The downregulation of SnoN expression in human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells under high-glucose conditions is mediated by an increase in Smurf2 expression through TGF-β1 signaling.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is a profibrotic cytokine that plays a critical role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Previous studies have demonstrated that the Smad transcriptional co-repressor, Ski-related novel protein N (SnoN), an antagonizer of TGF-β1/Smad signaling, is downregulated in the kidneys of diabetic rats; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In the present study, we demonstrated that the upregulation of Smad ubiquitination regulatory factor-2 (Smurf2), through TGF-β1/Smad signaling, contributes to the downregulation of SnoN under high-glucose conditions in primary human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells (hRPTECs).

Comparison of temperature rise interpretations in the rabbit pyrogen test among Chinese, Japanese, European, and United States pharmacopeias and 2-2-2 theoretical models proposed by S. Hoffmann.

Although the rabbit pyrogen test is one of the crucial methods included in each pharmacopeia to evaluate the safety of parenteral medicine, the experimental procedures and pyrogen result judgment algorithms (PRJAs) are still greatly different from one another. In the first stage of testing, original data of 879 batches from a total of 2637 rabbits in our laboratory were judged by PRJAs in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2005 III, the Japanese Pharmacopoeia XIV, the Japanese Pharmacopoeia XV, the European Pharmacopeia 6.0, the United States Pharmacopoeia 32 NF27 and two theoretical models proposed by S.

Investigation of hepatitis E virus infection in swine from Hunan province, China.

Nine hundred and four serum samples were collected from pigs from 16 pig farms in China's Hunan province and tested for anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibody and the HEV capsid antigen using EIAs. Of the 904 samples, 617 (68.3%) and 57 (6.

[Epidemiological survey on the infection of hepatitis E virus among pigs in Henan province].

Objective: To investigate hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection among pigs in Henan province.

Methods: A total of 623 swine sera, collected from 5 districts, were divided into two groups, under 3-month of age and over 3-month of age. They were tested for HEV antigen and antibody by using ELISAs, respectively.