Biomedical subjects

W Hu

Publications and source records attributed to W Hu.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

PubMed2001

A novel ion chromatographic method based on cation-exchange and acid-base interactions for the simultaneous determination of total alkalinity and monovalent cations in samples of microliter volume.

An ion chromatographic (IC) method based on the use of titrant (strong acid) as the stationary phase was developed for simultaneous determination of total alkalinity (TA) and monovalent cations. The titrant used in this study was obtained by initially loading lithium dodecylsulfate (Li-DS) onto a reversed-phase material and then conditioning the column with a slightly acidified aqueous LiCl solution (a mixture of 50.0 mM LiCl and 0.1 mM H2SO4). When a small amount of a basic sample was injected onto a column prepared in this way, the basic species (Bn-) reacted predominantly with H+ on the stationary phase and the reaction with the eluent phase was negligible due to the very low concentration of eluent H+ (in the eluent, a molar ratio of [Li+]/[H+] = 250:1 applied). The stationary phase H+ consumed in the acid-base reaction was then re-supplied by H+ from the eluent. By monitoring the conductance of the eluent using conductivity, an induced peak resulting from the basic species was observed. Calibration graphs of peak areas vs. molar concentration of the basic species for OH-, HCO3- and H2PO4- were found to be identical. CO3(2-), HPO4(2-), and B4O7(2-) also gave identical calibration curves but their slope values were twice those for HCO3-. The detection limit for HCO3- was less than 3.2 microM and the calibration curve was linear up to 12.3 mM (injection volume, 100 microL). Seawater was directly analyzed and its total alkalinity was found to be 2.87 mM (RSD 0.53%, n = 5), which was in good agreement with the result of 2.88 mM (RSD 3.2%, n = 5) obtained using auto-potentiometric titration. Na+ and K+ were determined simultaneously and the concentrations were 481.6 and 10.6 mM, respectively.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

High-resolution determination of H+ by ion chromatography. Application to the simultaneous determination of H+, Na+, NH4+ and K+ in acid rain.

An ion chromatographic (IC) method was developed for the high-resolution determination of a sample's free hydrogen ion concentration (H+). Highly purified lithium dodecyl sulfate was used as the stationary phase, a slightly acidified aqueous LiCl solution was used as the mobile phase and conductivity was used for analyte detection. An electrical double layer (EDL) containing H+ was established on the stationary phase by using a slightly acidified electrolyte solution as the eluent. H+ in the EDL protonated any weak acid groups (i.e., silanols) on the stationary phase so that H+ from the sample could be retained/separated purely by dodecyl sulfate. The optimum molar ratio of H+:Li+ in the EDL for this IC system was obtained by using an aqueous solution containing 40.0 mM LiCl and 0.07 mM H2SO4 as the eluent. After separation, H+ was detected by direct conductimetric measurement. An H+ detection limit of better than 8.2 x 10(-6) M was obtained from the analysis of standard aqueous H2SO4 solutions. Other monovalent cations could also be separated with this method, giving detection limits of 7.4 x 10(-5), 4.3 x 10(-5) and 4.2 x 10(-5) M for Na+, NH4+ and K+, respectively. The method was applied to the simultaneous determination of H+, Na+, NH4+ and K+ in acid rain. The results obtained showed a significant improvement in reproducibility when compared with those from a conventional pH-meter. Acid rain samples with a pH < 5 could be analyzed with this IC system.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Visualization of secreted Hrp and Avr proteins along the Hrp pilus during type III secretion in Erwinia amylovora and Pseudomonas syringae.

Pili are required for protein and/or DNA transfer from bacteria to recipient plant or bacterial cells, based on genetic evidence. However, it has never been shown directly that the effector proteins or DNA are localized along or inside the pili in situ. Failure to visualize an association of effector proteins/DNA with pili is the central issue in the debate regarding the exact function of pili in protein and DNA transfer. In this study, a newly developed in situ immunogold labelling procedure enabled visualization of the specific localization of type III effector proteins of Erwinia amylovora and Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato along the Hrp pilus, but not along the flagellum or randomly in the intercellular space. In contrast, PelE, a pectate lyase secreted via the type II protein secretion system, was not associated with the Hrp pilus. These results provide direct evidence that type III secretion occurs only at the site of Hrp pilus assembly and that the Hrp pilus guides the transfer of effector proteins outside the bacterial cell, favouring the 'conduit/guiding filament' model.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

The ABC transporter Pdr5p mediates the efflux of nonsteroidal ecdysone agonists in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

We have previously shown that the synthetic nonsteroidal ecdysone agonist tebufenozide (RH-5992) is actively excluded by resistant cells of insects. To identify the transporter that could be involved in the efflux of RH-5992, the role of three ATP binding cassette transporters, Pdr5p, Snq2p and Ycf1p, has been studied using transporter-deletion mutants of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PDR5 (pleiotropic drug resistance 5) deletion mutants (Deltapdr5 and Deltapdr5Deltasnq2) retained significantly higher levels of 14C-radiolabeled RH-5992 within the cells when compared to wild-type strain or single deletion mutants of SNQ2 (Deltasnq2) and YCF1 (Deltaycf1). Introduction of an expression vector containing the PDR5 gene into the PDR5 single deletion mutant reversed the effect, resulting in the active exclusion of [14C]RH-5992 from these cells as efficiently as the wild-type cells. These results demonstrated that the ABC transporter Pdr5p but not Snq2p or Ycf1p was responsible for the active exclusion of [14C]RH-5992 in yeast. This exclusion was temperature-dependent and was blocked by the ATPase inhibitors oligomycin and vanadate, indicating that the efflux was an active process. The mutants with the PDR5 deletion can also selectively accumulate [14C]RH-0345 and [14C]RH-2485, but not [14C]RH-5849, indicating that these three compounds share the same transporter Pdr5p for efflux.

ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters↗

PubMed2001

Serum vitamin A concentrations and growth in children and adolescents in Gansu Province, China.

The association between serum vitamin A concentration and growth was assessed in a random sample of 650 children aged 0-14 years and 143 adolescents aged 15-19 years from the four prefectures of Jiayuguan, Linxia, Lanzhou and Tianshui in Gansu Province, China. Serum vitamin A concentrations were measured using a high performance liquid chromatograph. Height and weight were measured with standard methods. The results show that serum vitamin A concentration appeared to be the lowest in the age group 5-9 years which was only 0.28 mg/mL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.27-0.30) in males and 0.30 mg/mL (95% CI: 0.28-0.32) in females; and then it gradually increased with age. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females in any of the age groups. There were statistically significant correlations between vitamin A and weight (r = 0.37; P <0.001) and body mass index (r = 0.26; P < 0.001). This study suggests that serum vitamin A concentrations in children and adolescents may affect child growth. Concerted efforts to improve vitamin A status from a very early age become increasingly important if vitamin A has a genuine impact on child growth.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Immunogold labeling of Hrp pili of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato assembled in minimal medium and in planta.

Hypersensitive reaction and pathogenicity (hrp) genes are required for Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000 to cause disease in susceptible tomato and Arabidopsis thaliana plants and to elicit the hypersensitive response in resistant plants. The hrp genes encode a type III protein secretion system known as the Hrp system, which in Pst DC3000 secretes HrpA, HrpZ, HrpW, and AvrPto and assembles a surface appendage, named the Hrp pilus, in hrp-gene-inducing minimal medium. HrpA has been suggested to be the Hrp pilus structural protein on the basis of copurification and mutational analyses. In this study, we show that an antibody against HrpA efficiently labeled Hrp pili, whereas antibodies against HrpW and HrpZ did not. Immunogold labeling of bacteria-infected Arabidopsis thaliana leaf tissue with an Hrp pilus antibody revealed a characteristic lineup of gold particles around bacteria and/or at the bacterium-plant contact site. These results confirm that HrpA is the major structural protein of the Hrp pilus and provide evidence that Hrp pili are assembled in vitro and in planta.

Agar↗

PubMed2001

Multivariate prognostic analysis of stage I(E) primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the nasal cavity.

From January 1968 to December 1997, a total of 71 patients with stage I(E) (Ann Arbor staging system, 1971) primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the nasal cavity received treatment in the Cancer Center of Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Sciences. Thirty-seven lesions were limited to the nasal cavity (limited I(E)), whereas the other 34 were extended to the structure out of the nasal cavity (extended I(E)). Forty-four patients were treated with radiochemotherapy and 27 with radiotherapy alone. Kaplan-Meier methods were used in the survival analysis. Multivariate analysis was carried out using the Cox proportional hazard model. The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 71.85% and 59.67% for the patients with a complete response to irradiation, and both were 13.89% for the patients with residue lesions (p = 0.0004). The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 69.81% and 56.72% for limited I(E), and 40.65% and 35.57% for extended I(E) (p = 0.0047). The prognosis was better for those younger than 44 years (p = 0.0003). The 10-year survival rates for radiotherapy alone and combined radiochemotherapy are 52% and 75% for limited I(E) versus 37.58% and 45% for extended I(E) (p = 0.0644). B symptoms did not significantly affect clinical outcome (p = 0.729). Multivariate analysis showed that complete response of local lesion after radiotherapy, invasion of the primary tumor to adjacent structures, and patients' age were independent prognostic factors. Our study showed that radiotherapy is the main treatment method for the primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the nasal cavity; the addition of chemotherapy may improve long-term survival. The local tumor response to radiotherapy, whether the extranasal structures were invaded, and patients' age were independent prognostic factors.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Lack of effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of an extended-release oxybutynin formulation.

The effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of 15 mg oxybutynin XL was evaluated in a single-dose, randomized, crossover, open-label study in healthy volunteers. A validated, stereospecific, high-performance liquid chromatography assay was used to simultaneously determine the plasma concentrations of R- and S-oxybutynin and active metabolite R- and S-desethyloxybutynin. The mean AUC and Cmax values for each of the four analytes in the fed treatment were within +/- 20% of the fasting treatment values. The 90% confidence intervals for the treatment ratios (fed/fasted) for log-transformed Cmax and AUCinf values for the drug isomers and AUCinf values for the metabolite isomers were all within the 80% to 125% range. Only the ranges for the Cmax values for R- and S-desethyloxybutynin were slightly wider but were well within the 70% to 143% criteria recommended for Cmax when comparing effect of food. Lack of effect of food on oxybutynin XL is consistent with the previous observation that the osmotically controlled formulations are nearly insensitive to the gastrointestinal environment, including food. Oxybutynin XL was well tolerated, and the safety results were comparable whether administered alone or with food. In conclusion, oxybutynin XL administration does not require any caution to be exercised regarding food.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Effect of bottom clearance on performance of airlift bioreactor in high-density culture of Panax notoginseng cells.

A fed-batch cultivation of Panax notoginseng cells in a concentric-tube airlift reactor was performed to study the effects of bottom clearance on cell growth and the production of ginseng saponin and polysaccharide. At a bottom clearance of 4.0 cm, the highest cell density of 29.1+/-1.6 g/l by dry weight was obtained, and the accumulation of saponin and polysaccharide also reached a maximum, i.e., 2.39+/-0.43 and 2.73+/-0.40 g/l, respectively. Cell growth and metabolite production were limited at a small (2.5 cm) or large (5.0 cm) bottom clearance. By analyzing the time constants of mixing, mass transfer and oxygen consumption, bulk gas-liquid oxygen transfer was found to be responsible for the growth limitation at a small bottom clearance (2.5 cm). The decrease in cell density at a large bottom clearance (5.0 cm) was related to cell sedimentation at the reactor bottom. This work is beneficial for the scale-up and efficient operation of the airlift reactor in cell cultures.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Climate variation and incidence of Ross river virus in Cairns, Australia: a time-series analysis.

In this study we assessed the impact of climate variability on the Ross River virus (RRv) transmission and validated an epidemic-forecasting model in Cairns, Australia. Data on the RRv cases recorded between 1985 and 1996 were obtained from the Queensland Department of Health. Climate and population data were supplied by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and the Australian Bureau of Statistics, respectively. The cross-correlation function (CCF) showed that maximum temperature in the current month and rainfall and relative humidity at a lag of 2 months were positively and significantly associated with the monthly incidence of RRv, whereas relative humidity at a lag of 5 months was inversely associated with the RRv transmission. We developed autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models on the data collected between 1985 to 1994, and then validated the models using the data collected between 1995 and 1996. The results show that the relative humidity at a lag of 5 months (p < 0.001) and the rainfall at a lag of 2 months (p < 0.05) appeared to play significant roles in the transmission of RRv disease in Cairns. Furthermore, the regressive forecast curves were consistent with the pattern of actual values.

Alphavirus Infections↗

PubMed2001

A unified ion chromatographic system for the determination of acidity and alkalinity.

A unified ion chromatographic (IC) system was developed for the determination of acidity or alkalinity. Separation column used was a reversed-phase ODS packed column, which had been modified by saturating it with lithium dodecylsulfate. A slightly acidified LiCl (50 mM LiCl and 0.05 mM H2SO4) aqueous solution was used as the eluent. By conditioning the separation column in this way, both H+ and Li+ ions became bound to the stationary phase. Dodecylsulfate groups with Li+ counterions acted as cation-exchange sites for the separation of hydrogen ions (free acidity determination). The remaining dodecylsulfate groups, with H+ counterions acted as a titrant, which reacted with basic species (total alkalinity determination). The acidity or alkalinity of each sample was measured according to the change in conductance from the eluent baseline level. A positive peak was observed from those samples with a free acidity greater than their total alkalinity, due to the separation/elution of free H+ ions. A negative peak was observed from those samples with a free acidity less than their total alkalinity. This was due to an equivalent amount of eluent H+ ions being re-supplied to the stationary phase while the "solid titrant" consumed by the acid-base reaction was regenerated. The retention time for the peak corresponding to the acidity or alkalinity was governed by the retention time for H+ ions in this IC system. Samples with a free acidity greater than 2.25 microM (tested by determination of H+ ions in pure water in equilibrium with atmospheric CO2) could be analyzed by this method. A very similar detection level was obtained for alkalinity (tested by analyzing standard aqueous NaHCO3 solutions). Aqueous solutions of some strong-acid/strong-base inorganic salts were found to be slightly alkaline. This was measured as a percentage, relative to an NaHCO3 solution at the same concentration. Solutions of NaClO4, Na2SO4, NaI, NaNO3, and NaCl, gave comparative alkalinity values of 8.75%, 1.83%, 0.42%, 0.35%, and 0.33%, respectively.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Selective production of staplabin and SMTPs in cultures of Stachybotrys microspora fed with precursor amines.

Staplabin and SMTPs, a family of triprenyl phenol metabolites of Stachybotrys microspora, enhance fibrinolysis by modulating plasminogen conformation to increase its susceptibility to activation by plasminogen activators. We found that the production of these metabolites were markedly elevated by feeding the microbial culture with an amino acid or an amino alcohol that is a partial molecular constituent of the compound. Thus, the addition of 5-aminovaleric acid, 2-aminoethanol, Ser, Phe, Leu, Trp, Orn and Lys at 100 mg/ml resulted in 7- to 45-fold increases in the production of staplabin, SMTP-1, -3, -4, -5, -6, -7 and -8, respectively. Although the feeding at day 0 to 3 of culture supported the selective production, the supplementation after 5 days had little or no effect. When non-constituent amino acids were supplemented to cultures, production of hitherto uncharacterized congeners was observed.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed2001

[Esterification of octanoic acid with 1-octanol catalyzed by lipase in W/O microemulsions and in microemulsion-based organogels].

The esterification reactions of octanoic acid with 1-octanol catalyzed by Candida lypolytical (CL) lipase was studied in water-in-oil microemulsions formed by water/bis-(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate sodium (AOT)/isooctane. The results of kinetic study showed that the reaction follows a Ping-Pong Bi-Bi mechanism. The values of apparent kinetic parameters were determined. Lipase has also been immobilized in gelatin-containing AOT microemulsion-based organogels (MBGs) for retention of catalytic activity. These lipase-containing MBGs proved to be a solid-phase catalysts for use in apolar organic solvents, retaining its higher activity after many runs of esterification reactions.

1-Octanol↗

PubMed2001

Prevalence of CMV in arterial walls and leukocytes in patients with atherosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of cylomegalovirus with atherosclerosis. METHODS: The presence of cylomegalovirus (CMV) nucleic acids was demonstrated in carotid and coronary arteries of patients with and without atherosclerosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). CMV was detected by PCR in the blood of patients with and without atherosclerosis. RESULTS: 83.3%-86.7% of the samples obtained from atherosclerotic patient arterial walls were shown to contain viral nucleic acids (CMV), CMV could be found among 6.7% of patients' arterial wall without atherosclerosis, significant difference can be found between them (P < 0.01). In blood CMV could be found in 42.4% of patients with atherosclerosis, in the control group, only 3% of samples had CMV, P < 0.01. CONCLUSION: CMV plays an important role in the pathologic process of the atherosclerosis and the atherosclerotic cerebral infarction.

Aged↗

PubMed2001

The clinical and pathological characteristics of Chinese patients with pauci-immune crescent glomerulonephritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics of pauci-immune crescent glomerulonephritis (PICGN) in Chinese patients. METHODS: During 13 years (1985-1998), 6400 patients underwent non-transplanting renal biopsy. Twenty-four patients were diagnosed as PICGN. All clinical and laboratory data of these patients were collected from the patients' records and used for detailed analysis. The diagnosis is based on clinicopathologic findings. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients, 16 were females and 8 were males, with median age of 33 years (ranged 10-76 years). Microscopic polyarteritis (MPA) (33.3%) and systemic vasculitis (8.3%) were the secondary diseases. The incidence of PICGN was 0.38% in renal biopsies and 22.9% in crescentic glomerulonephritis. Clinically, most patients (75.0%) showed rapidly progressive nephritis with enlarged kidneys. At onset, gross hematuria was noted in 58.3% of patients, hypertension in 45.8%, nephrotic syndrome in 41.7%, and oliguria in 25.0%. However, systemic symptoms were rare except for anemia. Pathologically, necrosis of glomerular capillaries (62.5%), infiltration of monocytes and neutrophil cells in glomeruli (66.7%), and vasculitis in the interstitium (53.3%) were observed. In addition, glomerulosclerosis was noted in 45.8%, severe tubular atrophy in 83.3% and interstitial fibrosis in 75.0%. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) were positive in 52.2%. All patients except two received intensively immunosuppressive therapy. Sixteen patients were available for long-term follow up (median 29.8 months, range 8-92 months). Twelve of them had life-sustaining renal function, four had normal serum creatinine (< 124 mumol/L) and only 4 patients were dialysis-dependent. CONCLUSION: PICGN is not rare in China. Early diagnosis and administration of immunosuppressive therapy, particularly in patients with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN), are important for good prognosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

[Multivariate analysis of prognosis of patients with stage IE non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the nasal cavity].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors affecting prognosis of patients with primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) of the nasal cavity. METHODS: From Jan. 1968 to Dec. 1997, a total of 71 patients with stage IE(Ann Arbor staging system, 1971) primary non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the nasal cavity were treated in the Tumor Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences. In 37 of the 71 patients, the lesions were limited in the nasal cavity (limited IE), and in 34, the lesions were locally extended involving the adjacent structures (extended IE) Forty-four patients were treated with radiotherapy and 27 with radiotherapy plus chemotherapy. Survival analysis was done by the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate analysis was carried out using Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The 5- and 10-year survival rate was 71.9% and 59.7% respectively in patients who had complete response to radiotherapy. The 5- and 10-year survival rate was both 13.9% in patients who had residual tumors after treatment. The 5- and 10-year survival rate was 69.8% and 56.7% in patients with limited IE lesions, but 40.7% and 35.6% in those with extended IE lesions. The prognosis was better in younger (< 44 years) than in older patients. The 10-year survival rate of patients received radiotherapy alone and those combined with chemotherapy was 52.0% and 75.0% respectively for limited IE as compared to 37.6% and 45.0% for extended IE. B symptoms did not significantly affect clinical outcome. Multivariate analysis showed that the immediate response to radiotherapy, invasion of the primary tumor outside of nasal cavity and patients' age were independent prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy is the main treatment method for stage IE non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the nasal cavity. Addition of chemotherapy can improve long-term survival. The local tumor response to radiotherapy, clinical staging and age of patients have significant influence on patients' prognosis.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

The distribution and significance of renal infiltrating cells in patients with diffuse crescentic glomerulonephritis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the significance and distribution of renal infiltrating cells, including monocytes (CD68+ cells), proliferative cell nuclear antigen positive cells (PCNA+ cells), CD4+ and CD8+ cells in diffuse crescent glomerulonephritis (DCGN). METHODS: Fifty-six patients with DCGN were studied, including 10 cases of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM)--type I DCGN, 26 immune complex--type II DCGN, and 20 cases of pauci-immune--type III DCGN. Glomerular and interstitial infiltrates of CD68+ and PCNA+ cells, and interstitial infiltrates of CD4+ and CD8+ cells were detected by using four-layer PAP methods. RESULTS: There was a significant increase of renal infiltrating CD68+, PCNA+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells in patients with DCGN compared with that in normal controls. In patients with type I DCGN, there was a higher number of renal infiltrating CD68+ and PCNA+ cells than that in patients with type II and III DCGN. A glomerular infiltrates of CD68+ and PCNA+ cells correlated with the interstitial infiltrates of CD4+ cells in type I or III DCGN patients. In lupus DCGN patients, the numbers of renal infiltrating CD68+ and PCNA+ cells were similar to vasculitis or type III DCGN patients. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that the renal infiltrates of CD68+ and PCNA+ cells play an important role in patients with DCGN, that the infiltrates of CD4+ cells correlate with the infiltrates of CD68+ and PCNA+ cells may be an active marker of DCGN, and that cell-mediated immunity may contribute to crescent formation in lupus DCGN patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Cyclosporin A treatment for idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of cyclosporin A (CSA) in the treatment of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN), a prospective controlled clinical study was performed. METHODS: This study included a group of 30 IMN patients, among them 15 were treated with CSA and 15 with captopril (CAP). The diagnosis of IMN was made with exclusion of secondary forms of membranous nephropathy by extensive clinical and pathological studies. No patients received steroids or cytotoxic agents for six months prior to enrollment. In the CSA group, CSA was given at an initial dosage of 5 mg.kg-1.d-1, gradually tailed off over the first three months and maintained at 2 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 12 months. In the CAP group, CAP was given at a dosage of 37.5 mg/day. RESULTS: In the first three months, 6 (6/15) complete remissions (CR) and 2 (2/15) partial remissions (PR) were observed in the CSA group while only 2 (2/15) PRs were observed in the CAP group. Before the end of the 15-months, 8 patients in the CSA group experienced CR and 4 patients experienced PR. One CR patient relapsed as the dosage of CSA was reduced, so 7 patients remained in CR at the end of the first 15-months. No additional CR or PR was observed in the CAP group during late follow-up. At the last visit (an average follow-up time of 44 months) in the CSA-group, another 2 CR patients had relapsed and 1 CR patient shifted to PR after stopping the CSA treatment, so 4 CR and 5 PR remained in the CSA group. In the CAP group, 3 spontaneous CRs occurred beyond 1.5 year's follow-up, with 3 CR and 2 PR at the last visit. No difference was found between the averages of the initial and the last serum creatinine levels in either group. No serious adverse effects were found during CSA treatment. Re-biopsy data of three patients responsive to CSA treatment showed that no pathological improvement of glomerular basement membrane was observed, even in cases at remission. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis was found in 1 relapsed CR patient, whose serum creatinine increased above the normal range, but not in the other 2 patients whose serum creatinine remained in the normal range. CONCLUSIONS: CSA therapy at a dosage of 5 mg.kg-1.d-1 is effective in inducing remission of nephrotic syndrome in adult IMN patients within three months, with a response rate of 80%. A relatively high rate of relapse (50%) was observed within 2 years after the withdrawal of CSA treatment.

Adult↗