Carrageenan maintains the contractile phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells by increasing macromolecular crowding in vitro.

Background: The contractile phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) results in good diastolic and contractile capacities, and its altered function is the main pathophysiological basis for diseases such as hypertension. VSMCs exist as a synthetic phenotype in vitro, making it challenging to maintain a contractile phenotype for research. It is widely recognized that the common medium in vitro is significantly less crowded than in the in vivo environment.

Macromolecular Crowding Enhances Matrix Protein Deposition in Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts.

Successful culture of small-diameter tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) requires rapid deposition of biomacromolecules secreted by vascular smooth muscle cells in a polyglycolic acid mesh scaffold's three-dimensional (3D) porous environment. However, common media have lower crowding conditions than tissue fluids. In addition, during the early stages of construction, most of the biomolecules secreted by the cells into the medium are lost, which negatively affects the TEVG culture process.

PRP significantly promotes the adhesion and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells on stent material.

Background: The adhesion and survival state of cells on scaffold material is a major problem in tissue-engineered blood vessel (TEBV) culture. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contains a large amount of biologically active factors and fibrin, which is expected to play an important role in TEBV culture.

Purpose: To combine PRP with cells and scaffold material to promote cell adhesion and biological activity on the scaffold material.

Purpura annularis telangiectodes of Majocchi: A case report.

Background: Purpura annularis telangiectodes of Majocchi (PATM), also known as Majocchi, is a rare subclass of pigmented purpuric dermatoses. The etiology of PATM is unknown, but it seems more common in children and young women. The skin lesions are mostly symmetrical ring-shaped reddish-brown macules on the lower limbs.

Dermoscopic characteristics of membranous aplasia cutis congenita: Report of 56 cases.

Background: Membranous aplasia cutis congenita (MACC) presents at birth characterized by oval epidermis defect. Skin lesions with MACC have various clinic manifestations. In recent years, the usefulness of trichoscopy (scalp dermoscopy) has been reported for hair loss diseases.

Neonatal syringocystadenoma papilliferum: A case report.

Background: Syringocystadenoma papilliferum (SCAP) represents a rare, noncancerous adnexal tumor predominantly presenting at birth or in early childhood.

Case Summary: In this study, a 35-day-old girl was admitted to Kunming Children's Hospital in October 2019 due to a lesion in the right frontotemporal region since birth. The surface of the lesion was bright red, granular, and papillary and easily bled upon touch, with about 1.

The prevalence of lymph node metastasis for pathological T1 esophageal cancer: a retrospective study of 143 cases.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence, pattern and risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) for pathological T1 (pT1) esophageal cancer (EC).

Methods: The clinical data of 143 cases of pT1 patients who underwent esophagectomy and lymph node dissection during January 2011 and July 2016 were reviewed, including 120 male patients and 23 female patients with a median age of 60 years. The pattern of LNM was analyzed and the risk factors related to LNM were assessed by logistic regression analysis.

Metastatic to negative lymph node ratio demonstrates significant prognostic value in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after esophagectomy.

Aims: The prognostic value of metastatic lymph node ratio (LNR) has been reported in some studies; however, there is no report on the prognostic significance of metastatic to negative lymph node ratio (MNLNR) in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to compare the prognostic value of pN, LNR and MNLNR on the survival of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after esophagectomy.

Methods: The data of 290 patients with ESCC after curative esophagectomy was retrospectively analyzed.

Lymph node dissection for Siewert II esophagogastric junction adenocarcinoma: A retrospective study of 3 surgical procedures.

The present study was aimed to investigate the application of right thansthoracic Ivor-Lewis (IL), left transthoracic (LTT), and left thoracoabdominal (LTA) approach in Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG).The data of 196 patients with Siewert type II AEG received surgical resection in our cancer center between January 2014 and April 2016 was retrospectively analyzed. Finally, 136 patients met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study and divided into the IL (47 cases), LTT (51 cases), and LTA group (38 cases).

High Body Mass Index Worsens Survival in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma after Esophagectomy.

Aims: To investigate the prognostic significance of body mass index (BMI) on the survival of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after esophagectomy.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2008, 291 patients with ESCC who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The BMI cut-off values were as follows: 18.

Safety and Efficacy of Thulium Laser Prostatectomy Versus Transurethral Resection of Prostate for Treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to objectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of Thulium laser prostatectmy (TmLRP) versus transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) in treating benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

Methods: Online databases such as Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Chinese biomedicine literature database were searched by randomized control trial (RCT), quasi-randomized control trial (Q-RCT) and case control study (CCSs) about TmLRP versus TURP for the treatment of BPH. After study selection, assessment and data extraction conducted, Meta-analyses were performed by using the RevMan 5.

Is tumor length a prognostic indicator for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma? A single larger study among Chinese patients.

Objective: In esophageal cancer, depth of wall penetration, reflected by T classification, represents the most important prognostic variable. Our study aimed to investigate the impact of tumor length, measured as the longitudinal length, on the outcome of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients.

Methods: The survival data of 362 ESCC patients who underwent surgical resection as the primary treatment between 1999 and 2007 were collected retrospectively.

Association of Kruppel-like factor 4 expression with the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Objective: To investigate the association of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) expressions with the prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients.

Methods: Ninety-eight cases of esophageal carcinoma patients were enrolled. The expression of KLF4 in the esophageal SCC and normal esophageal mucosa tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry.

[The anti-tumor activity of GM-CSF-modified lung cancer cell vaccine and its synergism in combination with chemotherapy].

Objective: To investigate the anti-tumor effects and mechanism of tumor vaccines and whether chemotherapeutic agents administered prior to immunotherapy could augment the efficacy of the vaccines.

Methods: C57/BL mice inoculated with Lewis lung cancer cells were used as tumor models. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene modified LA795 and Lewis lung cancer cell lines were administered as allogeneic and autologous tumor vaccines, respectively.

Vaccination with allogeneic GM-CSF gene-modified lung cancer cells: antitumor activity comparing with that induced by autologous vaccine.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the whole allogeneic (differing tissue-type) tumor cells as vaccine in the mouse lung cancer model. The immunogenic and antitumor activity of allogeneic vaccine was compared with that of autologous cancer cell vaccine.

Methods: C57/BL mice inoculated with Lewis lung cancer (LLC) cells were used as the animal model to test the effects of allogeneic vaccination.