Oncogenic cholesterol rewires lipid metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma via the CSNK2A1-IGF2R Ser2484 axis.

Introduction: Alcohol consumption and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are common risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, few studies have focused on elucidating the mechanisms of HCC with combined alcohol and HBV etiology.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the molecular features of alcohol and HBV on HCC and to seek out potential therapeutic strategies.

Longitudinal relationship between social participation, depressive symptoms, and activity impairment among older patients with arthritis: a moderated mediation analysis.

Background: Arthritis primarily affects older people and is a prominent cause of their activity impairment. This study aimed to examine the mediating role of depressive symptoms in the relationship between social participation and activity impairment, as well as to determine whether sex moderated the mediating effect.

Methods: A total of 2247 older patients with arthritis were included from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study between 2015 and 2018.

Baseline Serum Estradiol Level Is Associated with Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Moderately Severe and Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Background: Sexual dimorphism with critical diseases has been documented. However, the role of serum sex hormones for the presence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in moderately or severe acute pancreatitis (MSAP and SAP) patients remains controversial. Here we set out to evaluate whether early (first 48 h) serum estradiol level is associated with AKI in patients with MSAP and SAP.

Elevated PCT at ICU discharge predicts poor prognosis in patients with severe traumatic brain injury: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Disease severity and inflammatory response status are closely related to a poor prognosis and must be assessed in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) before intensive care unit (ICU) discharge. Whether elevated serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels can predict a poor prognosis in STBI patients before ICU discharge is unclear.

Methods: This retrospective observational cohort study enrolled 199 STBI patients who were in the ICU for at least 48 hours and survived after discharge.

Saikosaponin A protects against dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis in mice.

Ulcerative colitis, one of the most important inflammatory bowel diseases, affects millions of people worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Saikosaponin A on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. The mice were treated with 2.

Identification of atherosclerosis-related prioritizing metabolites based on a multi-omics composite network.

Metabolites are the final products of cellular regulation processes, their level is the ultimate response of biological systems to environmental and genetic changes. Therefore, the identification of key metabolites is required for the diagnosis and therapy of diseases. In this study, atherosclerosis-related gene expression profile information was extracted from ArrayExpress database (GEOD-57691), and analyzed with limma package.

Identification of QTN and candidate genes for Salinity Tolerance at the Germination and Seedling Stages in Rice by Genome-Wide Association Analyses.

To facilitate developing rice varieties tolerant to salt stress, a panel of 208 rice mini-core accessions collected from 25 countries were evaluated for 13 traits associated with salt tolerance (ST) at the germination and seedling stages. The rice panel showed tremendous variation for all measured ST traits and eight accessions showing high levels of ST at either and/or both the germination and seedling stages. Using 395,553 SNP markers covering ~372 Mb of the rice genome and multi-locus mixed linear models, 20 QTN associated with 11 ST traits were identified by GWAS, including 6 QTN affecting ST at the germination stage and 14 QTN for ST at the seedling stage.

Harnessing the hidden genetic diversity for improving multiple abiotic stress tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

To develop superior rice varieties with improved yield in most rainfed areas of Asia/Africa, we started an introgression-breeding program for simultaneously improving yield and tolerances of multiple abiotic stresses. Using eight BC1 populations derived from a widely adaptable recipient and eight donors plus three rounds of phenotypic selection, we developed 496 introgression lines (ILs) with significantly higher yield under drought, salt and/or non-stress conditions in 5 years. Six new varieties were released in the Philippines and Pakistan and many more are being evaluated in multi-location yield trials for releasing in several countries.

Comparison of reendothelialization and neointimal formation with stents coated with antibodies against endoglin and CD34 in a porcine model.

Anti-CD34 coated stents are the only commercialized antibody-coated stents currently used for coronary artery diseases with various limitations. Endoglin plays important roles in the proliferation of endothelial cells and vascular remodeling and could be an ideal target surface molecule. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of stents coated with anti-endoglin antibodies (ENDs) in terms of endothelial recovery and the reduction of neointimal formation.

A novel stent coated with antibodies to endoglin inhibits neointimal formation of porcine coronary arteries.

Endoglin/CD105 is an accessory protein of the transforming growth factor-β receptor system that plays a critical role in proliferation of endothelial cells and neovasculature. Here, we aimed to assess the effect of novel stents coated with antibodies to endoglin (ENDs) on coronary neointima formation. Thirty ENDs, thirty sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs), and thirty bare metal stents (BMSs) were randomly assigned and placed in the coronary arteries in 30 juvenile pigs.

Role of LM23 in cell proliferation and apoptosis and its expression during the testis development.

LM23, a gene expressed specifically in the testis in a stage-specific manner, has a diverse range of functions that are important in both the life and death of spermatogenic cells. The aim of this study was to further investigate the expression of LM23 in the developing rat testis and the biological function of LM23 in proliferation and antiapoptosis in vitro. Semiquantitative reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and real-time PCR were used to examine the expression of LM23 in testis at different developmental stages.

[Small RNA molecules and regulation of spermatogenesis].

Small RNA molecules (small RNAs) have recently emerged as important regulators of gene expression at the post-transcriptional or translation level. Significant progress has recently been made in utilizing small RNAs to elucidate the molecular mechanisms regulating spermatogenesis. There are three major small RNAs: small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs).

[Efficacy of stents coated with antibody against CD105 on preventing restenosis and thrombosis in minipigs].

Objective: Novel stents loaded with antibody against CD105 were analyzed for their potential to limit coronary neointima formation and to accelerate endothelialization by attracting activated endothelial cell.

Methods: Thirty Stents coated with antibody against CD105, thirty unloaded polymer, and thirty bare metal stents were deployed in 90 coronary arteries of 30 minipigs. Oral aspirin (300 mg before operation and 100 mg post operation) and clopidogrel (300 mg before operation and 75 mg post operation) were orally administrated.

Blocking of PI3K/AKT induces apoptosis by its effect on NF-κB activity in gastric carcinoma cell line SGC7901.

NF-κB plays an important role in many aspects of tumorigenesis and tumor progression by its antiapoptosis effect. Hence, NF-κB has been regarded as a therapeutic target in cancer, because inhibition of NF-κB not only induces enhancing apoptosis but also causes increasing sensitivity to radiation or chemotherapy in several tumor cells. The activation of NF-κB is presumed to be associated with PI3K/Akt signal pathway in gastric carcinoma, but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear.

Relationship among soluble CD105, hypersensitive C-reactive protein and coronary plaque morphology: an intravascular ultrasound study.

Background: Rupture of unstable plaque with subsequent thrombus formation is the common pathophysiological substrate of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). It is of potential significance to explore the blood indexes predicting plaque characteristics. We investigated the relationship among soluble CD105, hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and coronary plaque morphology.