Colquhounia root tablet improves diabetic kidney disease by regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathway.

Background: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a severe microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus that can lead to end-stage renal disease. Colquhounia root tablet (CRT) has shown therapeutic potential in treating DKD, but its efficacy and underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 61 DKD patients.

Comparison of the efficacy of steroid-free versus classic steroid-containing regimens in primary membranous nephropathy.

To compare the efficacy of a steroid-free regimen with steroid-based treatment in managing primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) and investigate the potential benefits of steroid-free regimens in PMN therapy. This was a single-centre prospective cohort study. A total of 81 patients were divided into two groups according to their medication regimen: a rituximab (RTX)/tacrolimus (TAC) group (low-dose RTX combined with low-dose TAC group, without steroids, n = 31) and a prednisone (P)/TAC group (P combined with TAC group, n = 61).

Changes and significance of Treg and Th17 in adult patients with primary membranous nephropathy.

Objective: To investigate the changes in Treg and Th17 cells and explore the significance of Treg/Th17 balance in adult primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 60 PMN patients and 50 healthy adults from June 2013 to October 2016 were enrolled in this study. The levels of Treg, Th17, and related cytokines were assessed.

Long Noncoding RNA AFAP1-AS1 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Metastasis via the miR-155-5p/FGF7 Axis and Predicts Poor Prognosis in Gastric Cancer.

Background: Actin filament-associated protein 1-antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1) plays an important role in the development and progression of several human cancers. However, its biological function in gastric cancer (GC) progression is still unknown.

Methods: We used qRT-PCR to detect the relative expression of AFAP1-AS1 in GC tissues and cell lines.

Noncoding RNAs in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease: A Review of Recent Studies.

Calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is the most common heart valve disorder in human populations. Nevertheless, there are presently no effective means for its prevention and treatment. It is therefore critical to comprehensively define key mechanisms of the disease.

No increased risk of perforation during colonoscopy in patients undergoing propofol versus traditional sedation: A meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: The safety of propofol sedation during colonoscopy remains unclear, and we performed a meta-analysis to assess the risk of perforation in patients undergoing propofol vs. traditional sedation.

Methods: MEDLINE, CBM, VIP, CNKI, and Wanfang databases were searched up to December 2016.

miR-93-5p/IFNAR1 axis promotes gastric cancer metastasis through activating the STAT3 signaling pathway.

Aberrant expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) plays an important role in gastric cancer (GC) development. miR-93-5p has shown opposing functions in different types of cancers, but the exact expression pattern and molecular mechanism of miR-93-5p in GC development remain to be elucidated. Here, we reported that miR-93-5p expression was increased in GC tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues and that its overexpression was correlated with distant metastasis and poor survival in GC patients.

Influence and analysis of low-dosage steroid therapy in severe aristolochic acid nephropathy patients.

Aim: To investigate the effect of low-dosage steroid therapy in patients with severe aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN).

Methods: Forty-three chronic AAN patients in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College were included in this study from November 1998 to October 2013. According to the treatment method, the patients were divided into a steroid group (SG, n = 25) and a control group (CG, n = 18).

[Current progress in food geographical origin traceability by near infrared spectroscopy technology].

The geographical origin traceability of food, an important part of traceability system, is effective in protecting the quality and safety of foodstuffs. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR), which is a powerful technique for geographical origin traceability, has attracted extensive attention by scientists due to its speediness, non-pollution and simple operation. This paper presents the advantages and disadvantages of techniques that have been used for food geographical origin traceability.