The unique molecular mechanism of diabetic nephropathy: a bioinformatics analysis of over 250 microarray datasets.

Background/aims: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the main causes of end-stage kidney disease worldwide. Emerging studies have suggested that its pathogenesis is distinct from nondiabetic renal diseases in many aspects. However, it still lacks a comprehensive understanding of the unique molecular mechanism of DN.

Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor roxadustat (FG-4592) protects against renal ischemia/reperfusion injury by inhibiting inflammation.

Hypoxia-induced inflammation is the critical pathological feature of acute kidney injury (AKI). Activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling is considered as a central mechanism of body adapting to hypoxia. Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor FG-4592 (Roxadustat) is a first-in-class HIF stabilizer for the treatment of patients with renal anemia.

Ultrasonographic characteristics of Killian-Jamieson diverticula.

Purpose: A Killian-Jamieson diverticulum (KJD) may be mistaken for a thyroid nodule on ultrasound (US). The purpose of this retrospective study was to search for specific US features that would help differentiate between KJD and thyroid nodules.

Methods: A total of 12 patients with KJD who had undergone an US examination of the neck were identified.

Overexpression of miR-148a inhibits viability and invasion of ovarian cancer OVCAR3 cells by targeting FOXO3.

Decreased expression of microRNA (miR)-148a is associated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of miR-148a on tumor cell viability and invasion via targeting forkhead box protein O3 (FOXO3). Expression of miR-148a was detected in paired tumor and adjacent normal tissues.

A spontaneous bilateral tubal pregnancy: A case report.

Rationale: Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a condition in which a fertilized oocyte implants outside the uterine. Spontaneous bilateral tubal pregnancies are the rarest form of ectopic and are considered spontaneous when no fertility treatments are involved. There are few prior cases.

The High-Frequency Ultrasound Detection of Rat Sciatic Nerve in a Crushed Injury Model.

Objective: This study aimed to visualize sciatic nerve injury in rats using ultrasound imaging in a crushed injury model.

Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a left sciatic nerve crush operation. Then, high-frequency ultrasound was used to image both sciatic nerves at 2 days and at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 weeks after surgery.

A prospective comparative study of hip resurfacing arthroplasty and large-diameter head metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty in younger patients-a minimum of five year follow-up.

Introduction: Both hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) and large-diameter head metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty (LDH MoM THA) are generally used for young and active patients. A number of comparative studies of HRA and total hip arthroplasty have been published in the literature. However, studies that have compared HRA with LDH MoM THA are rare.

Surgical Treatment for Subaxial Cervical Facet Dislocations with Incomplete or without Neurological Deficit: A Prospective Study of 52 Cases.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to treat patients with subaxial cervical facet dislocations with incomplete or without neurological deficit by a prospectively designed surgical protocol and observe the short-term clinical outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-two consecutive subaxial cervical dislocation patients with incomplete or without neurological deficit were enrolled. The surgical strategy was determined based on whether or not the initial anterior closed reduction was successful and whether or not the patients were simultaneously combined with traumatic disc herniation (TDH).

The relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion (I) / deletion (D) polymorphism, serum ACE activity and bone mineral density (BMD) in older Chinese.

Objective: In this study, we set out to investigate the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE) I/D polymorphism, serum ACE activity and bone mineral density (BMD) in older Chinese.

Methods: A standardized, structured, face-to-face interview was performed to collect demographic information. BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

The Effect of Low-Intensity Ultrasound on Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor Expression in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Crushed Injury Model.

Low-intensity ultrasound (LIU) can improve nerve regeneration and functional recovery after peripheral nerve crush injury, but the underlying mechanism is not clear. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of LIU on rat sciatic crush injury and to investigate a possible molecular mechanism. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent left sciatic nerve crush surgery and were then randomized into two groups: a treatment group that received LIU every other d, and a control group that received sham exposure.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in liver cells induced by cobalt nanoparticles and ions.

Objectives: The cytotoxicity induced by cobalt ions (Co) and cobalt nanoparticles (Co-NPs) which released following the insertion of a total hip prosthesis, has been reported. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we investigate the toxic effect of Co and Co-NPs on liver cells, and explain further the potential mechanisms.

Modified Da Chengqi granules improvement in immune function in early severe acute pancreatitis patients.

We investigated the role of modified Da Chengqi granules in improving immune function in early severe acute pancreatitis patients. Early severe acute pancreatitis patients who agreed to receive combined treatment of traditional Chinese and Western medicine were randomly assigned to the experimental or control group. All subjects received conventional therapy to support organ function.

L-Ascorbic Acid Protected Against Extrinsic and Intrinsic Apoptosis Induced by Cobalt Nanoparticles Through ROS Attenuation.

Currently, tissue damage induced by cobalt nanoparticles (CoNPs) and cobalt ions (Co) are the most serious syndrome in the patients with metal-on-metal hip prostheses. Therefore, an urgent need exists for the identification of the mechanisms and the development of therapeutic strategies to limit it. The purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of this damage and to demonstrate if L-ascorbic acid (L-AA) could protect against the cell toxicities induced by CoNPs and Co in vitro.

Milkvetch root improves immune function in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD.

Milkvetch root as a medicine has been used for more over 2000 years in China, can strengthen immune function, protect liver, promote urination, resist aging and stress, reduce blood pressure and extensively resist bacterium. This study explored the effects of milkvetch root on the immune function of patients with a definitive diagnosis of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The patients were randomly assigned to either the experimental or control group.

CD226 rs727088A>G polymorphism increases the susceptibility to gastric cancer in Chinese populations.

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, especially in Asia. The development of GC is a multifactorial process and numerous studies have linked genetic variation to GC risk. In this study, we evaluated the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CD226 on GC susceptibility in Chinese populations including 687 cancer patients and 936 control subjects.

Lower irisin level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A case-control study and meta-analysis.

Background: Irisin is a newly identified myokine in mice and humans. Many studies have reported irisin concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The large variations in irisin concentrations in different studies may be attributable to differences in sample size or populations.

Ligustilide inhibits microglia-mediated proinflammatory cytokines production and inflammatory pain.

Ligustilide is the main component of Danggui essential oil, and recently reported to have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effect. Increasing evidence suggests that glia-mediated neuroinflammation in the spinal cord plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of chronic pain. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effect of ligustilide both in vitro and in vivo.

A polymorphism rs12325489C>T in the lincRNA-ENST00000515084 exon was found to modulate breast cancer risk via GWAS-based association analyses.

Breast cancer, one of the most common malignancies diagnosed among women worldwide, is a complex polygenic disease in the etiology of which genetic factors play an important role. Thus far, a subset of breast cancer genetic susceptibility loci has been addressed among Asian woman through genome-wide association studies (GWASs). In this study, we identified numerous long, intergenic, noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs) enriched in these breast cancer risk-related loci and identified 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within the sequences of lincRNA exonic regions.

Role of gamma-glutamyltransferase in cardiovascular diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases are threatening human health with rising morbidity and mortality rates. Gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) has been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary artery disease, and the prognosis of cardiovascular disease may be predicted by increasing GGT levels. GGT levels are related to cardiovascular emergencies of chronic heart failure, and an elevated GGT level has been shown to be an independent predictive maker for cardiac death and cardiac transplantation.

Effect of angiotensin II type I receptor blocker losartan on bone deterioration in orchiectomized male hypertensive and normotensive rats.

Background: Epidemiological study showed that the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors was associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD) in older people, especially male subjects, which suggested that angiotensin II may have a detrimental effect on bone. Therefore, blocking its effect may have a beneficial effect on bone health.

Methods: Six-month-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were used.

Gender difference of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in DD genotype of ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism in elderly Chinese.

Introduction: In this study we investigated the gender difference of serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in a population of Hong Kong-dwelling elderly Chinese.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1767 (843 male, 924 female) Hong Kong-dwelling elderly Chinese were recruited. ACE I/D genotypes were identified by polymerase chain reaction amplification and serum ACE activity was determined using a commercially available kinetic kit.

The lymphotoxin-α 252A>G polymorphism and breast cancer: a meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate associations between LTA-252 A>G and breast cancer (BC).

Methods: Electronic searches of several databases were conducted for all online publications. A total of 7 studies involving 4,625 BC patients and 4,373 controls were identified.

The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use on bone loss in elderly Chinese.

In this study we analyzed the independent effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor use on bone loss in elderly Chinese. The subjects were from two cohort studies which investigated the risk factors of osteoporotic fractures in Hong Kong-dwelling elderly Chinese. A total of 2161 subjects (1280 male, 881 female) were selected for this analysis.

The TNF-alpha-238 polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Background And Objectives: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays a very important role in the development and progress of cancer. Some TNF-α polymorphisms have been confirmed to increase cancer risks; however, the association between TNF-α-238 polymorphism and cancers remains controversial and ambiguous. The aim of this study is to explore a more precise estimation of its relationship with cancer using meta-analysis.

Lack of association of SULT1A1 R213H polymorphism with colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.

Background: A number of case-control studies were conducted to investigate the association of SULT1A1 R213H polymorphisms with colorectal cancer (CRC) in humans. But the results were not always consistent. We performed a meta-analysis to examine the association between the SULT1A1 R213H polymorphism and CRC.