OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Zhibai Dihuang Pill (ZBDHP) on urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and sperm quality in ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) infection infertile patients.

METHODSRecruited were 80 infertility patients with Uu infection at Andriatrics Clinics and Department of Reproduction, including 130 cases of positive Uu semen and 50 cases of negative Uu semen. Patients with positive Uu semen were randomly assigned to the observation group (72 cases) and the control group (58 cases) according to the visit sequence. All patients took antibiotics for 2 weeks. Patients in the observation group additionally took ZBDHP, 6 g each time, twice daily. Those in the control group additionally took Vit E (100 mg each time, twice per day) and ATP (40 mg each time, twice per day). The therapeutic course for all was 90 days. Semen parameters and uPA contents of the sperm membrane were detected and comparatively analyzed.

RESULTSThe sperm membrane uPA content, the sperm motility, the sperm viability, and the percentage of normal morphology sperm in Uu positive infected patients were lower than those in Uu negative infected patients with statistical difference (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference in the sperm density between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in pre-treatment sperm membrane uPA contents and sperm parameters between the two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with before treatment in the same group, the sperm membrane uPA content, the sperm motility, the sperm viability, and the percentage of normal morphology sperm obviously increased in the two groups with statistical difference (P < 0.05). After treatment, the sperm membrane uPA content increased more obviously in the observation group, with statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSInfection with Uu leads to decreased uPA content of sperm membrance and the sperm motility. ZBDHP could effectively treat Uu infected infertility possibly through fighting against Uu damaged sperm membrane and make the sperm membrane uPA content return to normal, and elevate the fertilizability of sperms.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Communicable Diseases ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility ; Infertility, Male ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa ; Ureaplasma Infections ; drug therapy ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; drug effects ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; metabolism

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), uPA receptor (uPAR), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 on podocytes in immunoglobulin A (IgA) glomerulonephritis (GN). METHODS: Renal biopsy specimens from 52 IgA GN patients were deparaffinized and subjected to immunohistochemical staining for uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR. The biopsies were classified into three groups according to the expression of uPA and uPAR on podocytes: uPA, uPAR, and a negative group. The prevalences of the variables of the Oxford classification for IgA GN were compared among the groups. RESULTS: On podocytes, uPA was positive in 11 cases and uPAR was positive in 38 cases; by contrast, PAI-1 was negative in all cases. Expression of both uPA and uPAR on podocytes was less frequently accompanied by tubulointerstitial fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a possible protective effect of podocyte uPA/uPAR expression against interstitial fibrosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Atrophy ; Biological Markers/analysis ; Biopsy ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/diagnosis/*enzymology/immunology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1/*analysis ; Podocytes/*enzymology/immunology/pathology ; Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator/*analysis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/*analysis ; Young Adult

No abstract available.
Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/*enzymology ; Humans ; Male ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1/*analysis ; Podocytes/*enzymology ; Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator/*analysis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/*analysis

BACKGROUNDPulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and often fatal disease. Early after pulmonary thromboembolism, inflammation and associated intimal hyperplasia occur within the pulmonary arteries, similar to what is observed with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. This study tested the hypothesis that thrombolytic and anticoagulant agents would have anti-inflammatory effects or inhibit intimal hyperplasia of involved pulmonary arteries.

METHODSSeventy-two male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups (54 rabbits in the PE group and 18 in the sham group). Experimental PE was induced in 54 rabbits by femoral vein injection of autologous blood clots and confirmed with pulmonary angiography, and other 18 rabbits underwent sham operations. Fifty-four rabbits in the PE group were randomly divided into three groups: a control group (treated with normal saline), a low-molecular- weight heparin (LMWH) group (treated with LMWH), and a urokinase (UK) group (treated with UK). Arterial blood gas was analyzed at 2, 7, and 28 days (n = 6 per time point by random group division), then lung tissues were removed and were analyzed for pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and were stained for intimal hyperplasia.

RESULTSThe overall survival of rabbits undergoing PE was 100%. PE distribution detected on digital signal angiography (DSA) and histopathology was shown in 67% of rabbits (36/54) in the bilateral low lobar pulmonary arteries (PAs). The results showed that alveolar-arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) difference (PA-aO2) significantly increased and PO2 decreased in the control group compared with the sham group. Compared with controls, the UK group had a decreased level of PA-aO2 on day 2 (P < 0.05), however, there was no significant difference in the LMWH group. Compared with controls, the LMWH group had a decreased level of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in affected tissue and serum samples on days 7 and 28 (P < 0.05), and the UK group had decreased levels on days 2 and 7 (P < 0.05). Compared with sham group, all PE groups had an increased level of interleukin-13 (IL-13) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in unaffected lung tissue samples at days 2 and 7. IL-13 in affected lung tissue in the LMWH group was decreased at all time points compared with controls (P < 0.05). However, TGF-β in affected lung tissue of the LMWH and UK groups increased at day 28. There was less intimal hyperplasia in involved pulmonary arteries at days 7 and 28 in the LMWH group compared with controls; there was no statistical difference in the UK group compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONSUK treatment can rapidly improve the V/Q mismatch in PE and appears a short-term anti-inflammatory benefit. However, LMWH maybe inhibit the later local inflammatory reaction and reduce intimal hyperplasia.

Animals ; Chemokines ; analysis ; Cytokines ; analysis ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Oxygen ; blood ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; pathology ; Pulmonary Embolism ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Rabbits ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the fibrinolytic activity in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and its alteration in all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and/or arsenic trioxide (ATO) treatment.

METHODSPlasma fibrinogen concentration was determined with the conventional method, and the levels of fibrin degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer were quantified with ELISA. Plasminogen was measured by chromogenic assay. Cell surface expression of Annexin II and u-PAR and their mRNA levels were measured by flow cytometry and real time-PCR, respectively.

RESULTSThe levels of FDP and D-dimer in APL were remarkably higher in APL patients than that in normal controls, while fibrinogen and plasminogen were lower. Both Annexin II and u-PAR were highly expressed on APL cells, which declined after treatment with ATRA and/or ATO, but remained higher than those on normal bone marrow mononuclear cells.

CONCLUSIONAbnormally high levels of Annexin II and u-PAR expression on APL cells may contribute to the increased production of plasmin, leading to primary hyperfibrinolysis in APL. ATRA and ATO therapy induces down-regulation of Annexin II and u-PAR expression, which may be contribute, at least in part, to the relief of the hemorrhagic complications in APL.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Annexin A2 ; analysis ; Arsenicals ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fibrinolysis ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxides ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Tretinoin ; therapeutic use ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; analysis ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Pleural effusion develops in approximately 40% of pneumonia patients. In 5-10% of these cases, it progresses to complicated parapneumonic effusion (CPPE) or empyema that requires drainage. The prognostic factors of CPPE and empyema remain to be clarified. We examined the treatment outcomes of CPPE and empyema and elucidating their prognostic factors. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen patients with CPPE or empyema, who were diagnosed and treated in Kyungpook National University Hospital (Daegu, Korea) between September 2001 and December 2005, were retrospectively analyzed. All the data was acquired from their chart review, and regarding treatment results, the time to defervescence and the length of hospital stay were analyzed. RESULTS: The treatment was successful in 101 patients with a success rate of 87.8%. Multivariate analysis showed the level of pleural fluid lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to be a significant prognostic factor (odds ratio [OR] 7.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63 to 33.37; p=0.009). Pussy pleural fluid (r=0.236; p=0.01) and the frequency of urokinase use (r=0.257; p=0.01) correlated with the time to defervescence. However, there was no clinical factor that correlated with the length of hospital stay. CONCLUSION: The pleural fluid LDH level is a useful prognostic factor for monitoring treatment results of CPPE and empyema.
Drainage ; Empyema* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; Length of Stay ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator

BACKGROUNDRecent studies have proved that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) possesses angiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. However, the proangiogenic mechanism of BDNF has not yet been provided with enough information. To explore the proangiogenic mechanism of BDNF, we investigated the effects of BDNF on extracellular proteolytic enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and serine proteases, particularly the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA)-plasmin system in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) model.

METHODSTube formation assay was performed in vitro to evaluate the effects of BDNF on angiogenesis. The HUVECs were treated with various concentrations of BDNF (25 - 400 ng/ml) for different (6 - 48 hours), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to assay MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 mRNA in HUVECs, and the conditioned medium was analyzed for MMP and uPA activity by gelatin zymography and fibrin zymography, respectively. uPA, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, and TIMP-2 were quantified by western blotting analysis.

RESULTSBDNF elicited robust and elongated angiogeneis in two-dimensional cultures of HUVECs in comparison with control. The stimulation of serum-starved HUVECs with BDNF caused obvious increase in MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expression and induced the pro-MMP-2 and pro-MMP-9 activation without significant differences in proliferation. However, BDNF had no effect on TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 production. BDNF increased uPA and PAI-1 production in a dose-dependent manner. Maximal activation of uPA and PAI-1 expression in HUVECs was induced by 100 ng/ml BDNF, while effects of 200 ng/ml and 400 ng/ml BDNF were slightly reduced in comparison with with those of 100 ng/ml. Protease activity for uPA was also increased by BDNF in a dose-dependent manner. BDNF also stimulated uPA and PAI-1 production beyond that in control cultures in a time-dependent manner from 12 hours to 48 hours after BDNF treatment.

CONCLUSIONSBDNF stimulates MMP and uPA/PAI-1 proteolytic network in HUVECs, which may be important to the acquisition of proangiogenic potential.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; pharmacology ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; genetics ; Neovascularization, Physiologic ; drug effects ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; genetics

BACKGROUNDThe urokinase plasminogen activator system is believed to play an important role in degradation of the extracellular matrix associated with cartilage and bone destruction; however its precise roles in temporomandibular disorders have not yet been clarified. The aims of this study were to investigate the gene expression of fibrinolytic factors urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in the articular cartilage of rabbit temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with disc displacement (DD) and to probe the relationship between fibrinolytic activity and cartilage remodeling.

METHODSDisc displacement of right joints was performed in 36 of 78 rabbits under investigation. The animals were sacrificed at 4 days and 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after surgery, respectively. The right joints of these animals were harvested and processed for the examination of mRNA expression of uPA and PAI-1 in articular cartilage using in situ hybridization techniques.

RESULTSThe expression of uPA and PAI-1 was co-expressed weakly in the chondrocytes from transitive zone to hypertrophic zone and mineralized zone, while no hybridizing signals were shown in proliferative zone and superficial zone in control rabbits. The most striking was the up-regulation of uPA and PAI-1 mRNA in 4-day rabbits postoperatively at the onset of cartilage degeneration. The strongest hybridizing signals for uPA and PAI-1 were seen in 2-week rabbits postoperatively. After 2 weeks, the expression of uPA and PAI-1 began to decrease and reached nearly normal level at 12 weeks.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of the uPA/PAI-1 system coincides with the pathological changes in condylar cartilage after DD. The uPA/PAI-1 system may be one of the essential mediators in articular cartilage remodeling.

Animals ; Cartilage, Articular ; metabolism ; Female ; Joint Dislocations ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mandibular Condyle ; metabolism ; pathology ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rabbits ; Temporomandibular Joint ; metabolism ; Temporomandibular Joint Disc ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; genetics

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to observe the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (UPA) in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line (Tca8113) after heat shock with different dosage.

METHODSThe expression of UPA protein of Tca8113 after different heating temperatures(37 degrees C, 40 degrees C, 43 degrees C and 45 degrees C) treatment was examined by immunohistochemical technique (IH) and flow cytometry (FCM).

RESULTSCompared with 37 degrees C group, the UPA protein expression in 40 degrees C and 43 degrees C groups decreased significantly (P < 0.05); however, the UPA protein expression in 45 degrees C group decreased but no statistical difference was found.

CONCLUSIONHyperthermia could inhibit invasion and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma and could be considered as a safe method in curing the tumor.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Flow Cytometry ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Tongue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; analysis ; biosynthesis

BACKGROUND: There are evidences that uPA and its inhibitor play a key role in tumor spread. We studied whether uPA and PAI-1 expressions could serve as prognostic parameters along with clinical, gross and microscopic findings in gallbladder carcinomas. METHODS: We analyzed 42 cases of gallbladder carcinomas by immunohistochemical staining and clinicopathologic parameters. RESULTS: uPA and PAI-1 were more frequently expressed in the adenocarcinoma than in the normal or benign gallbladder tissue. The uPA expression in the glands of low grade adenocarcinoma was significantly correlated with both distant and lymph node metastases. The uPA expression in the stroma around the low grade adenocarcinoma was significantly correlated with either distant or lymph node metastasis. The PAI-1 expression was significantly correlated with lymph node metastasis only for both distant and lymph node metastases. In multivariate analysis, the lymphatic invasion was significantly related to poor survival (p= 0.0115). In univariate analysis, the cases without lymphatic invasion had prolonged survival. Positive expression of uPA in the glands of low-grade adenocarcinoma was significantly correlated with poor survival (p=0.0391). CONCLUSION: In conjunction with clinicopathologic findings, expressions of uPA and PAI-1 may be useful prognostic markers in gallbladder carcinomas.
Adenocarcinoma ; Gallbladder* ; Lymph Nodes ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; Plasminogen Activators* ; Plasminogen* ; Prognosis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator*