DNA microarrays have been acknowledged to represent a promising approach for the detection of viral pathogens. However, the probes designed for current arrays could cover only part of the given viral variants, that could result in false-negative or ambiguous data. If all the variants are to be covered, the requirement for more probes would render much higher spot density and thus higher cost of the arrays. Here we have developed a new strategy for oligonucleotide probe design. Using type I human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) tat gene as an example, we designed the array probes and validated the optimized parameters in silico. Results show that the oligo number is significantly reduced comparing with the existing methods, while specificity and hybridization efficiency remain intact. The adoption of this method in reducing the oligo numbers could increase the detection capacity for DNA microarrays, and would significantly lower the manufacturing cost for making array chips.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the therapeutic effects of percutaneous vertebroplasty versus percutaneous kyphoplasty for treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures.

METHODSFifteen patients (24 vertebrae) underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty and 15 (18 vertebrae) received percutaneous kyphoplasty for osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The postoperative recovery of the anterior vertebral body height, visual analogue scale (VAS) and locomotor activity before and after the operations were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAll the patients were available for the follow-up lasting for 3-15 months (average 7 months). In the vertebroplasty group, the VAS score decreased from 8.68 preoperatively to 1.74 postoperatively and to 1.13 at the final follow-up. The VAS score in the kyphoplasty group decreased from 8.62 preoperatively to 1.72 postoperatively and to 1.21 at the final follow-up. Both vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty were effective in improving the anterior vertebral body height, but kyphoplasty showed a better effect. None of the patients developed serious complications associated with the operations.

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous vertebroplasty and percutaneous kyphoplasty both achieve rapid and significant improvement of back pain in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, but kyphoplasty shows a better effect in terms of vertebral body height restoration and cement leakage reduction.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; surgery ; Humans ; Kyphoplasty ; methods ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporotic Fractures ; surgery ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome ; Vertebroplasty ; methods

WNT signaling plays an important role in cardiac development, but abnormal activity is often associated with cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, remodeling, and heart failure. The effect of WNT signaling on regulation of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion is unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Wnt agonist 1 (Wnta1) on ANP secretion and mechanical dynamics in beating rat atria. Wnta1 treatment significantly increased atrial ANP secretion and pulse pressure; these effects were blocked by U73122, an antagonist of phospholipase C. U73122 also abolished the effects of Wnta1-mediated upregulation of protein kinase C (PKC) β and γ expression, and the PKC antagonist Go 6983 eliminated Wnta1-induced secretion of ANP. In addition, Wnta1 upregulated levels of phospho-transforming growth factor-β activated kinase 1 (p-TAK1), TAK1 banding 1 (TAB1) and phospho-activating transcription factor 2 (p-ATF2); these effects were blocked by both U73122 and Go 6983. Wnta1-induced ATF2 was abrogated by inhibition of TAK1. Furthermore, Wnta1 upregulated the expression of T cell factor (TCF) 3, TCF4, and lymphoid enhancer factor 1 (LEF1), and these effects were blocked by U73122 and Go 6983. Tak1 inhibition abolished the Wnta1-induced expression of TCF3, TCF4, and LEF1 and Wnta1-mediated ANP secretion and changes in mechanical dynamics. These results suggest that Wnta1 increased the secretion of ANP and mechanical dynamics in beating rat atria by activation of PKC–TAK1–ATF2–TCF3/LEF1 and TCF4/LEF1 signaling mainly via the WNT/Ca2+ pathway. It is also suggested that WNT–ANP signaling is implicated in cardiac physiology and pathophysiology.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases (NOXs) are the major enzymatic source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). NOX2 and NOX4 are expressed in the heart but its role in hypoxia-induced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion is unclear. This study investigated the effect of NOX on ANP secretion induced by hypoxia in isolated beating rat atria. The results showed that hypoxia significantly upregulated NOX4 but not NOX2 expression, which was completely abolished by endothelin-1 (ET-1) type A and B receptor antagonists BQ123 (0.3 µM) and BQ788 (0.3 µM). ET-1-upregulated NOX4 expression was also blocked by antagonists of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2; varespladib, 5.0 µM) and cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2; CAY10650, 120.0 nM), and ET-1-induced cPLA2 expression was inhibited by varespladib under normoxia. Moreover, hypoxia-increased ANP secretion was evidently attenuated by the NOX4 antagonist GLX351322 (35.0 µM) and inhibitor of ROS N-Acetyl-D-cysteine (NAC, 15.0 mM), and hypoxia-increased production of ROS was blocked by GLX351322. In addition, hypoxia markedly upregulated Src expression, which was blocked by ET receptors, NOX4, and ROS antagonists. ET-1-increased Src expression was also inhibited by NAC under normoxia. Furthermore, hypoxiaactivated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B (Akt) were completely abolished by Src inhibitor 1 (1.0 µM), and hypoxia-increased GATA4 was inhibited by the ERK1/2 and Akt antagonists PD98059 (10.0 µM) and LY294002 (10.0 µM), respectively. However, hypoxia-induced ANP secretion was substantially inhibited by Src inhibitor. These results indicate that NOX4/Src modulated by ET-1 regulates ANP secretion by activating ERK1/2 and Akt/GATA4 signaling in isolated beating rat hypoxic atria.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases (NOXs) are the major enzymatic source of reactive oxygen species (ROS). NOX2 and NOX4 are expressed in the heart but its role in hypoxia-induced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion is unclear. This study investigated the effect of NOX on ANP secretion induced by hypoxia in isolated beating rat atria. The results showed that hypoxia significantly upregulated NOX4 but not NOX2 expression, which was completely abolished by endothelin-1 (ET-1) type A and B receptor antagonists BQ123 (0.3 µM) and BQ788 (0.3 µM). ET-1-upregulated NOX4 expression was also blocked by antagonists of secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2; varespladib, 5.0 µM) and cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2; CAY10650, 120.0 nM), and ET-1-induced cPLA2 expression was inhibited by varespladib under normoxia. Moreover, hypoxia-increased ANP secretion was evidently attenuated by the NOX4 antagonist GLX351322 (35.0 µM) and inhibitor of ROS N-Acetyl-D-cysteine (NAC, 15.0 mM), and hypoxia-increased production of ROS was blocked by GLX351322. In addition, hypoxia markedly upregulated Src expression, which was blocked by ET receptors, NOX4, and ROS antagonists. ET-1-increased Src expression was also inhibited by NAC under normoxia. Furthermore, hypoxiaactivated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B (Akt) were completely abolished by Src inhibitor 1 (1.0 µM), and hypoxia-increased GATA4 was inhibited by the ERK1/2 and Akt antagonists PD98059 (10.0 µM) and LY294002 (10.0 µM), respectively. However, hypoxia-induced ANP secretion was substantially inhibited by Src inhibitor. These results indicate that NOX4/Src modulated by ET-1 regulates ANP secretion by activating ERK1/2 and Akt/GATA4 signaling in isolated beating rat hypoxic atria.

Objective:To investigate the safety and effectiveness of cytoreductive nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy in patients with metastatic renal cancer with renal vein or inferior vena cava tumor thrombus.Methods:From February 2015 to May 2019, 56 cases of metastatic renal cell carcinoma with venous tumor thrombus were analyzed retrospectively, including 44 male (78.6%) and 12 female (21.4%)cases, and the average age was (59.2±10.7)(22-82). The clinical presentations covered local symptoms in 26 cases (46.4%), systemic symptoms in 8 cases (14.3%), both local symptoms and systemic symptoms in 12 cases (21.4%), and asymptomatic in 10 cases (17.9%). Among them, renal tumors were located in 35 cases (62.5%) on the right and 21 cases (37.5%) on the left. The average tumor diameter was (10.1±3.8)(1.5-21.1) cm. Forty-five cases (80.4%) scored 2 points and 11 cases (19.6%) scored 3 points by the American Society of anesthesiologists(ASA). Preoperative hemoglobin was (118.2±23.1)(72-178) g/L, and albumin was (37.9±5.6)(23-50) g/L, total protein was (67.7±6.7)(43-81) g/L, serum creatinine was (111.3±119.6)(32-958) μmol/L. There were 16 cases of Mayo 0 (28.6%), 14 cases of Mayo Ⅰ(25.0%), 17 cases of Mayo Ⅱ(30.4%), 4 cases of Mayo Ⅲ(7.1%), and 5 cases of Mayo Ⅳ(8.9%). Fourteen cases (25.0%) were in the stage of cN 0 and 42 cases (75.0%) in the stage of cN 1. Five cases (8.9%) had simple bone metastasis, 16 cases (28.6%) had simple lung metastasis, 2 cases (3.6%) had simple adrenal metastasis, 6 cases (10.7%) had simple liver metastasis, and 27 cases (48.2%) had 2 or more multiple system metastasis. According to the location of the organ system, 91 metastatic lesions were found in 56 patients. Among them, 37 cases (40.7%) had lung metastasis, 18 cases (19.8%) had liver metastasis, 21 cases (23.1%) had bone metastasis and 15 cases (16.5%) had adrenal metastasis. All 56 patients belonged to IMDC prognosis score model medium risk group. The surgical treatment of Mayo grade 0 tumor thrombus was the same as that of routine radical nephrectomy. The tumor thrombus of Mayo grade Ⅰ was removed after IVC was partially blocked by Satinsky′s forceps. The Mayo Ⅱ tumor thrombus was removed, after blocking the distal vena cava, the contralateral renal vein and the proximal vena cava. Mayo grade Ⅲ tumor thrombus needed pringer's method to block the first porta hepatis. For grade Ⅳ tumor thrombus the diaphragm could be cut directly, or the thrombus could be removed by cardiopulmonary bypass. Laparoscopic surgery was performed in 22 cases (39.3%) and open surgery in 30 cases (53.6%). Six cases (10.7%) underwent IVC wall resection because of tumor invasion. 32 cases (57.1%) underwent ipsilateral adrenalectomy because of tumor invasion or adrenal metastasis, and 23 cases (41.1%) underwent ipsilateral lymphadenectomy. In this study, there were 11 cases of solitary metastasis, 8 cases of which were operated on and 3 cases of which were not operated on. Forty-three patients were treated with sunitinib after palliative nephrectomy, 9 patients were treated with pazopanib, 3 patients were treated with acitinib, and 1 patient was treated with sorafenib. Results:The operations were successfully completed in 56 patients. Four cases (7.1%) changed from laparoscopic surgery to open surgery. The operation time was (326.8±114.9)(108-589) min. Intraoperative hemorrhage was (1 435.2±1 513.4)(20-6 000) ml, intraoperative red blood cells transfusion was (1 456.7±832.8)(400-3 600) ml in 30 cases, and intraoperative plasma transfusion was (700.0±473.6)(200-1 800) ml in 15 cases. The postoperative hospital stay was (10.6±4.6)(5-26) days. The serum creatinine one week after operation was (109.5±98.7) (47-772) μmol/L. There were 46 cases (82.1%) of renal clear cell carcinoma, 7 cases (12.5%) of papillary renal cell carcinoma and 3 cases (5.4%) of unclassified renal cell carcinoma. One case was WHO/ISUP 2016 nuclear grade 1 (1.8%), 20 cases(36.4%) was grade 2, 18 cases(32.7%)was grade 3, and 16 cases(29.1%)was grade 4. Early postoperative complications occurred in 22 cases (39.3%). Among them, 1 case of Clavien gradeⅠ was wound infection. There were 16 cases with Clavien gradeⅡ, including 5 cases who received blood transfusion due to anemia, 3 cases with chylous fistula, 4 cases with postoperative pulmonary infection, 2 cases with postoperative lower extremity venous thrombosis, 1 case with atrial fibrillation and 1 case with epididymitis. Clavien gradeⅢ a was found in 1 case with pneumothorax. Clavien gradeⅣ was found in 2 cases, including 1 case of acute cerebral infarction and 1 case of renal insufficiency.There were 2 cases with Clavien gradeⅤ with perioperative death. Among the 56 patients, 5 lost the follow-up, 2 died during the perioperative period, and the other 49 patients were followed up for 1-39 months, with a median follow-up of 14 months. The mean survival time was (25.6±2.5) months, and the median survival time was 25 months.Conclusions:It was relatively safe and effective to perform cytoreductive nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy in patients with metastatic renal cancer with tumor thrombus. For the patients with clinical symptoms, IMDC prognosis score model medium risk group, and strong desire for surgery, the combination of cytoreductive nephrectomy with tumor thrombectomy and postoperative targeted medical therapy was recommended.

Objective:To explore the value of preoperative aspartate transaminase(AST) and aspartate transaminase/alanine transaminase ratio(AST/ALT)for predicting the prognosis in patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus.Methods:A retrospective analysis was made of the patients with renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus in our institution from February 2015 to December 2018. This study included 80 patients, 56 males and 24 females with mean age of 58 years (range 15-83 years). There were 17 in Mayo level 0, 24 Mayo level I, 22 in Mayo level II, 12 in Mayo level III and 5 in Mayo level IV. All the patients received radical nephrectomy or palliative nephrectomy with tumor thrombectomy. The continuous variable of AST/ALT was collected by ROC curve. The maximum value of Youden index was taken as the critical value, and the continuous variables were adjusted to binary variables. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) was calculated according to the Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared by the log-rank test. Cox multivariate regression analysis was used to analyze the independent factors of the prognosis of patients with non-metastatic renal cancer and tumor thrombus.Results:There were 70 cases of clear cell carcinoma, 10 cases of non-clear cell carcinoma, 30 cases of low Fuhrman grade (grade 1&2), and 50 cases of high Fuhrman grade (grade 3&4). AST was 19U/L (8-226 U/L) and AST/ALT was 1.3(0.4-3.3). There was a significant difference in AST between different lymphovascular invasion groups ( P=0.04), but there was no significant difference in sex, age, Mayo classification, pathological type, Fuhrman grade and lymph node metastasis. The difference of AST / ALT between age groups was significant ( P=0.025). The average follow-up time was 14.7 months (0-44 months). During the follow-up, 11 (13.8%) patients died of tumor. Univariate analysis showed that Fuhrman grade ( P=0.007), lymph node metastasis ( P=0.019), hemoglobin ( P=0.001), alkaline phosphatase (ALP, P=0.001), AST ( P=0.004) and AST / ALT ( P=0.038) were risk factors for CSS. In terms of prognosis, considering the potential correlation between AST level and AST/ALT ratio, after excluding AST, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high nuclear grade ( HR=3.049, 95% CI 1.292-7.196, P=0.011), high ALP ( HR=1.018, 95% CI 1.007-1.029, P=0.001) and high AST/ALT ratio ( HR=4.094, 95% CI 1.064-15.759, P=0.04) were associated with poor CSS. After excluding AST/ALT ratio, multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that high nuclear grade ( HR=5.836, 95% CI 1.867-18.240, P=0.002) and high AST ( HR=1.040, 95% CI 1.017-1.062, P<0.001) were associated with poor CSS. Conclusions:In patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus, high AST/ALT ratio and AST levels indicate poor pathological types and poor prognosis.

To summarized the experiences from our basic experimental and clinical research on peritoneal dialysis. In the past 16 years, peritoneal fibrosis rat models and rabbit models of peritonitis were first established successfully in our laboratory in China. Peritoneal mesothelial cells were also separated and identificated. Besides, we assessed the biocompatibility of peritoneal dialysis fluid and analyzed the molecular mechanism of peritoneal mesothelial cell injury. We demonstrated the key role of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and peroxisome proliferative activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) in the pathogenesis of peritoneal fibrosis, as well as their regulation of molecular mechanism. Furthermore, we transfected the plasmids encoding TGF-beta1-shRNA or pCTGF-shRNA into peritoneal cells and tissues by nanocarrier technologies. In clinical research, the positioning of peritoneal dialysis catheters, peritoneal dialysis treatment modalities and the prevention and treatment of its complications were studied. The characteristics and mechanism of solute transport in peritoneal dialysis was also explored.
Animals ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; metabolism ; therapy ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; methods ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; adverse effects ; Peritoneum ; pathology ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Retrospective Studies ; Tissue Adhesions ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of deep invasive tumor thrombus on the surgical complexity and prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma complicated with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 94 patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma complicated with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus, who underwent surgical treatment in Peking University Third Hospital from January 2017 to June 2020. The patient's general condition, clinicopathological characteristics, surgery and survival information were collected. The patients were divided into two groups based on the intra-operative findings of tumor thrombus adhesion to the venous wall, of which 64 cases were in the deep invasive tumor thrombus (DITT) group and 30 cases were in the non-invasive tumor thrombus (NITT) group. Chi-square, t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for categorical and continuous variables respectively. Kaplan-Meier plots and multivariable Cox regressions were performed to evaluate the influence of DITT on the prognosis of the patients with renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus. RESULTS: DITT significantly increase the difficulty of surgery for the patients with renal cell carcinoma with venous tumor thrombus, which was mainly reflected in the longer operation time (362.5 vs. 307.5 min, P=0.010), more surgical bleeding (1 200 vs. 450 mL, P=0.006), more surgical blood transfusion (800 vs. 0 mL, P=0.021), more plasma transfusion (200 vs. 0 mL, P=0.001), a higher proportion of open surgery (70.3% vs. 36.7%, P=0.002), a longer post-operative hospital stay (9.5 vs. 8 days, P=0.036), and a higher proportion of post-operative complications (46.9% vs. 13.8%, P=0.002). DITT was associated with worse overall survival of the patients with renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (P=0.022). Even in the multivariate analysis, DITT was still a poor prognostic factor for the overall survival of these patients [HR: 4.635 (1.017-21.116), P=0.047]. CONCLUSION For patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus, DITT will significantly increase the difficulty of surgery, and may lead to poor prognosis.
Blood Component Transfusion ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell/surgery* ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms/surgery* ; Nephrectomy ; Plasma ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis/surgery* ; Vena Cava, Inferior

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of renal angiomyolipoma (AML) with inferior vena cava (IVC) tumor thrombus and to improve the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Methods: The clinical data of 3 patients with renal AML and inferior vena cava tumor thrombus was retrospectively reviewed. The patients were all female, aged 19 to 70 years. Among them, 2 patients presented with lumbago on the right side, and the other one was diagnosed by physical examination. The body mass index ranged from 18.4 to 24.6 kg/m^2, with a median value of 20.4 kg/m². According to the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), they were classified as grade Ⅱ. Color doppler ultrasound examination of the kidney and IVC was performed in all the 3 patients, all of which showed hyperechoic solid mass in the right kidney. Color doppler ultrasound of IVC showed hyperechoic band in the IVC, indicating blood flow signals and the tumor thrombus. All the 3 cases showed irregular fat density or mixed density in the right kidney and multiple irregular fat density were observed in the right renal vein and inferior vena cava on CT. Two of them received MRI examination of IVC, which showed irregular lesions in the right kidney, short T1 and long T2 signals, low lipids, and no definite limited diffusion on DWI. Irregular fat signal were seen in the right renal vein and inferior vena cava. All 3 patients were diagnosed with right renal mass with IVC tumor thrombus, with 1 patient of Mayo grade Ⅲ tumor thrombus and the other 2 of Mayo gradeⅡtumor thrombus. One underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and inferior vena cava tumor thrombectomy, another one underwent open right partial nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy, and the third one suffered preoperative AML rupture, undergoing open radical nephrectomy and tumor thrombectomy. Results: The operation time was 168 to 659 min, with median of 220 min. Intraoperative blood loss ranged from 50 to 300 ml, with the median of 50 ml. Postoperative indwelling time of drainage tube was 5 to 11 days, with the median of 6 days. Postoperative hospital stay ranged from 7 to 14 days, with a median of 8 days. Postoperative follow-up ranged from 12 to 16 months, with a median follow-up of 13 months. All the three patients underwent operation without postoperative complications. Postoperative pathology proved to be right renal angiomyolipoma. After 3 months of follow-up, the patients showed no tumor recurrence or metastasis. Conclusions Renal AML is a benign lesion, which is rarely concurrent with inferior vena cava cancer thrombus. Enhanced CT examination is the main diagnostic method, surgical resection of the lesion is the preferred treatment, partial nephrectomy combined with thrombectomy can be performed in patients with AML, if permitted, and postoperative prognosis turns out to be propitious.