Objective To investigate the effects of non-ionic low osmolar contrast media (LOCM) on the apoptosis and mRNA expression of Bcl-2/Bax in rat glomerular endothelial cells cultured in vitro. Methods Rat glomerular endothelial cells were exposed to ioversol with different concentrations for different time. Cell viability was then assessed by MTT method and morphological changes of cells were observed by inverted microscopy. In order to analyze cell apoptosis, DNA electrophoresis was applied. Meanwhile, the expression changes of Bcl-2/Bax at mRNA level were determined by RT-PCR. Results The viability of rat glomerular endothelial cells was inhibited by ioversol in a concentration and time dependent manner. After being exposed to ioversol(90 mL/L)for 24 h, the cells began to become crimple, round, and even floating. A typical DNA ladder determined by agarose gel electrophoresis was observed. Noticeably, the mRNA level of Bcl-2 in ioversol treated cells was down-regulated, while Bax was up-regulated, so that the ratio of Bcl-2 mRNA to Bax mRNA increased significantly. Conclusion Non-ionic LOCM can induce glomerular endothelial cells apoptosis, which may be partly due to the disturbance of Bcl-2/Bax balance. This is probably related to the pathogenesis of contrast media nephropathy.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and adverse reactions of alizarin combined with anti-tuberculosis therapy for multidrug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (MDR-PTB).Methods A total of 200 confirmed MDR-PTB patients admitted in the Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University during June 2013 and June 2015 were enrolled in the study.Patients were randomly divided into study group and control group (100 in each).Both groups were given standard anti -tuberculosis treatment for 8 months, and additional alizarin was given to study group .Chi-square test was used to assess the differences in clinical efficacy, sputum negative conversion rate, cavity closure and lesion absorption rate , as well as the incidence of adverse reactions between two groups ( including patients categorized according to TCM syndrome ). Results There were 39 markedly effective cases, 51 improved cases, 10 ineffective cases in study group, and 22 markedly effective cases, 35 improved cases, 43 ineffective cases in the control group.The total effective rate in study group was significantly higher than that in control group (90% vs.57%, χ2 =28.262, P <0.01).For patients with TCM syndrome differentiation as phlegm -heat stagnating lung and those with qi-stagnation induced blood-stasis, alizarin combination therapy had significantly higher total effective rate than standard anti -tuberculosis treatment (78.78% vs.63.33%, χ2 =7.187, P <0.05;95.74% vs.42.31%, χ2 =73.997, P <0.01), but the difference was not observed in patients with TCM syndrome differentiation as deficiency of qi and blood (95.00% vs.88.89%, χ2 =5.025, P >0.05). There was no significant difference in sputum negative conversion rate between two groups (76% vs.55%,χ2 =2.190, P >0.05).The cavity closure and lesion absorption rate in study group ( 91%) was significantly higher than that in the control group (54%,χ2 =38.294, P <0.01).The adverse reaction rate in study group was 27%, which was significantly lower than that in control group (66%, χ2 =30.570, P <0.01).Conclusion Alizarin in combination with standard anti -tuberculosis therapy can improve the clinical efficacy and reduce adverse reactions in treatment of MDR -PTB.

Objective To investigate the effect of different types and dosages of contrast media on the function and cell injury of rat renal artery endothelium. Methods Renal artery rings were isolated from SD rats and incubated in IMDM medium with 30,60,90 ?l/ml Diatrizoate or Ioversol. The contents of NO and ET-1 were detected by Griess method and radioimmunoassay. The release of LDH was assessed by colotimetric method. Results After being incubated with Diatrizoate or Ioversol for 1 h,the renal artery endothelium did not show significant changes in the release of NO,but the release of ET-1 increased in a dose-dependent manner. When the renal artery endothelium was stimulated with Diatrizoate at dosage of 90 ?l/ml for 4 h,the release of LDH was increased markedly. A slight,but insignificant,increased release of LDH induced by Ioversol was observed. Conclusion Both Diatrizoate and Ioversol can affect the function of renal artery endothelium by interfering the secretion of ET-1,and the effects of Diatrizoate are more obvious than Ioversol. High-dose Diatrizoate can also induce renal artery endothelial cells injury.

Objective To explore the clinical and imaging features of phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor(PMT).Methods The clinical presentations,laboratory examinations,and imaging manifestations of seven patients with PMT diagnosed by surgery and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.Results Among the 7 patients,four patients had clinical presentations of long-term fatigue and bone pain.All patients showed preoperative blood phosphorus reduction in varying degrees.X-ray examination showed systemic osteomalacia and osteoporosis,accompanied by multiple pathological fractures.On CT,the primary tumor appeared as a soft tissue density mass or a ground glass high-density nodule with irregular calcification and local bone destruction.MRI showed long T1,long T2 signal intensity,and irregular low signal foci were scattered in the T2WI fat-suppressed sequence.The enhanced scans showed moderate to significant inhomogeneous enhancement.One patient who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and two patients who underwent 18F-ALF-NOTA-Octreotide(18F-OC)PET/CT examinations showed varying degrees of radioactive concentration in the lesions.Conclusion The clinical presentations and laboratory examinations of patients with PMT have certain characteristics.Systemic osteomalacia with pseudofracture line,calcification matrix within the tumor,and significant inhomogeneous enhancement of the lesion are the key imaging features for diagnosing PMT.18F-OC PET/CT examination plays a crucial role in the systemic localization diagnosis of tumors.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling pathway is widely activated by a variety of extracellular stimuli, and its dysregulation is associated with the proliferation, invasion, and migration of cancer cells. ERK1/2 is located at the distal end of this pathway and rarely undergoes mutations, making it an attractive target for anticancer drug development. Currently, an increasing number of ERK1/2 inhibitors have been designed and synthesized for antitumor therapy, among which representative compounds have entered clinical trials. When ERK1/2 signal transduction is eliminated, ERK5 may provide a bypass route to rescue proliferation, and weaken the potency of ERK1/2 inhibitors. Therefore, drug research targeting ERK5 or based on the compensatory mechanism of ERK5 for ERK1/2 opens up a new way for oncotherapy. This review provides an overview of the physiological and biological functions of ERKs, focuses on the structure-activity relationships of small molecule inhibitors targeting ERKs, with a view to providing guidance for future drug design and optimization, and discusses the potential therapeutic strategies to overcome drug resistance.