Endoscopic cardiac mucosal ligation: a novel minimally invasive procedure for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Background: Our objective in this study was to evaluate the short-term clinical efficacy and safety of endoscopic cardiac mucosal ligation, a novel endoscopic procedure, in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Methods: Patients diagnosed with refractory GERD or recurrent patients due to drug withdrawal admitted to our hospital were recruited in this clinical trial. All GERD patients were treated with endoscopic cardiac mucosal ligation.

High infiltration of immune cells with lower immune activity mediated the heterogeneity of gastric adenocarcinoma and promoted metastasis.

Background: Gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) is a heterogeneous malignancy with high invasion and metastasis. We aimed to explore the metastatic characteristics of GA using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis.

Methods: The scRNA-seq dataset was downloaded from the GEO database and the "Seurat" package was used to perform the scRNA-seq analysis.

Proteomics and metabolomics analyses of urine for investigation of gallstone disease in a high-altitude area.

Background: The incidence of gallstones is high in Qinghai Province. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of gallstones remain unclear.

Methods: In this study, we collected urine samples from 30 patients with gallstones and 30 healthy controls.

Face-to-Face Instruction and Personalized Regimens Improve the Quality of Inpatient Bowel Preparation for Colonoscopy.

Background: Poor bowel preparation is commonly observed in inpatients undergoing colonoscopy, particularly those with higher risks for inadequate bowel preparation.

Aims: The objective of this study was to determine whether personalized bowel preparation regimens combined with face-to-face instruction (FFI) could improve the quality of bowel preparation for inpatient.

Methods: In this endoscopist-blinded, randomized controlled trial, 320 inpatients were enrolled and randomly allocated (1:1) to the control and intervention groups.

Underwater versus conventional endoscopic mucosal resection for small size non-pedunculated colorectal polyps: a randomized controlled trial : (UEMR vs. CEMR for small size non-pedunculated colorectal polyps).

Background: Underwater endoscopic mucosal resection (UEMR) is a recently developed technique and can be performed during water-aided or ordinary colonoscopy for the treatment of colorectal polyps. The objective of this clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of UEMR in comparison with conventional endoscopic mucosal resection (CEMR) of small non-pedunculated colorectal polyps.

Methods: Patients with small size, non-pedunculated colorectal polyps (4-9 mm in size) who underwent colonoscopic polypectomy were enrolled in this multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial.

Dual-channel surface plasmon resonance monitoring of intracellular levels of the p53-MDM2 complex and caspase-3 induced by MDM2 antagonist Nutlin-3.

MDM2 can mediate the degradation of tumor suppressor p53 through an autoregulatory feedback loop, in which MDM2 abolishes wild-type p53 function and accelerates malignant transformation. However, the incorporation of MDM2 antagonist Nutlin-3 could reactivate the transcriptional activity of p53, up-regulate caspase-3, and induce apoptosis. In this work, the simultaneous and label-free monitoring of p53-MDM2 complex and caspase-3 levels in cancer cells before and after Nutlin-3 treatment was conducted using dual-channel surface plasmon resonance (SPR).

Sensitive surface plasmon resonance detection of methyltransferase activity and screening of its inhibitors amplified by p53 protein bound to methylation-specific ds-DNA consensus sites.

Abnormal DNA methylation is closely related to cancer initiation and progression, and strategies to assay methyltransferase activity and screen its inhibitors are essential for cancer diagnosis and therapy. In this work, surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based assay for real-time and sensitive monitoring of DNA methyltransferase activity and screening of its inhibitors was conducted via methylation of double-stranded (ds)-DNA consensus sites and the follow-up p53 protein recognition. The consensus ds-DNA possesses a specific sequence of 5'-CCGG-3' in which the second C base can be methylated by M.

Dual-Channel Surface Plasmon Resonance for Quantification of ApoE Gene and Genotype Discrimination in Unamplified Genomic DNA Extracts.

Identification of gene variation is of great importance for attaining information related to disease susceptibility. A highly sensitive and specific surface plasmon resonance (SPR) method for quantification of the apoE gene and genotype discrimination was demonstrated. The complementary sequences with the specific recognition sites of GCGC bases upon hybridization to the preimmobilized biotinylated probes could be cleaved by the restriction enzyme HhaI, while the existence of the single-base mismatch (GTGC) prevented the cleavage reaction.

Applications and development of permeability imaging in ischemic stroke.

Brain permeability imaging techniques are specific for the assessment of blood-brain barrier integrity. The present review article primarily focuses on the application of permeability imaging in cases of ischemic stroke. The permeability maps may be used to predict future hemorrhagic transformation in patients following acute ischemic stroke, that have been treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or recanalization therapy.

Next-generation Metabolomics in the Development of New Antidepressants: Using Albiflorin as an Example.

Depression is a highly prevalent disorder that affects more than 300 million adults worldwide in 2015. Depression also frequently coexists with many other conditions such as osteoporosis and one-third of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survivors had depressive symptoms. Antidepressants have become the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States.

TMPyP Inhibits Amyloid-β Aggregation and Alleviates Amyloid-Induced Cytotoxicity.

The aggregation or misfolding of amyloid-β (Aβ) is a major pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The regulation of Aβ aggregation is thought to be an effective strategy for AD treatment. The capability of a water-soluble porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin (TMPyP), to inhibit Aβ aggregation and to lower Aβ-induced toxicity was demonstrated.

Triple Stimuli-Responsive Magnetic Hollow Porous Carbon-Based Nanodrug Delivery System for Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Synergistic Photothermal/Chemotherapy of Cancer.

The premature leakage of anticancer drugs during blood circulation may the damage immune system, normal cells, and tissues. Constructing targeted nanocarriers with pH, glutathione, and NIR triple-responsive property can effectively avoid the leakage of anticancer drugs before they arrive at the targeted site. In this paper, magnetic hollow porous carbon nanoparticles (MHPCNs) were successfully fabricated as nanocarrier.

Sensitive and simultaneous surface plasmon resonance detection of free and p53-bound MDM2 proteins from human sarcomas.

Murine double minute 2 (MDM2) is an oncoprotein mediating the degradation of the tumor suppressor p53 protein. The physiological levels of MDM2 protein are closely related to malignant transformation and tumor growth. In this work, the simultaneous and label-free determination of free and p53-bound MDM2 proteins from sarcoma tissue extracts was conducted using a dual-channel surface plasmon resonance (SPR) instrument.

Peptide-Functionalized Phase-Transformation Nanoparticles for Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound-Assisted Tumor Imaging and Therapy.

In this study, we successfully developed novel tumor homing-penetrating peptide-functionalized drug-loaded phase-transformation nanoparticles (tLyP-1-10-HCPT-PFP NPs) for low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU)-assisted tumor ultrasound molecular imaging and precise therapy. With the nanoscale particle size, tLyP-1-10-HCPT-PFP NPs could pass through the tumor vascular endothelial cell gap. Induced by tLyP-1 peptide with targeting and penetrating efficiency, tLyP-1-10-HCPT-PFP NPs could increase tumor accumulation and penetrate deeply into the extravascular tumor tissue, penetrating through extracellular matrix and the cellular membrane to the cytoplasm.

[Diagnostic value of citrulline and intestinal fatty acid binding protein on acute gastrointestinal injury in critical patients: a prospective study of 530 patients].

Objective: To observe the incidence of acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and to approach the value of serum citrulline and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) on diagnosis of AGI in critical patients.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted. 576 critical patients admitted to ICU of Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital from February 2016 to February 2017 were enrolled.

New LC-MS/MS Method for the Analysis of Allura Red Level in Takeaway Chinese Dishes and Urine of an Adult Chinese Population.

Allura red is a widely used synthetic food dye. In this study, we developed and validated a LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of allura red in three popular takeaway Chinese dishes (braised pork, soy sauce chicken, sweet and sour pork) and human urine samples. High levels of allura red ranging from 2.

Amplified voltammetric detection of miRNA from serum samples of glioma patients via combination of conducting magnetic microbeads and ferrocene-capped gold nanoparticle/streptavidin conjugates.

MicroRNA (miRNA) plays a key regulatory role in many biological processes, emerging as an important biomarker for a large variety of cancer diseases. Employing gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-coated magnetic microbeads (AuNP-MMBs) as an immobilization matrix for higher loading density of hairpin-structured DNA probes and then ferrocene (Fc)-capped gold nanoparticle/streptavidin conjugates, amplified electrochemical assay of miRNA has been performed. In the presence of target miRNA, a novel assembly was formed via linking biotinylated hairpin DNA probe-covered AuNP-MMBs with Fc-capped gold nanoparticle/streptavidin conjugates and then collected by magnetic electrodes for voltammetric detection.

Silencing of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 suppresses hyperstretch-induced expression of inflammatory cytokines in vitro.

In addition to biochemical stimuli, physical forces also play a critical role in regulating the structure, function, and metabolism of the lung. Hyperstretch can induce the inflammatory responses in asthma, but the mechanism remains unclear. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a nuclear enzyme that can regulate a variety of inflammatory cytokines expression.

Blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption combined continuous veno-venous hemofiltration for patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.

Background: Blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption can clean larger molecules that exceed the molecular weight cutoff of combined continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH). Hence blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption combined CVVH (HP+CVVH) has higher ability of mediator clearance, and can improve clinical outcomes in theory. This study aimed to investigate the effect of blood hemoperfusion with resin adsorption combined continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (HP+CVVH) on plasm cytokines like TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, cellular immunity and prognosis in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).