Objective To evaluate the morphological features and distribution of Cajal-like cells in the human upper urinary tract after the laparoscopic nephrectomy.MethodsFrom January 2008 to August 2008,specimens of the kidney were obtained from 23 patients after laparoscopic nephrectomy in our hospital.Each specimen included the renal calyces,renal pelvic,and proximal ureter.HE staining and CD117 immunohistochemical staining were performed.The Cajal cells harvested from normal colon were used as positive control.The cells were observed under light microscope and the distribution of the Cajal-like cells in the upper urinary tract were analyzed.ResultsThe morphology of Cajal-like cells in the human upper urinary tract were similar to those collected from the colon,both showed fusiform shape and were positive for CD117.The Cajal-like cells within the colon were located surrounding the myenteric nerve plexus between the smooth muscles,whereas the Cajal-like cells distributed in the human upper urinary tract were diffused within the lamina propria and muscles.The density of Cajal-like cells at the renal calyces,renal pelvic,and proximal ureter was 15.4?5.4/cm2,22.6?6.6/cm2,and 19.9?5.8/cm2,respectively.The density at the renal calyces was significantly lower than those in the renal pelvic and proximal ureter(P=0.000,P=0.014),whereas,no significant difference was found in density between the renal pelvic and proximal ureter(P=0.129).ConclusionsCajal-like cells exist in the human upper urinary tract with different distribution characteristics from those in the gastrointestinal tract.In the upper urinary tract,the density of the cells is various,which may be related to the functions of the different parts of the tract.

Taxoid 14?-hydroxylase directs a side-route of taxol pathway that leading to a large number of 14?-hydroxy taxoid side products. A RNAi vector was used to suppress the expression of taxoid 14?-hydroxylase (14OH) gene in Taxus?media suspension cells. The dsRNA expression unit was introduced into Taxus?media cells via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation approach. PCR-Southern blot analysis of transgenic cells showed that the dsRNA unit was integrated into the genome of Taxus?media. The levels of transcripts for 14OH gene in transformed and the control cell lines were determined by using RT-PCR method. In addition,the yield of taxoids were analyzed by HPLC. The transcription of 14OH gene was suppressed and the total amount of three C-14 oxygenated taxoids (yunnanxane,sinenxan A,sinenxan C) in Taxus?media transgenic cell lines reduced significantly as compared to those in the non-transgenic control. Inhibition of the 14OH gene via RNAi might provide a new way to enhance the production of Taxol in Taxus cells.

[Objective]To investigate the cytotoxicity of cobalt(Co2+) and chromium(Cr3+)ions on mice osteoblast(MC3T3E1)and the effects on the secretion of RANKL/OPG from osteoblast because of the stimulation of Co2+ and Cr3+ ions. [Methods]The osteoblast in vitri was cultured.The cell viability was assured by MTT test.ELISA method was applied to detect RANKL(receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand),OPG(osteoprotegerin) content in serum supernatant.[Results]Compared to the control,MTT test demonstrated that Co2+ and Cr3+ ions can obviously decrease the cell viability of osteoblast.When osteoblast were exposed to Co2+ and Cr3+ ions for 24 and 48 hours,the releasion of OPG increased by 32.1% and 17.8% as compared with the control(P

AIM: To evaluate the effect of simvastatin on the left ventricular mass in patients with essential hypertension (EH). METHODS: 50 patients with hypertension without severe complication were randomly divided into two treatment groups: combination treatment group and hydragogue group, and 25 normal subjects without any treatment were taken as the control. The 25 patients in combination treatment group were given simvastatin and hydragogue for 12 weeks while the other patients in hydragogue group were given hydragogue during the same time. The left ventricular mass was examined from ultrasonography in all patients before and after treatment. RESULTS: The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was higher in the two treatment groups of patients (133.61±31.02, 118.04±39.62 g·m-2) than that in the control group (88.79±22.73 g·m-2) before treatment (P<0.01, 0.0001, respectively) while the blood pressure was higher. There was no significantly difference in age, serum concentrations of total cholesterol or triglyceride, sugar and blood pressure between the two treatment groups and the control group (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in all variables between the two treatment groups before treatment. After treatment, the LVMI was decreased (133.61±31.02 vs 91.07±16.01 g·m-2, P<0.01) in the combination treatment group while there was no significant change in LVMI in the hydragogue group compared with the control group. The blood pressure in the two treatment groups was decreased to the normal. Compared with hydragogue group, the change of LVMI was higher in the combination group though the serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride or sugar were not significantly different. No significant change in serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride or sugar was found during treatment in the two groups. The change of LVMI did not correlate with the change of blood pressure, serum concentrations of total cholesterol , triglyceride or sugar in the combination treatment group(P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Being independent of the changes of serum concentrations of total cholesterol, triglyceride or sugar and blood pressure, simvastatin can inhibit the increase of left ventricular mass in patients with essential hypertension.

Objective: To establish the evaluation of the chemial quality standard of Radix Astragali according to their contents of saponin, flavonoid and polyscaccharide. Methods: HPLC ELS was used to determine astragaloside Ⅳ content. RP HPLC was used to determine 10 hydroxy 3,9 dimethoxypterocarpan content. Sulfuric acid phenol method was used to determine total polysaccharide content. Results: Astragaloside Ⅳ, total flavonoid, 10 hydroxy 3,9 dimethoxypterocarpan and total polysaccharide content of Astragalus mongmolicus Fisch. were 0.710? 0.030mg/g, 45?4.243mg/g, 19.955?0.813?g/g, 73.310?0.962mg/g, respectively; Astragaloside Ⅳ, total flavonoid, 10 hydroxy 3,9 dimethoxypeterocarpan and total polysaccharide content of Astragalus membranacens Fisch. were 1.186?0.024mg/g, 46?1.414mg/g,84.640?3.069?g/g, 48.800?1.245mg/g, respectively. Conclusion: The method was practical and provided a new idea to study the chemical quality standard of traditional Chinese drug.

The free radical scavenging effect of flaxseed was screened by HPLC-DPPH ( 2 , 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-high performance liquid chromatography assay ) and colorimetric DPPH methods. To test the effectiveness of the approach, three Lignans ( secoisolariciresinol diglucoside ( SDG ) , secoisolariciresinol ( SECO) and enterodiol( ED) ) with antioxidative properties were investigated both in monomer and mixture. HPLC conditions were optimized using following methods: Waters XBridge C18 was used as stationary phase, acetonil/H2 O was used as mobile phase and detective wavelength was set at 280 nm. Antioxidant activity of standards was investigated by reaction with or without DPPH radical for 20 min as sample and control, respectively. Both of them were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. According to the changes of amount of sample and control, the antioxidant activities of standards were calculated as following order:SDG>SECO>ED. Based on above DPPH-HPLC assay and UPLC-Q-TOF-MS, antioxidants extracted from flaxseed were separated, identified and screened. The radical scavenging activities were in the following order:SDG isomer (5)>SDG (4)>7α-[(β-D-glupyranosyl) oxy]-1-methoxyisolariciresinol (1)>(6R,7R, 8S)-1-methoxyisolariciresinol (2)>herbacetindiglucoside (3). It indicated that the HPLC-DPPH assay could be successfully used for the antioxidant activity screening of complex flaxseed extract.

Objective To evaluate orthotopic splenectomy and pericardial devascularization for the treatment of portal hypertension.Methods The modified anterior approach splenectomy includes dissection of the peri-splenic vessels and ligments before division of short gastric vessels.During pericardial devascularization,the dessection panel was close to the esophagus and the stomach,leaving intact both the anterior and posterior vagus trunks.Results 63 patients underwent this modified operation.The free portal pressure decreased from (38 ±4) cmH2O to(28 ±4)cmH2O.The average blood loss was (530 ± 37)ml.There was no mortality,nor perioperative gastric paralysis and portal venous thrombosis.By 12-36 months follow-up,there was no pancreatic leakage,hepatic coma and recurrence of bleeding.Intrahepatic portal venous thromboses were detected in 4 cases at the sixth postoperative months.Conclusions This modified splenectomy plus selective pericardial devascularization carries less bleeding and is safe and effective for the treatment of portal hypertension.

Objective To analyze the importance of procalcitonin (PCT) and high-sensitivity Creactive protein (hsCRP) in assessing the severity of pneumonia and sepsis patients as well as prognostic evaluation.Methods A total of 77 patients with pneumonia complicated with sepsis were randomly (random number) selected from May 2013 to May 2016 in our hospital and 50 patients with simple pneumonia were enrolled as control group.The sepsis pneumonia patients were divided into three groups,namely sepsis group,severe sepsis group and septic shock group.The sepsis patient were further divided into survival group and death group according to the death of patient within 2 weeks.Statistics was employed to study the roles of PCT and hsCRP in evaluating the severity of pneumonia and sepsis patients as well as prognostic evaluation.Results Compared with control group,the levels of PCT and hsCRP were higher in patients of sepsis groups (P ＜ 0.05).The levels of PCT and hsCRP were gradually increased as the severity of the patient getting worse (P ＜ 0.05).The levels of PCT and hsCRP in the death group were higher than those in the survival group.The areas under ROC curve of PCT and hsCRP for diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock as the optimal cut-off point at ≥ 2 ng/mL and at ≥ 75 mg/L,had the sensitivity of 62.1％ and 81.2％,respectively,and the specificity of 89.2％ and 68.2％,respectively.Conclution PCT and hs CRP levels have a certain value in assessing the severity of pneumonia and sepsis patients as well as prognostic evaluation.

Objective To compare the clinical effects of different surgical management for obsolute glaucoma.Methods 31 eyes of absolute glaucoma were retrospectively analyzed,including 23 case 23 eyes(A group) with cyclocryotherapy,8 case 8 eyes(B group)with cyclocryotherapy combining with paracentesis of anterior chamber,the pain and duration were comparatively observed.Results In the cyclocryotherapy,the pain occurred in 23 eyes,the duration time was 3 to 10 days,the average time was 6.8 days.While 4 eyes occurred pain in the cyclocryotherapy combining with paracentesis of anterior chamber,the duration time was 1 to 3 days,the average time was 2.3 days.There was significant difference(P

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression and significance of Thl7 cells in peripheral blood of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).MethodsThirty-three active RA and 27 stable RA patients and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study.Intracellular flow cytometry detection of TH17 cells in peripheral blood was established.The correlations between Th17 cells and RA disease activity (DAS28 scale) as well as bone erosion were analyzed.ResultsThe expressions of Th17 cells in the patients with RA were significantly higher than those of healthy controls [ ( 1.60 ± 0.51 ) ％ vs (0.81 ± 0.21 ) ％,t =10.30,P ＜ 0.001 ].The Th17 levels in active RA patients were also higher than that of stable RA patients and healthy subjects [ ( 1.94 ±0.38 ) ％ vs ( 1.19 ± 0.27) ％,t =8.85,14.60,P ＜ 0.01 ].And the Th1 7 levels in stable RA patients were also higher than that of healthy subjects (t =5.88,P ＜0.01 ).Active RA patients with bone erosion ( 19 cases) also had higher levels of Th17 cells than those without bone erosion ( 14 cases) [ ( 2.09 ± 0.39 ) ％ vs.( 1.74 ±0.29 ) ％,t =2.83,P ＜ 0.01 ].The expression of Th17 cells was positively correlated with the DAS28 score ( r =0.86,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionThere is a high expression of Th17 cells in peripheral blood of RA patients,which is related to disease activity and bone erosion.Th17 cells might play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.