Observational study of colonoscopy techniques used for acute colorectal obstruction: A single-center experience.

The prevalence of acute colorectal obstruction at the hospital setting is high. There is need for improvement in the quality of colonoscopy for relieving obstruction. A retrospective, uncontrolled, open-label study was conducted, with the aim of documenting the causes of acute colorectal obstruction and the quality of colonoscopy practice in managing obstruction at a university hospital in China.

Application of Stem Cells in Oral Disease Therapy: Progresses and Perspectives.

Stem cells are undifferentiated and pluripotent cells that can differentiate into specialized cells with a more specific function. Stem cell therapies become preferred methods for the treatment of multiple diseases. Oral and maxillofacial defect is one kind of the diseases that could be most possibly cured by stem cell therapies.

Increased levels of soluble CD163 in periodontitis patients.

Aim: Soluble CD163 (sCD163) has been implicated as a new biomarker in inflammatory conditions. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess CD163 levels systemically and locally in patients with chronic periodontitis.

Methods: sCD163 levels were measured by ELISA in serum samples from 70 periodontitis and 70 periodontally healthy subjects, and in saliva samples in a subset of the population.

Light Control of Ferromagnetism in ZnO Films on Pt Substrate at Room Temperature.

The control of ferromagnetism by light at room temperature is essential for the development of some optical-magnetic coupling devices, data storage and quantum computation techniques. In the present work, we demonstrate that the ferromagnetism of a semiconducting ZnO film on Pt substrate can be controlled by nonpolarized ultraviolet or violet light. The illumination of light with sufficiently high frequency photons could excite photogenerated electron-hole pairs in the semiconducting ZnO film.

Clinical Applications of Circulating Tumor Cells in Pharmacotherapy: Challenges and Perspectives.

Screening for circulating tumor cells (CTCs) has been identified as one approach to ultrasensitive liquid biopsy in real-time monitoring of cancer patients. The detection of CTCs in peripheral blood from cancer patients is promising as a diagnostic tool; however, the application of CTCs in therapeutic treatment still faces serious challenges with respect to specificity and sensitivity. Here, we review the significant roles of CTCs in metastasis and the strengths and weaknesses of the currently available methods for CTC detection and characterization.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (-)-Aspidophylline A.

An asymmetric total synthesis of (-)-aspidophylline A has been accomplished. The key transformations include an asymmetric hydride transfer hydrogenation of an α,β-acetylenic ketone and a cationic gold(I)-catalyzed 6-exo-dig cyclization involving an alkynylindole/aminal formation cascade, which enables stereoselective establishment of the requisite quaternary carbon center.

Cutaneous neurogenic inflammation in the sensitized acupoints induced by gastric mucosal injury in rats.

Background: In acupuncture practice, the most important step is to confirm the location of a sensitized acupoint which reflects a diagnosis and can be stimulated with a specialized needle to treat the disease. Abnormal symptoms such as hyperalgesia or allodynia at the sensitized acupoints in patients with visceral disorders are considered to be in relation with referred pain and neurogenic inflammation. Yet, limited study has investigated the cutaneous neurochemical changes of the sensitized acuponits.

Modulating the Balance of Synaptic and Extrasynaptic NMDA Receptors Shows Positive Effects against Amyloid-β-Induced Neurotoxicity.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients suffer a disturbance in the balance between synaptic (GluN2A, mediating the protective pathway) and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (NMDARs) (GluN2B, mediating the excitotoxic pathway), and, therefore, restoring the balance of GluN2A and GluN2B should be beneficial for AD. In this study, the GluN2B-selective antagonist, ifenprodil, and the non-selective NMDAR agonist, NMDA, had little effect on amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced long-term potentiation deficits. Enhancing the activity of GluN2A had a protective effect against Aβ, and specific activation of GluN2A and inhibition of GluN2B showed a better protective effect.

Gene expression profiles reveal key pathways and genes associated with neuropathic pain in patients with spinal cord injury.

Previous gene expression profiling studies of neuropathic pain (NP) following spinal cord injury (SCI) have predominantly been performed in animal models. The present study aimed to investigate gene alterations in patients with spinal cord injury and to further examine the mechanisms underlying NP following SCI. The GSE69901 gene expression profile was downloaded from the public Gene Expression Omnibus database.

Prognostic Value of Cancer Stem Cell Markers in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: a Meta-analysis.

Bmi-1, CD133, Nanog and Oct-4 have been reported as cancer stem cell (CSC) markers in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, the prognostic value of them in HNSCC remains controversial. Hence, this meta-analysis was conducted to access the association between the four CSC markers and survival outcome of HNSCC patients.

Formal Synthesis of (±)-Aplykurodinone-1 through a Hetero-Pauson-Khand Cycloaddition Approach.

The tricyclic intermediate 2 has been synthesized in eight steps from known compound 6 in 20% overall yield. As such, this constitutes a highly efficient formal synthesis of (±)-aplykurodinone-1. This synthesis features a unique, one-pot, intramolecular hetero-Pauson-Khand reaction (h-PKR)/desilylation sequence to expeditiously construct the tricyclic framework, providing valuable insights for expanding the scope and boundaries of h-PKR.

HOPX hypermethylation promotes metastasis via activating SNAIL transcription in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is characterized by a high rate of local invasion and early distant metastasis. Increasing evidence indicates that epigenetic abnormalities play important roles in NPC development. However, the epigenetic mechanisms underlying NPC metastasis remain unclear.

Preparation and Properties of Phenol Imprinted Polymers Based on Silica Modified Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

A novel molecular imprinted polymers (MIP) based on SiO₂-modified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs@SiO₂) was successfully synthesized by combining a surface molecular imprinting technique with a sol–gel method using phenol as a template molecule, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane as functional monomer and tetraethoxysilicane as a cross-linker in ethanol solution. Scanning electron microcopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to characterize and analysis the structure and morphology of the molecular imprinting composite, and then studied the isotherm adsorption experiments, selective experiments and dynamic curve. The isotherm adsorption data were further processed with a Scatchard equation to evaluate the adsorption properties of the MWNTs@SiO₂-MIP.

Preparation and characterization of chitosan physical hydrogels with enhanced mechanical and antibacterial properties.

The chitosan physical hydrogels formed under gaseous ammonia atmospheres usually have poor mechanical properties and low antibacterial activities, which limit its application as biomaterials. In the current study, CTS-Ag/NH physical hydrogels with great comprehensive properties were prepared by the gelation of chitosan in the presence of AgNO under a gaseous ammonia atmosphere. Compared with the previously reported hydrogels made with chitosan and AgNO, the CTS-Ag/NH hydrogels were more homogeneous and transparent.

Regenerative Endodontics by Cell Homing.

Apical revascularization (AR) and platelet-rich plasma have been used to restore dental pulp vitality in infected immature permanent teeth. Two regenerative therapies are cell transplantation and cell homing. This article updates and benchmarks these therapies with cell homing.

Surgical management for non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms with synchronous liver metastasis: A consensus from the Chinese Study Group for Neuroendocrine Tumors (CSNET).

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (p-NENs) are slowly growing tumors with frequent liver metastasis. There is a variety of approaches to treat non-functional p-NENs with synchronous liver metastasis (LM) which complicates the determination of optimal treatment. Based on updated literature review, we discussed the treatment strategy determinants for p-NEN with LM.

Effect of abemaciclib (LY2835219) on enhancement of chemotherapeutic agents in ABCB1 and ABCG2 overexpressing cells in vitro and in vivo.

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the major obstacle of the success in cancer chemotherapy. The overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, particularly ABCB1 and ABCG2, play a significant role in mediating MDR by pumping anticancer drugs out of cancer cells. Abemaciclib (LY2835219) is an orally bioavailable CDK4/6 inhibitor under phase III clinical trials.

Alkaline Response of a Halotolerant Alkaliphilic Halomonas Strain and Functional Diversity of Its Na+(K+)/H+ Antiporters.

Halomonas sp. Y2 is a halotolerant alkaliphilic strain from Na-rich pulp mill wastewater with high alkalinity (pH >11.0).

Efficient secretory expression of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli with a novel actinomycete signal peptide.

In well-established heterologous hosts, such as Escherichia coli, recombinant proteins are usually intracellular and frequently found as inclusion bodies-especially proteins possessing high rare codon content. In this study, successful secretory expression of three hydrolases, in a constructed inducible or constitutive system, was achieved by fusion with a novel signal peptide (Kp-SP) from an actinomycete. The signal peptide efficiently enabled extracellular protein secretion and also contributed to the active expression of the intracellular recombinant proteins.

IL-1β maintains the redox balance by regulating glutaredoxin 1 expression during oral carcinogenesis.

Background: Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is a pleiotropic cancer-inflammation-linked cytokine which has been reported upregulated in many cancers. In our previous study, IL-1β was found to be one of the key node genes during oral malignant transformation, and glutaredoxin 1 (Grx1) was identified as one of the downstream genes of IL-1β in tumor microenvironment. Grx1 is ubiquitous oxidoreductase which is necessary for scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the intracellular redox balance maintenance.

Thrombospondin-4 Promotes Neuronal Differentiation of NG2 Cells via the ERK/MAPK Pathway.

NG2-expressing neural progenitors can produce neurons in the central nervous system, providing a potential cell resource of therapy for neurological disorders. However, the mechanism underlying neuronal differentiation of NG2 cells remains largely unknown. In this report, we found that a thrombospondin (TSP) family member, TSP4, is involved in the neuronal differentiation of NG2 cells.

Total Synthesis of the Diterpenoid (+)-Harringtonolide.

Described herein is the first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-harringtonolide, a natural diterpenoid with an unusual tropone imbedded in a cagelike framework. The key transformations include an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction and a rhodium-complex-catalyzed intramolecular [3+2] cycloaddition to install the tetracyclic core as well as a highly efficient tropone formation.

Streptozotocin Induces Mild Cognitive Impairment at Appropriate Doses in Mice as Determined by Long-Term Potentiation and the Morris Water Maze.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and effective therapeutic drugs in the clinic are still lacking. Ideally, AD progression could be stopped at an early stage, such as at the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) stage. MCI refers to the clinical condition between normal aging and dementia.

Renal denervation, adjusted drugs, or combined therapy for resistant hypertension: A meta-regression.

The objective of this study is to systematically evaluate the efficacy of renal denervation (RD), adjusted drugs, or combined therapy for resistant hypertension (RH) through a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies.Publications were comprehensively searched. Studies that investigated the effects of RD and/or adjusted drugs in lowering blood pressure (BP) were included.