Enhancing cisplatin efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma with selenocystine: The suppression of DNA repair and inhibition of proliferation in hepatoma cells.

Cisplatin (cDDP) is a crucial chemotherapy drug for treating various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its effectiveness is often hindered by side effects and drug resistance. Selenocystine (SeC) demonstrates potential as an anticancer agent, particularly by inhibiting DNA repair mechanisms.

Selenocystine induces oxidative-mediated DNA damage via impairing homologous recombination repair of DNA double-strand breaks in human hepatoma cells.

Selenocystine (SeC) has been identified as a novel compound with broad-spectrum anticancer activity. However, the effects of SeC on modifying DNA repair mechanism were less addressed. In this study, we demonstrated that SeC selectively induced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity against HepG2 hepatoma cell line.

One-kilojoule pulsed-power generator for laboratory space sciences.

This paper reports on the assembly of a compact, low-cost, pulsed-power facility used for plasma studies. The construction uses two modules placed on opposite sides of the test chamber to minimize the system impedance and improve access to test samples. The stored energy is 1  kJ with a peak current of 135  kA and a 1592  ns quarter-period time.

Rail-gap switch with a multistep high-voltage triggering system.

A rail-gap switch with a multistep triggering system was developed. The rail-gap switch consisted of two rail-like electrodes and a knife-edge electrode parallel to each other. It was assembled from many pieces and filled with unpressurized-flowing dry air.

Liraglutide downregulates hepatic LDL receptor and PCSK9 expression in HepG2 cells and db/db mice through a HNF-1a dependent mechanism.

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a major regulator of cholesterol homeostasis, is associated with glucose metabolism. Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, can increase insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner and lower blood glucose. We aimed to investigate the relationship between liraglutide and PCSK9.

Increased Serum Leptin Levels in New-Onset, Untreated Female Patients with Coronary Artery Disease and Positively Associated with Inflammatory Markers.

Background/aims: Previous studies have suggested that leptin was associated with atherosclerosis and involved in inflammation. Gender differences between leptin and inflammatory markers have been evaluated less in untreated patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: In this study, a total of 394 consecutive Chinese patients who received coronary artery angiography were enrolled, including 243 patients with CAD and 151 non-CAD controls.

Triglyceride to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio and Cardiovascular Events in Diabetics With Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: It has been demonstrated that an elevated ratio of triglycerides (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is a risk factor of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and is also found to be associated with cardiovascular events (CVEs) in the general population. However, its prognostic value in patients with T2DM along with CAD remains to be determined.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1,447 consecutive patients with T2DM with angiographic-proven stable CAD were enrolled in the present study and followed-up for an average of 20.

Serum fibrinogen and cardiovascular events in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes and stable coronary artery disease: a prospective observational study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association of serum fibrinogen with cardiovascular events (CVE) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

Design: An observational study.

Setting: FuWai Hospital in Beijing, China.

Relationship of lipid and lipoprotein ratios with coronary severity in patients with new on-set coronary artery disease complicated with type 2 diabetics.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) progression. Although previous studies have demonstrated the association of lipid and lipoprotein ratios with CAD, no data are currently available concerning the relationship between lipid and lipoprotein ratios and the severity of new on-set CAD in diabetics. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of lipid and lipoprotein ratios in predicting the severity of CAD in patients with type 2 DM (T2DM).

Leptin decreases the expression of low-density lipoprotein receptor via PCSK9 pathway: linking dyslipidemia with obesity.

Background: Previous studies have suggested that people with obesity showed elevated serum levels of leptin as well as lipid dysfunction and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) played an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism recently. The aim of this study was to determine if leptin participated in regulating the uptake of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in hepatocytes via PCSK9.

Methods: HepG2 cells were treated with human recombinant leptin.

Circulating MicroRNAs as Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers for Very Early-onset (≤40 years) Coronary Artery Disease.

Objective: Very early-onset coronary artery disease (CAD) is a great challenge in cardiovascular medicine throughout the world, especially regarding its early diagnosis. This study explored whether circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) could be used as potential biomarkers for patients with very early-onset CAD.

Methods: We performed an initial screening of miRNA expression using RNA isolated from 20 patients with angiographically documented very early-onset CAD and 20 age- and sex-matched normal controls.

Plasma PCSK9 level is unrelated to blood pressure and not associated independently with carotid intima-media thickness in hypertensives.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a novel target for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-lowering therapy, has been found to possess multiple off-target effects in humans. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of blood pressure (BP) with plasma PCSK9 levels in a large Chinese cohort and the relation of PCSK9 level to carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in hypertensive patients. A total of 805 patients without lipid-lowering drug therapy were consecutively enrolled.

ABO blood group system and the coronary artery disease: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABO blood group system, a well-known genetic risk factor, has clinically been demonstrated to be linked with thrombotic vascular diseases. However, the relationship between ABO blood group and coronary artery disease (CAD) is still controversial. We here performed an updated meta-analysis of the related studies and tried to elucidate the potential role of ABO blood group as a risk factor for CAD.

Plasma d-Dimer as a Useful Marker Predicts Severity of Atherosclerotic Lesion and Short-Term Outcome in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease.

Increased d-dimer is indicative of a hypercoagulable state and found to be associated with acute coronary syndromes. The present study aimed to evaluate whether plasma d-dimer levels could predict subsequent major clinical events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). First, 2209 angiographic-proven patients with CAD were consecutively enrolled.

Pharmacokinetics of silybin nanoparticles in mice bearing SKOV-3 human ovarian carcinoma xenocraft.

The particle fabrication technique was used to fabricate monodisperse size and shape specific poly (lactide-co-glycolide) particles loaded with the silybin. Response surface methodology (RSM) using the central composite rotatable design (CCRD) model was used to optimize formulations of silybin nanoparticles. Further the optimized nanoparticles are characterized for particle size, zeta potential, surface morphology, entrapment efficiency, in-vitro drug release, silybin availability for tumor, plasma, lung, spleen, liver were determined.

Positive correlation of plasma PCSK9 levels with HbA1c in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) has been demonstrated to be involved in not only lipid metabolism but also glucose homeostasis. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c ) is a 'gold standard' for monitoring long-term glycaemic control. However, the correlation of plasma PCSK9 levels with HbA1c remains undetermined.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced CD147 expression and its inhibition by high-density lipoprotein on platelets in vitro.

Introduction: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are believed to progressively degrade the collagenous components of the protective fibrous cap, leading to atherosclerotic plaque rupture or destabilization. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) enhances the release of CD147, known as the extracellular MMP inducer, from coronary smooth muscle cells. However, whether ox-LDL can induce platelet CD147 expression is unknown.

Determinations of the inclusion complex between gossypol and beta-cyclodextrin.

Features of the inclusion complex between gossypol (Gos) and beta-cyclodextrin (CD), such as its aqueous solubility, association constant, characteristics in the solid state and crystalline morphology, as well as the stoichiometry of this complex have been determined. The phase-solubility diagram drawn using UV detections belongs to an AN-type. Fluorescence detection and calculation with the modified Benesi-Hidebrond equation provide an 1:2 stoichiometry for the complex.

Study on structure and characterization of inclusion complex of gossypol/beta cyclodextrin.

The inclusion complex of beta-cyclodextrin with gossypol was synthesized by using a convenient method of microwave irradiation. The structure of the complex was determined by 1H NMR, IR spectroscopy, and as well as the elemental analysis; the thermal stability was studied by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The association constant between gossypol and beta-cyclodextrin measured via UV spectroscopy was 4462M(-1) at room temperature, following stoichiometry 1:2.