嘌呤霉素损伤小鼠肾小球足细胞系中podocin表达与分布的影响及其意义

目的Podocin是构成肾小球足细胞裂孔隔膜（slit diaphragm，SD）完整性的重要分子，其表达异常与大量蛋白尿的形成有关。本研究采用体外培养肾小球足细胞系，探讨足细胞损伤过程中，podocin mRNA表达和分布变化与足细胞损伤的关系。方法将体外培养的足细胞采用随机数字表法设立为实验组与对照组。实验组采用嘌呤霉素（puromycin aminonucleoside，PAN）刺激（剂量为50μg／mL），分别于8h，24h和48h观察细胞形态、提取总RNA和细胞免疫组化观察podocin的分布。对照组用含10％FBS的RPMI 1640培养液培养。细胞图像应用Image J图像处理软件，计算实验组与对照组在上述各时间点200倍镜下随机选择的30个细胞的相对面积，半定量RT—PCR和间接免疫荧光法检测podocin mRNA表达和分布变化。结果对照组呈星形伸出树枝状突起，相邻细胞间形成相互连接。实验组细胞体缩小，足突回缩、消失，细胞间失去相互连接。上述各时间点两组间podocin mRNA表达比较，差异无显著意义（P〉0．05）。Podocin在对照组呈细丝状均匀分布于细胞核膜、细胞质及细胞膜；在实验组主要沿细胞核膜呈点线样分布，刺激后8h和24h细胞质有少许分布，刺激48h后出现细胞膜、细胞质分布缺失。结论Podocin分布异常与足细胞损伤密切相关，损伤早期即有变化；podocin分布异常是足细胞损伤过程中的重要分子效应。     

IgA肾病肾小球足细胞损伤与高脂血症的关系

目的 探讨IgA肾病患者高脂血症对肾小球足细胞损伤的作用.方法 选择51例经肾穿刺活检明确诊断的IgA肾病患者,肾组织病理定量采用免疫组织化学技术借助肾小球足细胞表面特异性标记物WT1对肾小球足细胞进行准确的密度定量分析.结果 IgA肾病患者三酰甘油与足细胞病变呈正相关(r=0.549,P＜0.05),与血清肌酐、肾小球硬化程度呈正相关(r=0.770、0.698,P＜0.01),与24h尿蛋白定量无相关性.随着病变加重,硬化肾小球增加,肾小球内足细胞表达减少(P＜0.01),IgA肾病患者足细胞病变与24h尿蛋白定量无相关性,但与血清肌酐、肾小球硬化程度呈正相关(r=0.765、0.679,P＜ 0.01).结论 IgA肾病脂代谢紊乱可能导致肾小球足细胞损伤,加重IgA肾病进展.     

AMPK信号转导：对糖尿病肾病足细胞的生物学意义

糖尿病肾病是糖尿病的主要长期并发症之一,是最常见的终末期肾脏疾病的原因。肾小球基底膜增厚、肾小球细胞肥大、足细胞丢失是糖尿病肾病中主要的病理改变,并最终引发蛋白尿。足细胞是肾小球滤过屏障的重要组成部分,足细胞损伤是糖尿病肾病的发展关键因素。失调的AMP活化激酶蛋白是一种重要的细胞能量传感器,可能在这一过程中起着至关重要的作用。本综述的目的是为了强调AMPK相关的分子机制在糖尿病肾病足细胞病的发病过程中所起的作用。     

阿霉素肾病幼鼠肾组织podocin定位和半定量分析及药物干预的影响

目的:探讨podocin在肾小球滤过膜中的定位及其在肾病综合征蛋白尿发生中的可能作用以及肾上腺皮质激素和血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂对其表达浓度的影响.方法:应用大鼠阿霉素肾病模型,分4组进行观察.结果:①podocin分布在靠近肾小球基底膜(GBM)的足突基底部,主要定位于裂隙隔膜的胞质面.②阿霉素肾病组肾组织中podocin表达较正常大鼠肾组织明显减少.③泼尼松治疗组、苯那普利治疗组podocin浓度增加.结论:podocin为肾小球上皮细胞裂孔隔膜上的主要结构蛋白;阿霉素肾病幼鼠肾小球podocin含量显著减少;泼尼松和苯那普利可能通过影响肾小球滤过膜中podocin表达浓度而起到减轻蛋白尿的治疗效果.     

儿童原发性肾病综合征尿足细胞标志蛋白、足细胞裂孔膜蛋白与尿蛋白关系的研究

目的探索儿童原发性肾病综合征(NS)蛋白尿与足突损伤间的关系。 方法选择2013年9月至2014年3月于哈尔滨市儿童医院泌尿内科住院的20例原发性NS患儿为研究对象,并纳入肾病组(n＝20)。选择同期于该院门诊体检的10例健康儿童为正常对照组(n＝10)。研究组患儿均接受肾上腺糖皮质激素治疗。应用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)方法检测肾病组患儿不同观察时刻及正常对照组儿童随机尿足细胞标志蛋白(PCX)、足细胞裂孔膜蛋白(nephrin)水平,采用免疫比浊法及比色法测定患儿尿蛋白及尿肌酐水平,并计算尿蛋白、尿肌酐比值。 结果①肾病组患儿尿PCX、nephrin水平和尿蛋白、尿肌酐比值均显著高于正常对照组,且差异有统计学意义(t＝2.612,2.843,2.972;P<0.01)。②肾病组患儿激素治疗期间尿PCX、nephrin水平和尿蛋白/尿肌酐比值总体均呈下降趋势。相邻观察时刻的尿PCX与nephrin水平比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。治疗第8天尿PCX和nephrin水平较治疗前显著下降,且差异有统计学意义(t＝1.934,2.093;P<0.05)。治疗第6天尿蛋白、尿肌酐比值较第4天和治疗前显著下降,且差异也有统计学意义(t＝2.042,2.120;P<0.05)。③尿PCX、nephrin水平分别与尿蛋白、尿肌酐比值呈正相关关系(r＝0.91,0.92;P<0.01)。 结论尿PCX、nephrin水平随NS的恢复而逐渐下降,与尿蛋白指标有良好的相关性,对其进行监测可动态观察足细胞变化,对判断肾小球的损伤及恢复情况有一定的临床意义。     

尿足细胞阳性IgA肾病患者临床病理特点

目的探讨尿足细胞阳性原发性IgA肾病（IgAN）患者临床病理特点。方法50例肾活检明确诊断的IgAN患者和10例健康志愿者,利用足细胞的标记蛋白Podocalyxin（PCX）标记尿液和肾组织足细胞,采集IgAN患者肾活检时临床资料、肾活检光镜结果,其中光镜参照Hass分级,各项病理指标参照Fofi半定量积分法进行评分,荧光显微镜观察肾组织足细胞PCX荧光表达程度,电镜观察足细胞足突形态学改变。结果①尿足细胞阳性的IgAN患者尿蛋白水平、血肌酐水平、平均动脉压较尿足细胞阴性患者增高,血浆白蛋白、肾小球滤过率（GFR）较尿足细胞阴性患者降低（P〈0．05）;②光镜示尿足细胞阳性的IgAN患者肾小球硬化程度、新月体发生率较尿足细胞阴性患者增高（P〈0．05）,而两组比较,系膜增生、基质增多、肾小管萎缩、间质纤维化、间质炎细胞浸润、间质血管硬化程度的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;③肾组织足细胞PCX抗体荧光表达显示：肾小球节段硬化和球性硬化处足细胞PCX抗体荧光表达缺失;④电镜观察提示,无论是否伴足细胞尿,其足细胞足突均可出现一系列形态学改变。结论足细胞尿是反映肾脏疾病轻重的一个指标,与肾脏病理类型有一定关系。     

足细胞病概述

足细胞（padocyte）是位于肾小球毛细血管基底膜外侧的脏层上皮细胞,因其胞浆在基底膜表面形成伪足样突起而得名。以足细胞病变为显著特点的肾小球疾病称为足细胞病（podocytopathy）。     

足细胞损伤在糖尿病肾病中作用机制的研究进展

糖尿病肾病是糖尿病患者最主要的微血管并发症之一,患病率可达到20%～40%,是导致终末期肾病的最主要原因之一。糖尿病肾病主要是由于肾小球高滤过、系膜细胞增生、基底膜增厚、肾小球肥大、细胞基质积累等原因所致,进一步导致肾小管的纤维化和肾小球的硬化。近年来,关于DN患者尿蛋白与足细胞的功能和形态改变有着密切联系的研究越来越多。在DN早期,由于足细胞的足突消失和融合,且随着病情进展,足细胞损伤积累可导致凋亡与脱落的发生、肾小球基底膜受到破坏、大量蛋白尿产生,促进DN进展为ESRD。因此,研究清楚足细胞的损伤机制将有助于为糖尿病肾病患者的治疗提供新策略。     

雷公藤多苷对糖尿病大鼠肾小球足细胞病变的保护作用

目的探讨雷公藤多苷(TWP)对糖尿病肾病(DN)大鼠足细胞病变及肾皮质nephrin蛋白表达的影响,为糖尿病的治疗提供实验依据。方法建立高脂饮食联合链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导DN大鼠模型,按随机数字表法分为DN组13只,小剂量TWP组(每天8 mg/kg)13只和大剂量TWP组(每天16 mg/kg)14只,并以正常大鼠为对照组(n=15)。干预12周后检测大鼠24 h尿蛋白量、血肌酐值(SCr)、尿素氮(BUN)、血糖(Glu)、肾质量/体质量的变化,并以光学显微镜及电子显微镜观察肾脏组织病理改变;免疫荧光法检测肾皮质nephrin蛋白表达。用SPSS 13.0统计软件进行单因素方差分析。结果与对照组大鼠[(0.06±0.02)mg]比较,DN组大鼠24 h尿蛋白[(1.87±0.12)mg]明显增加,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),TWP干预可显著减少糖尿病大鼠尿蛋白排泄,小剂量和大剂量TWP组尿蛋白分别为(0.98±0.21)、(0.33±0.11)mg,与DN组比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05),此效应与TWP干预剂量相关,大剂量TWP组尿蛋白较小剂量TWP组下降更明显,差异统计学意义(P<0.05)。病理结果显示,DN组表现为肾小球体积增大,基底膜增厚,系膜基质显著增多,足细胞足突增宽、融合、细胞减少;TWP组大鼠肾小球、小管间质及足细胞病变明显减轻。免疫组化结果显示,DN组大鼠肾脏皮质nephrin蛋白表达[每个肾小球平均(2.35±1.75)个]较对照组大鼠肾脏皮质nephrin蛋白表达[每个肾小球平均(18.24±2.89)个]明显减少,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),而TWP组大鼠肾脏皮质nephrin蛋白表达增加,差异有统计学意义(P<0.01),且小剂量TWP组[每个肾小球平均(11.34±1.56)个]与大剂量TWP组[每个肾小球平均(15.27±2.03)个]的差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 TWP干预可缓解DN大鼠足细胞病变,肾皮质nephrin蛋白表达上调可能在该保护机制中发挥作用。     

慢性镉中毒小鼠肾小球超微结构观察和形态计量研究

目的反映慢性镉中毒时肾脏的病理学改变。方法用透射电镜观察并结合形态计量法研究慢性镉中毒小鼠肾小球的超微结构。结果肾小球滤膜的３层结构明显受损，如：毛细血管内皮细胞肿胀、增厚，血管系膜增生，血管球基膜增厚，基膜和内皮细胞之间有电子致密物沉积，足细胞次级突起间裂孔缩小、裂孔膜变薄等。结论慢性镉中毒时肾小球超微结构的改变与膜性增生性肾小球肾炎的病理特征相似。     

Calcium intake in the elderly: validation of a dietary questionnaire

Epidemiological studies of calcium and osteoporosis have been hampered by the lack of a suitable tool for assessing calcium intake. This report describes a new frequency and amount questionnaire for measuring present and past calcium intake in the elderly. The validity of the questionnaire was tested against two commonly used standards of dietary assessment, five-day duplicate diets and seven-day weighed dietary inventories. The resulting correlation coefficients were, respectively, r = 0.76 and r = 0.69, while that for repeatability was r = 0.84. Furthermore, the questionnaire categorized subjects into thirds of the distribution of intake with almost no gross misclassification. It is suggested that the present findings may be extended to the majority of normal, healthy elderly subjects, implying wide application for the questionnaire in the assessment of calcium intake in the elderly.     

The human drama of genetics: 'hard' and 'soft' media representations of inherited breast cancer

This paper examines media coverage of 'breast cancer genetics', and explores its implications for public understanding. We present a content analysis of coverage in British newspapers and look at a variety of popular forms, including women's magazines, television soap opera and radio drama. Genetic/inherited risk receives a great deal of coverage across a wide range of media formats and outlets. Much of this attention has focused on individuals from 'high risk families' and dilemmas around prophylactic mastectomies. Through examining media coverage, combined with interviews with media personnel and their sources, we show why this story proved so attractive to the media and highlight the different production values which influence coverage. Finally, we introduce preliminary findings from focus group discussions to demonstrate how such 'human interest' framing has engaged audience attention and influenced public understandings. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications for analysing, predicting, and engaging with, media representations of science.     

The occurrence of antimicrobial substances in toilet,sink and shower drainpipes of clinical units: A neglected source of antibiotic residues

Antibiotics represent one of the most important drug groups used in the management of bacterial infections in humans and animals. Due to the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance, assurance of the antibacterial effectiveness of these substances has moved into the focus of public health. The reduction in antibiotic residues in wastewater and the environment may play a decisive role in the development of increasing rates of antibiotic resistance. The present study examines the wastewater of 31 patient rooms of various German clinics for possible residues of antibiotics, as well as the wastewater of five private households as a reference.To the best of our knowledge, this study shows for the first time that in hospitals with high antibiotic consumption rates, residues of these drugs can be regularly detected in toilets, sink siphons and shower drains at concentrations ranging from 0.02?μg·L^?1 to a maximum of 79?mg·L^?1. After complete flushing of the wastewater siphons, antibiotics are no longer detectable, but after temporal stagnation, the concentration of the active substances in the water phases of respective siphons increases again, suggesting that antibiotics persist through the washing process in biofilms. This study demonstrates that clinical wastewater systems offer further possibilities for the optimization of antibiotic resistance surveillance.     

Worker education in the primary prevention of occupational dermatoses

This paper reports the evaluation of a skin care education programmeconducted on a fine chemicals manufacturing site where over1,000 employees are located. Approximately 60% are involvedin chemical manufacture. Over a 12 month period production staffreceived training in prevention of occupational dermatoses linkedto a site-wide poster initiative. The incidence of new casesof occupational dermatoses fell from 0.055 (70 cases in 1,277employees) to 0.021 (27 cases in 1,277 employees) before andafter the intervention respectively (p<0.0001). After otherfactors such as chemicals handled, observer bias and changesin reporting related to socioeconomic climate were taken intoaccount it is concluded that this study demonstrates the importanceof worker education as a tool for primary prevention of disease.Training materials such as video and poster presentations maybe effectively used in the chemical manufacturing industry asan adjunct to prevention and control of exposure to substanceshazardous to the skin. Such methods may also be used in otherindustries where there are significant risks of dermatoses.     

Regional Variation in Travel-related Illness acquired in Africa,March 1997–May 2011

To understand geographic variation in travel-related illness acquired in distinct African regions, we used the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network database to analyze records for 16,893 ill travelers returning from Africa over a 14-year period. Travelers to northern Africa most commonly reported gastrointestinal illnesses and dog bites. Febrile illnesses were more common in travelers returning from sub-Saharan countries. Eleven travelers died, 9 of malaria; these deaths occurred mainly among male business travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. The profile of illness varied substantially by region: malaria predominated in travelers returning from Central and Western Africa; schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and dengue from Eastern and Western Africa; and loaisis from Central Africa. There were few reports of vaccine-preventable infections, HIV infection, and tuberculosis. Geographic profiling of illness acquired during travel to Africa guides targeted pretravel advice, expedites diagnosis in ill returning travelers, and may influence destination choices in tourism.     

Fatigue and health in a seafaring population

Background Occupational fatigue is relatively common withinthe general population and has been linked to reduced performance,injury and longer term ill-health. Despite growing acknowledgementof this problem in the maritime sector, little research hasbeen conducted into the risk factors, prevalence and consequencesof seafarers' fatigue. Aims To examine the prevalence of fatigue among seafarers, identifypotential risk factors and assess possible links with poor performanceand ill-health. Methods Cross-sectional questionnaire survey of seafarers workingin the offshore oil support, short-sea and deep-sea shippingindustries. A number of tools were used including the fatiguesubscale of the profile of fatigue-related symptoms, the CognitiveFailures Questionnaire, the General Health Questionnaire andthe SF36 General Health scale. Results In all, 1855 questionnaires were completed giving anoverall response rate of 20%. Fatigue symptoms were associatedwith a range of occupational and environmental factors, manyunique to seafaring. Reporting a greater number of risk factorswas associated with greater fatigue [e.g. OR = 2.53 (1.90–3.35)for those with three or four risk factors and OR = 9.54 (6.95–13.09)for those with five or more risk factors]. There was also astrong link between fatigue and poorer cognitive and healthoutcomes, with fatigue the most important of a number of riskfactors, accounting for 10–14% of the variance. Conclusions Seafarers' fatigue could impact on safety withinthe industry and may be linked to longer term individual ill-health.It can only be addressed by considering how multiple factorscombine to contribute to fatigue.     

Self-reported health problems among Swedish miners one year after unemployment

Unemployment is considered to be a public health concern sincedeterioration in the health of the unemployed is often anticipated.However, for some groups, such as miners, unemployment mightimprove health due to a cessation of potentially harmful occupationalexposures. This study evaluates the health of 79 miners in oneSwedish iron-ore mine, and 226 age-matched controls from thegeneral population, during one year after the closure of themine. The participants received a questionnaire regarding medicalhistory and subjective symptoms at the beginning of the studyperiod, and after one year. Statistically significant negativeeffects on self-reported health attributable to unemploymentwere not found, although neuropsychiatric symptoms were morecommon among the unemployed miners. The miners reported a statisticallysignificant improvement in grip force (p=0.031). They had asignificantly higher prevalence of symptoms associated withmining related exposures when compared with the population controls;pain in the upper extremities [relative risk (RR)=2.27, 95%confidence interval (Cl)=1.44–3.59), back pain (RR=1.84;Cl=1.237–2.75), vasospastic disease of the fingers (RR=2.05;Cl=1.18–3.57) and obstructive respiratory symptoms (attacksof dyspnea and wheezing: RR=3.67; Cl=1.167–11.6).     

Excès de cas humains et animaux de tularémie en France au cours de l’hiver 2007–2008 : émergence ou phénomène isolé ?

Context

Tularemia is a zoonosis affecting humans and hares in France. We describe the results of surveillance in both species, in 2007 and 2008.

Methods

Human tularemia cases are mandatorily notifiable in France since 2003. In hares, surveillance relies on volunteer hunter associations in all districts of the country. Data from mandatory reports and volunteer surveillance in 2007/2008 were analyzed and compared with previous results.

Results

In 2007/2008, 144 cases were reported in humans and 117 cases in hares. This was a 100% increase compared to previous years. Human cases differed from those of previous years only by the frequency of contact with breeding animals. Human cases without any documented risk exposure were also more frequent.

Conclusion

An increase of tularemia cases occurred in 2007/2008 in both species. Complementary studies are needed to identify the species reservoir in France to understand the causes of this peak of cases.     

The design of hazard risk assessment matrices for ranking occupational health risks and their application in mining and minerals processing

Two hazard risk assessment matrices for the ranking of occupational health risks are described. The qualitative matrix uses qualitative measures of probability and consequence to determine risk assessment codes for hazard-disease combinations. A walk-through survey of an underground metalliferous mine and concentrator is used to demonstrate how the qualitative matrix can be applied to determine priorities for the control of occupational health hazards. The semi-quantitative matrix uses attributable risk as a quantitative measure of probability and uses qualitative measures of consequence. A practical application of this matrix is the determination of occupational health priorities using existing epidemiological studies. Calculated attributable risks from epidemiological studies of hazard-disease combinations in mining and minerals processing are used as examples. These historic response data do not reflect the risks associated with current exposures. A method using current exposure data, known exposure-response relationships and the semi-quantitative matrix is proposed for more accurate and current risk rankings.