This study showed that dexamethasone had direct effects on podocytes: α-actinin-4 may be one of the potential target molecules.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of micro-proteinuria in combination with ultrasonography of the left renal vein (LRV) in the diagnosis of orthostatic proteinuria (OP). Methods:The patients with suspected OP received West test, upright lordotic position test, Robinson test, ultrasonography of the LRV, and detection of morning urine micro-proteinuria and micro-proteinuria after activity. The sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp), positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR) and Youden's index (YI) for micro-proteinuria, ultrasonography of the LRV and both of them in the diagnosis of OP were analyzed.

Abstract. Rituximab (RTX) can be used in children with nephrotic syndrome, particularly in those with steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (SDNS). However, at present there is no unified standard of how to use RTX, with regard to the amount of doses and frequency, in children with nephrotic syndrome. The study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of a single dose of RTX in children with steroid-dependent minimal change nephrotic syndrome (SD-MCNS). The patients with biopsy-proven minimal change disease (MCD) and clinical features of SDNS received a single dose of RTX (375 mg/m 2 ). The toxicity and side effects of RTX were also observed. The study included 19 patients (10 males and 9 females). Follow-up of the patients was 1-50 months (28.1±16.6 months). B-cell depletion was achieved with RTX infusion (CD20<0.5%) and lasted 1-6 months (mean, 2.92±1.57 months). During follow-up, 10 patients remained in complete remission and did not relapse without administration of oral steroids or immunosuppressants for 4-50 months (mean, 30.1±12.6 months), despite recovery of the B-cell count. Nine patients relapsed in the process of reducing steroids, thus, treatment was maintained at a lower dosage (T= 0, P<0.05) than prior to use of RTX. The number of relapses also decreased significantly (T=95, P<0.05). Five of the patients relapsed after stopping steroid for several months. At the end of follow-up, the efficacy of a single induction of RTX was 47.4% (9/19). There were no significant side effects associated with administration of RTX. In conclusion, RTX is a safe and effective alternative for children with SD-MCNS.RTX is an effective treatment for the rapid induction of remission and reduces relapse and steroid dependency. A single dose of RTX for children with SD-MCNS is recommended for rapid induction of remission, reduction of long-term steroid dosage, and decrease in the number of relapses, as it has few side effects.

The purpose of this study was to reveal that reconstructed soil composed of different types and proportions of materials has different effects on the growth of Melilotus officinalis, and to determine the most suitable formula of reconstructed soil materials to use for soil replacement. Using topsoil, coal gangue, fly ash, and rock and soil stripping materials from Shengli Mining Area of Inner Mongolia as raw materials, stratified and mixed pot experiments were carried out in a greenhouse using different proportions of each material. The differences in the aboveground biomass, leaf width, plant height, and root length of Melilotus officinalis plants in pot experiments were then compared using analysis of variance. The results showed that using different combinations of materials in different proportions affected the growth status of Melilotus officinalis, and their effects on biomass were greater than their effects on plant height, root length, and leaf width. When topsoil, coal gangue, and rock and soil stripping materials were mixed at a ratio of 3:3:4, respectively, the biomass of Melilotus officinalis increased by nearly 30% compared with that of plants potted in pure topsoil. When the content of coal gangue was controlled to be 30%, the content of fly ash was below 10%, and the content of rock and soil stripping materials was below 40%, the reconstructed soil conditions clearly promoted the growth of Melilotus officinalis. Coal gangue, rock and soil stripping materials, and fly ash can thus be used as substitutes for topsoil. Mixing soil reconstruction materials in the optimal proportion can solve the scarcity of topsoil in the grassland mining areas in the study region and, at the same time, can effectively improve the utilization of solid waste in this mining area.