DCBLD1 Modulates Angiogenesis by Regulation of the VEGFR-2 Endocytosis in Endothelial Cells.

Background: Unwanted angiogenesis is involved in the progression of various malignant tumors and cardiovascular diseases, and the factors that regulate angiogenesis are potential therapeutic targets. We tested the hypothesis that DCBLD1 (discoidin, CUB, and LCCL domain-containing protein 1) is a coreceptor of VEGFR-2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2) and modulates angiogenesis in endothelial cells.

Methods: A carotid artery ligation model and retinal angiogenesis assay were used to study angiogenesis using globe knockout or endothelial cell-specific conditional knockout mice in vivo.

Construction of an index system of core competence assessment for sleep medicine nurse specialists in China: a Delphi study.

Aim: To construct an evaluation index system for the core competence of nurses in sleep medicine specialties.

Background: Specialized nurses in sleep medicine must handle treatment, nursing, and management well, which requires nurses to have excellent competence in knowledge, skills, and ability. However, a competency evaluation system for sleep medicine nurses has not been established in China.

DCBLD2 deletion increases hyperglycemia and induces vascular remodeling by inhibiting insulin receptor recycling in endothelial cells.

Discoidin, CUB, LCCL domain-containing 2 (DCBLD2) is a type I transmembrane protein with a similar structure to neuropilin, which acts as a co-receptor for certain receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). The insulin receptor is an RTK and plays a critical role in endothelial cell function and glycolysis. However, how and whether DCBLD2 regulates insulin receptor activity in endothelial cells is poorly understood.

DCBLD2 regulates vascular hyperplasia by modulating the platelet derived growth factor receptor-β endocytosis through Caveolin-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells.

DCBLD2 is a neuropilin-like transmembrane protein that is up-regulated during arterial remodeling in humans, rats, and mice. Activation of PDGFR-β via PDGF triggers receptor phosphorylation and endocytosis. Subsequent activation of downstream signals leads to the stimulation of phenotypic conversion of VSMCs and arterial wall proliferation, which are common pathological changes in vascular remodeling diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and restenosis after angioplasty.

Developmental Stage-Specific Embryonic Induction of HepG2 Cell Differentiation.

Background: Although hepatocellular carcinoma cells can sometimes undergo differentiation in an embryonic microenvironment, the mechanism is poorly understood.

Aim: The developmental stage-specific embryonic induction of tumor cell differentiation was investigated.

Methods: Both chick and mouse liver extracts and hepatoblast-enriched cells at different developmental stages were used to treat human hepatoma HepG2 cells, and the effects on the induction of differentiation were evaluated.

Developmental Stage-Specific Hepatocytes Induce Maturation of HepG2 Cells by Rebuilding the Regulatory Circuit.

On the basis of their characteristics, we presume that developmental stage-specific hepatocytes should have the ability to induce maturation of hepatoma cells. A regulatory circuit formed by hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-4α, HNF-1α, HNF-6 and the upstream stimulatory factor (USF-1) play a key role in the maturation of embryonic hepatocytes; however, it is unclear whether the regulatory circuit mediates the embryonic induction of hepatoma cell maturation. In this study, 12.

Prebiotics and oxidative stress in constipated rats.

Objectives: Constipation can adversely affect children's health, with disorders of host immunity and enhanced oxidative stress. As nondigestible carbohydrates, prebiotics can affect the host with constipation; however, whether the prebiotics have effects on the content of intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and the contents of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in constipation has not been fully clarified.

Methods: In the present study, constipation was induced in female Sprague-Dawley rats by diphenoxylate, and the prebiotics dissolved in milk were used as an intervention.