Effects of the portage early education program on Chinese children with global developmental delay.

Children with global developmental delay (GDD) were trained with the Portage Guide to Early Education (PGEE) program.In the treatment group, the PGEE program was performed on children with GDD (45 cases) through a combination of family and hospital interventions, in a 1-to-1 ratio. The Gesell Infant Development Scale (GESELL) developmental quotient (DQ) and social adaptability were measured before and 6 months after PGEE implementation in the treatment group.

Circulating tumor DNA profiling reveals clonal evolution and real-time disease progression in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) provides a potential non-invasive biomarker for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, but whether it could reflect tumor heterogeneity and monitor therapeutic responses in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. Focusing on 574 cancer genes known to harbor actionable mutations, we identified the mutation repertoire of HCC tissues, and monitored the corresponding ctDNA features in blood samples to evaluate its clinical significance. Analysis of 3 HCC patients' mutation profiles revealed that ctDNA could overcome tumor heterogeneity and provide information of tumor burden and prognosis.

Serum peptidome profiling for identifying pathological patterns in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Renal biopsy is necessary for diagnosing the pathological changes of primary nephrotic syndrome (NS). However, it is invasive, time-consuming and can not be performed frequent on the same patient. Thus, development of a non-invasive and rapid diagnostic method may improve clinical patient management.

Proteomic profiling identifies haptoglobin as a potential serum biomarker for steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome.

Background: Long-term outcomes for patients with adult idiopathic nephrotic syndrome correlate closely with steroid responsiveness. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the difference in serum proteomes between steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) patients and identify potential biomarkers for the prediction of SRNS.

Methods: We performed a gel-based proteomic study of serum obtained from SRNS and SSNS patients and healthy controls at the time of presentation (n = 6 for each group).

Glucose-based peritoneal dialysis fluids downregulate toll-like receptors and trigger hyporesponsiveness to pathogen-associated molecular patterns in human peritoneal mesothelial cells.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of glucose-based peritoneal dialysis (PD) fluids and icodextrin-based PD fluids on the expression of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2)/TLR4 and subsequent ligand-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF-kappaB signaling and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) mRNA expression in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs). A human peritoneal mesothelial cell line (HMrSV5) was stimulated with glucose-based and icodextrin-based peritoneal dialysis fluids. Cell viability was assessed using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide].

Experimental and theoretical study of a new carbazole derivative having terminal benzimidazole rings.

A novel intramolecular donor-acceptor compound has been synthesized and characterized. This compound was a symmetrical A-pi-D-pi-A type molecule containing two benzimidazole rings as two electron acceptors (A) and an N-ethylcarbazole group as electron donors (D). The absorption and emission spectra of the compound were determined by experimental methods in solution and were computed by using the density functional theory (DFT) and the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) in gas phase and in chloroform solution.

[Cytokine in synovial monocytic cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients].

Objective: To evaluate the inhibitory effect of blockade of Rho kinase upon mediating the secretion of proinflammatory cytokine in monocytic cells from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Synovial fluid (SF) monocytic cells and peripheral blood monocytes (PB) from active RA patients were treated with TNFalpha or LPS respectively in the presence or absence of a specific ROK inhibitor, Y27632. ROK activity was assessed by Western blot and cytokine secretion measured by ELISA.

Angiotensin II upregulates Toll-like receptor 4 and enhances lipopolysaccharide-induced CD40 expression in rat peritoneal mesothelial cells.

Objective: Activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in peritoneal mesothelial cells by endotoxin contributes to peritoneal inflammation and fibrosis. Here we investigated TLR4 expression induced by angiotensin II (Ang II) and functional consequences of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and CD40 expression in rat peritoneal mesothelial cells (RPMCs).

Methods: TLR4, CD40, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and TLR4, IkappaBalpha, phospho-IkappaBalpha, NF-kappaB p65, and phospho-NF-kappaB p65 were analyzed by Western blot.

Upregulation of rat renal cortical organic anion transporter (OAT1 and OAT3) expression in response to ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background/aims: Renal organic anion transporters (OAT1 and OAT3) localized in the basolateral membrane mediate the uptake of organic anions from the blood into proximal tubules. This study aimed to examine the effects of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) on the expression of cortical renal OAT1 and OAT3 and the functional impact.

Methods: Male rats underwent a right nephrectomy and clamping of the left renal pedicle for 50 min or sham operation, followed by reperfusion for 1, 2, 4 and 6 days.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma is expressed by rat peritoneal mesothelial cells: its potential role in peritoneal cavity local defense.

Background/aims: Peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMCs) play an important role in peritoneal inflammatory and immune response. It was reported that the peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) ligand could effectively reduce inflammatory processes. However, the expression and function of PPARgamma in PMCs has not been reported.

Effect of 15d-PGJ2 on the expression of CD40 and RANTES induced by IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha on renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2).

Background/aims: Recent evidence shows that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) ameliorates a variety of inflammatory conditions. CD40 is a co-stimulatory molecule and its ligation induces production of different proinflammatory cytokines including RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed), which are considered as important factors in the initiation and maintenance of inflammatory response. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PPAR-gamma on CD40 and RANTES production on cultured human renal proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells.

[Angiotensin II up-regulates osteopontin mRNA expression of RAW264.7 macrophages via p38MAPK signaling].

Objective: To investigate the changes of osteopontin (OPN) mRNA expression induced by angiotensin II (AngII) in RAW264.7 macrophages, and to determine the role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) signaling in up-regulation of OPN mRNA expression.

Methods: RT-PCR was used for examining the OPN mRNA expression, and the phosphorylation of p38MAPK and activating transcription factor2 (ATF2) was detected by Western blot.