Electroacupuncture versus 5-HT4 receptor agonist for functional constipation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Functional constipation (FC) has been found as a chronic gastrointestinal disease that is commonly diagnosed in patients. However, patients have a low satisfaction level with the treatment of constipation drugs (e.g.

Role of DNA methylation transferase in urinary system diseases: From basic to clinical perspectives (Review).

DNA methylation is one of the earliest discovered and most extensively studied epigenetic regulatory mechanisms. Broadly, DNA methylation refers to the transfer of a methyl group on S‑adenosine‑L‑methionine (SAM) to the C5 site of cytosine, a reaction catalysed by DNA methyltransferase (DNMT). This process can either up‑ or down‑regulate gene expression due to gene promoter methylation, leading to the occurrence of certain diseases.

Evaluation and Application of Frailty Index in Colorectal Cancer: A Comprehensive Review.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor that primarily affects the elderly population. Surgery is one of the main treatment modalities for CRC. Frailty is a prevalent characteristic among the elderly and a leading cause of mortality.

Puerarin inhibits cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in mice through regulation of TRPV1-dependent calcium overload.

Puerarin (PUE), a flavonoid derivative with vasodilatory effects found in the traditional Chinese medicine kudzu, has anti-sensorineural hearing loss properties. However, the mechanism of its protective effect against ototoxicity is not well understood. In this study, we used in vitro and in vivo methods to investigate the protective mechanism of puerarin against cisplatin (CDDP)-induced ototoxicity.

Myeloid Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Mediates Macrophage Polarization and Promotes Vascular Injury in DOCA/Salt Hypertensive Mice.

Activation of the renin-angiotensin system has been implicated in hypertension. Angiotensin (Ang) II is a potent proinflammatory mediator. The present study investigated the role of myeloid angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) in control of macrophage phenotype and vascular injury in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)/salt hypertension.

Remote ischaemic perconditioning reduces the infarct volume and improves the neurological function of acute ischaemic stroke partially through the miR-153-5p/TLR4/p65/IkBa signalling pathway.

Remote ischemic perconditioning (RIPerC) could improve neuronal damage and inhibit inflammation and apoptosis. We conducted an in-depth exploration of the protective mechanism of RIPerC in cerebral ischaemia injury. In this study, a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model was built.

Numerical simulation of tropical cyclone generated waves in South China Sea during winter monsoon surge.

The South China Sea (SCS) is a highly semi-enclosed marginal sea located in the East Asian monsoon region. This paper proposes interesting aspects of the unique feature of the SCS waves in response to tropical cyclone's passage when large-scale winter monsoon winds prevail. We use the wave model WaveWatch III to study the wave characteristics of typhoon Durian (2006) passing over the middle of SCS in early December 2006, and state the new understanding acquired in the aspects of the tropical cyclone generated waves in the SCS during winter monsoon surge.

CD248 as a novel therapeutic target in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary vascular remodeling is the most important pathological characteristic of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). No effective treatment for PAH is currently available because the mechanism underlying vascular remodeling is not completely clear. CD248, also known as endosialin, is a transmembrane protein that is highly expressed in pericytes and fibroblasts.

Ursolic acid protects against cisplatin‑induced ototoxicity by inhibiting oxidative stress and TRPV1‑mediated Ca2+‑signaling.

Cisplatin (CDDP) is widely used in clinical settings for the treatment of various cancers. However, ototoxicity is a major side effect of CDDP, and there is an associated risk of irreversible hearing loss. We previously demonstrated that CDDP could induce ototoxicity via activation of the transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 1 (TRPV1) pathway and subsequent induction of oxidative stress.

Role of Eclipta prostrata extract in improving spatial learning and memory deficits in D-galactose-induced aging in rats.

Objective: To investigate the role of Eclipta prostrata (E. prostrata) extract in improving spatial learning and memory deficits in D-galactose-induced aging in rats.

Methods: Rats were divided into five groups, with 10 animals in each group.

MiR-328-3p inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis in colorectal cancer by targeting Girdin and inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

MiR-328-3p has been reported to be downregulated and serve as a tumor suppressor in several cancers. Previous studies only have reported the downregulation of miR-328-3p in CRC. However, the roles of miR-328-3p in CRC growth and metastasis were unknown.

MiR-346-5p promotes colorectal cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo by targeting FBXL2 and activating the β-catenin signaling pathway.

MiR-346-5p is overexpressed in several cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the effects of miR-346-5p on CRC progression have not yet been clarified. In our study, miR-346-5p levels in four CRC cell lines and normal human colon epithelial cells were determined by real-time PCR.

Detection of deteriorating patients after Whipple surgery by a modified early warning score (MEWS).

Background: The modified early warning score (MEWS) was set up to supply prompt recognition of clinically deteriorating patients before they undergo a severe and life-threatening event. The study aimed to describe the probable usefulness of the MEWS in identifying deteriorating post-Whipple patients in hospital wards.

Methods: We performed a study to analyze the relationship between the vital parameters and postoperative severe adverse events of patients after Whipple surgery in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from 2000 to 2017.

Emission of volatile organic compounds from yellow onion ( L.) bulbs during storage.

Fresh onions ( L.) emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) naturally in very low concentrations. The aim of the present study was to determine the emission rate of low-boiling VOCs from healthy and naturally infected onion bulbs at 4, 15, and 25 °C and to evaluate the applicability of the VOC method to monitor quality changes during 12 weeks of storage of two cultivars ('Hystand' and 'Hoza') of yellow onions.

Online measurement of temperature and relative humidity as marker tools for quality changes in onion bulbs during storage.

A long shelf life of onions (Allium cepa L.) is of high importance in the onion industry. Onions are dried and stored in large wooden boxes that are difficult to access.

Corrigendum: Resistin-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Contributes to the Impairment of Insulin Signaling in Endothelium.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2018.

Resistin-Induced Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Contributes to the Impairment of Insulin Signaling in Endothelium.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity, insulin resistance and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Impairment of insulin vascular action may represent a mechanism linking insulin resistance and CVDs. The present study tested the hypothesis that adipocyte-derived resistin inhibits insulin-stimulated endothelial NO production through the induction of ER stress.

Discriminant analysis of volatile organic compounds of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae and Fusarium proliferatum isolates from onions as indicators of fungal growth.

Basal rot is a common onion disease and is mainly caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae and Fusarium proliferatum.

Storm surge variation along the coast of the Bohai Sea.

The present study mainly investigates the storm surge variations at different temporal scales using hourly tide gauge data in the Bohai Sea. The seasonal variation, inter-decadal variation, long-term trend and the tide-surge interaction were analyzed separately. The results show that the storm surges in the southwest Bohai Sea are larger than those in the north.

S1P1 receptor inhibits kidney epithelial mesenchymal transition triggered by ischemia/reperfusion injury via the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), along with delayed graft function, which can trigger chronic kidney injury by stimulating epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the kidney canaliculus. Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) is a G protein-coupled receptor that is indispensable for vessel homeostasis. This study aimed to investigate the influence of S1P1 on the mechanisms underlying I/R-induced EMT in the kidney using in vivo and in vitro models.

Macrophage Depletion Lowered Blood Pressure and Attenuated Hypertensive Renal Injury and Fibrosis.

Monocyte/macrophage recruitment is closely associated with the degree of hypertensive renal injury. We investigated the direct role of macrophages using liposome-encapsulated clodronate (LEC) to deplete monocytes/macrophages in hypertensive renal injury. C57BL/6 mice were treated with a pressor dose of angiotensin (Ang, 1.

Oral nicotine aggravates endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation in diet-induced obese rats: Role of macrophage TNFα.

Obesity and cigarette smoke are major cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and, when coexisting in the same individuals, have additive/synergistic effects upon CVD. We studied the mechanisms involved in nicotine enhancement of CVD in Sprague Dawley rats with diet-induced obesity. The rats were fed either a high fat (HFD) or normal rat chow diet with or without nicotine (100 mg/L in drinking water) for 20 weeks.

Deguelin induces PUMA-mediated apoptosis and promotes sensitivity of lung cancer cells (LCCs) to doxorubicin (Dox).

As a natural agent for chemotherapy, deguelin remarkably suppresses proliferation in numerous solid cancers. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms of its suppression are still insufficient. In our research, it was revealed that deguelin induced cell death of lung cancer cells (LCCs) by triggering expression of PUMA.

Pomegranate peel extract attenuates D-galactose-induced oxidative stress and hearing loss by regulating PNUTS/PP1 activity in the mouse cochlea.

Oxidative stress is considered to be a major contributor to age-related hearing loss (ARHL). Here, we investigated whether pomegranate peel extract (PPE) protected against hearing loss by decreased oxidative stress in the cochlea of D-galactose-induced accelerated aging mice. The aging mice exhibited an increase in hearing threshold shifts and hair cells loss, which were improved in the PPE-treated aging mice.