Synergistic Effect of Mesoporous Silica and Hydroxyapatite in Loaded Poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) Microspheres on the Regeneration of Bone Defects.

A microsphere composite made of poly(DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN), and nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) (PLGA-MSN/nHA) was prepared and evaluated as bone tissue engineering materials. The objective of this study was to investigate the synergistic effect of MSN/nHA on biocompatibility as well as its potential ability for bone formation. First, we found that this PLGA-MSN/nHA composite performed good characteristics on microstructure, mechanical strength, and wettability.

Association study of polymorphisms in the ABO gene with ischemic stroke in the Chinese population.

Background: Ischemic stroke is the main cause of mortality and disability in older people worldwide. Recently epidemiological studies indicate that ischemic stroke is a complex disorder with a strong genetic component. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI) locus in ABO gene.

Rituximab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment in Chinese patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in routine practice: a prospective, multicentre, non-interventional study.

Background: The efficacy and safety of rituximab-based chemotherapy (R-chemo), the standard regimen for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is more common in Asia than in Western countries, are well confirmed in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, the safety and effectiveness of R-chemo in patients who are largely excluded from RCTs have not been well characterized. This real-world study investigated the safety and effectiveness of R-chemo as first-line treatment in Chinese patients with DLBCL.

Low α-defensin gene copy number increases the risk for IgA nephropathy and renal dysfunction.

Although a major source of genetic variation, copy number variations (CNVs) and their involvement in disease development have not been well studied. Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide. We performed association analysis of the DEFA1A3 CNV locus in two independent IgAN cohorts of southern Chinese Han (total of 1189 cases and 1187 controls).

[Value of pudendal nerve stimulation for predicting the stress urinary incontinence following pelvic prolapse surgery].

Objective: To seek the predictive value of pudendal nerve function that need preventive anti-incontinence surgery at the same time following pelvic prolapse surgery in severe pelvic organ prolapse (POP) patients.

Methods: Seventy women completed this study from January 2014 to June 2015 in Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, dividing into four groups: POP with or without coexisting occult stress urinary incontinence (OSUI) in preoperation, women with persistent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in postoperation, women without SUI in postoperation. The pudendal nerve function in preoperation was measured by using Solar Urodynamic Neuro Module, including pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML), and amplitude.

Inhibition of the superantigenic activities of Staphylococcal enterotoxin A by an aptamer antagonist.

Staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) is an important component of Staphylococcus aureus pathogenesis. SEA induces T lymphocytes activation and proliferation, resulting in the release of a large number of inflammatory cytokines. Blocking the toxic cascade triggered by SEA may be an effective strategy for the treatment of SEA-induced diseases.

C-Reactive Protein is a Prognostic Marker for Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Introduction: As an acute-phase protein synthesized in response to systemic inflammation, the C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to be an independent prognostic factor for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The aim of this study was to investigate the association between CRP and progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and radiological response in CRPC patients treated with docetaxel.

Methods: 115 histologically confirmed CRPC patients who were treated with docetaxel chemotherapy from 2008 to 2013 were selected.

MicroRNA-154 functions as a tumor suppressor and directly targets HMGA2 in human non-small cell lung cancer.

MicroRNA-154 (miR-154) is dysregulated in some human malignancies and is correlated with tumor progression. However, its expression and function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. Therefore, we explored the effects of miR-154 on NSCLC tumorigenesis and development.

Resveratrol enhances HBV replication through activating Sirt1-PGC-1α-PPARα pathway.

The population of hepatitis B combined with a number of metabolic disorders is increasing significantly. Resveratrol (RSV) has been used as a preclinical drug for the treatment of the metabolic disorders. However, the impact of RSV on HBV replication remains unknown.

Anticancer activity of taraxerol acetate in human glioblastoma cells and a mouse xenograft model via induction of autophagy and apoptotic cell death, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of cell migration.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro and in vivo anticancer and apoptotic effects of taraxerol acetate in U87 human glioblastoma cells. The effects on cell cycle phase distribution, cell cycle-associated proteins, autophagy, DNA fragmentation and cell migration were assessed. Cell viability was determined using the MTT assay, and phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy was utilized to determine the viability and apoptotic morphological features of the U87 cells.

[Modified Prolift procedure without trachelectomy or hysterectomy for the treatment of advanced pelvic organ prolapse complicated with cervical elongation].

Objective: To evaluate the effect and safety of a modified Prolift procedure, without preceding partial trachelectomy or hysterectomy for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) with coexistent cervical elongation.

Methods: Clinical data of 72 patients that underwent a modified Prolift procedure for POP with coexistent cervical elongation, between December 2008 and June 2012 in Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command was retrospectively analysed. A comparison was carried out between preoperative and postoperative parameters of pelvic organ prolapse quantitation system (POP-Q), and an objective evaluation was made according to the overall cure rate and recurrence rate.

Esophageal reconstruction: posterior mediastinal or retrosternal route.

Background: Although posterior mediastinal (PM) route and retrosternal (RS) route have been used for reconstruction after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE), the optimal route remains controversial. This study reviewed our experiences with McKeown MIEs for esophageal cancer and aimed to investigate which route was better for esophageal reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: From December 2011 to December 2013, 103 patients who underwent McKeown MIE and esophageal reconstruction by PM or RS routes were reviewed.

Impact of S100A4 Expression on Clinicopathological Characteristics and Prognosis in Pancreatic Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: The small Ca(2+)-binding protein S100A4 is identified as a metastasis-associated or metastasis-inducing protein in various types of cancer. The goal of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the relationship between S100A4 expression and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was carried out in the electronic databases PubMed and Chinese CNKI.

Structural and functional connectivity in traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury survivors often experience cognitive deficits and neuropsychiatric symptoms. However, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying specific impairments are not fully understood. Advances in neuroimaging techniques (such as diffusion tensor imaging and functional MRI) have given us new insights on structural and functional connectivity patterns of the human brain in both health and disease.

Worldwide research productivity in the field of spine surgery: a 10-year bibliometric analysis.

Purpose: Bibliometrics is increasingly used to assess the quantity and quality of scientific research output in many research fields worldwide. However, the bibliometric studies in the field of spine surgery are scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the worldwide research productivity in the field of spine surgery using bibliometric methods and to provide an insight into the spine research for surgeons and researchers.

Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Trial of Apatinib in Patients With Chemotherapy-Refractory Advanced or Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach or Gastroesophageal Junction.

Purpose: There is currently no standard treatment strategy for patients with advanced metastatic gastric cancer experiencing progression after two or more lines of chemotherapy. We assessed the efficacy and safety of apatinib, a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma for whom at least two lines of prior chemotherapy had failed.

Patients And Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial.

[Cytogenetic and molecular genetic analysis of a case with mosaic marker chromosomes].

Objective: To explore the source of small supernumerary marker chromosome in a case.

Methods: G-banded karyotyping, fluorescence in situ hybridization, multiple sequence tagged sites (STS) of the Y chromosome, and Illumima Human Cyto SNP-12 Beadchip analysis were carried out.

Results: The karyotype was mos 46,X,+mar1[21]/46,X,+mar2[78].

SOD2 Mediates Amifostine-Induced Protection against Glutamate in PC12 Cells.

Background: Cytoprotectant amifostine attenuates radiation-induced oxidative injury by increasing intracellular manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2) in peripheral tissue. However, whether amifostine could protect neuronal cells against oxidative injury has not been reported. The purpose of this study is to explore the protection of amifostine in PC12 cells.

Expression and prognosis value of SHP2 in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

SHP2 is an src homology (SH) 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP). SHP2 implicitly contributes to tumorigenesis, but the role of SHP2 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance and associated expression of SHP2 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients.

Correlation of HMGB1 expression to progression and poor prognosis of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell/adenosquamous carcinoma of gallbladder.

HMGB1 (High mobility group box 1) expressions in adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell/adenosquamous (SC/ASC) carcinoma of gallbladder, as well as its prognostic significance, have not yet been evaluated. We investigated HMGB1 expression in 80 cases of AC gallbladder cancer and 52 cases of SC/ASC gallbladder cancer. Survival information was concomitantly collected.

Laboratory diagnosis, clinical management and infection control of the infections caused by extensively drug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli: a Chinese consensus statement.

Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) are defined as bacterial isolates susceptible to two or fewer antimicrobial categories. XDR-GNB mainly occur in Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The prevalence of XDR-GNB is on the rise in China and in other countries, and it poses a major public health threat as a result of the lack of adequate therapeutic options.

Hydrogen-rich saline promotes motor functional recovery following peripheral nerve autografting in rats.

Despite the application of nerve grafts and considerable microsurgical innovations, the functional recovery across a long peripheral nerve gap is generally partial and unsatisfactory. Thus, additional strategies are required to improve nerve regeneration across long nerve gaps. Hydrogen possesses antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, which could be neuroprotective in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury; however, such a possibility has not been experimentally tested .

microRNA-18a regulates gastric carcinoma cell apoptosis and invasion by suppressing hypoxia-inducible factor-1α expression.

Hypoxia is associated with various pathophysiological events, including cancer, lung and cardiovascular diseases. A number of studies have indicated that alterations in microRNA (miRNA) expression may be involved in the regulation of the cellular response to hypoxia. In the present study, miR-18a expression was revealed to be markedly downregulated under hypoxic conditions in MGC-803 and HGC-27 gastric carcinoma cell lines.

The Clinical Characteristics and Treatment of Cerebral Microarteriovenous Malformation Presenting with Intracerebral Hemorrhage: A Series of 13 Cases.

Object: The aim of this report was to explore the clinical presentation, radiological features, treatment methods, and outcome of micro-AVMs presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Methods: The clinical data, radiological features, treatment, and follow-up results for a consecutive series of 13 cases with micro-AVMs were retrospectively analyzed.

Results: All 13 patients presented with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Psychological maladjustment of Asian and African peacekeepers in Liberia and its related factors.

This study aimed to investigate the maladjustment of Asian (Bangladeshi, Pakistani) and African (Nigerian, Namibian, Ghanaian) peacekeepers and its major influence factors. By random cluster sampling, 300 Asian peacekeepers and 271 African peacekeepers were administered the military psychological maladjustment scale (MPMS) and risk factors questionnaire. Investigation at Day 7 and Day 120 into the peacekeeping deployment period indicated that MPMS total score and factor scores of the Asian peacekeepers were significantly lower than those of the African peacekeepers (p < .