Efficacy of low-dose leflunomide in lupus nephritis: A multi-center prospective study / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To investigate the efficacy of leflunomide combined with prednisone in the induction therapy of proliferative lupus nephritis (LN).Methods A prospective,multicenter,randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in patients with biopsy-proved proliferative lupus nephritis recruited from 15 renal centers from 2013 to 2015.Patients were randomized to two groups.Oral leflunomide or intravenous cyclophosphamide was given to patients in each group.Both groups received a tapering course of oral prednisone therapy.All patients were followed up for 24 weeks.The blood biochemistry,urine index,clinical curative effect and adverse reaction were recorded and analyzed statistically.Results A total of 100 patients were enrolled in this clinical trial,including 48 patients in leflunomide group and 52 patients in cyclophosphamide group.After 24 weeks,the overall response rate was 79％ (95％ CI 67％-90％) in the leflunomide group and 69％ (95％ CI 56％-82％) in the cyclophosphamide group.23％ (95％CI 11％-35％) of patients in leflunomide group showed complete remission compared with 27％ (95％CI 24％-30％) in cyclophosphamide group (P=0.35).The levels of 24-hr urine protein excretion,SLEDAI and anti-dsDNA antibody titers were decreased in patients treated with leflunomide group after 24-weeks treatment.And the levels of serum albumin and complement 3 after treatment were significantly higher compared with these before treatment.There was also no significant difference in changes of 24-hr urine protein excretion,SLEDAI score,anti-dsDNA antibody titers,serum albumin and complement C3 levels after treatment between two groups.Incidence of adverse events did not differ between the leflunomide and cyclophosphamide group.Conclusions Leflunomide combined with prednisone showed same efficacy compared with cyclophosphamide as induction therapy for lupus nephritis.Leflunomide might be an useful medicine in the induction therapy of lupus nephritis.

Predictors of response in patients with progressive IgA nephropathy treated with leflunomide and medium/low-dose corticosteroid / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To investigate the factors affecting the efficacy of leflunomide combined with medium/low dose corticosteroids in the treatment of progressive IgA nephropathy (IgAN).Methods Clinical and pathological parameters were collected retrospectively in patients of primary IgAN with proteinuria＞ 1.0 g/24 h and chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 1-3 treated with leflunomide combined with medium/low dose corticosteroids in Ren Ji Hospital,School of Medicine,Shanghai Jiao Tong University from Jan 2005 to Dec 2010.According to the treatment effects,patients were divided into complete remission group and non-complete remission group.The biochemical and pathological indexes of the two groups were compared.Results A total of 42 patients were included.The remission rates at 3,6,9 and 12 months were 62％,64％,67％ and 74％,respectively.Seventeen (40.5％) and fourteen (33.3％) patients achieved complete and partial remission after one-year treatment,and the remission rate remained stable within one year after withdrawal of drugs.The 24hour proteinuria was 1.50 (0.67,2.66) g,which was significantly reduced compared with the baseline 2.44 (1.36,3.74) g (P ＜ 0.01).The decrease rate was 31.3％.There was a slight decrease in proteinuriawithin one year after withdrawal of drugs.Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) remained stable during the treatment and a year of follow-up.No serious adverse event was observed during the followup period.Among 31 responder patients,6(19.4％) patients relapsed.Logistic multivariate regression analysis suggested that the degree of renal interstitial inflammatory infiltration was an independent predictor of complete remission with one-year treatment of leflunomide combined with medium / low dose corticosteroids (HR=0.067,95％ CI 0.008-0.535,P=0.011).Conclusions IgAN treated with leflunomide and medium/low dose corticosteroids can achieve remission in early stage,and the remission rate remains stable after withdrawal of drugs.It is a safe option for the treatment of IgAN.Renal interstitial inflammatory infiltration is an independent predictor of complete remission.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound predicts the long-term prognosis of chronic kidney disease patients / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To evaluate the ability of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) as a prognostic indicator of renal function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.Methods A total of 122 patients with CKD were collected,and patients with allergies to sulfur hexafluoride,pregnancy,cardiopulmonary insufficiency,urinary calculus and tumour were excluded.These patients were divided into estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR,ml·min1· (1.73 m2)-1] ≥60 group,eGFR 30-59 group and eGFR ＜ 30 group.CEUS was performed after an intravenous bolus injection of 1.5 ml SonoVue (BR1;Bracco Milan,Italy).Time-intensity curves (TICs) and quantitative indexes were created using QLAB quantification software.Followed up for 2 years,and patients with eGFR dropped 50％,double serum creatinine and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were regarded as having kidney failure events.Risk factors related to kidney survival were investigated using a multivariate Cox regression model.Results One hundred patients were enrolled in the study,with 78％ patients in CKD 1-2 stages,16％ in CKD 3 stage and 6％ in CKD 4-5 stages.Patients were followed for a mean period of 14.1 months,ten (10％) patients exhibited composite kidney failure events.Among 3 groups,significant differences in the left kidney length derived peak intensity (DPI) were noted (P=0.014,P=0.010).Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the DPI was an independent factor of progression of kidney disease.Multiple linear regression showed that age,basic eGFR,peak intensity were associated with eGFR decline rate.Patients with DPI ＜ 12.27 db were less to recover from kidney disease progression as compared with patients with DPI≥ 12.27 db (P=0.008).The area under the curve (AUC) for DPI was 0.778(95％ CI 0.612-0.944,P＜ 0.05),with a sensitivity of 64％ and a specificity of 88％.Conclusions The DPI might be the most valuable CEUS parameter for the evaluation of renal function.The DPI could serve as an independent predictor of the long-term prognosis of CKD patients.

Discussion of clinical teaching on special examination of ophthalmology for international optometry students / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Based on the professional characteristics and nature of ophthalmology special examination and combined with teaching requirements for optometry foreign students, we developed a targeted teaching plan and practiced the classification teaching. Using guided trilogy teaching, we guided students to identify and analyze the similarities and differences between the image and the special examination function exami-nation results, emphasizing the cultivation of clinical ophthalmology diagnostic thinking of students, and we obtained good teaching and practice effect.

Complications and prognosis of urgent-start peritoneal dialysis and urgent-start hemodialysis in end-stage renal disease patients / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To compare the complications and outcomes of urgent?start peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) in end?stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, and explore the safety and effectiveness of PD which was as an urgent?start dialysis modality in ESRD patients. Methods All patients for urgent?start dialysis, who initiated dialysis without a long?term dialysis access or had the long?term dialysis access under 30 days in Renji Hospital from January 1st 2013 to December 31st 2014, were enrolled. According to the dialysis modalities, patients were divided into PD group and HD group. Participants were followed up until death, transferred to other centers, lost of follow up or January 1st 2016. Dialysis?related complications within 30 days of implantation, complications of reimplantation and the occurrence of bacteremia between two groups were compared, and their survival rates were tested by Kaplan?Meier curves. Results Among 178 patients in this study, there were 96 (53.9%) patients in PD group and 82 (46.1%) patients in HD group. Compared with those of HD group, patients of PD group presented more cardiovascular disease [21(21.9%) vs 8(9.8%), P=0.029], higher serum potassium [(4.5±0.8) mmol/L vs (4.3±0.8) mmol/L, P=0.038], but less heart failure (NYHA Ⅲ?Ⅳ) [26(30.2%) vs 40 (48.8%), P=0.014], lower brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) [328.5 (129.5, 776.8) ng/L vs 503.5(206.0, 1430.0) ng/L, P=0.008], higher hemoglobin [(81.5 ± 17.7) g/L vs (75.3 ± 22.5) g/L, P=0.039], higher serum albumin (33.5±5.7) g/L vs (31.3±6.7) g/L, P=0.022] and higher serum pre?albumin (304.5±78.0) mg/L vs (257.0 ± 86.1) mg/L, P<0.001]. PD group presented less dialysis?related complications [5 (5.2%) vs 20(24.4%), P<0.001], less dialysis?related complications requiring reimplantation [1(1.0%) vs 20(24.4%), P<0.001] and less bacteraemia [3(3.1%) vs 11(13.4%), P=0.011]. The 3?, 6?and 12?month patient survival rates of PD and HD group were 97.9% vs 98.4%, 97.9% vs 98.4%, and 92.1%vs 93.0% respectively, and no significant difference was found (Log ? rank=0.004, P=0.947). Conclusions Patients with urgent?start PD have less complications within 30 days of implantation and occurrence of bacteremia than patients with urgent?start HD, and the same survival rates. PD may be a feasible and safe urgent?start dialysis modality for ESRD patients.

Leflunomide combined with medium/low dose corticosteroids vs full dose of corticosteroids in treatment of IgA nephropathy / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To compare the efficacy and safety of leflunomide (LEF) combined with medium/low dose corticosteroids and full dose of corticosteroids in the treatment of IgA nephropathy. Method Primary IgAN patients diagnosed by renal biopsy with 18?65 years old and eGFR≥30 ml·min?1·(1.73 m2)?1 and proteinuria>0.5 g/24 h were enrolled in a prospective controlled clinical study. They were randomly divided into leflunomide combined with medium/low dose corticosteroids (LEF group) and corticosteroids alone (steroid group). The primary outcomes were (1) end stage renal disease or dialysis (2) 50% increase in serum creatinine above the baseline. Secondary outcome was the remission of proteinuria. Results Ninety patients completed the follow?up. The 24?hour proteinuria at baseline were 2.00(1.10, 2.88) g and 1.87(1.13 ,3.08) g in LEF group and steroid group respectively. Compared with baseline, it was significantly decreased in both groups at 6 months [0.30(0.11, 0.93) g, 0.30(0.14, 1.33) g] and 12 months [0.30(0.09, 0.82) g, 0.32(0.14, 0.66) g], (P0.05]. At 6 and 12 months, there was no significant difference in terms of 24?hour proteinuria, serum creatinine and eGFR (CKD?EPI) between groups (P>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in adverse events between groups during the treatment (9/40 cases in LEF group and 11/50 cases in steroid group, P>0.05). The average follow?up was 79 months, and there was no difference in the renal prognosis between the two groups. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that serum creatinine at baseline and renal interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration predicted the risk of the progress of IgA nephropathy. Conclusion Leflunomide plus medium/low dose corticosteroids has a similar effect as full dose of corticosteroids in IgA nephropathy and does not increase the risk for adverse events during the treatment.

Array comparative genomic hybridization analysis of early-stage arrested human embryos / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate chromosomal euploidies in early-stage arrested human embryos.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To determine the euploidy status of the 24 chromosomes, 13 embryos were analyzed, which included 5 arrested at 4-cell stage, 4 arrested at 8-cell stage, and 4 embryos at blastocyst stage regardless of their morphological scores. All embryos were subjected to biopsy, whole genome amplification, and array comparative genome hybridization analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Chromosome euploidies of the arrested embryos can be normal, aberrant and chaotic. Mosaicism is prevalent in early stage cleavage, whilst most of the blastocysts, even with poor morphology, are normal diploid.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Arrested embryo may have normal chromosomes euploidy. Mosaicism is common in cleavage stage embryos. Early stage embryo arrest may not be solely attributable to chromosomal aneuploidies and needs further research.</p>

Association of fibroblast growth factor 23 with coronary artery calcification in patients with moderate and advanced stage chronic kidney diseases / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To elucidate the association of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23)with coronary artery calcification in patients with moderate and advanced stage chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Methods Serum intact FGF23 levels in 150 patients with CKD stage 3 to 5 and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were measured by ELISA.The association between FGF23 and coronary artery calcification was studied. Results Serum FGF23 levels in CKD patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls [196.46 (83.09,355.02) ng/L vs 27.17 (21.63,51.20) ng/L,P＜0.01].The levels of FGF23 were significantly higher in dialyzed patients than those in non-dialyzed patients (P＜0.01),and hemodialysis patients had higher levels as compared to peritoneal dialysis ones [6048.29 (1129.08,34807.45) ng/L vs 1625.80 (602.83,7521.78) ng/L,P＜0.01].The incidence of coronary artery calcification was relatively high in patients with moderate and advanced stage CKD (74/130,56.9％ ).Serum FGF23 level was positively correlated with coronary artery calcification score (CaS) (r=0.177,P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that age (β=0.091,OR=1.095,P＜0.01),duration of dialysis (β=2.013,OR=7.483,P＜0.05) and FGF23 level (β=0.838,OR=2.311,P＜0.05) were independent risk factors for coronary artery calcification in patients with moderate and advanced stage CKD.ROC curve of coronary artery calcification revealed that area under curve (AUC) of FGF23 was 0.705 (P＜0.01).With the cut-off value of FGF23 as 786.73 ng/L,the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in coronary artery calcification were 62.5％ and 75.9％.ROC curve of coronary artery calcification showed that AUC of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) was 0.626 (P=0.017).With the cutoff value of AKP as 79.75 U/L,the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity in coronary artery calcification were 84.5％ and 41.5％.There was no diagnostic value of serum phosphorus in coronary artery calcification. Conclusions Serum FGF23 level is correlated with coronary artery.calcification in patients with moderate and advanced stage CKD.The sensitivity of FGF23 is lower and the specificity is higher than those of AKP for the diagnosis of coronary artery calcification.

The incidence and risk factors associated with prognosis of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To investigate the incidence and the prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) and to find out the risk factors associated with the outcome for better understanding and preventing AKI among inpatients. Methods All the hospitalized patients were screened by Lab Administration Network of Renji Hospital,Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from Jan.to Dec.2009.Study cohort was comprised of all the patients with AKI defined by Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) and with complete clinical data recorded.The incidence,etiology and distribution characteristics, prognosis of AKI in hospitalized patients were retrospectively analyzed.Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the risk factors of patients and renal outcome. Results A total of 934 patients with AKI were enrolled.The incidence of AKI in hospitalized patients was 2.41％ (934/38 734).The ratio of male to female was 1.88∶1.Age was (60.82±16.94) years old.Increasing incidence could be seen with age rising.There was 63.4％ AKI found in surgical department,35.4％ in internal medicine department and 1.2％ in obstetric and gynecologic department.Pre-AKI,acute tubular necrosis (ATN),acute glomerular and renal vascular injury (AGV),acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) and post-AKI were accounted for 51.7％,37.7％,3.8％,3.5％ and 3.3％ of the causes of AKI,respectively.On day 28,the survival rate was 71.8％,complete renal recovery rate was 65.7％,partial renal recovery rate was 16.9％ and renal loss rate was 17.4％ among all the patients with AKI.The mortality of AKI with stage Ⅰ,Ⅱ and Ⅲ among inpatients was 24.8％,31.2％ and 43.7％ respectively.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that renal injury drugs [odds ratio (OR)=2.313],hypotension (OR=4.482),oliguria (OR =5.267),the number of failure organs except kidney (OR =1.376) and requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT)(OR=4.221) were independent risk factors for death among AKI patients.The number of failure organs except kidney (OR=1.529) and RRT (OR=2.117) were independent risk factors for kidney loss. Conclusions AKI is one of the most common complications in hospitalized patients.The mortality is high and renal outcome is poor after AKI.The prognosis is closely associated with the severity of AKI.Renal injury drugs,hypotension,oliguria,the number of failure organs except kidney and requiring RRT are independent risk factors for death among AKI patients,while the number of failure organs except kidney and requiring RRT are independent risk.factors for renal loss.

Change and significance of growth differentiation factor 9 and bone morphogenetic protein expression during oocyte maturation in polycystic ovary syndrome patients with ovarian stimulation / 中华妇产科杂志

Objective To investigate the expression pattern and significance of two importantoocyte-secreted factors:growth differentiation factor 9(GDF9)and bone morphogenetic protein 15(BMP15)during oocyte maturation in women with polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS)and infertile women due to husband factors.Methods Total of 25 oocytes[9 at germinal vesicle GV stage,9 at M Ⅰ stage and 7 at M Ⅱ stage]were obtained from 12 patients with PCOS and 82 oocytes(29 at GV stage,26 at M Ⅰ stage and 27 at M Ⅱ stage)were from 56 controls.The nested quantitative real time(RT)PCR was uscd to detect the abundance of GDF9 and BMP15 mRNA in each oocyte.Results(1)The expression level of GDF9 mRNA at the GV stage,M Ⅰ stage and M Ⅱ stage in PCOS group were 44.8(4.2-529.0),27.6(9.8-172.7)and 49.0(0.2-65.9)respectively,the expression in were 149.9(55.4-387.9),29.9(2.5-205.8)and 657.8(149.4-1376.2)in control group,respectively.The expression of GDF9 mRNA at M Ⅱ stage was significantly lower in PCOS group than in controls(P ＜ 0.01),however,the differences didn't reach statistical significant at GV or M Ⅰ stage between the two groups(P ＞ 0.05).The expression of GDF9 mRNA displayed some changes at different maturation stage in controls(P ＜ 0.05,P ＜ 0.01),however,the expression didn't demonstrate any dynamic changes in PCOS group(P ＞ 0.05).(2)The expression level BMP15 mRNA at the GV stage,M Ⅰ stage and M Ⅱ stage in PCOS group were 0.1(0.1-22.0),3.2(0.6-55.0)and 6.4(3.2-8.5),respectively,the expression were 41.6(6.5-96.1),4.0(2.0-10.4)and 49.7(2.3-139.5)in control group,respectively.The expression of BMP15 mRNA at GV stage was significantly lower in PCOS group than in controls(P ＜ 0.01),however,the differences were not significant at M Ⅰ or M Ⅱ stage between the two groups(P ＞0.05).The expression of BMP15 mRNA also displayed some changes at different maturation stage in controls(P ＜ 0.05),however,the level didn't demonstrate any dynamic changes in PCOS group(P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion It was suggested that the low expression of oocyte secreted factors in mature oocytes from PCOS patients might be associated with impaired oocyte quality and developmental competence in PCOS.

Outcome and risk factors for renal involvement in patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis / 中华风湿病学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the outcome and risk factors for kidney involvement by analyzing 64 patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA)-associated vasculitis.MethodsData analyzed including the demographic information,survival status,renal survival status and laboratory parameters such asserum albumin level,serum creatinine level,urinary protein excretion level,hematuria,high sensitivity C-reactive protein(CRP),ANCA titer,and the Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS).Logistic regression analysis,Cox regression analysis and ROC curve were used to evaluate the risk factors of patients with renal involvement and all-event survival.ResultsTotally 64 patients were enrolled [24 females with the average age of (59.9±2.0) years] and followed up for a median of (38±16) months.The morality rate was 14％,and the prevalence of end stage renal disease was 39％.Compared with those who had better outcomes,patients who died or with end stage renal disease had higher serum creatinine level [ (624±246),(245±127 ) μ mol/L,respectively,t=7.17,P＝0.005 ] and erythrocyte sediment rate [ (112±24),(76±48) mm/1 h,respectively,t=3.74,P＜0.01 ],but lower serum albumin level [(294±31 ),(316±42) g/L,respectively,t=-2.27,P=0.01 ] and hemoglobin level [ (79±13),(99±33) g/L,respectively,t=-3.23,P＜0.01 ] at baseline.Logistic regression analysis found that serum creatinine level and erythrocyte sediment rate at baseline were associated with poor outcome and Cox regression analysis further confirmed this result[Scrβ=1.004,95％CI1.002～1.006,P＜0.01; ESR β=l.018,95％CI 1.000～1.037,P=0.046].ROC curve analysis showed that serum creatinine and erythrocyte sediment rate were predictors for AAV patients' prognosis and their AUC were 0.95 and 0.80,the sensitivity of these parameters was both 94％,and the specificity was 93％ and 70％respectively.ConclusionThe intensity of initial treatment should be based on disease severity and activity in order to improve the prognosis of those with ANCA-associated vasculitis with renal involvement.Increased serum creatinine and erythrocyte sediment rate may serve as predictors for poor prognosis in this patient cohort.

Prevalence of non-diabetic renal diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes / 中华内分泌代谢杂志

Objective To differentiate proteinuria due to non-diabetic renal diseases(NDRD)from that of diabetic nephropathy(DN)in type 2 diabetic patients,and to evaluate the prevalence of NDRD.Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on diabetic patients who had undergone renal biopsy between Jan 1,2003 and Dec 3 1,2006.The data including history of diabetes,cardiac color ultrasound,color Doppler ultrasound of the carotid artery,retinal changes,examination of ocular fundus,giomerular filtration rate,hepatic and renal function,lipid profile,blood glucose,HbA1c,and urine protein were collected.Results Among 46 patients,22 cases (47.8%)were distinctly diagnosed as diabetic nephropathy(DN),while the other 24(52.2%)as NDRD.Focal segmental glomeruloselerosis Was the most common lesion found in patients with NDRD.In DN group,the fasting blood glucose was higher than that of NDRD group,as well as ejection fraction,carotid plaque,and intimamedia thickness(IMT)showed significant differences between 2 groups.Patients with NDRD were less frequently associated with diabetic retinopathy.Diabetic retinopathy showed hiigh sensitivity(72.7%)and specificity (91.7%)in diagnosing DN.Conclusions Blood glucose,ejection fraction,carotid plaques and IMT,and retinopathy may be helpful in differential diagnosis of diabetic patients with overt proteinuria.Renal biopsy is an important step lo establish the diagnosis.

Stroke and its related factors in chronic kidney disease patients / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To investigate the stroke occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its related factors, especially the carotid atherosclerosis. Methods The data of stroke occurrence in 700 CKD patients hospitalized in Renji Hospital during 2007 were analyzed retrospectively. The incidences of stroke were compared among CKD [Ⅰ-Ⅱ, CKD Ⅲ-Ⅴ non-dialysis patients and dialysis patients. Carotid atherosclerosis of 409 CKD patients was examined by color Doppler ultrasound. The related factors were selected by Spearmnan correlation analysis and Logistic regression analysis. Results Of 700 CKD patients, 67 cases (9.57%) experienced at least one episode of stroke, which was much higher than that of general population. The related factors of stroke in CKD included GFR, age, SBP, CRP, Lpa, serum glucose, pre-albumin, HDL and carotid atherosclerosis. Logistic regression revealed that SBP (β=1.021, P=0.042), CRP (β=1.008, P=0.024) and carotid atherosclerosis (β =3.456, P=0.025) were risk factors of stroke in CKD. Incidence of carotid atherosclerosis was high (50.37%) in CKD patients, besides it was significantly higher in CKD patients with stroke history as compared to those without stroke history (80.0% vs 47.4%, P<0.01). Conclusions The incidence of stroke is quite high in CKD patients, which is closely associated with hypertension, inflammation and glyeolipid metabolism disorder. Carotid atherosclerosis is common in CKD patients with stroke, which may be helpful in screening cerebrovascular diseases in CKD patients.

Association between non-dipping circadian blood pressure rhythm and left ventricular hypertrophy in chronic kidney disease patients / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To clarify the association between non-dipping circadian blood pressure (BP) rhythm and left ventrieular hypertrophy (LVH) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Methods A total of 257 CKD patients of stage 1 to 5 were enrolled in the study. The parameters of BP and circadian rhythm were measured by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and the cardiac structure was examined by echocardiography. The association between circadian BP rhythm and echocardiographic parameters was studied. Results The prevalence of abnormal circadian BP rhythm (non-dipping rhythm) was quite high (75.4%) in CKD patients and increased with the deterioration of renal function. Even if in the normal BP group, the prevalence of non-dipping rhythm was 71.3%. The change of cardiac structure such as LVH in non-dipping patients was more obvious than the dipping patients. The left ventrieular mass index (LVMI) was positively correlated with BP, non-dipping rhythm. Multiple regression analysis showed that 24 h-SBP (β=0.417, P<0.01), triglyceride (TG) (β=-0.132, P=O.007), Hb (β=-0.394, P=0.016) and gender(β=0.158, P=0.039) were independent risk factors of LVMI. Conclusions The prevalence of non-dipping rhythm is quite high in CKD patients and increases with the deterioration of renal function. The change of cardiac structure such as LVH is obvious in CKD patients, especially in non-dipping group. The non-dipping rhythm is related with LVMI.

Uremic serum induces osteogenic transition and calcification of human umbilical artery smooth muscle cells / 中华肾脏病杂志

Objective To study the effect of uremic serum on the calcification and osteogenic transition of cultured human umhilical artery smooth muscle cells(HUASMC).Methods Sera from 40 healthy controls(control group),40 nondialysis uremic patients(nondialysis group)and 45 uremic patients on dialysis(dialysis group)were detected fi)r biochemical indexes concerned and used to treat the cultured HUASMC.Alizarin red S stain was applied to examined calcium deposition in the cell layer.Calcium concentration was determined calorimetrically by the Ocresolphtha]ein complexone method,and corrected by total cell proteins.The mRNA expression of bone specific alkaline phosphatase(BAP),osteopontin(OPN)and bone morphogenelic protein 2(BMP2)was estimated by realtime PCR.OPN and BMP2 protein expression was assessed by Western blotting and fluorometry method was used to check the BAP concentration. Results Serum biochemical detection revealed thai both uremic groups had higher levels of phosphate,triglyseride,iPTH,C-reactive protein(CRP)and IL-6,and lower level of fetuin-A than healthy control(P＜0.05).Furthermore,dialysis serum had higher levels of triglyseride,CRP and IL-6 than nondialysis serum(P＜0.05).Compared with control group,both uremic scra induced more cell layer calcium deposition and higher mRNA and protein expression levels of BMP2,BAP and OPN(P＜0.05).Higher mRNA and protein expression levels of above factors were found in dialysis group as compared to nondialysis group(P＜0.05). Conclusions Uremic serum can induce HUASMC calcification and osteogenic transition in vitro,which may be one of the mechanisms involved in vascular calcification of ESRD patients.Microinflammatory state may promote the osteogenic transition and vascular calcification in dialysis patients.

Effects of Astragalus on expression of renal angiopoietin receptor Tie-2 in diabetic rats / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of angiopoietin receptor Tie-2 in the renal tissue of diabetic rats and the effects of Astragalus. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, diabetes group and Astragalus-treated group. The expression of receptor Tie-2 in the renal tissue was assessed by using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: Glomerule Tie-2 protein expression was significantly elevated in the diabetes group as compared with the normal control group (P<0.01). Glomerule Tie-2 protein expression in the Astragalus-treated group was decreased as compared with the diabetes group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Tie-2 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of the early stage diabetic renal injury. The reno-protection effect of Astragalus may be mediated by down-regulating the expression of Tie-2 in the kidney tissue of diabetic rats.

Thickness of retinal nerve fiber layer with different scan diameters using optical coherence tomography in normal human eyes / 第三军医大学学报

0.05).Significant difference was seen in the thickness of RNFL at different scanning diameters(P

Preimplantation gender diagnosis by fluorescence in situ hybridization / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To describe the clinical application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH ) in preimplantation gender diagnosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Preimplantation gender diagnosis was performed in 2 female hemophilia A carriers, 1 male patient with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency and 2 male patients with Y chromosome abnormality. Embryo sex was identified by FISH in total of 6 treatment cycles.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 123 cumulus-oocytes were retrieved in 6 treatment cycles. Sixty-one embryos were available for embryo biopsy. The success rate of biopsy was 86.9% (53/61), with a further cleavage rate of 62.3% (33/53). In the FISH procedure, one cell was lost during fixation, leading to a 98.1% (52/53) fixation rate. Totally, 16 female embryos and 3 male embryos were transferred to 5 patients in 6 cycles. Three healthy babies were born. The diagnosis was confirmed by subsequent analysis of amniocytes and embryonic buds after embryo reduction.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>FISH is an efficient and reliable technique for determining the sex of human preimplantation embryos. Selective abortion and births of affected children can be avoided by preimplantation gender diagnosis.</p>

Rescue activation of calcium ionophore A23187 on unfertilized human oocytes after conventional in-vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To explore the activation effect of calcium ionophore A23187 on unfertilized human mature oocytes after conventional in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). METHODS: Thirty-seven unfertilized mature oocytes from IVF and 41 after ICSI were included in our experiment. They were incubated in 5 ?mol/L calcium ionophore A23187 for 5 minutes. Second polar body extrusion and pronuclear formation were recorded 12-16 hours later. The activated oocytes were cultured for another 2 days in vitro. RESULTS: Activation rate of unfertilized oocytes from conventional IVF and ICSI were 64.9%(24/37)and 73.2%(30/41), respectively. Among 41 unfertilized oocytes after ICSI treated with A23187, 30 were activated and 24 had 2 polar body (PB) and 2 pronuclear (PN). But for the unfertilized oocytes from conventional IVF only 20% activated oocytes had 2 PN and 2 PB. The percentage difference of oocytes containing 2 PB and 2 PN between the two groups was significant ( P