[Role of ERK/FoxO3a signal axis in inhibitory effect of vitexin 1 (VB-1) in HepG2 cell proliferation].

Objective: To investigate whether the ERK/FoxO3a signal axis could induce the inhibitory effect of vitexin 1 (VB-1) in HepG2 cell proliferation.

Method: The MTT method was adopted to observe the effect of different concentrations of VB-1 on human hepatoma carcinoma cell line HepG2 and immortalized human embryo liver cell line L-02. The cell growth was assessed by the clone formation assay.

Reliability of intramyocardial electrogram for the noninvasive diagnosis of acute allograft rejection after heart transplantation in rats.

Objectives: To examine the reliability of the QRS amplitude of the autonomous intramyocardial electrogram (IMEG) and the maximum slope of the descending T wave (Tslew) of the ventricular evoked response (VER) for surveillance of acute allograft rejection (AR) after heart transplantation in rats.

Methods: Forty rats underwent heterotopic heart transplantation, including ten isograft (isograft group) and 30 allograft (allograft group) recipients. Autonomous IMEG and VER were recorded with epicardiac pacing leads.

Ablation in selective patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation: medium-term results of the Dallas lesion set.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of the Dallas lesion set, which mimics the Cox-maze III left atrial (LA) lesions, for long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF).

Methods: Over a 4-year period, 103 LSPAF patients were treated with the Dallas lesion set. Linear lesions were created at the roofline, at the anterior line and between the roofline and left atrial appendage (LAA).

Co-activation of nAChR and mGluR induces γ oscillation in rat medial septum diagonal band of Broca slices.

Aim: To examine whether co-activation of nAChR and mGluR1 induced γ oscillation (20-60 Hz) in rat medial septum diagonal band of Broca (MSDB) slices.

Methods: Rat brain sagittal slices containing the MSDB were prepared. Extracellular field potentials were recorded with glass microelectrodes.

Protective effect of Tanshinone IIA against infarct size and increased HMGB1, NFκB, GFAP and apoptosis consequent to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Acute inflammation plays an important role in brain damage following cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury. The present study employed a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion to explore the neuroprotective effects of tanshinone IIA (TSN), which is widely used in China for treating cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Rats were divided into a sham-operated group and I/R transiently occluded then reperfused groups.

Purified vitexin compound 1 inhibits growth and angiogenesis through activation of FOXO3a by inactivation of Akt in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Vitexins, isolated from the seeds of the Chinese herb Vitex negundo, is known to exert antitumor activity in cancer xenograft models and cell lines. The aim of the current study was to examine whether the Akt/forkhead box protein O3a (FOXO3a) pathway mediates the biological effects of purified vitexin compound 1 (VB-1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The effect of VB-1 on the viability of the HCC cell lines HepG2, Hep3B, Huh-7 and the human embryonic liver cells L-02 was investigated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Purified vitexin compound 1 induces apoptosis through activation of FOXO3a in hepatocellular carcinoma.

We previously reported that purified vitexin compound 1 (VB1, a neolignan from the seed of Chinese herb Vitex negundo) exhibited antitumor activity in cancer cell lines and xenograft models. In the present study, we examined the molecular mechanisms by which activation of the FOXO3a transcription factor mediated VB1-induced apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. The effects of VB1 on the proliferation of HCC cell lines HepG2, Hep3B, Huh-7 and human embryo liver L-02 cells were investigated using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Long-term results of a minimally invasive surgical pulmonary vein isolation and ganglionic plexi ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Background: Ganglionated plexi (GP) ablation has been become an adjunct to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). This study describes the long-term results of minimally invasive surgical PVI, ablation of GPs, and exclusion of the left atrial appendage for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Long-term follow-up of 55 months was performed in 139 consecutive patients (age 58.

Diabetes inhibits cerebral ischemia-induced astrocyte activation - an observation in the cingulate cortex.

The objective of this study was to study the effect of diabetic hyperglycemia on astrocytes after forebrain ischemia. Streptozotocin (STZ)-injected hyperglycemic and vehicle-injected normoglycemic rats were subjected to 15 minutes of forebrain ischemia. The brains were harvested in sham-operated controls and in animals with 1 and 6 h of recirculation following ischemia.

Sustained delivery of dbcAMP by poly(propylene carbonate) micron fibers promotes axonal regenerative sprouting and functional recovery after spinal cord hemisection.

This study describes the use of poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC) electrospun fibers as vehicle for the sustained delivery of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP) to the hemisected spinal cord. The dbcAMP and PPC were uniformly mixed with acetonitrile; then, electrospinning was used to generate micron fibers. The release of dbcAMP was assessed by ELISA in vitro.

Chlorido[2,2'-[1,2-phenyl-enebis(nitrilo-methanylyl-idyne)]diphenolato-κ(4) O,N,N',O']manganese(III) methanol monosolvate.

In the title complex, [Mn(C20H14N2O2)Cl]·CH3OH, the central Mn(III) atom displays a distorted square-pyramidal coordination by two N and two O atoms from the tetradentate 2,2'-[1,2-phenyl-enebis(nitrilo-methanylyl-idyne)]diphenolate ligand and one chloride ligand. The Mn(III) atom is 0.525 (4) Å out of the square basal N2O2 least-squares plane.

Biodegradable implants efficiently deliver combination of paclitaxel and temozolomide to glioma C6 cancer cells in vitro.

The delivery of local chemotherapy using polymeric implants is a promising anti-glioma strategy, but a high drug loading rate can lead to a problematic initial burst of drug and subsequent neurotoxicity. In this study, we designed and fabricated a biodegradable implant for the local delivery of combined paclitaxel and temozolomide (TMZ) with low drug loading rates. Paclitaxel-loaded Ca-alginate microparticles were formed using an emulsifying-solvent evaporation process.

Is a rigid tricuspid annuloplasty ring superior to a flexible band when correcting secondary tricuspid regurgitation?

A best evidence topic in adult valvular surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was 'Is a rigid tricuspid annuloplasty ring superior to a flexible band when correcting secondary tricuspid regurgitation (TR)?' A total of 166 papers were found using the reported search, of which, 13 presented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. The authors, country, journal, date of publication, patient group studied, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated.

Association analysis between variants in KISS1 gene and litter size in goats.

Background: Kisspeptins are the peptide products of KISS1 gene, which operate via the G - protein-coupled receptor GPR54. These peptides have emerged as essential upstream regulators of neurons secreting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), the major hypothalamic node for the stimulatory control of the hypothalamic-pituitary- gonadal (HPG) axis. The present study detected the polymorphisms of caprine KISS1 gene in three goat breeds and investigated the associations between these genetic markers and litter size.

Reduced leaflet stress in the stentless quadrileaflet mitral valve: a finite element model.

Background: Failure of bioprosthetics is usually caused by calcification of the leaflets as a consequence of high tensile stresses. The stentless valve resembles native mitral valve anatomy, has a flexible leaflet attachment and a suspension at the papillary muscles, and preserves annuloventricular continuity. In this study, the effects of the stentless valve design on leaflet stress were investigated with a finite element model.

Outcome of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for patients undergoing valvular surgery.

Background: We evaluated retrospectively the early and midterm results of using veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support in patients undergoing valvular surgery.

Methods: A total of 87 patients undergoing valvular surgery received VA-ECMO due to refractory postcardiotomy cardiogenic shock (PCS), who were eligible for inclusion were enrolled in this study. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative variables were assessed and analyzed for possible associations with mortality in hospital and after discharge.

Differential expression of Nad(P)H oxidase isoforms and the effects of atorvastatin on cardiac remodeling in two-kidney two-clip hypertensive rats.

The NADPH oxidases (Noxes) are a family of ROS (reactive oxygen species)-generating enzymes which play a critical role in the development of cardiac remodeling associated with heart failure. The Noxes of their catalytic isoforms include multiple homologues in cardiovascular cells with wide range tissue distribution. It is still unclear which Noxes represent the major enzymatic source of ROS in the heart and play a predominant role in cardiac hypertrophy.

Clinical analysis of trigeminal neuralgia caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia.

Our objective is to explore the clinical manifestations, imaging features, and therapy of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) caused by vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia (VBD). Clinical and imaging data of 11 cases with trigeminal neuralgia caused by VBD were retrospectively analyzed, and relevant literatures were reviewed. Of these 11 patients, 8 were male, and 10 suffered from hypertension.

[Apoptotic mechanism of gecko crude peptides on human liver carcinoma cell line HepG2].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Gecko crude peptides (GCPS) on human liver carcinoma HepG2 cells and its mechanism.

Methods: MTT assay was used to analyze the effect of the GCPS on the proliferation of HepG2 Cell; Nucleus change of HepG2 treated with GCP was observed by Hoechst33258 fluorescence staining, and BAX and BCL-2 were detected with western-blot assay.

Results: GCPS could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 Cell in a time and dosage dependent way, and its half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was 1.

[Nuclear factor κB and IKB expression and calcium deposition of atherosclerotic plaques in apolipoprotein E and low density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice].

Objective: To observe the histopathological features, nuclear factor-κB (NFκB) and IKB expressions as well as calcium deposition of atherosclerosis plaques (AS) in apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) knockout mice (ApoE(-/-), LDLR(-/-)fed high-fat diet.

Methods: Eight C57BL/6J mice fed with normal diet were used as control, 32 ApoE(-/-) mice and LDLR(-/-) mice were divided into normal diet and high-fat diet groups (n = 8 each). After 4 months, aorta was collected for morphologic (HE, Oil Red O, Von Kossa) and immunohistochemistry (nuclear factor-κB, IKB, macrophage surface molecule-3, α-smooth action protein) analysis.

Gecko crude peptides induce apoptosis in human liver carcinoma cells in vitro and exert antitumor activity in a mouse ascites H22 xenograft model.

Aim: To investigate the anti-tumor effects and mechanisms of gecko crude peptides (GCPs) in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: 3-(4,5)-Dimethylthiahiazo (-z-y1)-3,5-di-phenytetrazoliumromide (MTT) assay was applied to measure the effects of GCPs on the HepG2 cell viability. Fluorescence morphology was used to identify apoptotic cells.

Molecular cloning, tissue expression and SNP analysis in the goat nerve growth factor gene.

In this study, we cloned the full coding region of NGF gene from the caprine ovary. Result showed the caprine NGF cDNA (GenBank Accession No. JQ308184) contained a 726 bp open reading frame encoding a protein with 241 amino acid residues.

[Differential expressions of miRNAs in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation].

Objective: To detect the differential expressions of miRNAs in left atrial appendage (LAA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Left atrial samples were collected from nonvalvular AF patients and healthy controls. The miRNA transcriptome was analyzed by microarray and verified by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

[Roles of periostin in proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells and the effect of atorvastatin on them].

Objective: To investigate the expression of periostin in in vitro cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by TGF-β1 and the relationship between periostin expression and the migration and proliferation of the VSMCs. Further, to investigate the effects of atorvastatin on the above-mentioned processes and the molecular mechanisms of atorvastatin inhibition of TGF-β1- induced periostin production.

Methods: Rat aorta smooth muscle cells were cultivated by the method of tissue explants adherence.

Leukemia inhibitory factor coordinates the down-regulation of the visual cycle in the retina and retinal-pigmented epithelium.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), an interleukin-6 family neurocytokine, is up-regulated in response to different types of retinal stress and has neuroprotective activity through activation of the gp130 receptor/STAT3 pathway. We observed that LIF induces rapid, robust, and sustained activation of STAT3 in both the retina and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE). Here, we tested whether LIF-induced STAT3 activation within the RPE can down-regulate RPE65, the central enzyme in the visual cycle that provides the 11-cis-retinal chromophore to photoreceptors in vivo.