ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the protective effect of standard dose prednisone(starting dose about 0.4 mg/kg bw) combined with glutamine(2 g/d) for Graves' ophthalmopathy(GO) after 131I treatment.Methods The prospective randomized controlled trial was performed and included 116 consecutive patients with mild-to-moderate GO or no active GO after 131I treatment,but with high risk factors.The experimental group(59 cases) started to take oral prednisone(0.44 ± 0.13)mg/kg at 2 d atter theatment,meanwhile replenishing glutamine,and prednisone was gradually decreased by 5mg per 2 weeks and stopped until 2 months;the control group(57 cases) received the initial dose prednisone(0.43± 0.14)mg/kg without replenishing glutamine,and the rest was same as the experimental group.The GO change and prednisone adverse reactions in 2,4,6 months after treatment were evalua ted in the two groups.Results The baseline characteristics had no significant difference between the two groups.In comparison of the experimental group and control group after 6-month treatment,the CAS score was (2.8 ± 0.8 vs.3.5 ± 0.9),exophthalmos degree was (19.6±8.1)mm vs.(21.7±3.0)mm,eyelid width was (11.3±2.9)mm vs.(13.8±3.1)mm,the improvement degree in the experimental group except for degree was superior to the control group (P＜0.01).No new onset GO or deterioation oc curred in the two groups;the experimental group had 42 cases(71.2 ％) of GO improvement and 17 cases(28.8 ％) of stability,while the control group had 39 cases(68.4％) of GO improvement and 18 cases(31.6％) of stability,and the curative effects had no sttis-tical difference between the two groups(P＞0.05).The side effects in the control group were more than those in the experimental group(63.1％ vs.30.5％,P＜0.05).the body mass increase was more obvious [(3.8±1.8) kg vs.(1.4±1.2)kg,P＜0.01],and SBP and DBP in the two groups were slightly increased[(10±4)mm Hg vs.(9±5)mm Hg P＞0.05].Conclusion Using the initial dose of oral prednisone(about 0.4 mg/kg) for 2 months and simultaneously replenishing glutamine (2 g/d)can effectively improve mild-moderate GO,and effectively reduce the adverse reactions of GC.However it is needed to extend the follow-up time to assess whether it can truly prevent the deterioration of GO,and to conduct a further study for the role of glutamine.
ABSTRACT
High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear protein that can bind to DNA and act as a co-factor for gene transcription. When released into extracellular fluid, it plays a proinflammatory role by acting as a damage-associated molecular pattern molecule (DAMP) (also known as an alarmin) to initiate innate immune responses by activating multiple cell surface receptors such as the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) and toll-like receptors (TLRs), TLR2, TLR4 or TLR9. This proinflammatory role is now considered to be important in the pathogenesis of a wide range of kidney diseases whether they result from hemodynamic changes, renal tubular epithelial cell apoptosis, kidney tissue fibrosis or inflammation. This review summarizes our current understanding of the role of HMGB1 in kidney diseases and how the HMGB1-mediated signaling pathway may constitute a new strategy for the treatment of kidney diseases.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:The formation of atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E knockout mice is similar to that of human systemic atherosclerosis, and apolipoprotein E knockout mice are ideal animals for current establishment of atherosclerosis models. OBJECTIVE:To research the pathological process of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice aged different weeks, and to explore the effect of different diets on the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice. METHODS:Male apolipoprotein E knockout mice aged 8 weeks old were randomly divided into two groups, and fed with high fat diet and normal diet, respectively, for 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 weeks. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Serological detection revealed that serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein levels were significantly higher in different weeks of mice of high fat diet group than in the normal diet group (P<0.05), in a time-dependent manner. Gross and frozen oil red O staining showed that atherosclerotic plaque area of lumen was significantly larger in the high fat diet group than in the normal diet group (P<0.05), in a time-dependent manner. At this time, significant differences in plaque area of lumen at each week were detected between both groups (P<0.05). Apparent lipid plaque was visible in aorta at 16 weeks of high fat diet in mice. Results demonstrated that apolipoprotein E knockout mice of atherosclerosis were successful y established. The formation of lipid streaks and fiber hyperplasia was faster in high fat diet group than in the normal diet group.
ABSTRACT
Objective: To develop an HPLC method for the determination of rutin, hyperin and quercetin in Vicia sepium L. . Methods:The samples were separated on an Agilent ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C18 column(250 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5 μm) with the mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-1‰ phosphoric acid solution with gradient elution at the flow rate of 0. 8 ml·min-1 . The column tem-perature was 30℃, and the detection wavelength was set at 370 nm. Results: The linear range of the three components was 4. 090-130.940 μg ·ml-1(r=0.999 9), 4.600-147.200 μg ·ml-1(r=0.999 9) and 0.810-25.780 μg·ml-1(r=0.999 8), and the average recovery was 103. 45% (RSD=1. 25%), 98. 96% (RSD=1. 77%) and 102. 88% (RSD=0. 84%)(n=6), respectively. Conclusion:The method is stable, reproducible and simple, which can be used in the quality control of Vicia sepium L. .
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 9 has a high affinity in myocardial tissue, and the expression of recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 9-enhanced green fluorescent protein (rAAV9-eGFP) in the aorta of atherosclerosis mice is not clear. OBJECTIVE:To explore the optimal time point of rAAV9-eGFP expression in the aorta of atherosclerosis mice. METHODS:Atherosclerosis model was established with high-fat diet in 30 ApoE-/-mice for 16 weeks. Among them, 25 mice were injected with 5.0×1011 vg (virus genomes) rAAV9-eGFP through the tail vein, while the remaining 5 mice were injected with saline, serving as the control group. The virus-transfected mice were kil ed at 14, 21, 28, 35 and 60 days after transfection, and aortic tissue was harvested. The expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein was detected with laser scanning confocal microscope. Western blot assays were used to detect the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein in aorta. The expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein in vivo was observed and the optimal expression time point was determined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:rAAV9-eGFP effectively transfected the aorta of atherosclerosis mice, enhanced green fluorescent protein was expressed in aortic tissue, and the expression intensity increased gradual y with the increasing transfection time. The highest expression level was found at 35 days after transfection and then maintained stable at 60 days. There were significant differences at different time points after transfection (P<0.001). These data indicate that rAAV9-eGFP can be effectively expressed in the aorta of atherosclerosis ApoE-/-mice and rAAV9-eGFP can be regarded as the optimal vector in the treatment of atherosclerosis.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Tacrolimus (FK506) is an immunosuppressive drug, which is widely used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs. However, chronic administration of FK506 leads to hypertension in solid organ transplantation patients, and its molecular mechanisms are much more complicated. In this review, we will discuss the above-mentioned molecular mechanisms of FK506-induced hypertension in solid organ transplantation subjects.</p><p><b>DATA SOURCES</b>The data analyzed in this review were mainly from relevant articles without restriction on the publication date reported in PubMed. The terms "FK506" or "tacrolimus" and "hypertension" were used for the literature search.</p><p><b>STUDY SELECTION</b>Original articles with no limitation of research design and critical reviews containing data relevant to FK506-induced hypertension and its molecular mechanisms were retrieved, reviewed and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There are several molecular mechanisms attributed to FK506-induced hypertension in solid organ transplantation subjects. First, FK506 binds FK506 binding protein 12 and its related isoform 12.6 (FKBP12/12.6) and removes them from intracellular ryanodine receptors that induce a calcium ion leakage from the endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum. The conventional protein kinase C beta II (cPKCβII)-mediated phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase at Thr495, which reduces the production of NO, was activated by calcium ion leakage. Second, transforming growth factor receptor/SMAD2/3 signaling activation plays an important role in Treg/Th17 cell imbalance in T cells which toget converge to cause inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and hypertension following tacrolimus treatment. Third, the activation of with-no-K(Lys) kinases/STE20/SPS1-related proline/alanine-rich kinase/thiazide-sensitive sodium chloride co-transporter (WNKs/SPAK/NCC) pathway has a central role in tacrolimus-induced hypertension. Finally, the enhanced activity of renal renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system seems to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of FK506-induced hypertension.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>FK506 plays a predominant role in the pathophysiology of hypertension in solid organ transplantation subjects.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Hypertension , Immunosuppressive Agents , Therapeutic Uses , Organ Transplantation , Tacrolimus , Therapeutic UsesABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the accuracy of 99mTcO4- gastrointestinal imaging in the diagnosis of Meckel’s diverticulum in children. Methods The clinical data of 99mTcO4-imaging, surgery and pathological results of 95 children with gastrointestinal bleeding were retrospectively analyzed. Results Forty-four cases of 95 patients had positive ifnding of 99mTcO4-ectopic gastric mucous membrane imaging, and positive rate was 46.3%. In the positve cases 52.3%cases (23/44) were diagnosed of intestinal heterotopic gastric mucosa, 47.7%cases (21/44) were suspected of intestinal heterotopic gastric mucosa. The sex ratio (males to females) was 7.8:1. Thirty-seven positive cases underwent operation;among them, 35 cases were found to have Meckel’s diverticulum and 1 case had duplication of the digestive tract;Diverticulum lesion was not found in 1 case. The samples of 35 cases diagnosed surgically of Meckel’s diverticulum were examined by pathologic histology. All 35 cases were conifrmed as Meckel’s diverticulum and ectopic gastric mucosa epithelium, including 2 cases with ulcer formation, 1 case with small patches of pancreatic tissue, 1 case with ileocecal junction of suppurative enteritis and 1 case with chronic appendicitis. Conclusions 99mTcO4-radionuclide imaging technique is of high value for the non-invasive diagnosis of children’s Meckel’s diverticulum.