Prevalence and Risk Factor Analysis of Constipation After Thoracolumbar Vertebral Compression Fractures.

Objective: To analyze the prevalence and risk factors of constipation after thoracolumbar vertebral compression fractures (TVCFs).

Methods: This retrospective study reviews the records of patients hospitalized between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018 with TVCFs. A total of 117 patient's records are included (n = 117).

The Anti-Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Activity by a mTOR Kinase Inhibitor PQR620.

In non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), aberrant activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) contributes to tumorigenesis and cancer progression. PQR620 is a novel and highly-potent mTOR kinase inhibitor. We here tested its potential activity in NSCLC cells.

KLF5/LINC00346/miR‑148a‑3p axis regulates inflammation and endothelial cell injury in atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the main pathological basis of cardiovascular diseases, which are related to high morbidity and mortality rates. The present study aimed to investigate the role of the Krüppel‑like factor 5 (KLF5)/LINC00346/miR‑148a‑3p loop in AS. The expression levels of KLF5 in serum and of KLF5/LINC00346/miR‑148a‑3p in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were detected by RT‑qPCR analysis.

Prevalence and Clinical Features of FOG in Chinese PD Patients, a Multicenter and Cross-Sectional Clinical Study.

Freezing of gait (FOG) is generally considered as an independent symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) with a complex pathophysiology. There is a wide range of associated clinical features of FOG reported from different studies without consistent conclusion. Thus, a multicenter, cross-sectional study was designed to investigate the prevalence and clinical features of FOG together with its unique contribution quality of life in Chinese PD patients.

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography prior to percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy reduces the incidence of hemorrhage.

Background: Hemorrhage is the second most common complication of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB), and at present, there is no effective prevention strategy. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) has the advantage of clearly visualizing blood supply within the lesion and aiding in the imaging of blood vessels, which can reduce hemorrhage complicating PTNB. As no large-sample studies were evaluating whether CECT could reduce hemorrhage, we conducted the present retrospective study.

A novel parametric method-based nomogram of left ventricular internal diameters in normal Chinese adults.

Background: Current echocardiographic normal reference values and nomograms in healthy adults are commonly normalized by body surface area (BSA) with simple linear or isometric corrections. However, various lines of evidence suggest this method might be flawed. In this study, we established the normative data of left ventricular internal diameter (LViD) by BSA-correlated regression equations with the calculation of Z-scores in healthy Han Chinese adults.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of autoimmune encephalitis patients associated with anti-glutamate decarboxylase antibody 65.

Objective: This study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of autoimmune encephalitis (AE) associated with anti-Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase 65 (GAD65).

Patients And Methods: From Jan 2016 to Aug 2018, three patients diagnosed as anti-GAD65 AE in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed for their general demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology, brain imaging, EEG, treatment and prognosis.

Results: We found that Anti-GAD65 AE may be more common in young and middle-aged women, with initial presentations of refractory status epilepticus or cognitive decline following the disease progresses, but with less psychiatric symptoms than other types of AEs.

Autophagy and Tumour Chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy is an important means of treating malignant tumours. The main role of chemotherapy drugs is to induce cell death. However, the apoptotic pathways of many tumour cells are often severely impaired, leading to failure of chemotherapy-induced apoptosis.

A case report of rare ectopic pheochromocytoma adjacent to pancreas.

Rationale: Ectopic pheochromocytoma is a special type of pheochromocytoma which occurs outside the adrenal gland. The most common symptoms of ectopic pheochromocytoma are palpitations, headaches, profuse sweating, and hypertension. In clinical practice, diagnosis of ectopic pheochromocytoma remains difficult.

Association between fetal chromosomal abnormalities and the frequency of spontaneous abortions.

Fetal chromosomal abnormalities are a common cause of spontaneous abortion. The present study investigated the association between fetal chromosomal abnormalities and the frequency of spontaneous abortions to enable clinicians to provide more informed genetic counseling. A total of 182 patients with a history of spontaneous abortions were recruited from July 2015 to August 2017.

The relationship between elevated serum uric acid and arterial stiffness in a healthy population.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum uric acid and arterial stiffness in a healthy population.

Methods: Among the 979 participants, baPWV was non-invasively measured, the circulating levels of uric acid were tested, and the uric acid polymorphisms (rs2231142 and rs11722228) were genotyped. Then, the Mendelian randomization method was employed to test the relationship between serum uric acid and arterial stiffness in a healthy population.

Aberrantly Expressed Timeless Regulates Cell Proliferation and Cisplatin Efficacy in Cervical Cancer.

Timeless is a regulator of molecular clockwork in Drosophila and related to cancer development in mammals. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Timeless on cell proliferation and cisplatin sensitivity in cervical cancer. Timeless expression was determined by bioinformatics analysis, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

[Value of index of microcirculatory resistance for early prediction of periprocedural myocardial microcirculatory injury after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with coronary heart disease].

To explore the value of index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) for early prediction of periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) after PCI. It was a prospective study. One hundred and sixty-four patients who had single coronary lesion were consecutively enrolled from May 2014 to December 2017 at Nanjing Hospital affiliated to Nanjing Medical University.

Macrophages and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most prevalent and lethal cancers in the human population. HCC is an inflammation-associated cancer caused by different etiological factors. The chronic inflammation leads to continuous cycles of hepatocytes destructive-regenerative process and contributes to HCC initiation and progression.

Activating transcription factor 1 promoted migration and invasion in lung cancer cells through regulating EGFR and MMP-2.

Lung cancer is among the most frequently occurring cancers and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Nonsmall cell lung cancer is accountable for 85% to 90% of all lung cancer cases and develops distant metastases with high mortality. In this work, we elucidated the role of activating transcription factor 1 (ATF1) in migration and invasion of lung cancer cells.

The ubiquitin ligase CHIP modulates cellular behaviors of gastric cancer cells by regulating TRAF2.

Background: CHIP is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that plays contrast roles in diverse human malignancies, depending on its targets. To date, the mechanisms underlying the function of CHIP in gastric cancer remains unclear. Here, we aim to further clarify the effects of CHIP on the development and progression of gastric cancer and explore its potential target.

ABCA1 variants rs2230806 (R219K), rs4149313 (M8831I), and rs9282541 (R230C) are associated with susceptibility to coronary heart disease.

Background: To investigate the association between three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ABCA1 gene and susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD) in Chinese Han population.

Methods: A total of 484 CHD patients and 488 controls were included in the study. Three SNPs rs2230806 (R219K), rs4149313 (M8831I), and rs9282541 (R230C) in ABCA1 gene were genotyped by SNaPshot.

MiR-1180 from bone marrow MSCs promotes cell proliferation and glycolysis in ovarian cancer cells via SFRP1/Wnt pathway.

Background: The ovarian cancer microenvironment is responsible for cancer cell growth and disease relapse. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) play important roles in ovarian cancer, however, the mechanism of BM-MSCs inducing cell proliferation and glycolysis needs further research.

Methods: miRNA array was used to analyze the significant miRNAs.

Dual-specificity phosphatase 5 suppresses ovarian cancer progression by inhibiting IL-33 signaling.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the leading cause of death from gynecological malignancy. Dual-specificity phosphatases (DUSPs) are proteins that are reported involved in carcinogenesis, but their roles in OC have not be extensively studied. Here, we found that DUSP5 is markedly down-regulated in OC tissues.

Effectiveness and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA4 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for lung cancer: A meta-analysis.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy have been applied as a first-line treatment for lung cancer, but consistent beneficial results have not been documented. Therefore, our meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of combination therapy to promote its application.

Methods: We searched electronic databases for studies that estimated the safety and efficacy of combined therapy.

Validation of an LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of icotinib and its four major circulating metabolites in human plasma and its application in a pharmacokinetic study.

In this study, a simple and sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of icotinib and its four circulating metabolites in human plasma. The analytes were extracted with acetonitrile and separated on a C column using 2 mm ammonium acetate containing 0.2% formic acid and acetonitrile as mobile phase.

Paravertebral injection of botulinum toxin-A reduces lumbar vertebral bone quality.

Aging has been associated with decreases in muscle strength and bone quality. In older patients, paravertebral muscle atrophy tends to coincide with vertebral osteoporosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a paravertebral injection of botulinum toxin-A (BTX) on paravertebral muscle atrophy and lumbar vertebral bone quality.

Fasudil increases temozolomide sensitivity and suppresses temozolomide-resistant glioma growth via inhibiting ROCK2/ABCG2.

Resistance to temozolomide (TMZ) is a major clinical challenge in glioma treatment, but the mechanisms of TMZ resistance are poorly understood. Here, we provided evidence that ROCK2 acted redundantly to maintain resistance of TMZ in TMZ-resistant gliomas, and as a ROCK2 phosphorylation inhibitor, fasudil significantly suppressed proliferation of TMZ-resistant gliomas in vivo and vitro via enhancing the chemosensitivity of TMZ. Additionally, the membrane translocation of ABCG2 was decreased with fasudil by ROCK2/moesin pathway.