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Several case-control studies and cohort studies have investigated the association between fish intake and renal cancer risk, however, they yielded conflicting results. To our knowledge, a comprehensive assessment of the association between fish consumption and risk of renal cancer has not been reported. Hence, we conducted a systematic literature search and meta-analysis to quantify the association between fish consumption and renal cancer. A systematic search was performed using the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library Central database for case-control and cohort studies that assessed fish intake and risk of renal cancer. Two authors independently assessed eligibility and extracted data. Fixed-effect and random-effect models were used to estimate summary relative risks (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses, sensitivity analysis and cumulative meta-analysis were also performed. A total of 12 case-control studies and three cohort studies published between 1990 and 2011 were included in the meta-analysis, involving 9,324 renal cancer cases and 608,753 participants. Meta-analysis showed that fish consumption did not significantly affect the risk of renal cancer (RR=0.99, 95% CI [0.92,1.07]). In our subgroup analyses, the results were not substantially affected by study design, region, gender, and confounder adjustments. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of results. The present meta-analysis suggested that there was no significant association between fish consumption and risk of renal cancer. More in-depth studies are warranted to report more detailed results, including stratified results by fish type, preparation method, and gender.

Background: In order to improve the clinical treatment level of urinary system injury, it is necessary to build up an animal model of urinary system wound, which is not only analogous to real clinical practice, but also simple and practical. Methods: We have developed the third generation of firearm fragment wound generator based on the first and the second producer. The best explosive charge of the blank cartridge was selected by gradient powder loading experiments. The firearm fragment injuries were made to the bulbous urethra of 10 New Zealand male rabbits. One week preoperatively and 2, 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, all the animals underwent urethroscopy and urethrography. At 2, 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, two animals were randomly selected and killed, and the urethra was cut off for pathological examination. Results: The shooting distance of the third generation of firearm fragment wound generator is 2 cm. The best explosive charge of the blank cartridge is 1 g of nitrocotton. All rabbits survived the procedures and stayed alive until they were killed. Injuries were limited to bulbous urethra and distal urethra. Round damaged areas, 1-1.5 cm in length, on the ventral wall were observed. Ureteroscopy results showed that canal diameter gradually shrank by over 50% in 9 rabbits. The rate of success was 90%. Urethrography result noted that a 1-1.3 cm stricture was formed at the bulbous urethra. Histology results of injured stricture urethra showed that fibrous connective tissue hyperplasia and hyaline degeneration caused further stricture in the canal. Conclusions: The third generation of firearm fragment wound generator imitates the bullet firing process and is more accurate and repeatable. The corresponding rabbit model of traumatic complex urethral stricture simulates the real complex clinical conditions. This animal model provides a standardized platform for clinical researches on treating traumatic injuries to the urinary system.

Objectives This meta-analysis was undertaken to compare the efficacy and safety of pretransplant treatment with rituximab in sensitized patients receiving kidney transplantation. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify studies that used pretransplantation rituximab in eligible patients. The major outcomes included antibody-mediated rejections (AMR) after kidney transplantation and one-year graft survival rate. The meta-analysis was performed using fixed-effects model. Results Seven studies were identified including a total of 589 patients, of whom 312 were treated without rituximab, while 277 were treated with rituximab. In our meta-analysis, patients treated with rituximab had significantly fewer AMR after kidney transplantation [odds ratio (OR) 0.52, 95 % CI 0.28, 0.98, P  = 0.04] and higher rate of one-year graft survival rates (OR 3.02, 95 % CI 1.14, 8.02, P  = 0.03), indicating that rituximab is effective against acute rejection and enhances graft survival in kidney transplantation. No differences were noted in other efficacy and safety parameters in these two patient groups. Conclusions We demonstrated that preinduction with rituximab could significantly improve AMR and graft survival rates in sensitized patients undergoing kidney transplantation. Future prospective controlled studies are warranted to further understand rituximab’s role in kidney transplantation.

Objective　To study the risk factors of occurrence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) after renal transplantation. Methods　The follow-up data of 1106 cases of renal transplantation, performed in 309 hospital of PLA from May 2009 to Nov. 2013, were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were evaluated for postoperative cardiac events, and the post-transplant risk factors of CVD were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard model. Observation was done before operation, and 7d, 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th month after transplantation, then once every half year, till march of 2014 as the end of the study. Results　Tow hundred and sixteen patients (19.5%) developed at least one cardiovascular event in the post-transplant period. Forty-seven cases (6.32%) of primary CVD occurred during the first 3 months, and it occurred in 125 cases (11.30%) during the first year, which made up 26.81% and 47.89% of the total CVD patients. There were 19 patients died from CVD, which made up 37.3% of the 51 total death. Multivariate analysis showed that Age > 50 years (OR=2.39, 95% CI, 1.15-3.60), existence of diabetes before transplantation (OR=3.18, 95% CI, 1.56-6.42), pre-transplantaion CVD (OR=3.85, 95% CI, 2.15-7.54), diabetic nephropathy as the primary disease (OR=2.12, 95% CI, 1.14-3.98), pre-transplantation dialysis duration as long as 12 months (OR=1.27, 95% CI, 0.98-1.38), post-transplantaion serum creatinine >200μmol/L (OR=2.78, 95% CI, 1.35-4.53), delayed recovery of graft function (DGF) (OR=1.24, 95% CI, 1.02-1.42), acute rejection (AR) (OR=2.98, 95% CI, 1.56-5.72) and graft renal failure (OR=4.86, 95% CI, 3.15-7.78) were the significant risk factors of CVD after renal transplantation. Conclusions　The incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients under gone renal transplants continues to be high. Therefore, the multivariate risk factors of CVD should be identified and rectified in order to prevent occurrence of CVD in post transplant period, and promote the survival rate of patients receiving renal transplants.

Background Cholangiocytes are exposed to endotoxins (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) in a variety of biliary inflammations. It is known that LPS enhances the release of interleukin (IL)-6, a potent cholangioycte mitogen. However, the role of LPS in cholangiocyte proliferation in vivo is unknown. Aims To investigate whether LPS stimulates cholangiocyte proliferation in vivo via the IL-6/STAT3 pathway. Methods Rats were randomized into four groups: the LPS group (injected intravenously with LPS 2.5 mg/kg), anti-IL-6 group (injected intravenously with anti-IL-6 0.5 mg/kg 1 h after LPS injection), RPM group (treated with RPM 0.4 mg/kg intraperitoneally 30 min before LPS injection), and control group. At 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after LPS injection, LPS in plasma was detected by kinetic turbidimetric limulus test. IL-6 concentrations in liver homogenate and cholangiocyte proliferation were determined by ELISA or immunohistochemistry, respectively. Expression of IL-6 mRNA and phophorylated-STAT3 (P-STAT3) protein in cholangiocytes was analyzed by real-time RT-PCR and western blotting. Results Cholangiocytes responded to LPS by a marked increase in cell proliferation, IL-6 secretion, and P-STAT3 expression. Anti-IL-6 neutralizing antibody inhibited LPS-induced proliferation of cholangiocytes and decreased levels of IL-6 and STAT3. Furthermore, after being treated with RPM, STAT3 activation was also depressed, which resulted a decreased proliferation of cholangiocytes. Conclusions LPS promotes cholangiocyte proliferation through the IL-6/STAT3 pathway, while RPM shows a depressive effect in this pathway.

Objective 　To investigate the effect of recipient immature dendritic cells (imDCs) loaded with PUVA-treated donor apoptotic splenic lymphocytes (PUVA-SP DC) on IL-10+CD19+regulatory B cells (Breg) and the survival duration of skin allograft in mice. Methods 　Bone marrow-derived DCs of C57BL/6 mice were obtained from bone marrow cells by co-culturing with recombinant mouse IL-4 and GM-CSF. Spleen lymphocytes (SP) of BALB/c mice were isolated and prepared as PUVA-SP by treating the cells with 8-methoxypsoralen plus ultraviolet A irradiation. The bone marrow-derived imDCs of C57BL/6 mice were co-cultured with PUVA-SP of BALB/c mice to obtain PUVA-SP DCs. The skin allograft model was then established. Animals were randomly grouped according to different pretreatments as follows: the control group was iv. introduction of PBS (0.2ml) alone 7 days before skin transplantation, the PUVA-SP DC group received an iv. injection of PUVA-SP DCs, the maDC (mature DC) group received recipient maDCs, and the imDC group was given recipient imDCs. Mice were monitored daily from day 6 after transplantation for signs of rejection of skin graft. The recipients' peripheral blood serum samples were then collected and the level of cytokines were measured by using ELISA kits. The survival time of skin allograft was evaluated every day. The expression of IL10+CD19+regulatory B cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results 　After transplantation, the proportion of IL-10+CD19+Breg in the peripheral blood of PUVA-SP DC group was 7.48%, which was obviously higher than that of imDC group (4.12%), maDC group (3.01%) and control group (2.37%). The serum level of cytokine IL-10 in PUVA-SP DC group was 58.2±0.9ng/ml, and it was significantly higher than that in maDC group (20.1±1.6ng/ml), imDC group (26.2±1.3ng/ml) and control group (19.0±0.6ng/ ml, P<0.01). The survival time of allograft in PUVA-SP DC group was 62.3±2.6d, and it was markedly longer than that in maDC group (20.7±1.9d), imDC group (12.1±1.0d) and control group (11.0±1.3d, P<0.01). Conclusions 　Administration of PUVASP DCs, in the absence of an immunosuppressant, may significantly delay allograft rejection. This effect is associated with up-regulation of circulating regulatory B cells with preferential IL-10 secretion.

Background Several case-control studies and cohort studies have investigated the association between fish intake and renal cancer risk, however, they yielded conflicting results. To our knowledge, a comprehensive assessment of the association between fish consumption and risk of renal cancer has not been reported. Hence, we conducted a systematic literature search and meta-analysis to quantify the association between fish consumption and renal cancer. Methods A systematic search was performed using the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library Central database for case-control and cohort studies that assessed fish intake and risk of renal cancer. Two authors independently assessed eligibility and extracted data. Fixed-effect and random-effect models were used to estimate summary relative risks (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses, sensitivity analysis and cumulative meta-analysis were also performed. Results A total of 12 case-control studies and three cohort studies published between 1990 and 2011 were included in the meta-analysis, involving 9,324 renal cancer cases and 608,753 participants. Meta-analysis showed that fish consumption did not significantly affect the risk of renal cancer (RR=0.99, 95% CI [0.92,1.07]). In our subgroup analyses, the results were not substantially affected by study design, region, gender, and confounder adjustments. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis confirmed the stability of results. Conclusions The present meta-analysis suggested that there was no significant association between fish consumption and risk of renal cancer. More in-depth studies are warranted to report more detailed results, including stratified results by fish type, preparation method, and gender.

Objective　To investigate the epidemiological characteristics of BK virus (BKV) infection in living renal transplantation patients, and analyze the risk factors of BKV infection and BKV nephropathy (BKVN). Methods　The BKV DNA load in urine and blood samples of 43 renal transplant recipients, who had received renal transplantation in 309 Hospital from Feb. 2012 to Feb. 2013, was determined at preoperative period and 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 months after transplantation. Meanwhile, the biopsy of grafted kidney was performed in those patients with continuously elevated serum creatinine and those with higher BKV DNA load. Patients were divided into 3 groups as follows according to the test results: BK viruria group, BK viremia group and pathologically diagnosed BKVN group. Data of each group were then recorded, including gender, age, postoperative diabetes (PTDM), acute rejection (AR), delayed recovery of graft function (DGF), postoperative pulmonary infection, preoperative immune induction therapy, postoperativ

Background： Coronary microembolization （CME） has been frequently seen in acute coronary syndromes and percutaneous coronary intervention. Small animal models are required for further studies of CME related to severe prognosis. This study aimed to explore a new mouse model of CME. Methods： The mouse model of CME was established by injecting polystyrene microspheres into the left ventricular chamber during 15-s occlusion of the ascending aorta. Based on the average diameter and dosage used, 30 C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into five groups （n = 6 in each）： 9 μm/500,000, 9 μm/800,000, 17 μm/200,000, 17 μm/500,000, and sham groups. The postoperative survival and performance of the mice were recorded. The mice were sacrificed 3 or 10 days after the surgery. The heart tissues were harvested for hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson trichrome staining to compare the extent of inflammatory cellular infiltration and fibrin deposition among groups and for scanning transmission electron microscopic examinations to see the ultrastructural changes after CME. Results： Survival analysis demonstrated that the cumulative survival rate of the 17 μm/500,000 group was significantly lower than that of the sham group （0/6 vs. 6/6, P = 0.001）. The cumulative survival rate of the 17 μm/200,000 group was lower than those of the sham and 9 μm groups with no statistical difference （cumulative survival rate of the 17 μm/200,000, 9 μm/800,000, 9 μm/500,000, and sham groups was 4/6, 5/6, 6/6, and 6/6, respectively）. The pathological alterations were similar between the 9 μm/500,000 and 9 μm/800,000 groups. The extent of inflammatory cellular infiltration and fibrin deposition was more severe in the 17 μm/200,000 group than in the 9 μm/500,000 and 9 μm/800,000 groups 3 and 10 days after the surgery. Scanning transmission electron microscopic examinations revealed platelet aggregation and adhesion, microthrombi formation, and changes in cardiomyocytes. Conclusion： The injection of 500,000 polystyrene microspheres at an average diameter of 9 μm is proved to be appropriate for the mouse model of CME based on the general conditions, postoperative survival rates, and pathological changes.

Objective　To analyze the clinical characteristics, risk factors, treatment and turnover of the polycythemia after kidney transplantation. Methods　The clinical data of 329 renal transplantation recipients who had undergone kidney transplantation in the Transplant Center of 309 Hospital of PLA from Jan. 2008 to Jan. 2012, were retrospectively analyzed. Posttransplant erythrocytosis (PTE) was found in 65 recipients (PTE group), and no PTE was found in 264 recipients (control group). The pre- and post-operative parameters, the therapeutic effect of different treatments, and outcomes were compared between PTE group and control group. Results　Patients in PTE group were younger, and the ratio of males was higher compared with that of control group (P 0.05). PTE incidence was higher in recipients (24.3%, n=185) who had accepted cyclosporine than those recipients (13.9%, n=144) who had accepted tacrolimus, and the difference was statistically significant (P 0.05), but the relapse rate and the embolism rate due to conc