Objective:To improve the knowledge on propythiouracil(PTU)-induced antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA)-associated vasculitis.Methods:6 cases of PTU-induced ANCA-associated vasculitis were analyzed on clinical manifestation,laboratory and biopsy findings,therapy and prognosis.Results:All patients with Grave's disease had been treated with PTU from 2 months to 7 years suffered from ANCA-associated vasculitis, which can also appear after withdrawal of PTU. Clinical manifestations are different with only skin, joint, muscle involvements on mild cases or lung, renal and hematological involvement on severe cases. Sera from all patients were anti MPO-ANCA positive. All patients responded to withdrawal of PTU and administration of prednisone and immuno-suppressants well with ANCA declined or turned to negative.Conclusion:PTU can induce ANCA-associated vasculitis in the part of which lung and kidney can be seriously involved. Early withdrawal of PTU and administration of immunosuppressive agents might improve the prognosis.

Objective To evaluate whether the comparability of 3 automatic blood cell analyzers meet the clinical requirements by conducting the comparative study on the detection results of these instruments.Methods With the Sysmex 2100 automatic blood cell analyzer as the reference instrument,Sysmex 1000i and Abbott 1800 as the experimental instrument,the original quality control provided by the instrument factory and the patient′s fresh anticoagulant blood samples in the laboratory were adopted to monitor for continuous 40 d by these three instruments and the detection results of WBC,RBC,HGB,HCT and PLT were analyzed.Results The detection results of these 3 instruments were statistically tested by the F test,the differences showed no statistical significance (P >0.05)and the bias was in 1/2 of the maximum permissible error range in America department clinical test revised regulations (CLIA′88).Conclusion The detection results by these 3 instruments are comparable and can meet the clinical requirements.

Objective To explore the dynamic expressions and the significance of Notch/Jagged signal pathway in rat model of hepatic fibrosis. Methods A total of 42 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=6) and model group (n= 36). The model group was further divided into six subgroup according to different time points: subgroups of 4 days, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks with six rats in each subgroup. The rat model of hepatic fibrosis was induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspertate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (Alb) and hyaluronic acid (HA) were detected dynamically after 4 days, 1,2,4,6 and 8 weeks of injection. The liver tissues were observed under optical microscope after HE and Masson staining. Notch-1, Jagged-1 mRNA and protein in liver were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The comparison of means among groups was done by univariate ANOVA. Results The hepatic fibrosis model was successfully induced by DMN injection and pseudolobules were found after 4 weeks of injection. The serum levels of ALT, AST, Alb and HA were all increased after 4 day of injection and peaked at week 4 which were all significantly higher than those in control group (F=83.10, 104.63, 54.24, 203.81,respectively; all P＜0.05). The expressions of Notch-1, Jagged-1 mRNA and protein in model group were all significantly increased than those in control group (F=282. 44, 369.14, 374.17, 256. 14,respectively;P＜0. 01). And the expressions of Notch-1, Jagged-1 were closely correlated with the hepatic fibrosis stages and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) expression (r=0. 821, 0. 917,0. 767,0. 844, respectively; P＜0. 01 ). Conclusions The Notch/Jagged pathway may participate in the development of hepatic fibrosis, which is closely correlated with the progression and severity of liver fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the dynamic expressions of exchange protein directly activated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) (Epac) in rat model of hepatic fibrosis(HF).Methods Forty-two male SD rats were divided into control group (n = 6) and model group (n = 36)which was divided into six subgroups of day 4, week 1, week 2, week 4,week 6 and week 8 with six rats in each subgroup. The rat model of HF was established by intraperitoneal injection of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). The pathological changes of liver were observed by Hematoxylin-Eosin and Masson staining. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR),immunohistochemistry and Western blot were employed to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Epac1, Epac2 and transforming gronth factor (TGF)β1 during the process of modeling and localization in the liver. The statistical analysis was done using one-factor ANOVA, LSD-t test,Dunnett T3 test and Pearson linear correlation analysis. Results Rat model of liver fibrosis was established successfully. In control group, Epac1 (0. 031 28±0. 008 96) and Epac2 protein (0.034 43±0. 002 45) mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. In model group, the level of Epac1 decreased at day 4 (0. 023 97±0. 003 81) and week 1 (0. 015 81±0. 002 48) ,then began to increase at week 2 of modeling and peaked at week 6 (0. 039 54±0. 001 43), which had statistical significance compared to the control group (t= 5.47,11.58 and - 6.18, respectively; all P＜0.05). Epac2 protein expression declined after modeling, reached the lowest level at week 4 (0. 011 21 ±0. 001 32), which had statistical significance compared to the control group (t= 24. 50, P＜0. 05). TGFβ1 protein expression increased after modeling and peaked at week 4 (0. 011 30±0.001 03) which had statistical significance (t= -23. 36, P＜0. 05) compared to the control group (0. 002 08 ±0. 000 18). The expressions of Epac1, Epac2 and TGFβ1 mRNA were consistent with the trend of protein levels.Correlation analysis showed that Epac1 protein was positively correlated with the course of HF (r =0. 703, P＜0.01 ), while Epac2 protein was negatively correlated (r = - 0. 409, P＜0.05). Conclusions During the progression of HF, Epac1 expression tends to decrease firstly and increase afterwards,while Epac2 expression declines continually. Epac may be involved in the pathogenesis of HF.

Objective To explore the expression and significance of uncoupling protein (UCP)2in rats models of acute liver failure (ALF). Methods Thirty-six healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group and model group, and the model group was divided into 5 subgroups:6, 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours sub groups with 6 rats in each sub group. The rat model of ALF was established by intraperitoneal injections of D-galactosamine (D-Gal) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).Sections of liver tissue were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and observed under optical microscope.UCP2 and UCP2 mRNA in rat liver were determined at different time points with immunohistochemical method and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR ),respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration in the liver tissues were analyzed at the same time points.Comparisons among all the experimental groups were done by SNK test. Results Infiltration of inflammatory cells and necrosis of hepatic cells were marked in model group,and ALT, AST and MDA in model group were significantly higher than those in control group [(24. 0 ± 2. 0) U/L, (82. 3±16. 9) U/L, (2. 55±0. 22)μmol/g] at all time points. And they reached a peak at 24 h [(8346. 7±1363. 1) U/L, (9766. 7±1274. 1) U/L, (8. 34±1. 13) μmol/g; all P<0. 05]. UCP2 and UCP2 mRNA expressed scarcely in the liver tissues of control group, while increased markedly from 6 to 48 hours after D-Gal/LPS challenge in model group (P<0. 05). They both reached a peak at 24 h. And the discrepancy between consecutive experimental group had statistical significance ( P < 0. 05).Conclusions The rat model of ALF was established successfully by intraperitoneal injections of D-gal and LPS. The expression levels of UCP2 mRNA and UCP2 are consistent with the extent of liver injury and the level of oxidative stress in the rat model of ALF.

Aim To evaluate the effects of notoginsen-oside R1 on store-operated calcium entry ( SOCE ) in pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells ( PASMCs ) of chronic hypoxia ( CH)-and monocrotaline ( MCT)-in-duced pulmonary hypertension ( PH) rats. Methods Mn2+ quenching of Fura-2 and measurement of intra-cellular free calcium concentration ( [ Ca2+] i ) using fluo-3 were examined in PASMCs of CH-exposed and MCT-treated rats. Results ①CH-exposed and MCT-treated rats exhibited profound PH when examined 3 weeks after hypoxia exposure or MCT injection, respec-tively. ②In the presence of 3 μmol·L-1 nifedipine, 10 μmol · L-1 notoginsenoside R1 significantly re-duced cyclopiazonic acid ( CPA )-induced the percent reduction in Fura-2 fluorescence measured 500 sec af-ter application of Mn2+, the maximal rate of Mn2+quenching, the amplitude of the Ca2+ influx transient and the resting [ Ca2+] i in PASMCs of CH-exposed and MCT-treated rats. Conclusion Notoginsenoside R1 inhibits SOCE and reduces resting [ Ca2+] i in PASMCs of CH-and MCT-induced PH rats.

Objective To investigate the changes and clinical significance of the frequency of circulating CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) in nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) patients.Methods CD4+ CD25+ Treg in the peripheral blood from 50 NAFL patients and 50 healthy subjects were quantitatively analyzed using flow cytometry. Group t test or Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman's rank correlation test were used for statistical analysis.Results The proportion of circulating CD4+CD25+ Treg in NAFL patients was (5.39 ± 1.94)％,which was significantly higher than that in healthy controls [(4.21±1.52)％](t=3.385,P＜0.01).Further analysis revealed that the frequency of Treg was positively correlated with triglyceride (TG) level and body mass index (r=0.307 and 0.251,respectively; P=0.002 and 0.012,respectively),and negatively correlated with high density lipoproteincholesterol (HDL-C) (r=-0.306,P=0.002).Meanwhile,Treg in patients with high body mass index,high TG,low HDL-C,hypertension and metabolic syndrome (MS) were all higher than those in controls (t=2.294,2.533,3.154,2.010 and 4.454,respectively; all P＜0.05).But there was no significant difference between patients with high fasting blood glucose and controls (U=1143.500,P=0.471).Conclusion The increased frequency of peripheral Treg in NAFL patients may have some relations with the imbalance of proinflammation and anti-inflammation in NAFL patients who coexisting with MS.

Objective To provide the scientific basis for realizing the inter-accreditation of laboratory electrolyte detection results by comparing the electrolyte detection results in 5 grade 3A hospitals of Zhuhai city .Methods Each 10 serum samples with low , middle and high concentrations of electrolyte were collected for simultaneously detecting the electrolyte kalium (K) ,natrium (Na) and chlorinum (Cl) .The detection results were performed the statistical analysis and comparison .The mutual bias within 1/2 of al-lowable error of CLIA′88 indicated that the detection results were mutually accredited ,if the mutual bias exceeding 1/2 of allowable error ,the detection results could not be mutually accredited .Results The difference of electrolyte detection results in 5 hospitals accorded with the stipulation requirement of CLIA′88 .Conclusion The electrolyte detection results of 5 hospitals could be mutually accredited .

OBJECTIVETo detect potential mutation in a pedigree affected with congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI).

METHODSClinical data of a male patient affected with NDI was collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples from the patient and five family members. The whole coding region of the arginine vasopressin receptor 2 (AVPR2) gene was amplified by PCR and directly sequenced.

RESULTSThe patient presented polyuria and polydipsia postnatally. Computerized tomography revealed bilateral hydronephrosis and hydroureter. The patient was responsive to hydrochlorothiazide but not to desmopressin. DNA analysis identified a hemizygous missence mutation c.295 T>C in exon 2 of the AVPR2 gene in the proband. His mother and grandmother were both heterozygous for the same mutation.

CONCLUSIONThe congenital NDI in the patient was probably due to mutation of the AVPR2 gene.

Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Diabetes Insipidus, Nephrogenic ; congenital ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Family Health ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Receptors, Vasopressin ; genetics