Microelectrode characterization of the basolateral membrane of rabbit S3 proximal tubule

Summary The purpose of this study was to characterize the basolateral membrane of the S3 segment of the rabbit proximal tubule using conventional and ion-selective microelectrodes. When compared with results from S1 and S2 segments, S3 cells under control conditions have a more negative basolateral membrane potential (V _bl=–69 mV), a higher relative potassium conductance (t _K=0.6), lower intracellular Na⁺ activity (A _Na=18.4mm), and higher intracellular K⁺ activity (A _K=67.8mm). No evidence for a conductive sodium-dependent or sodium-independent HCO ₃ ^– pathway could be demonstrated. The basolateral Na–K pump is inhibited by 10^–4 m ouabain and bath perfusion with a potassium-free (0-K) solution. 0-K perfusion results inA _Na=64.8mm,A _K=18.5mm, andV _bl=–28 mV. Basolateral potassium channels are blocked by barium and by acidification of the bathing medium. The relative K⁺ conductance, as evaluated by increasing bath K⁺ to 17mm, is dependent upon the restingV _bl in both S2 and S3 cells. In summary, the basolateral membrane of S3 cells contains a pump-leak system with similar properties to S1 and S2 proximal tubule cells. The absence of conductive bicarbonate pathways results in a hyperpolarized cell and larger Na⁺ and K⁺ gradients across the cell borders, which will influence the transport properties and intracellular ion activities in this tubule segment.     

Characterization of primar cell cultures derived from rat renal proximal tubules

Summary Proximal tubules were prepared from rat kidney cortex by collagenase digestion and purified by percoll gradient centrifugation. Their enrichment was estimated by comparing the specific activities of various cell-specific enzymes in homogenates of renal cortex and of the isolated tubules. The tubules were cultured in a 50:50 mixture of Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s and Ham’s F12 media supplemented with insulin, transferrin, epidermal growth factor, hydrocortisone, and prostaglandin E₁. After 2 to 3 d an extensive outgrowth of epithelial cells developed from the attached tubules. After 5 to 7 d near confluent monolayers were obtained. Hormonal responsiveness, marker enzyme activities, and transport properties were determined to further characterize the primary cultures. The cultured cells exhibited increased cyclic AMP production in response to parathyroid hormone but not calcitonin or vasopressin, consistent with the absence of cells derived from distal and collecting tubules. The cells also retained significant levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃-lα-hydroxylase, alkaline phosphatase, and ψ-glytamyltranspeptidase, three enzymes that are primarily associated with the proximal tubule. The cultured epithelial cells also exhibit a Na⁺-dependent phosphate and glucose transport systems. Therefore, the cells retain many functional properties that are characteristic of proximal tubules. Thus, the primary cultures should be suitable for the study of processes that occur specifically within this segment of the rat nephron. This work was supported in part by the Veterans Administration (JBP), Washington, DC, by grant DK-37124 (NPC) from the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, and by grant BNS-86-17004 (CFL) from the National Science Foundation, Washington, DC.     

肾综合征出血热胸部并发症的CT表现

目的：总结肾综合征出血热（EHF）胸部并发症的CT表现和探讨胸部CT表现对肾综合征出血热的诊断价值。方法：分析60例经HFRS-IgM阳性确诊的HFRS的胸部螺旋cT表现,其中轻型5例、中型20例、重型28例、危重型7例。结果：肺部感染22例,肺水肿12例,胸腔积液4l例,心包积液17例,其中,心包积液合并肺水肿者4例,肺部感染并胸腔积液者4例,胸腔积液合并下肺局部膨胀不全18例,胸部CT检查正常8例。结论：肾综舍征出血热,胸部并发症发生几率较高,以胸腔积液及胸腔积液并下肺膨胀不全发生几率最高,HFRS的胸部CT表现对于临床有很好的治疗意义,早期CT检查可准确显示肾综合征出血热病人胸部改变的特征。     

Human renal clear cell carcinoma: Establishment and characterization of a new cell line (G-2101)

Summary A human cell line has been established from a renal adenocarcinoma rib metastasis of a 58-y-old male. This cell line has been maintained in continuous culture for 20 mo. through more than 50 passages. It displays simulataneous expression of the intermediate filaments cytokeratin and vimentin. Flow cytometric analysis of DNA content reveals a major hyperdiploid population. This work was supported in part by a grant from Triton Biosciences, Inc.     

慢性肾功能不全对中老年非瓣膜性房颤患者全因死亡、心脑血管疾病死亡及血栓终点事件的影响

目的：探讨中老年非瓣膜性房颤患者全因死亡、心脑血管疾病死亡及血栓终点事件的危险因素及慢性肾功能不全是否为其独立危险因素。方法：纳入未应用抗凝药物的中老年非瓣膜性房颤患者825例,平均年龄为76.52±11.80岁,其中女性占18.91%,75岁以上患者占64.73%,记录基线特征及各终点事件发生情况。通过Cox生存分析,探讨肾功能不全对各终点事件的影响。结果：入选患者中位数随访时间为33.5个月,随访期间发生全因死亡209例、心脑血管疾病死亡61例及血栓终点事件139例。合并慢性肾功能不全的房颤患者各终点事件发生率均显著高于对照组,在校正CHA₂DS₂-VASc评分危险因素及其他传统危险因素后,慢性肾功能不全仍是全因死亡、心脑血管疾病死亡及血栓终点事件的独立危险因素。结论：慢性肾功能不全是未服用抗凝药物的中老年非瓣膜性房颤患者全因死亡、心脑血管疾病死亡及发生血栓事件的独立危险因素之一。     

High prevalence of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) as presentation of cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency in childhood: Molecular and clinical findings of Turkish probands

Classical homocystinuria is the most commonly inherited disorder of sulfur metabolism, caused by the genetic alterations in human cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) gene. In this study, we present comprehensive clinical findings and the genetic basis of homocystinuria in a cohort of Turkish patients. Excluding some CBS mutations, detailed genotype–phenotype correlation for different CBS mutations has not been established in literature. We aimed to make clinical subgroups according to main clinical symptoms and discussed these data together with mutational analysis results from our patients. Totally, 16 different mutations were identified; twelve of which had already been reported, and four are novel (p.N93Y, p.L251P, p.D281V and c.829−2A>T). The probands were classified into three major groups according to the clinical symptoms caused by these mutations. A psychomotor delay was the most common diagnostic symptom (n = 12, 46.2% neurological presentation), followed by thromboembolic events (n = 6, 23.1% vascular presentation) and lens ectopia, myopia or marfanoid features (n = 5, 19.2% connective tissue presentation). Pyridoxine responsiveness was 7.7%; however, with partial responsive probands, the ratio was 53.9%.     

Effect of cystine loading and cystine dimethylester on renal brushborder membrane transport

The effect of loading renal tubule cells with cystine was studied by incubating them with cystine dimethylester. Proline uptake into brushborder membrane vesicles isolated from the cystine loaded cells was not different from that observed into brushborder vesicles isolated from tubules incubated in buffer alone. Incubating brushborder membranes with 2 mM cystine dimethylester for 10 minutes reduced the uptake of proline by 27% after 15 seconds of incubation and by 21% after 60 seconds of incubation. There was no effect after 20 minutes of incubation. Pre-incubating brushborder membrane vesicles with cystine dimethylester had no statistically significant effect on the affinity of priline for the carrier, but did reduce the maximal rate of proline uptake by 49%.