Lower subcutaneous fat index predicts bone metastasis in breast cancer.

Background: Bone metastases affect 50% to 70% of breast cancer (BC) patients and have a high mortality rate. Adipose tissue loss plays a pivotal role in the progression of cancer.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of adipose tissue for bone metastasis in BC patients.

Preoperative PDW levels predict pulmonary metastasis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), pulmonary metastasis (PM) after hepatectomy is associated with poor clinical outcomes. The crucial phases of tumour cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis all entail platelet activation. In HCC, platelet distribution width (PDW) suggests platelet size changes and predicts a worse prognosis.

Utility of mean platelet volume in differentiating intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma from hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are the most prevalent histologic types of primary liver cancer. HCC and ICC differ in treatment and prognosis, warranting an effective differential diagnosis between them. This study aimed to explore the clinical value of mean platelet volume (MPV) to discriminate between HCC and ICC.

Preoperative Pectoralis Muscle Index Predicts Distant Metastasis-Free Survival in Breast Cancer Patients.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers, and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in females worldwide. Sarcopenia is related to adverse clinical outcomes in patients with malignancies. Muscle index is a key parameter in evaluating sarcopenia.

Transcription factor Klf9 controls bile acid reabsorption and enterohepatic circulation in mice via promoting intestinal Asbt expression.

Bile acid (BA) homeostasis is regulated by the extensive cross-talk between liver and intestine. Many bile-acid-activated signaling pathways have become attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment of metabolic disorders. In this study we investigated the regulatory mechanisms of BA in the intestine.

Significant difference of c-type lectin-like receptor 2 between colorectal cancer and polyp subgroups.

Background: Platelets play a key role in tumor progression and metastasis. C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2) is the receptor expressed on platelets and the marker of platelet activation.

Objective: This study aims to determine whether soluble CLEC-2 levels differ between patients with benign colorectal polyps and those with colorectal cancer (CRC).

Association between apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage and microsatellite instability status in colorectal cancer.

Background: The microsatellite instability (MSI) in colorectal cancer (CRC) has a more favorable clinical outcome and is characterized by highly upregulated expression of various immunological checkpoints than microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors. Apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage (AIM) is a circulating protein and circulates throughout the body to remove cellular debris. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between MSI status and AIM levels in CRC patients.

Higher platelet distribution width is associated with unfavorable prognosis in ovarian cancer.

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most malignant gynecological cancers. Platelets play a profound role in cancer growth and metastasis. Platelet distribution width (PDW) is an indicator of platelet activation and is altered in malignancies.

Involvement of galanin and galanin receptor 1 in nociceptive modulation in the central nucleus of amygdala in normal and neuropathic rats.

The present study was performed to explore the role of galanin and galanin receptor 1 (GalR 1) in nociceptive modulation in the central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) in normal rats and rats with neuropathy, and the involvement of GalR 1 and PKC was also investigated. The hindpaw withdrawal latencies (HWLs) to thermal and mechanical stimulations were increased in a dose-dependent manner after intra-CeA injection of galanin in both normal rats and rats with neuropathy. The increased HWLs were significantly attenuated by intra-CeA injection of galanin receptor antagonist M40, indicating an involvement of galanin receptor in nociceptive modulation in CeA.

Involvement of galanin and galanin receptor 2 in nociceptive modulation in anterior cingulate cortex of normal rats and rats with mononeuropathy.

The present study was performed to explore the role of galanin and galanin receptor 2 in nociceptive modulation in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of normal rats and rats with mononeuropathy. Intra-ACC injection of galanin induced significant increases in hindpaw withdrawal latencies (HWLs) to thermal and mechanical stimulations in both normal rats and rats with mononeuropathy, the increased HWLs were attenuated significantly by intra-ACC injection of galanin receptor 2 antagonist M871, indicating an involvement of galanin receptor 2 in nociceptive modulation in ACC. Interestingly, the galanin-induced HWL was significant higher in rats with mononeuropathy than that in normal rats tested by Randall Selitto test.

Antinociception induced by galanin in anterior cingulate cortex in rats with acute inflammation.

The present study was performed to explore the role of galanin in nociceptive modulation in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of rats with acute inflammation, and the changes in galanin and galanin receptor 2 (Gal R2) expressions in rats with acute inflammation. Intra-ACC injection of galanin induced antinociception in rats with acute inflammation, the antinociceptive effects induced by galanin were attenuated significantly by intra-ACC injection of the Gal R2 antagonist M871, indicating an involvement of Gal R2 in nociceptive modulation in ACC in rats with acute inflammation. Furthermore, we found that both the galanin mRNA expression and galanin content increased significantly in ACC in rats with acute inflammation than that in normal rats.

Involvement of galanin receptor 2 and CaMKII in galanin-induced antinociception in periaqueductal grey of rats.

The present study was performed to explore the effect of the galanin receptor 2 (GalR2) antagonist M871 on the galanin-induced antinociception in periaqueductal grey (PAG), and an involvement of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) in the galanin-induced antinociception. Intra-PAG injection of galanin induced marked increases in HWLs to noxious thermal and mechanical stimulation. The increased HWLs to thermal and mechanical stimulation decreased significantly after intra-PAG administration of the GalR2 antagonist M871, indicating an involvement of GalR2 in the galanin-induced antinociception in PAG of rats.

[A survey on the agricultural profession-related injuries among 11 902 rural residents in Shandong province].

Objective: To understand the prevalence and risk factors of agricultural activities related injuries among rural residents in Shandong province.

Methods: A retrospective investigation was conducted among agricultural profession-related workers in 20 villages with multistage cluster sampling method in Shandong province. Four times face-to-face interview were conducted by trained interviewers, including 32 students and local medical personnel under constructed questionnaires.

[Repeated gonadotropin stimulations lower the developmental potential of mouse oocytes].

Objective: To assess the effect of repeated gonadotropic stimulations on the developmental potential and growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9) expression of mouse oocytes.

Methods: Female Kunming mice were treated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) for 3 times, and the control mice were treated with normal saline. The two groups of mice were both stimulated subsequently to obtain the mature oocytes.

Rapid and accurate determination of VFAs and ethanol in the effluent of an anaerobic H(2)-producing bioreactor using near-infrared spectroscopy.

A rapid quantification method, based on Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) spectroscopy, was developed and validated to nondestructively quantify the concentrations of volatile fatty acids and ethanol in the effluent of an anaerobic H(2)-producing bioreactor. The first-derivative spectra calculated by a simple numerical difference, combined with the orthogonal signal correction method, were used as spectral preprocessing options. A calibration model was established and validated using gas chromatography measurement results.

Quantification of the interactions between a cationic dye and humic substances in aqueous solutions.

Humic substances (HS) are ubiquitous in natural waters. Due to their plentiful binding sites, HS play an important role in the mobilization and transport of pollutants in natural environments. However, the presence state of HS causes difficulty in exploring the interactions between HS and pollutants in aqueous solutions.

Determination of proteins and carbohydrates in the effluents from wastewater treatment bioreactors using resonance light-scattering method.

A simple and sensitive method was developed for the determination of low-concentration proteins and carbohydrates in the effluents from biological wastewater treatment reactors using resonance light-scattering (RLS) technique. Two ionic dyes, Congo red and Neutral red were, respectively used as an RLS probes for the determination of proteins and carbohydrates. This method is based on the interactions between biomacromolecules and dyes, which cause a substantial increase in the resonance scattering signal of dyes in the wavelength range of 200-650 nm.

Characterization of adsorption properties of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extracted from sludge.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of sludge play an important role in the adsorption of organic pollutants in wastewater biological treatments. Experiments were conducted to characterize the adsorption properties of EPS extracted from aerobic sludge (AE-EPS) and anaerobic sludge (AN-EPS) using a dye-probing method in this study. A model cationic dye, Toluidine blue (TB), was used as the dye probe.

A rapid quantitative method for humic substances determination in natural waters.

A simple and rapid method was proposed for humic substances (HS) determination at microgram levels in natural waters. This assay method is based on the binding of a dye, Toluidine Blue (TB), to HS molecules to produce a dye-HS complex, which causes a decrease in absorbance at 630 nm. This method was calibrated with HS samples with up to a concentration of 40 mg L(-1), which covered the range of dissolved HS concentrations present in natural waters.