Animals ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Blood Circulation ; physiology ; Blood Physiological Phenomena ; Lymph ; chemistry ; physiology ; Lymphatic System ; physiology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Rheology

Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; genetics ; Mutation ; WT1 Proteins ; genetics

Air Pollution, Indoor ; statistics & numerical data ; Hong Kong ; Noise, Occupational ; statistics & numerical data ; Restaurants ; statistics & numerical data ; Temperature

Complement Factor H ; genetics ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; genetics ; Humans

Objective To recognize and identify the arginase(ARG)gene of Schistosoma japonicum(Sj),and to study its protection potential as a vaccine.Methods The 5'-end of the ARG gene from the Sj cercariae cDNA library was amplified by nested-PCR and the sequence was identified by bioinformatics.The complete coding sequence(CDS)was cloned into pET30a(+)vector,and a recombinant SjARG protein(rSjARG)was expressed,purified and used to raise antibodies.ARG's activity as an enzyme was tested by ornithine-ninhydrin reaction.Western blotting was used to compare the immunologic characteristics of rSjARG with that of the native one in Sj adult worm.Indirect immunofluorescence assay was used to immunolocalize it.For evaluating the protection potential of rSjARG,mice were immunized by the recombinant protein and challenged by cercariae of S.japonicum.Results The CDS length of the SjARG novel gene was identified as 1095bp.rSjARG showed enzyme activity and the same immunologic characteristics with the native arginase in adult worm.SjARG located in the genital organ and gut of both sexes.The worm reduction rate and egg reduction rate in rSjARG group were 55.8% and 48.8% respectively,higher than that of the rSj26GST group(28.6% and 6.89% respectively).Conclusion SjARG gene was identified,which shows a higher protection than the Sj26GST.

Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell ; pathology ; Angiomyolipoma ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Modified Hangqi Chifeng Decoction (MHCD) on levels of collagen type IV (Col IV), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in extracellular matrix (ECM) of glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) in LPS induced mice.

METHODSNormal serum and telmisartan, high, medium, low dose MHCD containing serums were prepared by using serum pharmacology method. GMCs were cultured in vitro. The proliferation of mesangial cells were induced using LPS as stimulating factor. GMCs were divided into six groups, i.e., the normal group, the model group, the telmisartan group, high, medium and low dose MHCD groups. Col IV content in the supernatant of mesangial cells was detected using ELISA. Protein expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were detected using Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, Col IV content obviously increased in the model group after 72-h LPS stimulation; protein expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were obviously up-regulated, and MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio was down-regulated in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, Col IV content obviously decreased in high and medium dose MHCD groups and the telmisartan group (P < 0.01); protein expressions of MMP-2 were obviously down-regulated in medium and low dose MHCD groups (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the protein expression of TIMP-2 was obviously down-regulated in high, medium, low dose MHCD groups and the telmisartan group (P < 0.01). The pro- tein expression of TIMP-2 was obviously lower in the high dose MHCD group than in the low dose MHCD group (P < 0.01). MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio was obviously up-regulated in the telmisartan group, high and medium dose MHCD groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMHCD could regulate disordered MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratio in LPS induced ECM, inhibit excessive production of Col IV in ECM, promote the degradation of ECM, reduce the accumulation of ECM, thereby, delaying the process of glomerular sclerosis.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Collagen Type IV ; metabolism ; Extracellular Matrix ; metabolism ; Kidney Glomerulus ; cytology ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Mesangial Cells ; drug effects ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; metabolism

0.05).Setting the threshold of MOV at 6.4 cm~3 offered the best compromise between sensitivity (84.8%)and specificity(87.5%),and setting the threshold of MaxOV at 8.6 cm~3 offered the best compromise between sensitivity(75.8%)and specificity(95.2%)and setting the threshold of MFN at 8 offered the best compromise between sensitivity(86.7%)and specificity(78.3%).Conclusions Ovarian morphology by ultrasonography yields satisfactory diagnostic accuracy for adolescent PCOS.Taking MOV≥ 6.4 cm~3 or MaxOV≥8.6 cm~3 or MFN≥8 as an ultraphonic criterion for pubertal PCOS offer the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity.

Objective To investigate the drug resistance genes of extended-spectrum beta- lactamase-producing bacteria in 49 strains.Methods Extended-spectrum ?-lactamase -producing strains were detected by the disc diffusion test.The techniques of polymerase chain reaction,sequence analysis, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis were used to analyze the genotype and homology of extended-spectrum ?- lactamase-producing strains.Results The incidence of ESBL-producing strains from E.coli,K pneumoniae,K oxytoca,was 20% in 2000,and 40% in 2003.Among the 49 ESBLs producers the most common genotype was CTX-M-14( n=33).The others were CTX-M-3,CTX-M-9,CTX-M-12,CTX-M-15, CTX-M-24 and SHVSa.Both two CTX-M subtypes,CTX-M-3 and CTX-M-14,were detected in one strain. However,4 ESBL-producing strains confirmed by phenotype remained untyped.The results showed that the ESBLs producers were not closely related,except for two strains of E.coli and two strains of K.pneumoniae which were homgenic respectively.Concolusions The incidence of ESBL-producing strains increases with years.The most common genotype of ESBLs is CTX-M.There is no evidence for epidemiologic spread of ESBL-producers by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

This paper discusses the relationship between stimulating pulse width and the threshold of electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP). Firstly, the rheobase and chronaxy from strength-duration curve of nerve fiber was computed using the shepherd's experiment results. Secondly, based on the relationship between ECAP and the action potential of nerve fiber, a mathematical expression to describe the relationship between stimulating pulse width and ECAP threshold was proposed. Thirdly, the parameters were obtained and the feasibility was proved to the expression with the results of experiment using guinea pigs. Research result showed that with ECAP compared to the action potential of nerve fiber, their threshold function relationship with stimulating pulse width was similar, and rheobase from the former was an order smaller in the magnitude than the latter, but the chronaxy was close to each other. These findings may provide meaningful guidance to clinical ECAP measurement and studying speech processing strategies of cochlear implant.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Auditory Threshold ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Electricity ; Evoked Potentials ; Guinea Pigs ; Neural Conduction