Zea mays L. extracts modify glomerular function and potassium urinary excretion in conscious rats

Diuretic and uricosuric properties have traditionally been attributed to corn silk, stigma/style of Zea mays L. Although the diuretic effect was confirmed, studies of the plant's effects on renal function or solute excretion were lacking. Thus, we studied the effects of corn silk aqueous extract on the urinary excretion of water, Na+, K+, and uric acid. Glomerular and proximal tubular function and Na+ tubular handling were also studied. Conscious, unrestrained adult male rats were housed in individual metabolic cages (IMC) with continuous urine collection for 5 and 3 h, following two protocols. The effects of 25, 50, 200, 350, and 500 mg/kg body wt. corn silk extract on urine volume plus Na+ and K+ excretions were studied in water-loaded conscious rats (2.5 ml/100 g body wt.) in the IMC for 5 h (Protocol 1). Kaliuresis was observed with doses of 350 (100.42 +/- 22.32-120.28 +/- 19.70 microEq/5 h/100 g body wt.; n = 13) and 500 mg/kg body wt. (94.97+/- 29.30-134.32 +/- 39.98 microEq/5h/100 g body wt.; n = 12; p<0.01), and the latter dose resulted in diuresis as well (1.98 +/- 0.44-2.41 +/- 0.41 ml/5 h/100 g body wt.; n = 12; p<0.05). The effects of a 500 mg/kg body wt. dose of corn silk extract on urine volume, Na+, K+ and uric acid excretions, and glomerular and proximal tubular function, were measured respectively by creatinine (Cler) and Li+ (ClLi) clearances and Na+ tubular handling, in water-loaded rats (5 ml/100 g body wt.) in the IMC for 3 h (Protocol 2). Clcr (294.6 +/- 73.2, n = 12, to 241.7 +/- 48.0 microl/ min/100 g body wt.; n = 13; p<0.05) and the Na+ filtered load (41.9 +/- 10.3, n = 12, to 34.3 +/- .8, n = 13, p<0.05) decreased and ClLi and Na+ excretion were unchanged, while K+ excretion (0.1044 +/- 0.0458, n=12, to 0.2289 +/- 0.0583 microEq/min/100 body wt.; n = 13; p<0.001) increased. For Na+ tubular handling, the fractional proximal tubular reabsorption (91.5 +/- 3.5, n = 12, to 87.5 +/- 3.4%; n = 13; p<0.01) decreased, and both fractional distal reabsorptions--I and II--increased (96.5 +/- 1.5, n = 12, to 97.8 +/- 0.9%; n = 13; p<0.01; and 8.2 +/- 3.5, n = 12, to 12.2 +/- 3.4%, n = 13, p<0.01, respectively). To summarize, in water-loaded conscious rats (2.5 ml/100 body wt.), corn silk aqueous extract is diuretic at a dose of 500 mg/kg body wt. and kaliuretic at doses of 350 and 500 mg/kg body wt. In water-loaded conscious rats (5.0 ml/100 g body wt.), corn silk aqueous extract is kaliuretic at a dose of 500 mg/kg body wt., but glomerular filtration and filtered load decrease without affecting proximal tubular function, Na+, or uric acid excretion.     

Comparison of the clinical effect of DHS and PFNA on senile osteoporotic fracture and their significance of changes in BALP expression level

Objective:To investigate the clinical effects of dynamic hip screw (DHS) and proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) on senile osteoporosis patients and their effects on the expression level of bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP).Methods:116 elderly patients with osteoporotic fracture were divided into DHS group (n=67) and PFNA group (n=49). BALP values were measured by ELISA before operation and 30 days after operation.Results:The operation time, the bleeding volume, and the weight-bearing time of PFNA group was shorter than DHS group (p<0.05); the dominant blood loss and occult blood loss in PFNA group were less than those in DHS group (p<0.05); the healing time and detumescence time, the complications of PFNA group was fewer than the DHS group (p<0.05). The ten-meter walking speed and the five sitting tests in PFNA group were shorter than that in DHS group (p<0.05); the excellent and good rate and Harris score in PFNA group were higher than those in DHS group (p<0.05). The expression of BALP in PFNA group was lower than that in DHS group (p<0.05).Conclusion:PFNA surgery has less trauma, fewer complications, more optimistic postoperative healing and recovery degree, and is more conducive to the reduction of BALP expression level.     

Urinary markers of nephrotoxicity following administration of 2 bromoethanamine hydrobromide a comparison with hexachlorobutadiene

2 bromoethanamine hydrobromide (BEA) has been widely considered to be a target selective nephrotoxin that causes necrosis of the medulla in 24-48 h, but recent reports suggest that early cortical injury is also associated with this lesion. In order to assess the cortical effects of BEA (100 mg kg^-1 bw single ip injection), several urinary markers of renal injury were evaluated over a 7 day period in male Wistar Albino rats. Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD 150 mg kg^-1 bw in peanut oil ip), a renal toxin which targets selectively for the proximal tubule, was used as a comparison. After BEA treatment, urinary levels of alanine aminopeptidase, gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and glucose increased transiently. Each of the proximal tubule marker enzymes peaked earlier following HCBD treatment and elevation of alanine aminopeptidase and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase was sustained for longer periods than for BEA. Following BEA treatment, lactate dehydrogenase rose prominently on day 1 followed by a return to control values on day 2 and a further rise on day 3 and remained high until the end of the study. BEA also increased the urinary excretion of total protein and albumin. After HCBD treatment, lactate dehydrogenase showed a transient elevation and glucose levels were slightly increased. Based on the present observations the changes induced by BEA administration on urinary markers of renal injury are different from those observed following HCBD treatment. These findings suggest that BEA toxicity also involves other parts of the kidney besides the papilla.     

微创经皮LCP 接骨术治疗老年股骨近端粉碎骨折

目的:本研究通过观察微创锁定钢板接骨术治疗老年股骨近端粉碎骨折临床效果,旨在找出最佳治疗方式。方法:自2007年12月～2010年03月,应用股骨近端锁定加压钢板治疗老年股骨近端粉碎骨折23例。记录术中出血量、手术时间,术后并发症、骨折愈合时间及最后一次随访时功能恢复情况。结果:骨折临床愈合时间为12～28周,平均16周。除1例患者髋内翻畸形,1例锁定加压钢板断裂外,其他患者均达到骨性愈合。结论:股骨近端锁定钢板具有创伤小、固定可靠、骨折愈合快、功能恢复满意的特点,尤其适用于老年股骨近端粉碎骨折。     

黄颡鱼(Pseudobagrus fulvidraco)精子的超微结构

黄颡鱼精子由头部、中段和鞭毛(尾部)三部分组成。头部的主要结构是细胞核。核中浓缩了的染色质呈颗粒状。染色质中有核泡存在。核泡中有致密颗粒状物。植入窝里井状,从核后端往前深陷入核的中央。中段的中心粒复合体位于植入窝中,结构独特。近端中心粒和基体首尾相对,排在同一直线上。某些精子的近端中心粒的中央腔中能见到一、二个粗大的颗粒状物。基体的中央腔中有一对中央微管。近端中心粒和基体之间有中心粒间体将两者隔开。中段的袖套连接于细胞核之后,其中分布着线粒体和一些囊泡。近袖套内膜处的细胞质中有一层膜与袖套内膜平行。鞭毛细长,其起始端位于袖套腔中。鞭毛上长有两排侧鳍。侧鳍呈波纹状,分居轴丝两侧,大致与轴丝的两条中央微管同在一个平面上。侧鳍的基部有囊泡。     

Proteomic analysis of AQP11-null kidney: Proximal tubular type polycystic kidney disease

Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) is caused by the mutation of polycystins (PC-1 or PC-2), in which cysts start from the collecting duct to extend to all nephron segments with eventual end stage renal failure. The cyst development is attenuated by a vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist tolvaptan which, however, will not affect proximal tubule cysts devoid of V2 receptor. Aquaporin-11 (AQP11) is expressed selectively in the proximal tubule of the kidney and AQP11-null kidneys have a disruptive PC-1 trafficking to the plasma membrane to develop polycystic kidneys. Here, we analyzed AQP11-null kidneys at the beginning of cyst formation by quantitative proteomic analysis using Tandem Mass Tag (TMT). Among ~ 1200 identified proteins, 124 proteins were differently expressed by > 1.5 or < 0.8 fold change. A pancreatic stone inhibitor or a growth factor, lithostathine-1 (Reg1) was most enhanced by 5 folds which was confirmed by western blot, while mitochondria-related proteins were downregulated. The identified proteins will be new target molecules for the treatment of proximal tubular cysts and helpful to explore the functional roles of AQP11 in the kidney.     

尖顶距在股骨近端抗旋转髓内钉治疗股骨近端骨折中的应用

目的:探讨尖顶距在股骨近端抗旋转髓内钉治疗股骨近端骨折临床效果中的作用和意义,为骨外科手术疗效的评价提供可借鉴的方法。方法:对2006年8月-2007年10月期间在我院接受PFNA治疗的32例股骨近端骨折患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析。根据AO/ASIF国际内固定研究学会标准对骨折进行分类,应用术中和术后即刻X光射线照片对骨折复位情况、远端锁定类型和股骨头内刀片位置进行记录。患者术后常规X光照片观察切出情况,用Oxford髋关节评分系统评价临床疗效。结果:研究期间共有37例PFNA植入,纳入本研究的共32例,27例获得随访。其中,3例切出(2例内侧穿孔和1例内侧塌陷)TAD小于20mm。4例植入相关股骨骨折,2例不愈合,1例复位失败。结论:PFNA是治疗股骨近端不稳定型骨折的有效装置。我们认为TAD应尽量20 mm或30 mm以避免股骨头穿透。     

自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗股骨头无菌性坏死的临床观察

目的:观察自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗股骨头无菌性坏死的临床效果及安全性.方法:对2012年9月至2013年1月期间在我院骨科住院治疗的55例患者随机分成两组,对照组接受常规治疗,治疗组接受自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗治疗.结果:治疗组的临床疗效优于对照组,与对照组相比差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);治疗组治疗后的DSA检查结果与对照相比,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);两组不良反应相互比较,无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论:自体骨髓间充质干细胞移植治疗股骨头无菌性坏死效果显著,优于常规治疗.     

Reinforcer devaluation by extinction depends on the food restriction protocol

A common feature of reinforcer devaluation studies is that new learning induces the devaluation. The present study used extinction to induce new learning about the conditioned reinforcer in a heterogeneous chain schedule. Rats pressed a lever in a heterogeneous chain schedule to produce a conditioned reinforcer (light) associated with the opportunity to obtain an unconditioned reinforcer (food) by pulling a chain. The density of food reinforcement correlated with the conditioned reinforcer was varied in a comparison of continuous and variable-ratio reinforcement schedules of chain pulling; this had no noticeable effect on conditioned reinforcer devaluation produced by extinction of chain pulling. In contrast, how rats were deprived appeared to matter very much. Restricting meal duration to 1h daily produced more lever pressing during baseline training and a greater reductive effect of devaluation on lever pressing than restricting body weight to 80% of a control rat's weight, which eliminated the devaluation effect. Further analysis suggested that meal-duration restriction may have produced devaluation effects because it was more effective than weight restriction in reducing rats' body weights. Our results exposed an important limitation on the devaluation of conditioned reinforcers: slight differences in food restriction, using two commonly employed food-restriction procedures, can produce completely different interpretations of reinforcer devaluation while leaving reinforcer-based learning intact.     

Relationships between lower limb cross-sectional geometry and mobility: the case of a Neolithic sample from Italy

This study investigates the relationships between lower limb robusticity and mobility in a Neolithic sample (LIG) from Italy (6th millennium BP). This study tests the hypothesis that the high femoral robusticity previously observed in the LIG sample is a consequence of the subsistence strategy (i.e., high mobility on uneven terrain) practiced by LIG. Cross-sectional geometric properties of the femur and tibia at midshaft of LIG (eight males and eight females) were collected and results compared to Late Upper Paleolithic (12 males, five females), Mesolithic (24 males, 8 females), and Eneolithic (28 males, 17 females) samples from other sites throughout Europe. The results show that the LIG sample does not show the reduction of lower limb robusticity that is characteristic of the Eneolithic sample, but rather that the LIG sample is most similar to the earlier, highly mobile, populations. This high level of robusticity in the LIG sample could reflect both their pastoral subsistence strategy combined with a rugged environment, as well as their earlier temporal position within the Neolithic. The results of this study further point to significant variation in male-female mobility patterns in the region, also possibly related to pastoral behavioral patterns.