Metformin improves sheep sperm cryopreservation via vitalizing the AMPK pathway.

Adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key regulator of sperm function and physiological metabolism. Metformin, an inexpensive and effective antioxidant, is known to play an important role in the activation of AMPK. Therefore metformin has potential to improve sperm cryopreservation.

Dieckol, a natural polyphenolic drug, inhibits the proliferation and migration of colon cancer cells by inhibiting PI3K, AKT, and mTOR phosphorylation.

This study investigated that dieckol (DKL), a natural drug, inhibits colon cancer cell proliferation and migration by inhibiting phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation in HCT-116 cells. The cells were treated with DKL in various concentrations (32 and 50 μM) for 24 h and then analyzed for various experiments. MTT (tetrazolium bromide) and crystal violet assay investigated DKL-mediated cytotoxicity.

Heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment is associated with clinical prognosis of non-clear cell renal cell carcinoma: a single-cell genomics study.

Non-clear renal cell carcinomas (nccRCCs) are less frequent in kidney cancer with histopathological heterogeneity. A better understanding of the tumor biology of nccRCC can provide more effective treatment paradigms for different subtypes. To reveal the heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment (TME) in nccRCC, we performed 10x sing-cell genomics on tumor and normal tissues from patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC), chromophobe RCC (chrRCC), collecting duct carcinoma (CDRCC) and sarcomatoid RCC (sarRCC).

[Economic burden and related factors on inpatients with HBV-related diseases in Shandong province].

Objective: To investigate the economic burden of patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B, cirrhosis and liver cancer caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Methods: Cluster sampling was used on cases consecutively collected during the study period. Questionnaire survey was conducted and information on the expenses during hospitalization was collected from the hospital records and through interviewing those patients.

Butanol production from hemicellulosic hydrolysate of corn fiber by a Clostridium beijerinckii mutant with high inhibitor-tolerance.

A Clostridium beijerinckii mutant RT66 with considerable inhibitor-tolerance obtained by continuous culture was used for butanol production from non-detoxified hemicellulosic hydrolysate of corn fiber treated with dilute sulfuric acid (SAHHC). In fed-batch fermentation, 1.8L of diluted SAHHC containing 10 g/L of reducing sugar was provided during the acidogenic phase and 0.

Acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation using Clostridium acetobutylicum XY16 and in situ recovery by PDMS/ceramic composite membrane.

PDMS/ceramic composite membrane was directly integrated with acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation using Clostridium acetobutylicum XY16 at 37 °C and in situ removing ABE from fermentation broth. The membrane was integrated with batch fermentation, and approximately 46 % solvent was extracted. The solvent in permeates was 118 g/L, and solvent productivity was 0.

[Effects of management regime on soil respiration from agroecosystems].

In order to examine the effects of management regime, such as nitrogen application and plowing method, on soil respiration from farmland, the static opaque chamber-gas chromatograph method was used to measure soil CO2 fluxes in situ. The field measurement was carried out for 5 growing seasons, which were the 2002-2003 wheat, 2003 maize and soybean, 2003-2004 wheat, 2004 maize and 2004-2005 wheat seasons. Our results showed that soil respiration increased in fertilizer-applied treatments compared with no fertilizer treatment after 3 times of fertilizer application on 9 November 2002, 14 February and 26 March 2003.

[Single-lung transplantation and contralateral lung volume reduction for emphysema].

Objective: To report the operation technique, patient selection and curative effect of single-lung transplantation with contralateral lung volume reduction for a patient with end-stage emphysema.

Methods: A 47-year-old male patient who was dependent on mechanical ventilation because of end-stage emphysema received left-lung transplantation on 20 June, 2003. The surgical technique used was similar to that mentioned in the literature.

[Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for spontaneous pneumothorax].

Objective: To explore the operational procedures, indications, and the long-term results of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax.

Methods: One hundred seventy three cases of spontaneous pneumothorax treated with VATS in our hospital between 1995 and 2001 were analyzed. Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) was found in 157 cases and secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP) in 16 cases.

[Single-lung transplantation for end-stage emphysema].

Objective: To evaluate operative technique, patient selection and perioperative management of single-lung transplantation for a patients with end-stage emphysema.

Methods: A 56-year-old patient with end-stage emphysema underwent left-lung transplantation on September 28, 2002. The surgical technique used was similar to that mentioned in the literature.