CUX1 attenuates the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells induced by contrast media through activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Objective: Contrast media (CM) is a commonly applied drug in medical examination and surgery. However, contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI) poses a severe threat to human life and health. Notably, the CUT-like homeobox 1 (CUX1) gene shows protective effects in a variety of cells.

Atorvastatin reduces contrast media-induced pyroptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Background: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) is the third most common cause of hospital-acquired renal failure. However, there is no effective treatment of CI-AKI, and its mechanism is unknown. Interestingly, atorvastatin has been reported to be effective in renal injury.

Smart TiCT MXene Fabric with Fast Humidity Response and Joule Heating for Healthcare and Medical Therapy Applications.

An increasing utilization of flexible healthcare electronics and biomedicine-related therapeutic materials urges the development of multifunctional wearable/flexible smart fabrics for personal therapy and health management. However, it is currently a challenge to fabricate multifunctional and on-body healthcare electronic devices with reliable mechanical flexibility, excellent breathability, and self-controllable joule heating effects. Here, we fabricate a multifunctional MXene-based smart fabric by depositing 2D TiCT nanosheets onto cellulose fiber nonwoven fabric special MXene-cellulose fiber interactions.

[Quantitative Assessment of Skin Thickness using High Frequency Ultrasound in Systemic Sclerosis].

Objective: To investigate the performance of high frequency ultrasound in the assessment of skin thickness in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: The study included 82 SSc (SSc group) and 67 healthy volunteers (control group) from 2014 to 2016. The skin thickness at bilateral middle fingers and forearms,anterior chest and abdominal wall was measured using high frequency ultrasound.

[Contrast-enhanced ultrasound parameters for early chronic kidney diseases and their associations with laboratory results].

Objective: To determine the value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for assessing renal blood perfusion changes and severity of early chronic kidney diseases (CKD).

Methods: The study included 20 patients with clinical diagnosed CKD (grade 1-3) (case group) and fifteen normal adults (control group). They were given real time CEUS, assessing left renal cortex blood perfusion.

Blood compatibility comparison for polysulfone membranes modified by grafting block and random zwitterionic copolymers via surface-initiated ATRP.

For blood-contacting materials, good blood compatibility, especially good anticoagulant property is of great importance. Zwitterionic polymers have been proved to be resistant to nonspecific protein adsorption and platelet adhesion; however, their anticoagulant property is always inadequate. In this study, two kinds of zwitterionic copolymers (sulfobetaine methacrylate and sodium p-styrene sulfonate random copolymer and block copolymer) with sulfonic groups were covalently grafted from polysulfone (PSf) membranes via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) to improve blood compatibility.

[Diagnostic value of ultrasound imaging in chronic gouty arthritis].

Objective: To determine the diagnostic value of ultrasound imaging in chronic gouty arthritis.

Methods: Ultrasound imaging of 32 patients with chronic gouty arthritis were compared with those of 36 patients with non-gouty joint diseases. A logistic model was obtained to establish the associations between ultrasound appereances and gouty arthritis.

Ultrasonic appearance of rhabdomyolysis in patients with crush injury in the Wenchuan earthquake.

Background: On May 12, 2008, a major earthquake hit Wenchuan County in Sichuan Province of China. The number of cases of crush injury following this event was high. Ultrasonic appearance of rhabdomyolysis (RM) caused by crush injury in the Wenchuan earthquake was observed to evaluate the diagnostic value of ultrasound for detection of rhabdomyolysis.

[Effects of interferon-gamma on tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effects of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (TEMT) induced by transforming growth factor (TGF-beta1).

Methods: The normal rat kidney tubular epithelial cells (NRK52E) were cultured and divided into blank (NRK52E cells only) control group, TGF-beta1 (3 ng/mL) treated group, IFN-gamma (1000 IU/mL) treated group, and IFN-gamma inhibition group (TGF-beta1 3 ng/mL + IFN-gamma 200, 400, 600, 1000, 2000, 3000 IU/mL). After 72 hours of treatment, the morphology of cells was observed under phase-contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy.

Evaluation of polyethersulfone highflux hemodialysis membrane in vitro and in vivo.

A new hemodialysis membrane manufactured by a blend of polyethersulfone (PES) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Goat was selected as the experimental animal. The clearance and the reduction ratio after the hemodialysis of small molecules (urea, creatinine, phosphate) for the PES membrane were higher in vitro than that in vivo.

[Inflammatoin, oxidative stress and carbonyl stress in uremic patients].

Objective: To evaluate the states of inflammation, oxidative stress and carbonyl stress in uremic patients and analyze their relationships.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight cases were divided into 6 groups: non-dialysis uremia group (n=25), peritoneal dialysis group (n=19), hemophan(Hem) membrane dialysis group (n=25), polyamide (PS) membrane dialysis group (n=25), diabetes with normal renal function group (n= 23) and normal control group (n=11). Spectrophotometry and immune turbidimetry were used to measure the serum SOD, VitC, VitE, MDA and total carbonyl compounds (TCC) levels.

[Effects of panax notoginseng saponins on the process of renal interstitial fibrosis after unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on the process of renal interstitial fibrosis after unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats.

Methods: In this study, female sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: Sham operation group (S group), Operation group (O group), and Operation plus PNS group (P group). The unilateral ureters of the rats were ligated as the operation to create renal interstitium fibrosis.

[Effects of hepatocyte growth factor on IL-1alpha triggered tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation and fibronectin secretion in vitro].

Objective: To observe the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (TEMT) triggered by IL-1alpha and the fibronectin secretion of TEMT.

Methods: The normal rat kidney tubular epithelial cell line (NRK52E) was cultured for six days on plastic or collagen type I-coated plates in the presence or absence of HGF or IL-1alpha. The morphology of transdifferentiation tubular cells was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and phase-contrast microscopy.