Objective This study investigated the protective effects of Corni Fructus ethanol extract on β-amyloid protein 25-35 (Aβ25-35)-induced Alzheimer's disease (AD) mice by regulating histone lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) / postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) on synapses and neuroinflammation. Methods Specifically, according to the body weight, 40 C57BL/6N mice were randomized into four groups: the sham operation group, the model group, the low-dose (0.1mg/g) and the high-dose (0.3 mg/g) Corni Fructus ethanol extract groups. Aβ25-35 was injected into the hippocampus of mice in three groups except for the sham operation group to established AD model. All mice were orally administered with either Corni Fructus ethanol extract or vehicle by gavage for 7 days before molding and continued 5 days after surgery for a total of 60 days. Morris water maze, Y maze and open field tests were performed to evaluate the recognition memory and space exploration ability of mice. The expression of LSD1, PSD95, synaptophysin (SYN), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and H3K9me2 level were measured by Western blotting. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP) combined with qPCR was used to detect H3K9me2 modification of PSD95 promoter region and mRNA levels of PSD95. The correlation between the expression of H3K9me2 and PSD95 and the expression of IBA1 in the hippocampus were detected by immunofluorescence assay.Results The result showed that Corni Fructus ethanol extract significantly reversed Aβ25-35-induced learning and memory impairment in AD mice. Compared with the model group, Corni Fructus ethanol extract demonstrated shorter escape latency, increased number and time of autonomous activities and the rate of autonomous alternation. Moreover, it increased the expression of LSD1 in hippocampus of AD mice(P<0.05), and reduced H3K9me2 modification level in the promoter region of PSD95 gene, and then promoted the mRNA transcription and protein expression of PSD95. Immunofluorescence staining indicated the reduction of H3K9me2 modification level in hippocampus was accompanied by the enhancement of PSD95 expression. Corni Fructus ethanol extract could also inhibit the activation of microglia and reduce the expression of proinflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α.Conclusion Corni Fructus ethanol extract may regulate PSD95 gene transcription by up-regulating the expression of LSD1 and reducing the H3K9me2 modification level in its promoter region, thereby increasing the expression of PSD95, a key protein in synaptic plasticity regulation, which alleviate neuroinflammatory response, improve learning and memory dysfunction in AD model mice, and thus play a protective role in Aβ25-35-induced nerve damage.

Objective:To investigate the characteristics of cardiac structure and function changes in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.Methods:The information of 363 MHD patients with dialysis age ≥3 months who were registered in Huadu District People′s Hospital of Guangzhou City before January 2020 was collected, and the echocardiographic screening was performed to analyze the changes in cardiac structure and function.Results:The most common abnormal changes of heart structure and function in MHD patients were valve regentation (69.7%), left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) (51.8%), left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (29.8%), valve calcification (11.6%), and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (10.2%). With the increase of age, the left ventricular ejection fraction of MHD patients decreased, and the proportion of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, left atrial enlargement and pulmonary hypertension increased (all P<0.05). Among 363 MHD patients, 188(51.8%) had LVH. It was found that LVH patients had higher average single ultrafiltration volume, higher brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) level, more type 2 diabetes, lower left ventricular ejection fraction (all P<0.05), and were more prone to chest tightness, chest pain, post activity shortness of breath, heart failure and other symptoms compared with the non-LVH patients (all P<0.05). Conclusions:Most MHD patients have different degrees of cardiac structural changes. Early intervention, reduction of single ultrafiltration volume and control of blood glucose are beneficial to improve the dialysis quality of MHD patients and reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular events.

Objective:To report a case of acute kidney injury caused by rhabdomyolysis and summarize its etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment strategy.Methods:The clinical data of a case of rhabdomyolysis complicated by acute kidney injury admitted to Affiliated Huadu Hospital of Southern Medical University on August 30, 2020, were collected, including clinical manifestation, auxiliary examination, and disease outcome. Referring to the previous literature reports of rhabdomyolysis complicated by acute kidney injury, this paper discusses its etiology, monitors and analyzes some indicators such as serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, creatine kinase, myoglobin, and 24-hour urine volume during the treatment, and summarizes the clinical diagnosis and treatment ideas of the disease.Results:This case developed an intestinal infection after an unclean diet, which induced rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury. Renal pathology after renal biopsy showed that renal biopsy result was consistent with an acute tubulointerstitial injury caused by myoglobin tubular nephropathy. The biochemical indexes such as creatine kinase and myoglobin decreased rapidly after ordinary hemodialysis, but the levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen did not decrease markedly, and there was continuous oliguria. After switching to hemodialysis filtration and continuous intensive dialysis treatment, the levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen decreased rapidly, the amount of urine increased gradually, and finally, the renal function recovered.Conclusion:For acute kidney injury caused by rhabdomyolysis, early sufficient blood purification can accelerate the clearance of myoglobin, promote the recovery of the injured kidney, and improve the prognosis of the disease.

Objective:To analyze the incidence of malignant tumors and its risk factors in patients on maintenance hemodialysis.Methods:Clinical data of 627 hemodialysis patients in Huadu District People′s Hospital of Guangzhou who met the inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria from January 2015 to December 2020 were retrospectively collected. Clinical characteristic of patients with malignant tumors was summarized. Multivariate logistics regression analysis was performed to explore the related factors of malignant tumors.Results:Among the 627 patients, 19(3.03%) developed malignant tumors. There were 14 males and 5 females with a mean age of (65.7±13.7)years. Their mean dialysis duration was (45.16±38.18)months. Gastrointestinal tumor was the most common tumor type (9/19). Univariate analysis showed that the age of the patients combined with malignant tumors was significantly higher, and the serum prealbumin was significantly lower than those patients without malignant tumors (all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that age was the independent risk factor of developing cancers after adjusting dialysis age, hemoglobin, albumin and parathyroid hormone ( P<0.05). Conclusions:The incidence of malignant tumor is significantly higher in maintenance hemodialysis patients than that in the general population. Age is the risk independent risk factor. Therefore, we should strengthen the monitoring of elderly hemodialysis patients, discover the disease in time, and take measures to improve the prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of chronic constipation in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and analyze the risk factors of chronic constipation.Methods:Using the cross-sectional survey method, patients who received MHD in Huadu District People′s Hospital of Guangzhou from September 1, 2021 to September 30, 2021 were enrolled as the research objects. The patient′s demographic, general data and laboratory results were collected. The anxiety level and quality of life were assessed by questionnaires. The patients were divided into constipation group and non-constipation group according to whether they had chronic constipation. The Rome Ⅳ criteria was used to diagnose chronic constipation, and the differences of clinical data between the constipation group and the non-constipation group were compared. The risk factors of chronic constipation in MHD patients were analyzed by logistic regression analysis method.Results:A total of 321 MHD patients were enrolled in this study, with 168 males, 153 females and age of (59.5±13.4) years old (ranged from 29 to 87 years old). There were 160 patients (49.8%) with chronic constipation. The proportions of males, long dialysis age, taking sevelamer and lanthanum carbonate, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetes in the constipation group were higher than those in the non-constipation group, and the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The serum calcium, serum phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus product, anxiety scores, average weekly ultrafiltration volume/dry weight in the constipation group were significantly higher than those in the non-constipation group (all P<0.05), and the serum albumin, serum magnesium, urea clearance index (Kt/V) and geriatric nutritional risk index were significantly lower than those in the non-constipation group (all P<0.05). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that moderate to severe anxiety (moderate, OR=3.233, 95% CI 1.339-7.805, P=0.009; severe, OR=5.103, 95% CI 1.906-13.663, P=0.001), existed risk of nutrition (low risk, OR=3.705, 95% CI 1.440-9.533, P=0.007; moderate risk, OR=5.638, 95% CI 2.557-12.430, P<0.001; severe risk, OR=15.097, 95% CI 4.112-55.436, P<0.001), >60 years old (≤40 years old as a reference, OR=4.050, 95% CI 1.366-12.006, P=0.012), diabetes history ( OR=2.224, 95% CI 1.253-3.946, P=0.006), taking sevelamer ( OR=2.290, 95% CI 1.207-4.346, P=0.011), and calcium-phosphorus product ( OR=1.704, 95% CI 1.329-2.186, P<0.001), intact parathyroid hormone ( OR=1.013, 95% CI 1.003-1.022, P=0.007), blood urea nitrogen ( OR=1.092, 95% CI 1.002-1.189, P=0.045) and serum magnesium ( OR=0.042, 95% CI 0.006-0.294, P=0.001) were the independent influencing factors for chronic constipation in MHD patients. Conclusions:The prevalence of chronic constipation in MHD patients is 49.8%. Adequate dialysis, improving calcium and phosphorus metabolism, improving nutritional status, relieving anxiety, and increasing serum magnesium level may help to reduce the risk of chronic constipation in MHD patients.

Objective To investigated the protective effect and immunology mechanism of Astragaloside Ⅳ(Ast) on rat renal ischemia-reperfusion injury model. Methods The SD rats were randomly divided into four group as the control, sham-operation, renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, and Ast treatment groups. Rat serum and urine were collected and detective for kidney function and interleukin cytokines. The kidney tissue was collected for histology exam. The rats in astragaloside group were intraperitoneally injected with 100 mg/kg astragaloside, and the other three groups were intraperitoneally injected with an equal volume of normal saline. The models of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury were prepared to generate in model and astragaloside groups, after 30 minutes of astragaloside injection. The rats with renal ischemia-reperfusion injury model were sacrificed after 24 hours, and the level of blood-urine creatinine, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and Kidney damage molecule-1 were determined. The level of Th1 type cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2) and Th2 type cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) in serum were measured by using ELISA. The protein and gene expression of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10 in renal tissue were tested by western blot and PCR, respectively. The pathological changes and apoptosis of renal tissue in each group were detected by HE staining and TUNEL staining, respectively. The expression of CD20 protein in renal tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the model group, Ast treatment reduced serum creatinine (58.74 ± 9.44 μmol/L vs. 85.03 ± 23.48 μmol/L), increased creatinine clearance rate (0.81 ± 0.13 ml/min vs. 0.37 ± 0.08 ml/min), and reduce urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) (579.34 ± 11.70 pg/ml vs. 827.60 ± 14.48 pg/ml), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) (105.06 ± 2.10 pg/ml vs. 151.67 ± 3.06 pg/ml) (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, Ast treatment alleviated renal tubular epithelial cell injury and significantly decreased the apoptosis (14.36 ± 1.36% vs. 28.63 ± 2.03%) (P<0.05), and significantly decreased the serum TNF-α (361.44 ± 9.66 pg/ml vs. 515.93 ± 10.61 pg/ml), IFN-γ (64.11 ± 1.21 pg/ml vs. 93.51 ± 2.15 pg/ml), IL-2 (388.33 ± 1.21 pg/ml vs. 557.82 ± 15.29 pg/ml), IL-4 (60.89 ± 1.21 pg/ml vs. 95.56 ± 2.75 pg/ml), IL-5 (94.02 ± 2.81 pg/ml vs. 147.07 ± 3.50 pg/ml), and IL-10 (52.62 ± 2.51 pg/ml vs. 78.22 ± 3.24 pg/ml) (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, Ast treatment significantly decreased the kidney TNF-α mRNA (1.89 ± 0.59 vs. 2.87 ± 0.97), IFN-γ mRNA (3.11 ± 1.02 vs. 5.98 ± 1.52), IL-2 mRNA (1.68 ± 0.44 vs. 4.09 ± 1.65), IL-4 mRNA (2.41 ± 0.81 vs. 4.69 ± 1.62), IL-5 mRNA (1.56 ± 0.19 vs. 2.92 ± 0.55), IL-10 mRNA (1.45 ± 0.14 vs. 2.85 ± 0.32) (P<0.01). The ratio of IL-4 to IFN-γ was basically restored to the level of sham operation group (1.05 ± 0.02 vs. 1.02 ± 0.06) (P<0.01), and CD20 cells in renal tissue was reduced. Conclusions The Th1 and B lymphocytes play an important role in renal ischemia reperfusion injury, and Th2 cells play a protective role. Astragaloside can regulate the imbalance of Th1/Th2 in the early stage after acute renal injury, and alleviate renal tubular injury.

Objective To study the protective effect of total trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on renal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion in rats.Methods 24 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into 4 groups of (1) Normal control group,(2) Sham operation group,(3) Model group:the model of renal ischemia-reperfusion was established.(4) Retinoic acid treatment Group:ATRA were given by gavage for 7 consecutive days.The rats were killed 24 hours after the model,and the serum and renal tissue were collected.Serum creatinine,tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-αx) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) levels,kidney biopsy,renal tubular score,renal damage and renal tissue apoptosis were detected.Results Compared with the model group,the serum creatinine level decreased and the creatinine clearance rate increased in ATRA treated group (P ＜ 0.05);the damage of renal tubular epithelial cells was alleviated in the pathological slices;and the apoptosis rate of renal tubular epithelial cells was decreased (P ＜ 0.05).Serum levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ decreased (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions ATRA can protect the renal ischemia-reperfusion injury through inhibiting inflammatory reaction and apoptosis.

Objective To study the therapeutic effect of bitter gourd saponins on salt-sensitive kidney injury induced by high salt diet and its possible mechanism.Methods 50 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal group,model group and low-dose,middle-dose and high-dose treatment group after 10 days of adaptive feeding.Each group had 10 rats.Except the normal group,the other four groups were given high salt diet (4.0％ high salt diet) to induce salt-sensitive kidney damage in rats.The normal group and the model group were given 1.0 m/(kg · d) normal saline,and the three dosage groups of total saponins of balsam pear were given 10 mg/(kg · d),20 mg/(kg · d) and 40 mg/(kg · d) respectively.After 8 weeks of treatment,rats were sacrificed and collect the 24-hour proteinuria,creatinine.Serum creatinine,serum aldosterone,serum sodium and serum potassium were measured,and renal histopathology and the expression of podocin and nephrin were detected.Results Pathological examination of model group showed obvious glomerular sclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis,and glomerular sclerosis in the treatment group was obviously improved by bitter gourd saponins;The systolic pressure in the model group was 170 mmHg,significantly higher than that of the normal and treatment groups,the systolic blood pressure of the treatment groups were obvious decreased when treated by bitter gourd saponins (P ＜ 0.05);Compared with normal group,serum creatinine and 24 h proteinuria / urine creatinine in model group were significantly increased (P ＜ 0.05),while creatinine clearance rate and aldosterone were significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05),and the above indexes in bitter gourd saponins treatment group were significantly improved;Compared with the model group,the protein and mRNA expression of podocin and nephrin were significantly decreased (P ＜ 0.05),while the two indexes can be revered by bitter gourd saponins in treatment group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The bitter gourd saponins can significantly improve the symptoms of salt-induced hypertensive nephropathy in rats,which may be related with the expression of podocin and nephrin in renal tissue,thereby inhibiting glomerulosclerosis and improving renal interstitial fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the prognostic value of platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for early virological response in Entecavir (ETV)-treated chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with genotype C infection.Methods Ninety-one genotype C CHB patients with HBV DNA≥1×105 copies/mL were treated with ETV (0.5 mg/d) for 10-13 days.The correlation between PLR and viral load decline was evaluated by Pearson or Spearman's rank correlation coefficient.Stepwise linear regression analysis was used to establish the prediction model of virological response.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the predictive value of PLR for early virological response in ETV-treated patients with genotype C hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.Results After 10-13 days of ETV treatment, HBV DNA decreased ≥1×lg copies/mL from baseline in 89 cases of the 91 patients, while HBV DNA declined ≥2×lg copies/mL in 65 patients and 4 patients achieved HBV DNA<500 copies/mL.HBV DNA decline was positively correlated with baseline PLR levels (r=0.235 09, P<0.05).After adjustment for age, gender, Hepatitis B e Antigen (HBeAg), and treatment days, HBV DNA decline was still positively correlated with baseline PLR levels (r=0.220 26, P<0.05).Area under curve (AUC) of prediction model including age , baseline aspartate transaminase (AST) and HBV DNA was 0.759 (95% CI : 0.660-0.859, P<0.01).After adding PLR to the prediction model, the AUC was 0.780 (95% CI: 0.685-0.875, P<0.01).Conclusions PLR is predictive to early virological response in ETV-treated CHB patients with genotype C infection.Higher baseline PLR level indicates a better virological response.PLR monitoring should be recommended in CHB patients with antiviral treatment in clinical practice.

In order to identify genes involved in floral transition and development of the orchid species, a full-length APETALA1/FRUITFULL-like (AP1/FUL-like) MADS box cDNA was cloned from Cymbidium faberi (C. faberi) sepals and designated as C. faberi APETALA1-like (CfAP11], JQ031272.1). The deduced amino acid sequence of CfAP11 shared 84% homology with a member of the AP1/FUL-like group of MADS box genes (AY927238.1, Dendrobium thyrsiflorum FUL-like MADS box protein 3 mRNA). Phylogenetic analysis shows that CfAP11 belonged to the AP1/FUL transcription factor subfamily. Bioinformatics analysis shows that the deduced protein had a MADS domain and a relatively conservative K region. The secondary structure of CfAP11 mainly consisted of alpha helices (58.97%), and the three-dimensional structure of the protein was similar to that of homologues in Roza hybrida, Oryza sativa and Narcissus tazetta. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) results reveal low levels of its mRNA in roots, lower levels in leaves during reproductive period than vegetative period, and higher levels in pedicels at full-blossom stage than at bud stage. These results suggest that CfAP11 is involved in floral induction and floral development. Additionally, we observed higher levels of CfAP11 expression in pedicels and ovaries than in other tissues during full-blossom stage, which suggests that CfAP11 may also be involved in fruit formation in certain mechanism.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Flowers ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Genes, Plant ; MADS Domain Proteins ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Orchidaceae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spatio-Temporal Analysis