Sarcopenia adversely impacts clinical outcomes in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sarcopenia is a syndrome marked by a gradual and widespread reduction in skeletal muscle mass and strength, as well as a decline in functional ability, which is associated with malnutrition, hormonal changes, chronic inflammation, disturbance of intestinal flora, and exercise quality. Pancreatoduodenectomy is a commonly employed clinical intervention for conditions such as pancreatic head cancer, ampulla of Vater cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma, among others, with a notably high rate of postoperative complications. Sarcopenia is frequent in patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy.

Exosome-Transmitted miR-224-5p Promotes Colorectal Cancer Cell Proliferation Targeting ULK2 in p53-Dependent Manner.

Objective: To investigate the role and molecular mechanism of exosomal miR-224-5p in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods: The miR-224-5p expression in CRC patient tissues and cell-derived exosomes was measured by laser capture microdissection and qRT-PCR, respectively. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to determine the target gene of miR-224-5p.

Molecular characterization of a novel virga-like virus associated with wheat.

In this work, we report the detection of a novel single-strand RNA virus from wheat, tentatively named "Triticum aestivum-associated virga-like virus 1" (TaAVLV1). Further characterization revealed that the complete genome of TaAVLV1 is divided into two segments, RNA1 and RNA2, which are 3530 and 3466 nt in length, excluding their respective polyA tails, and each contains only one open reading frame (ORF). The ORF of RNA1 encodes an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), while the ORF of RNA2 encodes a putative protein with methyltransferase and helicase domains.

[Historical Changes and Responses to Human Activities of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Lake Sediments from Northern China During the Past 100 Years].

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of concern globally because of their carcinogenic, teratogenic, mutagenic, and bio-accumulative effects. Northern China is one of the regions in China with a high density of lakes; however, the lake aquatic environment is becoming seriously deteriorated, especially from PAH pollution due to the intensification of human activities during the past 100 years. Therefore, the spatial distribution and historical changes in PAHs in lake sediments from northern China were analyzed to indicate their response to anthropogenic emissions and pollution reduction actions.

[Screening of Priority Pollutants and Risk Assessment for Surface Water from Shengjin Lake].

Shengjin Lake, which serves as an important National Nature Reserve, is suffering from chemical pollution due to rapid industrial and agricultural development in the circumjacent basin. Therefore, 168 anthropogenic toxic chemicals were determined to examine their spatial distribution and identify priority pollutants using a ranking system based on occurrence(O), persistence(P), bioaccumulation(B), ecological risk(E), and human health risk(H). Ecosystem and human health risks were also assessed.

[Variations of Stable Oxygen and Deuterium Isotopes in River and Lake Waters During Flooding Season Along the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Regions].

Stable isotope tracers have been widely applied to water sources and evolution, transforming relations, and pollution sources of various water bodies. This study analyzed the spatial variations of H and O in river and lake waters during flooding season, and revealed the factors underlying their variations along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River based on a field sampling campaign in July 2018. Our results showed that H and O in the Yangtze River water were enriched from the Three Gorges reservoir region to the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, which was closely linked to isotopic variations in precipitation.

Precise analysis of the effect of basal core promoter/precore mutations on the main phenotype of chronic hepatitis B in mouse models.

High replication and mutation rates of hepatitis B virus (HBV) often lead to reduced or suppressed hepatitis B e antigen expression. The most common mutations are genomic variations in the basal core promoter (BCP) and pre-core (PC) regions. However, the effect of BCP/PC mutations on HBV phenotype in vivo remains unclear.

The Effects of Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonist in an Experimental Autoimmune Cystitis Model Resembling Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis.

To identify the effects of the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) antagonist aprepitant in treating pelvic pain, micturition symptoms, and bladder inflammation in mice with experimental autoimmune cystitis (EAC) similar to bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). Female C57BL/6 mice were divided into the following three groups: normal control, EAC, and EAC plus aprepitant. EAC was induced in mice by duplicate immunization with bladder homogenate.

A new model mimicking persistent HBV e antigen-negative infection using covalently closed circular DNA in immunocompetent mice.

Despite the availability of an effective vaccine, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major health problem. HBV e antigen (HBeAg)-negative strains have become prevalent. Previously, no animal model mimicked the clinical course of HBeAg-negative HBV infection.

Remediation of PCB-contaminated soil using a combination of mechanochemical method and thermal desorption.

The combination of mechanochemical method and thermal desorption for remediating polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in contaminated soil was tested in this study. The effects of grinding time and heating time on PCB removal efficiency were investigated. The contaminated soil, mixed with CaO powder at a weight ratio of 1:1, was first ground using a planetary ball mill.

Establishment of a Novel Autoimmune Experimental Model of Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis in C57BL/6 Mice.

The aim of this study is to identify whether vaccinating twice with bladder homogenate can establish a new model of experimental autoimmune cystitis (EAC) in C57BL/6 strain mice. C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated with bladder homogenate in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and boost immunized with bladder homogenate in incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) after 2 weeks were used as the EAC model. Mice immunized with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) in CFA or IFA were used as the control.

[Over One Hundred Year Sediment Record of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Lake Bosten, Xinjiang].

The vertical distributions of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated from a sediment core in the Lake Bosten, Xinjiang. Meanwhile, the possible source and risk assessment of PAHs in Lake Bosten were also discussed. The total PAHs concentration in the sediment core ranged from 37.

[Homologues Levels and Distribution Pattern of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Typical Capacitor Contaminated Soil].

The homologues levels, distribution characteristics and TEQ of 209 PCBs in soil collected around 3 storage sites of PCB-containing wastes were investigated. The PCBs contents and environmental risk were evaluated to provide a scientific basis for site remediation of PCBs contaminated soil. Totally 12 soil samples were collected from 3 PCB-contaminated sites.

Spectroscopic Study on the Interaction between Naphthalimide-Polyamine Conjugates and Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA).

The effect of a naphthalimide pharmacophore coupled with diverse substituents on the interaction between naphthalimide-polyamine conjugates 1-4 and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by UV absorption, fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy under physiological conditions (pH = 7.4). The observed spectral quenching of BSA by the compounds indicated that they could bind to BSA.

Study on the synthesis, biological activity and spectroscopy of naphthalimide-diamine conjugates.

Eleven novel naphthalimide-diamine conjugates were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and MS. Their in vitro antitumor activities were assessed using MTT assays on two cancerous cell lines K562, HCT116, and one normal hepatoma cell line QSG 7701. Compound 7f exhibited potent antitumor activity on HCT116 cells and favorable cell selectivity toward QSG 7701 compared with the positive control, amonafide.

254C>G: a TRPC6 promoter variation associated with enhanced transcription and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in Chinese children.

Background: Mutations in canonical transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) have been identified as responsible for the development of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a proteinuric disease with steroid resistance and poor prognosis. This study explores the prevalence of TRPC6 variants in Chinese children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), the genotype/phenotype correlation of TRPC6 variants, the therapeutic response, and the underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods: Fifty-one children with sporadic INS were enrolled: 23 steroid-sensitive cases and 28 steroid-resistant cases Polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify 13 exons and the promoter sequences of TRPC6 before sequencing.

Transgene therapy for rat anti-Thy1.1 glomerulonephritis via mesangial cell vector with a polyethylenimine/decorin nanocomplex.

Polyethylenimine (PEI), a cationic polymer, is one of the most efficient non-viral vectors for transgene therapy. Decorin (DCN), a leucine-rich proteoglycan secreted by glomerular mesangial cells (MC), is a promising anti-fibrotic agent for the treatment of glomerulonephritis. In this study, we used PEI-DCN nanocomplexes with different N/P ratios to transfect MC in vitro and deliver the MC vector with PEI-DCN expressing into rat anti-Thy1.

CXCR6 upregulation contributes to a proinflammatory tumor microenvironment that drives metastasis and poor patient outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma.

CXC chemokines and their cognate receptors have been implicated widely in cancer pathogenesis. In this study, we report a critical causal relationship between CXCR6 expression and tumorigenesis in the setting of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Among the CXC chemokine receptors, only CXCR6 was detected in all the hepatoma cell lines studied.

[Expression of neonatal Fc receptor on human nephritis and rat nephritis models].

Objective: To study the expression of neonatal Fc receptor in podocytes in human nephritis and immune-induced rat nephritis models: anti-Thy1.1 nephritis and Heymann nephritis.

Methods: Thirty-nine cases of renal biopsies were enrolled from September 2009 to February 2010, including 8 cases of minimal change disease, 4 cases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, 9 cases of membranous nephropathy, 12 cases of IgA nephropathy and 6 cases of lupus nephritis.

Expression of response gene to complement-32 in renal tissue of children with immunoglobulin A nephropathy.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the expression and significance of response gene to complement-32 (RGC-32) in renal tissue of children with immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN).

Material And Methods: Forty-five patients diagnosed as having IgAN by renal biopsy were enrolled. The expression of RGC-32, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β(1) (TGF-β(1)) was observed by immunohistostaining.

[Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Huaiqihuang Granule on nephrin and podocin expressions in renal tissues of rats with adriamycin-induced nephrosis].

Object: To investigate the effects of Huaiqihuang Granule, a compound Chinese herbal medicine, on expressions of nephrin and podocin of slit diaphragm of glomerular podocytes in rats with adriamycin-induced nephrosis and to explore the mechanism in reducing the proteinuria.

Methods: Twenty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, model group, glucocorticoid group, Huaiqihuang Granule group and Huaiqihuang Granule plus glucocorticoid group. The 24-hour urine was collected 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after adriamycin injection respectively to measure 24-hour urinary protein, and all rats were sacrificed after 28-day treatment.

[Effect of tissue factor pathway inhibitor on apoptosis of rat mesangial cells and Fas and bcl-2 expression].

Objective: To study the biological impact and mechanism of recombinant tissue factor pathway inhibitor (rTFPI) on apoptosis of rat kidney mesangial cells (MsC).

Methods: TFPI expression in human glomerular minor lesion (GML), mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) and cultured rat MsC was detected using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, respectively. Rat MsC were incubated with rTFPI and its variant peptides.

[Clinicopathologic analysis of 34 patients with microscopic polyangitis].

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features of microscopic polyangitis (MPA), and to compare the differences in anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-positive and ANCA-negative patients, as well as in ANCA-positive cases with or without glomerular immunoglobulin deposition.

Methods: Thirty-four biopsy-proven cases of MPA were retrieved from the archival files of the Department during the past 7 years. The clinicopathologic characteristics between ANCA-positive and negative patients, as well as between ANCA-positive cases with and without glomerular immunoglobulin deposition, were compared.

[Effect of Smad7 on transforming growth factor-beta1-induced alveolar epithelial to mesenchymal transition].

Objective: To investigate whether transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) can induce in vitro alveolar epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and whether Smad7 gene transfer can block this transition and the possible signaling mechanism.

Methods: Rat alveolar type II epithelial cells of the line RLE-6TN were cultured. TGF beta1 (3 ng/mL) was added into the culture fluid.

Recombinant tissue factor pathway inhibitor induces apoptosis in cultured rat mesangial cells via its Kunitz-3 domain and C-terminal through inhibiting PI3-kinase/Akt pathway.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is an endogenous inhibitor of tissue factor (TF) induced coagulation. In addition to its anticoagulation activity, TFPI has other functions such as antiproliferation and inducing apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated whether or not TFPI induced apoptosis in cultured rat mesangial cells (MsCs) and the possible signal pathway that involved in the apoptotic process.