An MRTF-A-ZEB1-IRF9 axis contributes to fibroblast-myofibroblast transition and renal fibrosis.

Myofibroblasts, characterized by the expression of the matricellular protein periostin (Postn), mediate the profibrogenic response during tissue repair and remodeling. Previous studies have demonstrated that systemic deficiency in myocardin-related transcription factor A (MRTF-A) attenuates renal fibrosis in mice. In the present study, we investigated the myofibroblast-specific role of MRTF-A in renal fibrosis and the underlying mechanism.

Slug enables redox-sensitive trans-activation of LRP1 by COUP-TFII: Implication in antifibrotic intervention in the kidneys.

Aims: Excessive fibrogenesis in the kidney causes structural and functional damages and is considered a hallmark event in end-stage renal diseases (ESRD). During renal fibrosis, resident fibroblasts undergo profound changes to become myofibroblasts. In the present study we investigated the involvement of Slug (encoded by Snai2) in this process.

Clinical characteristics and 1-year outcomes in hospitalized patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: results from the China Cardiovascular Association Database-Heart Failure Center Registry.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate clinical characteristics and 1-year outcomes in hospitalized patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) from China. Factors associated with outcomes (hospitalization for HF [HHF] and cardiovascular [CV] death) were assessed.

Method And Results: Data were from the China Cardiovascular Association (CCA) Database-HF Center Registry.

A pan-cancer analysis revealed the role of the SLC16 family in cancer.

Cancer is one of the serious diseases that endanger human health and bring a heavy burden to world economic development. Although the current targeted therapy and immunotherapy have achieved initial results, the emergence of drug resistance shows that the existing research is far from enough. In recent years, the tumor microenvironment has been found to be an important condition for tumor development and has profound research value.

Selective Inhibition of 11β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 1 Attenuates High-Fat Diet-Induced Hepatic Steatosis in Mice.

Introduction: The effect of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type1 (11β-HSD1) inhibition on hepatic steatosis is incompletely understood. Here, we aimed to determine the therapeutic effect of BVT.2733, a selective 11β-HSD1 inhibitor, on hepatic steatosis.

MiR-877-5p targets PDK-1 to promote aspirin-induced apoptosis in gastric mucosal cells.

This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-877-5p in aspirin-induced gastric mucosal injury. MiRNA microarray analysis was performed using paired gastric mucosal samples to find differentially expressed miRNAs. miR-877-5p was selected for subsequent analyses.

[Consistency of effective orifice area of prosthetic mitral valve estimated using 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography].

Objective: To analyze the consistency of effective orifice area (EOA) of prosthetic mitral valve estimated using 2- dimensional (2D) and 3-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Objective: This study was conducted among 34 patients undergoing mitral valve replacement surgery in Nanjing First Hospital between March and June in 2019. The diameter of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) measured by 2D-TEE was used to calculate the cross sectional area of LVOT (CSALVOT).

The mechanism of miR-363-3p/DUSP10 signaling pathway involved in the gastric mucosal injury induced by clopidogrel.

Clopidogrel-induced gastric injury is an important clinical problem. However, the exact mechanism is still unclarified. Increasing evidence indicates that miRNAs may be involved in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal injury.

IL-6 promotes PD-L1 expression in monocytes and macrophages by decreasing protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type O expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: We have previously discovered a relationship between the low expression of protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type O (PTPRO) in tumor-infiltrating T cells and immunosuppression. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between decreased PTPRO and increased programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in both the peripheral monocytes and tumor-infiltrating macrophages of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The expression and correlation of all the indices were explored in monocytes and tumor-infiltrating macrophages within both human and mice HCC.

LncRNA BANCR Promotes Pancreatic Cancer Tumorigenesis via Modulating MiR-195-5p/Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway.

Long noncoding BRAF-activated noncoding RNA has been reported to be tightly associated with tumorigenesis and development in various types of cancers. However, the expression, biological function, and modulatory mechanism of BRAF-activated noncoding RNA in pancreatic cancer remained unclear. In the present work, we explored the carcinogenic activity and underlying mechanism of BRAF-activated noncoding RNA on pancreatic cancer .

The RNA m6A methyltransferase METTL3 promotes pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and invasion.

Epigenetic modifications are involved in carcinogenesis and METTL3 is involved in RNA methylation. This study aimed to explore the role of the RNA m6A methyltransferase METTL3 in pancreatic cancer cells. The m6A modification was analyzed in human pancreatic cancer and paracancerous specimens, as well as in the normal HPDE6-C7 pancreatic cell line and the MIA-PaCa-2 and BxPC-3 pancreatic cancer cell lines.

[Differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into male germ cells: An update].

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), including embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), have the potential of differentiating into all types of adult cells. Today, mature functional sperm can be derived from mouse PSCs in vitro, and meanwhile primordial germ cells (PGCs) and meiotic prophase sperm cells can be generated from human ESCs/iPSCs (hESCs/hiPSCs). It is proposed that non-genetic azoospermia might be cured if functional sperm could be obtained from human PSCs (hPSCs) in vitro.

[Pulmonary microcystic fibromyxoma: report of a case with review of literature].

To study the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of pulmonary microcystic fibromyxoma. In March 2014, at the First Affiliated Hospital to Nanjing Medical University a 58-year-old female patient of pulmonary microcystic fibromyxoma was collected. The clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical and genetic profile of a case of pulmonary microcystic fibromyxoma were studied, and the relevant literature reviewed.

MiR-27b-3p Regulation in Browning of Human Visceral Adipose Related to Central Obesity.

Objective: Given the rising prevalence of central obesity and the discovery that beige cells appear within white adipose tissue, strategies to enhance these energy-expending adipocytes or "browning" within white adipose depots have become of therapeutic interest to combat obesity and its associated disorders. This study focused on, the role of microRNA (miRNA)-27b-3p in human visceral adipose tissue (VAT) browning.

Methods: Expression of miR-27b-3p and UCP1 in VAT and serum of humans was measured.

Cyclooxygenase-2 mediated synergistic effect of ursolic acid in combination with paclitaxel against human gastric carcinoma.

Ursolic acid (UA) induces apoptosis in gastric cancer cells by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Paclitaxel (PTX) is an important chemotherapy agent used to treat solid tumors. We evaluated the antitumor activity of UA in combination with PTX against gastric cancer cells and investigated the mechanisms underlying the combined effects.

Dexamethasone ameliorates HS-induced acute lung injury by increasing claudin-5 expression via the PI3K pathway.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a major outcome of exposure to high levels of hydrogen sulfide (HS). Dexamethasone (DXM) has been used to treat ALI. However, the mechanisms involved in HS-induced ALI and the protective mechanisms of DXM in treating ALI are still nebulous.

Efficient antitumor effect of co-drug-loaded nanoparticles with gelatin hydrogel by local implantation.

Tetrandrine (Tet) could enhance the antitumor effect of Paclitaxel (Ptx) by increasing intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels, which leads to the possibility of co-delivery of both drugs for synergistic antitumor effect. In the current study, we reported an efficient, local therapeutic strategy employing effective Tet and Ptx delivery with a nanoparticle-loaded gelatin system. Tet- and Ptx co-loaded mPEG-PCL nanoparticles (P/T-NPs) were encapsulated into the physically cross-linked gelatin hydrogel and then implanted on the tumor site for continuous drug release.

[Succinate dehydrogenase deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a clinicopathologic analysis of eight cases].

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) as a unique tumor subtype.

Methods: SDHB and SDHA immunohistochemistry was performed in 120 gastric GISTs, in addition to CD117, DOG-1, CD34, smooth muscle actin (SMA), desmin, S-100 protein, cytokeratin (CK) and Ki-67. Subset of the cases was further evaluated for the presence of mutations in CKIT exons 9, 11, 13 and 17 mutations and platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha(PDGFRA) exons 12 and 18.

Early second-trimester plasma protein profiling using multiplexed isobaric tandem mass tag (TMT) labeling predicts gestational diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with an increased risk of serious complications for mother and child during pregnancy. The main option for diagnosis of GDM is 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) at 24-28 gestation weeks, when harms to both mother and child have already potentially occurred. The aim of this study was to investigate new biomarkers for earlier detection and assessment of GDM at early second trimester (16-18 gestation weeks).

Induction chemotherapy with cetuximab, vinorelbine-cisplatin followed by thoracic radiotherapy and concurrent cetuximab, vinorelbine-cisplatin in patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Objectives: The modest benefits from concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) warrant a more effective treatment regimen. We herein report mature data of a phase I/II study testing the addition of cetuximab to induction vinorelbine/cisplatin (NP) followed by concurrent cetuximab NP and thoracic radiation in patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC.

Materials And Methods: Eligible patients were treated with weekly cetuximab (initial dose 400 mg/m2, day 1, week 1; maintenance dose 250 mg/m2 from week 2 to the end of CCRT) and induction vinorelbine (25 mg/m2, days 1 and 8) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2, day 1) every 3 weeks for 2 cycles from week 2.

Harmine induces apoptosis and inhibits tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion through down-regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 expression in gastric cancer.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays an important role in the carcinogenesis and progression of gastric cancer. Harmine is reported as a promising drug candidate for cancer therapy; however, effects and action mechanism of harmine on the human gastric cancer cells remain unclear. This study evaluated the anti-tumor effects of harmine on human gastric cancer both in vitro and in vivo.

Delivery of ursolic acid (UA) in polymeric nanoparticles effectively promotes the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells through enhanced inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2).

It has been demonstrated that ursolic acid (UA) could effectively induces apoptosis of cancer cells by inhibiting the expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), which constitutively expresses in gastric cancer. However, the hydrophobicity of UA increases the difficulty in its potential clinical application, which raises the possibility for its application as a novel model drug in nanoparticle-based delivery system. UA-loaded nanoparticles (UA-NPs) were prepared by a nano-precipitation method using amphilic methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-polycaprolactone (mPEG-PCL) block copolymers as drug carriers.

Enhanced in vitro and in vivo therapeutic efficacy of codrug-loaded nanoparticles against liver cancer.

Paclitaxel (Ptx), one of the most widely used anticancer agents, has demonstrated extraordinary activities against a variety of solid tumors. However, the therapeutic response of Ptx is often associated with severe side effects caused by its nonspecific cytotoxic effects and special solvents (Cremophor EL(®)). The current study reports the stable controlled release of Ptx/tetrandrine (Tet)-coloaded nanoparticles by amphilic methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(caprolactone) block copolymers.