Immunomodulatory effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on T lymphocytes in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.

We explored the immunomodulatory effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on peripheral blood T lym-phocytes in patients with decompensation stage, hepatitis B-associated cirrhosis. MSCs from nine patients were analyzed by flow cytometry. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated for fluorescent staining.

A large malignant thymomas of the anterior mediastinum.

The surgical treatment of large malignant thymomas of the anterior mediastinum is associated with a high risk. Recently, a patient with a large malignant thymoma of the anterior mediastinum was treated with surgery, and the outcome is satisfactory. The diagnosis of such tumors is mostly based on the chest X-ray and CT scans, as well as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Wogonin suppresses inflammatory response and maintains intestinal barrier function via TLR4-MyD88-TAK1-mediated NF-κB pathway in vitro.

Aims And Objective: Wogonin has multiple pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory effects. Here, we hypothesize that wogonin can protect intestinal barrier function in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Caco-2 cells, which is an in vitro model of intestinal inflammation.

Methods: We measured intestinal barrier function in LPS-induced Caco-2 cells by using transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and transport of fluorescent markers.

Association between the LXRα polymorphism and stroke in a Chinese population.

We examined the relationship between the liver X receptor α gene (LXRα) polymorphism and the susceptibility to stroke. We utilized the single fluorescent-labeled probe technique to detect the genotype of rs12221497 in the LXRα gene in 400 stroke patients and 400 healthy control subjects. The difference in genotype distribution between the 2 groups was analyzed using the chi-square test.

Wogonin induces apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress in HL-60 leukemia cells through inhibition of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

Wogonin is a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis root and has multiple pharmacological effects, including anticancer effects. Recent studies have shown that wogonin induces cell cycle arrest and reverses multi-drug resistance in the human K562 leukemia cell line. However, its pharmacological function in the apoptosis of leukemia cells remains unknown.

Elevated serum adenosine deaminase levels in secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Introduction: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a severe hyperinflammatory condition caused by activated T cells and macrophages. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) plays an important role in immune regulation, especially in the proliferation, maturation, and differentiation of lymphocytes. Its role has been studied in inflammation and malignancy.

The relationship between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and insulin sensitivity and β-cell function in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) and insulin sensitivity and β-cell function in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. 395 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients were enrolled in this study. Venous blood samples were collected at 0 min, 30 min, and 120 min of OGTT to measure serum glucose and insulin.

Protein-Binding Function of RNA-Dependent Protein Kinase Promotes Proliferation through TRAF2/RIP1/NF-κB/c-Myc Pathway in Pancreatic β cells.

Double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR), an intracellular pathogen recognition receptor, is involved both in insulin resistance in peripheral tissues and in downregulation of pancreatic β-cell function in a kinase-dependent manner, indicating PKR as a core component in the progression of type 2 diabetes. PKR also acts as an adaptor protein via its protein-binding domain. Here, the PKR protein-binding function promoted β-cell proliferation without its kinase activity, which is associated with enhanced physical interaction with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2) and TRAF6.

MicroRNA-181a inhibits tumor proliferation, invasiveness, and metastasis and is downregulated in gastric cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in the development and progression of human cancers, including gastric cancer. The discovery of miRNAs may provide a new and powerful tool for studying the mechanism, diagnosis, and treatment of gastric cancer. Here we show that miR-181a levels were significantly downregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared with the adjacent normal regions in 80 paired samples.

Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs in mouse spinal cord development.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of non-coding, regulatory small RNAs of ∼22 nt. It was implicated that these small RNAs play critical roles in various important biological processes. During development, some miRNAs are specifically expressed in individual tissues and at particular developmental stages.

Systematic analysis of gene expression pattern in has-miR-760 overexpressed resistance of the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell to doxorubicin.

Background/aims: Chemoresistance of breast cancer is a growing problem and still a major clinical obstacle to successful treatment in clinical patients. miR-760 was significantly downregulated in chemoresistance breast cancer tissues compared to chemo-sensitive tissues in our previous study. However, the role of miR-760 in modulating drug resistance remains largely unexplored.

Effectiveness of AMD3100 in treatment of leukemia and solid tumors: from original discovery to use in current clinical practice.

AMD3100, also known as plerixafor, was originally developed as an anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug, and later characterized as a C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) antagonist. Previous reviews have focused on the application of AMD3100 in the treatment of HIV, but a comprehensive evaluation of AMD3100 in the treatment of leukemia, solid tumor, and diagnosis is lacking. In this review, we broadly describe AMD3100, including the background, functional mechanism and clinical applications.

miRNA expression patterns in chemoresistant breast cancer tissues.

Background/aims: Breast cancer chemoresistance is a major obstacle to the successful treatment of patients. miRNAs perform critical roles in biological processes, including tumorigenesis and chemoresistance. However, little clinical data are available regarding the relationship between miRNA expression patterns and breast cancer chemoresistance.

Diabetes mellitus and risk of age-related macular degeneration: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of severe vision loss in elderly people. Diabetes mellitus is a common endocrine disorder with serious consequences, and diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the main ophthalmic complication. DR and AMD are different diseases and we seek to explore the relationship between diabetes and AMD.

MGMT promoter methylation correlates with an overall survival benefit in Chinese high-grade glioblastoma patients treated with radiotherapy and alkylating agent-based chemotherapy: a single-institution study.

Promoter methylation of the O(6)-methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) gene has been considered a prognostic marker and has become more important in the treatment of glioblastoma. However, reports on the correlation between MGMT and clinical outcomes in Chinese glioblastoma patients are very scarce. In this study, quantitative methylation data were obtained by the pyrosequencing of tumor tissues from 128 GBM patients.

Sedentary behavior and incident cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective studies.

Background: Sedentary behavior is ubiquitous in modern adults' daily lives and it has been suggested to be associated with incident cancer. However, the results have been inconsistent. In this study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to clarify the association between sedentary behavior and incident cancer.

Targeting HER3 with miR-450b-3p suppresses breast cancer cells proliferation.

In breast cancer cells, heterodimerization of HER2 and HER3 plays important and dominant roles in the functionality and transformation of HER-mediated pathways, in particular the PI3K/Akt survival pathway. HER3 was considered as a major signaling hub in HER2-amplified cancers. Inhibition of HER3 expression may therefore represent a rational therapeutic approach to breast cancers where HER2/HER3-mediated signaling plays a role in tumorigenesis and progression.

Downregulation of PEBP4, a target of miR-34a, sensitizes drug-resistant lung cancer cells.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship and underlying mechanisms between ectopic expression of phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 4 (PEBP4) and cisplatin (DDP)-induced cytotoxicity in the lung cancer cell line A549 to provide an experimental basis for future chemotherapeutic applications involving PEBP4 in human lung cancer. A recombinant plasmid, pcDNA3-PEBP4, and a PEBP4-targeting small hairpin RNA (shRNA) were transfected into the lung cancer cell line A549. The PEBP4 protein expression levels were determined for each group by Western blot, and after 48 h of cisplatin (DDP) treatment, the viability of cells in the treatment and control groups was determined by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-3,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) in human endometrial stromal cells induces macrophage tolerance through interleukin-33 in the progression of endometriosis.

In the peritoneal fluid, macrophages and their secretory cytokines are essential for endometriosis, but the factors that favor their involvement in the endometriosis-associated inflammatory response are still elusive. Given the anomalous expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) in endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) and its potentially important roles in immune modulation, we aimed to determine the effects of IDO1 in ESCs on macrophages and the mechanism of those effects. Normal ESCs and ectopic ESCs transfected with the SD11-IDO1 shRNA (short hairpin RNA) or vector-only plasmid SD11 were subsequently co-cultured with peripheral blood (PB)-derived monocytes (PBMC)-driven macrophages directly and indirectly.

The association between serum uric acid and residual β -cell function in type 2 diabetes.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of serum uric acid (sUA) with residual β -cell function in type 2 diabetes. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) were performed on 1021 type 2 diabetes patients. The ratio of area under curve of insulin to glucose during 0 to 30 min and 0 to 120 min of the OGTT was calculated as indices of insulin secretion function.

Transcription factor Snai1-1 induces osteosarcoma invasion and metastasis by inhibiting E-cadherin expression.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a type of primary malignant bone tumor with a high propensity for local recurrence and distant metastasis. A previous study showed Snail-1 is highly expressed in OS cells. The present study aimed to investigate the association between the transcription factor Snai1 and E-cadherin in OS.

Goal-directed transfusion protocol via thrombelastography in patients with abdominal trauma: a retrospective study.

Introduction: The optimal transfusion protocol remains unknown in the trauma setting. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine if goal-directed transfusion protocol based on standard thrombelastography (TEG) is feasible and beneficial in patients with abdominal trauma.

Methods: Sixty adult patients with abdominal trauma who received 2 or more units of red blood cell transfusion within 24 hours of admission were studied.