Objective: To investigate the effects of direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) therapy on the frequency of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and their subset of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSC) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. Methods: A total of 32 treatment-naive CHC patients and 16 healthy controls were recruited at Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from June 2016 to June 2017. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were separated from the peripheral blood of patients with CHC before DAA therapy, at four weeks after DAA therapy, at 12 weeks after DAA therapy and 12 weeks after the end of DAA therapy. The frequencies of MDSC and M-MDSC were detected by the flow cytometer. The t test, U test and chi-square test was employed to analyze the data. Results: All the 32 treatment-naive patients achieved the rapid virological response and no virological breakthrough was observed. Before DAA therapy, the frequency of MDSC in CHC patients was 2.18%, which was higher than healthy individuals (0.60%; Z=-4.593, P<0.01), and positively correlated with the plasma levels of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA (r=0.688, P<0.01) and aspartate aminotransferase (r=0.735, P<0.01). After four weeks of DAA therapy, the frequency of MDSC decreased significantly to 1.07%, with no statistical significance compared to the controls (Z=-1.221, P>0.05). However, at 12 weeks after DAA therapy, the MDSC frequency increased, with statically significance compared to the controls (1.64% vs 0.60%, Z=-3.117, P=0.002). At 12 weeks after the end of DAA therapy, the MDSC frequency had decreased to 1.29% again, with no statistical significance compared to the controls (Z=-1.387, P=0.664). The changes of M-MDSC frequency were slightly different. Before DAA therapy, the frequency of M-MDSC in CHC patients was higher compared to healthy controls (1.66% vs 0.81%, Z=-2.745, P<0.01). The frequencies of M-MDSC were 0.91%, 1.09% and 1.10% at four, 12 weeks after DAA and 12 weeks after the end of DAA therapy, respectively. The differences were not statistically significant compared to the controls (Z=-0.589, -1.028 and -0.486, respectively, all P>0.05). Conclusion Immune status of the peripheral MDSC and M-MDSC can return to normal after DAA therapy in CHC patients.

Objective To set up a computer-assisted polyp detection system under colonoscopy,and to preliminarily verify its effectiveness.Methods Based on Faster R-CNN algorithm and the open source implementation of the open source framework tensorflow and Faster R-CNN,a computer-assisted polyp detection system under colonoscopy was constructed.According to the size and difficulty of the training set,five test groups were set up:test group one,two,three and four contained 1 000,2 000,4 000 and 6 000 training samples,respectively.Test group five increased the probability of selecting the difficult samples based on 6 000 training samples.In different training sets,the sensitivity,specificity,other classification evaluation parameters,and the evaluation parameters of target detection such as recall and precision of this polyps detection system were calculated.Results Classification evaluation parameters showed that the sensitivities of test group one,two,three,four and five were 90.1％,93.3％,93.3％,93.3 ％ and 93.5 ％,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (x2 =25.324,P＜0.01).The sensitivities of test group two,three,four and five were all higher than that of test group one,and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =13.964,13.508,13.508 and 13.386,all P＜ 0.006 25).There were no significant differences in specificity and positive predictive value among test groups (both P＞0.05).The negative predictive values of test group one,two,three,four and five were 90.4％,93.3％,93.3％,93.3％ and 93.5％,respectively,and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =21.862,P＜0.01).The negative predictive values of test group two,three,four and five were higher than that of test group one,and the differences were statistically significant (x2=11.447,11.564,11.755,13.760;all P＜0.006 25).As the training sample size increased from 1 000 to 2 000,the area under curve (AUC) increased by 2％,and further increased the sample size to 6 000,AUC increased by less than 1 ％.At this point maintaining the same sample size while increasing the proportion of difficult samples,AUC increased by 0.4％.The results of evaluation parameters of target detection showed that the recall rate of each test group was 73.6％,79.8％,79.5％,79.8％ and 83.3％,respectively,and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =71.936,P＜0.01).Among them,the recall rates of test group two,three and four were higher than that of test group one,and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =25.960,23.492 and 25.960,all P＜0.006 25),and the recall rate of test group five was higher than those of test group one,two,three and four,and the differences were statistically significant (x2=67.361,9.899,11.527 and 9.899;all P＜0.006 25).In addition,the precision rates of test group one,two,three,four and five were 87.9％,85.3％,90.2％,91.4％ and 89.2％,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (x2=48.194,P＜0.01).The precision rates of test group three and five were higher than that of test group two,and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =24.508 and 15.223,both P＜0.006 25),and the precision rate of test group four was higher than those of test group one and two,and the differences were statistically significant (x2=13.524 and 39.120,both P＜0.006 25).As samples size and training difficulty increased,the values of F1-score and mean average precision increased steadily.Conclusions This study initially constructed a computer-assisted polyp detection system under colonoscopy.Currently the maximum sensitivity reached 93.5％,and the maximum recall rate reached 83.3％.Increasing the training set size may improve the polyp detection result to a certain degree,however it will reach a bottleneck.At this time,increasing the training difficulty can further improve the detection scores,especially the recall rate.

To examine levels of M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and its antibody in the patients with hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy (HBV-MN), and to explore the correlation of PLA2R with laboratory parameters and pathological characteristics.
 Methods: A total of 49 adult patients with biopsy-proved HBV-MN were enrolled in this study. Levels of anti-PLA2R antibody in serum and PLA2R in renal tissue were detected. Patients were assigned into two groups: a positive PLA2R group and a negative PLA2R group. Differences in laboratory parameters and pathological characteristics were compared between the two groups.
 Results: Of 49 patients with HBV-MN, 17 had positive PLA2R expression in renal tissues. In the positive PLA2R group, 10 patients were positive for serum anti-PLA2R antibody. Patients with positive PLA2R expression in renal tissues showed higher levels of 24 hour urinary protein [(4.6±3.9) g/d], serum HbsAg (70.5%) and renal HbsAg expression (71%), while lower level of serum albumin [(24.1±7.5) g/L] than those of the negative group.
 Conclusion: PLA2R is expressed in the renal tissues and serum anti-PLA2R antibody can be detected in some HBV-MN patients. Positive PLA2R expression in renal tissue might be related to HbsAg deposition in serum and renal tissues. Patients with positive PLA2R expression in renal tissue have more severe glomerular sclerosis.
Adult ; Antibodies ; Autoantibodies ; genetics ; physiology ; Biopsy ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; complications ; etiology ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; adverse effects ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Kidney ; blood supply ; chemistry ; physiopathology ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Male ; Prognosis ; Proteinuria ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Receptors, Phospholipase A2 ; blood ; physiology ; Serum Albumin ; genetics

BACKGROUND: To explore the role of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) in renal interstitial fibrosis by using rat model of unilateral ureteral obstructive (UUO) or cell model of human kidney proximal tubular epithelial (HK)-2 cells treated with transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1).
 METHODS: 1) A total of 15 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a sham group, a UUO group and an okadaic acid (OA) treated group (OA group) (n=5 in each group). The OA 
[30 μg/(kg·d)], diluted with 1.8% alcohol, was given to the rats in the OA group through gastric tube after at 72 h after the surgery, while the equal volume of 1.8% alcohol was given to the rats in the sham group and the UUO group. After sacrificing rats, the blood and kidney were collected to detect the renal function and the expression of PP2Ac, fibronectin (FN), collagen-I (Col-I), E-cadherin (E-cad) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) by immunohistochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively; 2) The likely concentration of OA was determined by Trypan blue dye exclusive assay and methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The HK-2 cells were incubated with serum-free Dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM) for 24 h; then they were divided into a control group, a TGF-β1 group (treated with 5 ng/mL TGF-β1 for 24 h) and a TGF-β1+OA group (treated with 5 ng/mL TGF-β1 and 40 nmol/L OA for 24 h). The HK-2 cells were collected and the expression of PP2Ac, FN, Col-I, E-cad and α-SMA were detected by Western blot.
 RESULTS: 1) Compared with the sham group, the BUN and Scr in the UUO group increased (both P<0.05); compared with the UUO group, the BUN and Scr in the OA group decreased (both P<0.05); the expression of PP2Ac, FN, Col-I and α-SMA was up-regulated while the expression of E-cad was down-regulated in the UUO group compared with those in the sham group (all P<0.05). The expression of PP2Ac, FN, Col-I and α-SMA was down-regulated while the expressions of E-cad was up-regulated in the OA group compared with those in the UUO group (all P<0.05); 2) The likely concentration of OA was 40 nmol/L. Western blot showed that the expression of PP2Ac, FN, Col-I and α-SMA was up-regulated while the expressions of E-cad was down-regulated in the TGF-β1 group compared with those in the control group (all P<0.05); the expression of PP2Ac, FN, Col-I and α-SMA were down-regulated while the expression of E-cad was up-regulated in the TGF-β1+OA group compared with those in the TGF-β1 group (all P<0.05).
 CONCLUSIONS PP2A might be able to promote the renal interstitial fibrosis.
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Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Fibronectins ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Kidney ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; enzymology ; Protein Phosphatase 2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; pharmacology

Objective To analyze the clinical distribution and drug resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the speci‐mens of inpatient and outpatient in 2013 .Methods All of the isolated Staphylococcus aureus were identified and tested drug sensi‐tivity in 2013 ,and the results were analyzed .Results 286 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated with the detection rate of MRSA accounting for 46 .9% .The respiratory specimens had the highest detection rates of Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA .The isolated strains of Staphylococcus aureus were mainly distributed in ICU ,Department of Neurosurgery ,Department of Orthopedic trauma ,and Department of Respiratory Medicine .The isolated Staphylococcus aureus had high drug resistant rates to penicillin and ampicillin .The drug resistant rates of most of the drugs were different between MSSA and MRSA .Conclusion Monitoring the drug resistance of Staphylococcus aureus is very important to rational choice of antimicrobial agents .

Objective:To evaluate the mortality and risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized patients by the risk, injury, failure, loss, end stage kidney disease (RIFLE) and acute kidney injury network (AKIN).
Methods:We constructed a retrospective study of all AKI patients in the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between February 2006 and January 2011. The diagnosis and classiifcation of AKI were reconifrmed and categorized by RIFLE and AKIN criteria. To compare the clinical characteristics, mortality and associated risk factors in AKI patients by the RIFLE and AKIN stage, univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Results:The patients were diagnosed as AKI by AKIN (n=1027) or by RIFLE criteria (n=1020). There was no signiifcant difference in the hospital mortality, hospital length stay (days), or the proportion of complete recovery in each stage of AKI patients by RIFLE and AKIN (P>0.05). In the univariate analysis, age, pre-renal causes, proportion of hospital acquired AKI, mechanical ventilation, hypotension, the number of failed organs, acute tubular necrosis-index severity score (ATN-ISS), and the peak of serum potassium ion concentration were signiifcantly higher in the non-survivors than in the survivors (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age older than 65, hospital acquired AKI, hypotension, number of failed organs, ATN-ISS scores, and the peak of serum potassium ion concentration were independent risk factors for hospital mortality. Conclusion:Both RIFLE and AKIN criteria have similar scientiifc value in assessing hospital mortality. AKI stage is associated with the recent prognosis of AKI patients.

Objective To determine the effect of smad anchor for receptor activation (SARA) on renal tubular epithelial to mesenchymal transtion (EMT) induced by high glucose and to investigate the associated mechanism.Methods HK-2 cells were exposed to high glucose (30 mmol/L).HK-2 cells were transfected with the plasmids of wild-type SARA [SARA (WT)] or SARA mutant [SARA with SBD deletion,called SARA (dSBD)] and then was stimulated by high glucose.The gene expression was assayed by real-time PCR and the protein expression was detected by Western blotting.Results During the process of high glucose-induced EMT of HK-2 cells,the gene and protein expression of SARA were down-regulated.The expression of TGF-β1 and Smad3 increased after stimulation of high glucose in HK-2.However,the Smad2 mRNA expression increased while its protein expression was down-regulated in a time-dependent manner.Smad2 and Smad3 were activated by high glucose stimulation and Smad3 kept activation for longer time than Smad2.Compared with high glucose group,over-expression of SARA by transfection of SARA (WT) up-regulated the expression of zona occludens(ZO)1 and down-regulated the expression of vimentin (P＜0.05).However,SARA (dSBD) had no such effects on above expressions.The Smad2 protein expression increased along with the over-expression of SARA.Meanwhile,over-expression of SARA prolonged the activation time of Smad2 and shortened the activation time of Smad3.Conclusions TGF-β1 signaling is activated and SARA expression is down-regulated during the process of high glucose-induced EMT in HK-2 cells.Over-expression of SARA can inhibit the EMT via increase of Smad2 protein expression and longer activation time of Smad2.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of norcantharidin (NCTD) on the expression of mRNA and protein of fibronectin (FN), collagen IV(Col IV) and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) in human kidney proximal tubular epithelial (HK)-2 cells induced by high glucose. METHODS: HK-2 cells were incubated with serum-free DMEM for 24 h to synchronize cell growth, and then the cells were divided into 4 groups: Group C (5.5 mmol/L D-glucose), Group M (5.5 mmol/L D-glucose + 24.5 mmol/L-mannitol), Group HG (30 mmol/L D-glucose), and Group HG + NCTD (30 mmol/L D-glucose + 0.5-40 mg/L NCTD). Cytotoxicity of HK-2 cells induced by high glucose of NCTD was detected by Trypan blue dye exclusive assay. The effect of NCTD on the proliferation of HK-2 cells in high glucose was determined by MTT. The cells were collected to extract total RNA and protein at 6, 24 and 48 h after the incubation. The expression of FN, Col IV and TGF-β1 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR, and FN, Col IV and TGF-β1 protein was analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS: Trypan blue dye exclusive assay showed NCTD concentrations over 5 mg/L were rather toxic in HK-2 cells. The proliferation of HK-2 cells in high glucose was interrupted by interfered with 5 mg/L NCTD as measured by MTT (P<0.05). NCTD at 5 mg/L had a stronger inhibitory effect than NCTD at 2.5 mg/L. Real-time PCR and Western blot showed that the mRNA and protein expression of FN, collagen IV and TGF-β1 increased in HK-2 cells treated with high glucose (P<0.05), while that in cells treated by NCTD was dramatically inhibited (P<0.05). No change in these parameters was detected in the 30 mmol/L D-mannitol control group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION NCTD can downregulate FN, collagen IV and TGF-β1 mRNA and protein expression in HK-2 cells stimulated by 30 mmol/L D-glucose.
Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Collagen Type IV ; genetics ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Fibronectins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Kidney Tubules, Proximal ; cytology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the new pathological classification of diabetic nephropathy (DN) published by Research Committee of the Renal Pathology Society in 2010. METHODS: Renal biopsy specimens were obtained from 37 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with micro-albuminuria (MAU) or clinical albuminuria (CAU). These samples were classified according to new pathological classification for DN and new standard scores for interstitial vascular injury. RESULTS: Before the classification, DN was seen in 26 palients. After re-analysis according to the new pathological classification, the patients diagnosed with DN increased to 32. In these 32 DN patients, 1 was classified as type I, 3 as type IIa, 2 as type IIb, 23 as type III and 3 as type IV; 12 patients had mild interstitial injury, 15 had midrange interstitial injury, while 5 had severe interstitial injury. CONCLUSION The new pathological classification of DN can increase the diagnosis rate and attract more attention to tubular and interstitial damage in DN, contributing to the early diagnosis and treatment of DN.
Adult ; Aged ; Albuminuria ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; pathology ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; classification ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Reference Standards ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes and clinical significance of saliva urea, creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA) in both healthy people and chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, and to provide a noninvasive, quick, accurate and reliable test to diagnose kindey disease. METHODS: Urea, Cr and UA in the saliva and serum collected from both healthy people and the CKD patients were measured by biochemical analyzer. We calculated the correlation coefficient of Urea, Cr and UA between the saliva and serum, compared the levels of saliva Urea, Cr and UA among CKD patients in different periods, drew the receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve and analyzed the sensitivity and specificity of saliva Urea, Cr and UA to predict CKD patients in various periods. RESULTS: The concentrations of Urea, Cr and UA in both the saliva and the serum were positively correlated in healthy individuals and CKD patients (r = 0.918, 0.932, 0.840 and 0.984, 0.971, 0.920). The levels of saliva Urea, Cr and UA in the CKD patients were significantly higher than those of healthy people (P<0.05). Saliva Urea, Cr and UA concentrations of middle and late stage CKD patients were obviously higher than those of healthy people and early stage CKD patients (P<0.05). Areas under the curve (AUC) of the ROC of Urea, Cr and UA to diagnose diverse periods of CKD were 0.898, 0.897 and 0.848. The sensitivity was 0.806, 0.776 and 0.704; and the specificity was 0.968, 0.989 and 0.871. CONCLUSION The levels of Urea, Cr and UA between the saliva and the serum are closely related. The concentration of saliva Urea, Cr and UA can reflect the renal damage, monitor kidney function of the CKD patients, and help diagnose middle to late stage CKD patients. It is a simple, nonivasive and quick method.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Creatinine ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; metabolism ; Saliva ; chemistry ; Urea ; analysis ; Uric Acid ; analysis ; Young Adult