Effect of puerarin on the expression of extracellular matrix in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy

BACKGROUND

Inhibition of the formation of advanced glycation end-products delays the development of diabetic nephropathy. Puerarin decreases the formation of these products. We studied the effect of puerarin in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy.

METHODS

Three groups of rats were studied: a control group, a diabetic group in whom diabetic nephropathy was induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin, and a puerarin group in which diabetic rats were treated with puerarin. During and after treatment, measurements were made on the rats' general status, blood glucose level, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance rate and urinary albumin excretion over 24 hours. The expression of collagen I and heparan sulphate proteoglycan in the extracellular matrix of the glomerulus was assessed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Rats in the puerarin group had a better general condition than those with diabetes. They also had lower blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and urinary albumin excretion rate over 24 hours compared with those in the diabetic group. The creatinine clearance and expression of heparan sulphate proteoglycan in the kidney also increased significantly in the puerarin group compared with that in the diabetic group.

CONCLUSION

Puerarin seems to have certain protective effects on diabetic nephropathy induced by streptozotocin. This is caused possibly by regulating the expression of glomerular extracellular matrix.

[Effect of compound Puerarin on the collage IV in streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy rats]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of compound Puerarin on collagen IV of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

METHODS

Diabetic nephropathy rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Rats were allocated randomly to control group (10), diabetes model group (10), Vitamin C group (10), Puerarin group (10), vitamin C plus Puerarin group (10). The study period lasted for 12 weeks. During and after the treatment, the general state, blood glucose levels, glycosylated hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, serum collagen IV, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, urinary albumin excretion rate of the 24-hour, and clearance rate of creatinine collagen IV protein were determined by immunohistochemistoche analysis as well as type the gene expression of collagen IV alpha 1 mRNA were determined by in situ hybridization analysis in the kidney tissue of different groups.

RESULTS

(1) Diabetes mellitus and renal function lesion occurred in the four groups. (2) Vitamin C and Puerarin could improve the general conditions of diabetic Rats, decrease blood urea nitrogen [(8.68 +/- 0.43), (7.98 +/- 0.47) and (5.76 +/- 0.82) micromol/L, serum creatinine [(74.68 +/- 8.20), (75.52 +/- 7.98) and (58.66 +/- 6.65) mmol/L], and urinary albumin excretion rate of the 24-hour [(18.40 +/- 0.37), (17.24 +/- 0.30) and (9.97 +/- 1.27) mg/24 h x 10(-3)]; increase clearance rate of creatinine [(0.59 +/- 0.21), (0.61 +/- 0.14) and (0.69 +/- 0.32) ml/min], the expression of collage IV absorbance [(111.56 +/- 14.61), (110.78 +/- 9.69) and (95.44 +/- 9.97) ] in the diabetic Rats were significantly inhibited at the same time.

CONCLUSION

The compound Puerarin might have some functions on preventing ren by inhibiting expression of type IV collagen.

Pain After Epithelial Removal by Ethanol-assisted Mechanical Versus Transepithelial Excimer Laser Debridement

PURPOSE

To compare subjective pain responses between two techniques of epithelial removal prior to photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) treatment: ethanol-soaked pledget with mechanical debridement of the epithelium versus excimer laser transepithelial ablation.

METHODS

Nine patients underwent bilateral PRK. Each had the epithelium in one eye debrided by placing a pledget soaked in 20% ethanol on the cornea for 2 minutes followed by gentle scraping with a blade. The epithelium in the other eye was removed by transepithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy (PTK) treatment. For each eye, PRK was initiated immediately after removal of the epithelium. On postoperative day one, each patient was asked to rate the level of pain suffered over the last 24 hours on a scale of 0 (minimal) to 10 (maximal). Data were analyzed in a masked fashion.

RESULTS

Postoperative day one average pain level in the ethanol-assisted mechanically debrided eyes was 3.0 +/- 2.5 and in the transepithelial PTK eyes was 6.8 +/- 1.8. The difference was statistically significant by Student's t-test (P < .01). All epithelial defects healed within 3 days with no clinically significant difference in healing time between the two techniques.

CONCLUSION

In preparation for PRK, ethanol-assisted mechanical debridement of the epithelium caused significantly less postoperative pain than epithelial removal using the excimer laser.

Recurrent fungal keratitis and endophthalmitis

PURPOSE

To report a case of recurrent fungal sclerokeratitis and endophthalmitis with a very successful outcome due to aggressive combined surgical and medical therapy. To discuss the management of this potentially devastating infection.

METHODS

A 65-year-old man presented with 6 months of left eye redness and irritation after injury from organic matter propelled from an airboat. Initially, he had been treated with foreign body removal, antibiotics, and steroids. He was diagnosed with reactive sclerokeratitis at presentation and was treated with steroids. However, when he did not improve, cultures were obtained and Acremonium species filamentous fungi was identified. Despite treatment with appropriate topical and systemic antifungals, his fungal sclerokeratitis progressed to endophthalmitis. Two therapeutic penetrating keratoplasties (PKs) with iridectomy and intraocular amphotericin B were necessary to eradicate the fungal infection.

RESULTS

Visual acuity was restored to 20/25-3 with correction 9 months after initial presentation. There was no recurrence of fungal infection after the second therapeutic PK.

CONCLUSION

The possible reasons for recurrence of fungal infection are discussed. The role of timely and aggressive medical and surgical intervention for fungal sclerokeratitis and endophthalmitis in restoring excellent vision is emphasized.