Neuroprotective effect of salidroside on hippocampal neurons in diabetic mice via PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway.

Background: Diabetic encephalopathy is manifested by cognitive dysfunction. Salidroside, a nature compound isolated from Rhodiola rosea L, has the effects of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering, improving insulin resistance, inhibiting cell apoptosis, and protecting neurons. However, the mechanism by which salidroside alleviates neuronal degeneration and improves learning and memory impairment in diabetic mice remains unclear.

Protective effects and regulatory mechanisms of melatonin in a neonatal mouse model of LPS-induced inflammation.

This experiment mainly explored the protective effect and regulatory mechanism of melatonin (MEL) through its receptor on central nervous system (CNS) inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The experiment was first divided into the following four groups: control group (CTRL group), LPS-induced inflammation model group (LPS group), LPS-treated MEL group (LPS + MEL group), and MEL administration group (MEL group). Later, a luzindole-antagonized LPS-MEL cotreatment group (LPS + MEL + LUZ group) was added to clarify the experimental results.

Anemia in patients with Takayasu arteritis: prevalence, clinical features, and treatment.

Background: Anemia is a common comorbidity of patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA). This study evaluated the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and treatment in Chinese TA patients with anemia.

Methods: This retrospective study included 533 consecutive patients hospitalized for TA from January 2009 to April 2018.

Cardiac Valve Involvement in Takayasu Arteritis Is Common: A Retrospective Study of 1,069 Patients Over 25 Years.

Background: Takayasu arteritis (TA) can involve the aortic root or cardiac valves, resulting in hemodynamic disorders. In this study, we focused on the prevalence and clinical characteristics of TA patients with valve regurgitation.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively assessed the clinical data in the electronic medical records of 1,069 consecutive patients with TA admitted to Fuwai Hospital from January 1992 to August 2017.

Association of interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 expression, gene polymorphisms, and Takayasu arteritis in a Chinese Han population.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic inflammatory disease. Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 are important cytokines involved in the immune response of TA in some ethnicities. We investigated whether the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of IL-6 and IL-10 genes and their expressions were associated with TA in a Chinese Han population.

Melatonin represses oral squamous cell carcinoma metastasis by inhibiting tumor-associated neutrophils.

Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) promote metastasis of multiple cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Melatonin (Mel) reportedly exerts anti-metastatic effects on OSCC. However, little is known about the anti-OSCC effects of Mel involved in TANs.

Glaucocalyxin B Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Parkinson's Disease by Inhibiting TLR/NF-κB and Activating Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway.

Background/aims: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease in the old population, characterized by dopaminergic neuron loss, inflammation and oxidative stress injury in the substantia nigra. Glaucocalyxin B (GLB), an ent-kauranoid diterpenoid isolated from Rabdosia japonica, has anti-inflammation and anti-tumor effects. However, its effects on PD remain unclear.

The presentation and management of hypertension in a large cohort of Takayasu arteritis.

The objective of this study was to explore the presentation and management of hypertension secondary to Takayasu arteritis (TA) in a large cohort, single center in China. We retrospectively analyzed 381 TA patients with hypertension hospitalized in Fuwai hospital between Jan. 2004 and Feb.

Aortic Aneurysm in Takayasu Arteritis.

Background: Aortic aneurysm (AA) is a severe complication of Takayasu arteritis (TA). This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, clinical and imaging features, management and long-term outcomes of AA in patients with TA.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was performed of TA patients with AA admitted to Fuwai Hospital from 1996-2015.

Aortic Dissection in Takayasu Arteritis.

Background: Aortic dissection (AD) is a rare complication of Takayasu arteritis (TA). The clinical presentation and long-term management outcomes of AD in patients with TA have not been well described.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with TA along with AD admitted to Fuwai Hospital between January 1985 and March 2016.

RNAi-mediated silencing of HLA A2 suppressed acute rejection against human fibroblast xenografts in the striatum of 6-OHDA lesioned rats.

Major histocompatibility complex class l (MHC I) molecules play a role in determining whether transplanted cells will be accepted or rejected, and masking of MHC I on donor cells has been found useful for immunoprotection of neural xenografts. In the present study, primary human embryonic lung fibroblasts (HELF), HELF treated with lentivirus-mediated small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting human leukocyte antigen A2 (HLA A2, MHC I in humans) (siHELF), and rat embryonic lung fibroblasts (RELF) were stereotaxically grafted into the striatum of 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats to explore whether knockdown of HLA A2 could reduce host immune responses against xenografts. Before lentiviral infection, the cells were transduced with retroviruses harboring tyrosine hydroxylase cDNA.

Anaemia and low body mass index are associated with increased cardiovascular disease in patients with Takayasu arteritis.

Objectives: Despite the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) among patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA), few studies have identified its clinical correlates. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence of CVD and its association with traditional CV risk factors and disease-related variables in patients with TA.

Methods: A total of 262 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of TA between January 2009 and July 2013 were included in this study.

Clinical Features and Outcomes of Takayasu Arteritis with Neurological Symptoms in China: A Retrospective Study.

Objective: To describe the clinical features and longterm outcomes of patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) in China who experienced neurological symptoms.

Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken of patients with TA who attended a single study center from 2002 to 2013, who also exhibited neurological symptoms (n = 274). Clinical and imaging features were analyzed, as well as longterm outcomes.

HLA-DQA1, DQB1 and DRB1 alleles associated with Takayasu arteritis in the Chinese Han population.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic large-vessel vasculitis of unknown etiology. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles play an important role in the development of TA. Sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect 10 alleles of the HLA-DQA1 gene and 13 alleles of the HLA-DQB1, -DRB1 gene.

N-terminal Pro-B-type Natriuretic Peptide is Associated with Arterial Stiffness as Measured According to the Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity in Patients with Takayasu Arteritis.

Aim: Takayasu arteritis (TA) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and the degree of arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality in a variety of diseases. In addition, the levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a marker of ventricular dysfunction, have been found to be higher in patients with TA than in healthy controls. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the plasma NT-proBNP levels and arterial stiffness in patients with TA.

Clinical manifestations and longterm outcome for patients with Takayasu arteritis in China.

Objective: To describe a large cohort of patients with Takayasu arteritis in China.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 566 patients hospitalized in Fuwai Hospital between 2002 and 2013. Data collected were clinical characteristics, laboratory findings, angiographic features, treatment, and longterm outcome.

The association of red blood cell distribution width with anemia and inflammation in patients with Takayasu arteritis.

Background: Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been shown to be related to both anemia and inflammation in various diseases. However, the role of RDW in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the association of RDW with anemia, inflammation, and disease activity in TA.

Function of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in Takayasu arteritis disease monitoring.

Objective: Increased levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Inflammation may also affect levels of NT-proBNP. We investigated the relationship of NT-proBNP with inflammation, disease activity, disease severity, and progression of Takayasu arteritis (TA).

Subthalamic hGAD65 gene therapy and striatum TH gene transfer in a Parkinson's disease rat model.

The aim of the present study is to detect a combination method to utilize gene therapy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, a PD rat model is used for the in vivo gene therapy of a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV2) containing a human glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (rAAV2-hGAD65) gene delivered to the subthalamic nucleus (STN). This is combined with the ex vivo gene delivery of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) by fibroblasts injected into the striatum.

Coronary artery involvement in takayasu arteritis in 45 Chinese patients.

Objective: We investigated the clinical characteristics, potential difficulties in diagnosis, and therapy for coronary artery involvement in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA).

Methods: Of 587 consecutive patients hospitalized with TA from 1998 to 2011, those found to have > 50% reduction of diameter of coronary artery by angiography were recruited. We defined the first finding of coronary involvement as baseline.

Construction and functional activity of a recombinant vector expressing rat glutamic acid decarboxylase 65.

Objective: Glutamic acid decarboxylase 2 (GAD65) is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) synthetase. This study aimed to construct a recombinant lentivirus-rGAD65 (rLV-rGAD65) vector containing the cDNA of rat GAD65 (rGAD65) and assess its functional activity in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: cDNA of rGAD65 was amplified by RT-PCR and subcloned into the LV vector, forming the rLV-GFP-rGAD65 plasmid.

The role of tumor necrosis factor-α promoter genetic variation in Takayasu arteritis susceptibility and medical treatment.

Objective: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine that influences the pathogenesis of Takayasu arteritis (TA). There is still no evidence of the relationship between TNF-α gene promoter polymorphisms and TA. We examined whether variations in the TNF-α promoter region may lead to TA susceptibility and disease progression.

Association of susceptibility to Takayasu arteritis in Chinese Han patients with HLA-DPB1.

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is a chronic large-vessel vasculitis of unknown etiology. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles play an important role in the development of TA. The association between HLA-DPB1 and TA in Chinese Han patients remains unclear.

[Influences of zinc on concentrations of cyclin D2 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 of human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells].

Objective: To explore effects of zinc on the contents of cyclin D2, cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), and their DNA and total cellular protein in human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCBMSCs).

Methods: hUCBMSCs were isolated and cultured by density gradient centrifugation adherence method in vitro. At the serial subcultivation, the hUCBMSCs were randomly divided into 7 groups.

[A comparative study on preparing acellular larynx scaffold between perfusing method and immersing method].

Objective: To compare the difference of preparing the acellular larynx scaffold between perfusion method and immersion method, and find better way to make acellular larynx scaffold for tissue engineering.

Methods: Twenty 6-month-old male New Zealand rabbits, weighing 2.0-2.