Objective To study the hepatotoxicity of cyclosporine-A, tacrolimus and other immunosuppressive drugs in patients with renal transplantation. Methods In 346 cases undergone renal transplantation, ALT, AST, BILT and BILD levels of venous blood 1-90 days after operation, and treatment methods and outcome were reviewed, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment of hepatotoxicity. Results In CsA group, the occurrence rate of liver dysfunction was 26.9%, in whom ALT, AST and BILD increased apparently (P0.05). In MMF and MRZ group, the incidence of liver dysfunction was almost the same. In 18 cases the drug was changed into FK506, ALT, AST, BILT and BILD all apparently decreased 1 week later (P

Osteogenesis imperfecta is a group of inherited connective-tissue disorders in which synthesis or structure of type I collagen is defective and causes osseous fragility. Type IV osteogenesis imperfecta is dominant inheritance. Here, we report a case of type IV osteogenesis imperfecta family and their female member's pregnancy. Abnormal sonographic findings (marked bowing and shortening of long bones) and family history made the diagnosis of fetus with osteogenesis imperfecta. The parents decided to give up rescuing the infant and a caesarean section at 27 weeks of gestation was implemented. In conclusion, it is possible to make a prenatal diagnosis of osteogenesis imperfecta by ultrasound. For the pregnant women with osteogenesis imperfecta, management decision should be made on an individual basis.
Adult ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Osteogenesis Imperfecta ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVETo explore the factors associated with early diagnosis of gastric cancer.

METHODSClinical data were retrospectively analyzed for 250 patients with early-stage gastric cancer (EGC) from 2005 to 2008, during which the concept of intra-epithelial neoplasia (IN) was adopted in our department.

RESULTSOn preoperative endoscopic biopsy with pathological exam, there were 15 cases suspicious for cancer, 90 with high-grade IN (HGIN), and 15 gastric cancer. Postoperative pathological exam of the surgical specimen showed infiltrating early-stage cancer in 224 patients, of which 5 (2.2%) were type I (all were Tsm), 190 (84.8%) were type II including Tm in 82 and Tsm in 108 patients, 29 were type III (5 Tm and 24 Tsm). Twenty-six patients had non-infiltrating lesions (Tis). There were 184 (73.6%) well-differentiated tumors, including 26 Tis, 58 Tm, and 100 Tsm. Lymphatic metastasis was identified in 21 patients, of which 2 (2.3%) were Tm (all were poorly-differentiated) and 19 (13.9%) were Tsm. Lymphadenopathy was present in 15 (7.9%) cases in type II, and in 6 (20.7%) in type III. Of the 90 cases with a preoperative diagnosis of HGIN, 24 were found to be Tis, 29 were Tm, and 37 were Tsm on postoperative pathological assessment.

CONCLUSIONSWell-differentiation is the main histological type in EGC. The adoption of the concept of IN is associated with improved detection of EGC, which warrants further investigation.

Carcinoma in Situ ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo determine whether the GABA-containing neurons in rat central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) can be activated by acute sodium deprivation.

METHODSAcute sodium depletion was induced by subcutaneous injection of furosemide in rats followed by 24 h of dietary sodium deprivation. The rats underwent 0.3 mol/L NaCl/distilled water two bottle choice test, and the activated neurons were labeled and identified with GABA/Fos-double labeling immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe rats with acute sodium depletion exhibited significantly more numerous c-fos-positive neurons and GABA/Fos double-labeled neurons in the CeA than the control group (P<0.01, P<0.05). Consumption of 0.3 mol/L NaCl significantly increased the number of c-fos and GABA/Fos double labeled neurons compared to the distilled water group (P<0.001, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONGABAergic neurons in the CeA may play an inhibitory role in the regulation of sodium intake in rats with acute sodium depletion.

Amygdala ; cytology ; metabolism ; Animals ; GABAergic Neurons ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Chloride, Dietary ; metabolism ; Sodium, Dietary

Objective : To evaluate the immune effects of inactivated H7N9 influenza vaccine. Methods : We searched several common databases（The Cochrane Library,PubMed,China Biology Medicine disc,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,etc.）for research articles about immune effects of H7N9 influenza vaccine published from the time the database built to July 10th of 2018,using H7N9 and vaccine as keywords. After screening the articles according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria,we assessed the quality of the studies and then employed seroconversion rate（SCR）as an outcome indicator to analyze the immune effects of different doses and adjuvants. Results : We recruited 5 articles on inactivated H7N9 influenza vaccine from 1 679 articles. The sample size was 2 579. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the rate difference（RD）values of SCR in each dose group after the first dose ranged from 1% to 10%,which indicated a poor protective effect;after the second dose of immunization,the RD values of SCR in the vaccines without adjuvants ranged from 13% to 19%,which was not effective enough;the RD values of SCR in the vaccines with adjuvants ranged from 62% to 69%,which met the licensing criteria for influenza vaccine;better results could be achieved when immunized with two doses of vaccines with adjuvants（ RR=1.19,95%CI：1.02-1.39）;vaccines with AS03 or MF59 at the lowest dose of 3.75 μg had the same immune effects as ones at a dose of 15 μg;vaccines with AS03（RD=89%,95%CI：85%-93%）were superior to those with MF59（RD=42%,95%CI：9%- 75%）. Conclusion Inactivated H7N9 influenza vaccines could achieve good immune effects when inoculated two doses with adjuvants,and the minimum effective dose was 3.75 μg.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in Smad 2, 3, 4 and 7 of the transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-b1)/Smad signaling pathways in carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced hepatic fibrosis rats treated with TGF-b1 small interfering (si)RNA.

METHODSRats were randomly divided among five groups: non-fibrotic (normal); fibrosis-induced (model); fibrotic treated with 0.125 mg/kg TGF-b1 siRNA; fibrotic treated with 0.250 mg/kg TGF-b1 siRNA; and fibrotic treated with negative control TGF-b1 siRNA. The expression of Smad 2, 3, 4 and 7 was detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction (for mRNA), immunohistochemistry and Western blotting (for protein).

RESULTSThe mRNA and protein levels of Smad 2, 3 and 4 were significantly lower in the the fibrotic rats treated with either 0.250 mg/kg or 0.125 mg/kg TGF-b1 siRNA than in the fibrotic model or the negative control TGF-b1 siRNA rats (P less than 0.01). Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Smad 2, 3 and 4 were significantly lower in the 0.250 mg/kg TGF-b1 siRNA group than in the 0.125 mg/kg group (P less than 0.05). Comparing the 0.250 mg/kg and 0.125 mg/kg TGF-b1 siRNA groups to the model group and the TGF-b1 siRNA negative control group showed significantly increased levels of mRNA and protein expression of Smad 7 (P less than 0.01). In addition, the expression levels of Smad 7 were significantly higher in the 0.250 mg/kg TGF-b1 siRNA group than in the 0.125 mg/kg group (P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONsiRNA-mediated silencing of TGF-b1 in rats led to significantly reduced expression of Smad 2, 3 and 4, but significantly increased expression of Smad 7. TGF-b1 regulation of Smad signaling molecules may contribute to hepatic fibrosis in rats and represent a target of future therapeutic intervention.

Animals ; Gene Silencing ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Rats ; Smad Proteins ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics

AIMTo study the effect of propylene glycol mannate sulfate (PGMS) on induction of CuZn-SOD.

METHODSWistar rats were given PGMS p.o. at different doses (0, 18.9, 37.8 and 75.6 mg.kg-1.d) for ten days. Then the rats were sacrificed and the total RNA was extracted from the livers. The total RNA samples were loaded on a 1% agarose gel to detect the quality of total RNA. RT-PCR was applied to study the expression of CuZn-SOD mRNA in rat livers. The amplified products were detected by the 1.5% agarose gel electrophoresis. Simultaneously, the CuZn-SOD activities in rat liver were determined by nitrite method.

RESULTSThe total RNA extracted from rat livers was integrated without being decomposed by RNase. The level of CuZn-SOD mRNA of the high-dosage group (75.6 mg.kg-1.d) was higher than that of the control group (0 mg.kg-1.d) (P < 0.01); the CuZn-SOD activities of the high-dosage group were significantly higher than those of the control group (P < 0.001) and the CuZn-SOD activities of the middle- (37.8 mg.kg-1.d) and low-dosage groups (18.9 mg.kg-1.d) were higher than those of the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPGMS can increase the CuZn-SOD activities as well as CuZn-SOD on mRNA level. Therefore, it is possible for PGMS to counteract Atherosclerosis (AS) by inducing the expression of CuZn-SOD.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Free Radical Scavengers ; pharmacology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Propylene Glycols ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEDendritic cells an hyperinsulinemia are both implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of high concentration of insulin on the maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) and related signal transduction pathways.

METHODSHuman monocytes were purified (over 98%) using Anti-CD14 micro-beads and cultured for 5 days with DC Cellgro medium containing rhGM-CSF (100 microg/L) and rhIL-4 (20 microg/L). Immature DC were then incubated with insulin of various concentrations (0, 1, 10, 100 nmol/L) for 24 hours in the presence or absence of LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) or PD98059 (MAPK inhibitor). Immunophenotypic expression of CD86 and CD83 were detected using flow cytometry. Endocytosis function of the MoDCs was evaluated using FITC-Dextran and MoDCs secretion IL-12, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha were measured by ELISA.

RESULTSInsulin induced significantly higher CD83 and CD86 expressions on MoDCs in a dose-dependent manner. The endocytosis function of MoDCs were significantly inhibited and cytokine secretions of IL-12, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha significantly increased by 10 nmol/L and 100 nmol/L insulin. These effects could be blocked by the LY294002 and PD98059.

CONCLUSIONHyperinsulinemia contributed to atherosclerosis via stimulating immune maturation of MoDCs via both PI3K and MAPK pathways.

Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Monocytes ; cytology ; Phagocytosis ; drug effects ; Signal Transduction

AIMTo study the effect of propylene glycol mannate sulfate (PGMS) on blood lipids and lipoprotein lipase in hyperlipidemic rat, and its anti-hyperlipidemic mechanism.

METHODSPGMS was administered ig at different doses (37.8 mg.kg-1.d-1 and 75.6 mg.kg-1.d-1) to hyperlipidemic rats for three weeks and blood serum was obtained after starved 12 h. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were examined. The mRNA expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in liver, spleen and artery was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSPGMS significantly decreased the levels of TC, TG and LDL-C and increased that of HDL-C in hyperlipidemic serum dose-dependently. PGMS was shown to increase the level of LPL mRNA expression, which is related directly to the controlling effects of PGMS on blood lipids.

CONCLUSIONPGMS modulated blood lipids by promoting mRNA expression of LPL. This may be one important mechanism of PGMS to modulate blood lipids.

Animals ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hyperlipidemias ; blood ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; Lipoprotein Lipase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Male ; Propylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Triglycerides ; blood

OBJECTIVETo construct the siRNA eukaryotic expression vectors targeting on TGFβ1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 and to investigate the inhibitory efficiency of target genes expression on rat hepatic stellate cell in vitro.

METHODSThe siRNA cDNA sequences of TGFβ1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were designed, synthesized and inserted into plasmid pGenesil-1 respectively to generate eukaryotic expression plasmids. The plasmids were transfected into HSC T6 cells in vitro and the inhibitory efficiency of target genes expression was observed with real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThe eukaryotic expression vectors were constructed successfully. The expressions of TGFβ1 mRNA, TIMP-1 mRNA and TIMP-2mRNA in siRNA-transfected groups were decreased by 63.4% ± 8.0%, 64.5% ± 9.0% and 55.0% ± 17.0% respectively and the expressions of TGFβ1 protein, TIMP-1 protein and TIMP-2 protein were decreased by 57.8% ± 3.0%, 55.1% ± 5.0%, 49.3% ± 1.0% respectively as compared to the control groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe siRNA eukaryotic expression vectors constructed targeting on TGFβ1, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 could reduce the expressions of target genes and they might be able to used for the exploration of new anti-fibrosis drugs genetically.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Rats ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; genetics ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; genetics ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics