[Mechanism of ultrafiltration extract of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Hedysari Radix regulates HIF-1α signaling pathway mediated by renal hypoxia to ameliorate renal fibrosis in DKD rats].

This study explored the mechanism of the ultrafiltration extract of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Hedysari Radix in ameliorating renal fibrosis in the rat model of diabetic kidney disease(DKD) based on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) and HIF-1α/platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF)/platelet-derived growth factor receptor(PDGFR) signaling pathways in the DKD rats. After 1 week of adaptive feeding, 50 male SPF-grade Wistar rats were randomized into a blank group(n=7) and a modeling group. After 24 h of fasting, the rats in the modeling group were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin and fed with a high-sugar and high-fat diet to establish a DKD model. After modeling, the rats were randomly assigned into model(n=7), low-dose ultrafiltration extract(n=7), medium-dose ultrafiltration extract(n=7), irbesartan(n=8), and high-dose ultrafiltration extract(n=8) groups. After intervention by corresponding drugs for 12 weeks, the general conditions of the rats were observed. The body weights and blood glucose levels of the rats were measured weekly, and the 24 h urinary protein(24hUP) was measured at the 6th and 12th weeks of drug administration. After the last drug administration, the renal function indicators were determined. Masson staining was employed to observe the pathological changes of the renal tissue. The expression of prolyl hydroxylase domain 2(PHD2) and HIF-1α in the renal tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry(IHC). Real-time qPCR was employed to determine the mRNA levels of PHD2, VEGF, PDGF, and PDGFR in the renal tissue. Western blot was employed to determine the protein levels of HIF-1α, VEGF, PDGF, and PDGFR in the renal tissue. The results showed that compared with the model group, drug administration lowered the levels of glycosylated serum protein(GSP), aerum creatinine(Scr), and blood urea nitrogen(BUN) in a dose-dependent manner(P<0.05 or P<0.01) and mitigated the pathological changes in the renal tissue. Furthermore, drug administration up-regulated mRNA level of PHD2(P<0.05 or P<0.01), down-regulated the mRNA levels of VEGF, PDGF, and PDGFR(P<0.05 or P<0.01) and the protein levels of HIF-1α, VEGF, PDGF, and PDGFR(P<0.01) in the renal tissue, and increased the rate of PHD2-positive cells(P<0.01). In conclusion, the ultrafiltration extract of Angelicae Sinensis Radix and Hedysari Radix effectively alleviated the renal fibrosis in DKD rats by inhibiting the expression of key proteins in the HIF-1α signaling pathway mediated by renal hypoxia and reducing extracellular matrix(ECM) deposition.

[Bacterial culture and drug sensitivity analysis of upper urinary tract calculi complicating with infection].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the bacteriology and drug sensitivity of upper urinary tract calculi patients, and to provide information for choosing suitable antibiotics. METHODS: In the study, 21 patients who suffered from lithiasis in upper urinary tract and required an emergency drainage for acute obstruction and infection were the "acute group"; 64 patients with calculi in upper urinary tract and accompanied with no infectious symptoms were the "common group". The bacteriology and drug sensitivity of the two groups were investigated. RESULTS: Gram-negative bacteria infected the most common of upper urinary tract calculi patients with infection, accounting for 71.4% in the acute group and 65.7% in the common group, among which Escherichia coli were the predominant ones (35.7% in the acute group and 32.9% in the common group). No difference was found between these two groups in bacterial distribution (P>0.05). Although the average drug resistance rate of Gram-negative bacteria in the acute group was higher than that in the common group, it revealed no significant difference (P>0.05). The drug resistance rate to semisynthetic penicillin, cefuroxime and ceftriaxone were more than 50%, 60%, and 50%, respectively. Quinolones, such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, got a 45% drug resistance. Aminoglycoside, carbapenema were sensitive to Gram-negative bacteria. Cefoperazone/sulbactam and piperacillin/tazobactam were more effective than ceftriaxone and piperacillin, respectively. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference between upper urinary tract calculi patients with acute infection and common infection in bacteriology and drug sensitivity. Semisynthetic penicillin, the second generation of cephalosporin and quinolone were no longer the good choices of empirical use. Antibiotics combined with ß-lactamase inhibitors would be an ideal empirical therapeutic choice.

[Tea polyphenol protects against HK-2 cell injury induced by oxalate and calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals].

OBJECTIVE: To test whether the antioxidants tea polyphenol (TP) can provide protection against oxalate and calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals toxicity in HK-2 cells. METHODS: Four groups were chosen for the study: Negative control group, positive control group (COM+oxalate), TP group (TP+COM+oxalate), VitE group (vitamin E+COM+oxalate). HK-2 cells were exposed for 4, 8, 12 and 24 h. The viability of the cells was assessed by MTT. The cellular injury was assessed by the concentration of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hydrogen peroxide and viability of Na+/K+ ATP enzyme. The peroxidation level was assessed by malondialdehyde (MDA) content and viability of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The morphological changes of HK-2 cells after being exposed for 4 and 12 h in each group were observed by transmission electron microscope (TEM). RESULTS: The effects of TP and vitamin E on oxalate and COM exposed cells were tested. The HK-2 cells exposed to oxalate and COM showed a significant reduction in viability of cells, Na+/K+ ATPase and SOD. LDH release, MDA content and concentration of H2O2 were significantly increased. In TP group, the addition of TP significantly increased viability of cells, activity of Na+/K+ ATPase and SOD while LDH release, MDA content and concentration of H2O2 were significant decreased compared with the positive control group. In the Vitamn E group, compared with the positive control group, viability of cells, and activity of Na+/K+ ATPase were not significantly changed and after addition of vitamin E, SOD activity was restored, LDH release, MDA content and concentration of H2O2 were significant decreased compared with the positive control group. The morphological changes of HK-2 cells were observed by TEM in the positive control group, TP group and VitE group. In the VitE and TP groups, the amount of the cells with vacuoles formed in kytoplasms, mitochondria swelling, karyotheca dissolved and nucleolus disappearing were less than in the positive group. The morphological changes in the TP group were less than in the VitE group. CONCLUSION: TP and vitamin E administration may prevent oxalate and COM mediated peroxidative injury and restore intracellular antioxidant enzyme activity. The protection rendered by TP was greater than that of vitamin E.

Andrology in China: current status and 10 years' progress.

Andrology has a long history in traditional Chinese medicine. There are records of male sexual health, male sexual dysfunction and male infertility from over thousands of years ago. Modern andrology in China had a late start, with the Chinese Andrology Association founded in 1995. Within last decade, andrology in China has grown rapidly. In this review article, we summarized the progress of andrology in last 10 years and outlined the current status of Chinese andrology with a special focus on progress in male erectile dysfunction, prostate diseases, male infertility and male hormonal contraception.