Association between short-term exposure to extreme humidity and painful diabetic neuropathy: a case-crossover analysis.

Painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus, which reduces the quality of life. However, the association between PDN and environmental factors, especially ambient humidity, remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of extreme humidity events on PDN.

Occupational Dust Exposure and Respiratory Protection of Migrant Interior Construction Workers in Two Chinese Cities.

Migrant interior construction workers are increasing in China. Construction workers are at an increased risk of work-related illness (WRI) due to prolonged exposure to and inhalation of dust. Dust concentrations in the air can be reduced significantly with effective respiratory protection measures.

Exposure-lag-response associations between extreme environmental conditions and primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Introduction: Patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) reportedly believe that their symptoms worsen on extreme weather days due to variations in environmental conditions. However, few studies have assessed the acute effects of environmental exposure on the onset of pSS. This study aimed to evaluate the exposure-response relationship between extreme environmental conditions and pSS outpatient visits.

Data Mining Study on Prescription Patterns of Different Dosage Forms of Chinese Herbal Medicines for Treating and Improving Immune-Inflammatory Indices in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: To explore the prescription patterns of different dosage forms of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their effects on immune-inflammatory indices.

Methods: Clinical data were collected from patients with RA in 4 hospitals (3 Class A comprehensive hospitals and 1 Class B comprehensive hospital) in Anhui Province, China, from August 2012 to June 2018 via the electronic medical record gathering system. Following extraction of prescription information, each prescribed herb was quantified and standardized according to the knowledge base to establish a database of RA treatment formulae.

Association between rainfall and readmissions of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a time-stratified case-crossover analysis.

It has been reported that local weather is associated with the symptoms of joint pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and many people believe their pain becomes worse when facing rainy days. However, limited studies explored the effects of weather on RA patients' healthcare-seeking behavior. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between rainfall and readmission behavior of patients with RA in Hefei, China, based on hospitalization data from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine from May 2012 to June 2016 and weather data from National Meteorological Information Center during the same study period.

Glioma malignancy is linked to interdependent and inverse AMOG and L1 adhesion molecule expression.

Background: Gliomas account for the majority of primary human brain tumors and remain a challenging neoplasm for cure due to limited therapeutic options. Cell adhesion molecules play pivotal roles in the growth and progression of glial tumors. Roles of the adhesion molecules on glia (AMOG) and L1CAM (L1) in glioma cells have been shown to correlate with tumorigenesis: Increased expression of L1 and decreased expression of AMOG correlate with degree of malignancy.

An Overview of Experimental and Clinical Spinal Cord Findings in Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that occurs mainly in the elderly and presenile life stages. It is estimated that by the year 2050, 135 million people will be affected by AD worldwide, representing a huge burden to society. The pathological hallmarks of AD mainly include intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) caused by hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, formation of extracellular amyloid plaques, and massive neural cell death in the affected nervous system.

Metal-Free Regioselective Hypervalent Iodine-Mediated C-2 and C-3 Difunctionalization of N-Substituted Indoles.

Mild, metal-free, highly regioselective hypervalent-iodine mediated C-2 acetoxylation and C-3 oxidations of N-substituted indoles with (diacetoxyiodo)benzene [PhI(OAc)] have been reported. The reaction involves three cascade steps. The quantity of PhI(OAc) employed in this reaction plays a key role in the outcome of three types of products (2a-4a).

Identification of novel potent human testis-specific and bromodomain-containing protein (BRDT) inhibitors using crystal structure-based virtual screening.

Human testis-specific and bromodomain-containing protein (hBRDT) is essential for chromatin remodeling during spermatogenesis and is therefore an attractive target for the discovery of male contraceptive drugs. In this study, pharmacophore modeling was carried out based on the crystal structure of hBRDT in complex with the inhibitor, JQ1. The established pharmacophore model was used as a 3D search query to identify potent hBRDT inhibitors from an in-house chemical database.

Matrigel basement membrane matrix induces eccrine sweat gland cells to reconstitute sweat gland-like structures in nude mice.

Background: Severe burn results in irreversible damage to eccrine sweat glands, for which no effective treatment is available. Interaction between the extracellular matrix and epithelial cells is critical for proper three-dimensional organization and function of the epithelium.

Methods: Matrigel-embedded eccrine sweat gland cells were subcutaneously implanted into the inguinal regions of nude mice.

Localization of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase α/β, Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl-cotransporter 1 and aquaporin-5 in human eccrine sweat glands.

In order to evaluate the function of the repaired or regenerated eccrine sweat glands, we must first localize the proteins involved in sweat secretion and absorption in normal human eccrine sweat glands. In our studies, the cellular localization of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase α/β, Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl-cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) and aquaporin-5 (AQP5) in eccrine sweat glands were detected by immunoperoxidase labeling. The results showed that Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase α was immunolocalized in the cell membrane of the basal layer and suprabasal layer cells of the epidermis, the basolateral membrane of the secretory coils, and the cell membrane of the outer cells and the basolateral membrane of the luminal cells of the ducts.

The cellular localization of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 1, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, potassium channel, epithelial sodium channel γ and vacuolar-type H+-ATPase in human eccrine sweat glands.

The secretory portions of human eccrine sweat glands secrete isotonic fluid into the lumen and then the primary fluid is rendered hypotonic during its passage to the skin surface. During the processes of sweat secretion and absorption, many enzymes and proteins play important roles. In the study, the cellular localizations of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger 1 (NHE1), cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), potassium channel (KC), epithelial sodium channel γ (γENaC) and vacuolar-type H+-ATPase (V-ATPase) in human eccrine sweat glands and epidermis were detected using immunofluorescence labeling.

Roles of histamine and its receptors in allergic and inflammatory bowel diseases.

Mast cell has a long history of being recognized as an important mediator-secreting cell in allergic diseases, and has been discovered to be involved in IBD in last two decades. Histamine is a major mediator in allergic diseases, and has multiple effects that are mediated by specific surface receptors on target cells. Four types of histamine receptors have now been recognized pharmacologically and the first three are located in the gut.