ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to observe the correlation of mTOR and VEGF gene with nephropathy indicators in diabetic rats. Methods Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley(SD)rats were divided into diabetes mellitus group(DM=28)and control group(NDM=20). Diabetic models were produced by injection of streptozotocin. In the courses of 12,16,20 and 24 weeks,the histology scores(HS)and glomerular basement membrane(GBM)thickness were collected. The protein and mRNA expressions of the gene of mTOR,VEGF and VEGFR2 were observed by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-Q-PCR)by SYBR Green. And the standardized cycle of threshold(SCt)was regarded as the indicators of the mRNA expression. Results HS and GBM thickness were significantly higher in DM rats than those in NDM rats,especially in DM rats of the courses of 20 and 24 weeks(P < 0.01). IHC scores of VEGF and VEGFR2 were higher in total DM rats and were positively correlated with each other. There were positive correlations between HS with VEGF and VEGFR2 in total DM rats(P < 0.05). SCts of VEGF and VEGFR2 were significantly higher and were positively correlated with each other in total DM rats(P < 0.01). SCt of VEGF and GBM thickness showed positive correlation in total DM rats. SCt of VEGF was highest in the course of 12w DM rats. SCt of VEGFR2 gradually decreased following by the diabetic course,and was lowest in the course of 24w. There were no significantly differences in IHC scores and SCt of mTOR between DM and NDM rats. But the IHC scores of mTOR,VEGF and VEGFR2 were positively correlated with each other and with HS in total DM rats(P < 0.05). Conclusion HS and GBM thickness were higher in diabetic rats,especially in the course of 24w,which could reflect the injury of nephropathy. The protein and mRNA of VEGF and VEGFR2 were high expressed in kidney of DM rats and increased with the increasing of diabetic course. The mRNA expression of VEGF was positively correlated with GBM thickness of in diabetic nephropathy(DN). The protein expressions of mTOR,VEGF and VEGFR2 might have synergistic effects in DN of DM rats. But the results could not exclude the influences of different courses,sample size and experimental conditions.

Objective To investigate the MRI manifestations of secondary toxoplasmosis encephalitis in HIV patients and summarize the characteristics of MRI changes.Methods MRI images of 3 5 HIV patients with secondary toxoplasmosis encephalitis were analyzed retrospectively.Results Of 35 patients,27 showed multiple lesions and 8 showed single lesion.Lesions mainly involved the brain gray matter j unction or basal ganglia.MRI showed lamellar,nodular or round lesions,which showed low signal on T1WI,and slightly higher and unevenly high signal on T2WI.Irregular liquid signal or nodular slightly lower signal was showed on T2WI in 14 cases,and short T1signal was showed in 15 cases.Circular lesions could be seen"cattle eye"in 18 cases.For 11 cases of enhanced scan of a single lesion,a ring enhancement was displayed,and coexistence of patchy,nodular and annular enhancement were showed in multiple lesions,in which parts of the multi-circular enhancemens were clustered.Conclusion MRI manifestations of HIV patients with secondary toxoplasmosis encephalitis show primarily multiple lesions on the gray matter j unction or basal ganglia.The lesions show high signal on T1WI and"cattle eye"on T2WI,and existence of flaky,nodular and ring enhanced lesion or clustered enhancement are showed on enhanced imaging,which is of a certain specificity.

OBJECTIVE To assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the T-cadherin (CDH13) gene with metabolic syndrome (MS) among ethnic Han Chinese.METHODS Genotypes of 6 SNPs(rs11646213, rs12596316, rs3865188, rs12444338, rs12051272, and rs7195409) of the CDH13 gene among 453 patients with MS and 526 controls were determined with a TaqMan method, and their association with MS was assessed. RESULTS For 5 SNPs (rs11646213, rs3865188, rs12444338, rs12051272, and rs7195409), no difference was found in allelic and genotypic frequencies of the CDH13 gene between the two groups. Comparing with rs12596316 (AA+GG) genotype, rs12596316 AG genotype has significantly increased the risk of MS(P = 0.01,OR = 1.38,95%CI: 1.07-1.78), though no association was found between particular alleles of the rs12596316 with MS.There was no difference in the frequencies of rs11646213-rs12596316-rs3865188-rs12444338-rs12051272 haplotype between the two groups(P > 0.05). CONCLUSION No association was found between the five SNPs (rs11646213, rs3865188, rs12444338, rs12051272 and rs7195409) of the CDH13 gene with the MS, while the rs12596316AG genotype of the CDH13 gene is associated with the susceptibility to MS among ethnic Han Chinese.