Association of High Homocysteine Levels With the Risk Stratification in Hypertensive Patients at Risk of Stroke.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the association between stroke morbidity and different stratifications of classic risk factors, such as increasing age, body mass index (BMI), blood lipids, and blood glucose, in hypertensive patients with high homocysteine levels.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of 2258 patients with primary hypertension were enrolled in this study, including 871 stroke cases (62.89%) in 1385 hypertensive patients without hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) and 647 (74.

Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1), a promising biomarker, induces epithelial to mesenchymal transition in renal cancer cells.

Discoidin domain receptor I (DDR1) is confirmed as a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), which plays a consequential role in a variety of cancers. Nevertheless, the influence of DDR1 expression and development in renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC) are still not well corroborated. In our research, we firstly discovered that the expression level of DDR1 was remarkable related to TNM stage (p = 0.

MiR-138 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor by Targeting EZH2 and Enhances Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis in Osteosarcoma Cells.

Chemotherapeutic insensitivity remains a major obstacle to treating osteosarcoma effectively. Recently, increasing evidence has suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in drug resistance. However, the effect of miR-138 on cisplatin chemoresistance in osteosarcoma has not been reported.

Effects of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 and Renal Fibrosis in Rats with Diabetic Nephropathy.

Background And Aims: We undertook this study to observe the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and renal fibrosis in rats with diabetic nephropathy and to explore its main mechanism.

Methods: Thirty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group (NC group, n = 10), diabetic nephropathy group (DN group, n = 10), stem cell transplantation group (MSC group, n = 10). BMSCs were transplanted to rats in the MSC group via caudal vein infusion (2 × 10(6)/mL).

Sprouty2 regulates proliferation and survival of multiple myeloma by inhibiting activation of the ERK1/2 pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable disease, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. MicroRNA (miR)-21 was detected at a high level in MM and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of MM. However, Sprouty2 (spry2), a downstream target of miR-21, has low expression, and its mechanism in MM is unknown.

Rap2B GTPase: structure, functions, and regulation.

Rap2B GTPase, a member of Ras-related protein superfamily, was first discovered from a platelet cDNA library in the early 1990s. Since then, it has been reported to play an important role in regulating cellular processes including cytoskeletal organization, cell growth, and proliferation. It can be stimulated and suppressed by a wide range of external and internal inducers, circulating between GTP-bound active state and GDP-bound inactive state.

Coupling a DNA-Based Machine with Glucometer Readouts for Amplified Detection of Telomerase Activity in Cancer Cells.

The strong correlation between cancer and telomerase activity has inspired the development of new strategies to evaluate telomerase activity. Here, a personal glucose meter (PGM) system that uses DNA-based machine amplification to detect telomerase in cancer cells is reported. In this assay, telomerase elongation products are amplified in the form of another type of product by a DNA-based machine.

MiR-30a inhibits Th17 differentiation and demyelination of EAE mice by targeting the IL-21R.

T helper cells 17 (Th17) are recognized as key participants in the pathogenesis of chronic autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Regulation of Th17 differentiation is a valuable strategy for diagnosis and treatment of these complicated immune disorders. Here, by genome-wide expression profiling of microRNAs (miRs), we screened miR-30a, whose level was greatly decreased during Th17 differentiation and the process of demyelination disease, both in MS patients and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice.

Short hairpin RNA silencing of TGF-βRII and FZD-7 synergistically suppresses proliferation and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a multifunctional regulator of cell growth, apoptosis, differentiation and migration. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway has been implicated in a wide spectrum of diseases, including numerous cancers and degenerative disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate if simultaneous blocking of TGF-β and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways exerts synergistic anti-tumor effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

Circulating microRNA profile in patients with membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava.

Membranous obstruction of the inferior vena cava (MOVC) is a common type of Budd-Chiari syndrome. However, the pathogenesis of MOVC has not been fully elucidated. Recent studies demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are involved in multiple diseases.

Safety of optical coherence tomography in daily practice: a comparison with intravascular ultrasound.

Aims: Previous studies have reported the safety and feasibility of both time-domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) and Fourier-domain OCT (FD-OCT) in highly selected patients and clinical settings. However, the generalizability of these data is limited, and data in unselected patient populations reflecting a routine cathlab practice are lacking. We compared safety of intracoronary FD-OCT imaging to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging in a large real-world series of consecutive patients who underwent invasive imaging during coronary catheterization in our centre.

Loss of the trpc4 gene is associated with a reduction in cocaine self-administration and reduced spontaneous ventral tegmental area dopamine neuronal activity, without deficits in learning for natural rewards.

Among the canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) channels, the TRPC4 non-selective cation channel is one of the most abundantly expressed subtypes within mammalian corticolimbic brain regions, but its functional and behavioral role is unknown. To identify a function for TRPC4 channels we compared the performance of rats with a genetic knockout of the trpc4 gene (trpc4 KO) to wild-type (WT) controls on the acquisition of simple and complex learning for natural rewards, and on cocaine self-administration (SA). Despite the abundant distribution of TRPC4 channels through the corticolimbic brain regions, we found trpc4 KO rats exhibited normal learning in Y-maze and complex reversal shift paradigms.

shRNA-armed conditionally replicative adenoviruses: a promising approach for cancer therapy.

The small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have been employed to knockdown the expression of cancer-associated genes and shown some promise in cancer therapy. However, synthetic siRNA duplexes or plasmid mediated delivery of siRNAs have several problems, such as short half-life, low transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity associated with transfection. Conditionally replicating adenovirus (CRAds) as the delivery vector for short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) could overcome these limitations and have shown augmented anti-tumor effects in experimental studies and preclinical trials.

miR-125b acts as a tumor suppressor in chondrosarcoma cells by the sensitization to doxorubicin through direct targeting the ErbB2-regulated glucose metabolism.

Chondrosarcoma is the second most common type of primary bone malignancy in the United States after osteosarcoma. Surgical resections of these tumors are the only effective treatment to chondrosarcoma patients due to their resistance to conventional chemo- and radiotherapy. In this study, miR-125b was found to perform its tumor-suppressor function to inhibit glucose metabolism via the direct targeting of oncogene, ErbB2.

A clinical prognostic scoring system for resectable gastric cancer to predict survival and benefit from paclitaxel- or oxaliplatin-based adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy is a standard procedure of curative resection for gastric cancer (GC). The aim of this study was to develop a simple and reliable prognostic scoring system for GC treated with D2 gastrectomy combined with adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: A prognostic scoring system was established based on clinical and laboratory data from 579 patients with localized GC without distant metastasis treated with D2 gastrectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy.

PEDF and PEDF-derived peptide 44mer inhibit oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced oxidative stress through upregulating PPARγ via PEDF-R in H9c2 cells.

Pigment epithelial-derived factor (PEDF) is a glycoprotein with broad biological activities including inhibiting oxygen-glucose deprivation(OGD)-induced cardiomyocytes apoptosis through its anti-oxidative properties. PEDF derived peptide-44mer shows similar cytoprotective effect to PEDF. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating cardiomyocytes apoptosis have not been fully established.

Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Massive Pulmonary Embolism Resulting from Thrombosis in a Duplicated Inferior Vena Cava: A Case Report.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) associated with duplicated inferior vena cava (IVC) is rare, and there are no reports of this condition treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis. We present the case of a 54-year-old man who developed massive PE caused by thrombi in a duplicated IVC that detached during transcatheter angiography. After implantation of a retrievable filter in the common IVC, the patient underwent catheter-directed thrombolysis.

Expression of CD27, CD28 and IL-17A in peripheral blood from patients with colorectal carcinoma.

Objective: To compare the different expressions of CD27, CD28, IL-17A, IFN-γ and TNF-α in the peripheral blood sampled from patients with colorectal carcinoma and healthy volunteers.

Patients And Methods: Vδ2 T cells were isolated from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with the colorectal carcinoma (CRC, n = 30) and healthy controls (HC, n = 21). The proportion of CD27, CD28, IL-17A, IFN-γ and TNF-α of Vδ2 T cells was detected by the flow cytometry.

Application of Nanotechnology in the Diagnosis and Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. However, the inherent limitations of traditional surgery and insensitivity to radiation and chemotherapy result in failing treatment and poor prognosis. In recent years, the development and advances of nanotechnology has brought new hope for the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

Effects of riluzole on P2X7R expression in the spinal cord in rat model of neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is becoming an intractable health threat, with its profound effect on quality of life, thus posing a major challenge to clinical therapy. Despite the reported efficacy of riluzole in some pain models, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. The present study aimed to assess the effects of riluzole in a rat model of neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI).

Factors Associated with Thrombolysis Outcome in Ischemic Stroke Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

The outcome of early intravenous thrombolysis for ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is worse than that without thrombosis. How to increase the efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis for AF-related ischemic stroke remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated factors that influence the effect of intravenous thrombolysis in these patients.

Medial Protrusio Technique in Cementless Total Hip Arthroplasty for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: A Prospective 6- to 9-Year Follow-Up of 43 Consecutive Patients.

Background: The medial protrusio technique may be used during total hip arthroplasty (THA) on patients with developmental dysplasia. However, studies have yet to determine whether a cementless cup can be sufficiently stable to withstand loading forces. This study aimed to assess the clinical and radiographic outcomes of this technique.

Bone marrow stromal cells inhibits HMGB1-mediated inflammation after stroke in type 2 diabetic rats.

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a ligand of receptor for advanced glycation endproducts (RAGE), functions as a proinflammatory factor. It is mainly involved in inflammatory activation and contributes to the initiation and progression of stroke. By using a model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) in type 2 diabetic rats, we investigated the changes of pro-inflammation mediators, blood-brain barrier (BBB) leakage and functional outcome after stroke.

Efficacy and Safety of 1-Hour Infusion of Recombinant Human Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Trial.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 1-h infusion of recombinant human atrial natriuretic peptide (rhANP) in combination with standard therapy in patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). This was a phase III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial. Eligible patients with ADHF were randomized to receive a 1-h infusion of either rhANP or placebo at a ratio of 3:1 in combination with standard therapy.