Efficacy and feasibility of amniotic membrane for the treatment of burn wounds: A meta-analysis.

Background: Burns cause a huge economic burden to society, and the wounds can be very difficult to manage. Clinical experience suggests that amniotic membrane (AM) is an economical and effective biological dressing for burns. However, few systematic reviews or meta-analyses have been published on such use.

1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 inhibits transforming growth factor β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition via β-catenin pathway.

Background: The transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been proven associated with the pathogenesis of asthmatic airway remodeling, in which the Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays an important role, notably with regard to TGF-β1. Recent studies have shown that 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3(1α, 25(OH)2D3) inhibits TGF-β1-induced EMT, although the underlying mechanism have not yet been fully elucidated.

Methods: Alveolar epithelial cells were exposed to 1α, 25(OH)2D3, ICG-001, or a combination of both, followed by stimulation with TGF-β1.

Erasure of striatal chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-associated extracellular matrix rescues aging-dependent decline of motor learning.

Cognitive decline is a feature of aging. Accumulating evidence suggests that the brain extracellular matrix (ECM) is involved in the process of aging-dependent cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration by regulating synaptic neurotransmission and affecting neuroplasticity. Age-related changes in brain structure and cognition are not uniform across the whole brain.

The effect of inhibiting glycinamide ribonucleotide formyl transferase on the development of neural tube in mice.

Background: Folate deficiency is closely related to the development of neural tube defects (NTDs). However, the exact mechanism is not completely understood. This study aims to induce murine NTDs by inhibiting one of the folate metabolic pathways, de novo purine synthesis and preliminarily investigate the potential mechanisms.

Depression, anxiety and influencing factors in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Background: Psychological distress has been widely studied in many cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, but the condition in acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate levels of depression and anxiety and their influencing factors in APE patients.

Methods: Sixty consecutive patients with APE were subjected to investigation of depression and anxiety by the Beck Depression Inventory and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and 60 community-based subjects were enrolled as controls.

Inhibition of allergic airway inflammation by antisense-induced blockade of STAT6 expression.

Background: The signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) expression in lung epithelial cells plays a pivotal role in asthma pathogenesis. Activation of STAT6 expression results in T helper cell type 2 (Th2) cell differentiation leading to Th2-mediated IgE production, development of allergic airway inflammation and hyperreactivity. Therefore, antagonizing the expression and/or the function of STAT6 could be used as a mode of therapy for allergic airway inflammation.