Biomechanics and ontogeny of gliding in wingless stick insect nymphs (Extatosoma tiaratum).

Many wingless arboreal arthropods can glide back to tree trunks following free falls. However, little is known about the behaviors and aerodynamics underlying such aerial performance, and how this may be influenced by body size. Here, we studied gliding performance by nymphs of the stick insect Extatosoma tiaratum, focusing on the dynamics of J-shaped trajectories and how gliding capability changes during ontogeny.

Skeletal muscle alterations indicate poor prognosis in cirrhotic patients: a multicenter cohort study in China.

Introduction: We aimed to determine the diagnostic criteria of myosteatosis in a Chinese population and investigate the effect of skeletal muscle abnormalities on the outcomes of cirrhotic patients.

Methods: Totally 911 volunteers were recruited to determine the diagnostic criteria and impact factors of myosteatosis, and 480 cirrhotic patients were enrolled to verify the value of muscle alterations for prognosis prediction and establish new noninvasive prognostic strategies.

Results: Multivariate analysis showed age, sex, weight, waist circumference, and biceps circumference had a remarkable influence on the L3 skeletal muscle density (L3-SMD).

Pt and Mo Co-Decorated MnO Nanorods with Superior Resistance to HO, Sintering, and HCl for Catalytic Oxidation of Chlorobenzene.

MnO nanorods with exposed (110), (100), or (310) facets were prepared and investigated for catalytic oxidation of chlorobenzene, then the (110)-exposed MnO nanorod was screened as the candidate parent and further modified by Pt and/or Mo with different contents. The loading of Pt enhanced activity and versatility of the pristine MnO, but the polychlorinated byproducts and Cl were promoted, conversely, as the decoration of Mo inhibited the polychlorinated byproducts and improved durability. Determination of structure and properties suggested that Pt facilitated the formation of more oxygen vacancies/Mn and surface adsorbed oxygen weakened the bonds of surface lattice oxygen, while Mo stabilized surface lattice oxygen and increased acid sites, especially Brønsted acid sites.

Biomechanics of aerial righting in wingless nymphal stick insects.

Numerous wingless arthropods as well as diverse vertebrates are capable of mid-air righting. We studied the biomechanics of the aerial righting reflex in first-instar nymphs of the stick insect . After being released upside-down, insects reoriented dorsoventrally and stabilized body posture via active modulation of limb positions and associated aerodynamic torques.

Differentiation therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting the activity of AKT/GSK-3β/β-catenin axis and TGF-β induced EMT with sophocarpine.

Hepatocellular carcinoma progression is thought to be driven by cancer stem cells (CSCs). No clinical trial has, as yet, shown convincing long-term disease free survival results for the majority of patients in HCC. So it is important to discover new anti-cancer agents.

[Mechanism of sophocarpine in treating experimental colitis in mice].

To study the preventive effect of sophocarpine (Soc) on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice, in order to analyze the influence of Soc on toll like receptor 4 (TLR4)/mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and janus tyrosine kinase 2 signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) signal pathways in mice intestinal tissues. The mice was given 2.5% DSS for 6 days to induce the acute colitis model.

An HNF1α-regulated feedback circuit modulates hepatic fibrogenesis via the crosstalk between hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells.

Hepatocytes are critical for the maintenance of liver homeostasis, but its involvement in hepatic fibrogenesis remains elusive. Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α) is a liver-enriched transcription factor that plays a key role in hepatocyte function. Our previous study revealed a significant inhibitory effect of HNF1α on hepatocellular carcinoma.

Sophocarpine attenuates toll-like receptor 4 in steatotic hepatocytes to suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines synthesis.

Background And Aim: Sophocarpine, a tetracyclic quinolizidine alkaloid derived from Sophora alopecuroides L., has been documented that it can suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines synthesis in alleviating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in vivo. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a pattern recognition receptor whose activation results in the production of several pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Evaluation and clinical significance of the stomach age model for evaluating aging of the stomach-a multicenter study in China.

Background: A higher prevalence of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) occurs in younger adults in Asia. We used Stomach Age to examine the different mechanisms of CAG between younger adults and elderly individuals, and established a simple model of cancer risk that can be applied to CAG surveillance.

Methods: Stomach Age was determined by FISH examination of telomere length in stomach biopsies.

Sophocarpine attenuates liver fibrosis by inhibiting the TLR4 signaling pathway in rats.

Aim: To explore the effect of sophocarpine on experimental liver fibrosis and the potential mechanism involved.

Methods: Sophocarpine was injected intraperitoneally in two distinct rat hepatic fibrosis models induced either by dimethylnitrosamine or bile duct ligation. Masson's trichrome staining, Sirius red staining and hepatic hydroxyproline level were used for collagen determination.

Decreased miRNA-148a is associated with lymph node metastasis and poor clinical outcomes and functions as a suppressor of tumor metastasis in non-small cell lung cancer.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and only 15% of lung cancer patients live more than 5 years. microRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously expressed non-coding RNAs, and dysregulation of miRNAs is a common feature in human cancers including lung cancer. In this study, we describe the epigenetic regulation of miRNA-148a and its prognostic value in NSCLC.

Perturbation of MicroRNA-370/Lin-28 homolog A/nuclear factor kappa B regulatory circuit contributes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Unlabelled: MicroRNA 370 (miR-370) is located within the DLK1/DIO3 imprinting region on human chromosome 14, which has been identified as a cancer-associated genomic region. However, the role of miR-370 in malignances remains controversial. Here, we report that miR-370 was repressed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and hepatoma cell lines.

Sophocarpine alleviates hepatocyte steatosis through activating AMPK signaling pathway.

Sophocarpine, an effective compound derived from foxtail-like sophora herb and seed, has been reported that it can alleviate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in rats and affect adipocytokine synthesis. Meanwhile, adipocytokines could adjust hepatic lipid metabolism through AMPK signaling pathway. In the work presented here, primary hepatocytes were isolated from specific pathogen-free male SD rats and incubated with 200 μmol/L oleic acid for 24h to induce steatotic model, then treated with sophocarpine for 72 h.

Recombinant adenovirus carrying the hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha gene inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma xenograft growth in mice.

Unlabelled: Hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha (HNF1α) is one of the key transcription factors of the HNF family, which plays a critical role in hepatocyte differentiation. Substantial evidence has suggested that down-regulation of HNF1α may contribute to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, human cancer cells and tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) were isolated from human HCC tissues, respectively.

Self-expanding metallic stent as a bridge to surgery versus emergency surgery for obstructive colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.

Background: The use of a colonic stent as a bridge to surgery aims to provide patients with elective one-stage surgical resection while reducing stoma creation and postoperative complications. This study used meta-analytic techniques to compare the outcomes of stent use as a bridge to surgery and emergency surgery in the management of obstructive colorectal cancer.

Methods: A literature search of Medline, Embase, Cochrane controlled trials registry, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database was performed on all studies comparing stent as a bridge to surgery and emergency surgery for obstructive colorectal cancer.

Gemcitabine in the chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis.

Aims: Whether gemcitabine based chemoradiotherapy (GEM-based CRT) is superior to 5-fluorouracil based chemoradiotherapy (5-FU-based CRT) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) remains uncertain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of GEM-based CRT compared with 5-FU-based CRT.

Methods: Electronic database including Medline, Embase, Cochrane controlled trials register, PubMed (update to December 2010) and manual bibliography searches were carried out.

Sophocarpine alleviates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in rats.

Background And Aim: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is one entity in the spectrum of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to explore the prevention and therapeutic effect of sophocarpine on experimental rat NASH.

Methods: Sophocarpine with the dosage of 20 mg/kg/day was injected into NASH rats.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha suppresses the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) is a transcription factor that plays a key role in hepatocyte differentiation and the maintenance of hepatic function, but its role in hepatocarcinogenesis has yet to be examined. Here, we report evidence of a suppressor role for HNF4α in liver cancer. HNF4α expression was progressively decreased in the diethylinitrosamine-induced rat model of liver carcinogenesis.

Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 by adenovirus mediated small interfering RNA attenuates hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Unlabelled: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) is a critical part of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway, which is involved in hepatic fibrosis. However, the effect of down-regulation of ERK1 on hepatic fibrosis has not been reported. Here, we induced hepatic fibrosis in rats with dimethylnitrosamine administration or bile duct ligation.

Milder liver cirrhosis and loss of serum HBeAg do not imply lower risk for hepatocellular carcinoma development in HBV-related cirrhosis.

Background: Serum HBeAg status and liver cirrhosis severity at the time of diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis remain inconclusive. The aim was to investigate the status of HBeAg and cirrhosis severity at the time of HCC development in the natural history of HBV-related cirrhosis in mainland China.

Material/methods: In a retrospective cross-sectional hospital-based setting, HBeAg status and severity of underlying cirrhosis, estimated by MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) scores and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)--to-platelet ratio index (APRI), were comprehensively compared in 377 HBsAg-positive compensated and decompensated liver cirrhosis and 434 with HCC patients to clarify the independent and joint effects of the factors.

Adenovirus-mediated transfer of siRNA against PAI-1 mRNA ameliorates hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Background/aims: Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a potential profibrotic molecule. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effect of PAI-1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) on experimental hepatic fibrosis and investigate the intrinsic mechanisms.

Methods: Hepatic fibrosis in rats was induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) administration or bile duct ligation (BDL).

Treatment of chronic bleeding of the small intestine in Rendu-Osler-Weber disease with argon plasma coagulation under double-balloon enteroscopy.

A 39-year-old man with chronic bleeding from Rendu-Osler-Weber disease in the small intestine was treated with argon plasma coagulation using a custom-made probe under double-balloon enteroscopy. A 10 month follow-up showed no evidence of bleeding.

A minimally invasive alternative for managing large pancreatic duct stones using a modified expandable metal mesh stent.

Background And Aim: Endoscopic clearance of large or impacted stones in the main pancreatic duct (MPD) remains a clinical challenge. In this study, we attempted to technically modify the metallic stent to facilitate the clearance of large pancreatic stones in 4 patients, hoping to lower the operative risks and shorten hospital stay.

Patients And Methods: Four patients with chronic pancreatitis and large stones in the MPD received endoscopic treatment.

Differentiation therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma in mice with recombinant adenovirus carrying hepatocyte nuclear factor-4alpha gene.

Unlabelled: Previous studies have shown that hepatocyte nuclear factor-4alpha (HNF4alpha) is a central regulator of differentiated hepatocyte phenotype and forced expression of HNF4alpha could promote reversion of tumors toward a less invasive phenotype. However, the effect of HNF4alpha on cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with HNF4alpha have not been reported. In this study, an adenovirus-mediated gene delivery system, which could efficiently transfer and express HNF4alpha, was generated to determine its effect on hepatoma cells (Hep3B and HepG2) in vitro and investigate the anti-tumor effect of HNF4alpha in mice.

Inhibition of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression by siRNA in rat hepatic stellate cells.

Background And Aim: The plasminogen activator/plasmin system is known to regulate the extracellular matrix turnover. The aim of this study was to detect the role of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) during liver fibrogenesis and investigate the functional effects of PAI-1 gene silencing in rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) using small interfering RNA (siRNA).

Methods: Hepatic fibrosis in rats was induced through serial subcutaneously injections of CCl(4) and the expression of PAI-1 was detected by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR).