Objective: To study the effects of TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 on bone resorption in cultured calvaria of newborn mice. Methods: Calvaria of newborn mice was cultured and exposed to TNF, IL-1 or IL-6 at various dosages for 48 hours (treated grooups), or without the above agents(control). Calcium concentration in culture medium was determined by atomic absorption spectrum apparatus. The calcium concentration of the treated groups versus that of the control was used as the absorption index. Results: The absorption indexes in the medium of treated groups were 1.92～3. 14 or 1. 85 ～ 3. 34 when the bone was exposed to TNF or IL-6 at 10 ～ 320 ng/ml, those were 1.36 ～ 2.32 when the bone was exposed to IL-1 at 2～64 ng/ ml. Conclusion: TNF, IL-1 and IL-6 may stimulate bone resorption of calvaria in newborn mice.

Objective: To observe the proliferation of periodontal ligament fibroblasts(PDLFs) under mechanical stretching. Methods: PDLFs were stretched by 6 cycles/min(5 seconds stretching and 5 seconds relaxing) with 12% stretching force through self-produced cultured cell loading system. At experimental time point 24,48 and 96 hours, the cells were counted and flow cytometry was employed to observe the proliferation of PDLFs. Results: 48 h and 96 h after stretch treatment the cells in experimental groups were significantly more than those in control groups respectively (P

Objective To investigate the expression of lymphotoxin-β and its receptor in the skin of a mouse model of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD).Methods BALB/c female mice at 6 to 8 weeks of age were randomly divided into the experiment group (n =15) and normal control group (n =10).Topical 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB,0.5％) was used to establish a model of ACD in the experiment group followed by challenge with DNFB (0.2％) at the right external ear on the 6th day.The normal control mice remained untreated.The right external ear was resected from all of the mice 24 hours after the challenge and divided into 2 parts for the measurement of mRNA and protein expressions of lymphotoxin-β and lymphotoxin-βreceptor by fluorescence-based real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry,respectively.Results The median mRNA expression levels of lymphotoxin-β and lymphotoxin-β receptor were 3.630 and 1.148respectively in the experimental mice,with the interquartile range being 1.187 and 0.617 respectively,and were both 1.000 in the control mice with the interquartile range being both 0.000.There was a significant difference between the experimental and control group in the mRNA expression levels of lymphotoxin-β and lymphotoxin-β receptor (P ＜ 0.01 ).Immunohistochemistry showed a significant increase in the expression of lymphotoxin-β and lymphotoxin-β receptor proteins in the experimental group compared with the control group (P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusion There is an increment in the mRNA and protein expressions of lymphotoxin-β and lymphotoxin-β receptor in the lesions of ACD in mice.

Objective To assess the value of echo tracking(ET) technique on atherosclerosis in the rabbit models, and to probe the pathological foundation of its indexes changes and the usefulness in evaluating arterial elasticity. Methods Thirty New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups randomly: group A was the control group;group B,C were fed with high lipid feedstuffs for 8 weeks and 12 weeks, respectively. The ET examination of abdominal aorta was performed in group A and group B at the end of 8 weeks,it was performed in group A and group C at the end of 12 weeks. The parameters of elasticity were measured including pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep), stiffness parameters(β), pulse wave velocity (PWVβ), augmentation index (AI), arterial compliance (AC), etc. Two dimensional ultrasound and pathological examination of abdominal aorta were performed at the same time. Results No obvious plaque and arterial wall thickness were seen in the abdominal aorta. Ep,β,PWVβ of group C were higher than that of group A and B, while AC of group C was lower than that of group A and B, and the difference had statistical significance (P<0.05). AI had no significant difference in all groups (P>0.05). Pathological examinations indicated that foam cell formation was seen in the abdominal aorta intima, the elastic fiber layer and smooth muscle layer were kept well in B group. Lots of cholesterol crystal formation was seen in the abdominal aorta intima and the two layer were obvious destroyed in group C. Conclusions ET can detect the atherosclerosis earlier than two-dimensional ultrasound. ET can detect the elasticity changes only when the elastic fiber layer and smooth muscle layer were destroyed . So it can be concluded that the destroy of elastic fiber layer and smooth muscle layer may be the pathological foundation of ET elasticity parameters changes.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of intercellular space diameters (ISD)of squamous epithelium by light microscopy (LM) in lower esophagus of erosive reflux esophagitis (ERD),non-erosive reflux disease ( NERD), Barrett esophagus (BE) and healthy controls. Methods A total of 21 ERD and 21 NERD patients with reflux symptoms and confirmed with 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring, 13 BE patients diagnosed by gastroscopy and biopsy, and 20 other healthy controls were enrolled in the study.Samples of ERD, NERD and control group were collected at 2 cm above dentate line, and made HE slides in the conventional way. Images for measurement of ICS were acquired with oil lens ( × 1000). ICS of squamous epithelium was quantitatively measured by computer-assisted morphometry. Ten cells were taken for each sample, 10 consecutive ISD for each cell, i.e. 100 ISD for each subject. Mean ISD was calculated.Results Mean ISDs by LM in control, BE, ERD, and NERD groups were 0. 59, 0. 99, 1.29 and 1.06 μm, respectively. The mean ISDs in BE, ERD, and NERD group were much greater than that in control (P＜0. 05). The mean, maximal and minimal ISDs of group ERD were greater than those of NERD and BE (P = 0. 000). However, the ISDs of NERD and BE are of no significant difference ( P ＞ 0. 05 ). The cut-off value of mean ISD for diagnosis of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) was 0. 85 μm. Diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for ERD, NERD and BE were 89. 1% and 100. 0%, with reference to clinical symptoms, endoscopy and ISDs above the cut-off value. Conclusion Larger ISDs in lower esophagus by using LM will be found in all subgroups of GERD, including ERD, NERD and BE. Increased ISDs may be one of the markers for diagnosis of ERD, NERD and BE.

Purpose To investigate the expression of XBP-1s and ADRP in kidney of diabetic rats. Methods Diabetic rat models were successfully established by intraperitoneal injection of STZ. After two months rats were sacrificed and XBP-1s and ADRP were de-tected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Results XBP-1s and ADRP were located in renal tubular cells and increased by a-bout 2. 017 times and 1. 544 times in comparison with normal control rats (P<0. 05). Moreover, it was shown that high expression of XBP-1s was commonly accompanied with increased ADRP by Pearson correlation analysis and the correlation coefficient was 0. 723 (P<0. 05). Conclusion The increased XBP-1s may cause the up-regulation of ADRP in the kidney of diabetic rats.

Objective To evaluate carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) and elasticity in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH) using ultrasound radio-frequency data(RF-data) technology.Methods Twenty-seven PIH women(mean brachial blood pressure:108 mm Hg,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)were included and thirty age- and gestational week-matched normal pregnant women served as controls.Carotid IMT and stiffness were evaluated using quality IMT(QIMT) and quantitative artery stiffness(QAS)techniques with color Doppler.Results Carotid IMT and elasticity parameters,including pulse wave velocity,pressure at T1,arterial augmented pressure(AP) and arterial augmented pressure index(AIx) were significantly higher in PIH group than in the normal group[IMT:(466.84±118.50)μm vs (386.58±125.79)μm;PWV:(7.09±1.97)m/s vs (5.95±1.11) m/s;PT1:(127.50±14.29) mm Hg vs (105.89±11.02)mm Hg;AP:(5.14±3.39) mm Hg vs (1.98±2.19)mm Hg;AIx:(7.58±8.73)% vs (-4.79±7.92)%)], and there were significant differences(t=2.660,2.660,3.460,3.460,3.460,all P＜0.01).Conclusions PIH women have significantly increased carotid IMT and decreased elasticity compared with normal pregnant women.Radio-frequency technique could reliably reflect the changes of the carotid arterial structure and elasticity in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

OBJECTIVETo study the long-term outcome of idiopathic IgA nephropathy and analyze its clinical and histological prognostic factors.

METHODSWe conducted a retrospective analysis of 495 cases of IgA nephropathy patients in our hospital from 1986 to 2002. Renal survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method, univariate analysis and multivariate Cox regression analysis.

RESULTSThe cumulative renal survival rate was 85% at 10 years and 70.9% at 15 years. Univariate analysis found the following parameters at the time of biopsy to be significantly correlated with poor renal survival: serum creatinine > or = 133 micromol/L (P < 0.001), hypertension (P < 0.05), 24-hour urine protein excretion > or = 3 g (P < 0.001), histological subclass V (P < 0.001), and without the history of gross hematuria (P < 0.05). The Cox regression analysis showed that only the presence of hypertension (HR=7.75, 95%CI 1.02 to approximately 2.19) and serum creatinine level (HR=1.49, 95%CI 1.54 to approximately 38.90) were independent prognostic indicators.

CONCLUSIONSThe findings in Chinese IgA nephropathy patients are in agreement with the results of many other studies worldwide.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; complications ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Regression Analysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effects and mechanism of lovastatin on cell cycle phase and proliferation of cultured human glomerular mesangial cells in vitro.

METHODSHMC proliferation was determined by 3H-Thymidine incorporation. HMC cell cycle was measured by flow cytometric analysis.

RESULTSLovastatin was found to inhibit HMC proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that lovstatin induced G1/S transition arrest. Concomitant addition of mevalonate or farnesol restored all the inhibitory effect of lovstatin on HMC.

CONCLUSIONLovastatin is a HMC proliferation inhibitor. It provides an experimental evidence for re-evaluate renal protective effect of HRI, which has already been widely used in clinical treatment.

Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Flow Cytometry ; Glomerular Mesangium ; cytology ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Kinetics ; Lovastatin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo explore the regulational effect of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) on expression of type A scavenger receptor (SR-A) in human mesangial cells (HMC).

METHODSHMC line (HMCL) with high expression of SR-A (HMCL-SRA) was established after stable transfection of expressive vector with cDNA encoding SR-A. Uptake of Ox-LDL by HMCL was evaluated using Oil Red "O" staining. SR-A mRNA expression was examined using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSMore uptake of Ox-LDL was observed in the HMCL-SRA than that in the untransfected HMCL. Ox-LDL could induce SR-A mRNA expression in HMC in a dose-dependent manner, and reached a peak level after 24 h of stimulation. After 24 h of stimulation with Ox-LDL at the dose of 10, 50 and 100 micrograms/ml, SR-A mRNA expression was up-regulated to 1.35, 1.83 and 2.30-fold of controls, respectively. However, LDL had no effect on the expression of SR-A.

CONCLUSIONSIt suggests that SR-A be a major binding receptor to uptake Ox-LDL in HMC. Ox-LDL may promote the progression of chronic renal diseases through up-regulation of SR-A.

Cells, Cultured ; DNA, Complementary ; Glomerular Mesangium ; cytology ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, Immunologic ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, Scavenger ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scavenger Receptors, Class A ; Transfection ; Up-Regulation