Development and validation of a rapid HPLC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of cyclosporine A and tacrolimus in whole blood for routine therapeutic drug monitoring in organ transplantation.

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring is an integral part of organ transplantation. A rapid, simple, economical, and robust high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method for simultaneously determining the immunosuppressants cyclosporine A and tacrolimus might increase detection efficiency.

Methods: In this study, we developed and validated a rapid HPLC-MS/MS method.

Lumbar and neck injuries of occupants in different reclining postures.

Purpose: With the increasing level of automation in automobiles, the advent of autonomous vehicles has reduced the tendency of drivers and passengers to focus on the task of driving. The increasing automation in automobiles reduced the drivers' and passengers' focus on driving, which allowed occupants to choose a more relaxed and comfortable sitting position. Meanwhile, the occupant's sitting position went from a frontal, upright position to a more relaxed and reclined one, which resulted in the existing restraint systems cannot to keep occupants safe and secure.

Accuracy of the Sysmex UF-5000 analyzer for urinary tract infection screening and pathogen classification.

The screening performance of urine flow cytometry parameters (e.g., white blood cell and bacteria) for urinary tract infection (UTI) has been widely recognized.

Influences of Xylitol Consumption at Different Dosages on Intestinal Tissues and Gut Microbiota in Rats.

Xylitol is a widely used natural sweetener for the reduction of excessive sugar consumption. However, concerns of xylitol consumption existed as it is a highly permeable substance in the colon that could cause diarrhea and other adverse symptoms. To assess the relationship between xylitol dosage and diarrhea, especially the influences of diarrhea on physiological characteristics, the immune system, and gut microbiota in rats, the control, low-dose (L), medium-dose (M), and high-dose (H) groups were fed with 0, 1, 3, and 10% of xylitol, respectively, correspondingly for 15 days, followed by a 7-day recovery.

Depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment: A 10-year follow-up study from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe.

Background: Depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment often coexisted in the elderly. This study investigates the effect of late-life depressive symptoms on risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods: A total of 14,231 dementia- and MCI free participants aged 60+ from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe were followed-up for 10 years to detect incident MCI.

HSD3B1 variant and androgen-deprivation therapy outcome in prostate cancer.

Objective: Rate-limiting enzyme 3b-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (3βHSD1) encoded by HSD3B1 catalyzes the transition of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The HSD3B1 (1245C) variant renders 3bHSD1 of resistant to ubiquitination and degradation, leading to a large amount of protein accumulation in the cell. Multiple clinical studies have shown that this mutation was correlated with resistance to androgen-deprivation therapy in prostate cancer.

Cytomegalovirus Infection Is a Risk Factor in Gastrointestinal Cancer: A Cross-Sectional and Meta-Analysis Study.

Background: This study was planned to investigate the association betweenhuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and gastrointestinal cancer (GIC) risk, by undertaking a meta-analysis and case-control cross-sectional study.

Summary: A cross-sectional study analysis of 160 GIC patients and 100 control subjects indicated significantly higher HCMV prevalence in GIC patients based on the HCMV IgM test. However, a similar analysis based on an IgG test revealed no significant relationship.

Targeted Metabolomics for Plasma Amino Acids and Carnitines in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome Using HPLC-MS/MS.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a health disorder characterized by metabolic abnormalities that predict an increased risk to develop cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. Biomarkers can provide an insight into the novel mechanism for MetS and can be potentially used for personalized response to therapies. We exploited a targeted HPLC-MS/MS method to characterize plasma amino acids and carnitine metabolic profile in MetS patients.

Curcumin inhibits the formation of atherosclerosis in ApoE mice by suppressing cytomegalovirus activity in endothelial cells.

Background: Curcumin (Cur) is a hydrophobic polyphenol compound derived from the rhizome of the herb Curcuma longa. Cur has a wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological activities. It has been shown that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection was an important risk factor for atherosclerosis (AS) and Cur exhibited an outstanding anti-HCMV effect.

Profiling the pattern of human TRB/IGH-CDR3 repertoire in liver transplantation patients via high-throughput sequencing analysis.

Immune processes in liver transplantation remain poorly understood. Acute allograft rejection in liver transplantation is a kind of T cell-mediated inflammatory disease accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration. However, the effect of acute allograft rejection on the immunological characteristics of TCRs in peripheral blood mononuclear cell is unknown.

Profiling of the pattern of the human TRB/IGH-CDR3 repertoire in primary biliary cholangitis patients.

Introduction: Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is characterized by lymphocyte cell-induced immune destruction of cholangiole. However, the immunological characteristics of peripheral blood cells in PBC patients remain unknown. This study was designed to reveal the differences in the immunological characteristics between PBC patients and healthy adults.

Discovery of metabolite profiles of metabolic syndrome using untargeted and targeted LC-MS based lipidomics approach.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and all-cause morbidity and mortality. Biomarkers can provide insight into the mechanism, facilitate early detection, and monitor progression of MetS and its response to therapeutic interventions. To identify potential biomarkers, we applied a non-targeted and targeted lipidomics method to characterize plasma metabolic profile in MetS patients.

Akebia Saponin D inhibits the formation of atherosclerosis in ApoE mice by attenuating oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells.

Background And Aims: Akebia Saponin D (ASD) is a major bioactive triterpenoid saponin compound isolated from the Chinese herb Dipsacus asper wall (DSW). DSW has been long used as an anti-Alzheimer disease and anti-osteoporosis agent in clinics. However, anti-atherosclerotic effects of ASD have not been fully investigated.

Anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory potentials of Akebia saponin D.

Akebia saponin D, which is originates from Dipsacus asper Wall, has been used as a tonic, an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent for the therapy of low back pain, rheumatic arthritis, traumatic hematoma, habitual abortion and bone fractures in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of Akebia saponin D has been rarely reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity of Akebia saponin D and to assess its possible mechanism.

Akebia saponin D alleviates hepatic steatosis through BNip3 induced mitophagy.

Akebia Saponin D (ASD) is the most abundant constituent of the rhizome of Dipsacus asper Wall. The prior studies have shown that ASD alleviates hepatic steatosis targeted at the modulation of autophagy and exerts hepatoprotective effects through mitochondria. However, it is still unclear which signal transduction pathway that ASD increase autophagy and protect the mitochondria.

VDR Gene variation and insulin resistance related diseases.

Background: Vitamin D status may influence the risk of Insulin resistance related diseases such as Type 2 diabetes (T2DM), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Several studies have assessed vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism in relationship with these diseases; however, results remain inconsistent. Our study was conducted to elucidate whether VDR Gene polymorphisms could predict insulin resistance on a large scale.

Cytomegalovirus infection and atherosclerosis risk: A meta-analysis.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis (AS). Numerous studies have been conducted to analyze the association between HCMV infection and risk of AS, but no clear consensus has been reached. So the objective of this paper was aimed to demonstrate the relationship between HCMV and AS by doing a meta-analysis.

TNF-α and LT-α polymorphisms and the risk of leukemia: a meta-analysis.

Aim: The aim of this study is to investigate whether TNF-α or LT-α polymorphisms are associated with the risk of leukemia.

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed to examine the association between the TNF-α -308 G>A and LT-α +252 A>G polymorphisms and the incidence of leukemia. We also performed subgroup analyses based on the classification of leukemias.

Akebia Saponin D Decreases Hepatic Steatosis through Autophagy Modulation.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered to be a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, and the incidence of NAFLD is increasing rapidly. However, appropriate drugs for treatment of NAFLD are lacking. This study aimed to elucidate the protective effects and mechanisms of Akebia saponin D (ASD) against NAFLD in ob/ob mice and Buffalo rat liver cells.

In silico identification of anti-cancer compounds and plants from traditional Chinese medicine database.

There is a constant demand to develop new, effective, and affordable anti-cancer drugs. The traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a valuable and alternative resource for identifying novel anti-cancer agents. In this study, we aim to identify the anti-cancer compounds and plants from the TCM database by using cheminformatics.