[Application of pain pressure threshold test in lumbar intervertebral disc herniation study].

Objective: To quantify pain pressure threshold(PPT) in the patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation before and after treatment, and to study the clinical effects of the PPT test in lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.

Methods: From January to December 2017, 59 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc hernation were treated, and another 59 normal persons were recruited as the normal control group. Visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to measure the patient's subjective pain intensity at admission, and the pain threshold of lumbar posterior joints was measured by the tenderness gauge.

Pericentrin expression in pancreatic β cells is associated impaired glucose tolerance.

Objective: To explore the role and mechanism of pericentrin (PCNT) in impaired glucose tolerance.

Methods: Mouse model of specific PCNT reduction in β-cells (PCNTβPCNT) was built using a Tet-on induction system; mouse model of impaired glucose tolerance was built by high-fat feeding. MIN6 cells were divided into control and Si-PCNT groups.

Iliac Aneurysms Treated with Endovascular Iliac Branch Device: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Iliac branch devices (IBDs) have been increasingly reported for treating aortoiliac aneurysms. However, there are still concerns regarding this device. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and outcomes of IBDs in treating aortoiliac aneurysms by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Histone Variant H2A.Z Is Required for the Maintenance of Smooth Muscle Cell Identity as Revealed by Single-Cell Transcriptomics.

Background: Histone variants endow chromatin with specific structures, and play essential roles in development and diseases. However, little is known about their roles in controlling cell identity in vascular diseases.

Methods: Given the cell heterogeneity in atherosclerotic lesions, we applied single-cell RNA-Sequencing to analyze diseased human arteries, and identified histone variant H2A.

[Preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI can reduce the rate of tumor-positive resection margins after breast conserving surgery in patients with early non-mass breast carcinoma].

To investigate the value of preoperative dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in reducing the rate of tumor-positive resection margins after breast conserving surgery in patients with early non-mass breast carcinoma. Seventy-two patients with early non-mass breast carcinoma received ultrasonographic and mammographic examination and subsequently underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI examination before breast conserving surgery. The control group consisted of 74 patients who had early non-mass breast carcinoma.

Endovascular Chimney Technique for Aortic Arch Pathologies Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Endovascular chimney technique has been increasingly reported in treating aortic arch pathologies. However, there are still concerns about this technique. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and outcome of this technique by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.

A novel mechanism of diabetic vascular endothelial dysfunction: Hypoadiponectinemia-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

It has been well documented that hypoadiponectinemia is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation. However, the exact molecular mechanism which mediates this process has not been fully described. The current study aimed to investigate the role of hypoadiponectinemia-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation in diabetic vascular endothelial dysfunction and its molecular mechanism.

Enhanced Rb/E2F and TSC/mTOR Pathways Induce Synergistic Inhibition in PDGF-Induced Proliferation in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) plays an essential role in proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The Rb/E2F and TSC/mTOR pathways contribute to the proliferation of VSMCs, but its exact roles in PDGF-induced proliferation are unclear. In this study, we demonstrated the roles of Rb/E2F and TSC/mTOR pathways in PDGF-induced proliferation in VSMCs.

The stratification of severity of acute radiation proctopathy after radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma using diffusion-weighted MRI.

Objective: To determine whether diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) can be used for quantitatively evaluating severity of acute radiation proctopathy after radiotherapy for cervical carcinoma.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and twenty-four patients with cervical carcinoma underwent MR examination including DWI before and after radiotherapy. Acute radiation proctopathy was classified into three groups (grade 0, grade I-II and grade III-IV) according to Toxicity Criteria of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG).

Efficacy of Leflunomide, Telmisartan, and Clopidogrel for Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: The efficacy and safety of telmisartan combined with clopidogrel, leflunomide, or both drugs for immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) are unclear. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of telmisartan combined with clopidogrel, leflunomide, or both drugs for IgAN.

Methods: It is a multicenter, prospective, double-dummy randomized controlled trial.

PGRN Suppresses Inflammation and Promotes Autophagy in Keratinocytes Through the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease that has a major impact on patients' quality of life. Progranulin (PGRN) is highly expressed in skin diseases and plays an important role in inflammation response and autophagy. However, the function of PGRN in the immune system and autophagy in psoriasis has not been clearly identified and elaborated on.

Tanshinone IIA ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced inflammatory bowel disease via the pregnane X receptor.

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) (C19H18O3) is one of the major active lipophilic components in a conventional Chinese medicine called danshen, and it has long been used in the People's Republic of China and other neighboring countries to treat patients suffering from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Previous experiments by many teams determined which mechanism of Tan IIA is relevant to the treatment of IBD associated with inflammation and the pregnane X receptor (PXR). The current study demonstrated that Tan IIA is an efficacious PXR agonist and its ability to induce CYP3A4 mRNA and protein expression was mediated by the transactivation of PXR, a known target of abrogating inflammation in IBD.

Expression of glucocorticoid receptor-α in the epidermis of patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

Expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-α is observed in almost all tissues and cells of the body; thus, investigating the expression of the receptor in the epidermis of patients with psoriasis vulgaris. The aim of the present study was to investigate GR-α expression in the epidermis of psoriasis vulgaris patients The study population consisted of 26 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 10 normal control cases. None of the patients had received any prior treatment with glucocorticoids.

PACE4 regulates apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells via endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrial signaling pathways.

Background: PACE4 is a proprotein convertase capable of processing numerous substrates involved in tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis. However, the precise role of PACE4 during prostate cancer cell apoptosis has not been reported.

Methods: In the present study, human prostate cancer cell lines DU145, LNCaP, and PC3 were transfected with PACE4 small interfering (si)RNA to investigate the underlying mechanisms of apoptosis.

Effect of topical calcineurin inhibitors as monotherapy or combined with phototherapy for vitiligo treatment: a meta-analysis.

Vitiligo is a common skin disease for which immunomodulating calcineurin inhibitors have been considered reasonable treatment. We searched the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane central register of controlled trials databases for articles published prior to September 2014. Thirteen studies were included in the meta-analysis.

Irisin improves endothelial function in type 2 diabetes through reducing oxidative/nitrative stresses.

Vascular complications are the major causes of death in patients with diabetes, and endothelial dysfunction is the earliest event in vascular complications of diabetes. It has been reported that plasma irisin level is significantly reduced in patients with type 2 diabetic patients. The present study aimed to investigate whether irisin improved endothelial function in type 2 diabetes as well as the underlying mechanisms.

Detection and miss rates of autofluorescence imaging of adenomatous and polypoid lesions during colonoscopy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background And Study Aims: Autofluorescence imaging (AFI) is an endoscopic imaging technique used to increase the detection of premalignant gastrointestinal lesions, and it has gradually become popular in recent years. This meta-analysis was performed to examine whether AFI provides greater efficacy in the detection of adenomatous and polypoid lesions and can even prevent the failure to detect a single adenoma or polyp. The aim of the study was to systematically review the efficacy of AFI in increasing detection rates and decreasing miss rates.

Curcumin improves the paclitaxel-induced apoptosis of HPV-positive human cervical cancer cells via the NF-κB-p53-caspase-3 pathway.

Paclitaxel, isolated from , is considered to be an efficacious agent against a wide spectrum of human cancers, including human cervical cancer. However, dose-limiting toxicity and high cost limit its clinical application. Curcumin, a nontoxic food additive, has been reported to improve paclitaxel chemotherapy in mouse models of cervical cancer.

Association between OGG1 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms and risk of pancreatic cancer in Chinese.

Previous studies have suggested that the 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase gene (OGG1) has potentially influenced the risk of pancreatic cancer. The objective of this study was to assess the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of OGG1 gene and risk of pancreatic cancer. A case-control study has been conducted in 370 pancreatic cancer patients and 395 healthy controls.

Perioperative factors related to prognosis of regular hepatectomy in comparison with irregular hepatectomy.

Background: The aim of this research was to analyze the perioperative factors of regular hepatectomy and irregular hepatectomy. The superiority of the clinical application of the two methods was compared in the perioperative period.

Methods: From 1986 to 2011, 1798 patients underwent consecutive liver resections with regular hepatectomy and irregular hepatectomy at the Air Force General Hospital of People's Liberation Army and the General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army.

The value of perfusion CT in predicting the short-term response to synchronous radiochemotherapy for cervical squamous cancer.

Objective: To determine the value of the perfusion parameters in predicting short-term tumour response to synchronous radiochemotherapy for cervical squamous carcinoma.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with cervical squamous carcinoma later than stage IIB were included in this study. Perfusion CT was performed for all these patients who subsequently received the same synchronous radiochemotherapy.