Chiglitazar monotherapy with sitagliptin as an active comparator in patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized, double-blind, phase 3 trial (CMAS).

Chiglitazar (Carfloglitazar) is a novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pan-agonist that has shown promising effects on glycemic control and lipid regulation in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this randomized phase 3 trial, we compared the efficacy and safety of chiglitazar with sitagliptin in patients with type 2 diabetes who had insufficient glycemic control despite a strict diet and exercise regimen. Eligible patients were randomized (1:1:1) to receive chiglitazar 32 mg (n = 245), chiglitazar 48 mg (n = 246), or sitagliptin 100 mg (n = 248) once daily for 24 weeks.

Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid population pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation of meropenem after intravenous and intrathecal administration in postoperative neurosurgical patients.

Combined intravenous and local intrathecal administration of meropenem in patients after craniotomy is widely used to treat intracranial infections. However, the optimal dosing regimen of meropenem has not been investigated, posing a risk to treatment efficacy. We aimed to identify significant factors associated with inter-individual variability in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pharmacokinetics of meropenem and to evaluate potential intravenous and intrathecal meropenem dosing regimens for the treatment of patients with intracranial infections.

Ganodermanontriol inhibits expression of special AT rich sequence binding protein 1 gene in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Context: The metastasis of liver cancer is a major cause of clinical treatment failure, restrain, and control the cancer metastasis is the major strategy of the treatment and prevention of the disease. Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 1 (SATB1) gene was overexpressed in many malignant tumors and considered as a potential target of anticancer drug. This study investigated the mechanism how ganodermanontriol effect the expression of SATB1 and thus inhibits the growth and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

A new derivatization method for the determination of valproic acid in serum using tetramethylammonium hydroxide as a catalyst.

Valproic acid (VPA) pharmacokinetics is highly variable and monitoring of blood levels is necessary to determine its appropriate dosage. This study aimed to establish and validate a novel derivatization method for the determination of VPA. The method was based on the catalytic effect of tetramethylammonium hydroxide using 2,4'-dibromoacetophenone as a derivatization reagent.

P2Y12 Polymorphisms and the Risk of Adverse Clinical Events in Patients Treated with Clopidogrel: A Meta-Analysis.

Background And Study Aim: Some studies have reported an association between P2Y12 gene polymorphisms and clopidogrel adverse outcomes with inconsistent results. We aimed to explore the relationship between P2Y12 polymorphisms and the risk of adverse clinical events in patients treated with clopidogrel through a meta-analysis.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library was conducted.

Predictive Value of Serum Creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Uric Acid, and β-Microglobulin in the Evaluation of Acute Kidney Injury after Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.

Background: As a major complication after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), the occurrence of acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently defined by serum creatinine (Cr); however, the accuracy of commonly used blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), and β-microglobulin (β-MG) remains to be explored. This retrospective study compared the accuracy of these parameters for post-OLT AKI evaluation.

Methods: Patients who underwent OLT in three centers between July 2003 and December 2013 were enrolled.

Berberine inhibits the ischemia-reperfusion injury induced inflammatory response and apoptosis of myocardial cells through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/RAC-α serine/threonine-protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathways.

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases, and can lead to serious damage and dysfunction of the myocardial tissue. Previous studies have demonstrated that berberine exhibits ameliorative effects on cardiovascular disease. The present study further investigated the efficacy and potential mechanism underlying the effects of berberine on ischemia-reperfusion injury in a mouse model.

Microcystin-LR disrupts insulin signaling by hyperphosphorylating insulin receptor substrate 1 and glycogen synthase.

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a cyanobacteria-derived heptapeptide that has been commonly characterized as a hepatotoxin. Although the liver is a primary organ in glucose homeostasis, the effect of MC-LR on glucose metabolism remains unclear. In this study, the human liver cell line HL7702 and ICR mice were exposed to various concentrations of MC-LR for 24 h, and the proteins involved in insulin signaling were investigated.

Effects of berberine on a rat model of chronic stress and depression via gastrointestinal tract pathology and gastrointestinal flora profile assays.

Chronic stress and depression are challenging conditions to treat, owing to their complexity and lack of clinically available and effective therapeutic agents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism by which berberine acts, by examining alterations to gastrointestinal tract histopathology and flora profile in a rat model, following the induction of stress. Research associating gastrointestinal flora and depression has increased, thus, the present study hypothesized that stress induces depression and changes in the gastrointestinal system.

Atgl deficiency induces podocyte apoptosis and leads to glomerular filtration barrier damage.

Unlabelled: Abnormal lipid metabolism, renal lipid accumulation and lipotoxicity are associated with the pathological features of glomerulopathy. However, the mechanisms by which lipid accumulation leads to the development or progression of this disease have not been fully elucidated. In this work, we have identified a role for the rate-limiting enzyme in lipolysis, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL; also called patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 2), in renal lipid metabolism and kidney disease.

Surgical resection of vasoactive intestinal peptideoma with hepatic metastasis aids symptom palliation: A case report.

Vasoactive intestinal peptideoma (VIPoma) is a rare pancreatic endocrine tumor associated with a well-defined clinical syndrome characterized by watery diarrhea, hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis. In adults, VIPoma is most commonly found in the pancreas, with 80% of the tumors occurring in the body and tail and 20% occurring in the pancreatic head. VIPomas can represent a significant diagnostic challenge due to their nonspecific clinical presentation, which can result in the misdiagnosis of a VIPoma as another condition, such as laxative overdose or a carcinoid secreting tumor.

TIMP1 in conditioned media of human adipose stromal cells protects neurons against oxygen-glucose deprivation injury.

Adipose stromal cells (ASC) can protect neurons when administered to brains due to secreted trophic factors. Our previous studies demonstrated that several neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in ASC conditioned media (ASC-CM) can protect brains against hypoxic-ischemic (HI) injury in neonatal rats. In this study, we demonstrated that human ASC-CM potently blockeds caspase-3 mediated cortical neuronal apoptosis under in vitro oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD).

Transplantation of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the treatment of complete and chronic cervical spinal cord injury.

Neuronal injuries have been a challenging problem for treatment, especially in the case of complete and chronic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Recently, particular attention is paid to the potential of stem cell in treating SCI, but there are only few clinical studies and insufficient data. This study explored the efficacy of autologous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) transplantation in the treatment of SCI.

Post-traumatic stress disorder status in a rescue group after the Wenchuan earthquake relief.

Previous studies have suggested that the incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder in earthquake rescue workers is relatively high. Risk factors for this disorder include demographic characteristics, earthquake-related high-risk factors, risk factors in the rescue process, personality, social support and coping style. This study examined the current status of a unit of 1 040 rescue workers who participated in earthquake relief for the Wenchuan earthquake that occurred on May 12(th), 2008.

Tandem therapy for retinoblastoma: immunotherapy and chemotherapy enhance cytotoxicity on retinoblastoma by increasing apoptosis.

Purpose: The goal of this study was to provide an experimental basis for the clinical application of cell immunotherapy on RB in combination with chemotherapy treatment and to explore the mechanism of their combined cytotoxicity.

Methods: We investigated the antitumor effect of cytokine-induced killer cells (CIK), co-cultivated with dendritic cells pulsed with tumor antigens (DC-Ag) and/or with carboplatin. Cytotoxicity was evaluated on a retinoblastoma cell line (RB-Y79) by FCM and immunofluorescence microscopy.

Effects of subdiaphragmatic cardiac compression on cardiac arrest during liver transplantation.

Cardiac arrest during upper abdominal surgery such as liver transplantation is a rare but very severe complication. Traditional external cardiac compression has been the mainstay of basic life support in general circumstances. Subdiaphragmatic cardiac compression (SDCC), with no incision in the diaphragm, may be a more effective measure.

Polymorphisms of hypoxia-related genes in subjects susceptible to acute mountain sickness.

Background: The occurrence of acute mountain sickness (AMS), which develops in some individuals who ascend to altitudes above 2,500 m, may be associated with 4 hypoxia-related genes (HIF-1, VEGFA, HSP-70 and eNOS).

Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate the potential role of the 4 hypoxia-related genes in AMS pathogenesis. We therefore evaluated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the genes in an association study using a case-control design.

[Researches on the mechanical ventilation trigger way].

A mechanical ventilation trigger way is set forth and a technical analysis on the pressure trigger way and flow trigger way is made in this paper. And it is pointed out that the PEEPi's influence on the human organism is the reason for the latter two kinds of trigger ways' notable differences in the measured values of the inspiration time and breath work.

Risk factors for fatal recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma and their role in selecting candidates for liver transplantation.

Background: With the maturation and popularization of skills in liver transplantation (LT), patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have an alternative choice. LT as a curative treatment for HCC provides good liver function and systemic condition to recipients. Preoperative tumor characteristics are critical in selecting optimal candidates for LT to optimize the use of donor livers and to achieve a long-term survival.

[A study on clinical applications of the PAV ventilation].

This article analyses the principle of the PAV, researches into its clinical applications, estimates its merits and demerits, and discusses the new ventilation mode in contrast with the old ones.

[Clinical applications of noninvasive positive pressure mechanical ventilation technology].

This article expounds the types, applicable diseases and medical departments of noninvasive positive pressure mechanical ventilators and the problems we should pay attention to while using them.