Neutrophil-mediated Inflammatory Plasminogen Degradation, Rather Than High Plasminogen-Activator Inhibitor-1, May Underly Failures and Inefficiencies of Intrapleural Fibrinolysis.

Background: Complex pleural space infections often require treatment with multiple doses of intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and deoxyribonuclease, with treatment failure frequently necessitating surgery. Pleural infections are rich in neutrophils, and neutrophil elastase degrades plasminogen, the target substrate of tPA, that is required to generate fibrinolysis. We hypothesized that pleural fluid from patients with pleural space infection would show high elastase activity, evidence of inflammatory plasminogen degradation, and low fibrinolytic potential in response to tPA that could be rescued with plasminogen supplementation.

Effectiveness of acupuncture in the governor vessel and Yangming meridian for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Acupuncture of the governor vessel and Yangming meridian are widely used in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, the optimal meridian for acupuncture in the treatment of AIS remains uncertain.

Purpose: This network meta-analysis study aimed to compare the clinical effectiveness of acupuncture at governor vessel and Yangming meridian in the treatment of AIS.

Efficacy of ferulic acid in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke injury in rats: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Intravenous thrombolysis is commonly used in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke damage. The existing thrombolytic drugs still suffer significant shortcomings, including a limited fibrin specificity and bleeding complications. Ferulic acid can directly bind the key thrombus enzymes and target to blood clots, suggesting its thrombolytic potency that may be beneficial with thrombolytic potency for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke damage.

Could CT abdomen and PET/CT be helpful in early diagnosis of Whipple's disease? A case report.

Whipple's disease is a rare disease, which can be fatal if not treated. It is often diagnosed at a late stage because of the varied disease presentation and its rare incidence. Classic Whipple's disease presents with arthralgia, abdominal pain, diarrhea and weight loss.

Bifunctional alginate/chitosan stabilized perfluorohexane nanodroplets as smart vehicles for ultrasound and pH responsive delivery of anticancer agents.

The combination of ultrasound and chemotherapy has been proposed as a promising strategy to achieve a better anticancer therapeutic efficacy. Here we present a facile strategy to construct novel bifunctional nanodroplets as smart vehicles for ultrasound and pH responsive delivery of anticancer agents. PFH is used as core and chitosan/alginate complexes are used as the stable shells of the nanodroplets.

Cell sheet integrity and nanomechanical breakdown during programmed cell death.

Apoptosis is a critical physiological pathway required for the normal functioning, homeostasis, and development of many organisms. This process is highly regulated at the biochemical level and has been intensively studied. Recent evidence has demonstrated that apoptosis is also a controlled nanomechanical process which relies on feedback between biochemical signaling and the nanomechanical properties of the microenvironment.