A total of 12332 cases of renal biopsies collected from Peking University First Hospital from 1995 to 2006 were studied by transmission electron microscopy (EM). 203 cases of them (1?65%) were found to have specific organized deposits ultrastructurally. The most common disease was renal amyloidosis, and the followed one was cryoglobulinemia related glomerulonephritis. The roles of EM in the diagnosis of renal diseases were divided into three groups:crucial role, important contribution, and auxiliary contribution. EM made an important contribution to the diagnosis of the majority of renal diseases with organized deposits, and it played a crucial role in the diagnosis of early amyloidosis, fibrillary and immunotactoid glomerulopathy, dense deposit disease, and Fabry disease.

Objective To assess the characteristics of autophagosomes in non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells and to examine the correlation of the related morphological parameters between autophagosomes and mitochondria aiming to assess the possibility that part of the autophagosomic membrane derives from mitochondrial membrane.Methods Images of A549 cells were observed and obtained by the electron microscopy.The areas and number of the cells,autophagosomes and mitochondria were analyzed by CMIAS.The cells were divided into three types according to the areas of autophagosomes.Results There had difference in the mean value of the total areas of autophagosomes in cells among the 3 groups.Statistical difference was found among the mean valve of the volume density of autophagosomes(P=0.03).The number of mitochondria and areas of mitochondria membrane decreased correspondent to the 3 groups.Conclusion Negative correlation was observed between the areas of autophagosomes and mitochondria in the 3 groups of cells indicating the possibility of part of autophagosome membrane deriving from the mitochondrial membrane.

Autophagy is a survival pathway required for cellular viability during starvation through catabolic self-digestion of damaged proteins and organelles; however, autophagy may result in cell death if it proceeds to completion. Although the exact mechanism of this process is not clear, it seems that proper regulation of autophagy can potentially contribute to the therapeutics of cancers. This study was designed to examine the role of autophagy in the death of human acute promyelocytic leukemia NB4 cells initiated by arsenic trioxide. Furthermore, the effects of autophagy inhibition and augmentation on cell viability were also compared. Our data suggested that both augmentation and suppression of autophagy could enhance the treatment effects while the latter was preferable. This study indicated that autophagy regulation augmented the treatment effects initiated by arsenic trioxide in NB4 cells, and that the selection of regulator should be precisely considered.

Objective:To investigate the role of electron microscopy (EM) and immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) in the diagnosis of monoclonal light chain-related renal diseases including light chain deposition diseases(LCDD) and primary amyloidosis(AL). Method: Renal biopsy specimens collected in our hospital from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 2002 were studied by EM, ultrastructural immunogold labeling for light chains (κ、λ) were made on the cases suggested of LCDD and early stage AL in the preliminary diagnosis. Results: Seven cases were diagnosed as LCDD, punctate, granular, electron-dense material was identified in the outside of tubular basement membrane (TBM), inner layer of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and outside of vascular basement membrane by EM. Two of them showed interrupted segmental localization of granular material in subendothelial areas of GBM. The granular material was labeled by monotypical light chains (5 cases of κ chain, 2 cases of λ chain). 45 cases were diagnosed as AL, EM revealed fibrillary material distributed in glomerular mesangium, GBM and arteriolar basement membrane; 15 of them showed segmental distribution of microfibrils in mesangium and/or GBM, and were further studied by IEM labeling for light chains. The microfibrils were labeled by monotypical light chains (4 cases of κ chain, 11 cases of λ chain). Conclusion: The diagnosis of renal LCDD and early stage of AL depended on EM. IEM was a unique diagnostic tool in early stage of LCDD and AL.

Objective: To observe ultrastructural changes of intra-acinar pulmonary arteries and study the pathogenesis of experimental hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.Methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into control groups(n=9)and pulmonary hypertension groups(n=9).Mean Pulmonary artery Pressure(mPAP)of each rat was evaluated using a right cardiac Catheterization procedure.Ultrastructure of intra-acinar pulmonary arteries was observed by transmission electron microscope.Results: The mPAP was significantly higher in rats of pulmonary proliferation and degeneration hypertension group than that of control group(P0.01).Ultrastructrural observation showed the proliferation and degeneration of endothelial cells in intra-acinar pulmonary arteries on pulmonary hypertension group.The internal elastic laminar was irregular.The proliferation of medial smooth muscle cells of arteries was showed at the level of respiratory bronchioles.The muscularized arteries were observed at the level of both respiratory bronchioles and alveoli.The hyperplasia of intermediate cells and pericytes was present.The collagens increased.Conclusions: The proliferation of smooth muscle cells and arterialization of intra-acinar pulmonary arteries are characteristic ultrastructural changes of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.The results indicate that pulmonary vascular structural remodeling is the important pathologic basis of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the role of electron microscopy (EM) and immunoelectron microscopy (IEM) in the diagnosis of light chain deposition diseases (LCDD) and primary amyloidosis (AL) of the kidney. METHODS Renal biopsy specimens collected in our hospital from Jan. 1994 to Feb. 2002 were studied by EM, and ultrastructural immunogold labeling for light chains (kappa, Lambda) were made on the cases suggested of LCDD and early stage AL in the preliminary diagnosis.RESULTS:Six cases were diagnosed as LCDD, and punctate, granular, electron-dense material was identified in the outside of tubular basement membrane (TBM), inner layer of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and vascular walls by EM. Two of which showed interrupted segmental localization of granular material in subendothelial areas of GBM. The granular material was labeled by monotypical light chains (4 cases of kappa chain, 2 cases of Lambda chain). Thirty-six cases were diagnosed as AL. EM revealed fibrillary material distributed in glomerular mesangium, GBM and vascular walls; 15 of them showed segmental distribution of fibrils in mesangium and/or GBM, and were further studied by IEM labeling for light chains. The fibrillary material was labeled by monotypical light chains (4 cases of kappa chain, 11 cases of Lambda chain). CONCLUSION The diagnosis of renal LCDD and early stage of AL depended on EM, IEM is a unique diagnostic tool in early stage of LCDD and AL.

Objective:To observe the ultrastructural changes of lung Clara cells in experimental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) induced by smoking cigarette and study the effect of Clara cells in the pathogenesis of COPD. Methods: The rat COPD model was set by smoking cigarette.The lung Clara cells were examined by electron microscopy. Results: In COPD rats, the proportion of lung Clara cells in terminal bronchioles and respiratory bronchioles was decreased. The clara cell secretery granules were also decreased. Conclusions: COPD can result in the changes of Clara cells of lung terminal bronchioles and respiratory bronchioles. The damage of Clara cells plays a role in the pathogenesis of COPD.

The histologic and ultrastructural changes of cutaneous lesion on systemic amyloidosis were observed. Histologically, the whole dermis and subepidermal of the skin were replaced by a large quantity of amorphous masses, a faintly eosinophilic substances. They were positive for Congo red, Alcian blue, and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) stains. Immunofluoscence examinations were negative for κ and λ.Ultrastructural observation demontrated characteristic amyloid fibrils. Morphologic observation is important in determining diagnosis of amyloidosis.

对21例子宫内膜癌进行超微结构观察.其中子宫内膜腺癌16例,子宫内膜乳头状癌2例,透明细胞癌2例,鳞腺癌1例.子宫内膜腺癌以形成腺腔及微绒毛为特征,随着肿瘤分化程度的降低,癌细胞异型性增加,并出现篮网状核仁.子宫内膜乳头状癌见分支管道状腔及纤毛细胞.透明细胞癌的形态学特点是细胞浆内多量糖原聚集.研究显示,子宫内膜癌的主要形态学特征是腺腔形成,同时因保留了其来源于苗勒氏管上皮多方向分化的潜能而分化出纤毛细胞、粘液细胞及鳞状上皮细胞,进而形成不同组织学类型的子宫内膜癌.

慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)是慢性气道炎症性疾病.本研究模拟吸烟导致人COPD发生的过程,使用香烟烟雾诱导的COPD大鼠模型,透射电镜观察COPD时肺终末细支气管或呼吸性细支气管Clara细胞的超微结构变化.