Heterogeneity in Spinal Bone Mineral Density Among Young Adults From Three Eastern Provincial Capital Cities in Mainland China.

This study compares spinal volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) with spinal areal bone mineral density (aBMD) among young adults from 3 eastern provincial capital cities in Mainland China. A total of 416 young adults (age range: 20-40 yr) from 3 eastern provincial capital cities (Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou) in Mainland China were recruited in this study. From each subject, the vBMD of the lumbar spine was measured by the Mindways quantitative computed tomography system.

Biomechanical Role of the C1 Lateral Mass Screws in Occipitoatlantoaxial Fixation: A Finite Element Analysis.

Study Design: Finite element analysis.

Objective: To determine and compare the construct stability of occipitoatlantoaxial (C0-C1-C2) fixation provided by occipital plate, rod, and screw fixation with or without C1 lateral mass screw (C1LMS).

Summary Of Background Data: Occipitoatlantoaxial fixation techniques use C2 pedicle screw (C2PS) with and without C1LMS that are then incorporated into occipital plate fixation points using occipital screw.

Hyperoside protects human primary melanocytes against H2O2-induced oxidative damage.

Cuscutae semen has been shown to have beneficial effects in the treatment of vitiligo, recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, whereas the effects of its constituent compounds remains to be elucidated. Using a tetrazolium bromide assay, the present study found that hyperoside (0.5‑200 µg/ml) significantly increased the viability of human melanocytes in a time‑ and dose‑dependent manner.

Biomarkers for Early Diagnostic of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Type-2 Diabetes Patients: A Multicentre, Retrospective, Nested Case-Control Study.

Background: Both type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are common age-associated disorders and T2DM patients show an increased risk to suffer from AD, however, there is currently no marker to identify who in T2DM populations will develop AD. Since glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) activity, ApoE genotypes and olfactory function are involved in both T2DM and AD pathogenesis, we investigate whether alterations of these factors can identify cognitive impairment in T2DM patients.

Methods: The cognitive ability was evaluated using Minimum Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR), and the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) was diagnosed by Petersen's criteria.

Effects of berberine on pharmacokinetics of midazolam and rhodamine 123 in rats in vivo.

Aim: To evaluate whether berberine hydrochloride (BBR) could modify the pharmacokinetic profiles of midazolam (MDZ), a substrate of CYP3A, and rhodamine 123 (Rh123), a substrate of P-glycolprotein (P-gp), in male rats.

Methods: The rats were given with varied does of BBR or 75 mg/kg ketoconazole as a positive control for 10 days by intragastric administration. Single-pass duodenum perfusion of 20 mg/kg MDZ and inguinal artery canulated rats were used in the study.

Polymer Nanoparticles Modified with Photo- and pH-Dual-Responsive Polypeptides for Enhanced and Targeted Cancer Therapy.

The cationic nature of cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) and their absence of cell selectivity restrains their applications in vivo. In this work, polymer nanoparticles (NPs) modified with photo- and pH-responsive polypeptides (PPPs) were successfully developed and respond to near-infrared (NIR) light illumination at the tumor site and a lowered tumor extracellular pH (pHe). In PPPs, the internalization function of CPPs (positively charged) is quenched by a pH-sensitive inhibitory peptide (negatively charged), which is linked via a photocleavable group.

Study on the therapeutic effect of neural progenitor cells in mice of a glioma murine model.

Glioma is a common malignacy of the brain that affects elderly patients in particular. Despite treatment, however, the survival rate is 12 months. The aim of the present study was to examine the therapeutic effect of neural progenitor cells (NPCs) on a glioma murine model, and to determine the possible mechanism of action.

FTO genotype and weight loss in diet and lifestyle interventions: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Studies have suggested that the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) genotype is associated with individual variability in weight loss in response to diet/lifestyle interventions, but results are inconsistent.

Objective: We aimed to provide a summary of the literature evaluating the relation between the FTO genotype and weight loss in response to diet/lifestyle interventions.

Design: A search of English-language articles in the PubMed and Embase databases (through 30 April 2015) was performed.

TGF-β1 induces human aortic vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype switch through PI3K/AKT/ID2 signaling.

The vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotypic switch is considered to be the key pathophysiological change in various cardiovascular diseases, such as aortic dissection, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. The results in this study showed that TGF-β1 promotes the proliferation, migration and morphological changes of VSMC.TGF-β1 promoted the expressions of PI3K, P-PI3K, AKT, P-AKT, ID2, and OPN protein and suppressed the expressions of α-SMA and SM22α protein; the opposite results were observed for TGF-β1 inhibitor group, AKT inhibitor group and Combined inhibitors group.

Targeting HDAC with a novel inhibitor effectively reverses paclitaxel resistance in non-small cell lung cancer via multiple mechanisms.

Chemotherapy paclitaxel yields significant reductions in tumor burden in the majority of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, acquired resistance limits its clinical use. Here we demonstrated that the histone deacetylase (HDAC) was activated in paclitaxel-resistant NSCLC cells, and its activation promoted proliferation and tumorigenesis of paclitaxel-resistant NSCLC cells in vitro and in vivo.

Ketamine effect on HMGB1 and TLR4 expression in rats with acute lung injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common emergency and severe case in clinic. High mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1) can be treated as a new anti-inflammatory treatment target. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an important receptor of HMGB1.

Transforming growth factor-β1 promotes homing of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Backgrounds: Acute ischemia reperfusion-induced kidney injury is a common cause of acute renal failure, and it is also an important cause of delayed recovery of transplanted kidney functions and even loss of function. However, there is no effective treatment method in clinical applications presently.

Objective: The objective was to investigate effects of transforming growth factor-β1 on homing of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

IGFBP7 functions as a potential lymphangiogenesis inducer in non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Lymphangiogenesis is not only involved in the processes of embryonic development, tissue repair and chronic inflammation, but also in tumor lymphatic metastasis. Metastatic tumor cells spreading through lymphatic vessels occur in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), with regional lymph node metastasis often being the most important prognostic factor for carcinoma patients. Recent research has identified a range of lymphangiogenic growth factors that could conceivably play a great role in promoting tumor lymphangiogenesis and lymphatic metastasis.

Inhibition of acid sensing ion channel by ligustrazine on angina model in rat.

Ligustrazine, a compound extracted from roots of Ligusticum chuanxiong, is widely used in Chinese traditional medicine to treat cardiac and cerebrovascular diseases and pain, including angina. The mechanism(s) of ligustrazine's effect to reduce angina is not clear. Angina is mediated by cardiac afferent sensory neurons.

BIP induces mice CD19(hi) regulatory B cells producing IL-10 and highly expressing PD-L1, FasL.

Many studies have shown that B cells possess a regulatory function in mouse models of autoimmune diseases. Regulatory B cells can modulate immune response through many types of molecular mechanisms, including the production of IL-10 and the expression of PD-1 Ligand and Fas Ligand, but the microenvironmental factors and mechanisms that induce regulatory B cells have not been fully identified. BIP (binding immunoglobulin protein), a member of the heat shock protein 70 family, is a type of evolutionarily highly conserved protein.

A case of tumor-like inflammatory demyelinating disease with progressive brain and spinal cord involvement.

Context: Tumor-like inflammatory demyelinating disease (TIDD) usually occurs in the brain and rarely occurs in the spinal cord. TIDD appears to be very similar to tumors such as gliomas on imaging, which may lead to incorrect or delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Case Report: Because of headache and incoherent speech, a 24-year-old Chinese male presented to our hospital with a two-week history of respiratory infections.

Biomechanical Comparison of Modified TARP Technique Versus Modified Goel Technique for the Treatment of Basilar Invagination: A Finite Element Analysis.

Study Design: A finite element analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the biomechanical differences between atlantoaxial fusion cage combined with transoral atlantoaxial reduction plate fixation (TARP + Cage, modified TARP technique) and that combined with C1 lateral mass screw and C2 pedicle screw fixation (C1LS + C2PS + Cage, modified Goel technique) in the treatment of basilar invagination (BI) by finite element analysis.

Summary Of Background Data: Clinical studies have shown that transoral anterior atlantoaxial release followed by TARP fixation can achieve reduction, decompression, fixation, and fusion of C1-C2 through a transoral-only approach.

Correlation between VEGFR2 rs2071559 polymorphism and glioma risk among Chinese population.

Objective: We investigated the correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor 2 (VEGFR2) polymorphism and glioma risk among Chinese population.

Method: Case-control study design was adopted, and blood samples and clinical data of 250 glioma cases and 260 control subjects were collected. Epidemiological questionnaire survey was performed, and DNA extraction, concentration normalization and packaging were carried out using Qiagen Blood Kit.

Silencing c-Kit expression in human DCs suppresses Th2, Th17 response but enhances Th1 response.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are integral to the differentiation of T helper cells into T helper type 1 TH1, TH2 and TH17 subsets. RNA interference (RNAi), which causes the degradation of any RNA in a sequence specific manner, is a posttranscriptional gene silencing mechanism. Targeting the c-Kit in DCs has been used as an approach to enhance antitumor immunity.

A giant symptomatic cardiac lipoma recurring at the fifth year.

Cardiac lipomas are extremely rare in the heart diseases and only few present with a wide spectrum of clinical signs, including life-threatening arrhythmias and sudden death. We report a 48-year-old woman who with a 2-year history of recurrent dyspnea with mild anemia was admitted to our hospital as a huge mass was found in her mediastinum. After complete surgical tumor resection, she was recurred at the fifth year.

Hepatitis B virus X protein activates Notch signaling by its effects on Notch1 and Notch4 in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Deregulated expression of Notch receptors and abnormal activity of Notch signaling have been observed in a growing number of malignant tumors, however, the expression and activity of Notch in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their relationship with HBV X protein (HBx) are still not fully elucidated. To address this, we examined the overall expression of Notch receptors in HBV-associated HCC tissues, analyzed their relationship with HBx, and further investigated the role of Notch signaling in HBx stable transfected HepG2 cells (HepG2X). The results showed that Notch signaling could be activated by HBx in HepG2 cells.

Irisin protects against endothelial injury and ameliorates atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-Null diabetic mice.

Objective: The circulating irisin increases energy expenditure and improves insulin resistance in mice and humans. The improvement of insulin resistance ameliorates atherosclerosis. Therefore, we hypothesized that irisin alleviates atherosclerosis in diabetes.

The Ras/Raf/Erk Pathway Mediates the Subarachnoid Hemorrhage-Induced Apoptosis of Hippocampal Neurons Through Phosphorylation of p53.

Apoptosis plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of early brain injury (EBI) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). However, the exact molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal apoptosis in EBI after SAH have not been fully elucidated. The present study showed that EBI induced significantly neuronal apoptosis activation of Ras/Raf/Erk signals in hippocampus after SAH.

The Influence of Pelvic Ramus Fracture on the Stability of Fixed Pelvic Complex Fracture.

This study aims to evaluate the biomechanical mechanism of pelvic ring injury for the stability of pelvis using the finite element (FE) method. Complex pelvic fracture (i.e.