[Levels of blood pressure and blood glucose in elderly patients with hypertension and diabetes: association with carotid atherosclerosis].

Objective: To explore the association between blood pressure and blood glucose levels and carotid atherosclerosis in elderly patients with essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: A total of 670 patients aged 60 years or over with hypertension and T2DM were recruited and categorized by their systolic blood pressure (SBP): tight control, < 130 mm Hg, usual control, 130 - 139 mm Hg, or uncontrolled, ≥ 140 mm Hg; and by their HbA1c level: tight control < 6.5%, usual control 6.

[Association between parental MTHFR gene polymorphism 677C/T and nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate in offspring].

Objective: To explore the association between parental genetic polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C/T and occurrence of nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) in offspring in Shandong Province.

Methods: MTHFR genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Parents of 89 NSCL/P patients treated at Qilu Hospital from August, 2006 to August, 2008 and those of 64 healthy children were recruited in this case-control study.

Expression of MMP-3 and TIMP-3 in gastric cancer tissue and its clinical significance.

The present study aimed to investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) in gastric cancer tissue, as well as to analyze the correlation between their expression and the occurrence of gastric cancer. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of MMP-3 and TIMP-3 in the gastric cancer tissue from 18 patients with early-stage gastric cancer (early-stage group) and 26 patients with advanced-stage gastric cancer (advanced-stage group). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the lymphocytes and tumor cells in gastric cancer tissue.

Generation of a highly reactive chicken-derived single-chain variable fragment against Fusarium verticillioides by phage display.

Fusarium verticillioides is the primary causal agent of Fusarium ear and kernel rot in maize, producing fumonisin mycotoxins that are toxic to humans and domestic animals. Rapid detection and monitoring of fumonisin-producing fungi are pivotally important for the prevention of mycotoxins from entering into food/feed products. Chicken-derived single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) against cell wall-bound proteins from F.

Translation of Pur-α is targeted by cellular miRNAs to modulate the differentiation-dependent susceptibility of monocytes to HIV-1 infection.

The postentry restriction of HIV-1 replication in monocytes can be relieved when they differentiate to dendritic cells (DCs) or macrophages. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed to interpret the differentiation-dependent susceptibility of monocytes to HIV-1 infection, and the absence of host-cell-encoded essential factors for HIV-1 completing the life cycle may provide an explanation. We have analyzed the gene expression profile in monocytes by mRNA microarray and compared it with that of differentiated DCs.

[Analysis of head volatile constituents of Polyonum cuspidatum flower by HS-GC/MS].

Objective: To analyze the floral volatiles of Polyonum cuspidatum flower.

Methods: The floral volatiles of P. cuspidaturn flower were investigated by Headspace Sampler GC/MS.

Evaluation of relative water use efficiency (RWUE) at a regional scale: a case study of Tuhai-Majia Basin, China.

Enhancing water use efficiency (WUE) is the key approach to maintain sustainable water resource supply. Due to the complexity of the water cycle, accurate estimation of WUE at the regional scale is a challenging task. Here we presented a framework of relative water use efficiency (RWUE).

Unusual emission transformation of graphene quantum dots induced by self-assembled aggregation.

Graphene quantum dots prepared by a one-step hydrothermal procedure in a microwave exhibit an unusual emission transformation in strong acidic media and at high concentration, induced by self-assembled J-type aggregation under restrained π-π interactions.

In vivo study of breast carcinoma radiosensitization by targeting eIF4E.

Background: Eukaryotic initiation factor eIF4E, an important regulator of translation, plays a crucial role in the malignant transformation, progression and radioresistance of many human solid tumors. The overexpression of this gene has been associated with tumor formation in a wide range of human malignancies, including breast cancer. In the present study, we attempted to explore the use of eIF4E as a therapeutic target to enhance radiosensitivity for breast carcinomas in a xenograft BALB/C mice model.

The efficacy of TACE combined sorafenib in advanced stages hepatocellullar carcinoma.

Background: The long-term survival in hepatocellullar carcinoma (HCC) patients after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) remains dismal due to local and/or regional recurrence as well as distant metastasis. The efficacy of sorafenib in advanced HCC has been demonstrated and brought great hope. Recently, the use of sorafenib in combination with TACE for BCLC stage B and C HCC patients was recommended.

Stimulation of Cryptococcus neoformans isolated from skin lesion of AIDS patient matures dendritic cells and promotes HIV-1 trans-infection.

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a pivotal role in host defense against invaded pathogens including fungi, while DCs are targeted by fungi for deleterious regulation of the host immune response. A few studies have reported fungal modulation of DC function in these immunocompromised AIDS patients. Cryptococcus neoformans (C.

IFN-λ inhibits HIV-1 integration and post-transcriptional events in vitro, but there is only limited in vivo repression of viral production.

The lambda interferons (IL-28a, 28b, and IL-29) inhibit the replication of many viruses, but their role in the inhibition of HIV-1 infection remains unclear. During this study, we monitored IL-29 production in HIV-1 infected individuals and analyzed the in vitro and in vivo inhibition of HIV-1 production. Prior treatment with IL-28a or IL-29 induced an antiviral state in cultured primary T-cells, which suppressed HIV-1 integration and post-transcriptional events.

Co-evolution of primate SAMHD1 and lentivirus Vpx leads to the loss of the vpx gene in HIV-1 ancestor.

Cross-species transmission and adaptation of simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) to humans have given rise to human immunodeficiency viruses (HIVs). HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2) were derived from SIVs that infected chimpanzee (SIVcpz) and sooty mangabey (SIVsm), respectively. The HIV-1 restriction factor SAMHD1 inhibits HIV-1 infection in human myeloid cells and can be counteracted by the Vpx protein of HIV-2 and the SIVsm lineage.

Multi-modality imaging findings of splenic hamartoma: a report of nine cases and review of the literature.

Purpose: To investigate the presentation of splenic hamartomas (SHs) on ultrasonography (US), CT and MRI.

Methods: Nine patients (5 males and 4 females, mean age, 52.8 years) with pathologically proven SHs were included in this study.

[Optimization of the ultrasound assisted extraction of saikosaponins from Bupleurum falcatum using response surface methodology].

Objective: To investigate the optimization of extraction conditions of saikosaponins a, c and d from Bupleurum falcatum.

Methods: Experimental factors and levels were firstly selected by one-factor test. According to the central composite experimental design principle, the response surface methodology with 3 factors and 3 levels was adopted.

[Solid-pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas: different types of imaging features and their correlation with pathological findings].

Objective: To explore the correlation between imaging features of solid-pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas (SPTP) and their pathological findings.

Methods: Analyze the imaging of 19 patients (female 15, male 4, median age 25 years) who underwent surgery for SPTP, and divide their into solid-predominance type, solid-cyst type and cyst-predominance type to compare with their pathological specimens. All patients plain and enhanced CT examination and plain and enhanced MR examination.

Determination of swainsonine in the endophytic Undifilum fungi by high-performance liquid chromatography with evaporative light-scattering detector.

Endophytic Undifilum oxytropis found within toxic locoweeds (Astragalus and Oxytropis spp.) produces the indolizidine alkaloid swainsonine, which is responsible for locoism in grazing animals. The aim of the current study is to establish an easy and accurate method for the determination of swainsonine in the endophytic Undifilum fungi.

HIV-1 Nef enhances dendritic cell-mediated viral transmission to CD4+ T cells and promotes T-cell activation.

HIV-1 Nef enhances dendritic cell (DC)-mediated viral transmission to CD4(+) T cells, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. It is also unknown whether HIV-1 infected DCs play a role in activating CD4(+) T cells and enhancing DC-mediated viral transmission. Here we investigated the role of HIV-1 Nef in DC-mediated viral transmission and HIV-1 infection of primary CD4(+) T cells using wild-type HIV-1 and Nef-mutated viruses.

Clinical outcome for nasopharyngeal carcinoma with predominantly WHO II histology treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy in non-endemic region of China.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of using intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in the primary treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Northwest China, including assessments of failure patterns, toxicities and potential prognostic factors.

Methods And Materials: Between January 2006 and June 2010, 193 newly diagnosed non-metastatic NPCs were treated by IMRT with simultaneous-integrated boost (SIB) technique in Xijing Hospital of Northwest China. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy was offered to 85.

Association of modifiable lifestyle behaviors with hypertension by various body mass index categories in Tianjin province of China: a cross-sectional study.

The present study was conducted to identify the difference of the relationship between lifestyle behaviors with hypertension (HTN) by various body mass index (BMI) categories. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Tianjin urban communities. A total of 26 438 subjects were randomly selected.

Intestinal immune barrier integrity in rats with nonalcoholic hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged as the major cause of chronic liver injury. Intestinal barrier plays an important role in the pathogenis of NAFLD. The aim of this article was to assess intestinal immune barrier function during the development of NAFLD.

Neuroprotective effect of Buyang Huanwu decoction against focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats--time window and mechanism.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Buyang Huanwu Decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine, consists of different herbal medicines, and has been traditionally used for centuries to treat paralysis and stroke. However, its optimal therapeutic time window and the mechanism are still unclear.

Aim Of The Study: This study was designed to explore the therapeutic time window and mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction on transient focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.