Regression of Liver Fibrosis in Patients on Hepatitis B Therapy Is Associated With Decreased Liver-Related Events.

Background & Aims: Liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B can regress with successful antiviral therapy. However, the long-term clinical benefits of fibrosis regression have not been fully elucidated. This study investigated the association between biopsy-proven fibrosis regression by predominantly progressive, indeterminate, and predominantly regressive (P-I-R) score and liver-related events (LREs) in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Ginkgo biloba Extract 50 (GBE50) Exerts Antifibrotic and Antioxidant Effects on Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice by Regulating Nrf2 and TGF-β1/Smad Pathways.

Background: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a progressive lung disorder with a poor prognosis. GBE50 is a new standardized Ginkgo biloba extract that has been widely used in cardiovascular diseases. However, the protective mechanism of GBE50 against PF remains to be elucidated.

The role of N6-methyladenosine modification in rodent models of neuropathic pain: from the mechanism to therapeutic potential.

Neuropathic pain (NP) is a common chronic pain condition resulted from lesions or diseases of somatosensory nervous system, but the pathogenesis remains unclear. A growing body of evidence supports the relationship between pathogenesis and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications of RNA. However, studies on the role of m6A modifications in NP are still at an early stage.

Safety and efficacy of unilateral and bilateral pedicle screw fixation for lumbar degenerative diseases by transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of unilateral vs. bilateral pedicle screw fixation (BPSF) for lumbar degenerative diseases.

Methods: Electronic databases including PubMed, Web of science, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBSCO were searched by computer.

MicroRNA-506 has a suppressive effect on the tumorigenesis of nonsmall-cell lung cancer by regulating tubby-like protein 3.

MicroRNA-506 (miR-506), a miRNA, has been proven to act as a tumor suppressor gene in nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC); Tubby-like protein 3 (TULP3) is a potential target gene of miR-506. This study investigates whether miR-506 can prevent NSCLC progression by mediating TULP3. In vivo and in vitro experiments were performed to explore the function and potential regulatory relationship of miR-506 and TULP3 in NSCLC.

Ginkgo biloba Extract EGb761 Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Experimental Pulmonary Fibrosis in Mice by Regulating the Balance of M1/M2 Macrophages and Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-κB)-Mediated Cellular Apoptosis.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to show whether the standardized Ginkgo biloba extract EGb761, a traditional Chinese medicine, has a therapeutic effect on pulmonary fibrosis (PF). MATERIAL AND METHODS Bleomycin (BLM) was used for establishing the PF mouse model. The mice were treated with a gradient of EGb761 for 28 days to determine an appropriate drug dose.

Theophylline and dexamethasone in combination reduce inflammation and prevent the decrease in HDAC2 expression seen in monocytes exposed to cigarette smoke extract.

Lung and systemic inflammation are associated with impaired lung function and increased mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Theophylline and glucocorticoids have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect in some respiratory diseases. However, corticosteroid insensitivity is a major barrier to the anti-inflammatory management of COPD.

The cell uptake properties and hyperthermia performance of ZnFeO/SiO nanoparticles as magnetic hyperthermia agents.

ZnFeO nanoparticles (NPs) of 22 nm are synthesized by a one-pot approach and coated with silica for magnetic hyperthermia agents. The NPs exhibit superparamagnetic characteristics, high-specific absorption rate (SAR) (1083 wg, = 430 kHz, = 27 kAm), large saturation magnetization ( = 85 emu g), excellent colloidal stability and low cytotoxicity. The cell uptake properties have been investigated by Prussian blue staining, transmission electron microscopy and the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer, which resulted in time-dependent and concentration-dependent internalization.

Dynamic Analysis of the Biochemical Changes in Rats with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Using Urinary 1H NMR-Based Metabonomics.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disease that causes reproductive abnormalities in fertile women. It is closely related to the persistent anovulatory, insulin resistance, and high androgen. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathological development of PCOS are still unclear.

Metabolomic study of natrin-induced apoptosis in SMMC-7721 hepatocellular carcinoma cells by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Natrin, a new member of the cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) family purified from the snake venom of Naja naja atra, has been demonstrated to have anticancer activity. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms need further elucidation. In this study, MTT was used to evaluate cell viability.

Efficacy of statin therapy in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome/acute lung injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: Approximately 7.5% of patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of hospitals are likely diagnosed with acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS), and more than one-third of the affected patients die with this disease. Despite the improvement in patient care with the availability of mechanical ventilators, mortality among these patients is unabated.

Complete Chloroplast Genomes of Papaver rhoeas and Papaver orientale: Molecular Structures, Comparative Analysis, and Phylogenetic Analysis.

L. and L., which belong to the family Papaveraceae, are used as ornamental and medicinal plants.

Molecular Structure and Phylogenetic Analyses of Complete Chloroplast Genomes of Two Aristolochia Medicinal Species.

The family Aristolochiaceae, comprising about 600 species of eight genera, is a unique plant family containing aristolochic acids (AAs). The complete chloroplast genome sequences of and are reported here. The results show that the complete chloroplast genomes of and comprise circular 159,793 and 160,576 bp-long molecules, respectively and have typical quadripartite structures.

Urinary metabonomics study of the hepatoprotective effects of total alkaloids from Corydalis saxicola Bunting on carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic hepatotoxicity in rats using H NMR analysis.

Chronic liver injury has been shown to cause liver fibrosis due to the sustained pathophysiological wound healing response of the liver, and eventually progresses to cirrhosis. The total alkaloids of Corydalis saxicola Bunting (TACS), a collection of important bioactive ingredients derived from the traditional Chinese folk medicine Corydalis saxicola Bunting (CS), have been reported to have protective effects on the liver. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms need further elucidation.

Resveratrol in lung cancer- a systematic review.

Purpose: Resveratrol, a phytochemical known for its anti- oxidative properties has been explored worldwide for anticancer potential. We performed this systematic review and meta-analysis in order to register the efficacy of resveratrol against lung carcinogenesis.

Methods: We searched PubMed for preclinical studies reporting efficacy of resveratrol alone or in combination with drugs like curcumin, cisplatin etc.

Response to Pegylated Interferon Plus Ribavirin in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 6a Infection from Guangdong and Guangxi Province of China.

Aim. Our aim is to survey the treatment effect of PEG-IFN plus ribavirin in patients infected with HCV genotype 6a in Guangdong and Guangxi province of China and investigate best course of antiviral treatment for patients with HCV-6a infection. Methods.

[Protective effect of isoorientin on alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats].

Objective: To observe the effect and mechanism of isoorientin from Gypsophila elegans on alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Method: ninety healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control group, the model control group, the colchicines group (positive control, 1.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), the high, middle and low-dose isoorientin groups (20, 50, 100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)).

Blood urea nitrogen is elevated in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background/aims: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly associated with many predictors of cardiovascular disease such as hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, central obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) has been proved in patients with NAFLD. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) elevation is a high risk factor and biomarker of RAAS activation of heart failure and coronary heart disease.

[Experimental study on two-way application of drugs with neutral property for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis on cold and heat blood stasis syndromes II].

Objective: To further study the characteristics of drugs with neutral property in two-way application and conditioned dominance by observing the action characteristic of 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property in hemorheological indicators of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome and cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats.

Method: The model of heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats was established by injecting carrageenan and dry yeast, while the model of cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome rats was established by body freezing. Subsequently, 10 traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, 5 traditional Chinese medicines with heat property and 5 traditional Chinese medicines with cold property were selected for intervention to observe the changes in such indicators as whole blood viscosity, plasma viscosity and hematocrit and analyze the action characteristics of drugs with neutral property.

[Experimental study on two-way application of traditional Chinese medicines capable of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis with neutral property in cold and hot blood stasis syndrome I].

Objective: To study the action characteristics of "two-way application and conditioned dominance" of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property by observing the action characteristic of 10 traditional Chinese medicines capable of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis with neutral property in the microcirculation in rats with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome.

Method: The rat model with heat stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was established by injecting carrageenan and dry yeast, and the rat model with cold stagnation and blood stasis syndrome was built by the body freezing method. Ten traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property, including 5 with hot property and 5 with cold property, were selected for intervention to observe blood flow rate and flow state indicators in rat auricles and make a comparative analysis on action characteristics of traditional Chinese medicines with neutral property.

The role of TNF-α 308G>A polymorphism in the risk for ischemic stroke.

Background: Stroke is a common health problem; however, its pathogenesis is not clear. Several studies have examined the association of -308G>A promoter polymorphism in the tumor necrosis factor-α gene (TNF-α) with ischemic stroke susceptibility. However, the results of these studies are inconsistent and the sample sizes of most of the studies were small.

The TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism is associated with migraine risk: A meta-analysis.

Migraine is a neurasthenia and the genetic etiology has not been determined. Several studies concerning the correlation between the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-308G/A polymorphism and migraine have been published, but their results remain controversial and the small samples in each study do not allow sufficient statistical power. In the present study, odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of the association between the polymorphism and migraine.