OBJECTIVE To investigate the protective effect and potential mechanism of cornuside on diabetic nephropathy （DN） model mice. METHODS Male KK-Ay mice were fed with high-fat and high-sugar diet for two weeks to reproduce the DN model. The successfully modeled mice were randomly grouped into model group， aminoguanidine group （positive control，100 mg/kg） and cornuside group （100 mg/kg）， and male C57BL/6J mice were included as normal group， with 6 mice in each group. Administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically， and normal group and model group were given a constant volume of normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for 8 consecutive weeks. The levels of fasting blood glucose （FBG）， 24 h urinary protein， serum interleukin-12 （IL-12）， IL-10， blood urea nitrogen （BUN） and serum creatinine （Scr） were detected； the pathological injury， fibrotic change and glomerular microstructure of renal tissue were observed； the expressions of the receptor of advanced glycation end products （RAGE）， collagen type Ⅳ （COL-Ⅳ） and inducible nitric oxide synthase （iNOS） in renal cortex were detected in each group. RESULTS Compared with normal group， the renal cortex of mice in model group showed obvious inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrotic changes； the mesangial hyperplasia of glomerulus was serious and the basement membrane had a large number of irregular dark dense deposits； the levels of FBG and 24 h urinary protein， the serum levels of IL- 12， BUN and Scr， and the expression levels of RAGE， COL-Ⅳ and iNOS in the renal cortex were significantly increased， while the serum level of IL-10 was significantly decreased （P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the renal pathological injuries， fibrotic changes and glomerular microstructure of mice in administration groups were improved significantly， and the above quantitative indexes were generally improved （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS Cornuside has a certain protective effect on DN model mice. It can inhibit the inflammatory response， reduce urinary protein excretion， and alleviate renal fibrosis， which may be related to the inhibition of the advanced glycation end products/RAGE signaling pathway.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of Liuling Jiedu Pills on acute pharyngitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus in rats.Methods The rat model of acute pharyngitis was replicated using the method of injecting 1×109 CFU·mL-1 of Staphylococcus aureus solution into the pharynx of rats.SD rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a Lanqin Oral Solution group(5 mL·kg-1),and a low-,medium-,and high-dose group of Liuling Jiedu Pills(4.375,8.750,and 17.500 mg·kg-1),with 10 rats in each group.Rats in each group were administered the drug by gavage once a day for 7 days.The general conditions of the rats were observed and recorded every day during the modeling and drug administration periods,and the local inflammation in the pharynx was scored;histopathological changes in the pharynx of the rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE)staining;serum interleukin 1β(IL-1β),interleukin 6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α),and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)were detected by ELISA.Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot were used to detect the protein expression levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in rat pharyngeal tissue.Results Compared with the blank group,rats in the model group had significantly increased pharyngeal erythema,significantly higher inflammation scores(P＜0.01),significantly lower body mass on days 5-7 after modeling(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),significantly higher pathological scores(P＜0.01),significantly higher levels of the serum inflammatory factors IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α(P＜0.01),and significantly higher pharyngeal tissues showed significantly higher levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α proteins(P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the pharyngeal erythema was significantly reduced in the Lanqin Oral Solution group and the low-,medium-and high-dose groups of Liuling Jiedu Pills,and the inflammation scores were significantly reduced(P＜0.01),and the serum levels of IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α were significantly reduced(P＜0.01);the body mass of the rats in the Lanqin Oral Solution group,and in the medium-and high-dose groups of Liuling Jiedu Pills,were significantly increased on the seventh day of the modeling(P＜0.01);the histopathological scores and the levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α proteins in pharyngeal tissue were significantly decreased(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion Liuling Jiedu Pills can significantly improve the symptoms and inflammatory pathological changes of pharyngeal tissues in rats with acute pharyngitis,and its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of the expression levels of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β,IL-6,and TNF-α.

Objective:To investigate and analyze the clinical phenotypes and genotypes in children diagnosed with nephronophthisis (NPHP), and to provide references for clinical diagnosis.Methods:Clinical data of 9 children with NPHP diagnosed by genetic testing in the Department of Nephrology, Wuhan Children′s Hospital from April 2017 to January 2022 were retrospectively collected. The clinical characteristics and genetic test results were analyzed.Results:The median onset age was 11.2(3.4, 14.2) years old in 9 patients, including 5 females and 4 males. There were 8 cases of glomerular proteinuria, 8 cases of renal tubular proteinuria, and 7 cases of reduced urinary gravity in 9 patients. All the children had varying degrees of impaired renal function at the time of diagnosis. Seven cases entered chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5, 1 case entered CKD stage 3, and 1 case entered CKD stage 4 at the time of diagnosis. All the children had renal ultrasound abnormalities of varying degrees: size change (3/9), echo enhancement (8/9) and cysts (3/9). Extrarenal phenotypes were present in 3 children. Genetic test showed that 6 patients had mutation of NPHP1 gene, 1 patient had mutation of WDR19 gene, 1 patient had mutation of NPHP3 gene and 1 patient had mutation of NPHP5 gene. Conclusions:Deletion mutation of NPHP1 gene is the most common, while NPHP3, NPHP5 and extremely rare WDR19 mutations have also been found in NPHP patients. The clinical manifestations of NPHP are not typical, so it is necessary to find a specific diagnosis method in the early.

Objective:To analyze the correlation between clinical phenotypes and genotypes in 6 children with primary distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA).Methods:The clinical data of 6 children confirmed as dRTA in Wuhan Children′s Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology from November 2017 to August 2019 were collected, and related auxiliary examination was performed to assess their growth and development.The venous whole blood was reserved for Trio whole exome sequencing, and full spectrum genetic disease accurate diagnosis cloud platform was applied to systematic data screening and analysis.The suspected mutations were checked by Sanger sequencing, and then the role of protein was predicted by software.Results:Clinical manifestations, signs and auxiliary examination results of the 6 children accorded with the diagnostic criteria of dRTA, and the prominent characteristics was growth retardation.One case had knee valgus, one had osteoporosis, and the auxiliary examination results showed that both of them had alkaline urine, metabolic acidosis, and hypokalemia.Three children had nephrocalcinosis, and 2 children had nephrolithiasis.The parents of the 6 patients were all normal without phenotypes.Mutations in the SLC4A1 gene were identified in 4 patients, including 1 child with a reported homozygous autosomal recessive missense mutation(c.2102G>A, p.G701D), who had dRTA and hemolytic anemia, and 3 children with the reported de novo heterozygous autosomal dominant missense mutation(c.1766G>A, p.R589H, c.1765C>T, p.R589C), whose age at diagnosis was related to abnormal renal imaging.Compound heterozygous autosomal recessive mutations in the ATPV1B1 gene were identified in 1 patient, and they were novel heterozygous missense mutations (1153C>A, p.P385T and c. 806C>T, p.P269L). A novel homozygous autosomal recessive missense mutation was identified in 1 patient in the ATPV0A4 gene(c.1899C>A, p.Y633X, 208). Conclusions:Mutations in SLC4A1, ATP6V1B1, ATP6V0A4 genes are identified as the main causes of the primary dRTA, and the phenotypes was related to the mutation features and genotypes.Genetic test should be conducted on patients suspected as dRTA for early molecular diagnosis, thereby improving clinical phenotypic screening and individualized treatment.

Objective: To construct ¹³¹I-the fifth generation polyamidoamine (PAMAM(G5.0)) with targeting peptide Ser-Arg-Glu-Ser-Pro-His-Pro (SRESPHP; SR) or Gly-Pro-Leu-Pro-Leu-Arg (GPLPLR; GP) and double targeting peptide SR/GP, and evaluate the targeting ability in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) model. Methods: PAMAM(G5.0), PAMAM(G5.0)-SR, PAMAM(G5.0)-GP and PAMAM(G5.0)-SR/GP were radiolabeled with ¹³¹I by chloramine T method. The radiolabeled yield and radiochemical purity were determined by thin layer chromatography. MTC xenografts were developed and the percentage radio-activity of injection dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) in tumor and organs was measured at 24 h post-injection. Region of interest (ROI) was drawn and the tumor/non-tumor (T/NT) ratios at 4, 8 and 24 h post-injection were calculated and compared among different groups. One-way analysis of variance, repetitive measurement analysis of variance and Dunnett-t test were used to compare the data of different groups. The relationship between %ID/g and T/NT was analyzed with Pearson correlation. Results: The radiolabeled yield was more than 75% and radiochemistry purity was more than 90%. The difference of %ID/g at 24 h post-injection was significant (F=14.400, P<0.001) in tumors of all groups. The radioactive uptake in tumor of ¹³¹I-PAMAM(G5.0)-SR group was the highest at 24 h post-injection((1.80±0.18) %ID/g). There were significant differences of T/NT ratios among different groups(F=4.776, P<0.05)and between different time points(F=8.630, P<0.05). Compared with negative control group (Na¹³¹I), the T/NT ratios significantly increased in ¹³¹I-PAMAM(G5.0)-SR group at 4, 8 and 24 h post-injection (t=4.169, 7.123 and 4.032, all P<0.05) and in ¹³¹I-PAMAM(G5.0)-GP group at 4 h post-injection (t=5.893, P<0.05). The T/NT ratio in ¹³¹I-PAMAM(G5.0)-SR group was higher than that in ¹³¹I-PAMAM(G5.0)-GP group at 24 h post-injection (t=2.871, P<0.05). Conclusions PAMAM(G5.0)-SR, PAMAM(G5.0)-GP and PAMAM(G5.0)-SR/GP can target the MTC models. ¹³¹I-PAMAM(G5.0)-SR has the best biological properties and may provide a new precision method for MTC diagnosis, treatment and prognosis evaluation.

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations and genetic features of children with papillorenal syndrome caused by PAX2 gene mutation.Methods Clinical manifestations,imaging changes and sequencing data were collected and analyzed from a family with papillorenal syndrome who were diagnosed in Wuhan Children's Hospital in February 2018."PAX2","papillorenal syndrome" and "renal coloboma syndrome" were used as key words to search in China National Knowledge Infrastructure,Wangfang Data Knowledge Service Platform,PubMed and Human Gene Mutation Database up to April 2018.Results A ten years old girl was admitted due to "edema and urine output decreased for one week".Lab showed BUN 25.30 mmol/L,Scr 766.5 μmol/L,Urine protein 3.6 g/24 h.Imaging examination showed bilateral vesical and ureter reflux combined with left duplex kidney and duplication of ureter.Developmental dysplasia of the left hip was also found.The father of the patient had been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease for 10 years and on hemodialysis for 6 years.Next generation sequencing revealed that both the father and daughter carried a heterozygous nonsense mutation in the exon3 c.219C ＞ G(p.Y73X) of PAX2.No Chinese literature ever was reported about papillorenal syndrome.Ninety-four articles in English were retrieved and 177 patients with papillorenal syndrome were confirmed by gene analysis with a total of 92 PAX2 variants.Ten nonsense mutations had been reported.Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) never be reported before.Conclusion Papillorenal syndrome caused by PAX2 mutation can mainly manifest as abnormal development of both kidney and optic nerve,which may be accompanied by other systemic abnormalities,it is rarely reported in China.DDH may be a new phenotype of papillorenal syndrome.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and clinical efficacy of our self-designed simple skin stretching device combined with collagen sponge for management of severe soft tissue wounds.Methods From September 2015 to October 2017,a consecutive series of 43 patients whose soft tissue wounds could not be closed primarily were enrolled for a therapy using a simple skin stretching device made of round osseous pins and wire combined with collagen sponge.They were 27 males and 16 females,with a mean age of 31.5 years (from 5 to 56 years).There were 18 fresh wounds and 25 old ones.Their skin defects ranged from 5.5 cm × 3.0 cm to 18.0 cm × 7.5 cm.After debridement and vacuum sealing drainage,2 round osseous pins with a diameter of 2.0 mm or 2.5 mm were driven through the dermis about 1 to 2 cm from both edges of the wound,in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the wound.After the parts of 2 pins exposed outside the skin were bent,they were fixed respectively with a fine wire with 2 twisted strands.The wounds were continuously stitched with eversion suture.The wires and sutures were gradually tightened to contract the wounds until the skin color changed and capillary filling reaction started.Then medical collagen sponge was used to cover the wounds.Next,the wires and sutures were tightened continuously until the wound edges were pulled together.Details of this therapy and its complications were recorded.Follow-up visits were paid until wound healing.Results Of the 43 cases,the wounds were directly closed immediately after primary stretching procedure in 8,closed after skin stretching for 4 to 12 days (average,7.5 days) in 30,and significantly reduced in 5 which were cured following skin graft.Eventually,40 cases were followed up for an average of 6.8 months (from 3 to 18 months) and 3 were lost.Aesthetic reoperation was performed in 3 patients who were inflicted with postoperative scar formation after skin graft.Linear healing of the wound edges was achieved in 37 patients without complications like skin necrosis,pathological hyperplasia scar,skin sensation deletion or wound infection,leading to fine appearance and functional recovery.Conclusion Our self-designed simple skin stretching device combined with collagen sponge provides a cost-effective and practical technique for clinical treatment of soft tissue defects,with an advantage of reducing or even avoiding secondary repair with skin graft or skin flap.

Objective To assess the effects of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) on the striatum (ST) in normal cynomolgus monkeys using 99Tcm-TRODAT-1 imaging.Methods A total of six healthy female cynomolgus monkeys were included in this study.Three of them were fed with normal food (control group),and the other three were given oral administration of 7,8-DHF in addition to normal food (experimental group).The SPECT/CT imaging was performed at different time after 99Tcm-TRODAT-1 injection.The ROI of ST was drawn on images of 3 consecutive transverse slices that could be visualized best.The cerebellum (CB) was taken as the background reference area.The radioactivity uptake ratios of ST/CB at 1,3,4 and 5 h were calculated respectively.Paired-t test was used to analyze the data.Results ST radioactive uptake ratios showed continuing increase on the delay images.ST/CB uptake ratios of the control group at 1,3,4 and 5 h were 1.43±0.04,1.82±0.06,2.04±0.12,2.42±0.23,respectively,and those of the experimental group were 1.35±0.08,2.40±0.09,2.74±0.13 and 3.25±0.15 respectively.There was no significant difference between the two groups at 1 h (t =2.57,P＞0.05),while ST/CB uptake ratios of the experimental group at 3,4 and 5 h were significantly higher (t values:2.77,2.87 and 2.92,all P＜0.05).Conclusion 99Tcm-TRODAT-1 SPECT/CT imaging can be used to assess the DAT activation effect by 7,8-DHF on ST of cynomolgus monkeys.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of combined use of calcineurin inhibitor in the treatment of lupus nephritis in induction or maintenance,which is resistant to mycophenolate mofetil.Methods Sixty-six cases of children with lupus nephritis were selected from February 2014 to September 2016 in Huazhong University of Science and Technology,Tongji Medical College Affiliated Wuhan Children's Hospital.The randomized method was used to divide them into the control group and the observation group randomly.Among them,31 cases in the control group were given glucocorticoid,cyclophosphamide combined with traditional medicine for treatment;35 cases in observation group were given glucocorticoid,mycophenolate mofetil,tacrolimus (calcine phosphatase inhibitor) multi-target therapy for treatment.The clinical effect of 2 groups before and after treatment were compared,and the incidence of adverse reactions in the treatment of 2 groups of children were compared.Results After treatment,the levels of systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI),serum creatinine and 24 h urine protein [(6.05 ± 1.04) scores,(45.08 ± 18.52) μmol/L,(0.96 ±0.30) g/L] in the observation group were lower than those in the control group [(11.09 ±2.33) scores,(95.33 ±36.74) μmol/L,(2.05 ±0.74) g/L],and the differences were statistically significant (t =3.097,3.356,3.871,all P ＜ 0.05).Serum complement C3,plasma albumin levels [(1.05 ± 0.28) g/L,(63.24 ± 12.98) g/L] were higher than those in the control group [(0.34 ±0.10) g/L,(35.45 ±6.74) g/L],and the differences were statistically significant (t =4.124,3.567,all P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,the levels of serum complement C3 and plasma albumin were significantly higher between 2 groups than those before treatment,the differences were statistically significant (all P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of adverse reaction (14.29％,5/35 cases) in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (38.71％,12/31 cases),and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =5.128,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Multi-target combination therapy and traditional cyclophosphamide therapy can effectively control lupus nephritis in children,but the clinical effect of multi-target combination therapy is better and the adverse reaction is less.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of contrast-enhanced computer tomography (CT) texture analysis in predicting early recurrence after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in patients with liver cancer. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed for 47 patients with liver cancer confirmed by liver biopsy and digital subtraction angiography who underwent upper abdominal contrast-enhanced CT scan before TACE, and according to the presence or absence of focal recurrence within half a year, these patients were divided into early recurrence (ER) group and non-early recurrence (NER) group. The texture analysis was used to delineate tumor boundary layer by layer on the axial contrast-enhanced CT image before liver cancer surgery, and related parameters of tumor heterogeneity, including entropy, mean, non-uniformity, skewness, and kurtosis, were obtained. The independent samples t-test was used for comparison of texture parameters between the two groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used for the analysis of entropy, mean, and non-uniformity, and the area under the ROC curve (ROC), optical cut-off value, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated to evaluate the efficiency of texture analysis in predicting early focal recurrence after TACE. Results: There were 20 patients in the ER group and 27 in the NER group. The ER group had a maximum major axis length of 88.2±36.3 mm and a maximum minor axis length of 41.4±21.4 mm, and the NER group had a maximum major axis length of 66.9±30.2 mm and a maximum minor axis length of 29.3±19.8 mm; the ER group had significantly higher maximum major and minor axis lengths than the NER group (t = 4.89 and 4.62, P < 0.001). The ER group had significantly higher entropy and non-uniformity values than the NER group, and there were no significant differences in skewness and kurtosis between the two groups. Entropy, non-uniformity, and mean had high efficiency in predicting early recurrence after TACE, and the optimal cut-off value of entropy was 4.135. Conclusion Volumetric texture analysis of contrast-enhanced CT images before liver cancer surgery has a high value in predicting early recurrence after TACE.