Single-cell sequencing analysis related to sphingolipid metabolism guides immunotherapy and prognosis of skin cutaneous melanoma.

Background: We explore sphingolipid-related genes (SRGs) in skin melanoma (SKCM) to develop a prognostic indicator for patient outcomes. Dysregulated lipid metabolism is linked to aggressive behavior in various cancers, including SKCM. However, the exact role and mechanism of sphingolipid metabolism in melanoma remain partially understood.

Efficacy and safety of iodized lecithin tablets versus spironolactone in alleviating central serous retinopathy among Chinese patients with uncontrolled diabetes.

To compare the effectiveness and safety of spironolactone versus lecithin-bound iodine in patients with central serous retinopathy (CSR). Chinese diabetes patients aged>18 years with CSR with persistent increased level of subretinal fluid (SRF) were enrolled. Subjects were randomized to receive either oral lecithin-bound iodine (390µg/kg/day) or oral spironolactone (50mg/day) for 6 months.

Osteocalcin inhibits myocyte aging through promotion of starvation-induced autophagy via IL-6/STAT3 signaling.

This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of osteocalcin on autophagy in myoblasts, as well as its possible therapeutic effects in aging muscle. Starved murine myoblast C2C12 cells with or without interleukin (IL)-6 siRNA were treated with osteocalcin. Expression of the autophagy protein marker LC3, as well as IL-6 and phosphorylated STAT3 were detected by immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, or immunohistochemistry.

CSCO expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer brain metastasis.

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies among women worldwide. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, breast cancer affected more Chinese women than any other cancer in 2020. The brain is an increasingly common metastatic sites of breast cancer.

Development of modified Ilizarov hip reconstruction surgery for hip dysfunction treatment in adolescent and young adults.

Background/objective: Hip dysfunction in young population caused by developmental dysplasia of the hip, congenital hip deformity or femur head necrosis severely affect the quality of life of young patients, and total hip replacement is the current widely accepted standard therapy for hip function reconstruction in adults, but not for young patients. Alternative safe and effective surgical method for hip function preservation/reconstruction for young patients is lacking. Ilizarov hip reconstruction osteotomy was an alternative method for preserving hip function but the surgical procedures were rather complicated using discomforting ring fixation at the hip region that prevents its wider acceptance and application.

Intraoperative Chemotherapy with a Novel Regimen Improved the Therapeutic Outcomes of Colorectal Cancer.

This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of a novel intraoperative chemotherapy (IOC) regimen that consists of hydroxycamptothecin, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and calcium folinate (CF) on the outcomes of colorectal cancer (CRC). In total, 551 CRC patients who had undergone surgical resection were evaluated. Among these patients, 247 were treated with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, and 193 were treated with intraoperative chemotherapy.

Cyclooxygenase-2 induces angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer mediated by prostaglandin E.

The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the effects of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and prostaglandin E (PGE) in pancreatic cancer and , and to clarify the potential mechanism of COX-2-induced angiogenesis of pancreatic cancer. The study analysis was conducted in the pancreatic cancer PC-3 cell line. The expression of COX-2 and VEGF in human pancreatic cancer tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

Gold Nanorods Conjugated Porous Silicon Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Calcium Alginate Nano Hydrogels Using Microemulsion Templates.

Porous silicon nanoparticles (PSiNPs) and gold nanorods (AuNRs) can be used as biocompatible nanocarriers for delivery of therapeutics but undesired leakage makes them inefficient. By encapsulating the PSiNPs and AuNRs in a hydrogel shell, we create a biocompatible functional nanocarrier that enables sustained release of therapeutics. Here, we report the fabrication of AuNRs-conjugated PSi nanoparticles (AuNRsPSiNPs) through two-step chemical reaction for high-capacity loading of hydrophobic and hydrophilic therapeutics with photothermal property.

Differentiation of cardiomyocytes from amniotic fluid‑derived mesenchymal stem cells by combined induction with transforming growth factor β1 and 5‑azacytidine.

As a novel type of seed cell, amniotic fluid‑derived mesenchymal stem cells (AFMSCs) are promising for the regeneration of myocardial cells. A focus of cardiovascular regenerative medicine is to improve the efficiency of AFMSC differentiation. The present study replaced the traditional method of AFMSC differentiation with a combined induction method, in order to improve the efficiency of directional differentiation.

Biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles containing gold nanoparticles and Paclitaxel for cancer imaging and drug delivery using photoacoustic methods.

In this study, optical-triggered multifunctional theranostic agents for photoacoustic/fluorescent imaging and cancer therapy have been developed. This system consists of a perfluorohexane liquid and gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in the core, stabilized by a Poly (lactide-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymer shell. When cancer cells containing PLGA-GNPs were exposed to laser pulses, cell viability decreased due to the vaporization of the particles in and around the cells.

A randomized, open, multicenter clinical study on the short course of intravenous infusion of 750 mg of levofloxacin and the sequential standard course of intravenous infusion/oral administration of 500 mg of levofloxacin for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: To compare 5-day regimen of levofloxacin 750 mg IV daily with 7-14-day conventional regimen of levofloxacin 500 mg intravenous to oral (IV/PO) daily for treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Chinese population.

Methods: This was a non-inferiority study to assess the difference of clinical efficacy at the end of treatment (EOT) between two regimens. Adult CAP patients with CURB-65 score 0-2 were enrolled from 17 hospitals in China from November 2012 to July 2014.

Assessment of the Placenta in Intrauterine Growth Restriction by Diffusion-Weighted Imaging and Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy.

Placental insufficiency is a major cause of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and seriously affects fetal development. When placental insufficiency happened, the diffusion of water molecule was restricted and the metabolic balance was destroyed in the placenta. In this prospective study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in combination with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H MRS) for placental insufficiency in IUGR.

Micro/Nanoparticle-Augmented Sonodynamic Therapy (SDT): Breaking the Depth Shallow of Photoactivation.

The fast development of photoactivation for cancer treatment provides an efficient photo-therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment, but traditional photodynamic or photothermal therapy suffers from the critical issue of low in vivo penetration depth of tissues. As a non-invasive therapeutic modality, sonodynamic therapy (SDT) can break the depth barrier of photoactivation because ultrasound has an intrinsically high tissue-penetration performance. Micro/nanoparticles can efficiently augment the SDT efficiency based on nanobiotechnology.

Cdk5 contributes to inflammation-induced thermal hyperalgesia mediated by the p38 MAPK pathway in microglia.

Background: The mechanisms underlying cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5)-mediated thermal hyperalgesia induced by inflammation remain poorly understood. In the present study, we examined thermal hyperalgesia provoked by peripheral injection of complete Freund׳s adjuvant (CFA) to test for Cdk5 signaling in the spinal dorsal horns of rats through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) signaling pathway, which is known to function in mediating inflammatory pain.

Methods: We induced the inflammatory pain model by plantar injection of CFA and compared the inhibitory effects of roscovitine and SB203580 on thermal hyperalgesia.

Interaction of ERK1/2 and Smad2/3 signaling pathways in TGF-β1-induced TIMP-3 expression in rat chondrocytes.

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) is an important natural inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif (ADAMTs), which can cleave cartilage extracellular matrix components to cause cartilage degradation. In this study, our data suggest TGF-β1 induces TIMP-3 expression through activations of both the ERK1/2 and Smad2/3 signaling pathways. TGF-β1-stimulated TIMP-3 expression was significantly inhibited by SB525334 (TGF-β receptor I kinase inhibitor), accompanied by a reduction in ERK1/2 and Smad3 phosphorylation.

Overexpression of X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptotic Protein (XIAP) reduces age-related neuronal degeneration in the mouse cochlea.

Previously, we showed that age-related hearing loss (AHL) was delayed in C57BL6 mice overexpressing X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptotic Protein (XIAP), and the delayed AHL was associated with attenuated hair cell (HC) loss in XIAP-overexpressing mice. Similar to other reports, the HC loss in aged mice was restricted to the basal turn in this previous study, and occurred slightly at the apical end of the cochlea, showing considerably less spread than the frequency region of hearing loss. In the present study, we examined whether and how AHL is related to the degeneration of neuronal innervation of the cochlea and whether the overexpression of XIAP exerts a protective effect against age-related degeneration in both afferent and efferent cochlear neurites.

The BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway is involved in heat hyperalgesia mediated by Cdk5 in rats.

Background: Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) has been shown to play an important role in mediating inflammation-induced heat hyperalgesia. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether roscovitine, an inhibitor of Cdk5, could reverse the heat hyperalgesia induced by peripheral injection of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) via the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) signaling pathway in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats.

Treatment with carnosine reduces hypoxia-ischemia brain damage in a neonatal rat model.

Perinatal hypoxia-ischemia brain damage (HIBD) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in neonates, and there is currently no effective therapy for HIBD. Carnosine plays a neuroprotective role in adult brain damage. We have previously demonstrated that carnosine pretreatment protects against HIBD in a neonatal rat model.

Neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive dysfunction in patients with Cushing's disease.

Objective: To review the main neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive deficits in patients with Cushing's disease (CD) and the associated pathophysiological mechanisms underlying CD. These mechanistic details may provide recommendations for preventing or treating the cognitive impairments and mood disorders in patients with CD.

Data Sources: Data were obtained from papers on psychiatric and cognitive complications in CD published in English within the last 20 years.

Minimally invasive management with holmium laser in total urinary tract calculi.

Objective: The purpose of this article was to study the management of total urinary tract calculi using holmium laser minimally invasive techniques.

Background Data: It is rare for patients to present kidney stones, ureteral stones, and bladder stones simultaneously, and their treatment is considered to be complicated and difficult, specifically by minimally invasive techniques.

Methods: We collected seven cases of total urinary tract calculi from May 2007 to September 2012.

Transurethral bipolar plasmakinetic resection combined with 2 μm continuous wave laser vaporization: a new method for the treatment of large volume benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficiency of transurethral bipolar plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (PKRP) combined with 2 μm laser vaporization in the management of large prostates (>80 mL).

Background Data: The safety and efficiency of transurethral vaporesection of the prostate with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), using a 2 μm laser system, have been verified. However, this method does still not manage large volume prostates efficiently.

A study comparing plasmakinetic enucleation with bipolar plasmakinetic resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Background And Purpose: Plasmakinetic enucleation of the prostate (PKEP) has been reported to be a new method for the transurethral management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Our objective was to compare the safety and efficiency of PKEP with that of bipolar plasmakinetic resection of the prostate (PKRP) in the management of BPH.

Patients And Methods: A total of 303 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH were included in our study.

The comparison of two experimental rat varicocele models and their effect on sperm quality.

Objective: To develop a modified rat varicocele model.

Methods: 300 male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected. In 82 rats (classic group, CG), this was achieved by dissecting the left renal vein and ligating it using a 0.

[Study on self-assessment, acoustic analysis, laryngoscopy for patients with voice surgery].

Objective: To study the self-assessment, acoustic analysis, laryngoscopy and its relationship for patients with voice disorders before and after surgery.

Methods: Fifty patients with voice disorders were undergone self-assessment, acoustic analysis, and laryngoscopy before and after voice surgery. Self-assessment were done by voice handicap index (VHI) Scale Chinese version, including functional (F), physiological (P), emotion (E) and its sum denoted as T.