Plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) level was measured with radioimmunoassay in 33 normal subjects and 92 patients with different stages of diabetic nephropathy, consisting of 35 cases of diabetes mellitus with normal urinary albumin excretion (DM), 22 cases of incipient diabetic nephropathy (IDN), 22 cases of overt diabetic nephropathy (ODN), 8 cases with azotemia (DNa) and 5 cases with uremia (DNu). The results showed that plasma ET-1 levels in DNa and DNu groups (30.24 +/- 1.93 ng/L and 36.38 +/- 3.62 ng/L respectively) were significantly higher than those in other groups (P < 0.05); ET-1 level in ODN group (20.50 +/- 0.93 ng/L) was significantly higher than those in DM and IDN groups (P < 0.001); ET-1 level in IDN group was also significantly higher than that in DM group (17.79 +/- 0.74 vs. 15.06 +/- 0.63 ng/L, P < 0.01); All the above values were significantly higher than that in normal subjects (7.08 +/- 0.22 ng/L) (P < 0.001). There was significant positive correlation between ET-1 level and HbA1c, systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatine, uAER and a significant negative correlation between ET-1 level and glomerular filtration rate. It is shown that progressive elevation of plasma ET-1 level is closely related with different stages of renal function impairment, suggesting strongly the role of ET-1 in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy.

The methods of mobilization and collection of stem cells in peripheral blood stem cells transplantation (PBSCT) and the association between the number of stem cells transplanted and hematopoietic recovery were studied. The investigation was carried in 22 patients (11 acute leukemia, 6 multiple myeloma, 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, 1 breast cancer). Three regimens for mobilization were carried out as follows: 1) chemotherapy + tetrahydrofolic acid + dexamethasone, 2) chemotherapy + rhGM-CSF + dexamethasone, 3) chemotherapy + rhG-CSF + dexamethasone. Besides, CD34/CD33 dual-color direct immunofluorescence flow cytometry assay was performed in 7 cases in the rhG-CSF group. The results showed: 1) The mean number of collected cells (MNC) in the rhG-CSF group was MNC (8.29 +/- 6.14) x 10(8)/kg and CFU-GM (21.35 +/- 17.24) x 10(4)/kg, being highest among the 3 groups. 2) The number of CD34+ cells correlated with MNC and CFU-GM. CD34+ cells in the peripheral blood were 0 or < 0.5% before mobilization and increased markedly 6-8 days after rhG-CSF administration. Harvesting should be started at that time and carried out every day until CD34+ cells reached 5 x 10(6)/kg. 3) The number of PBSC transplanted was the key to hematopoietic recovery.

Selective ablation of slow pathway by radiofrequency (RF) current in 34 patients with atrioventricular (AV) node pathways and tachycardia was performed with two methods in our section; posterior approach was used in the first 12 patients, the slow pathways were ablated successfully. Inferior approach was performed in the other 22 patients. Slow pathways were interrupted in 14 patients. Retrograde fast pathways and/or slow pathways were ablated in 6 patients. Retrograde fast pathways and slow pathways were abolished and antegrade fast pathways were injured transitorily in 2 cases. The total procedure time was shorter, RF applications were fewer by inferior approach than by posterior approach (P < 0.05). Both antegrade and retrograde conduction of fast pathways had not been affected after slow pathways were ablated (P > 0.05). After a mean of 8 months follow-up, two patients recurred and were ablated successfully again. We come to the conclusion that inferior approach might be a preferable method compared with posterior approach; the slow pathways is the compact node and its posterior input of transitional cells; the retrograde fast pathway may be the anterior superficial group of transitional cells and is not always in the same location of antegrade fast pathway.

Clinical, laboratory and sialographic findings were studied in 35 adult patients with recurrent parotitis. The patients were followed up for 0.5-23 years. The results showed that sialographic recovery occurred 3-5 years after disappearance of clinical symptoms. Recurrent parotitis is not a autoimmune disease, and remission may take place spontaneously, including clinical and sialographic healing. However, marked degeneration of the parotid gland or chronic obstructive parotitis may develop consequently. The differential diagnosis of recurrent parotitis in adults is also discussed.

In an attempt to evaluate the influence of hypertension and antihypertensive agents on IgAN, IgAN and hypertension experimental models were induced in SD rats and divided into 4 groups: (1) IgAN(n = 8); (2) IgAN+by hypertension(n = 8); (3) captopril 4mg/100gBW/d, for 42 days administered to rats as group (2) (n = 8); (4) nifedipine 300ug/100gBW/d, for 42 days administered to rats as group (2) (n = 8). Blood pressure was measured at the 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th and 20th week. Urinary protein, serum angiotensin II (AT II) and renal pathologic changes were examined at the 20th week. Our results suggest that hypertension worsens IgAN by glomerular mesangial proliferation in early stages. Though Captopril has the same therapeutic effect on hypertension as Nifedipine does, the former has been proven to have potentially beneficial effects on diminishing proteinuria as well as mesangial lesions. This is consistent with the suppression of serum ATII which favours glomerular microcirculation.

This article presents 102 cases of recurrent parotitis in children with studies of clinical findings, sialographic manifestations, dynamic functions of the parotid gland examined with radionuclide, laboratory findings and follow-up studies of 28 cases with sialography. The following conclusions are reached: 1. Retrograde infection induced by the mumps virus and upper respiratory infection seem to play a major role in the etiology of recurrent parotitis. Familial abnormalities are potential factors. Incomplete immune functions of the children are factors related to the pathogenesis, and following growth and development of the immune system, this disease will undergo remission; 2. Sequential scintigraphy shows normal uptake and retarded excretion function of the parotid; 3. Long-term follow-up studies demonstrate that the patients are free from symptoms for many years, but the punctate dilatation in sialography may diminish, disappear, or be unchanged; and 4. If the disease is not cured in childhood, it may continue into adulthood and healing will take place eventually. Relationship with Sjogren's syndrome has not been revealed.