[Causes of death in STZ-induced rat models of diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To identify conditions that may improve the successful rate of STZ-induced rat models of diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: 100 male SD rats were randomly divided into control group (n = 10) and experimental group (n = 90). Rats in the experimental group were treated with intraperitoneal injection of STZ 65 mg/kg once, and were then categorized into succeeded DM model group and failed group.

[Investigate the effects of compound radix notoginseng on renal interstitial fibrosis and kidney-targeting treatment].

Objective: Investigate the effects of compound Radix Notoginseng on renal interstitial fibrosis and kidney-targeting treatment.

Methods: 100 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) group, sham-operation (SOR) group, Radix Notoginseng (RN) group, compound Radix Notoginseng (CRN) group and Losartan (ARB) group. After operation, RN, CRN and ARB groups were intragastric administrated with RN (3 mL/d), CRN (3 mL/d) and ARB [20 mg/(kg x d)] respectively.

[Serological screening of autoantigens associated with vasculitis in systemic lupus erythematosus].

Objective: To screen autoantigens associated with vasculitis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by serological analysis of recombinant cDNA expression library (SEREX).

Methods: A cDNA expression library derived from human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC) was screened with pooled sera from patients with SLE. Pooled sera were preadsorbed to reduce the background sera activity.