Objective:To explore the construction of abdominal aortocaval fistula (ACF) model in adenine-induced renal failure rats, and to provide a suitable animal model for subsequent mechanism and intervention researches.Methods:Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g) were fed with 0.75% adenine diet (renal failure group, n=60) and the same diet without adenine (control group, n=10) for 4 weeks, and the rats were randomly grouped by block randomization method with a ratio of 6∶1. Thirty rats in the renal failure group were randomly selected by block randomization method at a ratio of 1∶1 to undergo laparotomies to establish ACF models (renal failure+ACF group). The serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen detection and Masson staining were used to evaluate the establishment of renal failure model. Small animal ultrasound imaging system was applied to verify the successful construction of the ACF model. After 6 weeks of ACF observation, blood samples were collected from the heart of rats, and ACF-vascular tissues were collected for pathological study (HE staining). Results:At 4 weeks of feeding, compared with the control group, serum creatinine [(63.8±23.5) μmol/L vs. (33.0±3.8) μmol/L, Z=3.651, P<0.001] and blood urea nitrogen [(13.1±6.9) mmol/L vs. (5.3±0.6) mmol/L, Z=3.254, P=0.001] in the renal failure group were both higher. Masson staining showed renal tubulointerstitial inflammatory cell infiltration, renal tubular epithelial cell atrophy, interstitial fibrosis and vascular injury. Five rats sacrificed after ACF surgeries, and the survival rate was 83.3%. Doppler ultrasound showed turbulent blood flow of arterial to venous shunt at the anastomosis of open ACF (23/25) in the renal failure+ACF group. HE staining showed typical eccentric neointimal hyperplasia in the outflow tract of ACF vein in the renal failure+ACF group. Conclusions:The adenine-induced ACF rat model is successfully constructed, and ACF shows typical eccentric neointimal hyperplasia. The ACF construction would provide a reliable animal model to study the mechanism and intervention of neointimal hyperplasia for autologous arteriovenous fistula.

Objective To investigate the effects of Carthamus tinctorius L.extract(CTLE)on the levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in mice with ethanol-induced alcoholic liver disease and its mechanism of action.Methods SPF-grade C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into four groups:control group,model group,low-CTLE group(50 mg·kg-1),and high-CTLE group(100 mg·kg-1).The control group was given Lieber-Decarli liquid diet,and the other groups were given Lieber-Decarli alcohol diet to construct a chronic alcoholic liver injury model in mice.Serum and liver tissues of mice were collected and serum biochemical indexes of mice were detected.HE and oil red O staining were applied to observe pathological changes in mouse liver tissues.Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western Blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of Keap1/Nrf2 and STAT3/NF-κB pathway-related factors.Results Compared with the model group,the ALT,AST,LDL-C,and MDA levels were significantly reduced(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),while the levels of HDL-C,SOD,and GSH were increased dramatically in the administered group(P＜0.05,P＜0.01),which indicated that CTLE has specific protective and antioxidant effects on alcoholic liver injury in mice.HE staining and oil red O staining showed that the hepatic lesions and lipid deposition of mice were ameliorated.It enhances the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the body by activating the mRNA and protein expression levels of antioxidant factors related to the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway and inhibiting the mRNA and protein expression levels of inflammatory factors related to STAT3/NF-κB pathway(P＜0.05,P＜0.01).Conclusion It was shown that CTLE could exert anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects through regulating Keap1/Nrf2 and STAT3/NF-κB signaling pathways to attenuate alcoholic liver injury in mice.This study may provide a new idea for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease and the subsequent study of molecular mechanisms.

Objective:To explore the application effect of checklist teaching in clinical nursing internship teaching in nephrology.Methods:A total of 49 full-time undergraduate nursing students who interned between July and December 2023 were selected as the observation group, while 49 full-time undergraduate nursing students who interned between July and December 2022 were selected as the control group. During the internship teaching process, the observation group received a checklist teaching, while the control group received traditional teaching. The effectiveness of the checklist teaching method was evaluated by comparing the internship performance, sense of belonging, and satisfaction of both students and teachers between two groups of nursing students. SPSS 26.0 was used for chi-square test and t test. Results:After teaching, the theoretical scores [(97.45±1.63) vs. (93.26±2.38)] and operational skills scores [(96.15±1.90) vs. (93.25±2.46)] were significantly higher in the observation group than in the control group ( P<0.05). After teaching, the observation group had significantly higher scores for the sense of belonging and satisfaction scores in all dimensions during the internship compared to the control group ( P<0.05). After teaching, the teaching staff showed significantly higher satisfaction scores in all dimensions in the observation group than in the control group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Applying checklist teaching to clinical teaching of nephrology nursing can significantly improve the internship assessment scores of students, promote the teaching performance of teaching staff, and enhance the satisfaction of both teachers and students.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) level and the location and severity of bleeding in patients with cerebral microbleeds(CMBs).Methods:A total of 60 CMBs patients admitted to the Department of Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of the Xinxiang Medical University from January 2019 to August 2020 were selected as subjects as the CMBs group, and 60 healthy controls without nervous system diseases in outpatient physical examination during the same period were selected as the control group. The clinical data and biochemical indicators of the two groups were collected. Serum MMP-9 levels were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). According to susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), CMBs patients were divided into grade 1 group ( n=24), grade 2 group ( n=19) and grade 3 group ( n=17), and according to the micro analytical rating scale (MARS), the CMBs patients were divided into the lobar group ( n=19), the deep or infratentorial group ( n=17) and the mixed group ( n=24).The relationship between serum MMP-9 level and the location and severity of CMBs was analyzed. SPSS 19.0 software was used for data statistical analysis.One-way ANOVA, t-test and rank sum test were used for comparison. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the influencing factors. Pearson correlation analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were used for correlation analysis. Results:The level of MMP-9 in CMBs group was significantly higher than that in control group (208.13(142.25, 285.88) μg/L, 149.50(93.40, 186.51)μg/L), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Serum MMP-9 level was a risk factor of CMBs ( β=1.322, OR=3.750, 95% CI=2.038-7.997, P=0.002). The difference of level of MMP-9 in different severity of CMBs was statistically significant (147.55(109.25, 266.47)μg/L, 242.12(147.55, 288.80)μg/L, 270.42(203.43, 364.27)μg/L, P=0.017). Serum MMP-9 level was positively correlated with the number of CMBs ( r=0.371, P=0.003). The difference of MMP-9 level of CMBs in different locations were statistically significant (249.77(158.43, 338.46)μg/L, 188.83(138.52, 243.15)μg/L, 210.65(144.25, 255.78)μg/L, P=0.013). The increased serum MMP-9 level was a risk factor for CMBs( β=0.401, OR=1.122, 95% CI=1.004-1.204, P=0.036). Conclusion:The increased level of serum MMP-9 may be a risk factor of CMBs, especially for CMBs in cerebral lobesand, and the level of MMP-9 is positively correlated with the severity of CMBs.

Objective:To find clues potentially valuable for fighting against infection with human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), the differentially expressed genes in HEp-2 cells infected with HRSV were analyzed.Methods:Gene expression profiles of HEp-2 cells infected with HRSV were collected from the public gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. The differentially expressed genes following HRSV infection at each time point of 4, 8, 12, and 15 hours were found using R language. The differentially expressed genes were analyzed by gene ontology (GO), KEGG pathway and protein-protein interaction network (PPI). Genes with relatively high protein interaction in PPI were randomly selected for quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) verification at the transcription level from HEp-2 cells after HRSV infection at 4 hours.Results:A total of 101 differentially expressed genes were determined, including 92 upregulated genes and 9 downregulated genes. Function enrichment analysis revealed that HRSV infection could cause significant changes in multiple signaling pathways such as immune response in HEp-2 cells. The results of qRT-PCR were consistent with the trend of transcriptome data.Conclusions:The differentially expressed genes and the change of signaling pathways in HRSV-infected HEp-2 cells is of great significance to the studies on pathogenic mechanism and prevention of HRSV infection.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between serum matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) level and vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia (VCIND) in patients with cerebral small vessel diseases (CSVD).Methods:A total of 374 patients with CSVD treated in the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University from January 2016 to January 2020 were collected and 150 healthy subjects in the same period were used as general data of the control group. All subjects were detected for serum MMP-9 level using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and received cognitive function scoring using Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA). The 374 patients with CSVD were divided into the Group A(186 cases with vascular cognitive impairment with no dementia) and the Group B(188 cases without cognitive impairment). The general data, serum MMP-9 level and cognitive function score were compared among the three groups and the correlation between MMP-9 level and cognitive function was analyzed.Results:The MMP-9 levels of Groups A and B ( (335.10±105.10)μg/L, (261.62±80.32)μg/L) were higher than those of the control group ( (168.23±48.85)μg/L), and the MMP-9 level of Group A was higher than that of Group B ( P<0.05). The MoCA scores of Groups A and B ( (18.45±5.24), (28.31±1.52) ) were lower than those of the control group (29.49±0.90), and the MoCA scores of Group A were lower than those of Group B ( P<0.05). The serum MMP-9 level, a risk factor for VCIND in patients with CSVD ( β=1.505, OR=1.323, 95% CI=1.149-1.527, P<0.05), was negatively correlated with total score of MoCA scale, visual-spatial and executive function, naming, language, abstract thinking, delayed recall, and directive force factor score ( r=-0.299, r=-0.155, r=-0.383, r=-0.358, r=-0.192, r=-0.259, r=-0.246 respectively, all P<0.05). Conclusion:The increased level of MMP-9 may be a risk factor of VCIND in CSVD patients, and it is closely related to cognitive impairment.

Objective: To investigate the histomorpholgic spectrum, immunophenotypic, and molecular genetic features of Sertoli cell tumor, not otherwise specified (SCT, NOS) of the testis. Methods: Seven cases of SCT, NOS of the testis were analyzed(4 from Peking University Third Hospital and 3 from Zhejiang Provincial People′s Hospital) between 2008 and 2017. The histopathologic features were examined based on HE staining, and EnVision method was used for immunohistochemistry staining of calretinin, inhibin, β-catenin, cyclinD1, CD10, CKpan, neuroendocrine markers, WT1, Melan A, vimentin, SALL4, GATA3, PAX8, and S-100 protein. Mutational analysis of exon 3 of the CTNNB1 gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified sequences and direct sequencing was performed. Results: Patients ages ranged from 22 to 65 years (mean 43 years). The clinical manifestation in all was a slowly enlarging, painless testicular mass.The maximum diameter of the tumor ranged from 1.5 cm to 3.0 cm (mean 2.1 cm). Sectioning usually disclosed a tan-gray to white mass with vague lobular cut-surface. Microscopically, the tumors were well circumscribed and non-encapsulated; the tumor cells were rearranged in multiple growth patterns from diffuse solid sheets to trabeculae and cords, ribbon and solid or hollow tubules setting in variable amount of acellular fibrous stroma. Two cases showed acellular collagenous stroma constituted >50% of the tumor confirming to the diagnosis of sclerosing SCT. One case demonstrated a prominent myxoid stromal change. The tumor cells typically had moderate amounts of pale to lightly eosinophilic cytoplasm, 2 tumors had variable cells with abundant lipid-rich cytoplasm, and 1 other tumor showed scattered aggregates of multinucleated tumor cells. The tumor cells were bland-appearing without any evidence of atypia, mitoses were noted in 2 tumors (both were 1/50 HPF), but necrosis was absent. Immunohistochemical staining results as follows: vimentin (diffuse, 7/7), CD10 (diffuse membrane, 7/7); diffuse β-catenin nuclear and cytoplasm staining in 5 of 7 cases, and all the 5 cases showed diffuse cyclin D1 nuclear staining, β-catenin membrane staining in 2 of 7 cases, CKpan (5/7, focal or diffuse), calretinin (focal, 5/6), inhibin (focal, 3/7), synaptophysin (focal, 2/6), CD56 (focal or diffuse, 4/5), WT1 (diffuse nuclear, 4/5), and S-100 protein (diffuse, 3/7), and chromogranin A, Melan A, PAX8, GATA3 and SALL4 all were negative. Molecular genetic studies of PCR and direct sequencing showed CTNNB1 mutations in 4 of 7 (4/7) cases, 4 of the four mutation-carrying cases showed diffuse β-catenin nuclear and cytoplasm immunoreactivity and diffuse cyclin D1 nuclear immunoreactivity in the tumor cells. Conclusions SCT, NOS of the testis typically shows significant heterogeneities in both morphology and immunohistochemistry, thus causing differential diagnostic confusions. Molecular analyses showed mutations of exon 3 of CTNNB1 in more than half of these tumors, and nuclear accumulation of β-catenin and over expression of cyclin D1 can be useful for the differential diagnosis of SCT, NOS.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic and differential diagnostic features of glomus tumor of the kidney. Methods: Four cases of glomus tumor of the kidney were collected from the archives of Peking University Third Hospital, the Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Ningbo Yinzhou Second Hospital and Zhejiang Provincial People′s Hospital between January 2012 to June 2017; the clinical and radiologic features, histomorphology, immunohistochemistry, ultrastucture and prognosis were analyzed and the relevant literature was reviewed. Results: Patients consisted of 2 men and 2 women with ages ranging from 37 years to 66 years (mean 55 years). Three patients had history of hypertensive disease (grade Ⅱ, 3 to 10 years). The tumors measured in maximum diameter from 3.0 cm to 4.0 cm (mean 3.6 cm) and showed gray-white to yellow and tan on cut surface. Macroscopical examinations showed all tumors were circumscribed but non-encapsulated. Histologically, 1 tumor presented as glomus tumor with extensive myxoid change, 1 as cellular and solid pattern glomus tumor, 1 as glomangioma with focal myopericytoma-like pattern and 1 as symplastic glomus tumor with areas resembling myopericytoma. The tumor cells in two cases showed scant cytoplasm and uniform, bland-appearing nuclei without mitoses. In one case, the tumor cells were epithelioid with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and relatively well-defined cell borders. There was an increased mitosis of 4/50 HPF; however, no evidence of atypical mitosis or nuclear atypia was noted. In the symplastic glomus tumor the tumor cells showed frequently nuclear pleomorphism without mitoses. By immunohistochemistry, all tumors showed strong and diffuse reactivities to at least 3 of the 4 muscle-associated markers (SMA, h-Caldesmon, MSA and Calponin), 3 tumors strongly and diffusely expressed collagen Ⅳ, 2 expressed CD34 and 1 focally expressed desmin; whereas markers including epithelial, neuroendocrine, nephrogenic, melanoma-associated, STAT6, S-100 protein, CD117 and β-catenin all were negative in all the 4 tumors. Ultrastuctural analysis was done in 2 cases and showed prominent cytoplasmic actin bundles and pericellular basement membrane, and lacking of rhomboid renin crystals in both tumors. The hypertension persisted after surgical resection for all the 3 patients with this medical history. Follow-up information (range: 6-64 months, mean: 44 months)showed that no evidence of local recurrence or distant metastasis was identified in all 4 patients. Conclusions Glomus tumor rarely occurs in the kidney and usually has a good prognosis. Careful attention to its morphology with the judicious use of immunohistochemistry and ultrastuctural analysis can be helpful for its diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic features, diagnostic and differential diagnostic aspects of pigmented microcystic chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (ChRCC). Methods: Five cases of pigmented microcystic ChRCC were collected at Zhejiang Provincial People′s Hospital from January 2013 to January 2018. The clinical features, gross and histological appearances, immunohistochemistry and prognosis were analyzed and the relevant literature was reviewed. Results: There were 3 men and 2 women with age range of 45 years to 72 years (mean 57 years). All tumors were incidentally identified by imaging examinations. Grossly, the tumors were well-demarcated and showed diameters ranging from 1.8 cm to 4.0 cm(mean 2.9 cm). On cross section, the tumors were brown to gray tan with solid cut-surface mixed with multiple cysts of variable sizes. Hemorrhage was common, central scar was not seen. Microscopically, the tumors were composed predominantly of irregular and variable-sized microcystic or tubulocystic patterns, with extensive cribriform structures formation and focal adenomatous rearrangements seen in one case each, and focal pseudo-papillary structures (lacking true fibro-vascular cores) seen in two cases. Microscopic calcifications and psammoma bodies were present in all tumors. Four tumors composed mostly of eosinophilic cells whereas 1 predominated in plant-like cells. Brown pigmentations, either intracytoplasmic or extracytoplasmic, were noted in all five cases. The tumor cells had irregular, low-grade nuclei (Paner grade: 1) frequently with binucleation and perinuclar halos. Tumor necrosis or sarcomatous transformation was not seen. By immunohistochemistry, the tumor cells expressed CK, EMA, and E-cadherin diffusely and strongly in five cases; and CK7 and CD117 diffusely in four cases. They were negative for vimentin, CD10, CA9, AMACR/P504s, TFE3, HMB45, Melan A, S-100 protein, synaptophysin and chromogranin. Partial nephrectomies were performed for all five patients; there was no tumor recurrences or metastases at a follow-up of 2 to 55 months (mean, 17 months). Conclusions Pigmented microcystic ChRCC is a rare histological variant of ChRCC with relatively indolent behavior, and shows morphologic heterogeneity which can elicit a wide range of differential diagnoses. Careful attentions to search for typical features of classic ChRCC with the use of immunohistochemistry can help to distinguish this tumor from its many mimickers.