Prognostic Value of an Immune Long Non-Coding RNA Signature in Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the important role that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play in the immunological process of hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). An increasing number of studies have shown that certain lncRNAs hold great potential as viable options for diagnosis and treatment in clinical practice. The primary objective of our investigation was to devise an immune lncRNA profile to explore the significance of immune-associated lncRNAs in the accurate diagnosis and prognosis of LIHC.

Identification of a novel 5-methylcytosine-related signature for prognostic prediction of kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma and a Putative target for drug repurposing.

Background: Many studies have demonstrated the crucial roles of 5-methylcytosine (m5C) RNA methylation in cancer pathogenesis.

Methods: Two datasets, including TCGA-KIRP and ICGC, and related clinical information were downloaded, where the expression of 13 m5C regulators was examined. We applied LASSO regression to construct a multi-m5C-regulator-based signature in the TCGA cohort, which was further validated using the ICGC cohort.

LncRNA LUCAT1 as a Plasma Biomarker for Assessing Disease Activity in Adult Patients with Crohn's Disease.

Aim: To explore the expression of long noncoding RNA (LncRNA) LUCAT1 in adult patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and evaluate the relationship between LncRNA LUCAT1 and the disease activity in Chinese patients with CD.

Methods: Patients with CD and healthy participants (≥18 years old) were enrolled in this study between January 2018 and December 2019. The expression of LncRNA LUCAT1 in plasma samples was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Evaluation of fecal microbiota transplantation in Parkinson's disease patients with constipation.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and 70-80% of PD patients suffer from gastrointestinal dysfunction such as constipation. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) for treating PD related to gastrointestinal dysfunction. We conducted a prospective, single- study.

[Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes technology in the researches on alpine meadow ecosystem in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau: Progress and prospect].

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopic technique has been widely used in research of glassland ecosystems. Here, we summarized studies using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes in the alpine meadow ecosystem on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Firstly, we reviewed the environmental factors which influenced carbon and nitrogen isotope composition (δC and δN) of plants and soils in alpine meadow, such as altitude, moisture, fertilization, grassland degradation, and temperature.

RTA-408 protects against propofol-induced cognitive impairment in neonatal mice via the activation of Nrf2 and the inhibition of NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation.

Objective: To explore the effect of RTA-408 on the propofol-induced cognitive impairment of neonatal mice via regulating Nrf2 and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation.

Methods: C57BL/6 neonatal mice were randomized into intralipid, propofol, vehicle + propofol, and RTA-408 + propofol groups. The learning and memory ability was inspected by Morries water maze (MWM) test.

Evaluation of three pumpkin species: correlation with physicochemical, antioxidant properties and classification using SPME-GC-MS and E-nose methods.

To ascertain the most discriminant variables for three pumpkin species principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. Twenty-four parameters (pH, conductivity, sucrose, glucose, total soluble solids, , , , individual weight, edible rate, firmness, citric acid, fumaric acid, l-ascorbic acid, malic acid, PPO activity, POD activity, total flavonoids, vitamin E, total phenolics, DPPH, FRAP, β-carotene, and aroma) were considered. The studied pumpkin species were , , and .

A novel non‑contact communication between human keratinocytes and T cells: Exosomes derived from keratinocytes support superantigen‑induced proliferation of resting T cells.

It is widely accepted that keratinocytes act as non‑professional antigen‑presenting cells and support superantigen‑induced proliferation of resting T cells; however, it remains unknown whether keratinocytes function in situ with T cells via a non‑contact mechanism. The current study used a transwell co‑culture system and demonstrated, for the first time to the best of the authors' knowledge, that HaCaT cells (the human keratinocyte cell line) did induce T cell proliferation via indirect contact. The data further indicated that exosomes, small membrane vesicles that transfer antigens to recipient cells, are also involved in the superantigen‑associated immunity of keratinocytes.

Propofol Suppresses Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Migration and Invasion by Down-Regulation of Sex-Determining Region Y-box 4 (SOX4).

BACKGROUND This study was done to verify whether propofol could inhibit esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell line EC9706 cell migration and invasion by targeting SOX4. MATERIAL AND METHODS Different concentrations of propofol were co-incubated with EC9706 cells. The pcDNA-SOX4 or SOX4 siRNA plasmid was transfected into cells before the treatment with propofol 5 µg/L.

Optimized microwave-assisted extraction of 6-gingerol from Zingiber officinale Roscoeand evaluation of antioxidant activity in vitro.

Background: 6-Gingerol is one of the most pharmacologically active and abundant components in ginger, which has a wide array of biochemical and pharmacologic activities. In recent years, the application of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) for obtaining bioactive compounds from plant materials has shown tremendous research interest and potential. In this study, an efficient microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique was developed to extract 6-gingerol from ginger.

Short-term study of infliximab treatment for Crohn's disease in China.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness and safety of short-term treatment of infliximab (IFX) in a group of Chinese patients with active Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: Patients with established diagnosis of active CD were treated with IFX intravenously with a dose of 5 mg/kg at week 0, 2, 6. Clinical assessments were performed at baseline (week 0) and every week after IFX infusion until 8 weeks after the induction dose.

[A study of efficiacy of infliximab treatment for Crohn's disease.].

Objective: To investigated the potential and safety of the monoclonal antibody to TNFalpha infliximab (IFX) in the treatment of active Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods: Patients who were confirmed diagnosis of CD and were unresponsive to the conventional treatments, or recurred after surgeries, or discontinued treatment due to drug intolerance, were treated with IFX intravenously in a dose of 5 mg/kg at week 0, 2, 6 (IFX infusion continued at an interval of every 8 weeks if respond to initial dosing). Clinical assessments, including disease activity, blood biological markers and colonoscopic findings, were performed at baseline (week 0) and each week (4 weeks or later for colonoscopy) after IFX infusion were conducted until the week before 4(th) infusion from initiated.

[Induction of oral immune tolerance in systemic lupus erythematosus-like murine model by recombinant nucleosomal universal Th cell epitope].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of oral immune tolerance of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like model induced by nucleosomal Th cell epitope via the attenuated Salmonella typhimurium.

Methods: SLE-like murine model was established by immunization with apoptotic syngeneic lymphocytes. The recombinant strains were orally administrated to induce immune tolerance.

[Effects of HS1-associated protein X-1 on the lupus activities: experiment with MRL/lpr lupus-like mice].

Objective: To investigate the effects of HS1-associated protein X-1 (HAX-1) on the lupus activity of MRL/lpr lupus-like mice.

Methods: Fifteen MRL/lpr mice were divided into 3 equal groups: Group A, injected with phosphate-buffered saline, Group B, injected intraperitoneally with control virus AdEGFP and Group C, injected intraperitoneally with recombinant AdHAX-1 twice a week for 4 weeks. Peripheral blood samples were collected before the injection, and 2 and 4 weeks after the injection to be detected the white blood cell count, antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-double strand-DNA antibodies, circulating immune complex (CIC), anti-histone antibodies, and interferon (IFN)-gamma.

Efficacy and safety of azathioprine maintenance therapy in a group of Crohn's disease patients in China.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and the safety of long-term azathioprine maintenance therapy in a group of Chinese patients with Crohn's disease.

Methods: The efficacy of azathioprine (2.0 mg/kg/day) in controlling the disease relapse in 13 patients with Crohn's disease following clinical remission by prednisone or surgery were investigated.

Vesicles from Pluronic/poly(lactic acid) block copolymers as new carriers for oral insulin delivery.

The morphologies of poly(lactic acid)-b-Pluronic-b-poly(lactic acid) (PLA-F127-PLA) aggregates in aqueous solutions were reported previously to be vesicular nano-particles by our group. In the present study, we seek to investigate the feasibility of using PLA-F127-PLA vesicles as oral delivery carrier for insulin. Both in vitro and in vivo release behavior of insulin loaded in PLA-F127-PLA vesicles were studied.

[Importance of colonoscopy combined with biopsy in the diagnosis of colonic Crohn's disease].

Objective: An attempt was made to provide a better insight into endoscopic and histological features and/or problems encountered when establishing a diagnosis of colonic Crohn's disease (Crohn's colitis).

Methods: As presented in our 27 cases with Crohn's colitis, the endoscopic findings and histological changes of biopsy specimens were summarized. As collated with correspondent results of biopsy and surgical specimens, the diagnostic accuracy of endoscopy was evaluated.