Investigating the protective effects of Astragalus polysaccharides on cyclophosphamide-induced bone marrow suppression in mice and bone mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: This study determines the role and mechanism of APS in cyclophosphamide-induced myelosuppression in mice and bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) cell model.

Methods: Cy-induced myelosuppression mice and BMSCs cell model were established. Fifty C57BL/6 mice (weighing 20 ± 2 g) were randomly divided into five groups.

Association between insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and its components and lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A growing body of evidence points to the association between insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components and lung cancer incidence, but remains controversial and unknown.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted through PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang databases for the corresponding studies. Each study reported the risk estimate and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for lung cancer, and a fixed effects model or random effects model was used for outcome.

Does invasive acupuncture improve postoperative ileus after colorectal cancer surgery? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Postoperative ileus (POI) is one of the main complications after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery, and there is still a lack of effective treatment. At present, the evidence for improvement of POI by invasive acupuncture (manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture, IA) is limited. This meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aims to systematically review and evaluate the effect of IA in improving POI after CRC surgery.

Conjunctival infiltrates and cytokines in an experimental immune-mediated blepharoconjunctivitis rat model.

Purpose: To characterize the histopathological and immunological findings of a rat model of allergic blepharoconjunctivitis (BC) and demonstrate its potential utility for the assessment of BC therapies.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and topically challenged with OVA (BC group) or PBS (control group), while a corticosteroid group was pre-treated with triamcinolone acetate 24 h before the challenge. Morphological features were evaluated and tissues were harvested for histological, flow cytometry and cytokine analysis.

Curcumin Induces Ferroptosis in A549 CD133 Cells through the GSH-GPX4 and FSP1-CoQ10-NAPH Pathways.

Background: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are characterized by an ability for unlimited proliferation and efficiency of self-renewal. The targeting of lung CSCs (LCSCs)-related signaling pathways represent a promising therapeutic strategy for treatment of lung cancer. Ferroptosis a potential strategy for LCSCs treatment, and curcumin cloud induce ferroptosis.

Transglutaminase-2 is critical for corneal epithelial barrier function via positive regulation of Claudin-1.

Purpose: Transglutaminase (TG)-2 is a ubiquitous multi-functional protein expressed in all living cells. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the role of TG-2 in corneal barrier function and its potential regulation of epithelial junctional proteins and transcription factors.

Methods: Corneal barrier function to ions in TG-2 and TG-2 mice was assessed by Ussing chamber assay.

Conjunctival T Cell Profile in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients after Instilling Topical Cyclosporine-A 0.1% Cationic Emulsion.

Introduction: To profile conjunctival T cell populations in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients after instillation of daily topical cyclosporine-A (CsA) 0.1% cationic emulsion (Ikervis), and to evaluate patients' tolerance to these eye drops.

Methods: Nineteen participants were prescribed Ikervis prophylaxis once daily to both eyes from 3-5 weeks pre-HSCT to 12 months post-HSCT.

Effects of Electroacupuncture for Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients With Cancer in China: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is prevalent among patients treated with opioids for cancer pain. Safe and effective therapies for OIC in patients with cancer remain an unmet need.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) for OIC in patients with cancer.

Shotgun metagenomic sequencing analysis of ocular surface microbiome in Singapore residents with mild dry eye.

The ocular surface microbiome has implications for ocular surface inflammation and immunology. Previous shotgun metagenomics analyses were performed in China, showing results that differed according to environment and age. Patients with Sjogren's syndrome were reported to have altered conjunctival microbiome, but such studies have not been done in milder dry eye.

triterpenoids attenuate tumour angiogenesis in lung cancer tumour-bearing nude mice.

Context: (Leyss. ex Fr.) Karst.

Hesperidin administration suppresses the proliferation of lung cancer cells by promoting apoptosis via targeting the miR‑132/ZEB2 signalling pathway.

This aim of the present study was to identify the relationship between hesperidin and microRNA (miR)‑132, and to study the role of hesperidin and miR‑132 in the pathogenesis of non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Computational analysis and luciferase assays were performed to identify the target of miR‑132. Subsequently, reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR and western blot assays were used to detect the effect of miR‑132 and hesperidin on the expression of haematological and neurological expressed 1 (HN1) and zinc finger E‑box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2).

Meta-Analysis of the Therapeutic Effect of Nanosilver on Burned Skin.

Nano silver is widely used in the treatment of burn wounds globally, but most clinical studies on the efficacy of the treatment are small-sample randomized controlled studies. Hence, we aimed to systematically evaluate the efficacy of nano silver and sulfadiazine silver for the treatment of burn wounds through meta-analysis of multiple small studies. Randomized controlled trials were collected from the published literature to compare the effects of nano silver application and sulfadiazine silver application on burns.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined With EGFR-TKI in EGFR Mutation-Positive Advanced Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (CATLA): A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

To determine the clinical activity and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) combined with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) in patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma (ADC) and the ability of CHM combined with EGFR-TKI to activate EGFR mutations. Three hundred and fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to EGFR-TKI (erlotinib 150 mg/d, gefitinib 250 mg/d, or icotinib 125 mg tid/d) plus CHM (TKI+CHM, = 185) or EGFR-TKI plus placebo (TKI+placebo, = 169). Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary end point; the secondary end points were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), quality of life [Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) and Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS)], and safety.

Effects of Shen Cao Granules on Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia in Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: To observe clinical effects of Shen Cao granules on thrombocytopenia in patients with gastrointestinal cancer undergoing chemotherapy.

Patients And Methods: Patients under a FOLFIRI chemotherapy regimen (n = 92) were randomly divided into study and control groups (n = 46 for each group) and were given 10 g of Shen Cao granules and a placebo, respectively, once daily on chemotherapy treatment days. Platelet counts were measured every other day and any adverse reaction recorded during the study and at follow-up.

Topical Delivery of Senicapoc Nanoliposomal Formulation for Ocular Surface Treatments.

Topical ophthalmologic treatments have been facing great challenges with main limitations of low drug bioavailability, due to highly integrative defense mechanisms of the eye. This study rationally devised strategies to increase drug bioavailability by increasing ocular surface residence time of drug-loaded nanoliposomes dispersed within thermo-sensitive hydrogels (Pluronic F-127). Alternatively, we utilized sub-conjunctival injections as a depot technique to localize nanoliposomes.

Acupuncture and herbal formulation compared with artificial tears alone: evaluation of dry eye symptoms and associated tests in randomised clinical trial.

Objective: Dry eye is a common disease with great health burden and no satisfactory treatment. Traditional Chinese medicine, an increasingly popular form of complementary medicine, has been used to treat dry eye but studies have been inconclusive. To address this issue, we conducted a randomised investigator-masked study which included the robust assessment of disease mechanisms.

Mechanistic role of transglutaminase-2 in focal adhesions.

Transglutaminase (TG)-2 interacts with matrix proteins and integrins, forming focal adhesions (FA) to initiate cell migration, thus playing a vital role in wound healing. Previously we showed that TG-2 influenced phosphorylation of paxillin and other FA proteins. Here, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of TG-2 regulation of paxillin.

Kanglaite reverses multidrug resistance of HCC by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via PI3K/AKT pathway.

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) frequently contributes to the failure of chemotherapeutic treatments in patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Revealing the molecular mechanism of MDR is indispensable for the development of effective chemotherapeutic drugs.

Purpose: Due to the low-toxicity modulators to inhibit MDR, we considered that Kanglaite (KLT) is a potential agent for reversing MDR in HCC.

Linc-9432 is a novel pterygium lincRNA which regulates differentiation of fibroblasts.

Long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) are not fully characterized in disease, although many are involved in controlling differentiation. We discovered and sequenced a novel 4.4 kb human lincRNA called linc-9432 in pterygium, an ocular disease characterized by a wedge lesion.

Tubeimoside I attenuates inflammation and oxidative damage in a mice model of PM-induced pulmonary injury.

In the present study, the effects of tubeimoside I (TBMS1) on particulate matter <2.5 µm in diameter (PM)-induced pulmonary injury and its mechanisms of action were investigated. Male BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into five groups (n=10/group): Control, PM, PM + TBMS1 45 mg/kg, PM + TBMS1 90 mg/kg and PM + TBMS1 180 mg/kg.

A Non-invasive Way to Isolate and Phenotype Cells from the Conjunctiva.

Traditionally, ocular surface cytology is studied with techniques such as spatula technology and brush technology. The problem with these techniques is that they may induce traumatic lesions on the surface of the eye, which can progress to scarring, eyelid deformity, limbal stem cell deficiency and in some cases, cause great discomfort to the subject. To avoid these clinical problems, impression cytology (IC) was developed to diagnose dry eye disease and later neoplasia, atopic disease, vernal keratoconjunctivitis and keratoconjunctivitis sicca.

Toll-like receptor 2-mediated NF-kappa B pathway activation in ocular surface epithelial cells.

Background: Gram-positive bacteria stimulate Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and then activate the pro-inflammatory nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. As the human ocular surface is heavily colonised by gram-positive cocci bacteria, a balance of activation/repression of NF-κB target genes is essential to avoid uncontrolled infection or autoimmune-related inflammation. It is advantageous to test NF-κB targeting molecules in an ocular surface culture system that allows assessment of temporal NF-κB activation in a longitudinal fashion without destruction of cells.