Pyroptosis in bone loss.

Pyroptosis could be responsible for the bone loss from bone metabolic diseases, leading to the negative impact on people's health and life. It has been shown that osteoclasts, osteoblasts, macrophages, chondrocytes, periodontal and gingival cells may be involved in bone loss linked with pyroptosis. So far, the involved mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.

Association between an insertion/deletion polymorphism in the interleukin-1α gene and the risk of colorectal cancer in a Chinese population.

Background: Previous studies have reported that polymorphisms in the interleukin-1 gene may be involved in tumorigenesis and tumor progression.

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether an insertion/deletion polymorphism, rs3783553, located in the miR-122 target gene interleukin-1α, was associated with the risk of colorectal cancer.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood of 382 patients with colorectal cancer and 433 controls, and the polymorphism was genotyped using a polymerase chain reaction assay.

Pressure-loaded MSCs during early osteodifferentiation promote osteoclastogenesis by increase of RANKL/OPG ratio.

Mechanical stress plays an important role in bone remodeling. However, it is still unclear whether mechanical stress regulates osteoclastogenesis mediated by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during initial osteodifferentiation. We investigated the effects of static and dynamic pressures on osteoclast-inducing potential of MSCs during early osteodifferentiation.

[Exploitation of a new noninvasive animal's blood pressure measuring apparatus and its function characterization].

Aim: To produce a new, noninvasive, animal's blood pressure measuring apparatus.

Methods: By applying the principle similar with the measurement of human blood pressure, we developed a software which knowledge property owned by this research group and solved the problems of exactly demarcating the measuring spot of diastolic pressure. The blood pressure of rabbits was measured by the novel noninvasive animal's blood pressure measuring apparatus and the classic surgical catheterizing method simultaneously.

Effects of recombinant human growth hormone on rat septic shock with intraabdominal infection by E. coli.

Aim: To investigate the therapeutic effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on rat septic shock with intraabdominal infection by E. coli and its possible mechanism.

Methods: 76 SD rats were divided into 3 groups randomly: control group (group C, n=16) without any special treatment, septic shock group (group S, n=30) received bolus injection of E.