蜂胶提取物对小鼠胸腺肽合成的影响

目的：研究蜂胶乙醇提取物黄酮（EEP）对小白鼠衰老过程中胸腺肽合成量的影响。方法：垂直板电泳法。结果：EEP可增加小鼠胸腺肽的合成量。结论：EEP可增强小鼠的免疫力。具有抗衰老作用。     

非糖皮质激素的免疫抑制方案对同种异体移植胰岛的保护作用

目的　评价非糖皮质激素的免疫抑制方案对防止大鼠同种异体胰岛移植排斥反应的效果。方法　大鼠同种异体胰岛移植后 ,分别应用他克莫司 (FK5 0 6 ) 霉酚酸酯 (MMF)和FK5 0 6 MMF 泼尼松 (Pred)行免疫抑制治疗两周 ,并设对照组 ,动态观察受者血糖、胰岛素及C肽变化 ,并作移植部位的形态学检测。结果　FK5 0 6 MMF组和FK5 0 6 MMF Pred组与对照组相比 ,移植胰岛存活时间明显延长 ,移植后 2个月在受者肝汇管区可见较多形态完整的胰岛细胞。FK5 0 6 MMF组维持术后正常血糖、胰岛素及C肽的时间超过 6 0d ,而FK5 0 6 MMF Pred组与前者比较 ,分泌C肽较少 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,血糖维持在较高水平 (P <0 .0 1) ,胰岛素水平两组差异无显著性。FK5 0 6 MMF Pred组停药两周以后的血糖水平较用药期间、停药两周内有明显降低 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,胰岛素和C肽分泌有所增多 ,但差异无显著性。结论　应用FK5 0 6 MMF和FK5 0 6 MMF Pred均有很强的免疫抑制效应 ,但糖皮质激素对胰岛细胞有毒性作用。小剂量FK5 0 6与MMF联用对移植胰岛细胞有较强的保护作用。     

达利珠单抗预防致敏受者肾移植后排斥反应的临床研究

目的　探讨用达利珠单抗诱导治疗预防致敏受者肾移植后急性排斥反应的有效性与安全性。方法　将 36例群体反应性抗体为 30 %～ 5 0 %的致敏受者随机分为舒莱组和对照组 ,各 18例 ,舒莱组患者于移植术前 2h和术后第 4d接受达利珠单抗 (2 0mg/次 )诱导治疗 ,两个组术后均以环孢素A、霉酚酸酯和皮质激素预防排斥反应。结果　舒莱组术后 3个月内的急性排斥反应发生率明显低于对照组 (P <0 .0 1) ;术后 2～ 4周内对照组平均每日皮质激素用量明显高于舒莱组 ;两个组人 /肾 1年存活率的差异无显著性 ;舒莱组术后肾功能的恢复较对照组快 ,但差异无显著性 ;舒莱组术后1周内CD2 5 淋巴细胞数明显降低 (P <0 .0 1) ;未观察到达利珠单抗的相关不良反应。结论　在合理筛选供受者的基础上 ,致敏受者肾移植前接受达利珠单抗诱导治疗可降低术后急性排斥反应的发生率 ,且较为安全。     

Characterization of a highly polymorphic marker adjacent to the SLC4A1 gene and of kidney immunostaining in a family with distal renal tubular acidosis.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the human SLC4A1 (AE1/band 3) gene are associated with hereditary spherocytic anaemia and with distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). The molecular diagnosis of AE1 mutations has been complicated by the absence of highly polymorphic genetic markers, and the pathogenic mechanisms of some dRTA-associated AE1 mutations remain unclear. Here, we characterized a polymorphic dinucleotide repeat close to the human AE1 gene and performed an immunocytochemical study of kidney tissue from a patient with inherited dRTA with a defined AE1 mutation. METHODS: One CA repeat region was identified in a phage P1-derived artificial chromosome (PAC) clone containing most of the human AE1 gene and the upstream flanking region. We determined its heterozygosity value in multiple populations by PCR analysis. Genotyping of one family with dominant dRTA identified the AE1 R589H mutation, and family member genotypes were compared with the CA repeat length. AE1 and vH(+)-ATPase polypeptides in kidney tissue from an AE1 R589H patient were examined by immunocytochemistry for the first time. RESULTS: This CA repeat, previously reported as D17S1183, is approximately 90 kb upstream of the AE1 gene and displayed considerable length polymorphism, with small racial differences, and a heterozygosity value of 0.56. The allele-specific length of this repeat confirmed co-segregation of the AE1 R589H mutation with the disease phenotype in a family with dominant dRTA. Immunostaining of the kidney cortex from one affected member with superimposed chronic pyelonephritis revealed vH(+)-ATPase-positive intercalated cells in which AE1 was undetectable, and proximal tubular epithelial cells with apparently enhanced apical vH(+)-ATPase staining. CONCLUSIONS: The highly polymorphic dinucleotide repeat adjacent to the human AE1 gene may be useful for future studies of disease association and haplotype analysis. Intercalated cells persist in the end-stage kidney of a patient with familial autosomal dominant dRTA associated with the AE1 R589H mutation. The absence of detectable AE1 polypeptide in those intercalated cells supports the genetic prediction that the AE1 R589H mutation indeed causes dominant dRTA.     

Comparison of histopathological characteristics of allograft biopsy between responder and non-responder to antiproteinuric effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)

Abstract:  Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) has become recognized as agents that have renoprotective effects in the treatment of progressive renal diseases including post-transplant kidneys. Previously we demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of ACEI treatment on the hypertensive proteinuric post-transplant patients ( N  = 10) who had been followed up for 12 months. However, not all patients show good response in urinary protein reduction. We aimed to analyse the histopathological factor(s) affecting the responsiveness of proteinuria to ACEI treatment. Fourteen post-transplant patients with proteinuria who were treated with ACEI and underwent allograft biopsy were analysed. Eight patients showed 50% or more reduction in proteinuria (responder). The other 6 patients showed less (< 50%) reduction in proteinuria (non-responder). There was no difference in clinical characteristics (BP, renal function, donor age, recipient body mass index), dietary sodium or protein intake, and diuretic use between the two groups. As a histopathological characteristic, glomerular size in responder group was significantly larger than that in non-responder group. This suggests that the large glomerular size at least partly contributes to the responsiveness in urinary protein reduction to ACEI treatment in kidney allograft recipients with proteinuria.     

Treatment of hepatitis B and C after liver transplantation. Part 2, hepatitis C

Abstract End-stage liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus is a major indication for liver transplantation. However, recurrence of hepatitis in the graft is a major issue. HCV re-infection after transplantation is almost constant, and recent data confirm that it significantly impairs patient and graft survival. Factors that may influence disease severity and consequent progression of HCV graft injury remain unclear. Chronic HCV infection develops in 60%–80% of patients, and 6%–28% ultimately progress to cirrhosis within 5 years. Pre-transplantation antiviral treatment is not easily related to poor tolerance. Attempts to administer prophylactic post-transplantation antiviral treatment are under evaluation but are limited by antiviral drug side effects. Treatment of established graft lesions with interferon or ribavirin as single agents has been disappointing. Combination therapy gave promising results, with sustained virological response in 25% of patients, but indications, modality and duration of treatment should be assessed.     

Nephrology and renal replacement therapy in Romania--transition still continues (Cinderella story revisited).

INTRODUCTION. This report describes the current status of nephrology and renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Romania, a country with previously limited facilities, highlighting national changes in the European context. METHODS: Trends in RRT development were analysed in 2003, on a national basis, using the same questionnaires as in previous surveys (1991, 1995). Survival data and prognostic risk factors were calculated retrospectively from a large representative sample of 2284 patients starting RRT between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2001 (44% of the total RRT population investigated). RESULTS: In 2003, RRT incidence [128 per million population (p.m.p.)] and prevalence (250 p.m.p.) were six and five times higher, respectively, than in 1995. The annual rate of increase in the stock of RRT patients (11%) was supported mainly by an exponential development of the continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) population (+600%), while the haemodialysis (HD) growth rate was stable (+33%) and renal transplantation made a marginal contribution. Renal care infrastructure followed the same trend: nephrology departments (+100%) and nephrologists (+205%). The characteristics of RRT incident patients changed accordingly to current European epidemiology (increasing age and prevalence of diabetes and nephroangiosclerosis). The estimated overall survival of RRT patients in Romania was 90.6% at 1 year [confidence interval (CI) 89.4-91.8] and 62.2% at 5 years (CI 59.4-65.0). Patients' survival was negatively influenced (Cox regression analysis) by age >65 years (P < 0.001), lack of pre-dialysis monitoring by a nephrologist [P = 0.01, hazards ratio (HR) = 0.8], severe anaemia, lack of erythropoetin treatment (P < 0.001, HR = 0.6), and co-morbidity, e.g. cardiovascular diseases (P < 0.001, HR = 1.8) and diabetes mellitus (P < 0.001, HR = 2.2). CONCLUSIONS: Although the rate of increase in RRT patient stock in 1996-2003 in Romania was the highest in Europe, the prevalence remained below the European mean. As CAPD had the greatest expansion, followed by HD, an effective transplantation programme must be set up to overcome the imbalance. The quality of RRT appears to be good and survival was similar to that in other registries. Further evolution implies strategies of prevention, based on national surveys, supported by the Romanian Renal Registry.     

Clinicopathological study of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)-associated pyelonephritis in renal transplantation

Abstract:  We retrospectively studied the occurrence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)-associated pyelonephritis using renal biopsies obtained from the transplanted kidneys, and correlated the histological changes with clinical parameters. Out of a total of 131 renal biopsies performed between 1990 and 2001 on renal transplant patients at the department of Urology of Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 12 patients showed pyuria more than twice in a single year. Seven of these 12 patients were available for determining VUR by voiding cystourethrography (VCUG). Cystoureterography demonstrated VUR in three of seven studied patients with pyuria. A histopathological examination revealed dilatation of both proximal and distal tubules in renal biopsies of transplant patients with VUR, compared to renal biopsies of transplant patients without VUR, or non-transplanted patients with thin membrane disease. One of the patients with VUR showed advanced features of chronic pyelonephritis in four consecutive biopsies at different time points, suggesting a late stage of reflux nephropathy in the transplanted kidney. We conclude from our study that the occurrence of VUR-related pyelonephritis may be one of the important long-term complications in the survival of renal allografts.