The impact of preoperative gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist treatment on women with uterine fibroids: a meta-analysis.

Aim: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) treatment before surgery for women with uterine fibroids and to explore potential factors predicting the pooled effect sizes.

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed from published randomized controlled trials using the random effects model. The efficacy of preoperative treatment with GnRHa was investigated according to volume measurements of fibroid tumors, postoperative complications, myoma recurrence, and changes in fertility.

Curcumin sensitizes glioblastoma to temozolomide by simultaneously generating ROS and disrupting AKT/mTOR signaling.

Temozolomide (TMZ), a DNA alkylating agent, represents the most important chemotherapeutic option for the treatment of glioblastoma in the clinic. Despite its frequent use, the therapeutic efficacy of TMZ remains very limited due to its frequent resistance in glioblastoma. Previous evidence suggested that curcumin (CUM), an ingredient of the Indian spice turmeric, is able to sensitize glioblastoma to TMZ treatment.

Zinc protoporphyrin IX enhances chemotherapeutic response of hepatoma cells to cisplatin.

Aim: To investigate the effect of zinc protoporphyrin IX on the response of hepatoma cells to cisplatin and the possible mechanism involved.

Methods: Cytotoxicity was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Apoptosis was determined by a flow cytometric assay.

Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the parotid gland in a child: A case report.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is a term used to describe a group of highly malignant neoplasms of soft-tissue origin, with varying degrees of divergent differentiation. The occurrence of peripheral PNET in the head and neck region has been reported infrequently in the medical literature. This disease generally occurs in adolescents and young adults, and rarely occurs in children <3 years old.

An effective method based on real time fluorescence quenching for single nucleotide polymorphism detection.

In the Human Genome Project, the most common type of these variations is single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A large number of different SNP typing technologies have been developed in recent years. Enhancement and innovation for genotyping technologies are currently in progress.

Effect of apelin on the cardiac hemodynamics in hypertensive rats with heart failure.

It is known that apelin has definite protective effects on various cardiovascular diseases; however, the mechanism through which hypertension with heart failure (H-HF) is affected by pyroglutamylated apelin-13 (Pyr-AP13) remain unclear. Thus, in the present study, we investigated the effects of apelin on the cardiac hemodynamics in rats with hypertension and heart failure. In our study, cardiac function, dimensions and histological determination of the fibrosis of rats with two-kidney, one-clip induced hypertension and sham-operated rats were assessed using an echocardiography system and Masson's trichrome.

Assessment of the suitability of retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy as a treatment for complex proximal ureteral calculi.

Aim: This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the suitability of retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (RPLU) in the treatment of complex proximal ureteral calculi.

Methods: Included were 24 patients who underwent RPLU for complex proximal ureteral stones from November 2008 to June 2010.

Results: A retroperitoneal approach was performed in 23 patients with a mean operative time of 79.

Genome-wide association study identifies a novel susceptibility gene for serum TSH levels in Chinese populations.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a sensitive indicator of thyroid function. High and low TSH levels reflect hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, respectively. Even within the normal range, small differences in TSH levels, on the order of 0.

[Methylation of ER and ER gene and its significance in primary and relapsed/metastatic lesions of breast cancer].

Objective: To investigate the different expressions of ER and ER gene status between primary and relapsed/metastatic lesions and their clinical significance.

Methods: ER and ER gene status of primary and relapse/metastatic breast cancer masked in 70 metastatic breast cancer patients were assessed by determination of methylation status by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP), respectively.

Results: Positive rate of ER in the primary breast cancers was 64.

MiR-324-5p inhibits proliferation of glioma by target regulation of GLI1.

Objectives: To study the effects of the miR-324-5p on the glioma cells proliferation via the targeted regulation of the glioma-associated oncogene 1.

Methods: The luciferase reporter gene was used to test whether the glioma-associated oncogene 1 was the target of the miR-324-5p microRNA. The glioma-associated oncogene 1 expression was detected by Western blot.

Sox9 gene transfer enhanced regenerative effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on the degenerated intervertebral disc in a rabbit model.

Objective: The effect of Sox9 on the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to nucleus pulposus (NP)-like (chondrocyte-like) cells in vitro has been demonstrated. The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of Sox9-transduced BMSCs to repair the degenerated intervertebral disc in a rabbit model.

Materials And Methods: Fifty skeletally mature New Zealand white rabbits were used.

The complex regulation of tanshinone IIA in rats with hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy.

Tanshinone IIA has definite protective effects on various cardiovascular diseases. However, in hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy (H-LVH), the signaling pathways of tanshinone IIA in inhibition of remodeling and cardiac dysfunction remain unclear. Two-kidney, one-clip induced hypertensive rats (n = 32) were randomized to receive tanshinone IIA (5, 10, 15 mg/kg per day) or 5% glucose injection (GS).

Study of co-transplantation of SPIO labeled bone marrow stromal stem cells and Schwann cells for treating traumatic brain injury in rats and in vivo tracing of magnetically labeled cells by MRI.

Aim: The aims of this study are to investigate the effects of co-transplantation Bone Marrow Stromal Stem Cells (BMSCs) and Schwann Cells (SCs) in treating rat traumatic brain injury (TBI), the migration of BMSCs in the brain, and whether co-transplantation treatment is superior to single transplantation.

Materials And Methods: Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) labeled BMSCs and SCs were transplanted and co-transplanted into the rats with TBI. The neurological functions of the rats were evaluated by the NSS (Neurological Severity Score) at day 3, 7, 14, and 30.

Genetic heterogeneity of susceptibility gene in different ethnic populations: refining association study of PTPN22 for Graves' disease in a Chinese Han population.

In our previous studies, we presumed subtypes of Graves' disease (GD) may be caused by different major susceptibility genes or different variants of a single susceptibility gene. However, more evidence is needed to support this hypothesis. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2476601 in PTPN22 is the susceptibility loci of GD in the European population.

Expressions of ER, PR, HER-2, COX-2, and VEGF in primary and relapsed/metastatic breast cancers.

In the present study, we evaluated expressions of estrogen receptor (ER), progestin receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in primary and relapsed/metastatic breast cancers to elucidate the clinical significance of these markers. The markers were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in specimens of 50 patients with primary or metastatic breast cancer. Positive rates of ER were significantly (p = 0.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the antitumor efficiency of resveratrol against lung cancer.

Lung cancer remains a deadly disease with unsatisfactory overall survival. Resveratrol (Res) has the potential to inhibit growth of several types of cancer such as prostate and colorectal examples. In the current study, we evaluated in vitro and in vivo anticancer efficiency of Res in a xenograft model with A549 cells.

Effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy on antibiotic-resistant staphylococcal biofilm: an in vitro study.

Background: Treatments of infections are not always successful because of multi-antibiotic-resistant organisms. It is therefore particularly urgent to provide more effective anti-infective strategy against these organisms. 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), with the chemical structure C5H9NO3, is the only photodynamic therapy agent that is a biochemical precursor of a photosensitizer (protoporphyrin IX [PpIX]), which is naturally produced by the body.

In vivo evaluation of curcumin-loaded nanoparticles in a A549 xenograft mice model.

Curcumin (Cum) has been reported to have potential chemo-preventive and chemotherapeutic activity through influencing various processes, inducing cell cycle arrest, differentiation and apoptosis in a series of cancers. However, the poor solubility of Cum limits its further applications in the treatment of cancer. We have previously reported Cum-loaded nanoparticles (Cum-NPs) prepared with amphilic methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-polycaprolactone (mPEG-PCL) block copolymers.

[Surgical treatment for hemophilic pseudotumor in maxillofacial region].

Objective: To present 4 cases of hemophilic pseudotumor and to investigate the treatment outcome.

Methods: Four cases of hemophilic pseudotumor were reviewed. The patients were treated by internal medicine combined with surgery and followed up for two years.

[Clinical observation of Foley pressurized bladders in treating 32 cases of maxillary comminuted fractures].

Purpose: To discuss the application of Foley pressurized bladders with rigid internal fixation in treating 32 cases of maxillary comminuted fractures and analyze the clinical advantages.

Methods: All the 32 cases of maxillary comminuted fractures were approached with maxillary vestibular or coronary incision. The infraorbital border and maxillary forehead were replaced and fixed with titanium plate.