Comprehensive analysis of an autophagy-related prognostic model for predicting survival based on TCGA and ICGC database in hepatocellular carcinoma patients.

Background: There is accumulating evidence that autophagic activity is crucial to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, we sought to develop a predictive model based on autophagy-related genes (ARGs) to forecast the prognosis of HCC patients.

Methods: Based on expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and ARGs from Human Autophagy Database (HADb), the differentially expressed ARGs were screened.

Efficacy and Safety of Methylprednisolone for Lung Surgery: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Introduction: The administration of methylprednisolone (MP) is a component of perioperative multimodal analgesia that mitigates the potentially deleterious effects of postoperative pain and opioid consumption. However, a systematic evaluation of the efficacy and safety of MP is lacking. The present systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to quantify the potential clinical benefits and risks of perioperative MP in lung surgery.

Population-attributable fractions of risk factors for all-cause dementia in China rural and urban areas: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The prevalence of dementia in China, particularly in rural areas, is consistently increasing; however, research on population-attributable fractions (PAFs) of risk factors for dementia is scarce.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey, namely, the China Multicentre Dementia Survey (CMDS) in selected rural and urban areas from 2018 to 2020. We performed face-to-face interviews and neuropsychological and clinical assessments to reach a consensus on dementia diagnosis.

Urban-Rural Disparities in the Association Between Body Mass Index and Cognitive Impairment in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study in Central China.

Background: Some studies have demonstrated an association between low and high body mass index (BMI) and an increased risk of dementia. However, only a few of these studies were performed in rural areas.

Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between BMI and cognitive impairment among community-dwelling older adults from rural and urban areas.

High serum uric acid is associated with increased arterial stiffness in hypertension.

Serum uric acid level has been found to be associated with cerebrovascular diseases. However, whether serum uric acid level is a risk factor for arterial stiffness in the hypertension population is unclear. This study was designed to determine the relationship between serum uric acid level and arterial stiffness in the hypertension population.

Leptin reverses corticosterone-induced inhibition of neural stem cell proliferation through activating the NR2B subunits of NMDA receptors.

Corticosterone inhibits the proliferation of hippocampal neural stem cells (NSCs). The removal of corticosterone-induced inhibition of NSCs proliferation has been reported to contribute to neural regeneration. Leptin has been shown to regulate brain development, improve angiogenesis, and promote neural regeneration; however, its effects on corticosterone-induced inhibition of NSCs proliferation remain unclear.

Elevated microRNA-155 promotes foam cell formation by targeting HBP1 in atherogenesis.

Aim: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in inflammatory responses of macrophages. However, the function of miRNAs in macrophage-derived foam cell formation is unclear. Here, we investigated the role of miRNAs in macrophage-derived foam cell formation and atherosclerotic development.

Activation of receptor for advanced glycation end products contributes to aortic remodeling and endothelial dysfunction in sinoaortic denervated rats.

Objective: The aim of present study was to test the hypothesis that activation of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) pathway contributes to aortic remodeling and endothelial dysfunction in sinoaortic denervated (SAD) rats.

Methods And Results: Experiment 1: 8 weeks after sinoaortic denervation, aortas were removed for measurement of AGE/RAGE pathway. Sinoaortic denervation in rats resulted in enhanced activity of aldose reductase, reduced activity of glyoxalase 1, accumulation of methylglyoxal and AGE, and upregulated expression of RAGE in aortas.

Midazolam provides cytoprotective effect during corticosterone-induced damages in rat astrocytes by stimulating steroidogenesis.

Midazolam is a benzodiazepine derivative drug that has powerful anxiolytic, amnestic, hypnotic, and sedative properties. The cytoprotective effect of midazolam on brain astrocytes is poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the cytoprotective effect of midazolam on astrocytes exposed to corticosterone, a stress-produced glucocorticoid.

Surgical trauma induces iron accumulation and oxidative stress in a rodent model of postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is recognized as a complication after surgery in the elderly. The exact pathogenic mechanisms of POCD are still unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of iron accumulation within the central nervous system in the development of cognitive dysfunction in rats following splenectomy.

[New method of processing on Rhei Radix Et Rhizoma and study on quality control of its processing products].

Objective: To establish a simple, rapid and usable new method of processing on Rhei Radix Et Rhizoma and the quality control standard on its processing products.

Methods: The studies of processing on Rhei Radix Et Rhizoma were proceed using yellow rice wine as solvent, through spray, soften and dry at 60-70 degrees C. The contents of total and uncombined chrysophanol and emodin in multi-Rhei Radix Et Rhizoma and its processing products were determined by HPLC.

[Antibody-induced ozone production and its potential effects on pathogenesis of atherosclerosis].

In the present study, we measured the antibody-catalyzed 03 formation from THP-1 monocytes activated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) by indigo carmine bleaching reaction test, and the accumulation of cholesterol in THP-1 monocytes by fluorescence spectrophotometric method, and analyzed the cholesterol ozonation product 5,6-secosterol by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to explore the potential effect of antibody-catalyzed water oxidation on pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. It was showed that THP-1 monocytes incubated with human IgG and PMA evidently produced an oxidant with the chemical signature of 03 which could bleach indigo carmine, and be intensified or inhibited respectively by catalase and vinylbenzoic acid. In the THP-1 monocytes incubated with human IgG, PMA and LDL, the intracellular accumulated total cholesterol (TC), free cholesterol (FC), cholesteryl ester (CE) and the CE/TC increased evidently, and the cholesterol ozonation product 5,6-secosterol was also produced markly, all of that were inhibited by vinylbenzoic acid.

Effect of ozone produced from antibody-catalyzed water oxidation on pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

Recent studies have suggested that antibodies can catalyze the generation of unknown oxidants including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ozone (O3) from singlet oxygen (1O2) and water. This study is aimed to detect the effect of antibody-catalyzed water oxidation on atherosclerosis. Our results showed that both H2O2 and O3 were produced in human leukemia THP-1 monocytes incubated with human immunoglobulin G and phorbol myristate acetate.