A case report of typical well-differentiated papillary mesothelial tumor diagnosed by internal thoracoscopy and literature review.

We report a case of well-differentiated papillary mesothelial tumor (WDPMT) diagnosed using internal thoracoscopic biopsy in a patient who has suffered from recurrent pleural effusions for over 35 years together with a history of elevated CA125. We hope to provide a case for the diagnosis of this rare benign and preinvasive pleural tumor and recommend that internal thoracoscopy may be a good choice in these recurrent pleural effusion patients especially for those minimal lesions not easily detected using CT scan.

Treatment of primary cardiac angiosarcoma in a 35 weeks pregnant woman.

Background: Cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare but highly malignant cardiac tumor. It is characterized by poor prognosis, and current treatment approaches are not effective.

Case Presentation: A 37-year-old female with 35 weeks pregnancy experienced chest tightness and shortness of breath for 1 month.

Cutting and Bonding Parafilm to Fast Prototyping Flexible Hanging Drop Chips for 3D Spheroid Cultures.

A fast and low-cost fabrication process of flexible hanging drop chips for 3D spheroid cultures was proposed by cutting and bonding Parafilm, a cohesive thermoplastic. The Parafilm Hanging Drop Chip (PHDC) was assembled by two-layer of Parafilm sheet with different sizes of holes. The hole on the upper layer of the Parafilm is smaller than the hole on the bottom layer.

One-Step Dip-Coating-Fabricated Core-Shell Silk Fibroin Rice Paper Fibrous Scaffolds for 3D Tumor Spheroid Formation.

Bioscaffolds are important substrates for supporting three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures. Silk fibroin (SF) is an attractive biomaterial in tissue engineering because of its good biocompatibility and mechanical properties. Electrospinning is one of the most often used approaches to fabricate SF fibrous scaffolds; yet, this technique still faces many challenges, such as low yield, residual organic solvents, limited extensibility of fibers, and a lack of spatial control over pore size.

GYY4137 Promotes Mice Feeding Behavior via Arcuate Nucleus Sulfur-Sulfhydrylation and AMPK Activation.

Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is an endogenous gaseous molecule and plays important biological and neurochemical roles in many processes such as the neural activity and immunity. The arcuate nucleus (ARC) of hypothalamus is a control center for appetite and energy metabolism. AMPK is a gage kinase in the monitoring of energy status and regulation of energy metabolism, and it can be activated by HS via CaMKKβ/AMPK pathway.

Synthesis of benzimidazoles via iridium-catalyzed acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling.

Iridium-catalyzed acceptorless dehydrogenative coupling of tertiary amines and arylamines has been developed. A number of benzimidazoles were prepared in good yields. An iridium-mediated C-H activation mechanism is suggested.

[Study on purification of total organic acid and chlorogenic acid in Herba Artemisiae scopariae with macroporous adsorption resin].

Objective: To optimize the technological parameters of the purification process for total organic acid and chlorogenic acid in Herba Artemisiae scopariae with macroporous adsorption resin.

Methods: Static and dynamic adsorption-desorption methods were adopted to choose the optimal type of resin. Then orthogonal design L9 (3(4)) and single factor experiment were used to select the optimum purification process conditions.

Effects of quinestrol as a contraceptive in mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

The contraceptive effects of quinestrol in Mongolian gerbils were examined. The results showed that body weight significantly increased after quinestrol treatment, except in the group that received the highest dose. The gonadosomatic index of ovaries decreased, whereas that of uteri increased, and uterine edema appeared after quinestrol treatment.

Effects of levonorgestrel on reproductive hormone levels and their receptor expression in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

The effects of levonorgestrel (LNG) on serum levels of reproductive hormones and their receptor mRNA expression in the ovary and uterus of Mongolian gerbils were examined. The results show that serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) increased, whereas serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) decreased profoundly after LNG treatment. LNG down-regulated the mRNA expression of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR), estrogen receptor (ER) β and progesterone receptor (PR) in the ovary, and ERα and PR in the uterus of Mongolian gerbils.

Variations in serum gonadotropin and prolactin levels during consecutive reproductive states in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and prolactin (PRL) levels were examined during consecutive reproductive states in Mongolian gerbils. The results indicate that FSH, LH, and PRL levels peak at proestrus, estrus, and diestrus, respectively. During early gestation in primiparous gerbils, gonadotropin levels were the lowest on day 6.

Prediction on liver fibrosis using different APRI thresholds when patient age is a categorical marker in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Background: Patient age as a predictive variable plays an important role in some indices and models. It was hypothesized that patient age might be a categorical marker.

Methods: We collected the data of 623 CHB patients with liver biopsies.

Variations of serum estradiol and progesterone levels during consecutive reproductive states in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus).

Serum estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) during consecutive reproductive states in Mongolian gerbils. The results show that E2 and P4 levels throughout the estrous cycle in Mongolian gerbils peaked at proestrus and estrus, respectively. During gestation in primiparous and multiparous gerbils, E2 levels reached a small peak on day 6 and a maximum peak on day 21, followed by a slight decline until parturition.

Validation of model for end-stage liver disease score to serum sodium ratio index as a prognostic predictor in patients with cirrhosis.

Aim: To evaluate the prognostic ability of model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) to serum sodium (SNa) ratio (MESO) index and to compare the predictive accuracy of the MESO index with the MELD score and the modified Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) score for short-term survival in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: A total of 256 patients with cirrhosis were retrospectively evaluated. The predictive accuracy of the MESO index, MELD score and modified CTP score were compared by the area under the receiver-operator characteristic curve (AUC).

Traditional Chinese medicine Kang Xian Fu Fang I is effective for prophylaxis and treatment of alcoholic liver disease in rats.

Background: Reversal of liver fibrosis is one of the key steps in the prevention and treatment of alcoholic liver disease (ALD), but the mechanism is unknown. This study was to investigate the effects of the Chinese medicine Kang Xian Fu Fang I (KXI) on prophylaxis and treatment of ALD in rats and its possible mechanism of action.

Methods: Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control; ALD model; treatment of ALD with KXI; and prophylaxis of ALD by KXI.