Urinary heme oxygenase-1 in children with congenital hydronephrosis due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction

Context: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is implicated to be correlated with renal function in oxidative stress.

Objective: To determine whether urinary (u) HO-1 is associated with the progression of congenital obstructive hydronephrosis (HN).

Methods: A total 50 children with HN (study group and control 1) and 30 healthy children were enrolled in this study.

Results: The uHO-1/cr levels increased significantly and negatively correlated with split renal function in study group before and during surgery. One month after surgery, it decreased significantly.

Conclusion: Increased uHO-1 levels could be a potential biomarker for evaluating the progression of obstructive nephropathy.     

Airway wall thickness is increased in COPD patients with bronchodilator responsiveness

Rationale

Bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR) is a common but variable phenomenon in COPD. The CT characteristics of airway dimensions that differentiate COPD subjects with BDR from those without BDR have not been well described. We aimed to assess airway dimensions in COPD subjects with and without BDR.

Methods

We analyzed subjects with GOLD 1–4 disease in the COPDGene® study who had CT airway analysis. We divided patients into two groups: BDR + (post bronchodilator ΔFEV₁ ≥ 10%) and BDR-(post bronchodilator ΔFEV₁ < 10%). The mean wall area percent (WA%) of six segmental bronchi in each subject was quantified using VIDA. Using 3D SLICER, airway wall thickness was also expressed as the square root wall area of an airway of 10 mm (Pi10) and 15 mm (Pi15) diameter. %Emphysema and %gas trapping were also calculated.

Results

2355 subjects in the BDR-group and 1306 in the BDR + group formed our analysis. The BDR + group had a greater Pi10, Pi15, and mean segmental WA% compared to the BDR-group. In multivariate logistic regression using gender, race, current smoking, history of asthma, %emphysema, %gas trapping, %predicted FEV₁, and %predicted FVC, airway wall measures remained independent predictors of BDR. Using a threshold change in FEV₁ ≥ 15% and FEV₁ ≥ 12% and 200 mL to divide patients into groups, the results were similar.

Conclusion

BDR in COPD is independently associated with CT evidence of airway pathology. This study provides us with greater evidence of changes in lung structure that correlate with physiologic manifestations of airflow obstruction in COPD.     

Chronic constipation recognized as a sign of a SOX10 mutation in a patient with Waardenburg syndrome

Waardenburg syndrome is characterized by hearing loss, pigmentation abnormalities, dysmorphologic features, and neurological phenotypes. Waardenburg syndrome consists of four distinct subtypes, and SOX10 mutations have been identified in type II and type IV. Type IV differs from type II owing to the presence of Hirschsprung disease. We identified a de novo nonsense mutation in SOX10 (p.G39X) in a female pediatric patient with Waardenburg syndrome with heterochromia iridis, profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, inner ear malformations, and overall hypopigmentation of the hair without dystopia canthorum. This patient has experienced chronic constipation since she was a neonate, but anorectal manometry showed a normal anorectal reflex. Chronic constipation in this patient was likely to be a consequence of a mild intestinal disorder owing to the SOX10 mutation, and this patient was considered to have a clinical phenotype intermediate between type II and type IV of the syndrome. Chronic constipation may be recognized as indicative of a SOX10 mutation in patients with Waardenburg syndrome.     

超微铁皮石斛对脾虚便秘小鼠肠道乳酸杆菌多样性的影响

【目的】探讨超微铁皮石斛对脾虚便秘小鼠肠道乳酸杆菌多样性的影响,为疗效提供依据。【方法】制备小鼠脾虚便秘模型,灌胃铁皮石斛传统汤剂、超微50%量汤剂治疗,采集肠道内容物提取肠道微生物宏基因组DNA,用乳酸杆菌特异引物PCR后进行ARDRA分析。【结果】结果显示,正常组、铁皮石斛传统汤剂组和超微50%量汤剂组的OTUs、Shannon指数和Brillouin指数相同,且均大于模型组;铁皮石斛超微50%量汤剂组与正常组乳酸杆菌群落结构的相似性系数最大,为0.333 3,其次是模型组为0.181 8,传统汤剂组最小,为0.166 7;聚类分析和主成分分析结果显示,小鼠肠道乳酸杆菌多样性受脾虚便秘造模影响,发生改变,铁皮石斛两种汤剂通过不同的途径对其进行调控作用。【结论】铁皮石斛对脾虚便秘小鼠肠道乳酸杆菌多样性的调整作用明显,且超微50%量汤剂组小鼠肠道乳酸杆菌多样性更接近正常组,疗效更优。     

功能性便秘患者实施中药热敷的效果观察

目的：探讨中药热敷疗法对功能性便秘（functional constipation,FC）患者进行护理的临床效应。方法：选取50例FC患者,随机分为对照组和试验组,各25例。对照组采用常规护理与治疗,试验组在对照组的基础上采用中药热敷进行护理干预,比较两组患者症状的改善及治疗效果,并在干预前后检测血液胃动素（motilin,MTL）的浓度。结果：试验组实施干预后,治疗效果优于对照组（P〈0．05）,对排便费力、排便不尽感、大便性状的改善及缩短排便时间亦优于对照组（P〈0．01）;干预前两组患者MTL浓度比较无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;干预后试验组MTL浓度上升,与干预前及对照组比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈O．01）。结论：中药热敷疗法能有效的改善FC患者的临床症状,提高体内胃动素的浓度,增强治疗效果。     

梗阻性低位直肠癌保肛手术可行性探讨

目的:探讨梗阻性低位直肠癌保肛治疗(直肠癌前切除术(dixon手术))的可行性及术后肠瘘的防治。方法:回顾性分析我科2009年1月-2012年1月梗阻性低位直肠癌的保肛治疗(dixon)24例手术患者(梗阻性保肛组)临床资料及非梗阻性低位直肠癌保肛治疗(dixon)的24例患者(非梗阻性保肛组)临床资料,比较梗阻性与非梗阻性低位肠梗阻保肛治疗的临床疗效,分析梗阻性低位肠梗阻保肛治疗的可行性。结果:梗阻性保肛组住院天数:11.9天,非梗阻性肠梗阻保肛组8.7天P0.05;梗阻性保肛组发生肠瘘:4例(16.7%),非梗阻性肠梗阻保肛组发生肠瘘:1例(4.2%)P0.05,经充分引流后肠瘘愈合,无1人死亡,两组术后至出院期间死亡人数:0例;梗阻性保肛组肠功能恢复(以排气排便为指标):5.1天,非梗阻性保肛组肠功能恢复:3.8天,P0.05;术后6个月腹泻便秘患者两组相同为24人;术后6个月梗阻性保肛组肿瘤复发6人(25%),非梗阻性保肛组肿瘤复发5人(20.8%),P0.05。结论:梗阻性低位肠梗阻保肛治疗住院期疗效较非梗阻性保肛组差,中远期疗效无明显差异。梗阻性低位直肠癌可行保肛治疗。     

Bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells attenuate tubulointerstitial injury through multiple mechanisms in UUO model

Current evidence supports the use of bone marrow–derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for a diverse range of clinical applications, and many studies have shown that MSCs have renal-protective effects, but the mechanism is not well understood. Therefore, in this study, we aim to further identify whether MSCs can attenuate renal fibrosis by decreasing tubulointerstitial injury in a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model. In this study, we cultured MSCs and then transplanted them into a UUO model through the tail vein. Histology, cell proliferation, peritubular capillary (PTC) loss and myofibroblast markers were examined on days 3, 7 and 14 after surgery. We demonstrated that renal interstitial fibrosis in the MSC group was significantly attenuated compared with the UUO and DMEM groups. Moreover, MSC treatment inhibited the loss of PTCs and increased parenchymal cell proliferation. In addition, UUO-induced activation and proliferation of myofibroblasts were suppressed by MSC infusion. Furthermore, MSCs attenuated tubulointerstitial infiltration of macrophages in UUO mice. Tubulointerstitial damage plays a very important role in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). PTC loss, macrophage recruitment, and myofibroblast activation are directly correlated with the development of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Our results suggest that MSC infusion in the UUO model is a promising therapeutic strategy for promoting kidney repair.     

痔上黏膜环切术与经肛吻合器直肠切除术治疗梗阻型便秘

目的:探讨痔上黏膜环切术(Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids,PPH)及经肛吻合器直肠切除术(Stapled Trans-anal Rectal Resection,STARR)治疗出口梗阻型便秘的临床疗效。方法:选择2012年5月~2014年5月在我院接受治疗的梗阻型便秘患者100例,随机分为PPH组和STARR组,每组各50例,分别予PPH术和STARR术治疗。观察并比较两组患者治疗前后Longo出口梗阻型便秘评分及Wexner便秘严重程度评分。结果:两组患者术中出血量比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);PPH组患者手术时间、住院时间及治疗费用明显少于STARR组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者术后并发症的发生率无显著差异,无统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者术前Longo评分及Wexner评分比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);术后STARR组评分低于PPH组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:与经肛吻合器直肠切除术相比,痔上黏膜环切术操作简单,更易被患者接受,值得临床推广应用。     

Cross-talk between TLR4 and PPARγ pathways in the arachidonic acid-induced inflammatory response in pancreatic acini

Arachidonic acid (AA) is generally associated with inflammation in different settings. We assess the molecular mechanisms involved in the inflammatory response exerted by AA on pancreatic acini as an approach to acute pancreatitis (AP). Celecoxib (COX-2 inhibitor), TAK-242 (TLR4 inhibitor) and 15d-PGJ2 (PPARγ agonist) were used to ascertain the signaling pathways. In addition, we examine the effects of TAK-242 and 15d-PGJ2 on AP induced in rats by bile-pancreatic duct obstruction (BPDO). To carry out in vitro studies, acini were isolated from pancreas of control rats. Generation of PGE2 and TXB2, activation of pro-inflammatory pathways (MAPKs, NF-κB, and JAK/STAT3) and overexpression of CCL2 and P-selectin was found in AA-treated acini. In addition, AA up-regulated TLR4 and down-regulated PPARγ expression. Celecoxib prevented the up-regulation of CCL2 and P-selectin but did not show any effect on the AA-mediated changes in TLR4 and PPARγ expression. TAK-242, reduced the generation of AA metabolites and repressed both the cascade of pro-inflammatory events which led to CCL2 and P-selectin overexpression as well as the AA-induced PPARγ down-regulation. Thus, TLR4 acts as upstream activating pro-inflammatory and inhibiting anti-inflammatory pathways. 15d-PGJ2 down-regulated TLR4 expression and hence prevented the synthesis of AA metabolites and the inflammatory response mediated by them. Reciprocal negative cross-talk between TLR4 and PPARγ pathways is evidenced. In vivo experiments showed that TAK-242 and 15d-PGJ2 treatments reduced the inflammatory response in BPDO-induced AP. We conclude that through TLR4-dependent mechanisms, AA up-regulated CCL2 and P-selectin in pancreatic acini, partly mediated by the generation of PGE2 and TXB2, which activated pro-inflammatory pathways, but also directly by down-regulating PPARγ expression with anti-inflammatory activity. In vitro and in vivo studies support the role of TLR4 in AP and the use of TLR4 inhibitors and PPARγ agonists in AP treatment.