Cerebrospinal Fluid Osteopontin and Inflammation-Associated Cytokines in Patients With Anti--Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Encephalitis.

Anti--methyl-d-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune neurological disorder. Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted multifunctional phosphorylated glycoprotein that regulates various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, but its diagnostic and prognostic values in anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients remain elusive. This retrospective study aimed to determine the levels of OPN and related cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of anti-NMDAR encephalitis patients and to assess their influence on disease severity so as to evaluate their efficacy as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis.

[Multicenter performance of the different classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To evaluate the classification criteria of early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and compare the sensitivity and specificity with the criteria of 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and 2010 ACR/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR).

Methods: Patients from 4 hospitals, aged more than 16 years, with arthritis, whose disease duration was ≤1 year, and with ≥1 joint pain and swelling were enrolled in the study. The indicators including clinical manifestations, laboratory tests and imaging examinations were observed.

Characteristics and requirements of hypertensive patients willing to use digital health tools in the Chinese community: a multicentre cross-sectional survey.

Background: Digital health tools (WeChat or mobile health apps) provide opportunities for new methods of hypertension management for hypertensive patients. However, the willingness of these patients to use social media and mobile health apps for hypertension management remains unclear. This study explored the characteristics and requirements of patients willing to use digital health (WDH) tools to manage hypertension.

FAM172A affects cell proliferation and apoptosis not by targeting β-tubulin in HepG2 cells.

Background: Microtubules pull chromosomes apart during cell mitosis and take part in cell division, Inhibiting the formation of spindle microtubules during mitosis has become one of the current anti-tumor research strategies. Earlier studies have found that the family with sequence similarity 172, member A (FAM172A) can significantly inhibit the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cell line LOVO cells and promote apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biological effects of FAM172A on liver cancer cells and the interaction mechanism with tubulin.

Application of DynaCT angiographic reconstruction in balloon pulmonary angioplasty.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility and accuracy of balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) using DynaCT angiographic reconstruction guidance.

Methods: Thirty-four BPAs (23 CTEPH patients) targeting 175 pulmonary arteries were included. Eleven BPAs (2D group) were guided by DSA two-dimensional angiography.

Feasibility of coding-based Charlson comorbidity index for hospitalized patients in China, a representative developing country.

Background: The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) can be automatically calculated from the International Classification of Disease (ICD) code. However, the feasibility of this transformation has not been acknowledged, particularly in hospitals without a qualified ICD coding system. Here, we investigated the utility of coding-based CCI in China.

Magnetic resonance imaging of enhanced nerve repair with mesenchymal stem cells combined with microenvironment immunomodulation in neurotmesis.

Introduction: The immuno-microenvironment of injured nerves adversely affects mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy for neurotmesis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used noninvasively to monitor nerve degeneration and regeneration. The aim of this study was to investigate nerve repair after MSC transplantation combined with microenvironment immunomodulation in neurotmesis by using multiparametric MRI.

Application of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computerized tomography in mantle cell lymphoma.

Objective: The study is to investigate the application of F-fluorodeoxyglucose (F-FDG) PET/computerized tomography (CT) for the evaluation of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 39 patients who were pathologically diagnosed with MCL and underwent F-FDG PET/CT before treatment between August 2007 and August 2018. We compared the clinical information and PET/CT imaging characteristics in different groups based on bone marrow invasion, spleen invasion or International Prognostic Index (IPI) score.

The oncogenic role of TRIP13 in regulating proliferation, invasion, and cell cycle checkpoint in NSCLC cells.

TRIP13 (thyroid hormone receptor interacting protein 13) AAA-ATPase has been reported to be involved in the metaphase checkpoint in human breast cancer, prostate cancer, and cervical cancer. However, the expression pattern and biologic role of TRIP13 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remained unknown. In our present study, real-time PCR and western blot were used to detect the expression level of TRIP13 in NSCLC tissues and cell lines.

Potential Therapeutic Strategies for Intracranial Aneurysms Targeting Aneurysm Pathogenesis.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage resulting from intracranial aneurysms (IAs) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Although trigger mechanisms in the pathogenesis of IAs have not been fully elucidated, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that inflammation acts as a critical contributor to aneurysm pathogenesis. IAs is initiated by disruption and dysfunction of endothelial cells (ECs) caused by abnormal wall shear stress (WSS).

Strontium Ameliorates Glucocorticoid Inhibition of Osteogenesis Via the ERK Signaling Pathway.

Glucocorticoid (GC) has been widely used in clinical work due to its anti-inflammatory and immune-inhibitory properties. However, long-term or high-dose administration is associated with side effects, such as GC-induced osteoporosis (GIOP), which causes great pain for and poses a heavy financial burden on patients. We sought to investigate the potential effects of strontium on GIOP and further explore its underlying mechanisms, including its reversal of the inhibitory effect of GC on osteogenesis of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs).

Efficacy of NEMO-binding domain peptide used to treat experimental osteomyelitis caused by methicillin-resistant : an in-vivo study.

Purpose: Treatment of chronic osteomyelitis (bone infection) remains a clinical challenge. Our previous study had demonstrated that NEMO-binding domain (NBD) peptide effectively ameliorates the inhibition of osteoblast differentiation by TNF-α in vitro. In this work, NBD peptide was evaluated in vivo for treating chronic osteomyelitis induced by methicillin-resistant (MRSA) in a rabbit model.

The Biological-Behavioral Effect Of Neuritin On Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Vascular Endothelial Cells Via VEGFR And Notch1.

Purpose: This study aims to elucidate the biological behavior of Neuritin abnormal expression in pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (VECs) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and explore its possible underlying mechanisms.

Patients And Methods: Primary NSCLC-VECs were isolated from 10 cancer tissues from NSCLC patients, purified and identified by CD34 and Factor VIII staining. Real-time PCR and Western-blot were adopted for detecting the expression levels of Neuritin, Notch1, and VEGFR in NSCLC-VECs and HPMECs.

Elevated Levels of NLRP3 in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients With Autoimmune GFAP Astrocytopathy.

Autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy, a newly defined autoimmune encephalitis, is an antibody-mediated meningoencephalomyelitis. The pathogenesis of the disease is still unclear. Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a complex composed of a variety of proteins that recognizes a variety of ligands and ultimately leads to the development of inflammatory responses.

Emerging role of miRNAs in renal fibrosis.

As one type of the most common endogenous short noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) act as posttranscriptional regulators of gene expression and have great potential biological functions in the physiological and pathological processes of various diseases. The role of miRNAs in renal fibrosis has also attracted great attention in the previous 20 years, and new therapeutic strategies targeting miRNAs appear to be promising. Some researchers have previously reviewed the roles of miRNA in renal fibrosis disease, but numerous studies have emerged over the recent 5 years.

Effects of Vacuum Sealing Drainage Combined with Ilizarov Bone Transport Technique in the Treatment of Tibial Traumatic Osteomyelitis.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to analyze the efficacy of vacuum sealing drainage combined with Ilizarov bone transport technique in the treatment of tibial traumatic osteomyelitis and risk factors for postoperative pin infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS We enrolled 78 patients with tibial traumatic osteomyelitis admitted at the First People's Hospital of Kashgar from January 2015 to September 2017 and treated with vacuum sealing drainage combined with Ilizarov bone transport technique. RESULTS After combined treatment, SAS and SDS scores decreased significantly, while SF-36 scores increased significantly.

Hip-Joint CT Image Segmentation Based on Hidden Markov Model with Gauss Regression Constraints.

Hip-joint CT images have low organizational contrast, irregular shape of boundaries and image noises. Traditional segmentation algorithms often require manual intervention or introduction of some prior information, which results in low efficiency and is unable to meet clinical needs. In order to overcome the sensitivity of classical fuzzy clustering image segmentation algorithm to image noise, this paper proposes a fuzzy clustering image segmentation algorithm combining Gaussian regression model (GRM) and hidden Markov random field (HMRF).

Risk factors for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI): protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Identifying the patients who are at risk for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), which is defined as an increase in serum creatinine after exposure to contrast media, is a critical step in targeted prevention strategies. The absolute and relative importance of individual risk factors have not been systematically evaluated, let alone the new, controversial and modifiable risk factors of CI-AKI.

Methods And Analysis: On 1 July 2019, a search was performed on MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Application of custom anatomy-based nerve conduits on rabbit sciatic nerve defects: and evaluations.

The intermingling of regenerated nerve fibers inside nerve grafts is the main reason for mismatched nerve fibers. This is one of the key factors affecting limb function recovery after nerve injury. Previous research has shown that the accuracy of axon regeneration can be improved by a bionic structural implant.

SERPINE2 rs16865421 polymorphism is associated with a lower risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Uygur population: A case-control study.

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between seven polymorphisms of the serine protease inhibitor-2 (SERPINE2) gene and the risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Uygur population via a case-control study.

Methods: In total, 440 Uygur patients with COPD were included in the patient group and 384 healthy individuals were recruited in the matched control group. Data on demographic variables, smoking status, occupational dust exposure history and living conditions were collected.

Potential circulating biomarkers of circulating chemokines CCL5, MIP-1β and HA as for early detection of cirrhosis related to chronic HBV (hepatitis B virus) infection.

Background: Due to no clinical symptoms in the compensated stage of cirrhosis, it is usually diagnosed when decompensated complications occur. In this study, the noninvasive circulating biomarkers for early detection to compensated stage of cirrhosis in patients with chronic HBV (hepatitis B virus) infection was explored.

Methods: According to the Guideline of Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B (2015 Update), 78 patients with CHB (chronic hepatitis B) were divided into mild group, moderate-to-advanced group, while 73 patients with HBV-related cirrhosis were divided into compensated group and decompensated group.

Prevalence of urolithiasis among the Uyghur children of China: a population-based cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of urolithiasis amongst Uyghur children.

Subjects And Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of Uyghur children (aged ≤14 years) in the Kashgar Region of China, from July to December 2016. Children were selected by a two-stage random clustered sampling method, evaluated by urinary tract ultrasonography, low-dose computed tomography (CT) examination, blood and urine analysis, and a questionnaire.

ELP2 negatively regulates osteoblastic differentiation impaired by tumor necrosis factor α in MC3T3-E1 cells through STAT3 activation.

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pluripotent signaling molecule. The biological effect of TNF-α includes slowing down osteogenic differentiation, which can lead to bone dysplasia in long-term inflammatory microenvironments. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)-interacting protein 1 (StIP1, also known as elongator complex protein 2, ELP2) play a role in inhibiting TNF-α-induced osteoblast differentiation.

A pilot prospective study of 577-nm yellow subthreshold micropulse laser treatment with two different power settings for acute central serous chorioretinopathy.

To compare the efficacy of 50% threshold power with 25% threshold power of 577-nm subthreshold micropulse laser (SMPL) for acute central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC). Prospective, interventional, non-randomized, comparative case series. A total of 54 patients (54 eyes) with acute CSC were enrolled.

Discovery of novel elongator protein 2 inhibitors by compound library screening using surface plasmon resonance.

Tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a pleiotropic cytokine that becomes elevated in chronic inflammatory states, including slowing down osteogenic differentiation, which leads to bone dysplasia in long-term inflammatory microenvironments. The elongator complex plays a role in gene regulation and association with various cellular activities, including the downstream signal transduction of TNF-α in osteogenic cells. To find an inhibitor of Elongator Protein 2 (Elp2), we performed a compound library screen and verified the pharmaceutical effects of candidate compounds on the mouse myoblast cell (C2C12) and mouse osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1).