OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of saponins from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (SAaB) (Botanical Name: Anemarrhena Asphodeloidis Rhizoma) on the growth of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

METHODSCell proliferation was measured by a newly developed cell proliferation reagent, WST-1. Cell apoptosis was assayed by flow cytometry through detecting annexin V. Nitric oxide production was evaluated using confocal laser scanning microscopy with diaminofluorescein diacetate (DAF-2, DA). Cell aldose reductase (AR) activity, as well as the effect of Epalrestat and interleukin-1beta were also explored.

RESULTSWST assay showed that cell proliferation induced by serum was significantly inhibited by SAaB (P<0.01). Flow cytometry analysis revealed that SAaB could enhance apoptotic rate of VSMCs (P<0.01). Nitric oxide production was significantly enhanced after administration of SAaB and interleukin-1beta. Moreover, AR activity of VSMCs was also remarkably inhibited by both SAaB and Epalrestat (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAaB can inhibit proliferation and enhance apoptosis of VSMCs. It may protect vascular cells by inhibiting VSMC proliferation and augmenting apoptotic rate of VSMCs via NO-dependent pathway.

Anemarrhena ; chemistry ; Animals ; Annexin A5 ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Flow Cytometry ; Fluorescein ; chemistry ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDThe difference between renal oncocytomas (RO) and renal clear cell carcinomas (RCCs) presents the greatest diagnostic challenge. The aim of this study was to retrospectively determine if RO and RCCs could be differentiated on computed tomography (CT) images on the basis of their enhancement patterns with a new enhancement correcting method.

METHODSForty-six patients with a solitary renal mass who underwent total or partial nephrectomy were included in this study. Fourteen of those were RO and 32 were RCCs. All patients were examined with contrast-enhanced CT. The pattern and degree of enhancement were evaluated. We selected the area that demonstrated the greatest degree of enhancement of the renal lesion in the corticomedullary nephrographic and excretory phase images. Regions of interest (ROI) were also placed in adjacent normal renal cortex for normalization. We used the values of the normal renal cortex that were measured at the same time as divisors. The ratios of lesion-to-renal cortex enhancement were calculated for all three phases. The Student's t-test and Pearson's Chi-square test were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTSAll RCCs masses showed contrast that appeared to be better enhanced than RO on all contrast-enhanced phases of CT imaging, but there was no significant difference in absolute attenuation values between these two diseases (P > 0.05). The ratio of lesion-to-cortex attenuation in the corticomedullary phase showed significantly different values between RO and RCCs. The degree of contrast enhancement in RCCs was equal to or greater than that of the normal renal cortex, but it was less than that of the normal cortex in RO in the corticomedullary phase. The ratio of lesion-to-cortex attenuation in the corticomedullary phase was higher than the cut off value of 1.0 in most RCCs (84%, 27/32) and lower than 1.0 in most RO (93%, 13/14) (P < 0.05). In the nephrographic phase, the ratio of lesion-to-cortex attenuation was higher than that in the corticomedullary phase in most RO (71%, 10/14), showing a prolonged enhancement pattern; and was lower than that in most RCCs (97%, 31/32), showing an early washout pattern (P < 0.05). In the differentiation of RO from RCCs, the sensitivity was 93%, specificity 84%, positive predictive value 72%, negative predictive value 84%, and accuracy for RO was 87, if the ratio of lesion-to-cortex attenuation in a cortex phase was lower than the cutoff value of 1.0. The sensitivity was 71%, specificity was 97%, positive predictive value was 91%, negative predictive value was 91%, and accuracy for RO was 89%, if the ratio of lesion-to-cortex attenuation in nephrographic phase was higher than that in the corticomedullary phase.

CONCLUSIONSThe ratios of renal lesion-to-cortex attenuation ratios may be helpful in differentiating RO from RCCs.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Purpose To investigate the clinicopathological features of primary subcutaneous lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG). Methods A case of primary subcutaneous LYG was observed by analysis of the clinical, histological features, immunophenotype and molecular pathology with review of the related literature. Results The male patient, 78-year-old, inadvertently found a mass of right axillary for more than 10 days. The boundary of the mass was clear, it seemed to have a capsule, the cut surface was grayish yellow and grayish red, the texture was medium. A large amount of coagulative necrosis was observed in the center of the mass under microscope. The peripheral area showed a morphological change of panniculitis, accompanied by pleomorphic lymphoid infiltration, showed central and vascular destructive infiltration, pathological mitosis was occasionally observed. Immunophenotyping showed that atypical large lymphoid cells expressed CD45 RB, CD20, CD30, while CD3, CD15, CD56, TIA-1, Granzyme B, ALK, CD21, Langerin and CD1 a, S-100 and CK (AE1/AE3) were negative. The proliferation index of Ki-67 ranged from 50％ to 60％. EBER in situ hybridization showed that positive cells were> 20/HPF.Neither acid fast staining nor TB-DNA testing supported tuberculosis. Molecular pathology found clonal Ig K gene rearrangement, TCRB + TCRG gene rearrangement showed the absence of monoclonal proliferating T cell population. Conclusion The primary subcutaneous LYG is a rare tumor. which can be diagnosed by combination of morphology, immunophenotype and molecular pathology.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Increased levels of uremic toxins and decreased antioxidant capacity have a significant impact on the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it remains unclear whether they interact with each other to mediate the damage of kidney function. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether uremic toxins (i.e., homocysteine and indoxyl sulfate [IS]), as well as glutathione-dependent antioxidant enzyme activities are dependently or independently associated with kidney function during different stages of CKD patients. SUBJECTS/METHODS: One hundred thirty-two patients diagnosed with CKD at stages 1 to 5 participated in this cross-sectional study. RESULTS: Patients who had reached an advanced CKD stage experienced an increase in plasma uremic toxin levels, along with decreased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity.Plasma homocysteine, cysteine, and IS concentrations were all positively associated with each other, but negatively correlated to GSH-Px activity levels after adjusting for potential confounders in all CKD patients. Although plasma homocysteine, cysteine, IS, and GSHPx levels were significantly associated with kidney function, only plasma IS levels still had a significant association with kidney function after these parameters were simultaneously adjusted. In addition, plasma IS could interact with GSH-Px activity to be associated with kidney function. CONCLUSIONS IS plays a more dominant role than homocysteine and GSH-Px activity in relation to kidney function.

Objective: To investigate the histological type and clinicopathological characteristics of the craniocerebral slope tumors with chondromucinous features. Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted to analyze chondromucinous tumors in the slope area diagnosed at Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from October 2011 to June 2018. Relevant clinical and pathological data were reviewed, and immunohistochemistry was used to investigate the immunophenotype of the tumors. Results: Eight cases were identified, including 4 males and 4 females with patient age ranging from 20 to 48 years. Histologically, there were 1 case of chordoid meningioma, 1 chondromyxoid fibroma, 1 mucinous chondrosarcoma, 1 Maffucci syndrome, and 4 chondroid chordomas. Conclusion Chondromucinous tumors of the slope area include chordoma, chordoid meningioma, chondromyxoid fibroma, and myxoid chondrosarcoma and their correct diagnosis is mainly based on the morphological characteristics, immunophenotype and comprehensive analysis of clinical data.