Objective To explore the effects and mechanisms of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) on high glucose-induced rat mesangial cells proliferation and phenotype transformation. Methods Rat mesangial cells were cultured and incubated in media containing either 5 mmol/L D-glucose or 30 mmol/L D-glucose with or without addition of wortmannin, or uPA (105 U/L) for different time periods. At the end of the incubation period, mesangial cells proliferation was assessed by MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis. Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and p27kip1 expression and activation of Akt were evaluated by Western blotting and Akt kinase assay respectively. Furthermore, the expression and distribution of α-SMA were detected with laser confocal microscopy. Results MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that high glucose induced mesangial cells proliferation (P＜0.05) and an incresed proportion of cells in G2/M+S stage after 24 h incubation (P＜0.01), which were attenuated by uPA or wortmannin (P＜0.01). High glucose induced the enhance of Akt activity after 3 h (P＜0.05), and the effect was inhibited by wortmannin or uPA (P＜0.01). High glucose did not alter CDK2 expression (P＞0.05),but significantly inhibited p27kip1 expression (P＜0.05), which was attenuated by wortmannin or uPA (P＜0.01). High glucose induced the up-regulation of α-SMA expression and perinucleus location in mesangial cells after 24 h (P＜0.01), which were alleviated by wortmannin or uPA (P＜0.01). Conclusion uPA up-regulates p27kip1 expression and counteracts high glucose-induced mesangial cells proliferation and phenotype transformation via blocking PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Objective To observe the anticoagulant effect of low molecular weight heparin on induced hemodialysis in patients with acute renal failure.Method One hundred and eight patients with acute renal failure treated with induced hemodialysis were randomly divided into low molecular weight heparin(LMWH)group and unfractionated heparin(UFH)group.A bolus disc of UFH was given at first and then maintained by continuous infusion in UFH group,whereas a single bolus dose of LMWH with 2000AFXa IU to 4000AFXa IU in LMWH group.Results Anticoagulant effect between LMWH and UFH did not show significant discrepancy during induced hemodialysis.The bleeding from internal jugular vein catheter increased in the UFH group much more than that in the UFH group was significantly higher than that in the LMWH group.Anti-FXa blood levels were significantly higher in LMWH group than in UFH group.Conclusions LMWH has minor influence on aPTT and TT,while its anticoagulation effect approximates to that of UFH.LMWH represents a realistic alternative agent UFH in acute renal failure induced hemodialysis.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy between preparation porcelain veneer(PPV)and no-preparation porcelain veneer(NPPV).Methods:44 patients with 97 PPVs and 23 patients with 57 NPPVs were followed up for 3 years.Mental tension, postoperative dentin sensitivity and satisfaction of the patients,survival rate of the veneers,sulcus bleeding index(SBI)of preopera-tive and postoperative 3 years were evaluated.A comparative analysis was taken to examine the clinical indicators of 2 groups accord-ing to the modified CDA /Ryge criteria.Results:Survival rates of PPVs and NPPVs were 96.91 % and 96.49%(P >0.05),satisfac-tion rates of the 2 group patients were 95.45% and 95.65%(P >0.05),respectively.Mental tension and the postoperative dentin sensitivity of patients in PPV group was higher than those in NPPV group.Preoperative and postoperative SBI were not statistically dif-ferent between the 2 groups(P >0.05).Marginal adaptation in PPV group was better than that in NPPV group.Color matching, Porcelain surface and Marginal stain were not statistically different between 2 groups.Conclusion:Preparation porcelain veneers and no-preparation porcelain veneers both are effective in clinical application.

Objective To evaluate the effects of rehabilitation training on muscle strength and exercise toleranee in hemodialysis patients with muscle atrophy.Methods Nine hemodialysis patients with muscle atrophy because of end renal failure were recruited in this study. A structured exercise program(90 minutes a sedssion.3 sessions a week)was administered to all the subjects for 6 month.Immediately before and at the end of the exercise programme,the muscle strength of the lower limbs,the motor conduction velocity of the peroneal nerve and maximal oxygen consumption of the patients were examined. Results It was shown that all the patients had impaired exercise capacity,weakend muscle strength and slowed nerve conduction velocity before rehabilitation training.After the exercise programme,the patients' exercise capacity as reflected by the maximal oxygen consumption and exercise time was significantly increased.The muscle strength and the motor nerve conduction velocity were significantly increased.Conclusions Muscle atrophy in hemodialysis patients results in poor exercise tolerance, but rehabilitation exercise programme improves amyotrophy and therefore has beneficial effects on the patient's overall work performance.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Cough ; etiology ; Dexamethasone ; therapeutic use ; Fatigue ; etiology ; Female ; Glucocorticoids ; therapeutic use ; Glutathione ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; etiology ; therapy ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome

ObjectiveFollow-up of the clinical outcome of prosthetic disc nucleus replacement on patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. Methods16 patients with lumar intervertebral disc herniation were implanted prosthetic disc nucleus from June to August 2003, including 10 males and 6 females. The operation levels were at L4-5 in 10 patients and L5～S1 in 6 patients. All patients were followed up from 28 to 32 months (averaged 30 months). The contents include pain, physical examination, Short-form of McGill Pain Questionnaire investigation, Visual Analogue Scales(VAS) and Present Pain Intensity(PPI), X-ray and MRI examination, etc. ResultsAfter surgery, 16 patients experienced clinical symptom relief, the displacement of PDN in 1 case and dislocation in 1case, the height of intervertebral space becoming narrower in 5 cases and endplate subsiding in 1 case. ConclusionProsthetic disc nucleus replacement acquired satisfactory after operation, but some complication may occurre in long-term.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Salvianolate on myosin heavy chain (MHC) in cardiomyocytes of congestive heart failure (CHF) rats.

METHODSSixty male SD rats were divided into 6 groups according to random digit table, i.e., the normal control group (NCG), the model group, the Captopril group (CAG), the low dose Salvianolate group (LSG), the high dose Salvianolate group (HSG), the Captopril and high dose Salvianolate group (CSG), 10 in each group. CHF rat model was established with peritoneal injection of adriamycin in all rats except those in the NCG. Equal volume of normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the NCG, once per week for 6 successive weeks. Corresponding medication was started from the 5th week of injecting adriamycin. Rats in the CAG were administered with Captopril solution at the daily dose of 10 mg/kg by gastrogavage. Rats in the LSG and the HSG were administered with Salvianolate solution at the daily dose of 24.219 mg/kg and 48.438 mg/kg respectively by gastrogavage. Salvianolate was dissolved in 2 mL 5% glucose solution and administered by peritoneal injection. Rats in the CSG were peritoneally injected with high dose Salvianolate solution and administered with Captopril solution by gastrogavage. Two mL normal saline was peritoneally injected to rats in the model group, once per day for 8 successive weeks. Eight weeks later, the cardiac function and myocardial hypertrophy indices were detected by biological signal collecting and processing system. mRNA expression levels of alpha-MHC and beta-MHC in cardiac muscle were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Expressions of protein kinase C (PKC) in cardiac muscle were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, heart mass index (HMI) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) obviously increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HMI and LVMI decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). It was more obviously lowered in the CSG group than in the CAG group (P < 0.05). Compared with the NCG, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle decreased, the mRNA expression level of p-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle increased in the model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC in cardiac muscle was increased, and the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC and the expression of PKC in cardiac muscle were decreased in HSG, CAG, and CSG groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was statistical difference between the CSG group and the CAG group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSSalvianolate could up-regulate the mRNA expression level of alpha-MHC, and down-regulate the mRNA expression level of beta-MHC in cardiac muscle. Its mechanism might be related to decreasing the expression of PKC.

Animals ; Captopril ; Doxorubicin ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Heart Failure ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardium ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myosin Heavy Chains ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Objective To investigate the MRI and echocardiography manifestations of noncompaction of ventricular myocardium(NVM)and assess the role of MRI in the diagnosis of NVM by comparing it with echocardiography.Methods Fourteen cases of NVM diagnosed by echocardiography were examined with MRI,including scanning of black-blood sequences,double inversion recovery fast spin echo (DIRFSE)and triple inversion recovery fast spin echo(TIRFSE),and white blood sequence:fast imaging employ steady state acquisition(FIESTA).Scanning plane includes short axis view,four-chamber view and long axis view.Results Both MRI and echocardiography displayed involvement of left ventricles in thirteen cases and involvement of double ventricles in one case.Apexes of heart and the intermedius are commonly affected.MRI showed 54 segments and echocardiography showed 53 segments affected,and there is no significant difference between the capability of MRI and echocardiography(P=1.000).The affected myocardium consisted of two layers:subendoeardial noncompacted myocardium and epicardial compacted myocardium,and the ratio measurement of N/C by MRI was 3.37?0.89 and it was 3.19?0.82 by echocardiography.Noncompacted myocardium was characterized by prominent and excessive myocardial trabeculations and deep intratrabecular recesses,in which the blood flow was communicated with the ventricle.One case was complicated with ventricular aneurysm,and coronary arteriography was performed with unremarkable findings.One case underwent heart transplantation because of progressive heart failure, Gross findings demonstrated prominent muscular trabeculations with deep intratrabecular recesses,which coincided well with MRI findings.Conclusion The MRI manifestation of NVM is characteristic,and MRI with multiple series and planes is helpful in the diagnose of NVM.Compared with echoeardiography,MRI could display the pathological cardiac muscle more clearly,because of its high soft-tissue resolution and spatial resolution.

BACKGROUND: Whether ceramic alloy can be reused after casting depends on its chemical composition, microstructure, castability, as well as mechanical property. However, the effects of recasting on the composition and microstructure of Ni-Cr ceramic alloys are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of recasting on the composition and microstructure of Ni-Cr ceramic alloys. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: In vitro materials observation. The experiment was performed at the Department of Prosthodontics, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Instrumentation Analysis and Measurement Center, Fuzhou University, from June to August 2007. MATERIALS: The Ni-Cr ceramic alloys were recast 6 times in argon protection to obtain testing sample with diameter of 30.0 mm, thickness of 1.0 mm and side length of 10.0 mm, thickness of 1.0 mm, namely generation I VI. Simultaneously, the sample produced by initial alloy was called generation 0. METHODS: The original alloy and each generation square plates were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) for qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis. The microstructure and the phase structure of original alloy and each generation castings which had been polished by buffing machine were observed and analyzed by metallographic microscope and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Contents of chemical composition, shrinkage cavity, porosity and inclusion, and distribution of XRD patterns. RESULTS: The results of XRF indicated that there were no significant difference on the main composition (Ni, Cr, Mo, Al, Be) among the Ni-Cr ceramic alloys multiple recast 0-6 times in argon protection and accorded with the demands. The metallographic structure of Ni-Cr ceramic alloys were dendritic eutectic structure, but the size of dendritic crystal grain in the casting coarsening, shrinkage cavity, porosity and inclusion gradually increased, with the increase of multiple recast times. The phase structure of Ni-Cr ceramic alloys were Ni-base solid solution (face-centered cubic lattice structure) and the chromium was widely distributed in the nickel base. There were neither significant difference of phase structure nor the new phase structure appeared among the Ni-Cr ceramic alloys multiple recast 0-6 times. CONCLUSION: There is no significant difference of main composition and phase structure between original alloy and each generation castings in argon protection. With the increase of recast times, the size of dendritic crystal coarsening, shrinkage cavity, porosity and inclusion gradually increased.

Objective To evaluate the possibility and curative effect of total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) for the treatment of primary tumors of the lumbar spine. MethodsBetween June 2005 and July 2009,nine cases of primary tumor of the lumbar spine were treated with total en bloc spondylectomy through a single posterior approach performed in seven cases(L1 giant cell tumor, L1 osteosarcoma, L2 giant cell tumor,L2 solitary plasmacytoma, L2 chondrosarcoma, L2 chordoma, and L3 histiocytic sarcoma), and two cases through a single stage anterior and posterior combined approach (L4 giant cell tumor with paraspinal mass and L4 fibrosarcoma). They were performed a single stage reconstruction after removing tumors of vertebra. Neurofunction was evaluated perioperatively and recurrence of tumor was tracked for all cases.ResultsThe follow up was obtained for 3-49 months (averaging 19 months). All patients attained significant clinical improvement after surgery without any severe complications. There was no local recurrence and distal metastasis in shortterm follow-up. ConclusionThe treatment by TES to remove tumors and reconstruction of spine are reliable for primary tumors of the lumbar spine. The curative effect of short-term follow-up is satisfactory. However, the long-term curative effect remain to be further follow-up.