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Background To compare the efficacy of different ablation points used in renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) in patients with resistant hypertension. Methods A total of 48 patients with resistant hypertension were recruited from 2013 to 2015. According to the number of ablation points used in RDN, these patients were divided into traditional (<8 points, n = 23) and strengthening ablation (>8 points, n = 25) groups. The ablation parameters, including numbers of points, impedance, actual wattage, and the actual temperature were recorded during the operation. Renal angiography was taken before and after RDN. Blood pressure was monitored in all patients for 6 months after RDN. Results There were no adverse events such as arterial dissection, insufficient renal perfusion, and hemodynamic disturbance in any patients immediately after RDN. During 6 months of follow-up, 6 patients withdrew from the study due to adverse events; liver and kidney functions were not negatively affected, and there was no statistical significance in the incidence of arterial dissection or hemodynamic disturbance. During the follow-up, decreases of 24-hour systolic/diastolic blood pressure in the strengthening ablation group were greater than traditional ablation group [(25.1 ± 11.4)/(10.1 ± 9.6) vs. (8.0 ± 10.6)/(3.1 ± 6.1) mm Hg, P < 0.01]. Notably, there was a significant and positive correlation between ablation points and reductions of 24-hour blood pressure. Conclusions RDN reduces the blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension safely and effectively. The higher number of ablation points is associated with greater blood pressure reductions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar is beneficial to soil phosphorus (P) availability and crop growth, but the effects vary greatly across different soil types. We investigated the effects of rice straw biochar (4% of total mass) and P application (0, 30, and 90 kg P·hm -2 ) on soil P availability, phosphomonoesterase activity, and soybean P uptake by using lateritic red soil (pH 4.91) and cinnamon soil (pH 7.24) as test materials. The results showed that biochar application at different P levels significantly increased available P and total P in both soils. Biochar application with 30 kg P·hm -2 increased soil available P with maxima at 192.6% and 237.1% in lateritic red soil and cinnamon soil, respectively. Biochar application with 30 kg P·hm -2 in lateritic red soil significantly increased the activity of alkaline phosphomonoesterase by 78.9%, decreased the content of active organic P by 39.3%, and subsequently stimulated soybean P absorption and growth. Biochar amendment significantly reduced active organic P content in cinnamon soil, but did not affect soil phosphomonoesterase activity and plant growth. The content of active organic P was significantly negatively correlated with soil available P content. In summary, the effect of biochar on soil P availability varied across different soil types (lateritic red soil > cinnamon soil) and P levels (better at 30 kg P·hm -2 ). Our results could provide scientific basis for a promising application of biochar in reducing the amount of P fertilizer and increasing soybean P uptake, especially in lateritic red soil.

Objective: To investigate the optimal time window for intervention of BK virus (BKV) replication and its effect on the outcomes of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs)., Methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical data and treatment regimens was conducted among KTRs whose urine BKV load was ≥1.0×10 4 copies/mL following the operation between April, 2000 and April, 2015. KTRs with urine BKV load <1.0×10 4 copies/mL matched for transplantation time served as the control group., Results: A total of 54 recipients positive for urine BKV were included in the analysis. According to urine BKV load, the recipients were divided into 3 groups: group A with urine BKV load of 1.0×10 4 -1.0×10 7 copies/mL (n=22), group B with urine BKV load >1.0×10 7 copies/mL (n=24), and group C with plasma BKV load ≥1.0×10 4 copies/mL (n=8); 47 recipients were included in the control group. During the follow-up for 3.2-34.5 months, the urine and plasma BKV load was obviously lowered after intervention in all the 54 BKV-positive recipients (P<0.05). Eighteen (81.82%) of the recipients in group A and 19 (79.17%) in group B showed stable or improved estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after the intervention; in group C, 4 recipients (50%) showed stable eGFR after the intervention. In the last follow-up, the recipients in groups A and B showed similar eGFR with the control group (P>0.05), but in group C, eGFR was significantly lower than that of the control group (P=0.001). The recipients in group A and the control group had the best allograft outcome with stable or improved eGFR., Conclusion: Early intervention of BKV replication (urine BKV load ≥1.0×10 4 copies/mL) in KTRs with appropriate immunosuppression reduction can be helpful for stabilizing the allograft function and improving the long-term outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-α receptor II: IgG fusion protein (RhTNFR:Fc) local injection in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) of rats., Methods: Twenty-four CIA rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: single therapy (Group I), multiply therapies (Group II) and control (Group III). Group I received normal saline thrice after a single RhTNFR:Fc local treatment while Groups II and III had 4 times of RhTNFR:Fc or normal saline local injection. The severities of right ankle and systemic inflammation were assessed by arthritis index (AI) at baseline and every week after local injection (visits 1, 2, 3 and 4). Serum C reactive protein (CRP) was measured after the last visit. And right ankles were further examined through radiology and pathology., Results: Local or systemic AI of Group I were significantly lower than that of baseline at visit 1 (P < 0.05), but increased during other visits. And local or systemic AI of Group II gradually decreased at each follow-up, but AI of Group III showed no decline. The radiographic scores (5.70±0.67 and 4.90±0.73), histopathological scores (6.00±0.67 and 3.80±0.91) and serum CRP concentration (7.50±0.87 and 3.09±0.76 µg/ml) of Group I and Group II were lower than those of Group III (6.60±1.26, 7.10±0.7 and 12.15±3.47 µg/ml, P < 0.05). And all these parameters of Group I were higher than those of Group II (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Local injection of RhTNFR:Fc can effectively alleviate disease activity of CIA and reduce CRP concentration, radiographic and histopathological scores. Multiple therapies show a better efficacy than single injection.

Objective: To investigate the roles of CD147 in the pathogenesis and development of ankylosing spondylitis (AS)., Methods: Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression levels of CD147 in peripheral monocytes and T lymphocytes of 30 AS patients, 30 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 30 healthy controls (HC). reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to evaluate the expression levels of CD147 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Then the expression levels of CD147 were compared among the groups. And a correlation analysis was conducted between CD147 levels and disease activity indices of AS patients., Results: The mean fluorescence intensities of CD147 in monocytes of AS, RA and HC group were 213.5 ± 37.8, 228.7 ± 49.7 and 163.6 ± 44.8, and in T lymphocytes 36.8 ± 10.1, 40.2 ± 10.5 and 28.3 ± 10.6 respectively. Both the expression levels of CD147 in monocytes and T lymphocytes of AS patients were slightly lower than those of RA patients. But the differences was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Both the CD147 levels in monocytes and T lymphocytes of AS and RA group were significantly higher than those of HC group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of CD147 mRNA in PBMC of AS and RA group were significantly higher than those of HC group (P < 0.05) while no significant difference was found between AS and RA group (P > 0.05). Both the expression levels of CD147 in monocytes and T lymphocytes of AS patients were positively correlated with the patients' erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)., Conclusion: The expressions of CD147 in peripheral monocytes and T lymphocytes of AS patients are up-regulated and their levels are positively correlated with patients' ESR and CRP. It implies that CD147 plays critical roles in the pathogenesis and development of AS.

Aim: To explore the change of number working memory ability in healthy young adults, a continuous 3-back number working memory task were performed for an hour and 12 Blocks according to different COMT genotypes of young adults., Methods: 18 different genotype subjects were chosen from 112 healthy young adults, P3 event-related potentials was utilized to observe the relationship between this COMT polymorphism and cortical physiology in a continuous working memory task., Results: Subjects bearing the Val/Val homozygote had significantly higher mean P3 amplitudes than Val/Met heterozygote (P < 0.01), however, no significant differences in comparison to Met/Met homozygote., Conclusion: Val/Met Heterozygote subjects are associated with the poorest performance of working memory. There is a relationship between COMT genotype and P3 visual event-related potentials evoked from 3-back task.