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 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?.

Viral central nervous system infection (VCNSI), with high disability and mortality rates, is a serious threat for the health of children. Given the low pathogen load in cerebrospinal fluid and limitations of conventional virus detection technology, the early pathogenic diagnosis methods are less than ideal. With the development of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), digital PCR, point-of-care testing detection of nucleic acid, and metagenome high-throughput sequencing, the clinical use of viral diagnostic technologies has become more prevalent. In this comment, the current status and future directions of laboratory diagnosis of VCNSI in children are discussed.