Serum profile of low molecular weight fucosylated glycoproteins for early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Our previous study reported a method of using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry to analyze the association between abnormal fucosylation of serum glycoproteins and the progression of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, the aforementioned method was improved by focusing on fucosylated glycoproteins <10 kD, classification models were established and blind tests were performed on an enlarged sample size (n=299). According to the present results, the classification models had a sensitivity and specificity of 74.

Insulin delivery with a needle-free insulin injector versus a conventional insulin pen in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A 16-week, multicenter, randomized clinical trial (the FREE study).

Background: Insulin therapy is poorly accepted by patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A needle-free insulin injector has been developed for patients who fear injections or are reluctant to initiate insulin therapy when it is clearly indicated. The objective of this trial was to evaluate the glucose-lowering effect, tolerability, patient satisfaction and compliance with insulin treatment via a needle-free insulin injector (NFII) compared with insulin treatment via a conventional insulin pen (CIP) in patients with T2DM.

Prostate cancer treated with reduced-volume intensity-modulated radiation therapy: Report on the 5-year outcome of a prospective series.

How to define a clinical target volume (CTV) as small as possible for prostate cancer to reduce the dose received by normal organs is an interesting study. We conduct a research to analyze the clinical efficacy of intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) using reduced CTV in the treatment of prostate cancer. From January 2006 to June 2010, 78 patients with prostate cancer were treated with IMRT according to this institutional protocol.

LncRNA-SVUGP2 suppresses progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Numerous studies indicate that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are dysregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and might serve as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of HCC. Therefore, it is interesting to globally identify the lncRNAs altered in HCC. In our study, we used microarray to profile the levels of lncRNAs and mRNAs in three pairs of HCC and their adjacent noncancerous samples.

Concurrent preoperative chemotherapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy followed by surgery for oral squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective analysis of 104 cases.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to assess the clinical effects of an integrated program consisting of concurrent preoperative combined paclitaxel and nedaplatin chemotherapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy followed by surgery intended to cure oral squamous cell carcinoma and to determine whether this integrated program is feasible and effective with respect to the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: A total of 104 biopsy-confirmed patients who presented with oral squamous cell carcinoma for the first time were included in this study. Concurrent preoperative combined paclitaxel and nedaplatin chemotherapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy were administered to these patients.

Cupping therapy for treating knee osteoarthritis: The evidence from systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Cupping therapy is widely used in East Asia, the Middle East, or Central and North Europe to manage the symptom of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the available evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of cupping therapy for treating patients with KOA.

Methods: The following databases were searched from their inception until January 2017: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and four Chinese databases [WanFang Med Database, Chinese BioMedical Database, Chinese WeiPu Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI)].

Effect of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 Genetic Polymorphisms on the Pharmacokinetics of Sirolimus in Healthy Chinese Volunteers.

Background: Sirolimus is a promising immunosuppressive drug for preventing the rejection of organ transplants. However, inter-individual variability in sirolimus pharmacokinetics causes adverse drug reactions, compromising therapeutic efficacy. Sirolimus is primarily metabolized by cytochrome CYP3A4 and CYP3A5.

Cloning, expression and antioxidant activity of a thioredoxin peroxidase from Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtaunese.

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are ubiquitous antioxidant enzymes that catalyze the thioredoxin- dependent reduction of hydroperoxides. In this study, a novel thioredoxin peroxidase (Bbt-TPx1), a member of the peroxiredoxin superfamily, was found by EST sequence analysis of a cDNA library of Branchiostoma belcheri tsingtaunese ovary. The sequence of a full-length cDNA clone contained an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide of 198 amino acid residues, with a calculated molecular weight of 22,150 Da.

Efficacy of Vitamin B Supplementation on Cognition in Elderly Patients With Cognitive-Related Diseases.

Increase in serum homocysteine is shown to be a potential risk factor for cognitive impairment. Evidence suggests that vitamin B supplementation may reduce cognitive decline by lowering the homocysteine levels. The current meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of folic acid along with vitamin B12 and/or B6 in lowering homocysteine, thereby attenuating cognitive decline in elderly patients with Alzheimer disease or dementia.

Preparation and Characterization of Silymarin Synchronized and Sustained Release Dropping Pill.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a synchronized and sustained-release silymarin dropping pill, and to evaluate its pharmacokinetic characteristics.

Method: Polyoxyethylene stearate, glyceryl monostearate, and stearic acid were used to prepare the dropping pills. X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and release were used to evaluate its physicochemical properties.

Expression of phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 is associated with prognosis of Wilms' tumor.

Objective: The current study was undertaken to explore the clinical and prognostic value of phosphatase of regenerating liver-3 (PRL-3) expression in Wilms' tumor.

Methods: Seventy-six patients with Wilms' tumor in Qilu Hospital from January 2003 to July 2009 were enrolled in the study. Protein expression level of PRL-3 was examined by immunohistochemical staining, and the correlation between PRL-3 expression and histopathological parameters, clinical variables, and outcome of patients with Wilms' tumor were analyzed.

Regulatory Mechanisms of the Ihh/PTHrP Signaling Pathway in Fibrochondrocytes in Entheses of Pig Achilles Tendon.

This study is aimed at exploring the effect of stress stimulation on the proliferation and differentiation of fibrochondrocytes in entheses mediated via the Indian hedgehog (Ihh)/parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) signaling pathway. Differential stress stimulation on fibrochondrocytes in entheses was imposed. Gene expression and protein levels of signaling molecules including collagen type I (Col I), Col II, Col X, Ihh, and PTHrP in the cytoplasm of fibrochondrocytes were detected.

Angioplasty and stenting for patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis: study protocol of a randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Whether adding percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) to background medical treatment is effective for decreasing the incidence of stroke or death in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis (ICAS) is still controversial. We perform a randomised controlled trial to examine the effectiveness and safety of an improved PTAS procedure for patients with ICAS.

Methods And Analysis: A randomised controlled trial will be conducted in three hospitals in China.

Prognostic significance of residual or recurrent lymph nodes in the neck for patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy.

Background: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is the most frequently diagnosed primary tumor originating from the nasopharynx, and the preferred treatment modality is radiotherapy.

Aims: To identify nasopharyngeal carcinoma prognostic factors in patients with residual or recurrent cervical lymph node metastases after radiotherapy.

Patients And Methods: The clinicopathologic characteristics and prognoses of 67 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with residual or recurrent cervical lymph node metastases who were diagnosed and treated were analyzed retrospectively.

Long-term cancer-related fatigue outcomes in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer after intensity-modulated radiotherapy combined with hormonal therapy.

The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between cancer-related fatigue and clinical parameters, and the effect factors of fatigue for the prostate cancer patients. Long-term follow-up is performed using the Fatigue Symptom Inventory before treatment (A), at the end of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (B), and 3 months (C), 12 months (D), 24 months (E), 36 months (F), and 48 months (G) after the end of intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Three dimensions of fatigue are assessed during follow-up: severity, perceived interference with quality of life, and duration in the past week.

Verification of five pharmacogenomics-based warfarin administration models.

Objective: This study aims to screen and validate five individual warfarin dosing models (four Asian model algorithms, namely, Ohno, Wen, Miao, Huang, and the algorithm of International Warfarin Pharmacogenetic Consortium, namely IWPC algorithm) with the aim of evaluating their accuracy, practicality, and safety.

Materials And Methods: Patients' CYP2C9*3 and VKORC1-1639G >A genes were genotyped, and patient-related information and steady warfarin doses were recorded. The difference between the predicted dose and actual maintenance dose of each model was compared.

Anatomical basis and design of the distally based lateral dorsal cutaneous neuro-lateral plantar venofasciocutaneous flap pedicled with the lateral plantar artery perforator of the fifth metatarsal bone: a cadaveric dissection.

Background: Detailed investigation of the vasculature of the lateral aspect of the foot has rarely been presented. However, harvesting the flap in this area to cover defects of the foot and hand is highly important. Repair of soft-tissue defects at the forefoot remains a challenge in reconstructive surgery.

Olive oil exhibits osteoprotection in ovariectomized rats without estrogenic effects.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of olive oil on bone and uterus in ovariectomized rats. A total of 34 surgically ovariectomized or sham-operated virgin Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: i) Sham-operated control rats (sham group); ii) Ovariectomized rats (OVX group); iii) Olive oil-supplemented ovariectomized rats (olive group); and iv) Diethylstilbestrol-supplemented ovariectomized rats (E group). At 12 weeks following left ventricular blood sacrificed to detect plasma estradiol (E), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 levels.

[The effect of liraglutide in combination with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells treatment on glucose metabolism and β cell function in type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To observe the effect of liraglutide (LIRA) in combination of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC-MSCs) in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Eligibility criteria for subjects includes: type 2 diabetes mellitus with more than 10 years duration; having been treated with secretagogues, metformin and insulin in combination with LIRA for at least 6 months; poor glycemic control [glycosylated hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) 7%-10%]. Totally, twelve patients were enrolled and randomly divided into two groups: the group A (LIRA group, n=6) and the group B (LIRA+ hUC-MSCs group, n=6).

Paradoxical Herniation After Unilateral Decompressive Craniectomy Predicts Better Patient Survival: A Retrospective Analysis of 429 Cases.

Paradoxical herniation (PH) is a life-threatening emergency after decompressive craniectomy. In the current study, we examined patient survival in patients who developed PH after decompressive craniectomy versus those who did not. Risk factors for, and management of, PH were also analyzed.

Genetic association study identifies a functional CNV in the WWOX gene contributes to the risk of intracranial aneurysms.

Intracranial aneurysms (IAs) accounts for 85% of hemorrhagic stroke. Genetic factors have been known to play an important role in the development of IAs. A functional CNV (CNV-67048) of human WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX), which has been identified as a tumor suppressor gene in multiple cancers, was identified to be associated with gliomas risk previously.

Preparation and characterization of silymarin synchronized-release microporous osmotic pump tablets.

The pharmacological activity of herbal medicine is an overall action of each component in accordance with their original proportion. An efficient, sustained, and controlled-release drug delivery system of herbal medicine should ensure the synchronized drug release of each active component during the entire release procedure. In this study, silymarin (SM), a poorly soluble herbal medicine, was selected as a model drug to develop a synchronized-release drug delivery system: an SM microporous osmotic pump (MPOP) tablet.