Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor linagliptin reduces inflammatory response, ameliorates tissue edema formation, and improves survival in severe sepsis.

Background: Excessive inflammation in sepsis causes microvascular dysfunction associated with organ dysfunction and high mortality. The present studies aimed to examine the therapeutic potential of linagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor in a clinically relevant polymicrobial sepsis model in mice.

Methods: Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).

Optimizing clinical decision-making for ruptured intracranial aneurysms: Current applications and future directions of computed tomography angiography.

Ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs) are a leading cause of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) and are associated with a poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is the preferred imaging modality for the diagnosis of RIAs, as it is considered to be a fast, economical, and less invasive method. In this letter, regarding an original study presented by Elmokadem , we present our insights and discuss how CTA can better assist in clinical decision-making for patients with RIAs complicated by SAH.

Phytochemical Constituents from the Seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris and Their Antioxidant Activities.

Phytochemical investigation of 70% EtOH extract of the seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris led to the isolation of a new cyclobutane organic acid (1), and fourteen known compounds, including two organosulfur compounds (2, 3), two quinonoids (4, 5), five flavonoids (6-10), three sterols (11-13) and two other types (14, 15). The structures of the compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses as well as comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. The antioxidant capacities of all compounds and extractive fractions were evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging test and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay.

Comparison of survival and post-operation outcomes for minimally invasive versus open hepatectomy in hepatocellular carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-matched studies.

Background: With the rapid development of minimally invasive techniques and instruments, more and more patients begin to accept minimally invasive surgery. Minimally invasive hepatectomy (MIH) has obvious advantages in terms of surgical incision, but there is still no strong evidence of its long-term survival effect.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to compare long-term survival outcomes between MIH and Open hepatectomy (OH) in hepatocellular carcinoma based on high-quality case-control studies.

Subtyping of Internalizing and Externalizing Behaviors in Japanese Community-Based Children: A Latent Class Analysis and Association with Family Activities.

Externalizing and internalizing behavioral problems occurs at a high rate among children. However, this has rarely been examined among Japanese children using a person-oriented method. Hence, this study aims to explore its subtypes and clarify their association with family-based group activities.

CD226 deletion improves post-infarction healing via modulating macrophage polarization in mice.

Macrophages are essential for wound repair after myocardial infarction (MI). CD226, a member of immunoglobulin superfamily, is expressed on inflammatory monocytes, however, the role of CD226 in infarct healing and the effect of CD226 on macrophage remain unknown. Wild type and CD226 knockout (CD226 KO) mice were subjected to permanent coronary ligation.

Peptidomimetics in the discovery of new insect growth regulators: studies on the structure-activity relationships of the core pentapeptide region of allatostatins.

Cockroach-type allatostatins (ASTs) were discovered in cockroaches through their capacity to inhibit the production of juvenile hormone by the corpora allata (CA). ASTs were considered as potential insect growth regulator (IGR) candidates, but several disadvantages, including the absence of the effect in vivo and rapid degradation in vivo, precluded their application in pest management. The CA were selected as the target, and the core pentapeptide region (YDFGL) was chosen as the lead sequence in the search for new IGRs based on the allatostatins.

Final steps in juvenile hormone biosynthesis in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria.

Two genes coding for enzymes previously reported to be involved in the final steps of juvenile hormone (JH) biosynthesis in different insect species, were characterised in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria. Juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase (JHAMT) was previously described to catalyse the conversion of farnesoic acid (FA) and JH acid to their methyl esters, methyl farnesoate (MF) and JH respectively. A second gene, CYP15A1 was reported to encode a cytochrome P450 enzyme responsible for the epoxidation of MF to JH.

Proctolin: A possible releasing factor in the corpus cardiacum/corpus allatum of the locust.

The corpus cardiacum (CC) and corpus allatum (CA) of the locust, Locusta migratoria, contain intense proctolin-like immunoreactivity (PLI) within processes and varicosities. In contrast, in the cockroach, Diploptera punctata, although a similar staining pattern occurs within the CC, PLI appears absent within the CA. The possible role of proctolin as a releasing factor for adipokinetic hormone (AKH) and juvenile hormone (JH) was investigated in the locust.

Regulation of methyl farnesoate production by mandibular organs in the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii: a possible role for allatostatins.

Decapod crustaceans do not appear to produce juvenile hormone, but rather its immediate precursor, methyl farnesoate (MF). Both MF and its immediate precursor, farnesoic acid (FA) are produced by the mandibular organs (MO) in crustaceans. The MO are homologous to the insect corpora allata (CA), the site of juvenile hormone biosynthesis.