Clinicopathology of childhood-onset renal systemic lupus erythematosus

AIMS: To determine the clinicolaboratory renal manifestations; glomerular, extra-glomerular histopathologic lesions; renal tubular dysfunction (RTD) frequency and outcome of a short-term renal follow up in Nigerian children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: A non-randomized prospective study of consecutive cases of childhood-onset SLE with nephropathy was conducted. Baseline/follow-up clinicolaboratory data were collected. Each patient was followed up for 12 months. RESULTS: Seven of the 11 children studied were girls. The median age at diagnosis was 11.0 years. Median diagnosis time interval (1.9 years) and median time of renal disease onset (1.0 year) were similar. Hypertension, nephrotic syndrome and acute renal failure (ARF) occurred in 45.5%, 54.5% and 63.7% of the patients, respectively. The glomerular lesions were non-proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) in 9.0% (class II LN); focal (class III LN) and diffuse (class IV LN) proliferative LN (PLN) in 27.0% and 64.0%, respectively. Tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN, 91.0%) and RTD (64.0%) were common. ARF (P = 0.033) and RTD (P = 0.015) were significantly associated with severe TIN. Complete renal remission rate at end-point was 71.4%. Relapse and renal survival rates were 14.3% and 86.0%, respectively. RTD was persistent in 43.0%. CONCLUSION: Renal function disorders, diffuse PLN and extra-glomerular lesions were frequent. Significant association of ARF and RTD with severe TIN in this series suggests the need for early renal tubular function (RTF) assessment in our SLE patients. Deranged RTF may be marker of severe TIN in SLE warranting early confirmatory renal biopsy and aggressive interventional treatment.     

Gallic acid protects against cyclophosphamide‐induced toxicity in testis and epididymis of rats

The protective role of gallic acid (GA) on reproductive toxicity induced by cyclophosphamide (CPA), an antineoplastic drug, was investigated in male Wistar rats. Sixty rats were grouped into 10 rats per group. Group 1 (control) received distilled water. Rats in groups 2 and 3 received GA alone at 60 and 120 mg kg^?1 for 14 consecutive days, respectively. Group 4 received a single intraperitoneal dose of CPA at 200 mg kg^?1 on day 1. Groups 5 and 6 received a single dose of CPA (200 mg kg^?1) intraperitoneally on day 1 followed by treatment with GA at 60 and 120 mg kg^?1 for 14 consecutive days, respectively. In testes and epididymis of the treated rats, CPA administration resulted in significant elevation (P < 0.05) in malondialdehyde (MDA), nitrite and hydrogen peroxide levels. There was a significant decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione‐S‐transferase. Furthermore, there were significant reductions in plasma luteinising hormone (LH), follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) and testosterone levels, which were accompanied by significant decrease in sperm motility and viability in CPA‐treated rats. Histological examination revealed marked testicular and epididymal atrophy in CPA alone treated rats and these aberrations were reversed by GA. In conclusion, GA has capacity to protect against reproductive toxicity induced by cyclophosphamide.     

大鼠原位肝脏低温灌注和复流模型的建立及意义

目的建立一种大鼠肝脏原位低温灌注再复流模型,用于离体及活体供肝肝切除术的研究。方法大鼠78只,分成4组,A、B组分别用乳酸林格氏液和自制灌注液灌注,C组仅行全肝血流阻断,D组作正常对照。脾静脉和右肾上腺静脉分别作为灌注液流入和流出道,行在体原位低温灌注,观察再复流后对肝细胞和肝窦内皮细胞的影响。结果C组再复流2h和6h血清透明质酸浓度为（250.0±24.1）μg/L、（290.4±37.0）μg/L,分别高于A组（142.9±30.1）μg/L、（200.0±17.5）μg/L,差异均有非常显著性（P<0.01）;B组浓度为（63.3±16.2）μg/L、（62.1±14.6）μg/L,与A组相比浓度更低（P<0.01）。结论该模型方法简单,易成功,可用于离体和活体供肝肝切除防止肝脏损伤的研究。     

Whole body MR imaging in ankylosing spondylitis: a descriptive pilot study in patients with suspected early and active confirmed ankylosing spondylitis

Background  

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disorder which usually begins in early adulthood. The diagnosis is often delayed by many years. MR imaging has become the preferred imaging method for detection of early inflammation of the axial skeleton in ankylosing spondylitis.