Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; immunology ; Pericytes ; metabolism ; physiology

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy and safety of intermittent patient-initiated single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis and continuous antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in postmenopausal women. MethodsA randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection. Single dose of antibiotic was given every night in continuous antibiotic prophylaxis group and every time after exposure to conditions predisposed to UTI in intermittent antibiotic prophylaxis group. The duration of prevention was 12 months in both groups. ResultsThe effective rates of intermittent antibiotic prophylaxis and continuous antibiotic prophylaxis were 71.0% and 81.8% respectively (P＞0.05). The incidence of gastrointestinal adverse reaction in intermittent antibiotic prophylaxis group was significantly lower than that in continuous antibiotic prophylaxis group (7.7% vs 28.6%,P＜0.05). ConclusionsCompared with continuous antibiotic prophylaxis, intermittent patient-initiated single-dose antibiotic prophylaxis is a better prophylaxis with less gastrointestinal adverse reactions for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection in postmenopausal women.

Objective To observe the efficacy of the treatment of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) combined with prednisone on steroid-resistant idiopathic membranoproliferative glomerulonephrifis (IMPGN) patients with moderate to severe proteinufia. Methods Thirteen cases were diagnosed as IMPGN by renal biopsy after excluding secondary factors. Among 13 patients, 9 had severe proteinuria and another 4 had moderate proteinuria, 9 with hypertension and 11 with decreased renal function. Before MMF therapy, all of the cases were resistant to the treatment of glucocorticoid (prednisone 1 mg·kg-1·d-1) for 8 weeks or more. The dose of MMF was 1.5 g/d. Patients were followed up every month for blood pressure, urinary protein excretion, liver and kidney function, complete blood count, and adverse effects. Results At the initiation, the 24 h urinary protein excretion was (4.1±1.4) g, Scr (131.0±44.9) μmol/L, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (63.3±26.8) ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1. After prednisene therapy for at least 2 months, the 24 h urinary protein excretion (4.2±1.5) g, Ser (133.2±52.8)μmol/L and eGYR (63.3±27.1) ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1did not change significantly. After 3 months of the addition of MMF, 24 h urinary protein excretion declined slightly [(3.8±1.2) g, P>0.05]. After 6 months, 24 h urinary protein excretion declined significantly [(2.5±0.9) g, P<0.05], with decrease in Set and eGFR[(97.2±27.3) μmol/L and (81.3±24.2) ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1, P<0.05)]. At the end of 1 year, 24 h urinary protein excretion was only (1.5±0.6) g(P<0.01 ), Ser and eGFR were (95.9±22.5)μmol/L and (81.2±23.8) ml·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1(P<0.01). All the patients experienced a partial remission of proteinuria (urinary protein excretion decreased by 50% or more). Adverse event including stomach upset was found in 1 patient. Conclusion MMF combined with glucosteroids can effectively decrease proteinuria and improve renal function without obvious side effect in steroid-resistant IMPGN.

Halophilic microorganisms play important rules in salt field ecosystem and salt production. In this study, halophilic bacteria and haloarchaea from soils of Lianyungang Taibei and Yancheng Sanwei salt fields were analyzed. The halophilic bacterial and haloarchaeal types from both the soils were similar, but each soil had its distinctive species. A total of 17 halophilic bacteria were identified, among them, Halomonas was found from both the soils, while Pontibacillus and Halobacillus were isolated from Sanwei salt field only. Using uncultured 16S rRNA gene library technology, 13 haloarchaeal soil 16S rRNA genes were identified from both the saline soils. Halobacterium and Haloplanus were found from Taibei salt field, while Halobac- terium, Natronobacterium, Halogeometricum and Haloarcula were identified from Sanwei salt field. Ten haloarchaeal 16S rRNA gene sequences showed 92%~97% identities with the GenBank sequences that ap- pear to represent novel soil haloarchaeal species. This study provides important information that is useful for further investigation and application of halophiles of saline soil fields.

In traditional Chinese medicine herbs (TCM), including Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae (Danshen), Radix Puerariae Lobatae (Gegen), Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Danggui), and Rhizoma Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong) are widely used for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and also often co-administered with Western drugs as a part of integrative medicine practice. Carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) plays a pivotal role in the metabolisms of pro-drugs. Since (S)-2-(2-(6-dimethylamino)-benzothiazole)-4,5-dihydro-thiazole-4-carboxylate (NLMe) has recently been identified by us as a selective CES1 bioluminescent sensor, we developed a rapid method using this substrate for the direct measurement of CES1 activity in rats. This bioluminescence assay was applied to determine CES1 activity in rat tissues after a two-week oral administration of each of the four herbs noted above. The results demonstrated the presence of CES1 enzyme in rat blood and all tested tissues with much higher enzyme activity in the blood, liver, kidney and heart than that in the small intestine, spleen, lung, pancreas, brain and stomach. In addition, the four herbs showed tissue-specific effects on rat CES1 expression. Based on the CES1 biodistribution and its changes after treatment in rats, the possibility that Danshen, Gegen and Danggui might alter CES1 ac-tivities in human blood and kidney should be considered. In summary, a selective and sensitive biolu-minescence assay was developed to rapidly evaluate CES1 activity and the effects of orally administered TCMs in rats.

Mitotic catastrophe is a new form of cell death,which is the phenomenon of cell death caused by the disorder of mitosis.It is a true endogenous mechanism of tumor suppression.However,although mitotic catastrophe is important in the prevention and treatment of tumors,the molecular mechanism of its occurrence has not been clearly elucidated.In this paper,we will discuss the latest research progress on the mechanism of mitotic catastrophe in tumor cells,and provide a reference for further study on the mechanism of mitosis catastrophe.

Objective To clarify the relationship between clinical manifestation and pathological features of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients with mild proteinuria and/or hematuria.Methods Clinicopathological data from 316 biopsy-proven IgAN cases (proteinuria＜1 g/24 h and/or hematuria, and Scr＜133 μmol/L) from our hospital between January 1993 and October 2009 were studied retrospectively. The renal histopathology was quantified according to Lee's grading and Katafuchi's semi-quantitative standard, and the risk factors for renal pathological lesions were evaluated using multifactor logistic regression analysis. Results Among these 316 patients, 123 were male and 193 patients were female. The mean age at the time of renal biopsy was (33.10±10.69) years old. Clinical features were found as follows: hematuria with proteinuria was found in 267 patients (84.5%), isolated hematuria in 24 patients (7.6%), and isolated proteinuria in 25 patients (7.9%). 16.5% of patients had hypertension. The percentages of CKD stage Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ were 76.9%, 20.9% and 2.2%, respectively. 31.3% of patients presented Lee's grade Ⅲ or more severe.52.8% of patients had various degrees of glomerulosclerosis. Crescent formation was observed in 20.3% of patients. 22.5% of patients showed tubular atrophy;16.8% showed interstitial fibrosis and 24.7% also had renal vascular lesions. The extent of glomerulosclerosis was negatively correlated with eGFR levels, but positively correlated with the amount of proteinuria and mean arterial pressure (MAP) level (P＜0.05). The score of tubulointerstitial lesion was positively correlated with the amount of proteinuria and negatively correlated with eGFR and hemoglobin (Hb)level (P＜0.05). The degree of renal vascular lesion was also correlated to MAP level positively and eGFR level negatively (P＜0.05). Multifactor logistic regression analysis revealed that proteinuria, Scr and Hb at the time of renal biopsy were independent risk factors for severe renal pathological lesions (Lee's grade Ⅲ or more severe) with odds ratio of 8.564, 1.031 and 0.975 respectively (all P＜0.01). Conclusions Severe renal histological lesions and decrease of renal function may be seen in some IgAN patients with mild proteinuria and/or hematuria. The levels of proteinuria,Scr and Hb are the independent risk factors for severe renal pathological lesions. Renal biopsy is important in these patients in order to make diagnosis and individual treatment.

OBJECTIVETo synthesize cyclin-dependent kinase (CDKs) inhibitors and assay their antitumor activities.

METHODSA series of pyrimidines containing different arylamino and 1-(methylsulfonyl)piperidin moieties were designed by combining the segments 1-(methylsulfonyl)piperidin and pyrimidine heterocycles according to the super-position principle of the reinforcement of biological activities.

RESULTSTheir structures were characterized by MS and 1H NMR spectra and all the synthesized compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activity with MTT assay.

CONCLUSIONThe preliminary bioassay showed that compound 3 b displayed good antitumor activity (IC(50)=13.6 µmol/L). The preliminary structure activity relationship analysis of these analogues suggest that the steric factor may have important impact on the anti-tumor activity.

Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Humans ; Pyrimidines ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of levels and clinic significance of serum soluble Fas (sFas) and soluble FasL (sFasL) in coal workers' pneumonoconiosis.

METHODSSerum levels of sFas and sFasL were determined in 52 patients with silicosis, 57 coal workers' pneumonoconiosis, 46 healthy underground coal workers' (the underground control group) and 40 healthy volunteers working on the ground (the ground control group) with a sandwich ELISA.

RESULTSCompared to the underground control and the ground control group, the serum levels of sFas and sFasL in the patients with silicosis and the coal workers' pneumonoconiosis were significantly higher (P < 0.01). Serum levels of sFas and sFasL in the underground control group were significantly higher than those in the ground control group (P < 0.01); Serum sFas levels in coal workers' pneumonoconiosis was significantly higher than those in the patients with silicosis (P < 0.01). Although the serum sFasL levels was also increased, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). In the patients with silicosis and the coal workers' pneumonoconiosis patients, the serum sFas levels in Phase I patients combined with emphysema and simple Phase II + III patients were significantly higher than those in simple Phase I patients (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the serum sFasL levels among various groups with different parameters of pneumonoconiosis. In the patients with silicosis and the coal workers' pneumonoconiosis, serum levels of sFas and sFasL were not significantly altered among different duration of exposure to dusts. There was no correlation between serum levels of sFas and sFasL in the patients with silicosis while there was a slightly positive correlation between sFas and sFasL levels in the coal workers' pneumonoconiosis (r = 0.479, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn the patients with silicosis and the coal workers' pneumonoconiosis, the serum levels of sFas and sFasL are abnormal and associated with the development of the pneumonoconiosis. The changes of serum sFas levels may indicate the development and progression of the pneumonoconiosis. The detection of the serum sFas level may be used in the differential diagnosis for the silicosis and the coal worker's pneumonoconiosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Coal Mining ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fas Ligand Protein ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; blood ; Silicosis ; blood ; fas Receptor ; blood