Caffeic acid prevents non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by a high-fat diet through gut microbiota modulation in mice.

Caffeic acid (CA) is derived from many plants and may have the ability to reduce hepatic lipid accumulation. The gut microbiota produces lipopolysaccharides and further influences hepatic lipid metabolism, and thus plays an important role in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, whether the beneficial effects of CA are associated with the gut microbiota remains unclear.

Nifedipine inhibits ox-LDL-induced lipid accumulation in human blood-derived macrophages.

Studies have shown that nifedipine, an anti-hypertensive drug, protects against atherosclerotic progression, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) is critically implicated in macrophage lipid deposition seen in atherosclerosis. In this study, we examined the effects of nifedipine on some ox-LDL-associated changes in human blood-derived macrophages.

[Evaluation of soft tissue lesions affecting the masticator space with dynamic contrast enhanced MRI].

Objective: To determine the characteristics and diagnostic value of dynamic contrast enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) in differentiating benign soft tissue lesions from malignant tumors affecting the masticator space (MS).

Methods: Prior to managements, conventional MRI and DCE-MRI were performed in 53 patients who suffered from primary or secondary soft tissue lesions affecting the MS. The time to peak (TTP), relative maximum enhancement (RME) and relative washout ratio (RWO) were separately calculated.

Cylinder detection in large-scale point cloud of pipeline plant.

The huge number of points scanned from pipeline plants make the plant reconstruction very difficult. Traditional cylinder detection methods cannot be applied directly due to the high computational complexity. In this paper, we explore the structural characteristics of point cloud in pipeline plants and define a structure feature.

[Expression of estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) gene and bridging integrator protein-1 (BIN1) gene and their significance in breast tissues].

Background & Objective: Estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) is an enzyme which metabolizes estrogen into inactive estrogen sulphate. Bridging integrator protein-1 (BIN1) is a novel c-myc-interacting protein with the features of tumor suppressor. EST and BIN1 may be protective in tumorigenesis.

[Expression of estrogen sulfotransferase in breast tissues and the regulation of ESTmRNA by estrogen].

Objective: To detect the expression of estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) in breast tissues, and to investigate its significance in breast carcinogenesis and the relationship between EST mRNA and estrogen.

Methods: Seven specimens of normal human breast tissues from patients with benign breast diseases were implanted subcutaneously into athymic nude mice, one specimen divided into many pieces to be implanted into 2 groups of mice, totalling 14 mice. Then the 14 mice were divided into 2 groups: as control and the other injected intramuscularly with estradiol benzoate (B-E(2)) every other day for 6 weeks.

Effect of Exogenous Rb Gene on Expression of p21 Gene in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

The level of p21 mRNA and protein in cultured human umbilical arterial vascular smooth muscle cells were assayed by immunochemical staining and RT-PCR. The expression and phosphorylation status of Rb protein were examined by Western blot. It was observed that the senescent vascular smooth muscle cells exerted morphological changes with transmission electron microscope and characterized with beta-galactosidase staining.