A predictive model for frequent exacerbator phenotype of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: The frequent exacerbator phenotype of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is characterized by experiencing at least two exacerbations per year, leading to a significant economic burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Although several biomarkers have been shown to be effective in assessing AECOPD severity in recent years, there is a lack of studies on markers to predict the frequent exacerbator phenotype of AECOPD. The current study aimed to develop a new predictive model for the frequent exacerbator phenotype of AECOPD based on rapid, inexpensive, and easily obtained routine markers.

Diagnostic value and safety of medical thoracoscopy for pleural effusion of different causes.

Background: Pleural effusions occur for various reasons, and their diagnosis remains challenging despite the availability of different diagnostic modalities. Medical thoracoscopy (MT) can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, especially in patients with undiagnosed pleural effusion.

Aim: To assess the diagnostic efficacy and safety of MT in patients with pleural effusion of different causes.

AMOTL2 restrains transforming growth factor-β1-induced proliferation and extracellular matrix deposition of airway smooth muscle cells via the down-regulation of YAP1 activation.

Angiomotin-like 2 (AMOTL2) is a key modulator of signaling transduction and participates in the regulation of various cellular progresses under diverse physiological and pathological conditions. However, whether AMOTL2 participates in asthma pathogenesis has not been fully studied. In the present work, we studied the possible role and mechanism of AMOTL2 in regulating transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells.

The Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for HER-2-Positive Locally Advanced Breast Cancer and Survival Analysis.

To provide reference data, we retrospectively investigated the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on 119 patients with HER-2 locally advanced breast cancer, treated from November 2010 to July 2016, with respect to influencing factors and survival. They were divided into the pathological complete response (pCR; = 15; 12.6%) and non-pCR ( = 104; 87.

Targeted inhibition of GATA-6 attenuates airway inflammation and remodeling by regulating caveolin-1 through TLR2/MyD88/NF-κB in murine model of asthma.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of GATA-6 on airway inflammation and remodeling and the underlying mechanisms in a murine model of chronic asthma. Female BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups: phosphate-buffered saline control (PBS), ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma group (OVA), OVA+ siNC and OVA+ siGATA-6. In this mice model, GATA-6 expression level was significantly elevated and the expression in Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) inversely correlated with the abundance of GATA-6 in OVA-induced asthma of mice.

[An instant pain-relief effect of balance acupuncture for relieving sore throat in acute pharyngitis patients].

Objective: To observe the instant effect of "Balance Acupuncture" in relieving sore throat in patients with acute pharyngitis.

Methods: A total of 74 acute pharyngitis patients with sore throat were randomly assigned to treatment group (Balance Acupuncture, n = 36) and placebo acupuncture group (sham acupoint, n = 38). Patients of the Balance Acupuncture group were treated by acupuncture stimulation of bilateral "Yantong" (sore throat) point (the mid-point of the second metacarpal bone on the radial side) and those of the sham acupoint group were treated by acupuncture stimulation of the sham point (the site 1 cm lateral to the mid-point between the ulnar endpoint of the cubic transverse striation and that of the wrist-palm transverse striation).

The expression of protease-activated receptor 2 and 4 in the colon of irritable bowel syndrome patients.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) pathophysiology has not been fully understood. Abnormalities of serine proteases have been identified in IBS patients. In addition, protease-activated receptors (PAR) activation interferes with several components of the pathogenesis of IBS, so, evaluating the PAR expression in IBS patients may contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of the disease.

[Effect of genistein on hepatic stellate cell proliferation and lipid peroxidation in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effect of genistein on the proliferation and lipid peroxidation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in vitro and its the protective effect against hepatic fibrosis.

Methods: Rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6 cells) were divided into 3 groups and incubated in the presence of 0.1 mol/L hydrogen dioxide followed by washing with PBS for 3 times.