ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of tacrolimus (FK506) on macrophage accumulation,proliferation and activation in the kidney of early diabetic rats and to explore its possible mechanism of renal protection.Methods Rats were randomly divided into control,model and tacrolimus groups.Diabetic model rats were induced with intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin.Tacrolimus(0.5 or 1.0 mg·kg-1 ·d-1) was orally administered once a day for 4 weeks.Kidney weight index(KWI),24-h urinary albumin excretion rate(UAER) and creatinine clearance rate(Ccr) were measured.Kidney pathology was observed by light microscopy.ED-1,PCNAandiNOSpositivemacrophagesweredetectedbysingleanddoublestainingof immunohistochemistry.Results KWI increased in model group and was significantly reduced by tacrolimus treatment with 1.0 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 (P＜0.05).UAER elevated in model group and was markedly attenuated by tacrolimus treatment with 0.5 and 1.0 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 (P＜0.05).Elevated glomerular volume of model rats was significantly decreased by tacrolimus treatment with 0.5 and 1.0 mg·kg-1·d-1 (P＜0.05),and increased indices of tubulointerstitial injury were only ameliorated by 1.0 mg·kg-1·d-1 tacrolimus(P＜0.01).Marked accumulation of ED-1+ cells in diabetic kidney was found,which was not inhibited by tacrolimus treatment with 0.5 and 1.0 mg·kg-1·d-1.ED-1PCNA+ cells and ED-1+ iNOS+ cells were significantly elevated in kidneys of model group,while they were significantly inhibited by tacrohmus treatment with 0.5 and 1.0 mg·kg-1·d-1 (P＜0.01).Conclusion Tacrolimus can ameliorate early renal injury of diabetic rats and its mechanism may be partly associated with the suppression of increased macrophages activation.

Objective To select sonogram features for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid small nodules by Logistics regression analysis,and to contribute the binary Logistic regression model of sonogram features as independent variable and evaluate the value of conventional ultrasonography and ultrasound elastography (UE) in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant thyroid small nodules.Methods 166 thyroid nodules (≤ 10 mm) in 140 patients were reviewed and analyzed by 2D ultrasound,color Doppler flow imaging and UE.A Logistic model was obtained based on pathology as golden diagnosis criteria.The odds ratio of variables in the equation were compared to assess various variables,especially the efficacy of elastography in the diagnosis.Results Four statistically significant features were finally entering the Logistic stepwise regression model,including shape,calcification,the internal component of nodules and elasticity score.And the odds ratio of the elasticity score was higher than other features.Conclusions The analysis of binary Logistic regression can select the valuable variables for the diagnosis of pathological nature of thyroid small nodules.UE has much more dominances than other features.The combinated application of UE and 2D ultrasonic features plays a great clinical role in the final diagnosis of thyroid small nodules.

Objective To investigate the left ventricular(LV) systolic hemodynamics and the distribution of blood flow in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy(HCM) by vector flow mapping(VFM).MethodsThirty-five random non-obstructive HCM patients(case group) and forty healthy volunteers (control group) were enrolled.Peak systolic velocity (Vs),peak systolic flow (Fs) and total systolic negative flow (SQ-) of two groups were compared.Velocity vector,streamline and vortex distribution of two groups were observed.Results Vs,Fs,SQ- of the control group and Vs,Fs of the case group all showed a decreasing trend from the basal segments to the apical segment(P<0.05).SQ- of the case group lost this decreasing tendency.Vs,Fs of all segments and SQ- of the middle and apical segment of the case group were higher than those of the control group.SQ- of the basal segment of the case group were significantly lower than that of the control group(P＜0.01).Distribution of blood flow:The velocity of blood flow was faster in the case group than that in the control group and the direction was disordered.The streamlines of the case group were discontinuous,and vortexes in the case group were more than that in the control group.Conclusions VFM technology could quantitatively evaluate LV systolic hemodynamics in patients with HCM,and can clearly show the distribution of blood flow.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis. Methods By cluster sampling, adult Han people were recruited from residential communities. Medical history was documented and body height, body weight, waist circumference, hip circumference and blood pressure were measured. Venous blood samples were collected to determine serum fasting glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. Intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis was diagnosed with transcranial Doppler. The SPSS 11.0 software package was used for data analysis. Results Among 1035 people conforming to the inclusion criteria, intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis was found in 58 (5.6%), 17 with left VA stenosis, 23 with right VA stenosis and 30 with BA stenosis.Univariate analysis showed that subjects with diabetes mellitus had a significantly higher prevalence ( 10. 3% ) of intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis (χ2 = 6. 221, P = 0. 013 ) and the mean systolic blood pressure (( 131.1 ± 25.5) mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0. 133 kPa) in the subjects with stenosis was significantly higher than those without (3.2%, ( 124. 1 ± 21.6) mm Hg) (t = 2. 228, P = 0. 026). Logistic regression indicated that diabetes mellitus and systolic blood pressure were independent risk factors for intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis ( diabetes mellitus: OR = 3. 305, P = 0. 023; elevated systolic blood pressure 1 mm Hg: OR = 1. 012, P =0. 047). Conclusions This study demonstrated a considerably high prevalence of intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis in a southern Chinese population. Diabetes mellitus and systolic blood pressure play potent roles in intracranial vertebrobasilar artery stenosis.

Objective To summarize the characteristics of common carotid arterial wave intensity (WI) in healthy volunteers and offer the normal reference values of WI. Methods Common carotid arteries (CCA) in 525 healthy volunteers were examined using Aloka Prosound α10 equipped with wave intensity software. The volunteers were divided into six group according to age,group A,＜20 years old;group B,20 - 29 years old;group C,30 - 39 years old;group D,40 - 49 years old;group E,50 - 59 years old and group F,≥60 years old. Carotid arterial wave intensity in normal subjects had two positive peaks, the first peak,W1 ,and the second peak, W2. Between the two positive peaks, a negative area (NA), the time interval between the R-wave of ECG and the first peak(R-W1 ) and that between the first and second peaks (W1-W2) were observed. Results ① 1050 common carotid arteries in 525 volunteers were studied. The mean values of W1,W2,NA,R-W1,and W1-W2 were (8332±4796) mmHg · m-1 · s-3,(1853±1143)mmHg · m-1 · s-3,(38 ± 26) mmHg · m-1 · s-2, (102 ± 19)ms and (266 ± 42)ms,respectively. ②These values were no significant between the left and right CCA in same group. W1 and NA were correlated with age ( r = - 0. 204 and r = -0.301, P ＜0. 001). W1 and NA in group A and B were significant increased than those in other groups( P ＜0. 05 or P ＜0. 001 ). ③There were statistical significances in W1 and W1-W2 of CCA between male and female. ④There were no statistical significances in all values in common carotid arteries of both sides (P ＞0. 05). ConclusionsWI technique is useful for evaluating the dynamic behavior of the heart and the vascular system and their interaction. W1 is very sensitive to the changes in the working condition of the cardiovascular system.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expressions of Engrailed-2 (EN2) and β-catenin in bladder urothelial carcinoma and explore their significance.

METHODSSixty bladder urothelial carcinoma samples of different grades and stages and 10 normal bladder mucosal tissues were examined for expressions of EN2 and β-catenin proteins and mRNA using immunochemistry, Western blotting and RT-PCR. RESULTS Compared to normal bladder mucosa, bladder urothelial carcinoma tissues showed significantly increased expressions of EN2 and β-catenin proteins (P<0.05), and the high-grade carcinoma tissues exhibited significantly stronger expressions than the low-grade ones (P<0.05); the expressions of the proteins increased also significantly with advanced pathological stages of bladder urothelial carcinoma (P<0.05). The expressions of EN2 and β-catenin mRNAs showed a consistent pattern of changes with their protein expressions.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of EN2 and β-catenin are significantly increased in bladder urothelial carcinoma. EN2 may contribute to the development and progression of bladder urothelial carcinoma by activating Wnt/β-catenin signal pathway.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Homeodomain Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; beta Catenin ; metabolism