OBJECTIVESTo investigate the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy induced by hypertension.

METHODSUsing immunofluorescent labeling, confocal microscopy and Western blotting, the expression and subcellular localization of FAK in the cardiac myocytes of left ventricle were determined in 2, 6, 12, and 18 month-old rats with spontaneously hypertensive heart failure (SHHF) along with age-matched control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats.

RESULTSThere was no significant difference of FAK expression between 2 month-old SHHF and WKY rats (50.5+/-6.9 vs. 49.8+/-5.0, n=6, P>0.05). In contrast with the control groups, the expression of FAK significantly increased in 6, 12 and 18 month-old SHHF rats (130.6+/-3.0 vs. 47.3+/-1.3, 144.7+/-5.4 vs. 46.4+/-3.1, 141.4+/-9.8 vs. 48.5+/-2.2, each groups n=6, P<0.05) with FAK protein primarily cumulated in the intercalated disks and nuclei.

CONCLUSIONSFAK may play a role in the cell signaling transduction leading to cardiac hypertrophy, presumably through regulations of hypertrophic gene transcription and RNA processing.

Animals ; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 ; metabolism ; Heart Ventricles ; pathology ; Hypertension ; complications ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular ; enzymology ; etiology ; Male ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred SHR ; Rats, Inbred WKY ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features of microscopic polyangitis (MPA), and to compare the differences in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-positive and ANCA-negative patients, as well as in ANCA-positive cases with or without glomerular immunoglobulin deposition.

METHODSThirty-four biopsy-proven cases of MPA were retrieved from the archival files of the Department during the past 7 years. The clinicopathologic characteristics between ANCA-positive and negative patients, as well as between ANCA-positive cases with and without glomerular immunoglobulin deposition, were compared.

RESULTSAmongst the 34 MPA patients studied, about one-fifth to one-half were accompanied by various extrarenal symptoms. Serum ANCA was positive in 26 patients (76.5%). A slight to moderate increase in urinary protein was demonstrated in 31 patients, while 3 patients had nephrotic syndrome. Elevated serum creatinine was detected in 32 cases. Renal biopsy revealed crescentic glomerulonephritis in 24 cases, focal segmental glomerulonephritis in 8 cases, vascular fibrinoid necrosis with inflammation in 7 cases, intimal thickening of arterioles in 24 cases, interstitial inflammatory cells, including neutrophil infiltration (21 cases), in 29 cases. Crescentic formation was more common in the ANCA-positive group than in the ANCA-negative group (P < 0.05). Amongst the 26 ANCA-positive cases, 10 had glomerular immunoglobulin deposits (including 1 case with IgA nephropathy). In general, these cases had a greater degree of proteinuria than those without glomerular immunoglobulin deposits (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe diagnosis of MPA relies on histologic examination of renal biopsy and clinicopathologic correlation. Serum ANCA seems important for glomerular crescent formation. Glomerular immunoglobulin deposition may also play a significant role in the exacerbation of proteinuria.

Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; Biopsy ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Isotypes ; metabolism ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrotic Syndrome ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proteinuria ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Vasculitis ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility and relibility of rapidly and accurately acquiring the informations of gene mutations in MPN patients by using self-designed custom MPN mutation-related multipe-PCR primer kit and next generation Ion Torrent PGM sequencing platform.

METHODSThe bone marrow samples of 10 MPN patients with JAK2V617F and/or CALR, Phconfirmed by sanger sequencing method were collected and were re-detected by using next generation Ion Torrent PGM sequencing method, then the consistence of results of above-mentioned 2 kinds of detection methods was compared.

RESULTSIn terms of JAK2V617F, MPL and CALR mutations, the results of Ion Torrent PGM sequencing were complete consistent with results of Sanger sequencing, except 52 bp deletion of CALR gene, which conld not be detected by next generation Ion Torrent PGM sequencing method in all bone marrow samples.

CONCLUSIONThe detection of multiple gene mutations in MPN patients by Ion Torrent PGM sequencing platform is feasible and can meet the needs of clinical testing. This method can complete detection of all 23 mutetions within 1-2 days, moreover, possesses advantages of high sensitivity, specificity, rapidity, high throughput and low cost.