Bestrophin3 Deficiency in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Activates MEKK2/3-MAPK Signaling to Trigger Spontaneous Aortic Dissection.

Background: Aortic dissection (AD) is a fatal cardiovascular disorder without effective medications due to unclear pathogenic mechanisms. Bestrophin3 (Best3), the predominant isoform of bestrophin family in vessels, has emerged as critical for vascular pathological processes. However, the contribution of Best3 to vascular diseases remains elusive.

Clinical significance of the serum miR-455-5p expression in patients with neonatal sepsis.

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response caused by infection and is a major cause of neonatal death. This study explored the miR-455-5p in neonatal sepsis, and further investigated the diagnostic and prognostic value of miR-455-5p in neonatal sepsis (NS). The levels of serum miR-455-5p in 88 healthy controls and 90 NS patients were examined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

Exploration of nucleos(t)ide analogs cessation in chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatitis B e antigen loss.

Background: Nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs) cessation in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients remains a matter of debate in clinical practice. Current guidelines recommend that patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion discontinue NAs after relatively long-term consolidation therapy. However, many patients fail to achieve HBeAg seroconversion after the long-term loss of HBeAg, even if hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) loss occurs.

Astilbin Protects Against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Rats.

Background: Hepatic fibrosis is an inflammatory liver disease, and there is no effective therapy at present. Astilbin is a bioactive ingredient found in many medicinal and food plants, with antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and related molecular mechanism of astilbin against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

[Platelet-rich plasma combined with demineralized freeze-dried bone allografts for periodontal regeneration in the treatment of periodontal defects: a meta-analysis].

Purpose: The aim of this meta analysis was to assess the influence of platelet-rich plasma (PRP)combined with demineralized freeze-dried bone allografts(DFDBA) on regeneration of periodontal periodontal defects by means of evaluating clinical and radiographic outcomes in prospective human clinical trials.

Methods: The following databases such as PubMed, The Cochrane Library, EMbase, CNKI, Wanfang data and VIP data were searched on computer from inception to December, 2016. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently extracted the data，assessed the methodological quality of the included studies.

Varying 10-year off-treatment responses to nucleos(t)ide analogues in patients with chronic hepatitis B according to their pretreatment hepatitis B e antigen status.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term durability and efficacy of nucleos(t)ide analogues (NAs) and to determine the related factors for virological relapse in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods: CHB patients who fulfilled the criteria for discontinuing NAs therapy in accordance with the published guidelines were included in the study from December 2001. Virological relapse was defined as serum hepatitis virus B (HBV) DNA >10 copies/mL twice at least 2 weeks apart.

Congenital absence of the right coronary artery: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Congenital absence of the right coronary artery (RCA) is a rare congenital malformation of the cardiovascular system which may have fatal consequences.

Patient Concerns: A 63-year-old man with a 5-year history of chest pain after exertion which had aggravated for >1 month was advised for admission and computed tomography angiography (CTA) examination of the coronary artery to screen for coronary artery disease (CAD).

Diagnoses: The coronary artery CTA showed absence of RCA arising form the aortic root after which a selective coronary angiography (SCA) examination was done that confirmed the diagnosis of congenital absence of RCA.

A case report and literature review of barium sulphate aspiration during upper gastrointestinal examination.

Rationale: Even though barium sulphate aspiration during upper gastrointestinal examination is a well-known phenomenon, complication such as long-term lung injury and death may still occur. This may depend upon the concentration, amount, anatomy, or certain predisposing factors.

Patient Concerns: A 47-year-old woman who had a barium swallow to screen for foreign body in esophagus.

[Surgical management of pregnancy-associated acute Stanford type A aortic dissection: analysis of 5 cases].

Objective: To explore the diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy-associated acute Stanford type A aortic dissection to improve the maternal and fetal outcomes.

Methods: We analyzed the perioperative data of 5 pregnant women with acute Stanford type A aortic dissection treated between June, 2009 and February, 2017.

Results: The median age of the women was 30 years (range, 22-34 years) with gestational weeks of 23-38 weeks upon diagnosis.

[Clinical significance of calcitonin gene-related peptide level before and after treatment in patients with chronic periodontitis].

Purpose: To explore the clinical significance of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels in patients with chronic periodontitis before and after treatment, and to detect the calcitonin gene-related peptide content in human venous blood.

Methods: Thirty healthy controls and thirty patients with mild, moderate, severe periodontitis were enrolled from August 2014 to June 2015.CGRP level in the patients' peripheral blood was detected by ELISA.

Enterovirus infections are associated with white matter damage in neonates.

Aim: To explore the imaging findings of neonatal infants infected with enteroviruses.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 12 patients who were diagnosed with encephalitis caused by enterovirus. Clinical presentation, cranial ultrasonography (cUS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and neurodevelopment outcome of 12 cases were analysed.

[Protective effect of retrograde venous perfusion of cryogenic liquid via accessory hemiazygos vein and treated with resveratrol on spinal cord injury in swine].

Objectives: To observe the protective effect of retrograde venous perfusion of cryogenic liquid via accessory hemiazygos vein and treated with resveratrol on spinal cord injury and evaluate the expression changes of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) after spinal cord ischemia reperfusion injury (SCII) in swine.

Methods: Eighteen swine were divided into 3 groups: group I/R (n = 6, operation group), group CL (n = 6, retrograde venous perfusion of cryogenic liquid), group CL+Res (n = 6, retrograde venous perfusion of cryogenic liquid and treated with resveratrol after ischemia). In the group I/R, the aorta was clamped for 60 minutes and then removed.

Matrine inhibits disturbed flow-enhanced migration via downregulation of ERK1/2-MLCK signaling vascular smooth muscle cells.

Background: To investigate the effects of matrine on the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration modulated by disturbed flow and their underlying molecular mechanisms in vitro.

Methods: Isolated rat aortic VSMCs were grown to confluence on 20- × 80-mm fibronectin-coated glass cover slides, and then, denuded zones were made at the position calculated to be the oscillating flow-reattachment zone and also in the downstream laminar flow region. VSMCs were treated with different doses of matrine (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/L), or PD98059 (30 μM), ML-7 (10 μM) combined with matrine (40 mg/L) for 30 minutes before and during the experiments.

A rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of olopatadine concentration in human plasma.

A sensitive and rapid method based on liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS) was developed for the determination of olopatadine in human plasma. Sample preparations were carried out by protein precipitation with the addition of acetonitrile followed by liquid-liquid extraction with ethyl acetate/dichloromethane after internal standard (IS, amitriptyline) spiked. After evaporation to dryness, the resultant residue was reconstituted in mobile phase.

Matrine inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation by modulating the expression of cell cycle regulatory genes.

Aim: To investigate the effect of matrine on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods: Rat aortic VSMCs were cultured in medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and treated with various concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/L) of matrine for 72 h. VSMCs proliferation and cell cycle profiling were assessed using a methylene blue incorporation assay and flow cytometry, respectively.

[Characteristics of the condylar movement traces during lateral excursion of the unilateral posterior buccal crossbite].

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of the condylar movement traces during lateral excursion of the unilateral posterior buccal crossbite and to compare the difference with the individual ideal occlusion.

Methods: Twenty-six subjects with normal occlusion and 26 subjects with unilateral posterior buccal crossbite were tested by CADIAX for the condylar movement. The lateral excursion traces were recorded.

The cotton ACTIN1 gene is functionally expressed in fibers and participates in fiber elongation.

Single-celled cotton fiber (Gossypium hirsutum) provides a unique experimental system to study cell elongation. To investigate the role of the actin cytoskeleton during fiber development, 15 G. hirsutum ACTIN (GhACT) cDNA clones were characterized.