Trigonelline Inhibits Inflammation and Protects β Cells to Prevent Fetal Growth Restriction during Pregnancy in a Mouse Model of Diabetes.

Background: As an active component from traditional Chinese medicine, trigonelline has a protective effect on diabetes. This study evaluated the protective effects of trigonelline on diabetic mice during pregnancy.

Methods: Diabetes was induced in female mice by intraperitoneal injection for continuous 5-day of 40 mg/kg/day streptozotocin.

Assessment of the cancer risk factors of solitary pulmonary nodules.

There are no large samples or exact prediction models for assessing the cancer risk factors of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) in the Chinese population. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical and imaging data of patients with SPNs who underwent computer tomography guided needle biopsy in our hospital from Jan 1st of 2011 to March 30th of 2016. These patients were divided into a development data set and a validation data set.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor triggers vascular smooth muscle cell dedifferentiation by a p68-serum response factor axis.

Aims: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is an important proinflammatory mediator linked to arterial diseases. Although its inflammatory property such as macrophage recruitment is known for contributing to vascular pathogenesis, the direct effects of MIF on homeostasis and biological function of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) that are crucial for development of arterial abnormalities, are poorly understood.

Methods And Results: We show that MIF is able to directly induce VSMC dedifferentiation, a pathophysiological process fundamental for progression of various arterial diseases.

Chinese consensus on early diagnosis of primary lung cancer (2014 version).

The incidence and mortality of lung cancer in China have rapidly increased. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in China, possibly because of the inadequate early diagnosis of lung cancer. Reaching a consensus on early diagnostic strategies for lung cancer in China is an unmet needed.

Prevention and management of lung cancer in China.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. In China, the incidence of lung cancer has grown rapidly, resulting in a large social and economic burden. Several researchers have devoted their studies to lung cancer and have demonstrated that there are many risk factors for lung cancer in China, including tobacco use, environmental pollution, food, genetics, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The involvement of aquaporin 1 in the hepatopulmonary syndrome rat serum-induced migration of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells via the p38-MAPK pathway.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is characterized by arterial oxygenation defects induced by intrapulmonary vascular dilation (IPVD). Pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR) is an important pathological feature of IPVD; however, the details regarding the underlying mechanisms of this process remain undefined. Recent studies have determined that the abnormal migration of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) plays a role in the pathogenesis of the PVR associated with HPS.

Digital gene expression analysis of transcriptomes in lipopolysaccharide-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: The mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is high, and its exact pathogenesis remains unclear, which forms a major obstacle for prevention and treatment of this disease. In the present study, we used digital gene expression (DGE) to detect the differentially expressed genes of the lung at 4h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in a mouse model.

Methods: Mice were treated with LPS or control saline by intratracheal instillation for 4h, and their lung tissues were collected for DGE analysis.

Requirement of miR-9-dependent regulation of Myocd in PASMCs phenotypic modulation and proliferation induced by hepatopulmonary syndrome rat serum.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is characterized by a triad of severe liver disease, intrapulmonary vascular dilation and hypoxaemia. Pulmonary vascular remodelling (PVR) is a key feature of HPS pathology. Our previous studies have established the role of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC) phenotypic modulation and proliferation in HPS-associated PVR.

Bone morphogenic protein-2 regulates the myogenic differentiation of PMVECs in CBDL rat serum-induced pulmonary microvascular remodeling.

Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is characterized by an arterial oxygenation defect induced by intrapulmonary vasodilation (IPVD) that increases morbidity and mortality. In our previous study, it was determined that both the proliferation and the myogenic differentiation of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs) play a key role in the development of IPVD. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the relationship between IPVD and the myogenic differentiation of PMVECs remains unknown.

Recombinant HMGB1 A box protein inhibits Th17 responses in mice with neutrophilic asthma by suppressing dendritic cell-mediated Th17 polarization.

High mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1) is a critical pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in diverse inflammatory diseases and has important immunomodulatory effects on allergic asthma. Our recent studies demonstrate that HMGB1) ^ReloadFigure=Yes1 expression increases in the lung tissue and associates with interleukin-17(+) (IL-17) helper T cell (Th17) responses in a murine model of neutrophilic asthma. In this study, to examine the immunomodulatory mechanisms of HMGB1, we evaluated the effects of recombinant HMGB1 A box (an antagonist of HMGB1) administration on allergic airway inflammation and lung antigen-presenting cell (APC) function in a murine model of neutrophilic asthma.

MiR-206 controls the phenotypic modulation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells induced by serum from rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome by regulating the target gene, annexin A2.

Background: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a serious complication of advanced liver disease that is characterised by intrapulmonary vascular dilatation (IPVD) and arterial hypoxemia. Pulmonary vascular remodelling (PVR) is an important pathological feature of HPS, but the potential mechanisms underlying PVR remain undefined. Recent findings have established the essential role of changes in Annexin A2 (ANXA2) in controlling the phenotypic modulation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) in PVR associated with HPS.

Effects of rhynchophylline on GluN1 and GluN2B expressions in primary cultured hippocampal neurons.

N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits GluN1 and GluN2B in hippocampal neurons play key roles in anxiety. Our previous studies show that rhynchophylline, an active component of the Uncaria species, down-regulates GluN2B expression in the hippocampal CA1 area of amphetamine-induced rat. The effects of rhynchophylline on expressions of GluN1 and GluN2B in primary hippocampal neurons in neonatal rats in vitro were investigated.

Role of Angptl4 in vascular permeability and inflammation.

Background: Angptl4 is a secreted protein involved in the regulation of vascular permeability, angiogenesis, and inflammatory responses in different kinds of tissues. Increases of vascular permeability and abnormality changes in angiogenesis contribute to the pathogenesis of tumor metastasis, ischemic-reperfusion injury. Inflammatory response associated with Angptl4 also leads to minimal change glomerulonephritis, wound healing.

Optimization of extraction and purification of arctiin from Fructus arctii and its protection against glucose-induced rat aortic endothelial cell injury.

To develop an efficient method for extracting and purifying the active ingredient, arctiin, from Fructus arctii and to investigate the protective effect of arctiin against glucose-induced rat aortic endothelial cell (RAEC) injury was investigated. Using a L9 (34) orthogonal array and two-step column chromatography (with AB-8 macroporous resin) arctiin extraction was optimized using a reflux method with 70% ethanol. The RAECs were then treated with different concentrations of arctiin (1, 10, or 100 μg/ml).

[The negative enrichment by immunomagnetic beads for tumor cells from malignant pleural effusions].

Objective: To establish a method (negative enrichment by immunomagnetic beads) for detection of tumor cells in pleural effusions and to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the method for clinical application.

Methods: Five, 10, 20, 50 and 100 A549 (lung adenocarcinoma) cells were labeled with DAPI and added into 20 ml pleural effusions [containing (1 - 10)×10(6)cells] from heart failure patients, followed by immunomagnetic negative enrichment method. Recovered cancer cells were enumerated using a fluorescent microscope.

Factors associated with the need of biventricular mechanical circulatory support in children with advanced heart failure.

Objectives: Postimplantation right ventricular dysfunction is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in ventricular assist device (VAD) recipients. This study aimed to determine the preoperative risk factors for severe right heart failure needing biventricular mechanical circulatory support in children with end-stage heart failure.

Methods: We reviewed data from 84 children supported with long-term VADs at the German Heart Institute Berlin between January 1999 and October 2010.

Pretreatment with anti-flagellin serum delays acute lung injury in rats with sepsis.

Objective: This study examined the reduction of sepsis-induced ALI by inhibition of flagellin-stimulated TLR5 signaling.

Methods: Rats were randomly divided into three groups: one group served as the sham-operated group (control group), and the other two groups received the induction of sepsis (sepsis and treatment groups). The treatment group was injected with anti-flagellin serum before induction of sepsis.

Over-expression of PKGIα inhibits hypoxia-induced proliferation, Akt activation, and phenotype modulation of human PASMCs: the role of phenotype modulation of PASMCs in pulmonary vascular remodeling.

The proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) plays a role in pulmonary vascular remodeling (PVR). Recently, it was shown that vascular smooth muscular cell phenotype modulation is important for their proliferation in other diseases. However, little is known about the role of human PASMC phenotype modulation in the proliferation induced by hypoxia and its molecular mechanism during PVR.

MtDNA haplogroups M7 and B in southwestern Han Chinese at risk for acute mountain sickness.

We conducted a case-control study to investigate the association of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups with acute mountain sickness (AMS) in Han Chinese from southwestern (SW) China. Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test revealed significant reduction of mtDNA haplogroups D and M9, while a significant increase of haplogroup M7 in AMS subjects compared with non-AMS subjects. The multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustment for body mass index (BMI), a risk factor of AMS in the present study, showed that both D and M9 were associated with significantly decreased risk of AMS, while M7 was associated with a significantly increased risk of AMS (OR=0.

The localization of two mimic epitopes of lipopolysaccharide binding protein and the preparation of their tandem multiple antigen peptide.

Objective: To screen and identify two mimic epitopes in the inflammatory site of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), and to synthesize and purify their corresponding mimic epitope four branched peptide (multiple antigen peptide, MAP).

Method: Using an anti-full length LBP monoclonal antibody as the target molecule, the amino acid sequences of the exogenous peptides were deduced by combining several different techniques including: affinity screening of the phage display peptide library, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding activity assay and competitive inhibition test, cytokine production inhibition, flow cytometry, and DNA sequencing. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) software was used to compare the resulting peptide sequences with the primary structure sequence of the LBP molecule, and thus the amino acid sequences for two mimic inflammatory epitopes for the binding of LBP and LPS were determined.

Enhanced expression of single immunoglobulin IL-1 receptor-related molecule ameliorates LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice.

Single Ig IL-1 receptor-related molecule (SIGIRR) is one of the members of the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-IL-1 receptor superfamily. Previous studies demonstrated that SIGIRR can function as a negative regulator of IL-1 and LPS signaling. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of enhanced expression of SIGIRR on LPS-induced acute lung injury.

[Adenovirus-mediated protein-kinase-GIalpha suppresses the hypoxia-induced proliferation and phenotype-switching of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell].

Objective: To observe the proliferation and phenotype-switching of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) induced by hypoxia and interfered by Ad-PKGIα. And to investigate the potential regulative role of PKGIα gene in the molecule mechanism of hypoxia pulmonary vessel remodeling (HPVR).

Methods: To establish the pure PASMC cultured by tissue-sticking methods.