Wnt/β-Catenin Promotes the Osteoblastic Potential of BMP9 Through Down-Regulating Cyp26b1 in Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Background: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) promotes the osteogenic differentiation induced by bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9), but the intrinsic relationship between BMP9 and ATRA keeps unknown. Herein, we investigated the effect of Cyp26b1, a critical enzyme of ATRA degradation, on the BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and unveiled possible mechanism through which BMP9 regulates the expression of Cyp26b1.

Methods: ATRA content was detected with ELISA and HPLC-MS/MS.

lncRNA MEG3 Promotes PDK4/GSK-3/-Catenin Axis in MEFs by Targeting miR-532-5p.

Studies reported the positive and negative osteogenic effects of MEG3 in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). This study aims at clarifying the osteogenic potential of MEG3 and the underlying mechanism. Bone morphogenetic protein 9- (BMP9-) transfected MSCs were recruited as an osteogenic model , and ectopic bone formation were used to explore the effect of MEG3 on osteogenesis.

The SIRT1 activator SRT2104 promotes BMP9-induced osteogenic and angiogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells.

Bone defects resulting from trauma, bone tumors, infections and skeletal abnormalities are a common osteoporotic condition with respect to clinical treatment. Of the known bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), BMP9 has the strongest osteogenic differentiation potential, which could be beneficial in the construction of tissue-engineered bone. Silent mating type information regulator 2 homolog-1 (SIRT1) is a highly conserved nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent deacetylase that deacetylates and modulates histone or non-histone substrates.

Fabrication and characterization of a toughened spherical chitosan adsorbent only through physical crosslinking based on mechanism of Chain Rearrangement.

Chitosan extracted from natural products has gained tremendous attention in the field of adsorption and separation due to its inherent biocompatibility and potential applications. In this research, we synthesized a new type of spherical chitosan adsorbent (SCA) by controlling the mass transfer rate of the entanglement of the polymer chains in the recombination process. This SCA is a highly crystalline polymer material with outstanding mechanical strength, high adsorption capacity, a porous surface and suitable particle size distribution.

[Performance of the Combined Model Based on Both Clinicopathological and CT Texture Features in Predicting Liver Metastasis of High-risk Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors].

Objective To investigate the performance of the combined model based on both clinicopathological features and CT texture features in predicting liver metastasis of high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors(GISTs). Methods The high-risk GISTs confirmed by pathology from January 2015 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively,including 153 cases from the Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and 51 cases from the Shaoxing Central Hospital.The cases were randomly assigned into a training set(=142)and a test set(=62)at a ratio of 7∶3.

Smart MSN-Drug-Delivery System for Tumor Cell Targeting and Tumor Microenvironment Release.

Tumor-targeted delivery and controlled release of antitumor drugs are promising strategies for increasing chemotherapeutic efficacy and reducing adverse effects. Although mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) have been known as a potential delivery system for doxorubicin (DOX), they have restricted applications due to their uncontrolled leakage and burst release from their large open pores. Herein, we engineered a smart drug-delivery system (smart MSN-drug) based on MSN-drug loading, cell membrane mimetic coating, on-demand pore blocking/opening, and tumor cell targeting strategies.

Depletion of circRNA circ_CDK14 inhibits osteosarcoma progression by regulating the miR-520a-3p/GAB1 axis.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a lethal bone malignancy. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have emerged as important regulators of OS development. CircRNA cyclin dependent kinase 14 (circ_CDK14) was reported to be a potential oncogene in OS.

Knockdown of lncRNA MALAT1 ameliorates acute kidney injury by mediating the miR-204/APOL1 pathway.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) was characterized by loss of renal function, associated with chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, and length of hospital stay. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) participated in AKI development and progression. Here, we aimed to investigate the roles and mechanisms of lncRNA MALAT1 in AKI.

The role of Serpina3n in the reversal effect of ATRA on dexamethasone-inhibited osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells.

Background: Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is the most common secondary osteoporosis. Patients with GIOP are susceptible to fractures and the subsequent delayed bone union or nonunion. Thus, effective drugs and targets need to be explored.

Roles of miR-182 in Intervertebral Disc Degeneration and its Potential Prognostic Value.

Background: MicroRNAs were reported to be involved in the progression of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). This study focused on the potential prognostic value and the underlying mechanism of miR-182 in IDD.

Methods: The expression level of miR-182 in plasma samples from 60 IDD patients and 60 healthy controls were examined in the present study.

Behcet's disease manifesting as esophageal variceal bleeding: A case report.

Background: Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic disease characterized by oral and vulvar ulcers as well as eye and skin damage and involves multiple systems. It presents as an alternating process of repeated attacks and remissions. Esophageal venous rupture and bleeding caused by BD is rarely reported at home and abroad.

Effects of Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation (TEAS) on Postoperative Recovery in Patients with Gastric Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) is an innovative choice for postoperative pain management. However, the safety and effectiveness of this traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy for patients who underwent gastrectomy is largely unknown. So, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of TEAS for patients who underwent gastrectomy.

The combinations of multiple factors to improve the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity after artificial joint infection.

Objective: To discuss the sensitivity and specificity of the combinations of multiple factors that work on bone infection after artificial joint, and provide evidence-based medical basis for the early diagnosis of infection after artificial joint.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 35 patients diagnosed with periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) or aseptic loosening (AL) who both received revision operation from January 2011 to January 2015. Analyzing and comparing their epidemiology indexes and expounded a series of auxiliary examinations corresponding positive diagnosis ratio.

MiR-195 regulates CD40 to maintain Th17/Treg balance in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Purpose: This study aims to explore the relationship between miR-195 and CD40 and its effect on Th17/Treg balance in rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods: We established rat models of NAFLD and made seven groups, Normal group (without modeling), Model group (model rats), NC group (model rats injected with negative control vector), miR-195 OE group (model rats injected with miR-195 mimic), anti-miR-195 group (model rats injected with miR-195 inhibitor), Si-CD40 group (model rats injected with CD40 silencing vector), and anti-miR-195+Si-CD40 group (model rats injected with miR-195 inhibitor and CD40 silencing vector). Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay verified the targeting relationship between miR-195 and CD40.

Transfer learning on T1-weighted images for brain age estimation.

Due to both the hidden nature and the irreversibility of Alzheimers disease (AD), it has become the killer of the elderly and is thus the focus of much attention in the medical field. Radiologists compare the predicted brain age with the ground truth in order to provide a preliminary analysis of AD, which helps doctors diagnose AD as early in its development as possible. In this paper, a transfer learning-based method of predicting brain age using MR images and dataset of a public brain was proposed.

IGF-1 reverses the osteogenic inhibitory effect of dexamethasone on BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts via PI3K/AKT/COX-2 pathway.

Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis (GIOP) is a prevalent clinical complication caused by large dose administration of glucocorticoids, such as Dexamethasone (Dex) and Prednisone. GIOP may lead to fractures and even Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head (ONFH). It has been reported that glucocorticoids inhibit osteogenesis via the suppression of osteogenic differentiation in Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), but the precise mechanism underlying this suppression awaits further investigation.

Influence of Docosahexaenoic Acid on Proliferation and Apoptosis in Human HepG2 Cell Line.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of different concentrations of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on proliferation and apoptosis in HepG2 cell lines, and to research the possible molecular mechanisms.

Methods: DHA concentration was 0 g/mL in the negative control group, and 15, 30, 45, 60 and 75 ug/mL, respectively, in the experimental groups. CCK-8 and flow cytometry methods were used to observe the growth inhibition and apoptosis rates of HepG2 cells cultured , which were treated with different concentrations of DHA.

Down-regulation of long non-coding RNA ITGB2-AS1 inhibits osteosarcoma proliferation and metastasis by repressing Wnt/β-catenin signalling and predicts favourable prognosis.

Osteosarcoma is the most common and highly aggressive bone neoplasm often occurs among adolescents and young people. In despite of the major advances in the treatment, the overall survival of osteosarcoma patients remains poor. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as key regulators involved in tumorigenesis and progression of osteosarcoma.

Salvianolic acid B renders glioma cells more sensitive to radiation via Fis-1-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction.

Glioma remains the leading cause of brain tumor-related death worldwide, and radiation is a standard adjuvant therapy with proven efficacy. Salvianolic acid B (SalB), a bioactive compound isolated from Radix Salviae, has been shown to exert anti-cancer effects in many cancer cell lines, including glioma. This study aimed to investigate whether SalB could affect response to radiation in human glioma cells.

FOXK1 promotes cell growth through activating wnt/β-catenin pathway and emerges as a novel target of miR-137 in glioma.

Glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults. Forkhead box k1 (FOXK1) was reported to be dysregulated and play important roles in multiple human cancers. However, the expression pattern and roles of FOXK1 in glioma has never been investigated.

Folate Ligand Orientation Optimized during Cell Membrane Mimetic Micelle Formation for Enhanced Tumor Cell Targeting.

Nanocarriers with strong tumor cell targeting ability have been expected to overcome limitations of cancer chemotherapy. Herein, cell membrane mimetic micelles were prepared from a random copolymer (PMNCF) containing cell membrane phosphorylcholine zwitterion, cholesterol, and tumor cell targeting folic acid (FA) at the side chain ends. Surface orientation of the FA ligand was optimized during PMNCF micelle preparation by controlling solvent solubility for FA.

Prevalence of Pediculus capitis in schoolchildren in Battambang, Cambodia.

Background/purpose: Pediculus capitis is the most common human ectoparasite. When it feeds on the blood through the scalp of its host, the anticoagulant in its saliva causes scalp inflammation and itching, and consequent scratching by the host causes further inflammation from bacterial infection. P.

BMP7 mediates the anticancer effect of honokiol by upregulating p53 in HCT116 cells.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death. Hence, there is a great need to explore new efficacious drugs for the treatment of CRC. Honokiol (HNK), a natural product extracted from magnolia bark, processes various biological activities, including anticancer.