Value of urine IL-8, NGAL and KIM-1 for the early diagnosis of acute kidney injury in patients with ureteroscopic lithotripsy related urosepsis.

PURPOSE: To investigate the clinical value of urine interleukin-18 (IL-8), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) for the early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URL) related urosepsis. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out in 157 patients with urosepsis after URL. The patients were divided into AKI group and non-AKI group according to the Kidigo guideline and urine IL-8, NGAL and KIM-1 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at 0, 4, 12, 24 and 48 h after the surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of these three biomarkers for postoperative AKI. RESULTS: The level of urine IL-8, NGAL and KIM-1 in AKI group was significantly higher than that in non-AKI group at 4, 12, 24 and 48 h (p < 0.01). The ROC analysis showed the combined detection of urine IL-8, NGAL and KIM-1 at 12 h had a larger area under curve (AUC) than a single marker (0.997, 95% CI: 0.991-0.998), and the sensitivity and specificity were 98.2% and 96.7%, respectively. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the levels of urine NGAL at 4, 12, 24 and 48 h in AKI patients were positively correlated with the levels of urine KIM-1 and IL-18 (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: AKI could be quickly recognized by the elevated level of urine IL-8, NGAL and KIM-1 in patients with URL-related urosepsis. Combined detection of the three urine biomarkers at 12 h after surgery had a better diagnostic performance, which may be an important reference for the early diagnosis of AKI.

Perinatal exposure to 4-nonylphenol can affect fatty acid synthesis in the livers of F1 and F2 generation rats.

Objective: To explore the effects of different dosages of 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) on the fatty acid synthesis and estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression in the livers of F1 and F2 rats. Method: Pregnant rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, NP-5 (5 µg per kg per day), NP-25 (25 µg per kg per day) and NP-125 (125 µg per kg per day). 4-NP was gavaged from gestation day (GD) 6 to postnatal day (PND) 21. Some female rats from the experimental groups were mated with male rats from the control group to obtain the F2 rats. F1 generation rats (23 weeks old) and F2 generation rats (13 weeks old) were killed to detect blood biochemistry and the expression of genes and proteins. Results: Compared with the control group, 4-NP (NP-5, NP-25 and NP-125) can increase the liver organ coefficient of the F1 male offspring (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL) in the F1 female NP-5 group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.01); other indicators had not changed, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein (LDL). As the dosage of 4-NP increased, more significant changes of blood biochemistry were found, especially in the NP-125 rats (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The changes of histopathology by liver biopsy were consistent with biochemical indices of blood (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the expression of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis increased significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), and the degrees of increase were proportional to the dose of 4-NP, as measured by lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), fatty acid synthetase (Fas), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (Srebp-1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (Ppar)-γ. The expression of genes and proteins of ERα were changed significantly, as well (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The above changes in the liver tissues of F2 generation rats were consistent with the F1 generation rats. Conclusion: Perinatal exposure to 4-NP can affect the synthesis of fatty acid in the livers of F1 and F2 generation rats. The low expression of ERα may be one of the mechanisms by which 4-NP affected fatty acid synthesis in the livers of rats.

Perinatal exposure to 4-nonylphenol affects adipogenesis in first and second generation rats offspring.

Maternal exposure to 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) during pregnancy was shown to alter adipogenesis in rodents, yet whether the effects are restricted to 4-NP-exposed offspring only or can be transmitted to the next generation are not known. Pregnant Wistar rats received either vehicle or 4-NP (5, 25 and 125µg/kg/day) from gestation to postnatal day 21. F1 pups were subjected to blood biochemistry tests, or killed to obtain their gonadal fat to determine gene expression. Some F1 adult female rats were mated with F1 males from control group to obtain F2 pups, but without any exposure to 4-NP in the perinatal stage. F2 pups underwent studies similar to those performed on F1 pups. Serum total cholesterol, leptin levels were significantly elevated, the quantity and size of fat cells were increased, gene expression of key regulators of adipogenesis and lipogenic pathway of fat tissue were perturbed by 4-NP (p<0.05 or p<0.01). In addition, the expression of mRNA levels and protein of ERα were downregulated in adipose tissue in the two generation offspring. Perinatal exposure to 4-NP affects the adipogenesis in both male and female F1 offspring, and this effect can be progressed to the F2 offspring through the maternal line.

Resveratrol induces apoptosis associated with mitochondrial dysfunction in bladder carcinoma cells.

OBJECTIVE: Resveratrol shows chemopreventive activity in a variety of human cancers by targeting mitochondria and triggering apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antitumor action of resveratrol in bladder cancer and its underlying mechanism. METHODS: Using two different bladder cell lines, BTT739 and T24, the cytotoxicity of resveratrol were determined by MTT assay. The apoptosis induced by resveratrol was assayed by transferase dUTP nick end labeling staining. To show whether the mitochondrial dysfunction involved in the effects of resveratrol, mitochondrial function was detected by mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species production and adenosine 5'-triphosphate content. In addition, the markers of apoptosis in the intrinsic mitochondrial-dependent pathway were analyzed by the release of cytochrome c and the activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3. RESULTS: Resveratrol effectively decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, resveratrol significantly disrupted the mitochondrial membrane potential in both intact cells and isolated mitochondria. Resveratrol also increased reactive oxygen species production and reduced adenosine 5'-triphosphate concentrations. Western blot analysis showed that resveratrol provoked the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to the cytosol. Furthermore, resveratrol significantly promoted the activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that resveratrol efficiently triggers apoptosis in bladder cancer cells through the intrinsic mitochondrial-dependent pathway, which is associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Resveratrol might have great pharmacological promise in the treatment of bladder cancer.

Transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection for refractory chyluria.

PURPOSE: To report our preliminary techniques and experience with transumbilical laparoendoscopic single-site renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection (LESS-RPLD) in seven patients with refractory chyluria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between June 2009 and September 2010, seven patients with refractory chyluria underwent LESS-RPLD. In the patients, a 2- to 3-cm single inverted U-shaped supraumbilical incision was made, and a homemade single multichannel port using a surgical glove and three conventional trocars was placed into the abdominal cavity. Flexible electric coagulation hook and pliers were used for renal pedicle dissection. A straight ultrasound knife was used for lymphatic disconnection. RESULTS: All the operations were successfully completed without conversion to open surgery, although an additional 3-mm trocar was used to push the liver in one patient. The mean operative time was 125 (96-165) minutes. The mean blood loss was estimated to be 112 (50-250) mL. Chyluria disappeared in all patients after surgery and did not recur during the follow-up period (3-15, mean 8.3 mos). CONCLUSION: LESS-RPLD is safe and feasible, with favorable short-term outcomes and aesthetic effect.

FSCB phosphorylation in mouse spermatozoa capacitation.

It is generally accepted that spermatozoa capacitation is associated with protein kinase A-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation. In our previous study, we identified the fibrous sheath CABYR binding protein (FSCB), which was phosphorylated by PKA. However, the phosphorylation status of FSCB protein during spermatozoa capacitation should be further investigated. To this aim, in this study, we found that phosphorylation of this 270-kDa protein occurred as early as 1 min after mouse spermatozoa capacitation, which increased over time and remained stable after 60 min. Immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that the tyrosine and Ser/Thr phosphorylation of FSCB occurred during spermatozoa capacitation. The extent of phosphorylation and was closely associated with the PKA activity and spermatozoa motility characteristics. FSCB phosphorylation could be induced by PKA agonist DB-cAMP, but was blocked by PKA antagonist H-89.Therefore, FSCB contributes to spermatozoa capacitation in a tyrosine-phosphorylated format, which may help in further elucidating the molecular mechanism of spermatozoa capacitation.

[Urological complications in 1223 kidney transplants].

OBJECTIVE: To review retrospectively the urological complications in 1 223 kidney transplants. METHODS: A total of 1 223 kidney transplants were divided into ureteroneocystostomy group (n = 948) and ureteroureterostomy group (n = 275) according to the methods of urinary tract reconstruction. The incidence and management of urological complications such as urinary fistula, obstruction of ureter, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and urinary tract infection (UTI) were summarized respectively. RESULTS: Overall, urological complications were encountered in 217 (17.7%) cases, including 43 cases of urinary fistula (3.5%), 35 obstruction of ureter (2.9%), 14 VUR (1.1%) and 125 UTI (10.2%). Urinary fistula was 39 (4.1%) cases and 4 cases (1.5%) (P < 0.05), obstruction of ureter 22 (2.3%) & 13 (4.7%) (P < 0.05), VUR 14 (1.5%) & 0 (0%) (P < 0.05) and UTI 109 (11.5%) & 16 (5.8%) (P < 0.01) in the ureteroneocystostomy group and ureteroureterostomy group respectively. Seventy patients underwent surgical treatment. The 3-year survival rate of graft with urological complications and without urological complications were 82.3% and 84.7% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Ureteroureterostomy can decrease the incidence of urological complications after kidney transplantation. Most of urological complications require surgical interventions. The long-term graft survival is not affected by a correctly treated urological complication.