Silencing of long non-coding RNA H19 downregulates CTCF to protect against atherosclerosis by upregulating PKD1 expression in ApoE knockout mice.

This study aimed to explore the interactions among long non-coding RNA H19, transcriptional factor CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and polycystic kidney disease 1 (PKD1), and to investigate its potentially regulatory effect on vulnerable plaque formation and angiogenesis of atherosclerosis. We established an atherosclerosis mouse model in ApoE knockout mice, followed by gain- and loss-of-function approaches. H19 was upregulated in aortic tissues of atherosclerosis mice, but silencing of H19 significantly inhibited atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque formation and intraplaque angiogenesis, accompanied by a downregulated expression of MMP-2, VEGF, and p53 and an upregulated expression of TIMP-1.

Diagnostic accuracy of interferon-gamma in pericardial effusions for tuberculous pericarditis: a meta-analysis.

Background: Several studies have investigated the diagnostic accuracy of tests of pericardial effusion interferon-gamma for tuberculous pericarditis in patients with pericardial effusion, but the results have varied. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of interferon-gamma for tuberculous pericarditis using meta-analysis.

Methods: The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched to identify studies investigating the diagnostic accuracy of tests for interferon-gamma in pericardial effusion for tuberculous pericarditis.

Compliance to self-monitoring of blood glucose among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its influential factors: a real-world cross-sectional study based on the Tencent TDF-I blood glucose monitoring platform.

Background: To investigate the compliance to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its influential factors.

Methods: The real-world SMBG use over 90 days among 415 T2DM patients were recorded by using a blood glucose monitoring platform (TDF-I, Tencent, China). Clinical features including age, sex, duration of diabetes, insulin treatment or not, and use of oral antidiabetic drugs were collected.

Association between the 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase gene Ser326Cys polymorphism and age-related cataract: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To investigate the association between the 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) gene Ser326Cys (rs1052133) polymorphism and age-related cataract (ARC).

Methods: MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched to identify potential studies published before May 19, 2017, investigating the association between the OGG1 gene Ser326Cys polymorphism and ARC risk. The quality of eligible studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale tool.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of adding an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) to a calcium channel blocker (CCB) following ineffective CCB monotherapy.

Background: We conducted this meta-analysis to systematically review and analyze the clinical benefits of angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) combined with calcium channel blocker (CCB) following ineffective CCB monotherapy.

Methods: PubMed was searched for articles published until August 2015. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the clinical benefits of ARB combined with CCB following ineffective CCB monotherapy were included.

Somatic copy number losses on chromosome 9q21.33q22.33 encompassing the PTCH1 loci associated with cardiac fibroma.

Cardiac fibroma is an extremely rare benign tumor that remains poorly characterized genetically. Somatic copy number alterations are common in tumors and have been defined as a crucial factor leading to tumors. In this study, we present a child diagnosed with cardiac fibroma with somatic copy number losses of a total of three discontinuous segments from 9q21.

TIM-4 promotes the growth of non-small-cell lung cancer in a RGD motif-dependent manner.

Background: T-cell immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain 4 (TIM-4) is exclusively expressed in antigen-presenting cells and involved in immune regulation. However, the role of TIM-4 expressed in tumour cells remains completely unknown.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry staining was used to examine TIM-4 or Ki-67 expression in tumour tissues.

Helicobacter pylori virulence factors in development of gastric carcinoma.

Helicobacter pylori plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of gastric carcinoma. However, only a relatively small proportion of individuals infected with H. pylori develop gastric carcinoma.

Identification of Novel Inflammatory Cytokines and Contribution of Keratinocyte-Derived Chemokine to Inflammation in Response to Vibrio vulnificus Infection in Mice.

Currently, only tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin family cytokines have been found to be elicited in Vibrio vulnificus (V. vulnificus)-infected animal models and humans. However, multiple other cytokines are also involved in the immune and inflammatory responses to foreign microorganism infection.

Limb function and quality of life after various reconstruction methods according to tumor location following resection of osteosarcoma in distal femur.

Background: We tried to compare the functional and psychosocial outcomes after various reconstruction methods according to tumor location following resection of osteosarcoma in distal femur.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 51 patients who underwent limb-salvage surgery of osteosarcoma in distal femur in our institution, 30 males and 21 females with an average age of 21 years (range 13-51 years). We classified osteosarcoma in distal femur into 3 types, and organized affected limb reconstruction methods after wide resection.

Long-term survival of a patient with lung cancer metastasis to the spine following surgical treatment combined with radiation and epithelial growth factor receptor inhibitor therapy: A case report.

The prognosis of patients with lung cancer metastasis to the spine is poor, and the choice of surgery is questionable based on the aggressiveness of the disease. The present study describes a case of a 56-year-old male with metastatic spinal cord compression. The patient underwent surgery for posterior decompression and internal fixation, in addition to receiving postoperative radiation and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor medication.

A pro-inflammatory role for Th22 cells in Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis.

Objective: Helper T (Th) cell responses are critical for the pathogenesis of Helicobacter pylori-induced gastritis. Th22 cells represent a newly discovered Th cell subset, but their relevance to H. pylori-induced gastritis is unknown.

Prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width for patients with heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Aims: Multiple studies have investigated the prognostic role of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) for patients with heart failure (HF), but the results have been inconsistent. The aim of the present study was to estimate the impact of RDW on the prognosis of HF by performing a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods And Results: The Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched up to November 16, 2013 to identify eligible cohort studies.

[Early compliance and efficacy of sublingual immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis].

Objective: The study aimed to investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) of dust mite drops to allergic rhinitis with mite allergy. The compliance and satisfaction of SLIT were also assessed.

Method: One hundred and three patients of allergic rhinitis sensitive to dust mites were treated with SLIT for 6 months or more.

Effects of losartan on the mobilization of endothelial progenitor cells and improvement of endothelial function.

Through investigating the effect of the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) losartan on the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and blood flow-mediated endothelium-dependent function (FMD) in the peripheral blood of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), we found that FMD was improved and the number of circulating EPCs increased in the ARB treatment group (P <0.05). In addition, the increase in the number of EPCs was positively correlated with the improvement of FMD in the ARB treatment group (r = 0.

Denosumab and giant cell tumour of bone-a review and future management considerations.

Giant cell tumour of bone (gctb) is one type of giant-cell-rich bone lesion characterized by the presence of numerous multinucleated osteoclast-type giant cells. Giant cells are known to express rankl (receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand) and are responsible for the aggressive osteolytic nature of the tumour. No available treatment option is definitively effective in curing this disease, especially in surgically unsalvageable cases.