Effects of Zishen Yutai pills combined with metformin on women with polycystic ovary syndrome undergoing in vitro fertilization.

In this study, we analyzed the clinical efficacy of Zishen Yutai pills (ZSYTP) combined with metformin hydrochloride on infertile women diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Patients were assigned into 3 groups: the ZSYTP group (n = 50), the metformin group (n = 50), and the combination group (ZSYTP combined with metformin hydrochloride, n = 50), based on their respective and the indicated treatments before undergoing IVF-ET. Then, their glucose metabolism indices, sex hormone indices, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndrome scores, and outcomes of IVF-ET were compared.

Kefir Ameliorates Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury Through Modulating Gut Microbiota and Fecal Bile Acid Profile in Mice.

Scope: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the leading cause of liver-related deaths worldwide. Kefir has been studied for its properties of anti-obesity, rebuilding intestinal homeostasis, and alleviating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the possible role of kefir in the prevention or treatment of ALD has not been carefully considered.

Distribution of Microbiota in Fine Particulate Matter Particles in Guangzhou, China.

Objective: High PM concentration is the main feature of increasing haze in developing states, but information on its microbial composition remains very limited. This study aimed to determine the composition of microbiota in PM in Guangzhou, a city located in the tropics in China.

Methods: In Guangzhou, from March 5 to 10 , 2016, PM was collected in middle volume air samplers for 23 h daily.

ZnO micron rods as single dielectric resonator for optical sensing.

Light scattering properties of dielectric nanostructures (DNSs) have been recently applied for biosensing. It is worth noting that, however, the application of dielectric materials as light scattering probes in the field of analysis and detection has rarely been reported, especially at the single particle level. Herein, for the first time, we use ZnO micron rods (ZnOMRs) as dark field microscope (DFM) imaging probes for single particle level optical sensing.

Dietary inflammatory index and risk of gynecological cancers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Objective: There has been growing body of literatures showing that chronic inflammation might play an important role in cancer development. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the association between the dietary inflammation index (DII) score and gynecological cancers.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science up until October 20, 2018 was carried out to retrieve all related cohort and case-control studies.

Highly sensitive detection of hepatitis C virus DNA by using a one-donor-four-acceptors FRET probe.

Sensitive detection of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) DNA is critical to treat and prevent the propagation of hepatitis C diseases. Herein a FRET probe of One-Donor-Multi-Acceptors (D-mA) assembly is designed through the formation of triple-helix DNA structure, which can greatly reduce the background of FRET system so as to greatly increase the detection sensitivity of hepatitis C virus DNA with the limit of detection (3σ) being 24.57 nmol/L, making the detection of clinic samples successful and showing that the newly developed FRET probe of D-mA assembly could be applied for the early diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C disease.

Burns induced by cupping therapy in a burn center in northeast china.

Unlabelled: Cupping therapy as a curative skill has been developed and applied throughout history. Despite reports of adverse effects, this therapy is considered to be relatively safe with no systemic reviews documenting negative side effects. The aim of this study was to explore methods that avoid the adverse effects sometimes associated with this therapy.

Large heel soft tissue defects managed successfully with reverse medial crural fasciocutaneous flap: a 7-year single-center experience with 21 consecutive cases.

The medial crural fasciocutaneous flap is a reliable cutaneous flap that can be used for soft tissue reconstruction in the extremities. The purpose of this article is to evaluate the application and clinical significance of this surgical technique in the reconstruction of heel soft tissue defects. Twenty-one cases of heel soft tissue defect between March 2005 and March 2012 were included in this study.

Effect of cervical sympathetic block on cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits.

Purpose: Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is a major complication after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) induced by the rupture of intracranial aneurysms. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of cervical sympathetic block on cerebral vasospasm of the rabbits after SAH.

Methods: After successful modeling of cervical sympathetic block, 18 healthy male white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (n=6), ie, sham operation group (Group A), SAH group (Group B) and SAH with cervical sympathetic block group (Group C).

Effects of dorsal root ganglion destruction by adriamycin in patients with postherpetic neuralgia.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of dorsal root ganglion destruction in patients with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Methods: Seventy-two patients with PHN selected were randomly divided into two groups (n=36). Group A was the control group (treated by injection) and group B was the group of dorsal root ganglion destruction by adriamycin.

The application of percutaneous lysis of epidural adhesions in patients with failed back surgery syndrome.

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and the feasibility of application of percutaneous lysis of epidural adhesions in failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) using a stiff type guide wire and 4F vascular catheter.

Methods: Ninety two patients with FBSS were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (treated by injection dexamethasone only) and percutaneous lysis of epidural adhesions group. Visual analog scale scores (VAS) and therapeutic evaluation were observed in the preoperative, seven days postoperative, one month and six months postoperative.

ADP regulates SNF1, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae homolog of AMP-activated protein kinase.

The SNF1 protein kinase complex plays an essential role in regulating gene expression in response to the level of extracellular glucose in budding yeast. SNF1 shares structural and functional similarities with mammalian AMP-activated protein kinase. Both kinases are activated by phosphorylation on a threonine residue within the activation loop segment of the catalytic subunit.

Structure of mammalian AMPK and its regulation by ADP.

The heterotrimeric AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has a key role in regulating cellular energy metabolism; in response to a fall in intracellular ATP levels it activates energy-producing pathways and inhibits energy-consuming processes. AMPK has been implicated in a number of diseases related to energy metabolism including type 2 diabetes, obesity and, most recently, cancer. AMPK is converted from an inactive form to a catalytically competent form by phosphorylation of the activation loop within the kinase domain: AMP binding to the γ-regulatory domain promotes phosphorylation by the upstream kinase, protects the enzyme against dephosphorylation, as well as causing allosteric activation.

Structural basis for AMP binding to mammalian AMP-activated protein kinase.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates cellular metabolism in response to the availability of energy and is therefore a target for type II diabetes treatment. It senses changes in the ratio of AMP/ATP by binding both species in a competitive manner. Thus, increases in the concentration of AMP activate AMPK resulting in the phosphorylation and differential regulation of a series of downstream targets that control anabolic and catabolic pathways.

Specificity and mechanism of the histone methyltransferase Pr-Set7.

Methylation of lysine residues of histones is an important epigenetic mark that correlates with functionally distinct regions of chromatin. We present here the crystal structure of a ternary complex of the enzyme Pr-Set7 (also known as Set8) that methylates Lys 20 of histone H4 (H4-K20). We show that the enzyme is exclusively a mono-methylase and is therefore responsible for a signaling role quite distinct from that established by other enzymes that target this histone residue.

Structure and catalytic mechanism of the human histone methyltransferase SET7/9.

Acetylation, phosphorylation and methylation of the amino-terminal tails of histones are thought to be involved in the regulation of chromatin structure and function. With just one exception, the enzymes identified in the methylation of specific lysine residues on histones (histone methyltransferases) belong to the SET family. The high-resolution crystal structure of a ternary complex of human SET7/9 with a histone peptide and cofactor reveals that the peptide substrate and cofactor bind on opposite surfaces of the enzyme.

Crystal structure and functional analysis of the histone methyltransferase SET7/9.

Methylation of lysine residues in the N-terminal tails of histones is thought to represent an important component of the mechanism that regulates chromatin structure. The evolutionarily conserved SET domain occurs in most proteins known to possess histone lysine methyltransferase activity. We present here the crystal structure of a large fragment of human SET7/9 that contains a N-terminal beta-sheet domain as well as the conserved SET domain.

Tazarotene-induced gene 1 (TIG1) expression in prostate carcinomas and its relationship to tumorigenicity.

Background: Prostate cancer is the most common noncutaneous male cancer and one of the least understood malignant diseases. Identifying key genetic factors involved in the metastasis of prostate cancer cells is critical. In this study, we used selective subtractive differential gene display to identify a gene whose decreased expression may contribute to the growth and expansion of prostate cancer.