Objective To investigate the effect and underlying mechanisms of ghrelin in a rat model of renal fibrosis. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups , including sham operation +saline or brain gut peptide treatment group , model + saline or brain gut peptide treatment group. Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was established by left ureteral ligation. 7 days and 14 days after operation, the rats were sacrificed , while the kidney tissue of obstruction side was harvested for pathlogical changes through Masson coloration. Expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-β1) and phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3) in renal tissues were analyzed through immunohistochemistry. Expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 mRNA was detected by real-time-PCR. Apoptosis kidneys cells were marked with TUNEL. Results Ghrelin inhibited renal fibrosis by reducing the production of collagen , restraining extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and decreasing the expression of α-SMA. Meanwhile, ghrelin inhibited the accumulation of myofibroblasts by blocking the transforming growth factor-β1/Smad3 (TGF-β1/Smad3) signaling pathway. Moreover, ghrelin could attenuate renal tubular cell apoptosis induced by UUO injury. Conclusion Ghrelin can reduce renal fibrosis and renal cell apoptosis induced by UUO , demonstrating that ghrelin is a potent antifibrotic agent that may have therapeutic potential for patients with obstructive nephropathy.

The patient 1 was a 9-year-old boy of Hui nationality who presented with recurrent erythema over the face and auricles for 8 years.Telangiectasis and erythema developed on both cheeks 7 months after birth,which gradually spread to the auricles,forearms and both legs with a mild ichthyosiform appearance.At 5 years of age blisters and erosions appeared on the lips,which occurred and were aggravated after exposure to strong sunlight during summer and spontaneously subsided or disappeared in winter.The patient 2,a 3-year-old boy who was the younger brother of the patient 1,presented with recurrent erythema for 2 years.At 1 year of age,erythema began to appear on both cheeks and gradually spread to the buccal region,with mild pruritus and scaling.Meanwhile,the skin of both legs was dry and scaling and gave an ichthyosifonn appearance.The lesions usually appeared in early summer and gradually subsided in winter.No abnormality was found by systemic,laboratory,pathological or other auxiliary examination.Chromosomal abnormality was undetected.Body height was normal.The parents of the two siblings were first cousins.Both children were diagnosed with Bloom's syndrome.

Objective To study the mediating effect of big five personality between childhood abuse and anxiety of college students, and to provide basis to intervene their mental disorder.Methods Through stratified sampling,2374 college students in Jiangsu were investigated by the personal report of childhood abuse( PRCA),self-rating anxiety scale(SAS) and the revised NEO five-factor Inventory(NEO-FFI-R).A path analysis was applied by analysis of moment structures(AMOS) version 7.0.Results The path analysis showed that childhood abuse was directly related to anxiety of college students(Sβ=0.123, P＜0.01 ＝ ,and was directly related to 4 dimensions of the NEO-FFI-R( exclusion Openness dimension) (Sβ= -0.216 ～ -0.248,0.309; P ＜ 0.01 ＝.3 dimensions of the NEO-FFI-R( exclusion Openness and Extraversion dimensions) were directly related to anxiety of college students ( Sβ = 0.525,-0.045 ～-0.052, P ＜ 0.05 ＝.Agreeableness, conscientiousness and neuroticism of NEO-FFI-R mediate the relationship between childhood abuse and anxiety of college students.The model fit indexes were x2/df = 0.546 ＜ 3.000, P = 0.460 ＞ 0.050, RMSEA = 0.001 ＜ 0.050, GFI = 1.000, AGFI = 0.998, NFI = 1.000, RFI = 0.998, IFI = 1.000,TLI = 1.002, CFI = 1.000.Conclusion Big five personality as mediated variable mediates the relationship between childhood abuse and anxiety of college students.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of serum 1,3-beta-D-glucan (BG) and galactomannan (GM) detection for early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis (IA) in patients after renal transplantation.

METHODSBlood samples collected from 69 renal transplant recipients were divided into diagnosis group, clinical diagnosis group, suspected diagnosis group, and non-infected group for detection of serum BG and GM.

RESULTSThe mean serum levels of BG in the diagnosis group, clinical diagnosis group, and suspected diagnosis group were significantly higher than that in non-infected group (P<0.05). The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of BG was 69.49%, 70%, 93.18% and 35.71% for IA diagnosis, respectively. The serum levels of GM in the 3 diagnosis groups were also significantly higher than that in the non-infected group (P<0.05) with the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 84.75%, 90%, 96.15% and 52.63% for IA diagnosis, respectively.

CONCLUSIONIncreased serum BG and GM levels can serve as the evidence for early diagnosis of IA with a high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in renal transplant recipients.

Aspergillosis ; diagnosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Mannans ; blood ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; beta-Glucans ; blood

Objective:To analyze risk factors for acute cerebral infarction(ACI)combined with hyponatremia in patients aged 70 years and older, in order to improve clinical effects of integrated treatment.Methods:From Jan 2017 to Sep 2018, 324 ACI patients aged 70 years and older admitted to the neurology department of our hospital were enrolled.According to serum sodium levels, patients were divided into the normal serum sodium group(NG, n=284)and the hyponatremia group(HG, n=40). Patients in the HG group were further divided into the mild-to-moderate hyponatremia subgroup and the severe hyponatremia subgroup.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the correlation between risk factors for hyponatremia and prognosis.After one month of treatment, prognosis was assessed by using the Neurological Deficit Score(NDS).Results:There were significant differences between the NG and HG groups in age, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS)score, drinking, living alone, long-term bed rest, serum levels of C-reactive protein(CRP), D-dimer, fibrinogen(FIB), total cholesterol(CHOL), triglycerides(TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C), total protein(TP), albumin(ALB), uric acid(UA), apolipoprotein A-1(Apo-A1), potassium, calcium, and phosphorus( P<0.05). Multivariable Logistic regression analysis showed that age( OR=0.917, 95% CI: 0.874-0.962, P=0.000), NHISS score on admission( OR=0.869, 95% CI: 0.783-0.964, P=0.008), drinking( OR=8.001, 95% CI: 3.864-16.567, P=0.000), living alone( OR=0.352, 95% CI: 0.204-0.608, P=0.000), serum CRP( OR=0.975, 95% CI: 0.960-0.990, P=0.001), D-dimer( OR=0.007, 95% CI: 0.001-0.053, P=0.000), CHOL( OR=1.268, 95% CI: 1.058-1.521, P=0.010)and LDL-C( OR=0.357, 95% CI: 0.230-0.552, P=0.000)were independent risk factors, and UA( OR=1.017, 95% CI: 1.013-1.021, P=0.000)was an independent protective factor for ACI combined with hyponatremia in patients aged 70 years and older.Patients in the NG group had better therapeutic effects and prognosis than those in the HG group( P<0.01). Conclusions:Elderly ACI patients aged 70 years and older are prone to hyponatremia.For better clinical effects of integrated treatment, electrolytes should be regularly monitored in elderly patients with related risk factors.

PURPOSE: Lobular capillary hemangioma is a vascular tumor that commonly occurs as a cutaneous lesion. Intravenous pyogenic granuloma is a rare form of lobular capillary hemangioma that usually occurs in the veins of the neck and the upper extremities. METHODS: A 41-year-old man presented with 3 months history of nodules on the left temporal area and these lesions were clinically mistaken for a typical lipoma or epidermal cyst, but the nodules appeared unusually vascular with sentinel veins on excision. RESULTS: On the histopathologic examination, the excised tissue was observed as an intraluminal polypoid mass, which was attached to the vein via a fibrovascular stalk and capillaries in a loose edematous fibromyxoid stroma, and so the lesions were confirmed to be intravenous pyogenic granuloma. At 6 months after excision, there has been no recurrence and the patient is asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: Intravenous pyogenic granuloma is a rare variant of lobular capillary hemangioma. This article describes the surgical and histopathological findings of treating pyrogenic granuloma.
Adult ; Capillaries ; Epidermal Cyst ; Granuloma ; Granuloma, Pyogenic ; Humans ; Lipoma ; Neck ; Nitriles ; Pyrethrins ; Recurrence ; Upper Extremity ; Veins

Objective:To investigate the safety and efficacy of MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) in treating localized prostate cancer.Methods:Six patients with localized prostate cancer who underwent MRgFUS treatment from August 2020 to September 2021 in Beijing Hospital were prospectively enrolled in this study. The patients were all over 18 years old, with an average age of (68±10) years, and had not received any prior treatment for prostate cancer. Pretreatment pelvic MR and CT scans were performed to determine the region of treatment (ROT). Different urinary catheterization measures were given based on the location of the lesion. Under general anesthesia, the lesions were treated by MRgFUS using a specialized rectal ultrasound transducer on the treatment bed. The patients were followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment and annually thereafter. During follow-up, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, pelvic MR scans, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), International Index of Erectile Function-15 (IIEF-15) scores, and adverse events were assessed.Results:(1) All six patients underwent MRgFUS treatment for six lesions, with an average duration of (126±56) minutes, an average number of (7.3±3.2) focal ultrasound pulses per lesion, and an average non-perfusion volume of (3.8±1.1) cm 3, which covered the entire treatment target area. No treatment-related adverse events were reported. (2) The PSA levels at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment were (6.6±0.8), (3.6±1.3), (3.4±3.0), (2.5±1.7), and (2.3±1.8) ng/ml, respectively. PSA levels increased in 2 out of 6 patients during follow-up, and pelvic MR scan revealed recurrent lesions, while PSA levels continued to decrease in the remaining 4 patients, and pelvic MR scan were normal. (3) The IPSS scores at baseline, 1, and 3 months after treatment were 13.0 (4.0, 16.0), 10.0 (4.0, 12.0), and 5.0 (3.0, 6.0) points, respectively. For the three sexually active patients, the IIEF-15 scores at baseline were 40, 51, and 14 points, respectively, and IIEF-15 at 1 month after treatment were 9, 8, and 14 points, respectively, and at 3 months after treatment were 9, 66 and 26 points, respectively. (4) One patient was diagnosed with recurrence 10 months after treatment, and another patient was found to have a new lesion 6 months after treatment. Conclusions:MRgFUS might be a safe, non-invasive, and effective treatment for localized prostate cancer, but regular follow-up is vital for detecting tumor recurrence.

Liver fibrosis is a compensatory response in the process of tissue repair after chronic liver injury, and it is also a necessary pathological process in the progression of a variety of chronic liver diseases. In the pathological state, the imbalance between hepatic oxidative system and antioxidant system can lead to the excessive production or insufficient clearance of reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS), which may induce the injury of hepatocytes, expand inflammatory response, and promote the development and progression of liver fibrosis. As a master regulator of oxidative stress and inflammatory response, NF-κB plays a key role in the process of liver fibrosis. Therefore, the cascade interaction between ROS/RNS and the NF-κB signaling pathway plays a guiding role in further clarifying the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and exploring effective prevention and treatment strategies. This article reviews and discusses the interaction between ROS/RNS and the NF-κB signaling pathway and its important role in the progression of liver fibrosis, so as to provide strategies and references for targeted therapy for liver fibrosis.