Anti-inflammatory and autonomic effects of electroacupuncture in a rat model of diet-induced obesity.

Objective: To study the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) by measurement of vagal activity in rats with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity.

Methods: Diet-induced obesity (DIO) was induced in 30 rats by feeding them a HFD for 12 weeks. A further 10 rats fed normal food comprised the lean diet (LD) control group.

Downregulation of Sprouty homolog 2 by microRNA-21 inhibits proliferation, metastasis and invasion, however promotes the apoptosis of multiple myeloma cells.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of sprouty homolog 2 (SPRY2) gene regulation by miR-21 on the occurrence, development and tumor metastasis in multiple myeloma (MM). The miR-21 expression lentiviral vector (LV)-anti-miR-21 and a liposome transfection method were used to screen MM cell lines with stable silent SPRY2. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot analyses were used to detect SPRY2 expression and miR-21 protein expression levels.

Correlation between microRNA‑21 and sprouty homolog 2 gene expression in multiple myeloma.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression level of microRNA 21 (miR‑21) in the peripheral blood of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and to investigate the correlation between miR‑21 and sprouty homolog 2 (SPRY2) gene expression levels in MM. A total of 30 patients with MM, 15 with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and 20 normal control (NC) outpatients were selected for the detection of miR‑21 and SPRY2 expression using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of miR‑21 and SPRY2 in MM cell lines.

The clinical significance of a urinary B-type natriuretic peptide assay for the diagnosis of heart failure.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the applicability of urinary B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels to the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure (HF) by comparing urinary and plasma BNP levels.

Methods: Urinary and plasma BNP levels of 160 patients with HF classifiable into NYHA stages I, II, III, or IV, and 30 healthy control subjects were measured using the microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA). The heart function of each patient was examined by ultrasonic cardiogram and classified according to the NYHA standard.