Circular RNA MAT2B Induces Colorectal Cancer Proliferation via Sponging miR-610, Resulting in an Increased E2F1 Expression.

Purpose: Recently, studies have demonstrated that a novel circular RNA (circRNA), circMAT2B, can promote cell proliferation and can thus contribute to the growth and development of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the precise mechanisms underlying in circMAT2B-induced colorectal cancer (CRC) cell proliferation are not yet fully understood.

Materials And Methods: Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was conducted to evaluate circMAT2B expression in 70 CRC tissues and 70 matched adjacent normal tissues, CRC cell lines and human colonic epithelial cell line (NCM460).

[Effects of nitrogen addition on the structure of rhizosphere microbial community in Pinus tabuliformis plantations on Loess Plateau, China].

Atmospheric nitrogen deposition in China displays a pronounced southeast-northwest gradient, with a range of ～35 kg·hm·a in southern and central China and ～7.55 kg·hm·a in the northwest. With the Grain for Green project, the environment of Loess Plateau has been greatly improved in the past decades.

Project Octo-Pills-Engaging community pharmacists in the care of patients from a tertiary hospital: A pilot study.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a pilot model engaging community pharmacists in the collaborative care of patients from a tertiary hospital, in terms of identification and resolution of drug-related problems (DRPs), and patients' acceptance and satisfaction with the program.

Methods: A prospective case series was conducted. Eligible patients were recruited from the tertiary hospital and referred to their preferred community pharmacy for medication reconciliation, review, and counseling.

Anion directing self-assembly of 2D and 3D water-stable silver(i) cation metal organic frameworks and their applications in real-time discriminating cysteine and DNA detection.

Two water-stable silver(i) cation metal organic frameworks (MOFs), namely 2D MOF {[Ag(L)]BF} (1) and 3D MOF {[Ag(L)]·(HO)·(CFSO)} (2) (L = 1-(4-aminobenzyl)-1,2,4-triazole), have been prepared. 1 is the first example of a 2D MOF-based sensor for real-time discrimination of l- and d-cysteine from other amino acids through the quenching effect. Through deliberately tuning the nanoparticles of 2 under ultrasound conditions, these nanoparticles are, for the first time, successfully applied as an excellent DNA detecting platform.

Primary hypothyroidism and isolated ACTH deficiency induced by nivolumab therapy: Case report and review.

Rationale: Nivolumab is a monoclonal IgG antibody blocking programmed death receptor-1 (PD1), leading to restoration of the natural T-cell-mediated immune response against the cancer cells. However, it also causes plenty of autoimmune-related adverse events, which often involves endocrine system.

Patient Concerns: A 54-year-old male with renal clear cell carcinoma was treated with nivolumab intravenously.

Project Octo-Pills - A practice model engaging community pharmacists in the care of patients from a tertiary hospital.

Even while pharmacy practice evolves to a more patient-centric mode of practice, local hospitals, due to high patient load as well as space and resource constraints, find it challenging to conduct thorough medication review and physical medication reconciliation for all patients. In light of this, optimizing the local current healthcare system to involve community pharmacists in the care of patients from public hospitals could potentially better cater to the healthcare needs of the older population. Due to easy accessibility, community pharmacies are often the first point of contact in the healthcare system.

Redox-dependent modulation of metformin contributes to enhanced sensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma to cisplatin.

Glutathione is the major intracellular anti-oxidant against reactive oxygen species and serves as a detoxification essential. The anti-diabetic drug metformin has been showed to exert anti-tumor activity via modulation of redox homeostasis. In this study, we provided evidence that metformin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of esophageal squamous cancer cells.

Rescue of the MERTK phagocytic defect in a human iPSC disease model using translational read-through inducing drugs.

Inherited retinal dystrophies are an important cause of blindness, for which currently there are no effective treatments. In order to study this heterogeneous group of diseases, adequate disease models are required in order to better understand pathology and to test potential therapies. Induced pluripotent stem cells offer a new way to recapitulate patient specific diseases in vitro, providing an almost limitless amount of material to study.

Dispensing medication refills without counselling.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to assess the safety and efficiency of, and acceptance by, patients for an express refill service (ERS). Design/methodology/approach A pilot uncontrolled, cross-sectional, single-centred study was conducted at the outpatient pharmacy of a tertiary acute care hospital. Under ERS, prescriptions were dispensed without clinical review and counselling for patients refilling prescription medications.

Mislocalisation of BEST1 in iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells from a family with autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy (ADVIRC).

Autosomal dominant vitreoretinochoroidopathy (ADVIRC) is a rare, early-onset retinal dystrophy characterised by distinct bands of circumferential pigmentary degeneration in the peripheral retina and developmental eye defects. ADVIRC is caused by mutations in the Bestrophin1 (BEST1) gene, which encodes a transmembrane protein thought to function as an ion channel in the basolateral membrane of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Previous studies suggest that the distinct ADVIRC phenotype results from alternative splicing of BEST1 pre-mRNA.

Modelling the cost-effectiveness of pharmacist-managed anticoagulation service for older adults with atrial fibrillation in Singapore.

Background Oral anticoagulation with warfarin is the cornerstone therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF) for stroke prevention. Multi-disciplinary anticoagulation management services have been shown to be cost-effective in the United States, Hong Kong and Thailand, but the findings are not readily generalizable to Singapore's healthcare system. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic (ACC) compared with usual care (UC) for the management of older adults with AF receiving oral anticoagulation with warfarin.

Longitudinal Changes in Liver Aminotransferases Predict Metabolic Syndrome in Chinese Patients with Nonviral Hepatitis.

Objective: This study explored the correlation of longitudinal changes in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels with the incidence of metabolic syndrome (Mets) based on a dynamic health examination cohort.

Methods: A Mets-free dynamic cohort involving 4541 participants who underwent at least three health examinations from 2006 to 2011 was included in the study. Mets was defined according to the Chinese Medical Association Diabetes Branch definition that included hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and hyperglycemia.

[Agriculture and forestry ecosystem services value in Guangzhou-Foshan Metropolitan Area under the background of urbanization, Southern China.].

From the land use vector data of Guangzhou-Foshan Metropolitan Area (GFMA) in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010, four types of agriculture and forestry ecosystem (cropland, forestland, garden and water body) were extracted. Then, we evaluated the GFMA's agriculture and forestry ecosystem services value (AESV) based on Costanza's method after adjusting the 'ecosystem services value per unit area of China's terrestrial ecosystem' raised by Xie Gaodi through regional, functional and economic factor adjustment. The results showed that the total AESV had a wavelike upward trend due to the continuous development of economy and the increase of people's living standards in GFMA.

Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary home-based medication review program in reducing healthcare utilization among older adult Singaporeans.

Aim: The study aimed to: (i) evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary home-based medication review (HBMR) program in reducing hospital admissions and emergency department (ED) visits, cost of hospital admissions and length of stay (LOS); and (ii) determine the prevalence of drug-related problems (DRP) in elderly Singaporeans.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out at an academic medical center in Singapore. Patients referred between 1 March 2011 and 31 December 2012 were included.

Maxillary anterior teeth dimensions and proportions in a central mainland chinese population.

Objectives: To obtain maxillary anterior tooth dimension and proportion values for the Central Chinese population and to evaluate the existence of sexual dimorphism, any consistent relationships between the tooth ratios, and the presence of golden proportions.

Methods: Tooth dimensions and proportions of six maxillary anterior teeth were recorded on gypsum casts obtained from 147 subjects (82 women and 65 men). Of these, 115 casts were digitally photographed in a standardised manner and apparent width values for six maxillary anterior teeth were recorded for golden proportion analysis.

Translational read-through of the RP2 Arg120stop mutation in patient iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelium cells.

Mutations in the RP2 gene lead to a severe form of X-linked retinitis pigmentosa. RP2 patients frequently present with nonsense mutations and no treatments are currently available to restore RP2 function. In this study, we reprogrammed fibroblasts from an RP2 patient carrying the nonsense mutation c.

The use of potentially inappropriate medications and changes in quality of life among older nursing home residents.

Background: Nursing home residents are mainly older people with multiple diseases and taking multiple medications. The quality use of medication and its association with health related quality of life (HRQoL) have not been reported in Malaysia. This study aims to investigate the association between the use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and the changes observed in the HRQoL among older nursing home residents.

Development and evaluation of a MAb-based ELISA for detection of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection with variable domain 2 and 3 of the major outer membrane protein.

Objective: This paper aims to develop a monoclonal antibodies (MAbs)- based ELISA for detecting Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) antigens in humans with the variable domains (VD) 2 and 3 of the major outer membrane protein (MOMPVD2-VD3) and to assess its sensitivity and specificity by comparing with a widely used MAb that is able to recognize the elementary bodies of C. pneumoniae.

A questionnaire survey of patient experience with the Rheumatology Monitoring Clinic in Singapore.

Aim: The concept of a pharmacist/advanced practice nurse (APN)-led Rheumatology Monitoring Clinic (RMC) is a novel service in Singapore; we therefore conducted a questionnaire survey of patient experience.

Methods: Patients attending the RMC were provided with a set of questionnaires. As a substudy, a separate questionnaire was given to the rheumatologists and therapists conducting the RMC.

Effects of 1800-MHz radiofrequency fields on circadian rhythm of plasma melatonin and testosterone in male rats.

Radiofrequency fields (RF) at 1800 MHz are known to affect melatonin (MEL) and testosterone in male rats, but it remains to be determined whether RF affected circadian rhythm of these plasma hormones. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 1800-MHz RF at 208 μw/cm² power density (SAR: 0.5762 W/kg) at different zeitgeber (ZT) periods of the day, including 0 (ZT0), 4 (ZT4), 8 (ZT8), 12 (ZT12), 16 (ZT16), and 20 (ZT20) h.

Evaluation of potentially inappropriate medications among older residents of Malaysian nursing homes.

Background: There is an increasing evidence of medicines related issues such as inappropriate prescribing among older people. Inappropriate prescribing is an important risk factor for adverse drug reactions and hospitalizations in the older people.

Objective: To assess and characterize the prevalence of Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIMs) in nursing home care in Malaysia as defined by Screening Tool of Older Peoples Prescriptions (STOPP) and Beers criteria.

Complement factor H genetic variant and age-related macular degeneration: effect size, modifiers and relationship to disease subtype.

Background: Variation in the complement factor H gene (CFH) is associated with risk of late age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Previous studies have been case-control studies in populations of European ancestry with little differentiation in AMD subtype, and insufficient power to confirm or refute effect modification by smoking.

Methods: To precisely quantify the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs1061170, 'Y402H') with risk of AMD among studies with differing study designs, participant ancestry and AMD grade and to investigate effect modification by smoking, we report two unpublished genetic association studies (n = 2759) combined with data from 24 published studies (26 studies, 26,494 individuals, including 14,174 cases of AMD) of European ancestry, 10 of which provided individual-level data used to test gene-smoking interaction; and 16 published studies from non-European ancestry.