Inhibitory Effect of TCF7L2 on Pancreatic β-Cell Dedifferentiation via ERK/MAPK Signaling Pathway in Diabetes.

Background: Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) variants seem to affect diabetes susceptibility through β-cell dysfunction, underlying basis of which has been considered to be β-cell dedifferentiation rather than apoptotic β-cell death. The Extracellular regulated protein kinases/Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway (ERK/MAPK signaling pathway) has been confirmed to be significantly associated with multiple cellular process, including cellular dedifferentiation. However, the effects of TCF7L2 on β-cell function and ERK/MAPK signaling pathway are poorly understood.

Influence of impact velocity and impact attack angle of bullets on damage of human tissue surrogate -- ballistic gelatin.

Purpose: Terminal performance of a bullet in human body is critical for the treatment of gunshot injury and optimization of bullet design. The effects of the impact velocity (v) and the impact attack angle (δ) of the bullet on its terminal performance was investigated, using a new evaluation method (called expansion method) based on the expansion of cracks and the permanent cavity wall in ballistic gelatin.

Methods: Ballistic gelatin was used to simulate human body.

The Chemosensory Pleasure Scale: A New Assessment for Measuring Hedonic Smell and Taste Capacities.

Anhedonia, or the inability to experience pleasure, is a key clinical feature of many mental disorders such as depression and schizophrenia. Although various valid measurements of anhedonia and pleasure experience exist, no scales exist that quantify smell and taste pleasure experiences. The Chemosensory Pleasure Scale (CPS) was therefore designed to assess the hedonic capacity for smell and taste pleasure.

Effectiveness of co-treatment with traditional Chinese medicine and letrozole for polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disease that affects gynecological health. Treatment of PCOS remains a big challenge for clinicians.

Objective: This meta-analysis was developed to compare the efficacy of co-treatment with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and letrozole against letrozole monotherapy in the treatment of PCOS.