Efficacy of indirect intense pulsed light irradiation on meibomian gland dysfunction: a randomized controlled study.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy and mechanisms of indirect intense pulsed light (IPL) irradiation on meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Methods: A total of 60 MGD patients was included in this prospective randomized controlled trial. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 into two groups (3-mm group and 10-mm group) in which IPL was applied at distances from the lower eyelid margin of 3 and 10 mm, respectively.

[Research on alien invasive plants in Jingzhou County, Hunan Province, China].

Harm from alien invasive plants is increasing in Jingzhou County, Hunan Province. Based on a one-year field investigation and available literature, we investigated species composition, origin, flora, degree of harm and distribution pattern of invasive plants in the county. The results showed that there were 34 invasive plant species from 27 genera and 16 families in this County.

IL-7 promotes CD19-directed CAR-T cells proliferation through miRNA-98-5p by targeting CDKN1A.

CAR-T targeting CD19 have achieved significant effects in the treatment of B-line leukemia and lymphoma. However, the treated patients frequently relapsed and could not achieve complete remission. Therefore, improving the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CAR-T cells, reducing exhaustion and enhancing infiltration capacity are still issues to be solved.

Andrographolide suppresses breast cancer progression by modulating tumor-associated macrophage polarization through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Andrographolide(ADE) has been demonstrated to inhibit tumor growth through direct cytotoxicity on tumor cells. However, its potential activity on tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unclear. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), composed mainly of M2 macrophages, are the key cells that create an immunosuppressive TME by secretion of cytokines, thus enhancing tumor progression.

Evaluation of piggyBac-mediated anti-CD19 CAR-T cells after ex vivo expansion with aAPCs or magnetic beads.

Adoptive immunotherapy is a new potential method of tumour therapy, among which anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T cell), is a typical treatment agent for haematological malignancies. Previous clinical trials showed that the quality and phenotype of CAR-T cells expanded ex vivo would seriously affect the tumour treatment efficacy. Although magnetic beads are currently widely used to expand CAR-T cells, the optimal expansion steps and methods have not been completely established.

CTHRC1 promotes wound repair by increasing M2 macrophages via regulating the TGF-β and notch pathways.

The healing of acute wounds is vital to humans and is a well-orchestrated process that involves systemic and local factors. However, there is a lack of effective and safe clinical therapies. The collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1) protein is a type of exocrine protein that has been recently reported to contribute to tissue repair.

Assessment of tumor promoting effects of amniotic and umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and in vivo.

Purpose: Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) have been applied in a variety of therapies recently. However, the role of MSCs in tumor progression remains largely elusive. Some studies demonstrated that MSCs can promote tumor growth, while others had opposite results.

Molecular differences in Alzheimer's disease between male and female patients determined by integrative network analysis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia among the elderly. There has been increasing recognition of sex differences in AD prevalence, clinical manifestation, disease course and prognosis. However, there have been few studies on the molecular mechanism underlying these differences.

Inhibition of MiRNA-125b Decreases Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Targeting CK2α/NADPH Oxidase Signaling.

Background/aims: Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury involves multiple independently fatal terminal pathways. CK2α/NADPH oxidase is an important signaling pathway associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury, and miR-125b can regulate oxidative stress-related injury. In this study, we investigated whether the effect of miR-125b in rat brain I/R injury occurs through its modulation of the CK2α/NADPH oxidase pathway.

Suppressive effects of induced pluripotent stem cell-conditioned medium on in vitro hypertrophic scarring fibroblast activation.

Hypertrophic scarring (HS) is a type of fibrosis that occurs in the skin, and is characterized by fibroblast activation and excessive collagen production. However, at present, therapeutic strategies for this condition are ineffective. Previous studies have identified that the mutual regulation of chronic inflammation, mechanical force and fibroblast activation leads to the formation of HS.

Emodin has a protective effect in cases of severe acute pancreatitis via inhibition of nuclear factor‑κB activation resulting in antioxidation.

Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) accounts for up to 20% of acute pancreatitis (AP) cases. The absence of effective treatment options has resulted in a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Emodin is a major component of the Chinese herb rhubarb, which has been widely used in the treatment of numerous diseases, including inflammation and cancer.

Lumican Accelerates Wound Healing by Enhancing α2β1 Integrin-Mediated Fibroblast Contractility.

Lumican is a dermatan sulfate proteoglycan highly expressed in connective tissue and has the ability to regulate collagen fibril assembly. Previous studies have shown that lumican is involved in wound healing, but the precise effects of lumican on reepithelialization and wound contraction, the two pivotal aspects of skin wound healing, have not been investigated. Here we explored the roles of lumican in fibroblast contractility, a main aspect of skin wound healing, by adopting mice skin wound healing model and the corresponding in vitro cellular experiments.

Identification and characterization of an anti-fibrotic benzopyran compound isolated from mangrove-derived Streptomyces xiamenensis.

An anti-fibrotic compound produced by Streptomycesn xiamenensis, found in mangrove sediments, was investigated for possible therapeutic effects against fibrosis. The compound, N-[[3,4-dihydro-3S-hydroxy-2S-methyl-2-(4'R-methyl-3'S-pentenyl)-2H-1-benzopyran-6-yl]carbonyl]-threonine (1), was isolated from crude extracts and its structure, including the absolute configuration was determined by extensive spectroscopic data analyses, Mosher's method, Marfey's reagent and quantum mechanical calculations. In terms of biological effects, this compound inhibits the proliferation of human lung fibroblasts (WI26), blocks adhesion of human acute monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1) to a monolayer of WI26 cells, and reduces the contractile capacity of WI26 cells in three-dimensional free-floating collagen gels.

[Retrospective analysis of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characterization of ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP).

Methods: It was a retrospective series case study. Five consecutive patients referred for the evaluation of possible OCP from January 2005 to October 2008 in Departments of Ophthalmology and Dermatology of Peking University First Hospital.

KZn(4)SbO(7) and KZn(4)Sb(3)O(12): syntheses, structures and photophysics of Sb(5+) control materials.

Two novel compounds KZn(4)SbO(7) (1) and KZn(4)Sb(3)O(12) (2) having quasi-white light emission and second-harmonic generation are prepared, and their single-crystal structures are characterized as P6(3)mc and R3 space groups, respectively. The crystal structure transition from high symmetry P6(3)mc of 1 to low symmetry R3 of 2 arises from the large contents of Sb(5+) diluter in wurtzite-type ZnO crystals (ionic ratio of Sb(5+)/Zn(2+) = 1/4 and 3/4 for crystals 1 and 2). The lifetime and quantum efficiency of luminescence are measured, and the density of states and frequency doubling coefficients are calculated for the two compounds.

[Study on quantitative model for suspended sediment concentration in Taihu Lake].

The complicated compositions of Case II waters result in the complex properties of spectral curves. The present paper analyzed the in situ measurements data of spectral curves, and further realized the relationships between the properties of spectral curves and suspended sediment concentration. The study found that the max peak of spectral curves was moving to the direction of shortwavelength as increasing suspended sediment concentration, namely the blue shift of wavelength; the area enclosed by spectral curve and coordinate axis in the range of sensitive bands had preferably linear relationship with the suspended sediment concentration (curve area model); the trapezoidal area model which was an approximation of curve area model could also excellently reflect those relationships, and be greatly suitable for multi-spectral satellite imagery retrieval such as LandSat/TM, MODIS and so on.

[Retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics of toxic anterior segment syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the etiology, clinical features, treatment and prognosis of toxic anterior segment syndrome (TASS).

Methods: It was a retrospective series case study. The clinical data of eight definite diagnosed TASS cases were retrospectively analyzed.

KMBP2O8 (M = Sr, Ba): a new kind of noncentrosymmetry borophosphate with the three-dimensional diamond-like framework.

Two new isotypic anhydrous borophosphates, KMBP(2)O(8) (M = Sr, Ba), have been prepared under high temperature solution growth (HTSG). Investigation of single-crystal X-ray diffraction shows that they crystallize in noncentrosymmetric space group I42d with the following lattice parameters: a = 7.1095(18), c = 13.

[Effect of recombinant Sp1 gene on the collagen expression of hypertrophic scar fibroblasts in vitro].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of transfecting recombinant Sp1 into hypertrophic scar fibroblasts and investigate the proliferation and collagen I, III synthesis in the transfected cells.

Methods: Recombinant human Sp1 was transfected into hypertrophic scar fibroblasts with the karyocyte expressive vector. The expression of Sp1, collagen I, III mRNA was tested by real time PCR.

Etiology and management of axillary bromidrosis: a brief review.

Background: Axillary bromidrosis is a distressing condition that poses significant social embarrassment in almost all the countries over the world. However, its definite etiology has not been generalized yet. There have been a lot of treatments for bromidrosis, which can be roughly divided into two types: conservative management and radical surgical therapy.

Combined fascial flap and expanded skin flap for enveloping Medpor framework in microtia reconstruction.

The Medpor implant is another choice for a new auricular framework besides autogenous costal cartilage. However, its relatively frequent exposure and less-matching skin coverage discourage surgeons from using it. In this article, we present a new two-flap method, a combination of the temporoparietal fascial flap and the expanded skin flap, for wrapping the Medpor implant in microtia reconstruction.

Fat embolism syndromes following liposuction.

Fat embolism syndrome (FES) after liposuction is likely a life-threatening disorder, though its incidence is low. The three chief clinical manifestations include respiratory insufficiency, cerebral involvement, and petechial rash. Although FES is a multisystem disorder, the most seriously affected organs are the lungs, brain, cardiavascular system, and skin.