Objective To explore the etiology and the fungi distribution in patients with complex renal calculi,as well as the therapeutic efficacy of minimally invasive percutaneous nephrolithotomy(MPCNL).Methods The mid-stream urine culture was underwent in 891 cases of patients with complex renal calculi.The MPCNL were performed in patients with complex renal calculi combined with fungous infection.Results Of 891 patients with complex renal calculi,3.7%(33/891) patients were presented with fungous infection,including 60.61%(20/33) with Candida albicans and 39.39%(13/33) with Candida glabrata.All the 33 patients had long-term use of broad spectrum antibiotics from 25 to 92 days(averaged 45.8 days).The patients with complex renal calculi combined with fungous infection were treated with MPCNL.The stone-free rate was 87.88%(29/33) and the insignificance stone-residual rate was 12.12%(4/33).Conclusion The patients with complex renal calculi are apt to fungous infection and the abuse of broad spectrum antibiotics should be avoided.The MPCNL is safe and reliable for the treatment of the patients with complex renal calculi combined with fungous infection.

Central composite design (CCD) is one of the most commonly used design methods in response surface optimization and has been widely applied in the field of pharmaceutics to optimize preparations. On the 20th anniversary of the introduction of CCD into China, the paper reviews its application in domestic pharmaceutical researches. Based on the brief introduction of basic principle and operation steps of CCD, the mistakes emerging in the application of CCD are summarized, including conceptual confusion with Box-Behnken design and face-centered CCD as well as wrong designs. Besides, the issues concerning the selection of factors and responses are discussed. The article is helpful for researchers to comprehensively understand the CCD and facilitates the rational application of this method.

Objective:To study the antidepressant effect of Baihe Zhimu decoction (BZD)and its influence in the key factors (CaM,CaMKⅡ,CREB)of CaM signaling pathway in hippocampus of the rats with depression,and to explore the antidepressant effect of BZD. Methods:Fifty rats were divided into control group,model group, fluoxetine group,low and high doses of BDZ groups (n = 10).Expect for control group,all the rats in other groups were made depression models by means of chronic unpredictable mild stress along with isolated raising,for 21 d.Then the rats were fed with NS, fluoxetine (1.8 mg · kg-1 ), and BZD (1.5 and 3.0 g · kg-1 ), respectively;for 28 d.The learning and memory ability,autonomous activities and the fixed time in 5 min of the rats were tested by Morris water amaze,Open-field Test and Forced Swimming Test respectively. The damage and repair status of hippocampal neurons were observed by Nissl staining method;the expression levels of CaM,CaMKⅡ protein,CREB mRNA in hippocampus of the rats were detected by Western blotting and RT-PCR method. Results:Compared with model group,the total time of rats in the platform quadrant of Morris water maze in BZD groups and fluoxetine group,the total distance and the number of crossing platform were increased (P <0.05 or P <0.01),and the time of first crossing platform were shortened (P <0.01);the total scores in open field test were increased (P <0.01),the fixed time with 5 min in the forced swimming test was shortened (P <0.05 or P <0.01).Compared with fluoxetine group,the fixed time within 5 min of the rats in swimming test was shortened (P <0.05).The result of Nissl staining showed that the hippocampal neuron injury in BZD groups and fluoxetine group was improved compared with model group.The molecular test results showed that the CaM and CaMKⅡprotein expression levels in hippocampus of the rats in BZD groups and fluoxetine group were increased compared with model group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).Compared with model group,the CREB mRNA expression levels in fluoxetime group and BZD groups were increased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).Conclusion:BZD has antidepressant effect and can improve the hippocampal neuron injury of the rats with depression and its mechanism is related to increasing the expression levels of CaM,CaMKⅡ and CREB in hippocampus CAM signaling pathway of the rats.

Objective:To investigate the effect of verapamil on the endotoxin-induced cytokine production and nuclear factor kappa B(NF-?B) activation in the liver. Methods:Fifty six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups: group A: saline;group B:endotoxin(10 mg/kg,intraperitoneally,i.p.);group C,D,E,F:endotoxin(10 mg/kg) after treatment with verapamil(1,2.5,5,10 mg/kg i.p.respectively),and group G:verapamil alone(10 mg/kg).Tumor necrosis factor(TNF-?),interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-10(IL-10) and NF-?B in the liver tissues and the serum levels of ALT and AST were investigated at 1 h afer LPS injection. Results:Endotoxin stimulated production of TNF-?,IL-6 and IL-10,and activated NF?B in the liver.Verapamil attenuated acute liver injury,down-regulated endotoxin-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine production,up-regulated ant-inflammatory cytokines production and inhibited NF-?B activation in the liver in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion:Verapamil can attenuate acute liver injury by down-regulating the production of TNF-?,IL-6 and up-regulating IL-10 in the liver in a dose-dependent manner,possibly via inhibition of NF-?B.

Objective: To observe the effects of herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion on the growth of colon tumors in rats with colitis-associated colon cancer (CACC), and explore the mechanism of moxibustion intervening CACC through the purinergic receptor P2X ligand-gated ion channel 7 (P2X7R)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway. Methods: A total of 26 male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected. According to the random number table method, 6 rats were selected as the normal group. The remaining 20 rats were injected intraperitoneally with azoxymethane (AOM) combined with oral dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to prepare the CACC model. After the model was successfully established, 2 rats were randomly selected for model identification. The remaining 18 rats which were successfully modeled were randomly divided into a model group, a herb-partitioned moxibustion group and a ginger-partitioned moxibustion group, with 6 rats in each group. Moxibustion intervention was performed in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group at Qihai (CV 6) and bilateral Tianshu (ST 25). Moxibustion was performed twice at each point each time, once a day, at a 1-day interval after 6 consecutive interventions, for a total of 30 interventions. After intervention, the colon tumor load, pathological change and histopathological score were observed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of VEGF, P2X7R, phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3), and nuclear factor-kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65) proteins in rat colon tissue. Western blot was used to detect the levels of p-STAT3 and NF-κB p65 proteins in rat colon tissue. Results: Compared with the normal group, the colon tumor load and histopathological score in the model group were significantly increased (both P<0.001), and different grades of dysplasia were observed in colon tissue from the model group, reaching the degree of adenocarcinoma; the expression level of P2X7R protein in colon tissue was significantly decreased (P<0.001), and the expression levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins were significantly increased (all P<0.001) in the model group. Compared with the model group, the colon tumor load, colon histopathological score and the levels of p-STAT3, NF-κB p65 and VEGF proteins in colon tissue were significantly decreased (all P<0.05) in the herb-partitioned moxibustion group and the ginger-partitioned moxibustion group while the expression levels of P2X7R protein in colon tissue were significantly increased (both P<0.05). Conclusion: Both herb-partitioned moxibustion and ginger-partitioned moxibustion can reduce the colon tumor load in CACC rats and delay the progression of colon adenomas. The mechanism may be mediated by the P2X7R/STAT3 pathway to inhibit STAT3 phosphorylation, thereby reducing VEGF protein expression.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and safety of autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-PBHSCT) and its therapeutic effect on refractory rheumatism among preschool children.

METHODSThree boys with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA), juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) respectively, 3 to 6 years old with the mean age of 5 years with 3.5 to 22 months course of disease with 14 months on average, received auto-PBHSCT. Their conditions were so severe that conventional therapy failed to control the diseases. The changes of both clinical manifestations and immunologic indexes were observed before and after transplantation with long term following up at specialty clinic of rheumatism.

RESULTThe time when neutrophil count >or= 0.5 x 10(9)/L in the 3 children was days +9, +13 and +11 respectively, that of platelet count >or= 20 x 10(9)/L was days +14, +18 and +13 respectively. The cellular immune function remained abnormal with CD4 cells at a low level and CD4/CD8 being inverted. As to the JDM child, the skin rash had disappeared and his muscle tone was improved to grade 5 within one month after the transplantation. The EMG and serum creatase level returned to normal and muscle MRI findings were improved greatly within 2 months after the transplantation. As to the JSLE child, skin rash and proteinuria had disappeared, MRI of brain showed that the pathological changes had been absorbed and EEG returned to normal 3 months after the transplantation, all the autoantibodies turned to negative within 8 months after transplantation. As to the JRA child, the arthritis had been improved remarkably within 3 weeks after auto-PBHSCT. There was no swelling of joints nor movement limitation 3 months post transplantation. The steroids and immunosuppressive drugs were discontinued post transplantation. Cushing syndrome disappeared. Their body heights increased by 10 to 15 cm in the past 18 months, and they all returned to school. There was no relapse during follow-up periods of 25 - 27 months.

CONCLUSIONThe therapy with auto-PBHSCT for refractory rheumatism among preschool children was remarkably effective in a short-term, yet the safety and long-term effect still need to be further studied.

Child ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Rheumatic Diseases ; therapy ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo establish the BGC-823/WTX-EGFP gastric cancer cell line with stable expression of Wilms tumor gene on the X chromosome (MTX) for functional analysis of WTX gene.

METHODSThe full-length WTX cDNA was amplified from human embryonic kidney 293FT cells and cloned into the pEGFP-N1 vector containing the reporter gene of green fluorescence protein. The recombinant pEGFP-WTX expression vector, after digestion by restriction enzyme to identify the size of target gene fragment, was transfected into 293FT cells and the expression of fluorescent reporter gene was observed under fluorescence microscope. pEGFP-WTX vector was transfected into human gastric cancer BGC-823 cell line to establish BGC-823/WTX-EGFP cell line stably expressing WTX. Quantitative RT-PCR and immunocytochemical staining were used to detect the expression of WTX in both BGC-823/WTX-EGFP and control BGC-823 cells.

RESULTSThe recombinant pEGFP-WTX plasmid was successfully constructed and verified by PCR and sequencing. The mRNA and protein expressions of MTX were significantly increased in BGC-823/WTX-EGFP cells as compared with those in the control cells.

CONCLUSIONThe full-length WTX expression vector (pEGFP-WTX) and BGC-823/WTX-EGFP gastric cancer cell line have been successfully established to facilitate further functional study of WTX gene.

Cell Line ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; DNA, Complementary ; Genes, Wilms Tumor ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; genetics ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; Transfection

Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Retroperitoneal Space ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

Objective To investigate the role and mechanism of macrophage activation induced by exosomes from high glucose-treated renal tubular epithelial cells.Methods (1) The supernatant of renal tubular epithelial cells which were cultured in normal glucose control group (5.5 mmol/L D-glucose) or high glucose group (30.0 mmol/L D-glucose) for 48 h were collected and ultracentrifuged to harvest exosomes.Exosomes were identified by transmission electron microscope and Western blotting.(2) Exosomes were labeled with the green lipophilic fluorescent dye PKH67 and cultured with THP-1 macrophage to investigate whether HK2-derived exosomes could be internalized by THP-1 macrophage.Observing the morphology microscopically and detecting the chemotaxis function of THP-1 macrophages in Transwell chamber after co-cultured with exosomes.The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS),tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),Interleukin-1β (IL-1β),monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in cells and supernatants were separately detected by quantitative Real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),and the expression of p-c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (p-JNK),mitogen-activated protein kinase p-p38 (p-p38MAPK) and nuclear factor κB p65 (NF-κB p65) in THP-1 macrophages were detected by Western blot.Results (1) Vesicles that harvested by ultracentrifugation ranged in size from 30 nm to 100 nm and expressed exosomal marker CD63,TSG101 but absence of calnexin which is a marker of endoplasmic reticulum,suggesting that the exosomes were not contaminated with cells.(2) Results from laser scanning confocal microscope showed that each group of exosomes can be internalized by THP-1 macrophages.Compared with normal glucose exosomes group,high glucose exosomes had increased the expression of iNOS,TNF-α,IL-1β and MCP-1 in THP-1 macrophages (all P ＜ 0.01),moreover,p-JNK,p-p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 proteins level also increased significantly (all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions Exosomes from high glucose-treated HK2 cells can induce THP-1 macrophage activation and functional changes through MAPK/NF-κB pathway.

The inflammatory response is involved in the pathogenesis of the most common types of heart disease.Sanguinarine (SAN) has various pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,antibacterial,antitumor,and immune-enhancing properties.However,few studies have investigated the effects of SAN on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory and apoptotic responses in H9c2 cardiomyocytes.Therefore,in this study,H9c2 cells were co-treated with SAN and LPS,and the mRNA levels of pro-inflammation markers and the apoptosis rate were measured to clarify the effect of SAN on cardiac inflammation.The underlying mechanism was further investigated by detecting the activation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)4/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways.As a result,increased mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1 β,IL-6,and TNFα induced by LPS was attenuated after SAN treatment;LPS-induced apoptosis of H9c2 cardiomyocytes and cleaved-caspase 8,9,3 were all significantly reduced by SAN.Further experiments showed that the beneficial effect of SAN on blocking the inflammation and apoptosis of H9c2 cardiomyocytes induced by LPS was associated with suppression of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.It was suggested that SAN suppressed the LPS-induced inflammation and apoptosis of H9c2 cardiomyocytes,which may be mediated by inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.Thus,SAN may be a feasible therapy to treat sepsis patients with cardiac dysfunction.