Effects of silencing endothelin-1 on invasion and vascular formation in lung cancer.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), which exists not only in the vascular endothelium but is also widely present in various tissues and cells, is an important cardiovascular regulatory factor that serves an important role in maintaining the basal vascular tone and homeostasis in the cardiovascular system. In the present study, the ET-1 gene was silenced by RNA interference, and the effects on lung cancer cell proliferation and tumor cell invasion were then detected by Cell Counting kit-8 and Transwell assays. In addition, the expression of apoptosis, growth and invasion-associated proteins, including RhoA/C, vascular endothelial growth factor, pigment epithelium-derived factor, AKT, E-cadherin and cyclooxygenase-2 was evaluated by western blotting upon silencing ET-1.

Does continuous positive airway pressure reduce aldosterone levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea?

Purpose: Aldosterone is associated with the development of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular diseases. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is an effective treatment for OSA, but the impact of CPAP therapy on aldosterone levels in patients with OSA remains unclear. To address this issue, a meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effects of CPAP therapy on serum aldosterone levels in OSA.

Erectile Dysfunction and Sexual Hormone Levels in Men With Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Efficacy of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.

In this study, the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and serum sexual hormone levels were evaluated in men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In these patients, the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was determined. The 207 men (mean age 44.

Efficacy of positive airway pressure on brain natriuretic peptide in patients with heart failure and sleep-disorder breathing: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Objective: Positive airway pressure (PAP) has been recognized as an effective therapeutic option for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in patients with heart failure (HF), and it can improve left ventricular function. Whether PAP can ameliorate serum brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, a biomarker of HF, is controversial. The purpose of the present study was to quantitatively assess the efficacy of PAP on BNP in patients with HF and SDB.

Efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure on testosterone in men with obstructive sleep apnea: a meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on serum testosterone in men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Two reviewers independently searched PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase and Web of Science before June 2014. Information on characteristics of subjects, study design, pre- and post-CPAP treatment of serum total testosterone, free testosterone and sexual hormone blinding protein (SHBG) was extracted for analysis.

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on serum cystatin C among obstructive sleep apnea syndrome patients.

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on serum cystatin C, a novel biomarker of early renal impairment, among obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.

Materials And Methods: Newly diagnosed severe OSA patients who treated with CPAP for 3 months were enrolled from two sleep laboratories. Serum biomarkers of renal impairment, cystatin C, creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), were detected before and after CPAP treatment.

Endothelin-1 induces hypoxia inducible factor 1α expression in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) dose-dependently increased HIF1α expression in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Inhibition of protein synthesis did not affect ET-1-induced HIF1α expression. The maximum effect of ET-1 was similar to that caused by proteasome inhibitor MG132.

Compromised white matter microstructural integrity after mountain climbing: evidence from diffusion tensor imaging.

The aim of the present study was to investigate cerebral microstructural alterations after single short-term mountain climbing. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis of gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes and Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS) analysis of WM fractional anisotropy (FA) based on MRI images were carried out on 14 mountaineers before and after mountain climbing (6206 m). In addition, verbal and spatial 'two-back' tasks and serial reaction time task were also tested.

[Comparative study on cefdinir and cefaclor in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate bacterial community acquired pneumonia].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cefdinir in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate bacterial community acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methods: A prospective single-blind randomized controlled clinical study was performed comparing cefdinir with cefaclor in the treatment of sixty-four patients with CAP. The clinical and bacteriological efficacy and safety were compared between cefdinir and cefaclor in treating mild to moderate CAP.