The Association of β2-Microglobulin with Physical Performance in Chinese Hemodialysis Patients with and without Diabetes.

Background: Higher β2-Microglobulin (β2-MG) is associated with aging, stroke and cognitive impairment, which are all connected with poor physical fitness. Poor physical function is ascribed to increasing mortality. However, there has been an academic dispute over the association of serum β2-MG with survival rate.

BMSC-derived Exosomes Ameliorate Peritoneal Dialysis-associated Peritoneal Fibrosis via the Mir-27a-3p/TP53 Pathway.

Objective: Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) is the main cause of declining efficiency and ultrafiltration failure of the peritoneum, which restricts the long-term application of peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes (BMSC-Exos) on PF in response to PD.

Methods: Small RNA sequencing analysis of BMSC-Exos was performed by second-generation sequencing.

Clinical characteristics and short-term mortality of 102 hospitalized hemodialysis patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 omicron BA.2.2.1 variant in Shanghai, China.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze clinical features and short-term mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) omicron BA.2.2.

Curcumin ameliorates peritoneal fibrosis via inhibition of transforming growth factor-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) pathway in a rat model of peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Peritoneal fibrosis (PF) remains a serious complication of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). The goal of this study was to investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of curcumin on the PF response to PD and its' mechanism.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused with 20 mL of 4.

[ Knock-out Affectsthe Proliferation, Migration and Invasion Ability of Hepatocellular Carcinoma HepG2 Cell Line ].

Objective: To investigate the effect of nuclear receptor knockout on proliferation and migration ability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2.

Methods: -The gene knockout HepG2 cell line was abtained by CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technique with specific DNA modification of the target gene. The gene targeting vectors were co-transfected into HepG2 cells.

Curcumin suppresses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of peritoneal mesothelial cells (HMrSV5) through regulation of transforming growth factor-activated kinase 1 (TAK1).

Objective: Peritoneal fibrosis remains a serious complication of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) leading to peritoneal membrane ultrafiltration failure. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) is a key process of peritoneal fibrosis. Curcumin has been previously shown to inhibit EMT of renal tubular epithelial cells and prevent renal fibrosis.

[Correlation of the second to fourth digit ratio with the body mass index of infertile men].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the second to the fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) and body mass index (BMI) in infertile men of the Han ethnic group in Ningxia.

Methods: Using anthropometry, we calculated the mean ratio of 2D:4D and BMI of 197 infertile men and 148 normal healthy male controls, followed by analysis of their relationship.

Results: The BMI was correlated positively with the 2D:4D ratio of the left hand in the infertile men (P < 0.

Digit ratio (2D:4D) in Chinese women with breast cancer.

Objectives: Digit ratio, especially second-to-fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is established in utero and is positively correlated with oestrogen in men and women. It is a putative biomarker for prenatal hormone exposure and may represent an individual predisposition to certain diseases (e.g.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of fluoroquinolone resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from dairy cattle with endometritis in China.

Fluoroquinolones are frequently used to treat infectious disease that is caused by Escherichia coli in dairy cattle. However, fluoroquinolone resistance occurs and is due either to chromosomal mutations in the bacterial topoisomerase genes and/or to plasmid-mediated resistance genes. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and molecular characteristics of fluoroquinolone resistance determinants in E.

DNA methylation status of cyp17-II gene correlated with its expression pattern and reproductive endocrinology during ovarian development stages of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus).

Cytochrome P450c17-II (cyp17-II, 17α-hydroxylase) is responsible for the production of steroid hormones during oocyte maturation in vertebrates. The comparative expression pattern of cyp17-II gene during the gonadal development stages will provide important insights into its function of gonadal development. In addition, epigenetic modification especially DNA methylation plays a vital role in regulation of gene expression.

[Digit length ratio and male fertility among infertile patients in Ningxia].

Objective: To investigate the association between the digit length ratio (DLR) and male fertility in Ningxia.

Methods: Using an electronic sliding caliper, we measured the lengths of the index finger (D2), middle finger (D3), ring finger (D4) and little finger (D5) of both the right and left hand of 136 infertile males in Ningxia, 45 of them with normal and the other 91 with abnormal semen, including 28 cases of oligozoospermia, 10 cases of obstructive azoospermia (OA) and 53 cases of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). We calculated the DLRs of D2:D3, D2:D4, D2:D5, D3:D4, D3:D5 and D4:D5 and compared them among different groups.

Correlations between digit ratio and infertility in Chinese men.

Background: Digit ratio, especially second to fourth digit ratio (2D:4D) is lower in men than in women. The ratios of digit may be established in utero and is negatively correlated with sperm counts and testosterone in men and positively correlated with estrogen in men and women.

Aim: To study whether the digit ratio (especially 2D:4D) are associated with the a+b ratio of sperm number in Chinese populations.

Chinese human immunodeficiency virus-1 patients with different routes of transmission exhibit altered expression levels of blood dendritic cell subpopulations.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1). Reduced numbers of blood DCs have been observed in individuals with chronic HIV-1 infection. In the present study, we analyzed the expression levels of monocytes, myeloid dendritic cell (mDC) precursors, mDCs, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), in HIV-1-infected patients in China who were infected via different routes of transmission, including heterosexual and homosexual sexual contact, and blood transmission through importation of blood or blood products, to further elucidate their role in HIV.

[Study on construction of chimeric adenovirus vector Ad5/11 carrying human eGFP and endostatin-K5 and its experimental investigation in vitro].

Aim: To construct chimeric adenoviral vector Ad5/11 carrying reporter gene eGFP and human endostatin-K5.

Methods: Chimeric adenoviral backbone vector expressing eGFP was generated by overlap PCR and homologous recombination in E.coli BJ5183.

[Characteristics of glucose metabolism in non-obese and obese women with polycystic ovarian syndrome].

Objective: To investigate characteristics of glucose metabolism of non-obese and obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods: From May 2006 to April 2009, 1928 PCOS patients treated in Reproductive Medicine Center of Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University were enrolled in this study, which were divided into 901 cases [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m²] in obese group and 1027 cases in non-obese (BMI < 25 kg/m(2)) group. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), oral glucose tolerance test, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) were compared between the two groups.

[Effects of control-releasing arsenic trioxide-eluting stent on intimal smooth muscle cells and type III collagen in canine coronary artery post-stent model].

Objective: To study the safety and efficacy of control-releasing arsenic trioxide (As2O3)-eluting stent on intimal smooth muscle cells (SMC) and type III collagen (CIII) in canine coronary artery post-stent model.

Methods: Twenty-four experimental canines were equally divided into 4 groups, the three tested groups were deployed by stents with different dosage of As2O3 (1.6 microg/mm2, 2.

Differences in natural killer cell quantification and receptor profile expression in HIV-1 infected Chinese children.

Natural killer (NK) cells are believed to play a role in the progression of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) disease, and NK cell levels are reduced in individuals with chronic HIV-1 infection. To assess the effects on quantity of NK cells and the changes of NK cell receptors in HIV-1 infected children via mother-to-child transmission, the percentage of NK cells is quantified and the changes in the NK cell receptor profiles in 20 HIV-1 infected children who are not progressing into AIDS were examined. The results showed that NK cell percentage was decreased in the HIV-1 infected children.

[Construction and expression of recombinant adenovirus vector carrying human endostatin, K5 and endostatin-K5 gene].

Aim: To construct the recombinant adenoviral vectors expressing human endostatin, K5 and endostatin-K5 gene respectively, and study their bioactivity in vitro.

Methods: Human endostatin, K5 and endostatin-K5 gene were amplified by PCR, which were then subcloned into shuttle vector pAd5-CMV-H1H2-MCS-6His by enzyme and ligation respectively. The positive recombinant plasmids linearized by Pac I were cotransfected into HEK 293 cells with the Pac I linearized adenoviral backbone plasmid using calcium phosphate precipitation method.

Changes in NK cell counts and receptor expressions and emergence of CD3(dim)/CD56+ cells in HIV-1 infected patients in China.

Natural killer (NK) cells are believed to play a role in human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) disease progression, and NK cell levels are reduced in individuals with chronic HIV-1 infection. In the present study, we compared the frequency and phenotype of peripheral blood CD3-CD56+ NK cells in HIV-1 infected patients in China who were infected through different routes of transmission, including heterosexual and homosexual sexual contact, and blood transmission through injection drug use or importation of blood or blood products. The results showed significantly reduced numbers of CD3-CD56+ NK cells with no association with route of transmission.

[Effect of zedoary turmeric oil-eluting stents for post-stenting restenosis prevention and treatment].

Objective: To investigate the effect and safety of Zedoary Turmeric Oil (ZTO)-eluting stents for post-coronary stenting restenosis prevention and treatment in the experimental dogs.

Methods: Bare stents, stents coated with polybutyl methacrylate/Nano silica, and stents eluted with 100 microg ZTO were randomly deployed in canine anterior descending or circumflex coronary artery. Four weeks after stent implantation, the dogs were sacrificed and the vascular histomorphologic changes in the stenting segment analyzed.

The study of the feasibility of segmental bone defect repair with tissue- engineered bone membrane: a qualitative observation.

The objective of the study was to investigate the feasibility of intramembranous osteogenesis from tissue-engineered bone membrane in vivo. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of rabbits were harvested, expanded and some of them were induced into osteoblasts. Porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) was converted by a series of physical and chemical procedures into a scaffold.

[Construction of an expression vector for high expression of siRNA].

Aim: To construct the vector for efficient expression of siRNA using pre-mir30 backbone.

Methods: By chemical synthesis method, pre-mir30 backbone introduced an appropriate restriction enzyme site for foreign shRNA inserting was cloned into an expressing vector containing U6 promoter. The silencing efficiency of a new siRNA expressing vector was detected by transfection and Western blot.

[Investigation of body hair assessment of Chinese women in Shandong region and its preliminary application in polycystic ovary syndrome patients].

Objective: To determine a suitable standard of hirsutism for Chinese polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients living in Shandong region.

Methods: A total of 623 unbiased women from the general population in Jinan city, 131 PCOS patients and 84 controls from outpatients in Shandong region were studied with questionnaires, physical and pelvic ultrasound examination, body hair on 11 sites were evaluated, and 9 (lip, chin, arm, thigh, chest, upperbelly, lowerbelly, upperback, lowback) of them which were called hormone Ferriman-Gallwey (F-G) score and 2 (forearm, leg) sites of indifferent hormone score were calculated according to the score system described by Ferriman and Gallwey.

Results: (1) Both body hair F-G score and indifferent hormone score distribution mode in the View Article and Find Full Text PDF

[Effect of early and non-early controlled-release of arsenic-trioxide eluting stents on restenosis inhibition in a canine model].

Objective: To observe the safety and efficacy of early or non-early controlled-release arsenic-trioxide (As(2)O(3))-eluting stents on reducing in-stent neointimal hyperplasia.

Methods: Bare stents, stents coated with polybutyl methacrylate/Nano silica (containing 200 microg of As(2)O(3) per stent or not), stents coated with polybutyl methacrylate/Nano silica inside (containing 200 microg of As(2)O(3) per stent or not) and poly-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) outside were deployed with mild oversizing in left anterior descending (LAD) and circumflex coronary arteries (LCX)of 30 canines (n = 6, 12 stents for each group).

Results: The mean injury scores were similar in all groups at 4 weeks post stents implantation while the mean neointimal thickness, neointimal area and degree of stenosis were significantly reduced and the lumen area significantly increased in canines receiving single coating stents containing As(2)O(3) compared with single or double coating stents and bare stents groups (all P < 0.