Liquid biopsy biomarkers of renal interstitial fibrosis based on urinary exosome.

Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is difficult to diagnose. This paper explored liquid biopsy markers in urinary exosomes derived from RIF patients. Urine samples from 32 patients with various degrees of RIF and 20 non-RIF patients were collected. The size and morphology of urinary exosomes isolated by polyethylene glycol were observed with electron microscopy. Protein biomakers of exosomes were analyzed by Western blot. qRT-PCR was used to detect the levels of biomarkers (miR-29c, miR-21, E-cadherin, and vimentin) of epithelial mesenchymal transition in urinary exosomes. The diagnostic value was detected with ROC curves. Results displayed successfully isolated urinary exosomes. The examined miRNAs and mRNAs were checked from all urinary exosomes samples, except for two cases of RIF which lacked E-cadherin mRNA. RNA levels were different in patients with diverse degrees of RIF. Urinary miR-29c was decreased with the progress of fibrosis. Levels of E-cadherin mRNA were first decreased and then increased. The contents of miR-21 and vimentin mRNA were also depended on the degrees of RIF. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of miR-29c was 0.8621, statistically significant compared with the non-RIF group (P < 0.05). The miR-29c level within the urinary exosomes is a promising marker for the diagnosis of RIF.

Pharmacological effect of combined administration of natures, tastes and components of Chinese herbal compounds / 中国中药杂志

The combined administration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) aims at comprehensive adjustment of body based on the theory of TCM and the theory of Chinese medicine property. The natures and tastes of TCM are the core of the theory of TCM property. The combined administration of natures and tastes of TCM is one of the important theories of prescription compatibility. The objective of study on the combined administration of natures and tastes of prescriptions according to symptoms of disease is to clarify the compatibility mechanism of prescriptions. The study on the compound compatibility of TCM under the guidance of theory of TCM focuses on the relationship between the composition, dosage and compatibility of TCM by using modern high-tech means. It demonstrates the effective combination of TCM theory and modern technology, and the inheritance and innovation of TCM theory. The study of the effect and mechanism of compatibility of natures and tastes of TCM under the guidance of TCM theory is helpful for the analysis of the compatibility effect and mechanism of TCM based on the pharmacological effect of natures and tastes of TCM. The correlation between the pharmacological effect of natures and tastes of TCM and the pharmacological effect of components were studied by modern informatics, which is beneficial to promote the development of theory of TCM compound. The study of the compatibility between natures, tastes and component of TCM shall pay attention to the combination of pharmacological effects of natures, tastes and component of TCM, so as to define the scientific connotation of the compatibility of TCM, and make full use of the characteristics and advantages of TCM. The methods and pharmacological effects of the combined administration of TCM compounds are reviewed to provide the theoretical basis for the development of new drugs and clinical application.

Effect of different doses of adipose-derived stem cells on early renal fibrosis / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Our preliminary findings have shown that stem cells have a certain effect on early formation of renal fibrosis and delay the occurrence of renal interstitial fibrosis.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of exogenous adipose-derived stem cell transplantation on the formation of renal interstitial fibrosis in rats,and to explore the dose-effect relationship.METHODS:Fifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups.Rats in sham operation group were injected with PBS;and those in the other four groups were ligated to establish the model of renal fibrosis.After successful modeling,the model group was injected with PBS,while low dose group,middle dose group and high dose group were injected with 1 ×107/L,2x107/L,3x107/L adipose-derived stem cell suspension (0.1 mL),respectively.Rats were killed 14 days after injection.Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining were used to observe the degree of renal tubular interstitial injury and the relative area of the renal interstitium.Expression of alpha smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor beta1 was detected by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1) Hematoxylin eosin staining:The model group showed typical glomerular and tubulointerstitial changes;the low,middle and high dose groups had a certain degree of glomerular and tubulointerstitial changes,but the severity of injury in these three groups,especially in the high dose group,was significantly milder than that in the model group.(2) Masson staining:In the model group,the renal interstitium was widened and the collagen fibers were deposited;in the low,middle and high dose groups,the degree of renal interstitial expansion was lower than that in the model group,and moreover,the degree of renal interstitial expansion in the middle and high dose groups was lower than that in the low dose group (P ＜ 0.05).(3) Immunohistochemical staining:Compared with the sham operation group,the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor beta1 in the model group was higher than that in the sham operation group (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the model group,significantly decreased expression of alphasmooth muscle actin was found in the high dose group (P ＜ 0.05) and significantly reduced transforming growth factor beta1 expression was observed in the high,middle,and low dose groups (P ＜ 0.05),especially in the middle and high dose groups.To conclude,exogenous adipose-derived stem cell transplantation can delay the formation of early renal fibrosis in a dose-effect manner,which may be realized by changing the signal pathway state induced by transforming growth factor beta1.

The structural study of prefabrication stress stent and the hemodynamics in percutaneous transhepatic portacaval shunt / 介入放射学杂志

Objective To present a preliminary latest procedure for portal hypertension and evaluate the technical feasibility and efficacy of portacaval shunt creation through the percutaneous transhepatic approach in order to make a hemodynamic comparison with that of the classic TIPS.Methods Thirty-eight patients with portal hypertension(36 men;mean age 57 years,range 32～73)were referred for PTPS procedure because of bleeding varices(n=36),intractable ascites(n=1),and hepatopulmonary syndrome(n=1).The severity of liver disease was classified as Child-Pugh B in 27 and C in 11.The PTPS was created by a percutaneous transhepatic puncture into right portal vein and then through left portal vein to the hepatic segment of IVC followed by a prefabrication stress stent-graft placement at the very site.Results Technical and functional success of 100% was achieved in all patients,without related complications.The postprocedural portal vein-IVC gradients mean 13 cmH_2O was achieved with the follow-up period mean 493 days.No recurrence of variceal bleeding and controlled refractory ascites were achieved,and still more with primary patency rate of the involved vascular structure up to 94.8% at 365 days,much better than classic TIPS. Conclusions Portacaval shunt creation using the prefabrication stress stent via percutaneous transhepatic technique is safe and feasible.The compact coincidence was obtained between the stent and the involved vessel with restoration of intrahepatic portal venous bemodynamics together with partial lowering of portal venous pressure and guaranteeing intrahepatic perfusion through right portal vein.It is also obviously to have postoperative prevention of shunt restenoses and lowering postoperative incidence of hepato-encephalopathy.