Jiawei Taohe Chengqi Decoction attenuates CCl induced hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting HSCs activation via TGF-β1/CUGBP1 and IFN-γ/Smad7 pathway.

Background: Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is an essential stage in the progression of different chronic liver conditions to cirrhosis and even hepatocellular carcinoma. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) plays a crucial role in the progression of HF. IFN- γ/Smad7 pathway can inhibit HSCs activation, while TGF-β1/CUGBP1 pathway can inhibit IFN-γ/Smad7 pathway transduction and promote HSCs activation.

Curcumin-loaded keratin-chitosan hydrogels for enhanced peripheral nerve regeneration.

Peripheral nerve injury often leads to symptoms of motor and sensory impairment, and slow recovery of nerves after injury and limited treatment methods will aggravate symptoms or even lead to lifelong disability. Curcumin can promote peripheral nerve regeneration, but how to accurately deliver the appropriate concentration of curcumin in the local peripheral nerve remains to be solved. In this study, we designed a human hair keratin/chitosan (C/K) hydrogel with sodium tripolyphosphate ions crosslinked to deliver curcumin topically.

Mitochondrial-related microRNAs and their roles in cellular senescence.

Aging is a natural aspect of mammalian life. Although cellular mortality is inevitable, various diseases can hasten the aging process, resulting in abnormal or premature senescence. As cells age, they experience distinctive morphological and biochemical shifts, compromising their functions.

Jiawei Taohe Chengqi decoction inhibition of the notch signal pathway affects macrophage reprogramming to inhibit HSCs activation for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Jiawei Taohe Chengqi Tang (JTCD) is a modified formulation of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) known as Taohe Chengqi Decoction, which has been described in the ancient TCM literature "Treatise on Febrile Diseases". As a formula that can activate blood circulation and eliminate blood stasis and regulate Yin and Yang in traditional Chinese medicine applications, JTCD has been reported to be effective in the treatment of chronic liver disease and hepatic fibrosis (HF).

Aim Of Study: The current study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of JTCD in modulating hepatic macrophages by regulating the Notch signal pathway, and to further investigate the mechanisms underlying macrophage reprogramming that leads to HF.

New Perspectives on Chinese Medicine in Treating Hepatic Fibrosis: Lipid Droplets in Hepatic Stellate Cells.

Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a wound healing response featuring excessive deposition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) that occurs during chronic liver injury. As an initial stage of various liver diseases, HF is a reversible pathological process that, if left unchecked, can escalate into cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. HF is a life-threatening disease presenting morbidity and mortality challenges to healthcare systems worldwide.

Epigenetic regulation in premature ovarian failure: A literature review.

Premature ovarian failure (POF), or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), is a multifactorial and heterogeneous disease characterized by amenorrhea, decreased estrogen levels and increased female gonadotropin levels. The incidence of POF is increasing annually, and POF has become one of the main causes of infertility in women of childbearing age. The etiology and pathogenesis of POF are complex and have not yet been clearly elucidated.

Electron Conductive and Transparent Hydrogels for Recording Brain Neural Signals and Neuromodulation.

Recording brain neural signals and optogenetic neuromodulations open frontiers in decoding brain neural information and neurodegenerative disease therapeutics. Conventional implantable probes suffer from modulus mismatch with biological tissues and an irreconcilable tradeoff between transparency and electron conductivity. Herein, a strategy is proposed to address these tradeoffs, which generates conductive and transparent hydrogels with polypyrrole-decorated microgels as cross-linkers.

Research Progress on the Treatment of Premature Ovarian Failure Using Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Literature Review.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) has become one of the main causes of infertility in women of childbearing age and the incidence of POF is increasing year by year, seriously affecting the physical and mental health of patients and increasing the economic burden on families and society as a whole. The etiology and pathogenesis of POF are complex and not very clear at present. Currently, hormone replacement therapy is mainly used to improve the symptoms of low estrogen, but cannot fundamentally solve the fertility problem.

Repair of a severe palm injury with anterolateral thigh and ilioinguinal flaps: A case report.

Background: In daily life and work, there are more and more patients with trauma to the hand, which often results in skin and soft tissue defects. Although there are many repair methods, the function and appearance of the fingers will be adversely affected if the repair is inadequate.

Case Summary: In the present report we describe an 18-year-old male patient whose right hand was mangled by a machine.

Mitochondrial gene COX2 methylation and downregulation is a biomarker of aging in heart mesenchymal stem cells.

The mitochondria have been proven to be involved in processes of aging; however, the mechansims through which mitoepigenetics affect the cytological behaviors of cardiomyocytes during the aging process are not yet fully understood. In the present study, two senescence models were constructed, replicative senescence (RS) and stress‑induced premature senescence (SIPS), using human heart mesenchymal stem cells (HMSCs). First, the differences in age‑related gene expression levels and telomere length were compared between the HMSCs in the RS and SIPS models by PCR.

An elongated tract of polyQ in the carboxyl‑terminus of human α1A calcium channel induces cell apoptosis by nuclear translocation.

An aberrant elongated tract of glutamine residues (polyQ) in proteins induces multiple diseases treated in the clinic. In our previous study of progressive myoclonic epilepsy (PME), using whole‑exome sequencing, a mutant Cav2.1 protein with an aberrant elongated polyQ tract was identified in PME patients.

Long non‑coding RNA GAS5 increases the radiosensitivity of A549 cells through interaction with the miR‑21/PTEN/Akt axis.

Radioresistance hinders the therapeutic outcomes of radiotherapy in non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although long non‑coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to participate in the regulation of multiple cell behaviors, whether they can modulate the radiosensitivity of NSCLC and the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been well investigated. In the present study, it was revealed that NSCLC NCI‑H460 cells were more sensitive to ionizing radiation (IR) than A549 cells.

Follicular helper T cell and memory B cell immunity in CHC patients.

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with biological activity of T follicular helper (Tfh) cells and memory B cells (MBCs). However, the nature of Tfh cell subsets that are responsible for MBCs in CHC patients has not been evaluated. This study aimed to investigate Tfh and MBC immunity before and after direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy in patients with CHC.

GRIN3A and MAPT stimulate nerve overgrowth in macrodactyly.

As an uncommon and congenital condition, macrodactyly is characterized by an increase in the size of all the elements or structures of the digits or toes; however, the underlying pathogenesis remains to be fully elucidated. In the present study, the gene expression profiles of abnormal nerves were examined in three patients with macrodactyly using microarray analysis to identify potential genes contributing to nerve overgrowth. Gene expression profiling in the nerve tissue samples were scanned using the microarray and the differentially expressed genes were verified at the transcription level using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Interleukin‑33‑induced immune tolerance is associated with the imbalance of memory and naïve T‑lymphocyte subsets.

The current study aimed to investigate the distribution of memory and naïve T cell (TN) subsets in hepatitis B virus (HBV)‑infected patients at different immune stages and investigate the effect of interleukin 33 (IL‑33) on the regulation of the T‑cell subsets. The distributions of memory and naïve T cells were detected by flow cytometry. ELISA was conducted to assess the levels of IL‑4, IL‑5, IL‑10, IL‑12, interferon γ and tumor necrosis factor α.

Posterior Thigh Flap Pedicled on the Cutaneous Vessels Arising From the Popliteo-posterior Intermediate Artery: A Report of 5 Cases.

Surgical repair of soft tissue defects of the knee and leg remains challenging. Using a case study approach, the anatomy of the popliteo-posterior intermediate cutaneous artery was examined, and a reverse island flap method was developed and implemented. After obtaining informed consent, 5 patients (1 woman, 4 men, age range 31 to 57 years) underwent the experimental use of a reverse island flap with a posterior thigh flap pedicled on the cutaneous vessels arising from the popliteo-posterior intermediate artery to repair soft-tissue defects of the knee and leg.

A Lower Proportion of Regulatory B Cells in Patients with Henoch-Schoenlein Purpura Nephritis.

Background: Henoch-Schoenlein purpura is the one of most common types of systemic vasculitis that involves impaired renal function and Henoch-Schoenlein purpura nephritis (HSPN). The diagnosis of this condition is largely based on immunohistologic detection of immunoglobulin A1-containing immune complex in the glomerular deposits of mesangium. Despite clinical advances, the etiopathogenesis of HSPN is still largely unknown.

Stimulus-dependent neuronal cell responses in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the intracellular mechanisms that cause neuronal cell death following exposure to excitatory neurotransmitter‑induced neurotoxicity, neurotoxins and oxidative stress. Human SH‑SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were exposed to various stimuli, including glutamate, 6‑hydroxydopamine (6‑OHDA), and glucose oxidase, and cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Early apoptosis and necrosis were examined by Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining and flow cytometric analysis.

A higher frequency of CD4(+)CXCR5(+) T follicular helper cells in patients with newly diagnosed Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis.

T follicular helper (TFH) cells play an important role in the humoral immune responses. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency of different subsets of CD4(+)CXCR5(+) TFH cells and B cells in patients with new-onset Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN). The numbers of different subsets of CD4(+)CXCR5(+) TFH cells, B cells and the constituents of serum cytokines were detected in a total of 25 patients with newly diagnosed HSPN before and after treatment, and in 14 healthy controls (HC).

The Effect of C-X-C Motif Chemokine 13 on Hepatocellular Carcinoma Associates with Wnt Signaling.

Objects: To investigate the effect of CXCL13 (C-X-C motif chemokine 13) on hepatocellular carcinoma and clarify the potential mechanisms.

Methods: 32 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and 12 healthy controls were recruited for analyzing the expression of CXCL13 by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction). ELISA (enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay) was used to test the concentration of serum CXCL13.

Increased numbers of circulating ICOS⁺ follicular helper T and CD38⁺ plasma cells in patients with newly diagnosed primary biliary cirrhosis.

Background: Aberrant activation of follicular helper T (TFH) and B cells is associated with the development of autoimmune diseases. However, little is known about the potential role of these cells in the development of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

Aim: This study aimed at characterizing the numbers of different subsets of circulating Tfh and B cells as well as evaluating their potential association with the levels of immunoglobulins and autoantibodies in newly diagnosed PBC patients.

Elevated levels of cerebrospinal fluid and plasma interleukin-37 in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Unlabelled: AIMS. Interleukin-37 (IL-37) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. This study aims to investigate the concentrations of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IL-37 in patients with Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS).

High frequency of activated natural killer and natural killer T-cells in patients with new onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Chronic low-grade inflammation is crucial for the development of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and immunocompetent cells, such as T-cells, B-cells, mast cells and macrophages, regulate the pathogenesis of T2DM. However, little is known about the role of natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells in the pathogenic process of T2DM. A total of 16 patients with new onset T2DM and nine healthy subjects were recruited, and the frequency of peripheral blood activated and inhibitory NK and NKT cells in individual subjects was determined by flow cytometry.

A crucial role of IL-17 and IFN-γ during acute rejection of peripheral nerve xenotransplantation in mice.

Nerve injuries causing segmental loss require nerve grafting. However, autografts and allografts have limitations for clinical use. Peripheral nerve xenotransplantation has become an area of great interest in clinical surgery research as an alternative graft strategy.