In the study, the inhibitory effect of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) on Calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis and its possible mechanism were investigated. The rat Calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis model was induced through the combined oral administration of ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride, which was intervened with EGCG. Rat blood samples were collected to detect blood creatinine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and blood calcium. Rat urine samples were collected to observe and compare 24-hour urine volume, oxalic acid (Ox) and calcium in urine. Renal samples were collected to prepare tissue slices and observe the pathological changes in Calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis. The expression of osteopontin (OPN) in renal tissues was evaluated by Real-time PCR and Western blot. According to the results, compared with normal rats, rats in the nephrolithiasis model showed significant increases in Cr, BUN, urine Calcium, urine Ox and renal OPN expression (P < 0.05), but obvious decrease in 24-hour urine volume (P < 0.05); Compared with rats with nephrolithiasis, those processed with EGCG revealed remarkable declines in Cr, BUN, urine Calcium and urine Ox (P < 0.05), with significant rise in 24-hour urine volume (P < 0.05) in a concentration-dependent manner. Additionally, compared with the control group, nephrolithiasis rats showed significant pathological changes in Calcium oxalate calculus. After ECCG treatment, the renal pathological changes and OPN expression attenuated significantly in a concentration-dependent manner. The results showed that EGCG inhibits the formation of calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in rats and shows a notable protective effect on renal functions.
Animals ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Calcium ; blood ; Calcium Oxalate ; metabolism ; Catechin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Creatinine ; blood ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Nephrolithiasis ; blood ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

This study aims to explore the effects of alginate-poly ornithine-alginate (A-PLO-A) and barium alginate-poly ornithine-alginate (B-PLO-A) microcapsules as cells carriers during implantation. Mice hepatocytes coated in A-PLO-A and B-PLO-A microcapsules were implanted into rats with acute liver failure caused by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine. The rat survival rate, liver cell growth, proliferation and metabolism within the microcapsules were investigated, as well as its effect on the improvement of rat acute liver failure. The influence of A-PLO-A-free microcapsules, B-PLO-A-free microcapsules, isolated liver cells, A-PLO-A microcapsule-coated and B-PLO-A microcapsule-coated liver cells was studied. It was found that the chemical-free microcapsules showed no positive effect on the rats with liver failures, with a death rate of 100% in both groups 3 days after the implantation. The ALT, AST and ALB levels were all improved in the isolated liver cell group, the A-PLO-A microcapsule-coated and the B-PLO-A microcapsule-coated groups. The survival rate of both microcapsule-coated liver cell groups was significantly higher than that of the chemical-free microcapsule group and the isolated liver cells group. The microcapsules were retrieved after 4 weeks' implantation, which were observed to be smooth with no cells attaching to the surface. No apparent fibrosis was observed. This research demonstrated the physical stability and the biocompatibility of the PLO-based alginate microcapsules and therefore they could be used as liver cell carriers during implantation.
Alginates ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Glucuronic Acid ; administration & dosage ; Hepatocytes ; transplantation ; Hexuronic Acids ; administration & dosage ; Liver Failure ; therapy ; Mice ; Ornithine ; administration & dosage ; Rats

Objective: To observe the effect of phenylephrine (PE) on pressure overload induced myocardial ifbrosis (MF) with its relevance to transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic protein 3 (smad3) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) signal pathway in experimental rats.
Methods: A total of 28 male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Control group, AAC (abdominal aorta coarctation) group, AAC+PE group and AAC+prazosin group.n=7 in each group. Collagen volume fraction (CVF) of left ventricle was observed by myocardial collagen morphology, left ventricular myocardial tissue protein expressions of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), TGF-β1, smad3 and CTGF were measured by immunohistochemistry, protein expression of α-SMA was also examined by Western blot analysis.
Results:①Myocardial collagen morphology presented that compared with Control group, AAC, AAC+PE and AAC+prazosin groups had increased CVF, allP<0.01; compared with AAC group, AAC+PE group had decreased CVF, P<0.01.②Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that compared with Control group, AAC, AAC+PE and AAC+prazosin groups had up-regulated protein expressions of α-SMA, TGF-β1, smad3 and CTGF, allP<0.01; compared with AAC group, AAC+PE group had down-regulated protein expressions of α-SMA, TGF-β1, smad3 and CTGF, allP<0.01.③Western blot analysis indicated that compared with Control group, AAC, AAC+PE and AAC+prazosin groups had the higher α-SMA expression, allP<0.05; compared with AAC group, AAC+PE group had the lower α-SMA expression, P<0.01.
Conclusion: Phenylephrine could improve pressure overload induced MF in experimental rats which might be related to TGF-β1/smads signal pathway inhibition and CTGF down-regulation.

Objective To determine whether the antiserum produced by immunizing mice with conotoxin GI coupled with bovine serum albumin (BSA) could neutralize GI conotoxin.Methods The GI-BSA was prepared by glutaraldehyde-coupled method,and the mice were immunized with the GI-BSA to produce antiserum.The antibody neutralization assay was used to test the detoxication of the antiserum.Results The SDS-PAGE protein electrophoresis showed that the coupling reaction of GI hapten with BSA was successful.The two distinct protein bands of GI-BSA were more than 120×103.Each mouse was immunized four times with 99 μg every two weeks.After the fourth immunization,the serum neutralization titer was more than 1:64 000.After the intraperitoneal injection of the mixture of 100 or 200 μl of the antiserum and different doses of GI,75% of the mice survived in the group with 100 μl of the antiserum and 1× LD50 GI(16.3 μg/kg).The same percentage of mice also survived in the group of with 200 μl of serum and 25.8 μg/kg of GI.Conclusion The antiserum produced by immunizing mice with GI-BSA exhibits significant detoxication activity to conotoxin GI.

Objective To investigate the risk factors for colorectal cancer adjuvant chemotherapy induced leucopenia. Methods The basic clinical data of 108 patients with colorectal cancer who had received radical operation and adjuvant chemotherapy were retrospectively evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups: normal white blood cell group (39 patients) and leucopenia group (69 patients). The data were analyzed with SPSS 22.0 software, t test, χ2 test , univariate analysis and multifactor Logistic regression analysis, and analysis of variance to investigate the risk factors for colorectal cancer adjuvant chemotherapy induced leucopenia. Results Univariate analysis revealed that the female patients and the ones who received radiotherapy were more prone to leucopenia (P<0.01), while hypertension, the levels of white blood cell, neutrophil counting and serum creatinine before chemotherapy were protective factors for leucopenia (P<0.05 or<0.01). Multifactor Logistic regression analysis revealed that the level of serum creatinine before chemotherapy was an independent risk factor for leucopenia, OR = 0.950 (95% CI: 0.906- 0.996, P<0.05). The further analysis showed the lower the level of serum creatinine, the more severe the leucopenia would be (P = 0.04). Conclusions The level of serum creatinine before chemotherapy was an independent risk factor for colorectal cancer adjuvant chemotherapy induced leucopenia.

Objective To analyze the efficacy and safety of erlotinib associated conformal intensity modulated radiotherapy in treatment (IMRT) of locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma. Methods The clinical data of 23 patients with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. The patients′ therapeutic methods: erlotinib was taken continuously and orally at 100 mg/time, 1 time/d until disease progressed or serious adverse reactions happened; intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was used combined with erlotinib at 50.4 Gy, 1 time/d, 1.8 Gy/time, 5 times/week, total 28 times. Tumor response was evaluated at the end of radiotherapy after 4 weeks. Results In 23 patients, there was partial response in 10 cases, stable disease in 9 cases and progress disease in 4 cases. The objective response rate was 43.5%(10/23), and the median survival time was 11.3 months. Adverse reactions included fatigue, rash, bone marrow suppression, nausea and diarrhea. The adverse reactions were mostly tolerable with grade 1-2. Conclusions Erlotinib combined with IMRT is safe and effective in patients with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma, which is worthy of further study.

Objective This research investigated the coagulation of critically ill patients for predicting the prognosis of 28 day in a university hospital emergency room.Methods A prospective investigation was done in the emergency room of Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital,Capital Medical University from June 2015 to May 2016,and 28-day mortality was recorded.Whole blood cell analysis,blood gas analysis and clotting test were done and repeated after patients in hospital.Results A total of 1 992 patients were enrolled,and divided into two groups:survival (n =1 522) and dead (n =470).No significant difference of age,gender,body mass index and disease composition were found between the two groups (P ＞0.05).APACHE Ⅱ of the survival and dead groups were (12.11 ±4.12) and (21.15 ± 5.55) respectively.D-dimer and platelet account of the dead group were M (Qr) 265 (0,718) μg/L and (208.16±89.87) × 109/L-1 respectively,significant differences were found between the two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Coagulation was found deteriorated progressively in the dead group,whereas improved in the survival group.The risk factors of poor prognosis,which were the increased APACHE Ⅱ and D-dimer,were detected by Logistic analysis and ROC curve,especially the D-dimer.Conclusions Coagulation abnormalities were found in the critically ill patients of emergency room.The increasing of D-dimer is one of the risk factors of poor prognosis.

Objective To investigate the correlation between blood glucose and stroke-associated infection (SAI) as well as the effect of accurate control over blood glucose on T-lymphocytes.Methods Stroke patients with stress hyperglycemia (random blood glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/L) were divided into thc accurate control of blood glucose group (A) and the control group (C).The blood glucose was accurately controlled within 5.56-8.33 mmol/L in the group A and ＜ 11.10 mmol/L in the group C by infusion of regular insulin.The NIHSS and APACHE Ⅱ evaluation were performed at day 0,3 and 7 after admission,T-lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry and the rate of stroke-associated infection was recorded.Results A total of 325 patients were enrolled in the present study.The patients in the group A had lower incidence of stroke-associated infection (51.8％ vs.64.0％,P =0.027) and lower incidence of hypoglycemia (2 vs.25,P ＜ 0.05).Lower level of average blood glucose [(7.00 ± 0.85) mmol/L vs.(8.97 ±1.68) mmoL/L,P ＜0.05] and lower blood sugar variability (12.1％ vs.18.7％,P ＜0.05) were found in the patients of group A compared with the group C.The patients in the group A at day 7 after admission showed higher counts of CD8 +,CD4 +and CD4 +/CD8 + [(0.42 ±0.13) × 109L-1vs.(0.34 ±0.12) ×109L-1,(0.50±0.13) ×109L-1vs.(0.39±0.17) ×109L-1and (1.36±0.14) vs.(1.14 ± 0.15) respectively,all P ＜ 0.05].Logistic regression analysis showed that blood glucose and CD4 + count were independent risk factors of stroke-associated infection.The AUCs of CD4 + and CD8 + for predicting stroke-associated infection were 0.814 and 0.724,respectively.The AUC (0.890) of a combination of CD4 + and CD8 + was significantly higher than that of CD4 + or CD8 + alone in predicting strokeassociated infection.Conclusions Accurate control over blood glucose decreases the fluctuation of the blood glucose level and the incidence of hypoglycemia.It improves the immunity associated with T lymphocyte,decreases the incidence of stroke-associated infection and thus improves prognosis of those patients.

Following the wishes of volunteer patients,316 cases of type 2 diabetics of our community center in 2008 carried out a three-year intervention from 2008 to 2011 on the basis of rational drug therapy plus the interventions of health education,regular review and lifestyle strengthening.And regular monitoring and recording were performed on the parameters of body mass index (BMI),blood pressure,blood lipids,fasting glucose,2 h postprandial blood glucose,glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and liver & kidney function.After intervention,some indicators changed:BMI (25.2 ±3.5) vs.(25.0 ±3.3) kg/m2,systolic blood pressure (129.1 ± 11.8) vs.(126.2 ±7.9) mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa),fasting glucose (7.80 ±2.81) vs.(7.25 ± 1.96) mmol/L,2 h postprandial blood glucose (11.04 ±4.60) vs.(9.83 ±3.60) mmol/L,HbA1c (7.39 ± 1.61) vs.(7.17 ± 1.65)％,total cholesterol (5.08 ±1.21) vs.(4.74 ± 1.35) mmol/L,low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL) (3.09 ± 0.87) vs.(2.85 ±0.83) mmol/L,high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) (1.27 ± 0.33) vs.(1.41 ± 0.32) mmol/L,serum creatinine 65 vs.72 μmol/L,uric acid 300 vs.317 μmol/L.And the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).After intervention,blood pressure compliance rate increased from 72.5％ to 88.0％,LDL-C compliance rate improved from 27.2％ to 38.6％,HDL-C compliance rate of 54.9％ increased to 66.9％.And the differences were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).The pre-intervention combined compliance rate of 11.4％ (n =36) rose to 17.7％ (n =56).And there was significant difference (P =0.024).

Objective To investigate the clinical effects of transpedicular graft of biological artificial material (BAM) -induced artificial bone and posterior pedicle screw fixation in the treatment of osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures.Methods A total of 72 patients with osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures treated by transpedicular reduction by leverage,BMA-induced artificial bone grafting and posterior pedicle screw fixation from 2005 to 2010 were reviewed and followed up.The frontal and lateral X-ray radiograph of the spine was performed before and after operation and during the follow-up.The anterior and posterior height of the injured vertebrae,thoracolumbar kyphotic angle ( Cobb' s angle),ratio of anterior to posterior vertebral height were determined.Also,the America Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scale was used to evaluate the neurological recovery and the visual analog scale (VAS) was applied to assess the back and waist pain.Results All patients were followed up for a mean period of 18.3 months,ranging from 12 to 28 months.Meanwhile,all the patients obtained bone union,with no rejection of artificial bone graft,breakage or loosening of screws,or obvious loss of both vertebrae height and deformity correction angle.Notable improvement of neurological function was achieved in all patients except for two patients with Frankel A nerve injury.The VAS score descended from pre-operative ( 8.4 ± 2.5 ) points to (2.2 ± 1.6 ) points at latest follow-up,which showed obvious alleviation of back and waist pain.Conclusions Transpedicular bone graft plus internal fixation is an effective,reasonable and easy method for managing osteoporotic thoracolumbar fractures.In addition,the implanted BAM-induced artificial bone is of good biological and mechanical properties.