Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; methods

Serum creatinine was determined by enzymatic method.99mTc-GFR was measured by 99mTc-DTPA dynamic renal imaging and considered as GFR marker in 210 males and 180 females with type 2 diabetes,eGFR was calculated by Cockcroft-Gault formula,MDRD equation7,abbreviated MDRD equation,modified MDRD equation for Chinese (c-7GFR4 and c-aGFR4),and CKD-EPI equation.They were analyzed by correlation,regression,Bland-Altman analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.The correlation coefficients for Cockcroft-Gault formula,MDRD equation7,abbreviated MDRD equation,c-7GFR4,c-aGFR4,and CKD-EPI equation were 0.79,0.76,0.77,0.76,0.76,0.81 respectively.And the differences were-14.99,-18.85,-23.79,-25.85,-32.07,and-7.16,respectively.The area under ROC curves were 0.91,0.88,0.89,0.88,0.90,and 0.92,respeetively.Kappa values were 0.67、0.52、0.39、0.49、0.46、0.54respectively.The CKD-EPI equation seams to be the most accurate measurement among the six methods when the serum creatinine was determined by enzymatic method in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; surgery ; Carotid Body Tumor ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Time Factors

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety,particularly eye safety of hydroxychloro-quine(HCQ)treatment in primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome(pSS)patients.Methods Forty pSS patients were en-rolled and treated with HCQ 400 mg/day for 12 months.This is a prospective open-label study.Clinical mani-festations,clinical efficacy,biochemical and immunoserological parameters as well as ophthalmological exami-nations were investigated every three months to assess the safety and tolerability.Results There were signifi-cant decrease in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),immunoglobulin G(IgG),immunoglobulin M (IgM)and rheumatoid factor(RF)level after 6 months treatment with HCQ(P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).No changewas detected in serum antinuclear antibody(ANA),anti-SSA/SSB antibodies after treated for 12 months.Somepatients had partial improvement in symptoms such as dry mouth,dry eyes and arthralgia.During the treat-ment,no significant effect on serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),blood urea (BUN),serum creatinine (Cr),whole blood count(WBC)or hemoglobin(Hb)could be discovered.Central semus retinopathv(CSR)was found in one patient after 6 months treatment with HCQ.However,its association with HCQ could not be confirmed since it was not compatible with the usual HCQ retinopathy.Conclusion HCQ can improve svmp-toms of some pSS patients and can significantly decrease ESR,IgG,IgM and RF level.The safety profile of HCQ is generally good.However,ophthalmological examination before and after a 6-month interval may be necessary in long term HCQ treatment.

Adult ; Brain Neoplasms ; pathology ; Glioblastoma ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Pineal Gland ; pathology

Abnormal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays an important role in several pathological processes of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, the effects of XCT790, a potent and selective inverse agonist of estrogen-related receptor alpha (ERRalpha), on rat VSMCs proliferation and related signal pathways were investigated. The proliferative activity of VSMCs was determined by CCK-8 assay. The mRNA levels of ERRalpha, PGC-1alpha, OPN and MCAD were assayed by RT-PCR. The protein levels of ERRalpha, ERK2 and p-ERK1/2 were evaluated by Western blotting. ELISA was used to assess the protein expression of VEGF. The results showed that XCT790 (5-20 micromol x L(-1)) inhibited rat VSMCs proliferation, and the expression of ERRalpha and its target genes, as well as p-ERK1/2, were also inhibited. XCT790 inhibited VSMCs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner at the dose range from 5 to 20 micromol x L(-1) and in a time-dependent manner at the dose range from 10 to 20 micromol x L(-1). These findings demonstrate that XCT790 inhibits rat VSMCs proliferation by down-regulating the gene level of ERRalpha and thus inhibiting the ERK signal pathway, suggesting that ERRalpha may be a novel potential target for therapeutic approaches to inhibit VSMCs proliferation, which plays an important role in several cardiovascular diseases.
Animals ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; GTPase-Activating Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Nitriles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha ; Phosphorylation ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Thiazoles ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To observe the level of reduced glutathione(GSH) and oxidized glutathione(GSSG)in a mouse bone cell line MC3T3-E1 cells exposed to fluoride.Methods MTT method was used to detect cell viability of M C3T3-E1 cells exposed to varying concentrations and periods of fluoride [F-concentration:0(control),0.5,1.0,2.0,4.0,8.0,12.0,20.0 mg/L; F-periods:1,2,4 and 10 days].The Xevo TQ MS was employed to test the levels of GSH,GSSG and glutamine (Gln).Results The MC3T3-E1 cell viability was significantly higher in the 2 mg/L group(0.57 ± 0.05) 1 day after the exposure compared to the respective control(0.49 ± 0.03,P ＜0.01); conversely,cell viability was markedly lower in the 8 mg/L(0.49 ± 0.07) and 12 mg/L(0.47 ± 0.09)groups 4 days after the exposure in comparison to the control(0.63 ± 0.06,P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01).The cell viability in the 8 mg/L group(1.52 ± 0.29) 10 days after the exposure was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.86 ± 0.23,P ＜ 0.01),however,the value in the 20.0 mg/L group (0.54 ± 0.07) was significantly lower(P ＜0.01).The level of cell GSH decreased significantly in the 20 mg/L groups 2 days[(13.92 ± 4.63)μmol/L]and 10 days [(0.53 ± 0.30)μmol/L]after exposure compared to the respective comtrols [(26.42 ± 3.67),(24.85 ± 5.68)μmol/L,all P ＜ 0.01].The level of cell GSSG markedly increased in the 2 mg/L group 2 days [(1.12 ± 0.62)μ mol/L]and the 8 mg/L group 4 days [(2.13 ± 0.62)μ mol/L]after exposure compared to the controls[(0.55 ± 0.22),(1.46 ± 0.46)μmol/L,all P ＜ 0.05].The similar change was observed in the 8 mg/L group[(2.97 ± 1.30)μmol/L] 10 days after exposure compared to the control [(1.35 ± 0.50)μmol/L,P ＜ 0.05].The level of Glndecreased significantly in the 2 mg/L group[ (62.80 ± 17.4l)μ mol/L] 4 days and in the 8 and 20 mg/L groups 10 days[ (122.26 ± 19.51), (19.38 ± 8.11)μmol/L] after exposure compared to the controls [ (83.28 ±14.32), ( 147.15± 16.95) μmol/L , all P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01 ]. Conclusions Fluoride exposure can significantly promote the changes of GSH, GSSG and Gln levels in the osteoblast, thus affecting the intracellular redox equilibrium.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of subcutaneous panniculitis-like T cell lymphoma ( SPTCL) in order to facilitate prompt identification and proper treatment of this rare and heterogeneous disease entity. Methods For 8 patients who had been misdiagnosed as rheumatic diseases but eventually confirmed as SPTCL though pathology and immunohistochemistry, a retrospective chart review was made with regard to their clinical symptoms, laboratory test results, pathological features, responses to therapy as well as outcomes. Results These 8 patients with a male to female ratio of 1: 1 were initially misdiagnosed as a variety of rheumatic diseases such as erythema nodosa, nodular panniculitis, systemic vasculitis,etc. The period from the onset of symptoms to the confirmation of diagnosis as SPTCL was 28. 6 months on average (range, 4-84 months). All the cases presented with multiple subcutaneous nodules, plaques or tumors which involved various anatomic sites including the head and neck, the trunk, and the extremities. Fever was the most frequently accompanying symptom (7/8) , followed by lymphadenopathy (4/8) , hepatomegaly (3/8), splenomegaly (3/8). Hemophagocytic phenomenon was seen in 3 cases.A total of 22 times of biopsy involving multiple anatomic sites were performed on these 8 cases with 2. 75 times on average (range, 1-5 times). All cases demonstrated a dense lymphoid infiltrate with significant cellular heteromorphism located in the subcutaneous tissue. CD_3 was positive in the majority of the cases.Immunostaining for γδTCR was positive in one case. The anti-rheumatic therapy including steroids and immunosuppressants administered before the identification of SPTCL attained minimal therapeutic effect. In contrast, 6 cases gained partial response after chemotherapy except that the other 2 cases died of fatal pulmonary infiltration and subsequent infection. Conclusions SPTCL is a rare and heterogeneous entity which is unseldomly misdiagnosed as rheumatic disease. The anti-rheumatic therapy including steroids and immunosuppressants can attain minimal therapeutic effect. Early identification by means of histology and immunohistochemistry as well as immunostaining for PCR is critical for proper treatment.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological characteristics of papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis.

METHODSUsing routine pathology and immunohistochemistry, we observed the surgically obtained samples from 2 cases of papillary cystadenoma of the epididymis, analyzed their pathological features and clinical presentations, and reviewed the related literature.

RESULTSThe 2 patients were both adult males. The tumors typically manifested as painless swelling in the epididymis, with occasionally dull pain and tenesmus in 1 of the cases. Pathologically, the lesions exhibited three morphological features, i. e., dilated ducts and small cysts surrounded by fibrous connective tissue, adenoid papillary hyperplasia into the cysts embraced by fibrovascular stroma, and acidophil substance present in the cysts. Immunohistochemistry showed that the tumors were strongly positive for CK8/18, CK7, and EMA, but negative for CK20, CEA, MC, Calretenin, P53, P63, SMA, VHL, and CD10, with the positive rate of Ki-67 <1%. Follow-up visits revealed good prognosis in both cases.

CONCLUSIONPapillary cystadenoma of the epididymis is a rare benign tumor in the male urogenital system, which may be accompanied by the VHL syndrome. Surgery is the first choice for its treatment.

Adult ; Cystadenoma, Papillary ; chemistry ; pathology ; Epididymis ; Genital Neoplasms, Male ; chemistry ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; von Hippel-Lindau Disease

Adult ; Carcinoma ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; complications ; Solitary Fibrous Tumors ; complications ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; complications