Detection of Prothrombin and Osteopontin in a Renal Stone Found in a Hyperuricemic Patient Using 2D‐PAGE and LC‐MS Analysis

The liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (LC‐MS) following on from the two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D‐PAGE) technique was applied for the analysis of proteins in a renal stone found in a hyperuricemic patient. This technique was sensitive enough to detect small quantities of proteins even in a renal stone.     

1H-Nuclear magnetic resonance pattern recognition studies with N-phenylanthranilic acid in the rat: time- and dose-related metabolic effects

N-Phenylanthranilic acid (NPAA) causes renal papillary necrosis (RPN) in the rat following repeated oral dosing. Non-invasive early detection of RPN is difficult, but a number of potential biomarkers have been investigated, including phospholipid and uronic acid excretion. This study used ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis of urine to investigate urinary metabolic perturbations occurring in the rat following exposure to NPAA. Male Alderley Park rats received NPAA (300, 500 or 700?mg?kg^?1?day^?1 orally) for 7?days, and urine was collected on days 7–8, 14–15, 21–22 and 28–29. In a separate study, urine was collected on days 1–2, 3–4, 5–6 and 7–8 from rats receiving 500?mg?kg^?1?day^?1. Samples were analysed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy combined with multivariate data analysis and clinical chemistry. Histopathology and clinical chemistry analysis of terminal blood samples was carried out following termination on days 4, 6, 8 and 29 (4?week time course) and days 2, 4, 6 and 8 (8?day study). Urine analysis revealed a marked, though variable, excretion of β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate and acetone (ketone bodies) seen on days 3–4, 5–6 and 7–8 of the study. It is postulated that the ketonuria might be secondary to an alteration in fatty acid metabolism due to inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis. In addition, an elevation in urinary ascorbate was observed during the first 8?days of the study. Ascorbate is considered to be a biomarker of hepatic response, probably reflecting an increased hepatic activity due to glucuronidation of NPAA.     

The release of DNA into the plasma of mice following hepatic cell death by apoptosis and necrosis

The goal of these investigations was to measure levels of DNA in the plasma of mice following administration of hepatotoxic agents to induce apoptotic or necrotic cell death and determine any differences in the release of this marker depending upon death pathway. For this purpose, the effects of varying doses of anti-Fas, acetaminophen (APAP) or carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) were assessed in normal mice. Plasma DNA was measured fluorometrically by the dye PicoGreen while lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and caspase 3, other molecules released with cell injury or death, were measured by enzymatic assays. Histology was used to assess the occurrence of apoptosis or necrosis. Results of these experiments indicate that increased blood DNA levels occurred with all three agents and were highest with anti-Fas and CCl₄; caspase 3 levels were much higher with anti-Fas than the other agents. Histological examination confirmed the predominance of apoptotic death with anti-Fas and necrotic death with APAP and CCl₄. These results indicate that increased blood DNA is common in hepatotoxic injury and is a feature of both apoptotic and necrotic death.     

Lipopolysaccharide neutralization by a novel peptide derived from phosvitin

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), also known as endotoxin, is the primary trigger of sepsis, which is associated with high mortality in patients. No therapeutic agents are currently efficacious enough to protect patients from sepsis characterized by LPS-mediated tissue damage and organ failure. Previously, a phosvitin-derived peptide, Pt5, which consists of the C-terminal 55 residues of zebrafish phosvitin, has been shown to function as an antibacterial agent. In this study, we have generated six mutants by site-directed mutagenesis based on the sequence of Pt5, and found that one of the six mutants, Pt5e, showed the strongest bactericidal activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. We then demonstrated that Pt5e was able to bind to LPS and lipoteichoic acid (LTA). More importantly, we showed that Pt5e significantly inhibited LPS-induced tumor-necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β release from murine RAW264.7 cells and considerably reduced serum TNF-α and IL-1β levels in mice. Additionally, Pt5e protected the liver from damage by LPS, and remarkably promoted the survival rate of the endotoxemia mice. Furthermore, Pt5e displayed no cytotoxicity to murine RAW264.7 macrophages and no hemolytic activity toward human red blood cells. These data together indicate that Pt5e is an endotoxin-neutralizing agent with a therapeutic potential in clinical treatment of LPS-induced sepsis.     

Association between urinary indicators of renal dysfunction and metal concentrations in workers chronically co-exposed to cadmium,zinc and lead

The study was carried out in 31 workers co-exposed to cadmium, lead and zinc fumes and dusts in a zinc ore refinery. Urinary cadmium, lead, zinc, β₂-M levels and NAG activities were determined to evaluate the possible dose-effect relationship between these parameters. A correlation was found between urinary cadmium, lead and zinc concentrations, and urinary β₂-M levels and NAG activities of the exposed group. A statistically significant increase was also observed for urinary NAG activity in exposed workers who had urinary cadmium concentrations > 2 μg g^?1 creatinine. However, in the same exposed group, the increment of β₂-M was not statistically significant. In conclusion, the present study thus confirms the earlier observations and may suggest the notion that the urinary NAG seems to be a more sensitive indicator than urinary β₂-M level in early stages of renal injury of moderately cadmium co-exposure with lead and zinc even at urinary cadmium concentration as low as 2 μg g^?1 creatinine. When the earlier studies on the irreversibility of cadmium-induced tubular dysfunction and the present results were taken into consideration, the present health-based biological limit proposed by the WHO (5 μg g^?1 creatinine) seems to be high for the occupational exposure to cadmium.     

A general requirement for FcγRIIB co-engagement of agonistic anti-TNFR antibodies

Comment on: Li F, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2012; 109:10966-71.     

肾移植术后HCMV感染与淋巴细胞亚群及肾功能的相关性

目的：肾移植患者由于术前透析及术后服用免疫抑制剂,显著增加了人巨细胞病毒（Humancytomegalovirus,HCMV）原发感染和潜伏感染被激活的机会。观察HCMV感染情况与血T淋巴细胞亚群及肾功能的变化,以探讨其相关性及临床意义。方法：跟踪收集40例肾移植患者术前、术后血标本,应用RT-PCR技术检测HCMV,流式细胞术检测淋巴细胞亚群,结合肾功能判断是否发生急性排斥或移植肾功能恢复延迟。结果：肾移植术后HCMV感染率为52．5％,10例出现症状性感染（25％）,出现阳性时间35．7±15．3天。症状性感染组CD3-bCD4＋的水平和CD4＋／CD8＋的比值较无活动性感染组和正常对照组均降低,CD8＋水平较其他组升高,差异有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。无症状性活动感染者与无活动性感染者各指标比较差异无显著性。活动性感染组急性排斥或移植肾功能恢复延迟发生8例（38．1％）,无活动性感染组发生1例（5．2％）,差异具有统计学意义（x^2=6．15,P〈0．05）。结论：肾移植术后HCMV感染能显著引起T淋巴细胞亚群变化,尤其是CD4＋／CD8＋。并与急性排斥或移植肾功能恢复延迟密切相关联,在其发生发展中可能起着重要的作用。三者相互联系、相互作用、互为因果,对进一步机制的研究及临床诊断治疗、预后方面有一定意义。     

局部应用依那西普治疗强直性脊柱炎髋关节受累的临床疗效分析

目的：评价局部应用依那西普治疗强直性脊柱炎髋关节受累的短期疗效。方法：选择我科2001-2011年收治的强直性脊柱炎髋关节受累的患者50例,在高频超声引导下于髋关节局部注射依那西普50mg,每周1次,连用4次。分别在注射前、注射后2、4、8周观察患者的BASDAI、BASFI、脊柱痛VAS、患者总体评价（PGA）VAS、夜间痛VAS、血沉、CRP和Harris功能评分,同时记录患者出现的不良反应。结果：依那西普治疗2周时,30例达ASAS20的缓解（60％）,13例（26％）达到ASAS50的缓解,8例（16％）达到ASAS70的缓解;治疗8周时,ASAS20／50／70的缓解率分别为38例（64％）、21例（42％）、15例（30％）,其中Harris评分达70以上者占总人数的90％,80分60％,90分30％,1例患者缓解不明显,4例患者处于70分以下,但疾病活动度情况改善。结论：依那西普可有效改善强直性脊柱炎髋关节受累患者的关节症状,降低疾病活动强度,且无明显药物不良反应。     

Chemical Constituents from a Soil‐Derived Actinomycete,Actinomadura miaoliensis BCRC 16873, and Their Inhibitory Activities on Lipopolysaccharide‐Induced Tumor Necrosis Factor Production

An investigation on the secondary metabolites from the BuOH extract of the fermentation broth of the thermotolerant polyester‐degrading actinomycete Actinomadura miaoliensis BCRC 16873 was carried out. One previously undescribed α‐pyrone (=pyran‐2‐one) derivative, designated as miaolienone ( 1 ), and a new butanolide, miaolinolide ( 2 ), together with 13 known compounds, 3 – 15 , were obtained. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses in combination with HR‐MS experiments. In addition, the isolated compounds 1 – 15 were evaluated for the inhibitory effects of the isolates on the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Among the isolates, 1 and 2 significantly inhibited TNF‐α production in U937 cells in vitro, and the IC₅₀ values were 0.59 and 0.76 μM , respectively. Compounds 3 – 5 displayed moderate inhibitory activities on LPS‐induced TNF‐α production.