Treatment of retrogastric pancreatic pseudocysts by laparoscopic transgastric cystogastrostomy.

This paper discusses variations of laparoscopic transgastric cystogastrostomy in management of retrogastric pancreatic pseudocysts for 8 patients with symptom or pseudocysts (larger than 6 cm) companied with clinical manifestations. Using a Harmonic scalpel, two 3-5-cm incisions were made in the anterior and posterior gastric wall respectively. In the last step, the anterior gastrotomy was closed with an Endo-GIA stapler.

The terpene synthase gene family in Gossypium hirsutum harbors a linalool synthase GhTPS12 implicated in direct defence responses against herbivores.

Herbivore-induced terpenes have been reported to function as ecological signals in plant-insect interactions. Here, we showed that insect-induced cotton volatile blends contained 16 terpenoid compounds with a relatively high level of linalool. The high diversity of terpene production is derived from a large terpene synthase (TPS) gene family.

Prognostic implications and procoagulant activity of phosphatidylserine exposure of blood cells and microparticles in patients with atrial fibrillation treated with pulmonary vein isolation.

The present study aimed to evaluate the procoagulant effects of phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure on blood cells and microparticles (MPs), and examine its role in predicting early recurrence atrial fibrillation (ERAF) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Blood samples were obtained from 40 healthy controls and 56 patients with AF at baseline (prior to PVI), and 0, 1 h, 1 day, 3 days and 7 days following PVI. The exposure of PS (PS+) to blood cells (platelets, erythrocytes and leukocytes) and MPs was detected using flow cytometry.

Epidemiological analysis of 133 malaria cases in Shanxian county, Shandong Province, China.

Objective: To conduct an analysis of the epidemiological changes in malaria that have occurred in Shanxian county from 2002 to 2016.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted and data were collected from web-based reporting system to explore the epidemiological characteristics in Shanxian county from 2002 to 2016. All individual case information was obtained from village malaria servicers organized by the local Shandong Institute of Parasitic Diseases.

Isolated hepatic tuberculosis in the caudate lobe mimicking intrahepatic carcinoma.

Although tuberculosis (TB) remains a worldwide epidemic, isolated hepatic TB is an extremely rare entity and poorly described in the literature. Isolated hepatic TB may pose a diagnostic dilemma due to the non-specific clinical symptoms and imaging features. We present a case of a 54-year-old female with an isolated caseating granulomatous lesion at the caudate lobe of liver involving the pancreatic head.

MXRA5 is decreased in preeclampsia and affects trophoblast cell invasion through the MAPK pathway.

Preeclampsia causes gestational failure in a significant number of women annually. Insufficient trophoblast cell invasion plays an essential role in preeclampsia pathogenesis. Matrix-remodeling associated 5 (MXRA5) is a proteoglycan involved in adhesion and matrix remodeling.

Protective role of berberine and Coptischinensis extract on T2MD rats and associated islet Rin‑5f cells.

The aim of the present study was to compare the different effects of berberine (Ber) and Coptischinensis extract (CCE) on a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the islet Rin‑5f cell line was used to examine the differences between Ber and CCE and the underlying mechanisms. CCE was extracted and purified prior to analysis. Male Sprague‑Dawley rats were provided with a high‑fat diet to induce insulin resistance prior to injecting with streptozotocinto establish the T2DM model, the T2DM rats were treated with Ber and CCE, and blood samples and pancreatic tissues were obtained and compared to examine T2DM metabolic syndromes among the groups of rats, which included healthy rats, model rats, and model rats treated with Ber and CCE at different doses between 0 and 8 weeks.

DT-13 Ameliorates TNF-α-Induced Vascular Endothelial Hyperpermeability Non-Muscle Myosin IIA and the Src/PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway.

DT-13(25(R,S)-ruscogenin-1[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)][β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-d-fucopyranoside) has been identified as an important factor in TNF-α-induced vascular inflammation. However, the effect of DT-13 on TNF-α-induced endothelial permeability and the potential molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Hence, this study was undertaken to elucidate the protective effect of DT-13 on TNF-α-induced endothelial permeability and the underlying mechanisms and .

Expression of Ski and its role in astrocyte proliferation and migration.

Ski, as an evolutionarily conserved protein, is a versatile transcriptional regulator which widely distributes in various tissues and species. Recently, we have demonstrated for the first time that Ski was strikingly up-regulated in reactive astrocytes after spinal cord injury (SCI) in vivo, which indicates that maybe Ski is a new molecule that controls astrocytes' biological properties after SCI. However, the accurate distributions and functions of Ski in astrocytes after central nervous system (CNS) injury are still unclear.

Extract of Sheng-Mai-San Ameliorates Myocardial Ischemia-Induced Heart Failure by Modulating Ca-Calcineurin-Mediated Drp1 Signaling Pathways.

Sheng-Mai-San (SMS) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) complex prescription used to treat heart failure (HF) and angina in clinic. However, its potential therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. The present study evaluated the cardioprotection of extract of SMS (ESMS) on myocardial ischemia (MI)-induced HF, and explored the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Oxytocin Modulates Attention Switching Between Interoceptive Signals and External Social Cues.

Emotional experience involves an integrated interplay between processing of external emotional cues and interoceptive feedback, and this is impaired in a number of emotional disorders. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) enhances the salience of external social cues but its influence on interoception is unknown. The present pharmaco-fMRI study therefore investigated whether OT enhances interoceptive awareness and if it influences the interplay between interoceptive and salience processing.

Characterization of the Potent, Selective Nrf2 Activator, 3-(Pyridin-3-Ylsulfonyl)-5-(Trifluoromethyl)-2-Chromen-2-One, in Cellular and In Vivo Models of Pulmonary Oxidative Stress.

Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is a key regulator of oxidative stress and cellular repair and can be activated through inhibition of its cytoplasmic repressor, Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Several small molecule disrupters of the Nrf2-Keap1 complex have recently been tested and/or approved for human therapeutic use but lack either potency or selectivity. The main goal of our work was to develop a potent, selective activator of NRF2 as protection against oxidative stress.

A Novel Method for Low-Contrast and High-Noise Vessel Segmentation and Location in Venipuncture.

Blood sampling is the most common medical technique, and vessel detection is of crucial interest for automated venipuncture systems. In this paper, we propose a new convex-regional-based gradient model that uses contextually related regional information, including vessel width size and gray distribution, to segment and locate vessels in a near-infrared image. A convex function with the interval size of vessel width is constructed and utilized for its edge-preserving superiority.

Surgical strategies for thoracic myelopathy due to ossification of ligamentum flavum: A technical note based on radiological type.

Aim: Ossification of the ligamentumflavum (OLF) is a primary cause of thoracic myelopathy. A relatively safe surgical technique based on radiological type is described for the OLF-induced thoracic myelopathy.

Material And Methods: Forty patients with thoracic myelopathy caused by OLF were studied retrospectively.

Enhanced procoagulant activity of platelets after chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer.

The procoagulant status of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after chemotherapy is poorly characterized and the role of platelets in hypercoagulative state of NSCLC is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the procoagulant activity (PCA) of platelets in NSCLC before and after chemotherapy. The subjects were 52 patients newly diagnosed with NSCLC.

Phosphatidylserine-mediated platelet clearance by endothelium decreases platelet aggregates and procoagulant activity in sepsis.

The mechanisms that eliminate activated platelets in inflammation-induced disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in micro-capillary circulation are poorly understood. This study explored an alternate pathway for platelet disposal mediated by endothelial cells (ECs) through phosphatidylserine (PS) and examined the effect of platelet clearance on procoagulant activity (PCA) in sepsis. Platelets in septic patients demonstrated increased levels of surface activation markers and apoptotic vesicle formation, and also formed aggregates with leukocytes.

Upconversion nanoparticle-mediated photodynamic therapy induces autophagy and cholesterol efflux of macrophage-derived foam cells via ROS generation.

Macrophage-derived foam cells are a major component of atherosclerotic plaques and have an important role in the progression of atherosclerotic plaques, thus posing a great threat to human health. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has emerged as a therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis. Here, we investigated the effect of PDT mediated by upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles encapsulating chlorin e6 (UCNPs-Ce6) on the cholesterol efflux of THP-1 macrophage-derived foam cells and explored the possible mechanism of this effect.

Oxytocin facilitation of acceptance of social advice is dependent upon the perceived trustworthiness of individual advisors.

The neuropeptide oxytocin may increase social cohesion by making us more willing to trust others and/or to conform to their opinions. Here we investigated whether intranasal oxytocin can influence acceptance of advice given on solving everyday social problems by either individual expert (psychologist) or non-expert advisors with or without influencing their perceived likeability or trustworthiness. In a double-blind, between-subject, placebo-control design study in 160 male and female subjects, intranasal oxytocin (24IU) only significantly enhanced acceptance of advice given by female psychologists who were rated as the most trustworthy advisors.

The saponin D39 blocks dissociation of non-muscular myosin heavy chain IIA from TNF receptor 2, suppressing tissue factor expression and venous thrombosis.

Background And Purpose: Non-muscular myosin heavy chain IIA (NMMHC IIA) plays a key role in tissue factor expression and venous thrombosis. Natural products might inhibit thrombosis through effects on NMMHC IIA. Here, we have shown that a natural saponin, D39, from Liriope muscari exerted anti-thrombotic activity in vivo, by targeting NMMHC IIA.

Oriented Built-in Electric Field Introduced by Surface Gradient Diffusion Doping for Enhanced Photocatalytic H Evolution in CdS Nanorods.

Element doping has been extensively attempted to develop visible-light-driven photocatalysts, which introduces impurity levels and enhances light absorption. However, the dopants can also become recombination centers for photogenerated electrons and holes. To address the recombination challenge, we report a gradient phosphorus-doped CdS (CdS-P) homojunction nanostructure, creating an oriented built-in electric-field for efficient extraction of carriers from inside to surface of the photocatalyst.

The Myosin II Inhibitor, Blebbistatin, Ameliorates FeCl3-induced Arterial Thrombosis via the GSK3β-NF-κB Pathway.

Arterial thrombosis and its related diseases are major healthcare problems worldwide. Blebbistatin is an inhibitor of myosin II, which plays an important role in thrombosis. The aim of our study is to explore the effect and potential mechanism of blebbistatin on arterial thrombosis.

The essential oil from the twigs of Cinnamomum cassia Presl inhibits oxytocin-induced uterine contraction in vitro and in vivo.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The twigs and bark of Cinnamomum cassia Presl (Lauraceae) are widely used in traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of tumor, abdominal pain, dysmenorrhea, digestive system disease and inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the inhibitory effect of the essential oil from the twigs of Cinnamomum cassia Presl (EOCC) on uterine contraction in vitro and in vivo.

Materials And Methods: The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mouse uterine contraction was induced by oxytocin (OT) exposure following estradiol benzoate pretreatment.

Intracranial IL-17A overexpression decreases cerebral amyloid angiopathy by upregulation of ABCA1 in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease.

Neuroinflammation is a pervasive feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and characterized by activated microglia, increased proinflammatory cytokines and/or infiltrating immune cells. T helper 17 (Th17) cells are found in AD brain parenchyma and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is identified around deposits of aggregated amyloid β protein (Aβ). However, the role of IL-17A in AD pathogenesis remains elusive.

Synthesis, crystal structures and luminescence properties of seven mononuclear zinc(II), cadmium(II), cobalt(II) and nickel(II) complexes with 5-(4-methylphenyl)-3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole.

Due to their versatile coordination modes and metal-binding conformations, triazolyl ligands can provide a wide range of possibilities for the construction of supramolecular structures. Seven mononuclear transition metal complexes with different structural forms, namely aquabis[3-(4-methylphenyl)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazolato-κN,N]zinc(II), [Zn(CHN)(HO)], (I), bis[5-(4-methylphenyl)-3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-κN,N]bis(nitrato-κO)zinc(II), [Zn(NO)(CHN)], (II), bis(methanol-κO)bis[3-(4-methylphenyl)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazolato-κN,N]zinc(II), [Zn(CHN)(CHO)], (III), diiodidobis[5-(4-methylphenyl)-3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-κN,N]cadmium(II), [CdI(CHN)], (IV), bis[5-(4-methylphenyl)-3-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole-κN,N]bis(nitrato-κO)cadmium(II), [Cd(NO)(CHN)], (V), aquabis[3-(4-methylphenyl)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazolato-κN,N]cobalt(II), [Co(CHN)(HO)], (VI), and diaquabis[3-(4-methylphenyl)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazolato-κN,N]nickel(II), [Ni(CHN)(HO)], (VII), have been prepared by the reaction of transition metal salts (Zn, Cd, Co and Ni) with 3-(4-methylphenyl)-5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1H-1,2,4-triazole (pymphtzH) under either ambient or hydrothermal conditions. These compounds have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction.