Objective To investigate the effects of curcumine treatment on the expression of TNF-α in the peritoneum of acute peritonitis rats. Methods The rats were intrapertoneally injected Staphylococcus epidemidis (S.epidermidis) for the mixlelization of acute peritonitis. After a survival time of 3,6,12,24 and 48 hours,TNF-α expression in the peritoneum was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR in the rats of curcumin treatment group and non-curcumin treatment group. Results TNF-a expression showed time-dependent increase at 6,12,24 hours after the infection in the non-curcumin treatment group. In curcumin treatment group,TNF-α expression decreased at 6,12,24 hours after infection compared to non-curcumin treatment group. Conclusion Curcumin may be a protective agent in acute peri-tonitis induced by S.epidermidis.

Aim To investigate the role of HIF-1 αin PC1 2 cell injury induced by quinolinic acid.Methods PC1 2 cells were treated with quinolinic acid at the do-ses of 2.5,5 and 1 0 mmol·L -1 ,the cell viability was determined by MTT reduction assay and LDH as-say,the intracellular levels of oxygen species was measured by assessing SOD and MDA levels,cell ap-optosis was determined by Hoechst 33258 staining,the intracellular distribution of HIF-1 αwas examined by HIF-1 αimmunostaining,and the expressions of HIF-1 α,Akt,p-Akt,Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by im-munoblotting analysis.Results Quinolinic acid in-duced cell injury in PC1 2 cells in a dose-dependent manner,and potentiated oxygen radical production and cell apoptosis.In addition,quinolinic acid enhanced HIF-1 αexpression and accumulation in nuclei.The p-Akt expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio was increased by quinolinc acid in PC1 2 cells.Conclusions HIF-1 αand Akt mediate qunolinc acid-induced cell apoptosis in PC1 2 cells.And cellular oxidative stress may con-tribute to the injury as well.

Background and purpose:Differentiation of tumor tissue is an important factor on determining the prognosis of gastric cancer. This study aimed to investigate the expression levels and clinical signiifcance of gender determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) gene and octamer binding factor 4 (OCT4) gene in gastric cancer tissues varying different differentiation degrees. Methods: Sixty cases with gastric cancer were recruited in this study. The gastric cancer tissues and corresponding normal mucosa of the 60 cases were obtained. The mRNA and protein level of SOX2, OCT4 gene are evaluated by the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The relationship between the expression levels of SOX2, OCT4 gene and clinical pathological parameters were also analyzed in this study. Results:The expression of SOX2 in both mRNA and protein levels had no signiifcant difference between the well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric mucosa (mRNA levels:t=0.1033, P>0.05;protein levels:t=0.116, P>0.05). However, both the mRNA and protein expression of SOX2 in patients with well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues were signiifcant higher than not only in patients with moderately differentiated gastric carcinoma (mRNA levels: t=12.48, P<0.05; protein levels: t=22.78, P<0.05) but also in patients with than poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma (mRNA levels:t=17.56, P<0.05;protein levels:t=30.00, P<0.05). In contrast to SOX2, both the mRNA and protein expression of OCT4 in patients with well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues were signiifcant lower than not only in patients with moderately differentiated gastric carcinoma (mRNA levels:t=13.23, P<0.05; protein levels: t=25.56, P<0.05) but also in patients with poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma (mRNA levels: t=12.10, P<0.05; protein levels: t=69.48, P<0.05). There was no significance of OCT4 mRNA and protein expression between the well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric mucosa (mRNA levels:t=2.436, P>0.05;protein levels:t=1.064, P>0.05). Immunohistochemical study demonstrated that the positive rate of SOX2 in patients with well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues (10/21) were higher than in patients with not only moderately differentiated gastric carcinoma (7/20) but also poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma (2/19, P<0.05), while the positive rate of OCT4 in cases with well-differentiated gastric cancer tissues (2/21) were lower than in cases with not only moderately differentiated gastric carcinoma (6/20) but also the poorly differentiated gastric carcinoma (12/19, P<0.05). There was no correlation between the expression of SOX2, OCT4 in gastric cancer and gender or age (P>0.05). Nevertheless, the expression of SOX2, OCT4 were positive or negative correlated with the pathological staging, the degree of inifltration and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Conclusion:Decreased SOX2 expression and increased expression level of OCT4 can promote the formation, development and invasion of gastric cancer and they may become biomarkers or the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis evaluation in gastric carcinoma.

Aim To investigate the expression and im-plication of HIF-1α, ROCK-2 , FoxM1 in PC12 cell in-jury induced by lead acetate. Methods PC12 cells were treated with lead acetate at the doses of 100 , 200 and 400 μmol·L-1 . The cell viability was determined by MTT reduction assay and LDH assay, the intracellu-lar production of oxygen species was measured by as-sessing SOD and MDA levels, cell apoptosis was deter-mined by Hoechst 33342 staining, the expressions of HIF-1α, ROCK-2 , FoxM1 , Bcl-2 and Bax were deter-mined by immunoblotting analysis. Results Lead ac-etate induced cell injury in PC12 cells in a dose-de-pendent manner, and it potentiated oxygen radical pro-duction and cell apoptosis. In addition, lead acetate enhanced HIF-1α and ROCK-2 expressions, increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and decreased FoxM1 expression. Conclusion Lead acetate can induce PC12 cell apop-tosis, which may be related with the expressions of HIF-1α, ROCK-2 and FoxM1 . Cellular oxidative stress may contribute to the injury as well.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether quinolinic acid(QA)induces autophagy in PC12 cells and its relationship with glycogen synthase kinase-3β(GSK-3β)/β-catenin related signaling path?ways. METHODS PC12 cells were treated with QA 2.5,5.0 and 10.0 mmol·L-1 for 24 h. The cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Autophagy fluorescent spots labelled form of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3(LC3)was examined by LC3 immunostaining. The expressions of GSK-3β,β-catenin,LC3 and Beclin 1 were determined by Western blotting. RESULTS QA inhibited PC12 cell survival in a concentration-dependent manner,and IC50 was 8.7 mmol · L- 1. Compared with normal control group,QA 2.5,5.0 and 10.0 mmol · L-1 increased autophagic intracellular LC3 fluorescence spots,elevated the expression ratio of LC3-Ⅱ/LC3-Ⅰ and expression of Beclin 1 in PC12 cells(P<0.05). In addition,QA enhanced GSK-3βexpression and decreasedβ-catenin expression(P<0.05,P<0.01). CONCLUSION QA induces autophagy in PC12 cells. This mechanism may be associated with the activation of GSK-3β/β-catenin related signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: An inactivated Hantaan virus vaccine (iHV) has been broadly used as a preventive strategy for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) by the South Korean Army. After the vaccination program was initiated, the overall incidence of HFRS cases was reduced in the military population. While there are about 400 HFRS cases annually, few studies have demonstrated the efficacy of the iHV in field settings. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the iHV efficacy on HFRS severity. METHODS: From 2009 to 2017, HFRS cases were collected in South Korean Army hospitals along with patients’ vaccination history. HFRS patients were classified retrospectively into two groups according to vaccination records: no history of iHV vaccination and valid vaccination. Vaccine efficacy on the severity of acute kidney injury (AKI) stage and dialysis events were investigated. RESULTS: The effects of the iHV on renal injury severity in between 18 valid vaccinated and 110 non-vaccinated patients were respectively evaluated. In the valid vaccination group, six of the 18 HFRS patients (33.3%) had stage 3 AKI, compared to 60 of the 110 (54.5%) patients in the non-vaccination group. The iHV efficacy against disease progression (VEp) was 58.1% (95% confidence interval, 31.3% to 88.0%). CONCLUSION: The iHV efficacy against the progression of HFRS failed to demonstrate statistically significant protection. However, different severity profiles were observed between the iHV and non-vaccination groups. Additional studies with larger populations are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the iHV in patients with HFRS.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Dialysis ; Disease Progression ; Hantaan virus ; Hantavirus* ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Hospitals, Military ; Humans ; Incidence ; Military Personnel ; Preventive Medicine ; Retrospective Studies ; Vaccination

Objective:To observe and analyze the image characteristics of eyes with choroidal osteoma using swept-source OCT (SS-OCT).Methods:Seventy-three eyes of 61 patients with choroidal osteoma were enrolled in the study, including 17 males (20 eyes) and 44 females (53 eyes) with an average age of 33.5±12.7 years. Single tumor was found in 71 eyes and multiple tumors were found in 2 eyes. All patients received examinations of slit lamp ophthalmoscope, color fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence, fluorescein angiography and/or indocyanine green angiography, B-scan ultrasonography and/or computerized tomography. Tumor features were characterized using SS-OCT.Results:Among 75 tumors of 73 eyes, the osteoma was completely calcified in 7 tumors, completely decalcified in 5 tumors and all the other tumors were composed of calcified and decalcified portions. SS-OCT revealed normal inner retina in all the calcified areas of tumors and abnormal outer retina including external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone, interdigitation zone and RPE in some cases. Whereas the outer retina and RPE showed abnormality in the decalcified areas of all cases. The choriocapillaris was invisible in all cases and most of the medium and large caliber vessels showed thinning or nonvisibility. Choroidal osteoma revealed a sponge-like appearance ( n=39), loofah sponge appearance ( n=11), lamellar pattern ( n=10), mixed ( n=12) and irregular patterns ( n=5). Other unique features included horizontal lamellar lines ( n=71), hyperreflective horizontal lines ( n=47) and hyporeflective tubules (horizontal: n=39, vertical: n=42, circular: n=41) within choroidal osteoma. Hyperreflective tumor-like tissues were also detected above the disrupted Bruch’s membrane. The sclero-choroidal junction was detectable in all tumors and a posterior ciliary vessel penetrating the sclera was also seen. Conclusions:SS-OCT clearly reveals characteristic appearances of choroidal osteoma as sponge-like, loofah sponge, lamellar pattern, mixed and irregular patterns, with unique features of horizontal lamellar lines, hyperreflective horizontal lines and hyporeflective tubules within osteoma. Hyperreflective tumor-like tissues were detected to grow above the disrupted Bruch’s membrane.

Tumoral calcinosis (TC) is a condition resulting from extensive calcium phosphate precipitation, primarily in the periarticular tissues around major joints. Calciphylaxis is a fatal ischemic vasculopathy mainly affecting dermal blood vessels and subcutaneous fat. This syndrome is rare and predominantly occurs in patients with end-stage renal disease. Here, we report on a rare case involving a patient with TC complicated with calciphylaxis. Our patient was a 31-year-old man undergoing hemodialysis who presented with masses on both shoulders and necrotic cutaneous ulcers, which were associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism, on his lower legs. He underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy, and sodium thiosulfate (STS) was administered for 27 weeks. Twenty months after beginning the STS treatment course, he experienced dramatic relief of his TC and calciphylaxis.
Adult ; Blood Vessels ; Calcinosis* ; Calciphylaxis* ; Calcium ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Joints ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Leg ; Parathyroidectomy* ; Renal Dialysis ; Shoulder ; Sodium* ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Ulcer

Reninoma is a tumor of the renal juxtaglomerular cell apparatus that causes hypertension and hypokalemia because of hypersecretion of renin. We present a case of a 29-year-old female patient with reninoma and concomitant variant angina. The patient had uncontrolled hypertension and elevated plasma renin activity and aldosterone levels. Imaging studies revealed a mass in the left kidney, which was further confirmed as a renin-producing lesion via selective venous catheterization. During the evaluation, the patient had acute-onset chest pain that was diagnosed as variant angina after a provocation test. After partial nephrectomy, the plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone levels decreased and blood pressure normalized. We report a case of reninoma with variant angina.
Adult ; Aldosterone ; Angina, Unstable ; Blood Pressure ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Chest Pain ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypokalemia ; Kidney ; Kidney Neoplasms ; Nephrectomy ; Plasma ; Renin

Secondary rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) can be caused by many diseases and conditions, including vasculitis, systemic rheumatic diseases, infections, drugs and malignancies. Among the secondary RPGNs, malignancy-associated RPGN is extremely rare and causes renal function deterioration within several weeks to months. Thus, timely immunosuppressant therapy can improve renal outcome. Herein, we describe a case of RPGN detected simultaneously with marginal zone B-cell lymphoma. An 82-year-old male patient, who presented generalized edema and oliguria, was diagnosed with crescentic glomerulonephritis and marginal B-cell lymphoma. After the patient was given methylprednisolone pulse therapy, renal function was restored and hemodialysis was successfully discontinued without complications.
Aged, 80 and over ; Edema ; Glomerulonephritis* ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Male ; Methylprednisolone ; Oliguria ; Renal Dialysis ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Systemic Vasculitis