Expressions of 1,25 (OH)2D3, vitamin D receptor and 24-hydroxylase in Henoch-Sch(o)nlein purpura / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To study the expressions of 1,25 (OH) 2 D3,vitamin D receptor (VDR) and 24-hydroxylase (CYP24A1) and investigate the effects of 1,25 (OH)2D3 and its related molecules in the pathogenesis of Henoch-Sch(o)nlein purpura (HSP).Methods 1.The levels in the plasma 1,25 (OH) 2 D3 of 35 HSP patients and 14 healthy children were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).2.Total RNA of peripheral blood were extracted and transcribed into cDNA.Sybr green dye based real-time quantitative PCR method was used to compare the expression levels (indicated as 2-△ct value) of VDR and CYP24A1 in patients with HSP and those in the controls.Results The level of 1,25 (OH)2D3 was (13.29 ± 10.12) μg/L in plasma of HSP patients,lower than that of the healthy control group[(29.51-± 23.06) μg/L] (P ＜ 0.01).Compared with healthy control group,the level of VDR mRNA was higher but CYP24A1 mRNA was lower in HSP patients (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The patients with HSP have lower ability to synthesize active form of vitamin D and respond to VDR-mediated vitamin D effects,enhancing the ability to degrade this hormone.

Changes of mobility of kidney tubular epithelial cells in the course of epithelial-mesenchymal transition / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To evaluate the dynamic changes of cell mobility of renal tubular epithelial cells in the course of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) and their effect on cell cycle.Methods NRK-52E cells were cultured in vitro and treated with 5 μg/L transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 to induce EMT.The cell mobility was assessed by using Transwell chamber assay and flow cytometry (FCW) after being treated with TGF-β1 for 4 h,8 h,12 h,24 h and 48 h.The proliferative cell cycle of NRK-52E cells were evaluated by using the FCW.Results 1.EMT was successfully induced by TGF-β1.After being treated by TGF-β1 (5 μg/L),the morphological changes of NRK-52E cells were found with loose cell arrangement and elongated fusiform change in cells body.Meanwhile,after getting treated by TGF-β1,the expressions of E-cadherin protein(epithelial marker) of NRK-52E cells were significantly decreased with time-dependent (P ＜ 0.05),while the expressions of α-smooth musle actin (α-SMA) (mesenchymal cell marker)were significantly increased with time-dependent (P ＜ 0.05).2.The Transwell chamber assay showed that compared with the control group,the cell mobility in the group treated with TGF-β1 was significantly enhanced from 12 h after getting treated with TGF-β1 (P ＜ 0.01).3.The proliferative cell cycle of NRK-52E cells showed no significant difference after being treated with TGF-β1 (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The migration ability of the NRK-52E cells are increased incessantly in the course of EMT,which is induced by TGF-β1 without the influence of cell proliferation in vitro.

Long-term effects of cyclosporine A in children with steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome and outcomes of the patients / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of long-term cyclosporine A (CsA) treatment in 20 children with steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) and analyse the relevant influencing factors of CsA therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty children with SRNS received CsA therapy for 2 years between February 2001 and October 2006 in the Department of Nephrology. The mean age of children at initiation of CsA therapy was 5.5 years (30 months to 12 years). The initial renal histology showed minimal change (MCNS) in 15 patients, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 4 patients and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) in one. The starting dose of CsA was 3 - 5 mg/(kg.d), adjusted to maintain a trough level of 100- 200 microg/L during the first 6 months. After one year, a low dose of CsA 1 - 3 mg/(kg.d) with a trough level of 40 - 70 microg/L was applied to maintain remission for 1 year. Liver function, serum albumin, serum cholesterol, serum creatinine, urinary NAG/Cr, 24 h urinary protein excretion and CsA whole blood trough level of the patients were monitored every one or three months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Complete remission (proteinuria < or = 0.1 g/d or negative by dipstick for 3 consecutive days), partial remission (proteinuria between 0.1 g/d and 50 mg/(kg.d), serum albumin > or = 30 g/L) and resistance to CsA (proteinuria > or = 50 mg/(kg.d), or > or = 3+ by dipstick, after 6 months of CsA treatment over a trough level of 100 microg/L) were observed in 65%, 20% and 15%, respectively. Eleven patients who had complete remission discontinued CsA, in 5 (45%) patients the disease relapsed, and resumption of CsA therapy was followed by remission in three of them. (2) MCNS showed a 93% response to CsA therapy while non-MCNS showed a 60% response, but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). (3) Hypertrichosis, gingival hyperplasia and hypertension occurred in 75%, 25% and 10% of the patients, respectively. Two patients were found to have renal impairment (> 30% rise of serum creatinine) and recovered in 2 weeks. Four patients showed a rise of urinary NAG/Cr. The central nervous system adverse event occurred in 2 cases. Post-therapy biopsies performed in 3 patients (2 with FSGS and one with MCNS) did not show any relevant tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Two patients with FSGS of the twenty cases progressed into end-stage renal failure.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CsA treatment was confirmed to be effective in children with SRNS. Renal fibrosis was rare in patients treated with a low dose of CsA for 2 years.</p>

Comparison of cyclophosphamide and cyclosporine in the treatment of steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in children / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the therapeutic outcome of cyclophosphamide(CTX) and cyclosporine A (CsA) in the treatment of steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) in children.@*METHODS@#Thirty-seven children with SRNS were analysed in a retrospective study from Jan 2001 to Dec. 2006. There was initial renal histology of minimal change (MCD) in 28 children, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 7 and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) in the other 2. These patients were divided into 2 groups: one group received the induction therapy consisting of intravenous CTX and prednisolone, and the another group were treated with CsA [initial dose 3-5mg/(kg d)] and prednisolone.@*RESULTS@#(1) Thirty children received CTX, while 21 received CsA, and the total efficacy was 40.0% and 85.7% respectively after the 12 month follow-up. Children with MCD receiving CsA had a better response than those treated with CTX (93.8% vs 36.3%, P0.05). (2) There were no significant associations between age, pathology, clinic type and therapeutic outcome in the 2 groups(P>0.05). (3)The rate of liver functional impairment, leukocytopenia, vomiting and nausea was 10%, 16.7% and 33.3%, respectively in children receiving CTX. The rate of hypertrichosis, gingival hyperplasia and hypertension was 71.4%, 23.8% and 9.5% respectively in children receiving CsA. Two children had central adverse effect. Two patients with FSGS progressed into end-stage renal failure.@*CONCLUSION@#For children with MCD, CsA combining prednisolone could result in a higher remission rate than intravenous CTX combining prednisolone.

Effects of dusts on workers' health in enzyme production plants / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the health effects of dusts in enzyme production plants.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The concentration of enzyme-containing dusts, the enzyme and the wheat-containing dusts and their health effects on workers were investigated in three enzyme production plants. Air samples were collected by high volume sampler and personal sampler. Total dust was weighed and its content of enzyme was analyzed by enzyme activity method. Health effects were assessed by the questionnaire, the pulmonary function and the skin prick test.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was found that the geometric mean of enzyme-containing dust was 8.91 mg/m(3), the industrial enzyme was 1.68 mg/m(3), and the wheat-containing dust was 6.93 mg/m(3). The enzyme-containing dust higher than 20 mg/m(3) caused eye symptoms. The wheat-containing dust at 6.93 mg/m(3) might result in skin and nose symptoms. The sensitization could be observed in enzyme and wheat exposed workers.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Adverse effects may arise for the health of the workers if the concentration of enzyme-containing dusts and the wheat-containing dusts is up to a certain limit and it is necessary to make the limit of these indexes.</p>

Effects of colchicine on synthesis and excretion of cytokines and extracellular matrix by human renal fibroblasts / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Renal interstitial fibrosis is the final common pathway leading to end-stage renal failure for progressive renal disease of various types. The present study was undertaken to add to the knowledge on colchicine's antiinflammatory and antifibrotic properties confirmed by both human and experimental studies. As the main effector cells, fibroblasts have a central role in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of colchicine on the synthesis and excretion of cytokines transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and extracellular matrix (collagen III, collagen IV) in human renal fibroblast.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Various concentrations of colchicine (5.0 micromol/L, 10.0 micromol/L, 20.0 micromol/L, 40.0 micromol/L) were used to pretreat human embryo renal fibroblasts for 1 hour which were cultured in vitro and then stimulated by 10.0 microg/ml of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After 18 hours, these fibroblasts and their supernatant were collected. The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA, IL-1beta mRNA in the cells was studied by using RT-PCR, and the excretion of TGF-beta1, IL-1beta, collagen III and collagen IV by the fibroblasts was assessed by ELISA respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) By pure stimulation with 10.0 micro g/ml LPS, the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and IL-1beta mRNA of fibroblasts was up-regulated 3 times (66.1 +/- 1.6 vs. 22.3 +/- 2.0, q = 590.5, P = 0.002) and 4.7 times (22.0 +/- 2.2 vs. 4.7 +/- 0.8, q = 106.8, P = 0.009), respectively. The protein excretion of TGF-beta1 and IL-1beta was remarkably increased as well compared with the control group [TGF-beta1: (516 +/- 14) pg/ml vs. (420 +/- 5) pg/ml (q = 80.3, P = 0.012), IL-1beta: (3.4 +/- 0.3) pg/ml vs. (0.3 +/- 0.1) pg/ml (q = 297.9, P = 0.003)]. (2) Colchicine could inhibit the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and protein in a dose-dependent manner. IL-1beta mRNA and protein were both up-regulated by colchicine. (3) LPS could not stimulate the excretion of extracellular matrix by fibroblasts, but the excretion of collagen III and collagen IV was down regulated by colchicine in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1) The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and the excretion of TGF-beta1 protein in the fibroblasts was significantly suppressed by colchicine, while the expression of IL-1beta mRNA and the excretion of IL-1beta protein were enhanced. (2) Colchicine has significant inhibitory effect on the excretion of extracellular matrix such as collagen III and collagen IV in fibroblasts.</p>