Atmospheric particulate matter promotes the migration and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Epidemiological data has demonstrated that particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM) is associated with cancer incidence. However, the precise mechanisms underlying PM-mediated hepatocellular carcinoma cancer (HCC) migration and invasion remain unclear.

Hyperactivation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Myeloid Cells Leads to Severe Organ Damage in Experimental Lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune syndrome associated with severe organ damage resulting from the activation of immune cells. Recently, a role for caspase-1 in murine lupus was described, indicating an involvement of inflammasomes in the development of SLE. Among multiple inflammasomes identified, the NLRP3 inflammasome was connected to diverse diseases, including autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Expression of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies EA-IgG, Rta-IgG, and VCA-IgA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and their use in a combined diagnostic assay.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is closely associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which can be monitored by the levels of Rta protein antibody IgG (Rta-IgG), early antigen antibody (EA-IgG), and viral capsid antibody (VCA-IgA). In the present study, we investigated the serum levels of Rta-IgG, EA-IgG, and VCA-IgA in nasopharyngeal cancer patients, and the diagnostic value of a combined assay that includes these antibodies in addition to the EBV-DNA. A total of 56 nasopharyngeal cancer patients were recruited as the study population, along with 48 benign rhinitis patients and 42 healthy individuals.

B7-H3 and B7-H4 are independent predictors of a poor prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer.

B7-H3 and B7-H4 belong to the peripheral membrane protein B7 family and are hypothesized to regulate immunity. These proteins are expressed in human pancreatic cancer (PC), but their prognostic significance is poorly understood. The present study examined the association between B7-H3 and B7-H4 expression and the overall survival time in patients with PC that underwent surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital to Zhengzhou University between April 2000 and January 2009.

15d-PGJ2 Reduced Microglia Activation and Alleviated Neurological Deficit of Ischemic Reperfusion in Diabetic Rat Model.

To investigate the effect of PPARγ agonist 15d-PGJ2 treatment on the microglia activation and neurological deficit of ischemia reperfusion in diabetic rat model, adult Sprague-Dawley rats were sacrificed for the research. The rats were randomly categorized into four groups: (1) sham-operated group; (2) standard ischemia group; (3) diabetic ischemia group; (4) diabetic ischemia group with diabetes and treated with 15d-PGJ2. Compared to the sham-operated group, all the ischemic groups have significantly severer neurological deficits, more TNF-α and IL-1 expression, increased labeling of apoptotic cells, increased CD68 positive staining of brain lesion, and increased volume of infarct and cerebral edema in both 24 hours and 7 days after reperfusion.

Diet-induced obesity in male C57BL/6 mice decreases fertility as a consequence of disrupted blood-testis barrier.

Obesity is a complex metabolic disease that is a serious detriment to both children and adult health, which induces a variety of diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, hypertension and cancer. Although adverse effects of obesity on female reproduction or oocyte development have been well recognized, its harmfulness to male fertility is still unclear because of reported conflicting results. The aim of this study was to determine whether diet-induced obesity impairs male fertility and furthermore to uncover its underlying mechanisms.

The role of the miR-31/FIH1 pathway in TGF-β-induced liver fibrosis.

The miRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate various biological processes, including liver fibrosis. Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a central role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. By microarray profiling and real-time PCR, we noted that miR-31 expression in HSCs from rats, mice and humans was significantly increased during HSC activation in culture.

Duodenoscopy in treatment of acute gallstone pancreatitis.

Objective: To probe the potential use of duodenoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of acute gallstone pancreatitis (GP).

Methods: Fourty-five patients with acute GP were randomly divided into endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) group (n=20) and non-ERCP group (n=25). Each group was subdivided into mild and severe groups according to APACHE II scores.