Objective To investigate the effects of two different arm postures on radial artery puncture. Methods We randomly divided 100 patients into control group and experiment group according to the operation sequence, 50 patients in each group. In the control group, the traditional method was used for radial artery puncture and sheath placement, while in the experiment group the modified method was used. Result Compared with the control group, the success rate of radial artery puncture in the experiment group was significantly higher (P<0.05), and the time needed was significantly shorter (P<0.05). Conclusions The modified arm posture for radial artery puncture and sheath placement is more effective for exposure of the radial artery puncture point and ensure the stability of the puncture site. With this method, we can improve the success rate of radial artery puncture and shorten the puncture time. It is worthy of clinical application.

Objective To investigate the expression and activation of Smad2/3 in renal fibrosis associated with diabetic model in mice.Methods Male homozygous C57BL/6 mice were divided at random into control group intraperitoneally (ip)injected with citrate buffer and diabetes group received 5 consecutive daily intraperitoneal injections of streptozoto- cin(STZ 50 mg/kg?d).All mice were followed up for 16 weeks.Diabetes was confirmed by serum glucose levels ex- ceeding 16.7 mmol/L.Mice were killed at 0,4,8,12 and 16week respectively after STZ injected.The kidney tissue was used for histological and morphometric studies,and the expression of TGF-?,phosphorylated Smad2/3 and ?- SMA by immunohistochemical staining.Results TGF-?,phosphorylated Smad2/3 and ?-SMA levels were obvious- ly increased in the diabetic kidney compared with those in control mice,phosphorylated Smad 2/3 was positively related to the expression of ?-SMA in the diabetic kidney.Conclusion The overexpression and activation of Smad 2/3 in dia- betic kidney may play an important role in renal fibrosis.

AIM: The aim of this study was to reveal the regulatory role of glutathione (GSH) in the transcriptional activity of activating transcription factor-2 (c-Jun/ATF-2) and nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B) of macrophages induced by angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ). METHODS: Macrophage intracellular GSH was determined by fluorophotometry, and buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine(BSO)was used for depletion of intracellular GSH. The phosphorylation of c-Jun/ATF-2 and expression of NF-?B p65 were determined by immunoblot, and the activity of NF-?B was determined by electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA). The c-Jun/ATF-2 was also determined by Immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The GSH content in the macrophage was decreased in cells that were lipid-peroxidized with AngⅡ (1.0 (?mol/L)) for 30 min and 60 min, respectively, followed by an adaptive GSH increase in the presence of AngⅡ (1.0 (?mol/L)) for longer time. In parallel, exposure to AngⅡfor 60 min also decreased macrophage GSH content in a dose-dependent manner. The GSH of RAW 264.7 cells were depleted by BSO, a specific inhibitor of GSH synthesis, and incubation for 18 h with 0.5 mmol/L BSO was sufficient for complete depletion of intracellular GSH. The phosphorylation of c-Jun/ATF-2 could be induced by the AngⅡ (1.0 (?mol/L)), whereas it did not occur in glutathione-depleted RAW 264.7 macrophages. The activation of NF-?B could also be induced by the AngⅡ (1.0 (?mol/L)), but it did not occur in glutathione-depleted RAW 264.7 macrophages. CONCLUSION: These data provide evidences that the intracellular glutathione redox may participate in the regulation of transcription activity of c-Jun/ATF-2 and NF-?B in macrophages. [

Objective To investigate the function role and mechanism of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38MAPK) in up-regulating osteopontin mRNA expression in rat glomerular mesangial cells induced by interleukin-1?.Methods Activation of p38MAPK was detected with Western blotting,The effect of p38MAPK specific blockade SB203580 on the expression of osteoponlin mRNA in rat mesangial cells induced by interleukin-1? was measured with RT-PCR. Results interleukin-1? could activate p38MAPK in time- and dosage-dependent manner,and up-regulate osteopontin mRNA expression in rat glomerular mesangial cells. SB203580 obviously inhibited the up-regulation of osteopontin mRNA induced by interleukin-1? in dosage dependent manner. Conclusion p38MAPK may play an important role in the up-regulation of osteopontin in rat glomerular mesangial cells induced by interleukin-1?.

AIM: To investigate the expression and functional role of p38MAPK in the kidney after unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats. METHODS: Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) models were induced by ligating the left ureter. Rats were sacrificed at 1 h, 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after UUO was initiated. p38MAPK activity was assayed by immunohistochemical staining and specific substrate phosphorylation with immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. TGF? mRNA and protein expression were analyzed with in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical stainning. RESULTS: A basic p38MAPK activity was detectable in the normal kidney(0.22?0.06). p38MAPK pathway was rapidly activated at 1 hour(0.45?0.14 vs control, P

【Objective】To investigate the role of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in the prevention of acute rejection in renal transplantation.【Methods】A total of 106 patients were randomized into two groups.One group received MMF (n=56),the other received azathioprine (Aza) (n=50).The time of the following study was within the first 6 months after transplantation.【Results】The rate of acute rejection of group receiving MMF was 20%,it′s lower than that of the group receiving Aza 44% (P<0.01).The recovery rate of acute rejection treated by methylprednisolone (MP),in MMF group 82% was higher than Aza group 55%.(P<0.05).Meanwhile the hepatotoxicity as well as cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection were lower in MMF group than those in Aza group.【Conclusion】MMF as a new anti-rejection drug could more effectively prevent acute rejection than Aza after renal transplantation,and has lower toxicity and side effect.

Objective To explore the effect of Numb on tubular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in rat proximal epithelial cells. Methods NRK52E cells were treated with different concentrations of recombinant human transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) (0, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20 μg/L) for 48 h or 10 μg/L TGF-β1 for different times (0, 24, 48, 72 h) in vitro. The expressions of E-cadherin, a-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) and Numb in NRK 52E cells were detected by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. Meanwhile Numb siRNA oligo was transfected into NRK 52E cells with lipofectamine before TGF-β1 treatment, then Western blot was applied to detect the protein expression of E-cadherin, α-SMA and Numb in NRK52E cells. Results TGF-β1 could induce EMT in NRK52E cells in dose- and time-dependent manner. During the progress of TGF-β1-induced EMT, the protein expression of Numb in 5, 10, 15, 20 μg/L group was 1.33 folds (P=0.024), 1.39 folds (P=0.035), 1.45 folds (P=0.025), 1.51 folds (P=0.000) respectively as compared to 0 μg/L group. Likewise, the protein and mRNA expression of Numb in 24 h, 48 h, 72 h group was 1.48 folds (P=0.046) and 1.56 folds (P=0.012), 1.54 folds (P=0.011) and 1.82 folds (P=0.008), 1.79 folds (P=0.028) and 1.82 folds (P=0.002) respectively as compared to 0 h group. Moreover, large amount of Numb was accumulated in the cytoplasm. Down-regulation of Numb expression by siRNA transfection did not influence the basal expression of E-cadherin and α-SMA in NRK 52E cells, but attenuated the progression of EMT in NRK52E cells induced by TGF-β1. The up-regulation of α-SMA protein was reduced to 18.1% (P=0.004) while the down-regulation of E-cadherin protein was reversed to 2.19 folds (P=0.004). Conclusion Numb can promote EMT in rat proximal epithelial cells.

Objective To study the correlation of the serum insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) level and the radioactive iodine uptake rate in patients with nodular goiter,to explore a simple and saftymethods of identifying different kinds of thyroid nodule.Methods Sixty diagnosed cases was selected intohot nodule group(30 cases)and cool nodule group(30 cases),and 30 healthy people were selected into thehealthy control group.Measured the IGF-1,FT3,FT4,TSH level of each group by radioimmunoassay,and measured the radioactive iodine uptake rate by radionuclear technique.Results To compare with healthy control group,the levels of serum IGF-1,FT3,FT4 and the radioactive iodine uptake rate of hot nodule group were increased obviously,but the serum TSH was decreased significantly,and the level of IGF-1 had positive correhtion with the radioactive iodine uptake rate(r=0.835)in the same group.Meanwhile,the 1 evel of IGF-1 had negative correlation with the level of TSH(r=-0.326).In cool nodule group,the levels of serum IGF-1,FT3,FT4,TSH had no significant difference oompared with healthy control group(P>0.05).Conclusion The level of IGF-1 and radioactive iodine uptake rate in patients with nodular goiter has certain correlation.

AIM: To detect the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor-?_1 (TGF-?_1) and ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) in rat unilateral ureteral obstructive (UUO) nephropathy animal model, and to observe the kinetic changes at different stages of firosis. METHODS: Male SD rats were subjected to either left ureteral ligation or sham operation, then killed at 3, 7, 14, 21 or 28 days after UUO or sham operation (n=6 at each time point). HE, Masson or PAS staining were applied to the renal tissue sections. The extent of tubulointerstitial injury was determined by Banff classification. RESULTS: The extent of tubulinterstitial fibrosis became serious with the time of obstruction. Tubules were mostly atropic and replaced by proliferative fibrous tissue at day 28. The expression of CTGF and ?-SMA were consistent with the damage of tubulointerstitial. The positive correlation among CTGF or ?-SMA and the tubulointerstitial injury scores were significant. The expression of TGF-?_1 came to peak at day 7 to 14, and gradually decreased at day 21 and 28. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the expression of CTGF may be upregulated by TGF-? in UUO rats, and CTGF may be involved in tubulointerstitial fibrosis through the development of myofibroblasts.

AIM: To investigate the functional role of TGF-?_1 signal protein Smad2/3 in tubulointerstitial fibrosis associated with unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats. METHODS: The unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model was induced by the ligation of left ureter. Rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after UUO was initiated. TGF?_1 protein, phosphorylated Smad2/3 and interstitial ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) expression were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. TGF-?_1 mRNA in the obstructed kidney was analyzed with in situ hybridration. HE and Masson staining were used for histological and morphometric studies of the pathological change in obstructed kidney. RESULTS: The results showed that upregulation of TGF-?_1 in tubulointerstitium of both cortex and medulla at day 3 (a 3.1 fold increase vs control, P