Evaluating the potential of off-the-shelf engineered mesenchymal stem cells for targeted Hepatocellular Carcinoma treatment: A multisite proof-of-concept study.

Although combining 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and Interferon-beta (IFNb) improves response rates in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the outcomes remain suboptimal. This study investigates the feasibility of using highly transfected Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) to deliver a chemotherapeutic (5-FU) and an immunomodulator (IFNb) for localized HCC treatment. Considering the crucial role of cold-chain transportation in off-the-shelf allogeneic therapy, the study also assesses the quality and efficacy of frozen-thawed engineered MSCs, simulating a multisite study process.

The BRAF mutation maintains the aggressiveness of papillary thyroid cancers requiring downregulation of primary cilia.

Although disorders of primary cilia (PCs) were first reported in human papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) tissues in 1987, their precise role in PTC remains unclear. PCs sense the thyroid follicle colloid environment and act as a cell signaling hub. The present study investigated whether PCs are needed for BRAF-driven PTC.

Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides promote osteogenic differentiation and inhibit lipogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow stem cells by activating β-catenin.

Aberrant bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMSC) lineage differentiation leads to osteoporosis. Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides (CPPs) have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicines, due to their multiple pharmacological actions. However, little is known regarding their effects on BMSC differentiation.

Thioredoxin-interacting protein: A new therapeutic target in bone metabolism disorders?

Target identification is essential for developing novel therapeutic strategies in diseases. Thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP), also known as thioredoxin-binding protein-2, is a member of the α-arrestin protein family and is regulated by several cellular stress factors. TXNIP overexpression coupled with thioredoxin inhibits its antioxidant functions, thereby increasing oxidative stress.

Cardiovascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus: progress toward personalized management.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the main cause of death among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), particularly in low- and middle-income countries. To effectively prevent the development of CVDs in T2DM, considerable effort has been made to explore novel preventive approaches, individualized glycemic control and cardiovascular risk management (strict blood pressure and lipid control), together with recently developed glucose-lowering agents and lipid-lowering drugs. This review mainly addresses the important issues affecting the choice of antidiabetic agents and lipid, blood pressure and antiplatelet treatments considering the cardiovascular status of the patient.

Metabolic (Dysfunction)-Associated Fatty Liver Disease in Chinese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes from a Subcenter of the National Metabolic Management Center.

Background: Few studies have investigated the epidemiological metabolic (dysfunction) associated with fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in China, especially among those with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We recruited 3553 patients aged 18-75 years with type 2 diabetes who underwent abdominal ultrasound and serum biochemical analyses. Patient information including demographic and anthropometric parameters was also collected.

The association of obesity with thyroid carcinoma risk.

Background: The prevalence of obesity and an increased incidence of thyroid carcinoma (TC) threaten public health in parallel on a global scale. Sufficient evidence supports excess body fatness in thyroid carcinogenesis, and the role and anthropometric markers of obesity have been causally associated with the rising risk of TC.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed.

miRNA, lncRNA and circRNA: Targeted Molecules Full of Therapeutic Prospects in the Development of Diabetic Retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common diabetic complication and the main cause of blindness worldwide, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Studies have shown that noncoding RNA (ncRNA) has distinct differentiated expression in DR and plays an important role in the occurrence and development of DR. ncRNAs represented by microRNAs (miRNAs), lncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circRNAs (circRNAs) have been shown to be widely involved in the regulation of gene expression and affect multiple biological processes of retinopathy.

NLRP3 Inflammasome: A New Target for Prevention and Control of Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone metabolism disease that often causes complications, such as fractures, and increases the risk of death. The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like-receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is an intracellular multiprotein complex that regulates the maturation and secretion of Caspase-1 dependent proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, mediates inflammation, and induces pyroptosis. The chronic inflammatory microenvironment induced by aging or estrogen deficiency activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, promotes inflammatory factor production, and enhances the inflammatory response.

CircRNA: A novel potential strategy to treat thyroid cancer (Review).

Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common type of endocrine cancer. Over the last 50 years, the global incidence of TC has been increasing. The survival rate of TC is higher than that of most other types of cancer, but it depends on numerous factors, including the specific type of TC and stage of the disease.

MiR-192-5p inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion in papillary thyroid carcinoma cells by regulation of SH3RF3.

Background: The decreased level of miR-192-5p has been reported in several kinds of cancers, including bladder, colon, ovarian, and non-small cell lung cancer. However, the expression and function of miR-192-5p in papillary thyroid carcinoma/cancer (PTC) remains unknown.

Objective: The present study aimed to explore the function and underlying mechanism of miR-192-5p in PTC development.

Combined use of low T3 syndrome and NT-proBNP as predictors for death in patients with acute decompensated heart failure.

Background: In patients with established HF, low triiodothyronine syndrome (LT3S) is commonly present, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a useful marker for predicting death. This study was aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of LT3S in combination with NT-proBNP for risk of death in patients with heart failure (HF).

Methods: A total of 594 euthyroid patients hospitalized with acute decompensated HF were enrolled by design.

The Role of Primary Cilia in Thyroid Cancer: From Basic Research to Clinical Applications.

Primary cilia (PC) are microtubule-based organelles that are present on nearly all thyroid follicle cells and play an important role in physiological development and in maintaining the dynamic homeostasis of thyroid follicles. PC are generally lost in many thyroid cancers (TCs), and this loss has been linked to the malignant transformation of thyrocytes, which is regulated by PC-mediated signaling reciprocity between the stroma and cancer cells. Restoring PC on TC cells is a possible promising therapeutic strategy, and the therapeutic response and prognosis of TC are associated with the presence or absence of PC.

GDF15 Promotes Cardiac Fibrosis and Proliferation of Cardiac Fibroblasts via the MAPK/ERK1/2 Pathway after Irradiation in Rats.

Ionizing radiation exposure is associated with a risk of cardiac fibrosis; however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Growth/differentiation factor-15 (GDF15), a fibroblast factor, is a divergent member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily. Next-generation sequencing analyses has revealed that Gdf15 is increased in cardiac fibroblasts during radiation-induced fibrosis.

Ultrafiltration Extract of Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari Attenuates Risk of Low-Dose X-Ray Radiation-Induced Myocardial Fibrosis In Vitro.

The risk of radiation-induced heart damage (RIHD) is a growing concern since recent advances in radiation therapy (RT) for cancer treatments have significantly improved the number of survivors. Radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis (RIMF) is the final pathological condition of RIHD and main change leading to serious cardiovascular complications following RT. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ultrafiltration extract of Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari (RAS-RH) on the proliferation, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) of cardiac fibroblasts after X-irradiation in vitro.

miR-21 is upregulated, promoting fibrosis and blocking G2/M in irradiated rat cardiac fibroblasts.

Background: Radiation exposure of the thorax is associated with a greatly increased risk of cardiac morbidity and mortality even after several decades of advancement in the field. Although many studies have demonstrated the damaging influence of ionizing radiation on cardiac fibroblast (CF) structure and function, myocardial fibrosis, the molecular mechanism behind this damage is not well understood. miR-21, a small microRNA, promotes the activation of CFs, leading to cardiac fibrosis.

15-PGDH Expression in Gastric Cancer: A Potential Role in Anti-Tumor Immunity.

Introduction: Host immunity plays a vital role in tumorigenesis, including in tumor invasion and metastasis. However, the precise underlying mechanism remains to be explored. The enzyme 15-PGDH, which plays a key role in prostaglandin degradation, is a critical inflammatory mediator in gastric cancer (GC) tumorigenesis.

Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari Ultrafiltration Extract Protects against X-Irradiation-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis in Rats.

Radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis (RIMF) is the main pathological change associated with radiation-induced heart toxicity after radiation therapy in patients with thoracic tumors. There is an antifibrosis effect of Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari (RAS-RH) ultrafiltration extract from Danggui Buxue decoction (DBD) in X-irradiation-induced rat myocardial fibrosis, and this study aimed to investigate whether that effect correlated with apoptosis and oxidative stress damage in primary rat cardiac fibroblasts; further, the potential mechanisms were also explored. In this study, we first found that the RAS-RH antifibrosis effect was associated with the upregulation of microRNA-200a and the downregulation of TGF-1/smad3 and COL1.

New therapeutic insights into radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis.

Radiation therapy (RT) for the treatment of thoracic tumors causes radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD). Radiation-induced myocardial fibrosis (RIMF) is both an acute and chronic stage of RIHD, depending on the specific pathology, and is thought to be a major risk factor for adverse myocardial remodeling and vascular changes. With the use of more three-dimensional conformal radiation regimens and early screenings and diagnoses for RIMF, the incidence of RIHD is declining, but it still must be carefully investigated to minimize the mortality and morbidity of patients with thoracic malignancies after RT treatment.

Therapeutic effect of angelica and its compound formulas for hypertension and the complications: Evidence mapping.

Background: Hypertension is one of the common diseases, which brings heavy burden to human race. Currently, western medication is in absolutely dominant position in the treatment of hypertension, but it maintains for a short time and there are various side effects and drug tolerance. Therefore, Chinese medicine has attracted great attention in the treatment field of hypertension, and angelica is one of the most frequently used herbs.

The effects of Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari ultrafiltration extract on X-irradiation-induced myocardial fibrosis in rats.

Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari are traditional Chinese medicines that are used for preventing and treating various diseases. This study aimed to investigate the effect and possible underlying mechanisms of Radix Angelica Sinensis and Radix Hedysari ultrafiltration extract (RAS-RH) on X-irradiation-induced cardiac fibrosis in rats. Our data demonstrated that (a) a single dose of total body irradiation (TBI) at 8 Gy resulted in cardiac fibrosis, whereas the control hearts exhibited less collagen and fibrosis.

[Effect of Warm Acupuncture on the Levels of Serum Immunoglobulin E, Interleukin-1 β and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Rats with Allergic Rhinitis].

Objective: To observe the effect of warm acupuncture on behavior and contents of serum immunoglobulin E(IgE), interleukin-1 β(IL-1 β) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in allergic rhinitis(AR) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improving AR.

Methods: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group, model group, medication group and warm acupuncture group(10 rats/group). The AR model was established by intraperitoneal injection of sensitization and nasal drip.

[Research Progress on the Genomics of Taenia solium and Candidate Vaccines for Cysticercosis].

Research on cysticercosis has been stimulated by the rapid development of genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics and the emergence of molecular biological and immunological technologies. In this review, we attempt to discuss the research development on genomics of Taenia solium and candidate vaccines and antigens for cysticercosis. This will provide a new perspective for studying genomics of Taenia solium and for cysticercosis prevention and treatment, and provide a wealth of informative data for the development of novel and highly efficient vaccines against cysticercosis or diagnostic antigen molecules for cysticercosis.