BACKGROUND: Minimal change nephropathy (MCD) is a common pathological type of nephrotic syndrome and is often associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and related factors of AKI in patients with MCD and nephrotic syndrome. METHODS: Patients from Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital who were diagnosed with pathological renal MCD with clinical manifestations of nephrotic syndrome were included from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017. Patients diagnosed with membranous nephropathy (MN) by renal biopsy from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2017 are included as a control population. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and pathological characteristics of patients as well as the percentages and clinical characteristics of AKI in different age groups. We assessed the correlation of pathological characteristics with serum creatinine using multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 367 patients with MCD were included in the analysis, with a sex ratio of 1.46: 1 (male: female) and an age range of 6 to 77 years. Among all the patients, 109 developed AKI (29.7%), and of these patients, 85 were male (78.0%). In the 586 patients with MN, 27 (4.6%) patients developed AKI. The percentage of AKI in MCD patients was significantly higher than that in MN patients (χ2 = 41.063, P < 0.001). The percentage of AKI increased with age in the MCD patients. The percentage of AKI in patients aged 50 years or older was 52.9% (46/87), which was significantly higher than that [22.5% (63/280)] in patients under 50 years (χ2 = 6.347, P = 0.013). We observed statistically significant differences in age (43 [27, 59] years vs. 28 [20, 44] years, Z = 5.487, P < 0.001), male (78.0% vs. 51.4%, χ2 = 22.470, P < 0.001), serum albumin (19.9 ± 6.1 g/L vs. 21.5 ± 5.7 g/L, t = 2.376, P = 0.018), serum creatinine (129.5 [105.7, 171.1] μmol/L vs. 69.7 [57.7, 81.9] μmol/L, Z = 14.190, P < 0.001), serum urea (10.1 [6.2, 15.8] mmol/L vs. 4.7 [3.6, 6.4] mmol/L, Z = 10.545, P < 0.001), IgE (266.0 [86.7, 963.0] IU/ml vs. 142.0 [35.3, 516.5] IU/ml, Z = 2.742, P = 0.007), history of diabetes (6.4% vs. 1.2%, P = 0.009), and history of hypertension (23.9% vs. 5.1%, χ2 = 28.238, P < 0.001) between the AKI group and the non-AKI group. According to multivariate linear regression analysis, among the renal pathological features analyzed, renal tubular epithelial cell damage (β = 178.010, 95% CI: 147.888-208.132, P < 0.001) and renal interstitial edema (β = 28.833, 95% CI: 11.966-45.700, P = 0.001) correlated with serum creatinine values. CONCLUSIONS The percentage of AKI in MCD patients is significantly higher than that in MN patients. Patients over 50 years old are more likely to develop AKI. Renal tubular epithelial cell injury and renal interstitial edema may be the main pathological lesions that are associated with elevated serum creatinine in patients with MCD.
Acute Kidney Injury/etiology* ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrosis, Lipoid/complications* ; Nephrotic Syndrome/complications* ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Background::Aberrant activation of the complement system plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN). The relationship between serum complement and the clinical-histopathological features and outcomes of IgAN is controversial. This retrospective study aimed to examine the relationship between the complement 3/4 (C3/C4) ratio and the clinicopathologic changes and prognosis of patients with IgAN.Methods::A total of 397 patients with primary IgAN from January 2007 to December 2012 at the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital were included in this study. The correlation test and Chi-square test or one-way analysis of variance test were performed to evaluate the relationship between the C3/C4 ratio and other clinical-pathological factors. Propensity score matching and a multivariate Cox regression model were used to calculate the risk factors of renal outcome.Results::The median follow-up period was 75 months. During the follow-up period, 62 patients (15.6%) developed into the end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The C3/C4 ratio at baseline was associated with the level of serum creatinine (SCr), 24 h urinary protein excretion (24 h Upre), global glomerular sclerosis, and tubulointerstitial lesion. The level of SCr and 24 h Upre and the degree of chronic kidney injury were statistically different among groups defined by different C3/C4 ratio levels. The survival rates of patients among groups with different C3/C4 ratio levels were different. After propensity score matching, eighty-eight pairs of patients were successfully matched, and the C3/C4 ratio was an influencing factor for the patients’ outcome (hazard ratio 0.587, 95% confidence interval 0.329-0.880). Patients with a C3/C4 ratio <3.6 had a poorer outcome compared with the others ( P = 0.002). Conclusions::IgAN patients with decreased C3/C4 ratio displayed significantly more severe clinical symptoms and chronic renal injury than patients with higher ratios. A low C3/C4 ratio could be a risk factor for patients developing to ESRD.

Objective:To study the chemical constituents of 95% ethanol extract of the whole plant of Elephantopus scaber and investigate its antioxidant activity. Method:The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by silica gel column chromatography,Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography,ODS column chromatography,semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and recrystallization methods,while their structures were identified on the basis of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry and comparison of their spectral data with those reported in the literature. Result:Fourteen compounds were isolated and their structures were identified as:(E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-5-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2(3H)-furanone (1),esculetin (2),dihydrosyringenin (3),(+)-isololiolide (4),caffic acid (5),luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide (6),luteolin-7-O-β-D-glucuronide methyl ester (7),chlorogenic acid methyl ester (8),blumenol A (9),(6R,9R)-3-oxo-α-ionol-β-D-glucopyranoside (10),byzantionoside B (11),3,5-O-dicaffeoyl quinic acid methyl ester (12),3,4-O-dicaffeoyl quinic acid methyl ester (13) and 4,5-O-dicaffeoyl quinic acid methyl ester (14). Conclusion:Compounds 1-4 and 8-10 were isolated from the genus Elephantopus for the first time. Compound 11 was isolated from E. scaber for the first time. The DPPH radical and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging experiments on twelve of these compounds showed that compounds 1,2,5,6,12 and 13 had significant antioxidant activity.

BACKGROUND: Hook plate is usual and satisfactory for the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation, but there are still many problems. The comparative analysis is seldom reported between reconstruction of coracoclavicular ligament by autogenous tendon combined with hook plate and simple hook plate. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of reconstruction of coracoclavicular ligament combined with hook plate and simple hook plate fixation for acromioclavicular joint dislocation. METHODS: A total of 38 patients with acromioclavicular dislocation were randomly divided into two groups. The patients were treated with plantar tendon "V" reconstruction with coracoclavicular ligament combined with hook plate fixation (combination group) and with a simple hook plate fixation (simple hook plate group). We compared the operation time, blood loss, hospitalization days, average hospitalization costs, the time taken for internal fixation, the motion range of shoulder joint at postoperative 12 months, the Constant-Murley function score, the reduction of shoulder joint and the Visual Analogue Scale scores between the two groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Patients in both groups were followed up for 12 months. In the combination group, the hook plate was removed at postoperative 3 months. In the simple hook plate group, the hook plate was removed at approximately postoperative 12 months. In follow-up, no dislocation appeared in both groups. (2) No significant difference in hospitalization days, motion range of shoulder joint, Constant-Murley function score, the reduction of shoulder joint and the Visual Analogue Scale scores was determined between the two groups (P > 0.05). (3) Operation time was longer; blood loss was more; and average hospitalization costs were higher in the combination group than in the simple hook plate group (P < 0.05). (4) These findings indicate that plantar tendon reconstruction of coracoclavicular ligament combined with hook plate meets biomechanical requirements in the treatment of acromioclavicular joint dislocation. The plate can be removed early using a fixator. The lower extremity has an incision, but the follow-up results are satisfactory. Simple hook plate fixation for acromioclavicular joint dislocation takes a long time, and can obtain average effect, but there is the risk of re-dislocation (this case does not experience re-dislocation). The appropriate treatment can be chosen according to the patient's condition, needs, and economic conditions.

Recently,research on microbes has been explored ex-plosively. Microbial-related studies have become the forefront of anti-cancer research. A large number of microorganisms are uni-versal in the viscera, skin, nose, mouth and reproductive sys-tem. Probiotics is a kind of microorganisms beneficial to human health. Although most studies have proven the tumor-promoting effects of bacterial flora,antitumor effects of probiotics have also been observed. Studies have confirmed that probiotics can pre-vent the onset of early stage colon cancer as well as non-colorec-tal cancer mainly via several mechanisms,such as adjustment of intestinal flora,regulation of immune response,anti-inflammato-inactivation of metabolic carcinogen, antioxidant and induction of tumor cell apoptosis. However,the specific underlying molecular mechanism still needs to be further studied. The latest studies on human have shown that intestinal microbiota combining with diet can alter the risk of special colorectal cancer. As a cancer chemoprevention strategy, more pre-clinical and clinical research are in need for the study of the effects of probiotics on cancer prevention and treatment.

Hepatic disease is one of the high-prevalence diseases in China, of which gastrointestinal bleeding is a common complication treated by proton pump inhibitors. Vonoprazan is a novel proton pump inhibitor which acts better than lansoprazole in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. In this study, the pharmacokinetics of vonoprazan was compared between acute hepatic injury and normal condition in rats. Results showed that the exposure (AUC) of vonoprazan was significantly higher in rats with acute hepatic injury than in normal rats, and the metabolites formation rates of vonoprazan also slowed down, which might be due to the change of activity of enzymes and transporters. This find may provide a theoretical basis for the dose regulation of vonoprazan in patients with hepatic injury.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the characteristics of lymphocyte phenotypes in hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice and the effect of exogenous interferon-α on virological profiles and lymphocytes phenotypes of the mice.

METHODSHBV transgenic mice and wild-type (WT) mice were examined for serum levels of HBsAg, HBcAb, IL-21, and IL-6 using ELISA. The frequencies of CD4(+)T and CD19(+)B cells separated from the liver, spleen, and peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. Nine HBV transgenic mice were injected subcutaneously with recombinant mouse interferon alpha (rmIFN-α) and another 9 transgenic mice were injected with PBS, and their HBsAg, HBV DNA, IL-6, and IL-21 levels and frequencies of peripheral blood CD4(+)T and CD19(+)B cells were detected.

RESULTSHBV transgenic mice showed a high level of HBsAg with a detectable level of HBcAb and significantly increased serum levels of IL-21 and IL-6 as compared with WT mice (P<0.05). The transgenic mice had a significantly lower frequency of CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral blood, liver and spleen (P<0.05) but a significantly higher frequency of CD19(+) B cells in the liver (P<0.05). An inverse correlation between intrahepatic CD4(+) T cell frequency and serum HBsAg level while a positive correlation between intrahepatic CD19(+) B cell frequency and HBcAb level were found in HBV transgenic mice. Administration of rmIFN-α significantly increased the frequencies of CD4(+) T and CD19(+) B cells in the peripheral blood and the serum level of IL-6 in HBV transgenic mice (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONHBV transgenic mice have lymphocyte subset dysregulation and exogenous interferon-α can modulate the immune function of the mice by regulating the frequencies of lymphocyte subsets.

Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; B-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Hepatitis B ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; Interferon-alpha ; pharmacology ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Interleukins ; blood ; Liver ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Phenotype ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects