were made and confirmed by renal needle biopsy.Results Compared to patients who had circulating C3 ＜ 0.9,patients with circulating C3 level ＞ 0.9 showed statistically significant decreases in serum creatinine [(100.92 ± 105.31) μmol/L vs (157.58 ± 208.39) μmol/L,t =-2.283,P =0.025],blood urea nitrogen [(5.69 ± 2.88) mmol/L vs (7.69 ± 5.90) mmoL/L,t =-2.81,P =0.006];besides,other parameters like IgA,body weight,body mass index (BMI),cholesterol,triglyceride,serum IgA/C3 ratio,albumin,and estimated glomeruli filtrate rate (eGFR) also presented statistically significant differences between two patient groups;no statistically significant differences were observed between two groups in glomerular mesangial cell proliferation,capillary endothelial proliferation,segmental glomerular sclerosis or adhesions,renal tubule atrophy,tubulointerstitial fibrosis,and formation of glomerular crescent;meanwhile,no statistically significant differences were observed between two groups in mesangial depositions of IgA,IgG,IgM,and complement C3;meanwhile the blood level of C3 between C3 deposition negative group,deposition 2 + and 3 + subgroup showed statistically significant differences (2.493 and 2.782;0.013 and 0.006),nevertheless,prognostic indices in Oxford classification,such as mesangial cell proliferation,capillary endothelial proliferation,segmental glomerular sclerosis or adhesions,renal tubule atrophy and tubulointerstitial fibrosis,were also statistically different between two patient groups (Pearson Square test result was 50.782,35.141,21.105,30.182,respectively;P ＜0.01).Conclusions Renal deposition of complement C3 or decrease in circulating C3 level may be associated with a poor prognosis of IgA nephropathy,and alteration in C3 dynamics may be implicated in the pathogenesis of IgAN through its involvement in humoral immunity.