Acute kidney injury is a common complication in patients with cirrhosis.It is characterized by a sudden drop in glomerular filtra-tion rate,retention of metabolic waste products,water-electrolyte imbalance,and acid-base disturbance.It markedly increases mortality in cirrhotic patients.Therefore,early diagnosis and treatment of acute kidney injury are essential to reduce mortality and improve prognosis. The development of the diagnostic criteria for acute kidney injury,the clinical application of new biomarkers of renal function such as cystatin C,kidney injury molecule-1 ,and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin,and the management of acute kidney injury in cirrhotic pa-tients are reviewed.Although creatinine test and monitoring of urinary output have their disadvantages,they remain the main diagnostic crite-ria for acute kidney injury.Development of new biomarkers for clinical use and elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of acute kidney in-jury have become a hotspot of basic and clinical research.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyapatite has favorable biocompatibility, can protect pulp tissue and promote the formation of osteoid dentin and the concrescence of pulp tissue. However, hydroxyapatite has no capability of anti-infection. Increasing scholars deem that antibacterials should be added with the hydroxyapatite during the treatment of vital pulp conservation to elevate curative effects.OBJECTIVE: To observe the curative effects of self-solidifying hydroxyapatite/norvancomycin composite as pulp capping material and to make a comparison with calcium hydroxide.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The present randomized controlled observation experiment was performed at the General Dental Clinic, the Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Medical College between January 2004 and June 2005.PARTICIPANTS AND MATERIALS: A total of 60 patients (60 teeth) that suffered from deep caries or pulp exposure, could return visit on time, and agreed to sign informed consents were selected for this study. These patients comprised of 28 males and 32 females, aged 9-40 years. Diagnosis criteria: Teeth with food impaction pain and/or caloric stimulation pain which can relieve after stimulation removal; in addition, with no spontaneous pain, radiating pain, and hypnalgia. Self-solidifying hydroxyapatite/2.5% norvancomycin composite were prepared in the Department of Dental Material, Shanghai Second Hospital. Self-hardening calcium hydroxide was provided by Dentsply Company, USA.METHODS: All 60 patients were randomly divided into an experimental group and a control group, with 30 patients (30 teeth) per group. Self-solidifying hydroxyapatite/2.5% norvancomycin composite and self-hardening calcium hydroxide were applied as pulp capping agents in the experimental and control groups, respectively. Pulpal tissue reactions were assessed after 8 weeks. Teeth with normal response were restored permanently, and the others were given root canal treatment.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pulpal tissue reaction of patients.RESULTS: In the experimental group, one case showed vague pain after 1-week pulp capping and received root canal therapy, with success rate of 97%. In the control group, two cases presented with vague pain after 3-day and 1-week pulp capping, respectively, and also received root canal therapy, with success rate of 93%.CONCLUSION: Self-solidifying hydroxyapatite/norvancomycin composite acquires a high success rate of pulp capping, with curative effects similar to calcium hydroxide, it is a good pulp capping agent for vital pulp preservation.

Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) are autoimmune disorders.The incidence and morbidity of coronary artery disease are much higher in patients with RA and SLE than in the general population.Traditional cardiovascular risk factors do not fully explain the excessive cardiovascular events.Some new factors,such as high cysteine,insulin resistance,metabolic syndrome and inflammation,may play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis.Inflammatory response,endothelial damage and autoantibodies may be associated with the pathogenic mechanism.This review provides an overview of atherosclerosis in RA and SLE.

Objective To investigate possible changes of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and oxidized Lp (a) [ox-Lp(a) ] levels after PCI and it mechanisms. Methods Bloods were selected from 75 patients with ACS undergoing PCI, and at 24 hours, 2 and 3 days, and 6 months pre-and post-PCI treatment, and from 29 control patients pre-and post-coronary angiography without undergoing PCI. The levels of Lp(a) , ox-Lp(a) , Lp(a) immune complexes (IC) and its autoantibody were determined by ELISA. The extents of CAD were determined by coronary angiography. The differences of variants pre-and post-operations were analyzed by paired samples t test. The differences of levels of Lp(a) and ox-Lp(a) among time points after PCI were analyzed by ANOVA. Correlations between Lp(a) and ox-Lp(a) , and between angiographic variables and Lp(a), ox-Lp(a) levels were calculated. Results Compared to pre-PCI, Lp(a) [233.10 (152.86-328.79) mg/L vs 202.05 (106.15-271.42) mg/L, t=6. 81, P<0.01], ox-Lp(a) [19.05 (10.98-31.80) mg/L vs 10. 51 (4.98-17.97) μg/ml, t = 13. 22,P <0. 01] and Lp(a)-IC [2.72 (1.604.91) AU vs 2. 11 (1.04-3. 97) AU, t = 3. 34, P < 0. 01 ] levels significantly increased immediately in post-PCI, while its antoantibody levels significantly decreased (A = 0. 81 ± 0. 33 vs A = 0. 72 ± 0. 28, t = 5.58, P < 0. 01). Strong correlations were noted between levels of ox-Lp( a) and Lp( a) both in pre-PCI (r =0. 66, P <0.01) and post-PCI (r = 0. 62, P <0. 01). PCI resulted in rapidrise of Lp(a) and ox-Lp(a) levels and then decreased quickly in 24 hours, returned to baseline in 2-3 days. The changes of Lp(a) and ox-Lp(a) levels in pre-and post-PCI were positively related with severity of ACS. In contrast, in the angiography-only control group, no significant changes were noted in Lp(a) , ox-Lp(a) , Lp(a)-IC and Lp(a) autoantibodies levels between the pre-and post-angiography samples. Conclusion PCI results in acute plasma acute increases of levels of Lp(a) and ox-Lp(a) ,and the changes are related with lesion severity of the coronary artery.

Objective:To scan the common differentially expressed genes in mice liver tissue following subacute exposure to hepatotoxicants,including alcohol,carbon tetrachloride,BCG & LPS,the alcohol extracts of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae and Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham.,and apply to the rapid toxic evaluation of TCM and other xenobiotics.Methods:The gene expression profiles of mice liver tissue,after respective administration of alcohol,CCl4,BCG associated with LPS,the alcohol extracts of Rhizoma Dioscoreae Bulbiferae and Senecio scandens Buch.-Ham.to healthy mice,were analyzed by use of mouse genome cDNA microarray.The correlations between the common differential expressed genes and the liver injury were analyzed based on the biological functions of those differentially expressed genes.Results:Among all of the five drug administration groups,there were 7 known function genes(BC05200,NM-019410,NM-173019,AB028272,AK088925,AK030862 and AK088816)and 1 unknown function gene(BC069871)differentially expressed.Beside AK088816,the other 7 genes were all down-regulate expressed.Conclusion:The common differentially expressed genes participate in the process of saccharometabolism,apoptosis,cell growth cycle,cytoskeleton and signal transmission,protein folding and protein ubiquitin.The abnormal expression of the common genes were closely correlated to the liver,and might be important for rapid hepatoxicity elucidation of traditional Chinese medicine and other xenobiotics.

Triptolide (TP) is a major active component in Tripterygium root, but its therapeutic window was very narrow due to its severe multi-organ toxicity. In this work, the effect of TP combined with glycyrrhetic acid (GA) on mRNA expression and activity of four cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in rat liver was studied after intragastric administration of TP (0.05, 0.3 and 0.6 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)) and TP (0.6 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)) combined with GA (30 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)) for 7 consecutive days. Compared with the control, the high dose of TP significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of CYP2E1, 1A2, 3A1 and 2C11, the co-administration of TP and GA further up-regulated the mRNA expression levels of CYP3A1, 2C11 and 2E1 as compared with the high dose of TP. Meanwhile, TP at high dose and combined with GA significantly increased CYP3A-associated testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation activity (2.2-fold and 4.1-fold, respectively) as compared with the control. Because TP is mainly metabolized by CYP3A2 in male rats, the present work indicated that TP-induced increase of CYP3A activity might be an important reason for the rapidly metabolic clearance of TP in rat liver, and GA can reduce the hepatotoxicity of TP by promoting its hepatic metabolic clearance. Furthermore, the results also suggest that the drug interactions might be occurred when TP and GA were co-administered with other CYP3A substrate drug.

Objective To explore the radiosensitivity ofβ-elemene on Colo320 cells transplanted tumor in nude mice and its molecular mechanisms.Methods Colo320 cells transplanted tumor model was established by cell suspension inoculation in nude mice.Then the transplanted mice with 0.8-1.0 cm3 tumor were randomly divided into 4 groups:control,β-elemene (40 mg/kg),radiation (4 Gy),andβ-elemene (40 mg/kg)+ radiation (4 Gy) groups,with four to five mice in each.Tumor weight and morphology were observed in each group.In addition,the apoptosis of tumor cells was measured by TUNEL and the expression of Fas gene was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results The nude mice transplanted tumor model was successfully established.Compared with that in control and simple radiation groups,tumor weight was significantly decreased inβ-elemene combined with irradiation group (P <0.05).At the same time,the apoptosis rate and the expression of Fas gene in tumor cells were significantly increased (P <0 .0 5 )inβ-elemene combined with irradiation group compared with control and simple radiation groups. Conclusion β-elemene could enhance the radiosensitivity of Colo320 cells transplanted tumor in nude mice probably by inducing Fas-mediated apoptosis of tumor cells.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between metastasis-associated gene 1 ( MTA1 )expression and invasive and metastatic ability of cervical cancer cell. MethodsThree kinds of plasmids pcDNA3( control group), pcDNA3-MTA1 ( MTA1 group) and pSilencer3. 1-MTA1-siRNA ( MTA1-siRNAgroup) were transfected into human cervical cancer cell line CaSki cells. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and western blot were used to detected MTA1 mRNA and protein expressions. The effects of MTA1 expression on CaSki cell growth and proliferation, cell migration, adhesion and invasion, and cell cycles were tested by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), clone formation experiment, wound-healing assay, transwell assay, adhesion assay and flow cytometry, respectively. In animal experiment, three groups of cells were inoculated to BALB/c nude mouse subcutaneously to observe tumor formation ability. ResultsCompared with control group, MTA1 mRNA and protein were significantly overexpressed in MTA1 group, while MTA1-siRNA group showed lower MTA1 expression. Compared with control group, MTA1 group showed significantly accelerated cell growth; while MTA1-siRNA group showed decreased cell growth since the second day (P＜0. 05). Clone formation number in control, MTA1 and MTA1-siRNA group were 133 ±6, 169 ± 10 and 57 ±5,respectively. MTA1 group showed accelerated cell formation, while MTA1-siRNA group showed the reverse effect compared with that in control group(P ＜ 0. 05 ). At 24, 48 and 72 hours after wounding, the healing ability of MTA1-siRNA group significantly lagged behind that in the control group, while MTA1 group showed accelerated cell healing ability. The adhesion rate of control, MTA1 and MTA1-siRNA group were (69. 3 ± 3. 6) ％, ( 80. 4 ± 5. 6 ) ％ and ( 39. 2 ± 7.4 ) ％ separately at 90 minutes after cell seeding. In contrast with control group, MTA1 group promoted the adhesion of CaSki cell to matrigel matrix, while MTA1-siRNA group inhibited the adhesion process (P ＜0. 05 ). In the migration assay, the number of cells migrated to the bottom side of the membrane in control,MTA1 and MTA1-siRNA group were 153 ± 17,247 ± 38 and 82 ± 10, respectively. The number of cells in the invasion assay were 231 ± 19,354 ± 36 and 76 ± 7, respectively. Compared with the control group, MTA1 group significantly increased the migration and invasion ability, while MTA 1-siRNA group showed lower cell migration and invasion ability (P ＜ 0. 05 ). In cell cycle experiment, no significant differences of cell proportions including G1, S and G2 stage were found among three groups (P ＞ 0.05).In animal experiment, compared with control group,MTA1 group showed accelersted tumor formation and growth,whilethe MTA1-siRNA group showed the reverse effect ( P ＜ 0. 05 ). ConclusionsMTA1 may play its roles to promote cervical cancer cell invasion, migration, adhesion, as well as cell growth and colony formation, while RNA interference against MTA1 may decrease the malignant phenotypes. This study shows that it will be an effective beginning to explore metastasis mechanisms and cancer gene therapy strategy targeting MTA1 in cervical cancer.

Objective To examine the complement component 1 Q subcomponent-binding protein (C1QBP) gene expression in human resistance choriocarcinoma cell lines and its parental cell line JeG-3,and to investigate whether silence C 1QBP by small interference RNA could reverse the resistance of human resistance choriocarcinoma cell lines to its relevant chemotherapy drugs.Methods Expression of C1QBP mRNA and protein in cells were detected by real-time fluorogenic quantitative PCR and western blot,respectively.The difference of C 1QBP expression was compared between human resistance choriocarcinoma cell lines and its parental cell line JeG-3.Sub-cellular location was proved by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy.A lentiviral vector containing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting C 1QBP was constructed and cotransfected with the packaging plasmid mixture into 293T cells by lipofectamine 2000.The human resistance choriocarcinoma cell lines were infected with the packaged lentivirus.Real-time fluorogenic quantitative PCR and western blot were used to validate whether the C 1QBP gene expression was silenced.The cell counting kit 8(CCK8)was used to determine the drug sensitivity.Results (1)The C1QBP mRNA expression levels among four human resistance choriocarcinoma cell lines[JeG-3/floxuridiuum (FUDR),JeG-3/methotrexate (MTX),JeG-3/etoposide (VP),JeG-3/dactinomycin (KSM)] were 2.520±0.680,1.770±0.230,1.940±0.090 and 1.740±0.350 folds compared to that in JeG-3 cells.The C1QBP protein was higher expression level in human resistance choriocarcinoma cell lines than that in JeG-3.The immunofluorescence methods and confocal analysis showed that C1QBP localized predominantly in the mitochondrial matrix.(2)The C1QBP mRNA expression in JeG-3/FUDR cells after infected with lentiviral vector were decreased by 93.1％ (P＜0.01).The protein expression of C 1QBP in JeG-3/FUDR cells after infected with lentiviral vector were almost completely suppressed.The resistance indexes of four human resistance choriocarcinoma cell lines(JeG-3/FUDR,JeG-3/MTX,JeG-3/VP,JeG-3/KSM) were respectively 86.3％,93.9％,92.8％ and 89.9％,which were decreased remarkably by knockdown the C 1QBP expression (P＜0.05).Conclusions C1QBP is overexpressed in human resistance choriocarcinoma cell lines compared with parental cell line JeG-3.Inhibition of C 1QBP by lentivirus-mediated small interference RNA could effectively reverses the resistance of human resistance choriocarcinoma cell lines to its relevant chemotherapy drugs.

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenolic substance with a variety of bioactivities,such as anti-oxidation,anti-tumor and apoptosis induction.This paper summarized the recent research progress of resveratrol induced cancerous cell apoptosis,including human cervical cancer HeLa cells,leukemia cells,hepatoma cells and gastric cancer cells,and analyzed the molecular mechanism behind resveratrol-induced cell apoptosis in tumor.In addition,resveratrol was investigated by blocking the cell cycle,regulating the expressions of related genes and proteins and mitochondria-induced apoptosis pathways as a potential application of cancer drugs to clinical researches.