Case report: A patient with brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy was misdiagnosed as flail arm syndrome.

Brachio-cervical inflammatory myopathy (BCIM) is a rare inflammatory myopathy characterized by dysphagia, bilateral upper limb atrophy, limb-girdle muscle weakness, and myositis-specific antibody (MSA) negativity. BCIM has a low incidence and is commonly associated with autoimmune diseases. We present a case report of a 55-year-old man with progressive upper limb weakness and atrophy, diagnosed with flail arm syndrome (FAS).

Peripheral immunity is associated with cognitive impairment after acute minor ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack.

Immunoinflammation is associated with the development of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI), however, peripheral immunity has not been fully explored. We aimed to investigate the association between PSCI and peripheral immune indicators, including neutrophil, lymphocyte, and mononuclear percentages and counts; the systemic immune inflammation index; platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio; neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR); and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio. A total of 224 patients with acute minor ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack with 6-12 months of follow-up were included.

CD163+ macrophage density in perimysial connective tissue associated with prognosis in IMNM.

Objective: The pathological features of immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM) are dominated by the infiltration of macrophages. We aimed to perform a histopathologic semiquantitative analysis to investigate the relationship between macrophage markers and prognosis.

Methods: Semiquantitative analysis of histologic features was performed in 62 samples of IMNM.

NudCD1 as a prognostic marker in colorectal cancer and its role in the upregulation of cellular spindle assembly checkpoint genes and LIS1 pathways.

Objective: To investigate the role of NudCD1 in spindle assembly checkpoint regulation and in the prognosis of colorectal cancer.  METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect in situ expression of NudCD1 in 100 colorectal cancer tissue samples. A chi-square test was used to analyse the correlation between the NudCD1 protein expression level of the cancer tissues and clinicopathological features.

The regulation of yes-associated protein/transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif and their roles in vascular endothelium.

Normal endothelial function plays a pivotal role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis, while endothelial dysfunction causes the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases. Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its homolog transcriptional co-activator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) serve as crucial nuclear effectors in the Hippo signaling pathway, which are regulated by mechanical stress, extracellular matrix stiffness, drugs, and other factors. Increasing evidence supports that YAP/TAZ play an important role in the regulation of endothelial-related functions, including oxidative stress, inflammation, and angiogenesis.

A survey of cognitive function in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate how peritoneal dialysis and other influencing factors affect patients' cognitive function.

Methods: The 85 subjects in the study group were regular patients in our center. The control group included 88 age and gender matched healthy individuals who were with normal renal function.

Effect of miR-27b-5p on apoptosis of human vascular endothelial cells induced by simulated microgravity.

Weightlessness-induced cardiovascular dysfunction can lead to physiological and pathological consequences. It has been shown that spaceflight or simulated microgravity can alter expression profiles of some microRNAs (miRNAs). Here, we attempt to identify the role of miRNAs in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) apoptosis under simulated microgravity.

EZH2 negatively regulates PD-L1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Accumulating studies suggest that targeting epigenetic modifications could improve the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy; however, the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the ability of the epigenetic modifier, enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2), to regulate the expression of immune checkpoint inhibitor, programmed death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence staining were performed to analyze the expression and correlation of EZH2 and PD-L1 in HCC tissues.

Autophagy protects HUVECs against ER stress-mediated apoptosis under simulated microgravity.

Astronauts exposed to a gravity-free environment experience cardiovascular deconditioning that causes post-spaceflight orthostatic intolerance and other pathological conditions. Endothelial dysfunction is an important factor responsible for this alteration. Our previous study showed enhanced autophagy in endothelial cells under simulated microgravity.

Mir-494 inhibits osteoblast differentiation by regulating BMP signaling in simulated microgravity.

Although the BMPR-SMAD-RUNX2 signaling pathway plays widely recognized roles in BMP-induced osteogenesis, factors regulating this pathway remain to be defined. In this study, we used simulated microgravity models, which represent mechanical unloading conditions, to detect miRNAs that function in osteoblast differentiation. We found that miR-494 was persistently increased in C2C12 cells subjected to clinorotation conditions and in osteoblasts isolated from tail-suspended rats.

Elevated serum IL-37 concentrations in patients with sepsis.

To investigate the changes and significance of IL-37 in patients with sepsis.A total of 50 patients with sepsis between September 2016 and October 2017 at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University School of Medicine were selected as the sepsis group, 30 age and sex-matched healthy controls were selected as the control group. The levels of IL-37 in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) on day 1 and day 7 of the sepsis patients.

Clinorotation-induced autophagy via HDM2-p53-mTOR pathway enhances cell migration in vascular endothelial cells.

Individuals exposed to long-term spaceflight often experience cardiovascular dysfunctions characterized by orthostatic intolerance, disability on physical exercise, and even frank syncope. Recent studies have showed that the alterations of cardiovascular system are closely related to the functional changes of endothelial cells. We have shown previously that autophagy can be induced by simulated microgravity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Moderate exercise based on artificial gravity preserves orthostatic tolerance and exercise capacity during short-term head-down bed rest.

Numerous countermeasures have been proposed to minimize microgravity-induced physical deconditioning, but their benefits are limited. The present study aimed to investigate whether personalized aerobic exercise based on artificial gravity (AG) mitigates multisystem physical deconditioning. Fourteen men were assigned to the control group (n=6) and the countermeasure group (CM, n=8).

Simulated Microgravity Promotes Angiogenesis through RhoA-Dependent Rearrangement of the Actin Cytoskeleton.

Background/aims: Microgravity leads to hydrodynamic alterations in the cardiovascular system and is associated with increased angiogenesis, an important aspect of endothelial cell behavior to initiate new vessel growth. Given the critical role of Rho GTPase-dependent cytoskeleton rearrangement in cell migration, small GTPase RhoA might play a potential role in microgravity-induced angiogenesis.

Methods: We examined the organization of actin filaments by FITC-conjugated phalloidin staining, as well as the expression and activity of RhoA by quantitative PCR and Western blot, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) under normal gravity and simulated microgravity.

Distinct patterns and prognostic values of tumor-infiltrating macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma and gastric cancer.

Background: Macrophages (Mφs) constitute a major component of the leukocyte infiltrate and perform distinct roles in different tumor microenvironments. This study aimed to characterize the distribution, composition and prognostic value of Mφs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to identify Mφ subsets in HCC and GC tissues.

[Correlation Research between Pharmacological Method State and Natural Attribute of Chinese Herbs].

Pharmacological method state is a method to explain the principle of Chinese herb according to its external phenomenon such as shape, color, texture, features, and so on. The natural attribute of Chinese herb include shape, color, texture, smell, harvesting time, medicinal parts, chemical components, and so on. Though both of them have different key points, the natural attribute of Chinese herb can also be used to explain its medicinal mechanism.

The Impact of Simulated Weightlessness on Endothelium-Dependent Angiogenesis and the Role of Caveolae/Caveolin-1.

Background/aims: The potential role of caveolin-1 in modulating angiogenesis in microgravity environment is unexplored.

Methods: Using simulated microgravity by clinostat, we measured the expressions and interactions of caveolin-1 and eNOS in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Results: We found that decreased caveolin-1 expression is associated with increased expression and phosphorylation levels of eNOS in endothelial cells stimulated by microgravity, which causes a dissociation of eNOS from caveolin-1 complexes.

Clinorotation enhances autophagy in vascular endothelial cells.

Individuals exposed to extended periods of spaceflight or prolonged 6° head-down-tilt bed rest often suffer from health hazards represented by cardiovascular deconditioning. Many studies have reported that alterations in vascular endothelial cells contribute to cardiovascular dysfunction induced by microgravity. Autophagy, a lysosomal degradation pathway, serves an adaptive role for survival, differentiation, and development in cellular homeostasis, and can be triggered by various environmental stimuli.

Electrospun emodin polyvinylpyrrolidone blended nanofibrous membrane: a novel medicated biomaterial for drug delivery and accelerated wound healing.

In this work, blended nanofibrous membranes were prepared by an electrospinning technique with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) K90 as the filament-forming polymer, and emodin, an extract of polygonum cuspidate known as a medicinal plant, as the treatment drug. Detailed analysis of the blended nanofibrous membrane by scanning electron microscopy, Differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction revealed that emodin was well distributed in the ultrafine fibers in the form of amorphous nanosolid dispersions. Results from attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectra suggested that the main interactions between PVP and emodin might be mediated through hydrogen bonding.

Effects of simulated microgravity on human umbilical vein endothelial cell angiogenesis and role of the PI3K-Akt-eNOS signal pathway.

Endothelial cells are very sensitive to microgravity and the morphological and functional changes in endothelial cells are believed to be at the basis of weightlessness-induced cardiovascular deconditioning. It has been shown that the proliferation, migration, and morphological differentiation of endothelial cells play critical roles in angiogenesis. However, the influence of microgravity on the ability of endothelial cells to foster angiogenesis remains to be explored in detail.

Visual symptoms and G-induced loss of consciousness in 594 Chinese Air Force aircrew--a questionnaire survey.

A questionnaire survey was performed for the first time to assess the prevalence of visual symptoms and G-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) due to +Gz exposure in the Chinese Air Force (CAF) to determine the effectiveness of current G tolerance training. Responses were received from 594 individuals. Among them, 302 reported at least one episode of some sort of symptoms related to +Gz, including 110 (18.

Artificial gravity with ergometric exercise preserves the cardiac, but not cerebrovascular, functions during 4 days of head-down bed rest.

Cardiovascular and musculoskeletal deconditioning occurring in long-term spaceflight requires new strategies to counteract these adverse effects. We previously reported that a short-arm centrifuge produced artificial gravity (AG), together with ergometer, has an approving effect on promoting cardiovascular function. The current study sought to investigate whether the cardiac and cerebrovascular functions were maintained and improved using a strategy of AG combined with exercise training on cardiovascular function during 4-day head-down bed rest (HDBR).

Electrochemically-driven large amplitude pH cycling for acid-base driven DNA denaturation and renaturation.

In this paper, we present an electrochemically driven large amplitude pH alteration method based on a serial electrolytic cell involving a hydrogen permeable bifacial working electrode such as Pd thin foil. The method allows solution pH to be changed periodically up to ±4~5 units without additional alteration of concentration and/or composition of the system. Application to the acid-base driven cyclic denaturation and renaturation of 290 bp DNA fragments is successfully demonstrated with in situ real-time UV spectroscopic characterization.