Circular RNA SLTM as a miR-421-competing endogenous RNA to mediate HMGB2 expression stimulates apoptosis and inflammation in arthritic chondrocytes.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common age-related joint disease characterized by chronic inflammation, progressive articular cartilage destruction, and subchondral sclerosis. Accumulating evidence suggests that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play key roles in OA, but the function of circSLTM in OA remains greatly unknown. Therefore, this study focused on interleukin-1β (IL-1β)-treated primary human chondrocytes as well as a rat model to investigate the expression pattern and functional role of circSLTM in OA in vitro and in vivo.

Interaction between Illite and a -Heavy Oil Biodegradation Complex.

Illite is a widely distributed clay mineral with huge reserves in Earth's crust, but its effect on heavy oil biodegradation is rarely reported. This study made an investigation of the interactions between illite and a -heavy oil complex (HO). Results showed that, although illite exerted a negative effect on degrading heavy oil by inhibiting the biodegradation of 64 saturated hydrocarbons (SHs) and 50 aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs), it selectively stimulated the biodegradation of 45 AHs with a specific structure, and its biogenic kaolinization at room temperature (35 °C) and pressure (1 atm) was observed in HO for the first time.

Trans-Rotator Cuff Approach for Spinoglenoid Cysts: Tips and Traps.

In this study, we introduce an arthroscopic technique for posterior-superior capsular fenestration and spinoglenoid cyst resection completely via a trans-rotator cuff approach. This approach can provide a full field of view and allow evaluation of the scope of the cyst under direct vision, which reduces the risk of recurrence and injury to the suprascapular neurovascular bundle.

Computer Image-Guided Precise Acromioplasty for Reducing the Critical Shoulder Angle.

The shoulders with critical shoulder angle (CSA) of greater than 33-35° are associated with rotator cuff tears, whereas a CSA of less than 30° is likely to be osteoarthritic. However, anterior acromioplasty or lateral acromioplasty could not reduce high CSAs to the desired range (30-33°), with satisfactory accuracy and efficacy. Thus, we introduce a computer image-guided precise acromioplasty (CIG-PAP) technique, an individualized treatment based on three-dimensional planning.

[Immunoexpression of apollon in breast cancer tissues before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and its clinical significance].

Objective: To investigate whether apollon immunoexpression in breast cancer tissues helps to predict pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

Methods: The expressions of Apollon, Her-2, estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) were detected immunohistochemically in biopsy tissues from 124 breast cancer patients. The clinical responses to NAC were evaluated in line with the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST).

[Small interfering RNA targeting Apollon enhances the chemosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effect of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting Apollon in enhancing the chemosensitivity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in vitro.

Methods: HCC cells transfected with the siRNA targeting Apollon were tested for Apollon protein expression using Western blotting. MTT assay and ELISA were used to evaluate the proliferation and apoptosis of HCC cells transfected with siRNA after exposure to 5-FU or adriamycin.

[Effect of Ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic-acid on human gastric cancer cells and its mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of Ent-11α-hydroxy-15-oxo-kaur-16-en-19-oic-acid (5F), a compound isolated from Pteris semipinnata L (PsL), on human gastric cancer SGC7901 cells and explore its mechanism.

Methods: The inhibitory effect of 5F on SGC7901 cells was observed by MTT assay and flow cytometry, and the changes of the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in SGC7901 cells following 5F exposure were evaluated by Western blot analysis.

Results: 5F inhibited the proliferation of SGC7901 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, and the cell apoptosis induced by 5F was confirmed by Annexin V-EGFP staining and caspase-3 activation assay.

[Construction of recombinant adenoviruses containing cytosine deaminase gene driven by the vascular endothelial growth factor promoter using an AdEasier-1 system].

Objective: To efficiently construct a recombinant adenovirus containing cytosine deaminase (CD) gene driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promoter using an AdEasier-1 system and observe its killing effect on LoVo cells in vitro.

Methods: The CD gene was amplified by PCR, and amplicons were cloned in JM109 bacteria, and then recombined into pREP8 to obtain pREP8-CD, which was then digested by HindIIIand XbaIfor the CD fragment with polyadenylation site (CD-pA) subcloned into the VEGFP -containing shuttle plasmid pAdtrack-VEGFP to generate pAdtrack-VEGFP-CD-pA. After linearization with PmeI, pAdtrack-VEGFP-CD-pA was transformed into AdEasier-1 cells, and the transformants were selected on LB agar plates containing 25 microg/ml kanamycin followed by identification of the positive pAdEasy-VEGFP-CD with electrophoretic analysis and enzymatic digestion.

[An easier method for generating recombinant adenovirus containing CD/TK fusion gene driven by vascular endothelial growth factor promoter].

Objective: To efficiently construct the recombinant adenovirus containing CD/TK fusion gene driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promoter using improved homologous recombination in bacteria.

Methods: Chemical transformation, instead of electroporation, of the plasmid pAdEasy-1 into E.coli BJ5183 strain was performed to prepare BJ5183pAdEasy-1 as the competent bacterium, in which pAdEasy-1 and pAdtrack-VEGFP-CDglyTK were recombined.

Anal cushion resection versus Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy for circular hemorrhoids: randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the clinical effect of anal cushion resection with Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy for the third- or fourth-degree circular hemorrhoids.

Methods: Forty-eight patients with third- or fourth-degree circular hemorrhoids were randomly assigned into two groups to receive either anal cushion resection or Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomy. Comparison of the two approaches were conducted in terms of postoperative pain scores, operation time, wound healing time, mean hospital stay, incidence of postoperative complications and the curative effect.