The association between the microbes in the tracheobronchial aspirate fluid and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants.

Objective: The study aimed to evaluate the association between microbes in the lower respiratory tract (LRT) and the srisk for severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (sBPD) in premature infants.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, single-center study of preterm infants who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Southern Medical University Affiliated Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Foshan, China, between January 2015 and December 2017. The microbes in the LRT were screened by using tracheobronchial aspirate fluid (TAF) culture.

Effects of Left Gastric Artery Ligation Versus Sleeve Gastrectomy on Obesity-Induced Adipose Tissue Macrophage Infiltration and Inflammation in Diet-Induced Obese Rats.

BACKGROUND Bariatric procedures such as left gastric artery ligation (LGAL) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG) have emerged as important procedures for treating morbid obesity. In this study, we compared the effects of LGAL vs. SG on obesity-induced adipose tissue macrophage infiltration and inflammation in diet-induced obese rats.

Efficacy of intra-arterial catheter-directed thrombolysis for popliteal and infrapopliteal acute limb ischemia.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) for first-line treatment of popliteal and infrapopliteal acute limb ischemia.

Methods: A total of 28 consecutive patients (30 limbs) who underwent CDT for treatment of popliteal and infrapopliteal acute limb ischemia of thromboembolic origin between March 2012 and December 2017 were enrolled in this study. Per the Society for Vascular Surgery, limbs were classified into three runoff score groups: <5, good; 5 to 10, compromised; and >10, poor.

[Composition, Spatial Distribution Characteristics and Source Analysis of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter in the Lanzhou Reach of the Yellow River].

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in riverine systems can be affected by environmental conditions and land-use, and can thus provide important information regarding anthropogenic activities in surrounding landscapes. It can modify the optical properties of waters and affect the balance and availability of dissolved nutrients and metals in water bodies. However, the characteristics of CDOM in the Lanzhou reach of the Yellow River have not yet been reported.

[Adsorption Characteristics of Norfloxacin by Biochars Derived from Reed Straw and Municipal Sludge].

Two types of biochars were prepared by pyrolyzing reed straw and municipal sludge at the temperature of 500 degrees C. The structure and properties of biochars were characterized by BET, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy ( FTIR ). The effects of pH value, adsorption time, temperature and initial concentration of norfloxacin (NOR) on the adsorption behaviors were determined by single factor experiments, which were used to preliminarily discuss adsorption mechanism.

Linking Colleague Support to Employees' Promotive Voice: A Moderated Mediation Model.

Promotive voice is essential for improving team and organization performance. Yet in the current literature, less was known regarding the psychological reasons why people engage in promotive voice. Through the lens of social exchange, we proposed that employees who received support from colleagues may develop higher level of felt obligation for constructive change which leads to promotive voice.

Binding of the endocrine disruptors 4-tert-octylphenol and 4-nonylphenol to human serum albumin.

Alkylphenols, considered to be endocrine disruptor chemicals and toxic environmental priority pollutants, pose great threats to humans with wide exposure from food and other potential sources. In this paper, to evaluate the toxicity of the alkylphenols at the protein level, the effects of 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) and 4-nonylphenol (NP) on human serum albumin (HSA) were characterized by molecular modeling, steady state and time-resolved fluorescence, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD). The enthalpy change (ΔH) and entropy change (ΔS) indicated that hydrophobic forces and hydrogen bonds were the dominant intermolecular forces in the binding of the alkylphenols to HSA.

Curcumin attenuates lipolysis stimulated by tumor necrosis factor-α or isoproterenol in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Background And Aim: Curcumin, an active component derived from dietary spice turmeric (Curcuma longa), has been demonstrated antihyperglycemic, antiinflammatory and hypocholesterolemic activities in obesity and diabetes. These effects are associated with decreased level of circulating free fatty acids (FFA), however the mechanism has not yet been elucidated. The flux of FFA and glycerol from adipose tissue to the blood stream primarily depends on the lipolysis of triacylglycerols in the adipocytes.

The association between GJB2 gene polymorphism and psoriasis: a verification study.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with multifactorial etiology. Connexin 26 (Cx26), an important gap junction protein, has been found highly expressed in plaques of psoriasis. Recently, genome wide association studies (GWAS) identified one new single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in GJB2 gene coding for Cx26 protein associated with psoriasis in Chinese Han population.

Overexpression of Insig-1 protects β cell against glucolipotoxicity via SREBP-1c.

Background: High glucose induced lipid synthesis leads to β cell glucolipotoxicity. Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) is reported to be partially involved in this process. Insulin induced gene-1 (Insig-1) is an important upstream regulator of Insig-1-SREBPs cleavage activating protein (SCAP)-SREBP-1c pathway.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 improves proliferation and differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells via upregulating VEGF generation.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1), released from enteroendocrine cells of the intestine, exerted cardiovascular protective effect. Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in maintaining endothelial integrity regulating neovascularization and reendothelialization after endothelial injury. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important cytokine in the process of EPCs vascular differentiation and proliferation.

Rosiglitazone inhibits high glucose-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells through the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway.

Previous studies have shown that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase / Akt / endothelial nitric oxide synthase / NO (PI3K/Akt/eNOS/NO) pathway is involved in high glucose-induced endothelial cell apoptosis and rosiglitazone has a protective effect on endothelium. In the present study, we investigated the antiapoptotic effect of rosiglitazone on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to high glucose and explored its possible mechanism. Treatment of high glucose (33 mmol/L) for 48 h significantly induced the apoptosis of HUVECs, concomitantly with increased caspase-3 activity.

Ceramide mediates inhibition of the AKT/eNOS signaling pathway by palmitate in human vascular endothelial cells.

Background: In metabolic syndrome, down-regulation of the insulin signaling leads to insulin-regulated metabolism and cardiovascular dyfunctions. Free fatty acids (FFAs) in the circulation are increased in this disorder and inhibit insulin signaling. Lipid oversupply contributes to the development of insulin resistance, likely by promoting the accumulation of lipid metabolites capable of inhibiting signal transduction.

[PI3K p85alpha expression and its role in the progression of colorectal cancer].

Objective: To investigate the expression of PI3K p85alpha in normal colorectal tissue, colorectal adenoma and primary colorectal carcinoma and explore its significance in the progression of colorectal cancer.

Methods: The expression of PI3K p85alpha was detected in 116 normal colorectal tissue, colorectal adenoma and primary colorectal carcinoma specimens using immunohistochemical staining, and the relationship between the expression of PI3K p85alpha protein and the clinicopathological factors was analyzed.

Results: The positivity rates of the expression of PI3K p85alpha protein increased gradually in the progression of colorectal cancer and showed significant differences between the tissues (P<0.

[Hyperlipidemia induced by high fat diet ingestion activates TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway in the kidney of diabetic rats].

Objective: To investigate the effect of diet-induced hyperlipidemia on TGF-beta/Smad signaling pathway in the kidney of diabetic rats, and to explore the mechanism by which hyperlipidemia leads to renal injury in diabetes.

Methods: Diabetic rats and non-diabetic rats were fed with normal fat diet and high fat diet for 16 weeks, respectively. The expressions of TGF-beta1, TbetaRII, and Col-IV mRNA in the renal cortex were examined by reverse transcriptase-PCR,TbetaRII and p-Smad staining in glomerular cells were detected by immunohistochemical staining, and the expression of TGF-beta1 and Col-IV protein was determined by Western blot.

Palmitic and linoleic acids impair endothelial progenitor cells by inhibition of Akt/eNOS pathway.

Background: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are involved in adult neovasculogenesis and maintenance of vascular integrity. Scarce data have been provided for the individual effect of elevated free fatty acids (FFAs) on EPCs. This study was designed to investigate the association between Akt/eNOS signal pathway changes and the proliferation/function of EPCs in the presence of palmitic and linoleic acids.

Downregulation of secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor in chronic obstructive lung disease: the role of TGF-beta/Smads signaling pathways.

Background: Secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) is an important antileukoprotease in airway. The aim of the present study was to explore the expression of SLPI in the bronchi and lung tissues of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) models and the regulative mechanism by transforming growth factor (TGF)beta(1)/Smads signal pathway in bronchial epithelial cell.

Methods: COPD rat model was established and was treated with or without TGFbeta1 monoclonal antibody.

[Effect of rosiglitazone on NO and eNOS via PI3K/PKB signal pathways in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells].

Objective: To observe the effect of rosiglitazone on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB) /the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs), and to investigate the mechanism of signal transduction of rosiglitazone in improving the endothelial function.

Methods: HUVECs were treated with various concentrations of rosiglitazone. The NO level was measured using Griess Reaction in cell culture supernatants; the expressions of PI3K-, PKB- and eNOS mRNA were measured using RT-PCR; and the expressions of PKB, eNOS, and phosphorylation of PKB-Ser473, eNOS-Ser1177 were measured using Western Blot.

Metabolic syndrome among ethnic South Asian patients with ischemic stroke and comparison with ethnic Chinese patients: the Singapore General Hospital experience.

Background: South Asians are the largest ethnic group in the world, yet there are no data on metabolic syndrome (MetS) among ethnic South Asian patients with ischemic stroke. Ethnic differences in the prevalence of MetS are known to exist.

Methods: We studied 126 consecutive ethnic South Asian patients and 126 age-, sex-, and diabetes-matched ethnic Chinese patients admitted with acute ischemic stroke.

[Aortic endothelium-dependent vasodilation function and PI3K-, PKB-, eNOS mRNA expressions in insulin-resistant and type 2 diabetic rats].

Objective: To observe the changes of aortic endothelium-dependent vasodilation function (EDVR) and expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (PKB) in insulin-resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetic rats.

Methods: IR rat model was established by feeding 4-6 week-old male SD rats with high glucose and cholesterol diet for 6 weeks and type 2 diabetes (DM) were induced by intraperitoneal injection with low dose streptozotocin (STZ) to IR rats. Glucose infusion rate (GIR) was determined by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique, EDVR by acetylcholine (Ach)-induced vasodilation response in isolated aortic rings, aortic NO concentration by Griess Reaction, activation of eNOS detected by immunohistochemical SP method, mRNA expressions of eNOS-, PI3K- and PKB of aorta were assayed by RT-PCR, aorta ultrastructure observed by electron microscopy.