Abnormal changes of brain function and structure in patients with T2DM-related cognitive impairment: a neuroimaging meta-analysis and an independent validation.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) seriously threatens human health and the quality of life, cognitive impairment is considered as a common complication of T2DM. Neuroimaging meta-analysis found brain functional and structural abnormality in patients with T2DM. Therefore, the purpose of the meta-analysis was to identify brain regions of patients with T2DM-related cognitive impairment (T2DM-CI) where functional and structural indicators changed together or could not synchronize.

Abnormalities of cerebral blood flow and the regional brain function in Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and multimodal neuroimaging meta-analysis.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease with high incidence rate. Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), as a widely used method for studying neurodegenerative diseases, has not yet been combined with two important indicators, amplitude low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and cerebral blood flow (CBF), for standardized analysis of PD.

Methods: In this study, we used seed-based d-mapping and permutation of subject images (SDM-PSI) software to investigate the changes in ALFF and CBF of PD patients.

Commonalities and distinctions between the type 2 diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and multimodal neuroimaging meta-analysis.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are aging related diseases with high incidence. Because of the correlation of incidence rate and some possible mechanisms of comorbidity, the two diseases have been studied in combination by many researchers, and even some scholars call AD type 3 diabetes. But the relationship between the two is still controversial.

Functional-structural decoupling in visual network is associated with cognitive decline in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: evidence from a multimodal MRI analysis.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cognitive dysfunction are highly prevalent disorders worldwide. Although visual network (VN) alteration and functional-structural coupling are potential warning factors for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in T2DM patients, the relationship between the three in T2DM without MCI is unclear. Thirty T2DM patients without MCI and twenty-nine healthy controls (HC) were prospectively enrolled.

Melatonin Mitigates Oxazolone-Induced Colitis in Microbiota-Dependent Manner.

Levels of type 2 cytokines are elevated in the blood and intestinal tissues of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients in the active phase; this phenomenon indicates the participation of type 2 immune response in UC progression. The beneficial effects of melatonin in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) colitis models have been illustrated, but its role in the oxazolone (Oxa)-induced colitis model (driven by type 2 immune response) remains relatively unknown. We investigated the relationship between melatonin concentration and the severity of UC, revealing a significantly negative correlation.

A multi-channel collagen scaffold loaded with neural stem cells for the repair of spinal cord injury.

Collagen scaffolds possess a three-dimensional porous structure that provides sufficient space for cell growth and proliferation, the passage of nutrients and oxygen, and the discharge of metabolites. In this study, a porous collagen scaffold with axially-aligned luminal conduits was prepared. In vitro biocompatibility analysis of the collagen scaffold revealed that it enhances the activity of neural stem cells and promotes cell extension, without affecting cell differentiation.

Decreased expression of TIPE2 in the eye under high-glucose conditions tested in vivo and in vitro.

Aims: Inflammation is important in the development of angiogenesis diabetic retinopathy (DR). Anti-inflammation is promising strategy in early DR management. This study aimed to evaluate the level of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced protein-8 like-2 (TIPE2), a formerly anti-inflammatory factor, under high-glucose conditions.

Mobile Health to Maintain Continuity of Patient-Centered Care for Chronic Kidney Disease: Content Analysis of Apps.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health problem with a high economic burden, which is particularly prevalent in Taiwan. Mobile health apps have been widely used to maintain continuity of patient care for various chronic diseases. To slow the progression of CKD, continuity of care is vital for patients' self-management and cooperation with health care professionals.

A Content Analysis of Mobile Apps for Chronic Kidney Disease Patient Care: Searching in English and Chinese.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health issue. Mobile technology is pervasive and widely used in chronic disease care. More and more, CKD mobile applications (apps) can be found on popular mobile application platforms, especially in Chinese.

Synergistic in vitro activity of sodium houttuyfonate with fluconazole against clinical Candida albicans strains under planktonic growing conditions.

Context: Fluconazole resistance is an intractable problem of treating Candida albicans, calling for more antifungal agents to enhance the activity of fluconazole.

Objective: This work investigates the anti-C. albicans activities of sodium houttuyfonate (SH) and/or fluconazole and the associated mechanism.

Anti-inflammatory TIPE2 inhibits angiogenic VEGF in retinal pigment epithelium.

Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is a pathological feature which commonly occurs in ocular diseases. This condition is characterised by vasculogenesis and angiogenesis underlying the neuroretina, with retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid as main targets. Inflammation and immunity are crucial in the early development of CNV.

In vitro antifungal activity of baicalin against Candida albicans biofilms via apoptotic induction.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antifungal activity of baicalin and its potential mechanism of action against Candida albicans biofilms. The standard techniques including microdilution method and checkerboard assay were employed to evaluate the susceptibilities of baicalin alone and in combination with fluconazole against planktonic and biofilm cells of C. albicans.

Lab-scale preparations of Candida albicans and dual Candida albicans-Candida glabrata biofilms on the surface of medical-grade polyvinyl chloride (PVC) perfusion tube using a modified gravity-supported free-flow biofilm incubator (GS-FFBI).

The assembly of a man-made gravity-supported free-flow biofilm incubator (GS-FFBI) was described, which was composed of a gas cushion injector and four incubators. The GS-FFBI had the characteristics of (i) a bottom-up flow direction, and (ii) lab-scale biofilm preparation without the use of a multichannel pump. Two opportunistic fungal strains, namely Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, were employed to incubate C.

Production of shikimic acid from Escherichia coli through chemically inducible chromosomal evolution and cofactor metabolic engineering.

Background: Shikimic acid (SA) produced from the seeds of Chinese star anise (Illicium verum) is a key intermediate for the synthesis of neuraminidase inhibitors such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®), an anti-influenza drug. However, plants cannot deliver a stable supply of SA. To avoid the resulting shortages and price fluctuations, a stable source of affordable SA is required.

Chromosomal evolution of Escherichia coli for the efficient production of lycopene.

Background: Plasmid-based overexpression of genes has been the principal strategy for metabolic engineering. However, for biotechnological applications, plasmid-based expression systems are not suitable because of genetic instability, and the requirement for constant selective pressure to ensure plasmid maintenance.

Results: To overcome these drawbacks, we constructed an Escherichia coli lycopene production strain that does not carry a plasmid or an antibiotic marker.

[Effects of P 311 on the migration of epidermal stem cells in mice with superficial partial-thickness burn and injured cell model in vitro].

Objective: To study effects of P311 on the migration of epidermal stem cells (ESCs) in mice with superficial partial-thickness burn and injured cell model in vitro and to explore the mechanism.

Methods: (1) Eighteen male C(57) BL/6 mice were used. Fifteen of them were inflicted with superficial partial-thickness burn on the back.

[Biologic effect of nitric oxide on human epidermal stem cells in vitro].

Objective: To observe the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on adhesion, proliferation, and migration of human epidermal stem cells (ESC) in vitro.

Methods: ESC were isolated and cultured by the modified method of rapid attachment to type IV collagen. (1) Morphology of cells was observed under inverted phase-contrast microscope.

Induction and inhibition of cytochromes P450 by the St. John's wort constituent hyperforin in human hepatocyte cultures.

St. John's wort extract (SJW) (Hypericum perforatum L.) is among the most commonly used herbal medications in the United States.