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Increased microglial activation and neuroinflammation within autonomic brain regions such as the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) have been implicated in stress-induced hypertension (SIH). Prorenin, a member of the brain renin-angiotensin system (RAS), can directly activate microglia. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of prorenin on microglial activation in the RVLM of SIH rats. Rats were subjected to intermittent electric foot-shocks plus noise, this stress was administered for 2 h twice daily for 15 consecutive days, and mean arterial pressure (MAP) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) were monitored. The results showed that MAP and RSNA were augmented, and this paralleled increased pro-inflammatory phenotype (M1) switching. Prorenin and its receptor (PRR) expression and the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) activation were increased in RVLM of SIH rats. In addition, PLX5622 (a microglial depletion agent), MCC950 (a NLRP3 inhibitor), and/or PRO20 (a (Pro)renin receptor antagonist) had antihypertensive effects in the rats. The NLRP3 expression in the RVLM was decreased in SIH rats treated with PLX5622. Mito-tracker staining showed translocation of NLRP3 from mitochondria to the cytoplasm in prorenin-stimulated microglia. Prorenin increased the ROS-triggering M1 phenotype-switching and NLRP3 activation, while MCC950 decreased the M1 polarization. In conclusion, upregulated prorenin in the RVLM may be involved in the pathogenesis of SIH, mediated by activation of the microglia-derived NLRP3 inflammasome. The link between prorenin and NLRP3 in microglia provides insights for the treatment of stress-related hypertension.
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Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with metastatic carcinoma of bone. Methods The clinical data of 217 patients with metastatic carcinoma of bone was retrospectively analyzed. The clinical features were summarized,including primary tumor,age distribution,first symptom,time of onset and bone metastatic site. Visual analogue scale(VAS)was used to evaluate the difference of pain in patients with bone metastases before and after zoledronic acid treatment. Results The bone metastasis occurred more frequently in men(male:female = 1.28:1). The majority of primary tumors were lung cancer(51.61％)and breast cancer (15.67％),respectively. The peak ages of the patients with metastatic carcinoma of bone were between 50 and 70 years old. Most of the patients with metastatic carcinoma of bone initially showed varying degrees of pain ,some of the patients with dysfunction,pathological fracture,or local lumps as the initial symptoms,only a tiny minority of patients were inadvertently found. Onset time was often within 3 months ,which accountings for 54.84％. Bone metastases were mostly in the spine,pelvis,femur and ribs,and most of the bone metastases were multiple. The VAS score of 108 patients who with bone metastases pain treated by zoledronic acid was 0～4(1.31 ± 1.07),with statistically significant differences compared with pretherapy(P<0.01). Conclusion In order to reduce the pain of patients,and to improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time,bone metastases should be diagnosed early and given comprehensive treatment.
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Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of patients with metastatic carcinoma of bone. Methods The clinical data of 217 patients with metastatic carcinoma of bone was retrospectively analyzed. The clinical features were summarized,including primary tumor,age distribution,first symptom,time of onset and bone metastatic site. Visual analogue scale(VAS)was used to evaluate the difference of pain in patients with bone metastases before and after zoledronic acid treatment. Results The bone metastasis occurred more frequently in men(male:female = 1.28:1). The majority of primary tumors were lung cancer(51.61％)and breast cancer (15.67％),respectively. The peak ages of the patients with metastatic carcinoma of bone were between 50 and 70 years old. Most of the patients with metastatic carcinoma of bone initially showed varying degrees of pain ,some of the patients with dysfunction,pathological fracture,or local lumps as the initial symptoms,only a tiny minority of patients were inadvertently found. Onset time was often within 3 months ,which accountings for 54.84％. Bone metastases were mostly in the spine,pelvis,femur and ribs,and most of the bone metastases were multiple. The VAS score of 108 patients who with bone metastases pain treated by zoledronic acid was 0～4(1.31 ± 1.07),with statistically significant differences compared with pretherapy(P<0.01). Conclusion In order to reduce the pain of patients,and to improve the quality of life and prolong the survival time,bone metastases should be diagnosed early and given comprehensive treatment.
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Objective To determine the normal position of the fetal conus medullaris and assess its clinical significance.Methods A total of 550 singleton pregnant women who were examined by fetal ultrasonography in the Department of Ultrasound at the Second Hospital of Fujian Medical University from June 1, 2013 to September 31, 2014 were included.Inclusion criteria were pregnancies with regular menstruation cycle and known last menstrual period, gestational age (GA) confirmed by ultrasonographic examinations, and neonate abnormality excluded by pediatrician after born.Routine obstetric ultrasound examinations were performed to measure the biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), head circumference (HC) and abdominal circumference (AC).The conus distance (CD) was determined by measuring the distance between the distal end of the conus medullaris and the caudal end of the last vertebra.The average value was calculated for each group according to GA.Fifty normal fetuses were randomly selected for quality control.For inter-observer reliability assessment, the same data were collected and analyzed by two different operators.For intra-observer reliability assessment, the data were collected and analyzed twice by the same operator with an interval of half an hour.Linear regression correlation analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between CD and GA, BPD, FL, HC and AC.Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman analysis were used to analyze the repeatability of the analysis.Results In 518 (94.2％) of 550 fetuses, the CD was successfully measured.Positively correlations between the conus distance and the gestational age was observed.The CD was (10.0± 3.3) mm at ＞ 14-≤ 15 weeks (n=17), (27.7±3.8) mm at ＞ 20-≤ 21 weeks of gestation (n=18), (41.5±2.4) mm at ＞ 26-≤ 27 weeks (n=8), (54.7±3.0) mm at ＞ 32-≤ 33 weeks (n=17), and (71.9±2.7) mm at ＞ 41-≤ 42 weeks (n=6).Linear regression correlations between CD (mm) and FL, AC, HC, BPD and GA were:CD=1.04× FL (mm)-8.71, CD=0.23 × AC (mm)-10.11, CD=0.28× HC (mm)-18.10, CD=0.90× BPD (mm)-17.65, CD=2.34× GA (weeks)-20.94 (r=0.990, 0.985, 0.978, 0.974 and 0.973, respectively, all P ＜ 0.01).The measurement of the conus distance exhibited good reproducibility between different operators (ICC=0.984, 95％CI: 0.972-0.991) and for the same operator (ICC=0.992, 95％CI: 0.985-0.995) with the 95％ limits of agreement of-1.8 to 3.5 mm and-4.3 to 2.1 mm.Bland-Altman analysis showed that most of the measured values were within 95％ confidence interval suggesting good consistency.Conclusions The distance, between the end of the conus medullaris and the end of the last vertebral body under ultrasound scan, is positively correlated with FL and other ultrasonographic indicators, which implies that it could be used as a new index for position of fetal conus medullaris.
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Objective To explore the joints and tendons characteristic features of high frequency ultrasound in asymptomatic hyperuricemia(AH) and to assess its value in AH diagnosis.Methods One hundred asymptomatic individuals with hyperuricemia (AH group) and 75 normouricemic subjects (control group) were examined by high frequency and color Doppler ultrasound.The joints,tendons and soft tissue of the knees,ankles and first metatarsal-phalangeal joints in two groups were examined.The correlations of serum urate(SU) level with double contour sign,bone erosion and articular cavity effusion were analysed.Results Hyperechoic deposition on the sulface of the articular hyaline cartilage (double contour sign) were found in the knees (35),ankles (17) and the first metatarsophalangeal joints (MTPJs,48) from the asymptomatic individuals with hyperuricemia,in contrast to none in the control group (P ＜0.05).Similar results were found in two groups of the bone erosion (30,25,20 vs 4,6,3,P ＜0.05),the effusion (28,36,41 vs 6,8,9,P ＜0.05) and the hyperechoic spots (19,18,22 vs 0,0,0,P ＜0.05).Patellar enthesopathy (4.5％ vs 0.6％,P ＜0.05) as well as achilles enthesopathy(8％ vs 0,P ＜0.05) and achilles tophi (6％ vs 0.6％,P ＜ 0.05) were more frequent in asymptomatic hyperuricemic than that of normouricemic individuals.No correlations between SU concentration and the presence of the double contour sign,the bone erosion and effusion were found (P ＞0.05).Conclusions There were some similar specific sonographic findings of gouty arthritis in the asymptomatic individuals with hyperuricemia.Also,these findings support high frequency ultrasound as a useful tool to detect anatomical damage in the joints,synovial tissue and tendons of asymptomatic individuals with hyperuricemia.
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Objective: To clone and express the recombinant human Vasostatin120-180aa domain and to investigate its activity of inhibiting angiogenesis in CAM. Methods: After amplifying gene of human Vasostatin120-180aa domain, we sub-cloned it into pQE30 vector and expressed Vasostatin120-180aa domain by E. coli. We also tested its ability of inhibiting angiogenesis in CAM. Results: The total gene length of human Vasostatin120-180aa domain is 180 bp. Expressed by pQE30 system in E. coli and purified by IMAC, Vasostatin120-180aa was detected by SDS-PAGE, in which there is a positive band and molecular weight is about 8 kD. Conclusions: Recombinant human Vasostatin120-180aa could play effective role in anti-angiogenesis in CAM and it showed a dose dependent effect in some degree.