Melatonin Enhanced Microglia M2 Polarization in Rat Model of Neuro-inflammation Via Regulating ER Stress/PPARδ/SIRT1 Signaling Axis.

Neuro-inflammation involves distinct alterations of microglial phenotypes, containing nocuous pro-inflammatory M1-phenotype and neuroprotective anti-inflammatory M-phenotype. Currently, there is no effective treatment for modulating such alterations. M1/M2 marker of primary microglia influenced by Melatonin were detected via qPCR.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor deficiency augments dysregulated microangiogenesis and diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a pathophysiologic vasculopathic process with obscure mechanisms and limited effective therapeutic strategies. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is an important regulator of xenobiotic metabolism and an environmental sensor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of AhR in the development of DR and elucidate the molecular mechanism of its downregulation.

Primary appendiceal diffuse large B-cell lymphoma initially presenting as acute appendicitis: A case report.

Introduction: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common histologic subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounting for approximately 25% of all NHL cases. Primary appendiceal lymphomas (PAL) presenting as acute appendicitis are very rare, occurring in only 0.015% of all cases of gastrointestinal lymphoma.

Aggravation of pulmonary fibrosis after knocking down the aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor pathway.

Background And Purpose: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a devastating disease with multiple contributing factors. Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), with a reciprocal function to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), is involved in airway inflammation. The exact relationship between IGF1R and AhR in lung fibrogenesis is unclear.

Acute Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis in a Pregnant Patient at 10 Weeks Gestation: A Case Report.

Acute abdominal pain during pregnancy is challenging, both from a diagnostic and management perspective. A non-localized, persistent pain out of proportion to physical examination is a sign that advanced imaging may be necessary. Mesenteric venous thrombosis in a pregnant patient is extremely rare, but if diagnosis is delayed, can be potentially fatal to both the mother and the fetus.

Reappraisal learning curve of laparoscopic Roux-en Y gastric bypass: retrospective results of one hundred and eight cases from a low-volume unit.

Background: This study aimed to reevaluate the learning curve of laparoscopic Roux-en Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) in the modern era while considering a single surgeon's experience.

Methods: From the beginning of our LRYGB practice, all patients who met the regional criteria and underwent primary LRYGB were retrospectively enrolled. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) > 50 kg/m were excluded.

Therapeutic Potential of Tpl2 (Tumor Progression Locus 2) Inhibition on Diabetic Vasculopathy Through the Blockage of the Inflammasome Complex.

Objective: Diabetic retinopathy, one of retinal vasculopathy, is characterized by retinal inflammation, vascular leakage, blood-retinal barrier breakdown, and neovascularization. However, the molecular mechanisms that contribute to diabetic retinopathy progression remain unclear. Approach and Results: Tpl2 (tumor progression locus 2) is a protein kinase implicated in inflammation and pathological vascular angiogenesis.

Exploiting Honokiol-induced ER stress CHOP activation inhibits the growth and metastasis of melanoma by suppressing the MITF and β-catenin pathways.

There is increasing global incidence of highly metastatic melanoma and therapeutic strategies like those focusing on the downstream beta-catenin/MITF axis of invading melanoma cells are urgently needed. Targeting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress can promote cancer cell death and inhibit epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in metastatic tumors. This study aimed to determine if Honokiol could promote ER stress-dependent apoptosis and regulate metastatic melanoma.

Trends in diagnostic approaches for pediatric appendicitis: nationwide population-based study.

Background: To define the benefits of different methods for diagnosis of pediatric appendicitis in Taiwan, a nationwide cohort study was used for analysis.

Methods: We identified 44,529 patients under 18 years old who had been hospitalized with a diagnosis of acute appendicitis between 2003 and 2012. We analyzed the percentages of cases in which ultrasound (US) and/or computed tomography (CT) were performed and non-perforated and perforated appendicitis were diagnosed for each year.

Therapeutic effectiveness of percutaneous drainage and factors for performing an interval appendectomy in pediatric appendiceal abscess.

Background: In this study, we studied the therapeutic effectiveness of percutaneous drainage with antibiotics and the need for an interval appendectomy for treating appendiceal abscess in children with a research-oriented dataset released by the Bureau of National Health Insurance in Taiwan through the Collaboration Center for Health Information Application (CCHIA).

Methods: We identified 1225 patients under 18 years of age who had non-surgical treatment for an appendiceal abscess between 2007 and 2012 in a Taiwan CCHIA dataset. The treatment included percutaneous drainage with antibiotics or antibiotics alone.

Students' Interest in Surgery Affects Laparoscopic Practicing Performance.

Background And Objective: Earlier exposure to laparoscopic techniques is thought to be beneficial for medical students. Reports have demonstrated that practice improves performance in laparoscopies. In this study, we intended to evaluate whether medical students' interest in surgery is affected by the amount of practice and the performance on a laparoscopic simulator.

Melatonin set out to ER stress signaling thwarts epithelial mesenchymal transition and peritoneal dissemination via calpain-mediated C/EBPβ and NFκB cleavage.

Peritoneal dissemination of tumor has high mortality and is associated with the loss of epithelial features, acquisition of motile mesenchymal morphology characteristics, and invasive properties by tumor cells. Melatonin is an endogenously produced molecule in all plant species that is known to exert antitumor activity, but to date, its underlying mechanisms and antiperitoneal metastasis efficacy is not well defined. This study determined the antiperitoneal dissemination potential of melatonin in vivo and assessed its association with the inhibition of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling mechanism by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which may be a major molecular mechanism of melatonin against cancer.

Enhanced Allergic Inflammation of Der p 2 Affected by Polymorphisms of MD-2 Promoter.

Purpose: Myeloid differentiation-2 (MD-2) has been associated with endotoxin and inflammatory disorders because it can recognize lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding and attenuate Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated signaling. However, its role in allergic inflammation has yet to be clarified. We examined whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MD-2 promoter can affect MD-2 expression and aimed to clarify the relationship between Der p 2 allergy and SNPs of MD-2 promoter.

Honokiol confers immunogenicity by dictating calreticulin exposure, activating ER stress and inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.

Peritoneal dissemination is a major clinical obstacle in gastrointestinal cancer therapy, and it accounts for the majority of cancer-related mortality. Calreticulin (CRT) is over-expressed in gastric tumors and has been linked to poor prognosis. In this study, immunohistochemistry studies revealed that the up-regulation of CRT was associated with lymph node and distant metastasis in patients with gastric cancer specimens.

The novel Aryl hydrocarbon receptor inhibitor biseugenol inhibits gastric tumor growth and peritoneal dissemination.

Biseugenol (Eug) is known to antiproliferative of cancer cells; however, to date, the antiperitoneal dissemination effects have not been studied in any mouse cancer model. In this study, Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) expression was associated with lymph node and distant metastasis in patients with gastric cancer and was correlated with clinicolpathological pattern. We evaluated the antiperitoneal dissemination potential of knockdown AhR and Biseugenol in cancer mouse model and assessed mesenchymal characteristics.

Honokiol thwarts gastric tumor growth and peritoneal dissemination by inhibiting Tpl2 in an orthotopic model.

Honokiol is known to suppress the growth of cancer cells; however, to date, its antiperitoneal dissemination effects have not been studied in an orthotopic mouse model. In the present study, we evaluated the antiperitoneal dissemination potential of Honokiol in an orthotopic mouse model and assessed associations with tumor growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) and cells stimulated by a carcinogen, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Our results demonstrate that tumor growth, peritoneal dissemination and peritoneum or organ metastasis of orthotopically implanted MKN45 cells were significantly decreased in Honokiol-treated mice and that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was induced.

Calpain/SHP-1 interaction by honokiol dampening peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer in nu/nu mice.

Background: Honokiol, a small-molecular weight natural product, has previously been reported to activate apoptosis and inhibit gastric tumorigenesis. Whether honokiol inhibits the angiogenesis and metastasis of gastric cancer cells remains unknown.

Methodology/principal Findings: We tested the effects of honokiol on angiogenic activity and peritoneal dissemination using in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro assay systems.

Liver resection for complicated hepatocellular carcinoma: challenges but opportunity for long-term survivals.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often diagnosed late because of the lack of pathognomonic symptoms. This study evaluated outcomes following liver resection (LR) for patients with HCC presenting with large tumor size (over 10 cm), adjacent organ invasion, or ruptured tumor, which we termed as complicated HCC (cHCC).

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 660 HCC patients who underwent LR between January 2001 and July 2005.