Objective:To investigate the effect of curcumin on renal fibrosis in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in adult SD rats.Methods:Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly (random number) divided into four groups: control group, ARDS group, low dose group, and high dose group ( n=6 per group). In the control group, the rats were given atomization intratracheal of standard saline 2 mL/kg; in the ARDS group, low-dose group, and high-dose group, the rats were given atomization intratracheal of 4 mg/kg LPS; in the low-dose group, the rats were given curcumin 100 mg/d by the oral administration, and in the high-dose group, the rats were given curcumin or 200 mg/d respectively. After seven days, the rats were sacrificed. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) in renal tissue were detected by colorimetric assay. Nuclear factor kappa-B p65 (NF-κB p65) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were detected by Western blot. The expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA, proline hydroxylase 3 (PHD3) mRNA, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA and erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) mRNA were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). HE staining and Masson staining were used to assess pathological damage. One-way analysis of variance was used for comparison among multiple groups and SNK method was used for comparison between two groups. Results:Compared with the control group, the SOD activity and GSH content in the ARDS group, low-dose group, and high-dose group were significantly decreased (all P<0.05); the protein expression levels of MDA, NF-κB p65, and TGF-β1 were increased significantly, and IL-6 mRNA, PHD3 mRNA, VEGF mRNA, and EPOR mRNA were significantly upregulated (all P<0.05). HE staining showed inflammatory cell infiltration, and fibrogenesis in kidney tissue, and Masson staining showed deposition of collangen-like substance. Compared with the ARDS group, SOD activity and GSH content were increased, while the protein expression of NF-κB p65 and TGF-β1, IL-6 mRNA, PHD3 mRNA, VEGF mRNA, and EPOR mRNA were decreased significantly in the low-dose group and high-dose group (all P<0.05). Curcumin therapy reduced inflammatory cellular infiltration, and the deposition of collagen-like substance in kidney tissue. Compared with the low-dose group, SOD activity and GSH content were increased in the high-dose group (all P<0.05), and the protein expression of NF-κB p65 and TGF-β1, IL-6 mRNA, PHD3 mRNA, VEGF mRNA, and EPOR mRNA were decreased significantly in the high-dose group (all P<0.05). The high-dose group exhibited a significant reduction in edema, and a decrease of the deposition of collagen-like substance in kidney tissue. Conclusions:Curcumin can inhibit the development of renal fibrosis induced by acute respiratory distress syndrome in rats, and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors and enhancing hypoxia tolerance.

Objective　To determine the risk of sustained amenorrhea in premenopausal women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) receiving intermittent pulse cyclophosphamide (CTX) therapy. Methods　Prospectively comparing the amenorrhea rate of 51 cases receiving intermittent pulse cyclophosphamide therapy versus that of 22 cases receiving intermittent pulse methylprednisolone (MP) therapy. Results　The amenorrhea rate was higher in the CTX group (19.6%) than in the MP group (P=0.025).In the CTX group, the amenorrhea rate of patients aged over 30 was higher than that of patients aged 30 or below 30 (P=0.0018). Conclusion　Pulse CTX therapy in fertile women with SLE is associated with increased rate of sustained amenorrhea, and the older the patient is, the higher risk for sustained amenorrhea the patient runs.