[Stimulation of neuropeptide Y on heat shock protein expression in renal vascular smooth muscle and the inhibition thereon by losartan].

Objective: To study the effect of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of renal arteries.

Methods: The renal veins of SD rats were isolated and broken into pieces. The VSMCs were cultured and then divided into 3 groups, neuropeptide Y (NPY), NPY + losartan, and serum-free DMEM were added into the culture respectively.

Extracorporeal shock-wave versus pneumatic ureteroscopic lithotripsy in treatment of lower ureteral calculi.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and complications of extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (SWL) and pneumatic ureteroscopic lithotripsy (URS) in the treatment of lower ureteral calculi.

Methods: From August 1997 to June 1999, 210 patients with calculi in the distal third of the ureter were treated with SWL and the other 180 with URS. The stones were fragmented with either HB-ESWL-V lithotripter or JML-93 pneumatic lithotripter through Wolf 7.