Effects of resistant starch supplementation on renal function and inflammatory markers in patients with chronic kidney disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Recent studies have shown that consumption of resistant starch (RS) has beneficial effects on the gut microbiota and immune function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of RS on inflammation, uremic toxins, and renal function in patients with CKD through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-2020.

Localization and density of tertiary lymphoid structures associate with molecular subtype and clinical outcome in colorectal cancer liver metastases.

Background: Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have been proposed to assess the prognosis of patients with cancer. Here, we investigated the prognostic value and relevant mechanisms of TLSs in colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM).

Methods: 603 patients with CRCLM treated by surgical resection from three cancer centers were included.

Implementation of flipped classroom combined with case-based learning: A promising and effective teaching modality in undergraduate pathology education.

The popularity of flipped classroom (FC) is growing in medical education. However, the application of FC in pathology teaching has not been well explored. This study assessed the efficacy of FC combined with case-based learning (CBL) in undergraduate pathology education via comparison with a traditional lecture-based classroom (LBC).

Diketopiperazine Modulates Arabidopsis thaliana Root System Architecture by Promoting Interactions of Auxin Receptor TIR1 and IAA7/17 Proteins.

Plants can detect the quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecules of microorganisms, such as amino acids, fat derivatives and diketopiperazines (DKPs), thus allowing the exchange information to promote plant growth and development. Here, we evaluated the effects of 12 synthesized DKPs on Arabidopsis thaliana roots and studied their underlying mechanisms of action. Results showed that, as QS signal molecules, the DKPs promoted lateral root development and root hair formation in A.

Hydrogen Sulfide Signaling Protects Against Allelopathic Damage From Cyanobacterial Toxin Microcystin-LR.

Cyanobacterial blooms have become more frequent and serious in recent years. Not only do massive blooms cause environmental pollution and nutrient eutrophication, but they also produce microcystins (MCs), a group of toxic cycloheptapeptides, which threaten aquatic ecosystem and human health. As such, clarifying the allelopathic interactions between cyanobacteria and other algae is critical to better understand the driving factors of blooms.

Comparative physiological and proteomic analyses reveal different adaptive strategies by Cymbidium sinense and C. tracyanum to drought.

A terrestrial orchid, Cymbidium sinense appears to utilizes "remedy strategy", while an epiphytic orchid, C. tracyanum , employs a "precaution strategy" to drought stress based on morphological, physiological and proteomic analysis. Drought condition influences plant growth and productivity.

Chromosome number and genome size variation in Colocasia (Araceae) from China.

Chromosome number and genome size are important cytological characters that significantly influence various organismal traits. We investigated chromosome number and genome size variation in 73 accessions belonging to four Colocasia species from China. Five different chromosome counts (2n = 26, 28, 38, 42, and 56) were found, the largest one representing a new record in Colocasia.

Chinese herb cinobufagin-reduced cancer pain is associated with increased peripheral opioids by invaded CD3/4/8 lymphocytes.

Objectives: To investigate the mechanism of cinobufagin-reduced cancer pain in mouse cancer pain model and in vitro cell co-culture system.

Methods: Female Kunming mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. One group of animals was set as normal control without any treatment.

[Medicinal values and their chemical bases of Paris].

Medicinal values and their chemical bases of Paris (Trilliaceae) are reviewed. Paris plants include 40 species and varieties. Among them, 18 ones are medicinal plants with similarity in traditional uses.

Antidepressant-like effect of geniposide on chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced depressive rats by regulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Geniposide as the major active component of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis has neuroprotective activity. This study elucidated the potential antidepressant-like effect of geniposide and its related mechanisms using a depression rat model induced by 3 consecutive weeks of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Sucrose preference test, open field test (OFT) and forced swimming test (FST) were applied to evaluate the antidepressant effect of geniposide.

Inhibition of hedgehog signal pathway by cyclopamine attenuates inflammation and articular cartilage damage in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis.

Objectives: We investigated whether inhibition of hedgehog (Hh) signal by cyclopamine attenuated inflammation and cartilage damage in adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats.

Methods: Cyclopamine (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) was given by intraperitoneal injection once daily from day 12 to 21 after AIA induction.

Ulcerative colitis flair induced by mesalamine suppositories hypersensitivity.

Mesalamine suppositories have been used widely for the treatment of distal ulcerative colitis and considered to be safer than systemic administration for its limited systemic absorption. However, previous studies have shown that mesalamine suppository occasionally causes severe hypersensitivity reactions including fever, rashes, colitis exacerbation and acute eosinophilic pneumonia. Here we present a 25-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis with bloody diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain and fever which were aggravated after introduction of mesalamine suppositories.

Effect of an Ilex asprella root decoction on the related genes of lipid metabolism from chronic stress and hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats.

Background: The gradually increasing changes in a human hyperlipidemic diet along with chronic stress might play an important role in the increased numbers of fatty liver. This study investigated the effects of Ilex asprella root decoction on related genes of lipid metabolism in chronic stress in hyperlipidemic fatty liver in rats.

Methods: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, model control group, simvastatin group, and Ilex asprella root group.

An approach towards realizing the intelligent sphygmogram sampling for e-home healthcare.

Pulse wave transit time (PWTT) method has been widely used in continuous blood pressure estimation by simultaneously measuring electrocardiogram and pulse signals in most researches [1]. Comparing with the morphological characteristic of photoplethysmograph (PPG) [2], the alternative sphygmogram (SPG) signal is much sharper and promising to improve the accuracy of onset point detection in PWTT estimation. Consequently, a hardware and software close-loop control scheme for SPG sampling with less distortion is proposed, through which the signal amplitude and baseline self-adjustment is realized such that the resulted SPG signal is more properly suitable for onset point detection.

Carbon monoxide enhances the chilling tolerance of recalcitrant Baccaurea ramiflora seeds via nitric oxide-mediated glutathione homeostasis.

Both carbon monoxide (CO) and nitric oxide (NO) play fundamental roles in plant responses to environmental stress. Glutathione (GSH) homeostasis through the glutathione-ascorbate cycle regulates the cellular redox status and protects the plant from damage due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Most recalcitrant seeds are sensitive to chilling stress, but the roles of and cross talk among CO, NO, ROS, and GSH in recalcitrant seeds under low temperature are not well understood.

Effect of salt treatment on theanine biosynthesis in Camellia sinensis seedlings.

Theanine synthetase (TS) is an enzyme involved in theanine biosynthesis in tea plants. Recent studies have revealed that theanine biosynthesis, derived from nitrogen metabolism in tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plants, could be influenced by salt treatment.

[Inhibitory effect of paeoniflorin on the collagen production by fibroblasts through IL-13/STAT6 signaling pathway].

Objective: To observe the effects of paeoniflorin on 3T3 fibroblast activation, proliferation and collagen production through IL-13/STAT6 signaling pathway.

Methods: 3T3 cell strain was cultured with serum-free medium for 12 h, then stimulated by paeoniflorin (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1000 mg/L) or rIL-13 (6.25, 12.

Antidiabetic effects of total flavonoids from Litsea Coreana leve on fat-fed, streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats.

This study was initiated to determine the possible antidiabetic effects of total flavonoids of Litsea Coreana leve (TFLC), an alcohol extract from the dried leaves of Litsea Coreana leve, on type 2 diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 40, 160-180 g) were divided into two groups and fed with normal chow diet (Normal Control group) or high-fat diet (HFD) for a period of 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of dietary manipulation, the HFD-fed rats were injected with 30 mg/kg streptozocin (STZ) to induce diabetes 72 hours after STZ injection.

[Production and identification of monoclonal antibody against human S100A4.].

Aim: To prepare specific monoclonal antibody against human S100A4 protein and establish a reliable method to detect S100A4 protein in tumor specimens.

Methods: A standard hybridoma method was used to generate monoclonoal antibodies against recombinant human S100A4. ELISA, Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to validate this antibody and the antibody is used to examine specimens of human breast and colon cancers.

[Effects of anti-HER-2 chimeric antibody chA21 on proliferative inhibition of SKOV3 cells and inducing their apoptosis].

Aim: To explore the effects of anti-HER-2 chimeric antibody chA21 on proliferation and apoptosis of ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3.

Methods: MTT colorometric assay, HE staining, transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry and TUNEL staining were used to study the proliferative inhibition and apoptotic induction of SKOV3 cells by chA21 in vitro.

Results: Proliferative inhibition rate and apoptotic rate of SKOV3 cells were increased with dose and action time by chA21 (0.

[Comprehensively analysis the correlation between the height of a person and the length of his/her footprint].

Objective: Comprehensively analysis the correlation and the law of variation between the height of a person and the length of his/her footprint.

Methods: Collecting footprint samples of those people of different age and sex from different area all of our country, and adopt the regressive analysis method to study these samples.

Results: A sum of useful data and regressive equation were obtained.

[Comprehensively analysis the correlation between the height of a person and the length of his/her handprint].

Objective: Comprehensively analysis the correlation and the law of variation between the height of a person and the length of his/her handprint.

Methods: Collecting handprint samples of those people of different age and sex from different area all of our country, and adopt the regressive analysis method to study these samples.

Results: A sum of useful data and regressive equation were obtained.