Effects of Tongmai oral liquid in femoral ateriovenous fistula.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to investigate the protective effect of Tongmai oral liquid on arteriovenous fistula function and to provide an effective method to promote fistula maturation. METHODS: Fifteen female and fifteen male SPF New Zealand rabbits were randomly allocated into 3 groups including control, Aspirin and Tongmai oral liquid groups. A side-to-side femoral arteriovenous fistula was established in each rabbit and then animals were treated with Aspirin or Tongmai oral liquid for 2 weeks. The concentrations of circulating ET-1 and NO were determined before and after operation (on preoperative day, operative day, post-D1, post-D3, post-D7 and post-D15), respectively. Blood flow of the fistula stoma and contralateral artery and vein was determined on the 15th postoperative day. Last, the fistula stoma was dissected to observe patency, thrombosis and adhesion with surrounding tissues. RESULTS: 28 rabbits survived during the surgical process and the following 15-day observational period. Tissue adhesion of arteriovenous fistula with surrounding tissues was improved and fistula thrombosis was reduced by treatment with Tongmai oral liquid. NO concentration decreased to a different extent after vascular surgery. Tongmai oral liquid failed to regulate the equilibrium between NO and ET-1, but it improved blood flow of fistula stoma, as compared to control and Aspirin groups. Blood flow of fistula stoma in the three groups was lower than that of the contralateral femoral artery. CONCLUSIONS: Tongmai oral liquid improved the function of femoral ateriovenous fistula in the rabbit model by increasing blood flow and reducing thrombosis, probably not by regulating the dynamic equilibrium between NO and ET-1.

Inhibition of the tubular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in vivo and in vitro by the Uremic Clearance Granule ().

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the Uremic Clearance Granule (UCG, ), a Chinese patent medicine, on tubular epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model in vivo and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 induced EMT of HK-2 cells in vitro. METHODS: In vivo study, 50 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: a sham operation group (n=10), a UUO group (n=20), and a UUO with UCG treatment group (n=20). The UCG was given at a dose of 4.5 g/kg body weight per day by gavage after surgery. In vitro study, HK-2 cells were cultured in 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 10% healthy rat serum, 10% FBS and TGF-ß1 (10 ng/mL), 10% healthy rat serum and TGF-ß1, or 10% rat serum containing the uremic clearance granule and TGF-ß1. The expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin and the mesenchymal markers vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in kidney tissues and HK-2 cells were investigated by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. RESULTS: The rats of the UUO group showed obvious tubulointerstitial fibrosis, compared with the sham operation group rats. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis score was reduced by 17.5%±1.1% at day 7 and by 20.0%±1.2% at day 14 in the UCG-treated group, compared with the UUO group. The UCG could maintained expression of E-cadherin and suppressed expression of vimentin and α-SMA in kidney tissues of UUO rats at days 7 and 14, as determined by Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Rat serum containing the UCG partially inhibited TGF-ß1-induced fibroblast phenotype of HK-2 cells and maintained the epithelial morphology of HK-2 cells in vitro. This occurred partially through a reduction of vimentin expression and an increase of E-cadherin expression. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the UCG prevents tubular EMT and may be a promising agent for treating tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

[Protective effects of compound shenhua tablet on diabetic nephropathy rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the renal protection effects of Compound Shenhua Tablet (CST) on diabetic nephropathy (DN) rats. METHODS: DN rats were given a normal diet for 9 months after they were induced by intraperitoneal injection of STZ at the dose of 65 mg/kg after uninephrectomized. They were randomly divided into 4 groups, i. e., the normal control group, the model control group, the CST group, and the Irbesartan group. The intervention was given by gastrogavage for 6 weeks. The general state, 24 h urine protein, urine micro-albumin (mAlb), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glucose (GLU), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), total protein (TP), and albumin (ALB) levels were observed before and after intervention. Renal pathological changes were observed by PAS staining and transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: After 6 weeks of drug intervention, when compared with the model control group, the general state was improved in the CST group and the Irbesartan group. The levels of 24 h urine protein, urine mAlb, SCr, BUN, GLU, TG, and TC were obviously lower in the CST group and the Irbesartan group than in the model group as well as in the same group before treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no statistical difference between the two treatment groups (P>0.05). The renal pathological changes and the renal ultrastructure were improved to some degree in the two groups when compared with those in the model control group. CONCLUSIONS: CST could attenuate the renal damage of diabetes and delay renal deterioration process. Its effectiveness was equivalent to that of Irbesartan.