Plasma campesterol and ABCG5/ABCG8 gene loci on the risk of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis: evidence from Mendelian randomization and colocalization analyses.

The causal relationships between plasma metabolites and cholelithiasis/cholecystitis risks remain elusive. Using two-sample Mendelian randomization, we found that genetic proxied plasma campesterol level showed negative correlation with the risk of both cholelithiasis and cholecystitis. Furthermore, the increased risk of cholelithiasis is correlating with the increased level of plasma campesterol.

Disease Burden of Total and Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer in China from 1990 to 2019 and Predictions of Cancer Incidence and Mortality.

Background: Understanding the temporal trends in the epidemiology of colorectal cancer (CRC) and early-onset CRC (EOCRC) in China is essential for policymakers to develop appropriate strategies to reduce the CRC burden.

Methods: The prevalence, incidence, mortality, years of life lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of CRC were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019. The incidence and mortality of CRC over the next 25 years were predicted.

Effect of Premedication With Pronase Before Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: A Multicenter Prospective Randomized Controlled Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to confirm whether premedication with pronase before endoscopy improves mucosal visualization and increases precancerous lesion and cancer lesion detection rates.

Materials And Methods: From June 2018 to April 2019, out-patients scheduled for endoscopy from 13 hospitals were screened to be randomly allocated in a 2:1 ratio to premedication with pronase (group A) and water (group B). The primary endpoint was mucosal visibility scores, and the secondary endpoint was precancerous and cancer lesion detection rates.

Screening and Identification of a Novel Anti-Siglec-15 Human Antibody 3F1 and Relevant Antitumor Activity.

Sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectin-15 is an important immunosuppressive molecule considered to be a key target in next-generation tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we screened 22 high-affinity antibodies that specifically recognize human Siglec-15 by using a large human phage antibody library, and five representative sequences were selected for further study. The results showed the binding activity of five antibodies to Siglec-15 (EC ranged from 0.

A Novel Humanized Anti-Abrin A Chain Antibody Inhibits Abrin Toxicity and .

Abrin, a type-II ribosome inactivating protein from the seed of , is classified as a Category B bioterrorism warfare agent. Due to its high toxicity, ingestion by animals or humans will lead to death from multiple organ failure. Currently, no effective agents have been reported to treat abrin poisoning.

Selection and Characterization of FD164, a High-Affinity Signal Regulatory Protein Variant with Balanced Safety and Effectiveness, from a Targeted Epitope Mammalian Cell-Displayed Antibody Library.

Phagocytic resistance plays a key role in tumor-mediated immune escape, so phagocytosis immune checkpoints are a potential target for cancer immunotherapy. CD47 is one of the important phagocytosis immune checkpoints; thus, blocking the interaction between CD47 and signal regulatory protein (SIRP) may provide new options for cancer treatment. Using computer-aided targeted epitope mammalian cell-displayed antibody library, we screened and obtained an engineered SIRP variant fragment crystallizable fusion protein, FD164, with higher CD47-binding activity than wild-type SIRP Compared with wild-type SIRP, FD164 has approximately 3-fold higher affinity for binding to CD47, which further enhanced its phagocytic effect in vitro and tumor suppressor activity in vivo.

Identification of a novel protective human monoclonal antibody, LXY8, that targets the key neutralizing epitopes of staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), one of the exotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus, is the key toxin that causes poisoning reactions and toxic shock syndrome. In the current research work, a novel human antibody named LXY8 was screened from a human phage display antibody library, and LXY8 blocked the interaction between SEB and the T cell receptor (TCR). The binding activity between LXY8 and SEB was 0.

MiR-129-5p induces cell cycle arrest through modulating HOXC10/Cyclin D1 to inhibit gastric cancer progression.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in posttranscriptional regulation and may serve as targets for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of miRNAs profiles in gastric cancer progression is still lacking. Here, we report that miR-129-5p is downregulated in gastric cancer by analyzing TCGA database (n = 41) and clinical tumor samples (n = 60).

Characteristics of Atrial Fibrillation Patients Suffering Esophageal Injury Caused by Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

The close proximity of esophagus to the left atrial posterior wall predisposes esophagus to thermal injury during catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). In this retrospective study, we aimed to investigate risk factors of esophageal injury (EI) caused by catheter ablation for AF. Patients who underwent first-time AF ablation from July 2013 to June 2018 were included.

Surgical versus endoscopic resection of large sessile duodenal and papillary lesions.

Background: Data on the endoscopic resection of duodenal and papillary lesions less than 15 mm in size have been well supported by systematic studies. However, for large sessile lesions of the duodenum or papilla (LSL-D/P), surgery is often performed despite significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to compare the outcomes and costs between endoscopic and surgical resection of such lesions.

Purification of water contaminated with Hg using horizontal subsurface constructed wetlands.

As a global pollutant, Hg (Hg) since the turn of the last century has received increased attention. Decreasing the emission of Hg into the food chain and the atmosphere is an effective way to reduce the Hg damage. The current study provided information about pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) constructed wetlands (CWs) to remove different Hg species in polluted water.

Investigation on the carbon sequestration capacity of vegetation along a heavy traffic load expressway.

Carbon sequestration by vegetation plays an important role in the global carbon cycle. More emphasis on the carbon sequestration of roadside vegetation will help to reduce the total carbon emissions from the transportation sector. In the current study, the Shanghai-Nanjing G42 expressway in east China was selected to investigate and calculate the carbon sequestration of roadside vegetation including trees, shrubs and herbs.

Diagnostic accuracy of DNA methylation in detection of gastric cancer: a meta-analysis.

Emerging studies demonstrate the diagnostic utility of DNA methylation-based blood test for gastric cancer. The aim of the meta-analysis is to evaluate the accuracy of blood DNA methylation markers for detecting patients with gastric cancer. A systematic literature search to November 2016 that evaluated DNA methylation markers utilizing blood specimen to detect gastric cancer were selected to derive pooled sensitivities and specificities.

Accuracy of ASGE high-risk criteria in evaluation of patients with suspected common bile duct stones.

Background And Aims: ERCP is recommended for patients considered high risk for choledocholithiasis after biochemical testing and abdominal US. Our aim was to determine whether the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) guidelines accurately select patients for whom the risk of ERCP is justified.

Methods: Consecutive patients hospitalized with suspected choledocholithiasis at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital who received biochemical testing, abdominal US, and definitive testing for choledocholithiasis (MRCP, EUS, ERCP, intraoperative cholangiogram, and/or common bile duct [CBD] exploration) were identified.

A retrospective study of pyogenic liver abscess focusing on Klebsiella pneumoniae as a primary pathogen in China from 1994 to 2015.

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a common intra-abdominal infection in adults. In this study, we aim to explore demographic and clinical characteristics of PLA focusing on Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) induced PLA (KP-PLA) in mainland China.

Computer-simulated biopsy marking system for endoscopic surveillance of gastric lesions: a pilot study.

Endoscopic tattoo with India ink injection for surveillance of premalignant gastric lesions is technically cumbersome and may not be durable. The aim of the study is to evaluate the accuracy of a novel, computer-simulated biopsy marking system (CSBMS) developed for the endoscopic marking of gastric lesions. Twenty-five patients with history of gastric intestinal metaplasia received both CSBMS-guided marking and India ink injection in five points in the stomach at index endoscopy.

Rexinoid inhibits Nrf2-mediated transcription through retinoid X receptor alpha.

NF-E2 P45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor that controls genes encoding cytoprotective and detoxifying enzymes through antioxidant response elements (AREs) in their regulatory regions. We reported recently that retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRα) inhibits Nrf2 function by direct interaction with the Neh7 domain of Nrf2 in a ligand-independent manner. Here, we provide evidence that an RXRα-specific ligand, bexarotene, dose-dependently inhibits the mRNA expression of ARE-driven genes.

Oxaliplatin activates the Keap1/Nrf2 antioxidant system conferring protection against the cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs.

Oxaliplatin is an important drug in the treatment of advanced metastatic colorectal cancer. NF-E2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a key transcription factor that controls genes encoding cytoprotective and detoxifying enzymes through antioxidant-response elements (AREs) in their regulatory regions. Here, we report that oxaliplatin is an activator of the Nrf2 signaling pathway, with upregulation of ARE-driven genes and glutathione elevation.

Pancreatic solid cystic desmoid tumor: case report and literature review.

Desmoid tumors (DTs) are nonmetastatic, locally aggressive neoplasms with a high rate of postoperative recurrence. Pancreatic DTs are especially rare; only a few cases have been reported to date. This paper describes a case of a sporadic cystic DT of the pancreas managed successfully with central pancreatectomy, with no signs of recurrence 40 mo after surgery.

Curcumin reverses chemoresistance of human gastric cancer cells by downregulating the NF-κB transcription factor.

Gastric cancer remains one of the major health problems worldwide. Chemotherapy is an important therapeutic modality for gastric cancer, but the success rate of this treatment is limited because of chemoresistance. The ubiquitously expressed transcription factor NF-κB has been suggested to be associated with chemoresistance of gastric cancer.

[Effect of Luteolin and its combination with chemotherapeutic drugs on cytotoxicity of cancer cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Luteolin alone or combination with chemotherapentic drugs on the cytoxicity of cancer cells.

Methods: Cultured A549, Hela, MCF-7, AGS, MGC-803, Caco2 and HepG2 cells were treated with Luteolin or the combination of Luteolin with other chemotherapeutic agents (Bexarotene, Cisplatin and Bleomycin). Cell viability was measured by MTS assay and IC(50) was calculated.