Study on the clinical application of wuzhi capsule after renal transplantation / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the protection of Gan by using deoxyschizandrin (Wuzhi Capsule, WC) in the renal transplantation recipients while increasing the blood concentration of tacrolimus (Tac).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-three renal transplant recipients were randomly assigned to two groups, i.e., 35 in the WC group and 38 in the control group. All patients received Tac + MMF + Pred triple immunosuppressive therapy. WC was additionally given to patients in the WC group. One year was taken as one therapeutic course. Changes of the blood concentration of Tac were detected one week, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after medication in the two groups using microparticle enzyme immune assay (MEIA). Meanwhile, the liver and kidney functions, and the blood glucose were tested.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One week after the application of WC, the blood Tac concentration increased 67.2% averagely. During the 1 -12 months of WC treatment, the Tac dosage was significantly lower in the WC group than in the control group (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the liver and renal functions, or the blood glucose levels between the two groups (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>WC could significantly increase the blood Tac concentration of renal transplant recipients, reduce their Tac dosages, with no obvious adverse reaction.</p>

Expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in renal tissues of patients with chronic active antibody-mediated renal graft rejection / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expressions of matrix metalloprotein-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metallopeptidase inhibitor-1 (TIMP-1) in the renal allografts of patients with chronic active antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR), and explore their role in the pathogenesis of ABMR.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry and computer-assisted image analysis were used to detect the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in the renal allografts of 46 patients with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA), with 15 normal renal tissue specimens as the control. The association of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 with the pathological grade of IF/TA in ABMR was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 significantly increased in the renal tissues of the patients as compared with the normal renal tissues (P<0.05). MMP-2 expression tended to decrease, while TIMP-1 and serum creatinine increased with the pathological grades of IF/TA (P<0.05). In IF/TA group, the expression of TIMP-1 was positively correlated to serum creatinine level (r=0.718, P=0.00<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Abnormal expressions of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 can promote the development of renal fibrosis in chronic ABMR.</p>