Wnt Signaling Inhibitors and Their Promising Role in Tumor Treatment.

In a continuous search for the improvement of antitumor therapies, the inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway has been recognized as a promising target. The altered functioning of the Wnt signaling in human tumors points to the strategy of the inhibition of its activity that would impact the clinical outcomes and survival of patients. Because the Wnt pathway is often mutated or epigenetically altered in tumors, which promotes its activation, inhibitors of Wnt signaling are being intensively investigated.

Transcriptome profiling of osteoclast subsets associated with arthritis: A pathogenic role of CCR2 osteoclast progenitors.

Introduction: The existence of different osteoclast progenitor (OCP) subsets has been confirmed by numerous studies. However, pathological inflammation-induced osteoclastogenesis remains incompletely understood. Detailed characterization of OCP subsets may elucidate the pathophysiology of increased osteoclast activity causing periarticular and systemic bone resorption in arthritis.

Mathematical explanation of the buckling of the vessels after twisting of the microanastomosis.

Background: To obtain free flap success, microvascular anastomosis must be perfectly constructed. External compression, twisting (torsion) of the anastomosis site, tension on the anastomosis site, and kinking of the pedicle must be avoided. Few experimental studies report the patency rates of rat vessels after twisting (torsion) of the microanastomosis: these results recently opened a discussion for the maximal angle of torsion, which can be impressed to a vessel in order to have the best patency rates.

Use of continuous-wave Doppler echocardiography to evaluate the hemodynamic importance of atrial systole in patients with mitral stenosis.

Continuous-wave Doppler echocardiography was used to assess the hemodynamic role of left atrial systole and its effect on left ventricular performance in 31 patients with pure mitral stenosis. Seventeen (group I) had severe stenosis, and 14 (group II) had mild-to-moderate stenosis. The contribution of atrial systole to cardiac output was 15% in group I and 24% in group II (p < 0.