[Temperature that modifies the effect of air pollution on emergency room visits for circulatory and respiratory diseases in Beijing, China].

To analyze the temperature modification effect on emergency room visits for circulatory and respiratory diseases caused by air pollution, in Beijing. Data on both circulatory and respiratory diseases in 2010 and 2011 were collected, Both meteorological and air pollutants related data were obtained from the National Scientific Data Sharing Platform for Population and Health. By using the stratified time-series models, we analyzed the effects of air pollution on emergency room visits for circulatory and respiratory diseases under different temperature zones, from 2010 to 2011, in Beijing.

Network Analysis of Se-and Zn-related Proteins in the Serum Proteomics Expression Profile of the Endemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Keshan Disease.

Keshan disease (KD) is an endemic cardiomyopathy with high mortality. Selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are closely related to KD. The molecular mechanism of KD pathogenesis is still unclear.

Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of articular cartilage reveals significant epigenetic alterations in Kashin-Beck disease and osteoarthritis.

Objective: To determine genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of knee cartilage from patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Method: Knee cartilage was collected from 14 grade III KBD patients, 5 primary OA patients and 13 healthy subjects. The genome-wide methylation profiles of 5 KBD cartilage, 5 OA cartilage and 5 normal cartilage were determined by Illumina HumanMethylation450 array.

The Toll-like receptor 4 antagonist TAK-242 protects against chronic pancreatitis in rats.

Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive disease characterized by irreversible morphological changes to the pancreas, typically causing pain and permanent loss of function. It is a poorly understood disease with the pathogenesis remaining unclear. The authors' previous data demonstrated that the inhibition of Toll‑like receptor 4 (TLR4) using TLR4 antagonist kinase (TAK)‑242 attenuates taurocholate‑induced oxidative stress via the regulation of mitochondrial function in the pancreatic acinar cells of mice.

Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 and hypoxia synergistically enhance chondrocytic phenotype and modify S100 protein profiles in human chondrosarcoma cells.

Articular chondrocytes are slowly dividing cells that tend to lose their cell type-specific phenotype and ability to produce structurally and functionally correct cartilage tissue when cultured. Thus, culture conditions, which enhance the maintenance of chondrocyte phenotype would be very useful for cartilage research. Here we show that Rho-kinase inhibition by Y-27632 under hypoxic conditions efficiently maintains and even enhances chondrocyte-specific extracellular matrix production by chondrocytic cells.

[Spatial distribution and clustering in birth defects from 2010 to 2013 in Shaanxi Province].

To explore the spatial distribution and clustering in birth defects from 2010 to 2013 in Shaanxi Province.
 Methods: Spatial distribution was used to describe the birth defects, while ordinary Kriging method was used to predict the status of birth defects in Shaanxi province. The spatial characteristics for the birth defects at the county/district level were analyzed by spatial autocorrelation.

Human mesenchymal stem cells secrete hyaluronan-coated extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by stem cells are potential factors mediating tissue regeneration. They travel from bone marrow stem cells into damaged tissues, suggesting that they can repair tissue injuries without directly replacing parenchymal cells. We have discovered that hyaluronan (HA) synthesis is associated with the shedding of HA-coated EVs.

Roles of Glycoproteins in the Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Chronic and Latent Keshan Disease.

We aimed to explore the roles of glycoproteins in the pathogenesis of chronic and latent Keshan disease (CKD and LKD), and screen the lectins as indicators of significant differences in glycoproteins of KD saliva and serum. Blood and saliva were collected from 50 CKD, 50 LKD patients and 54 normal individuals. Saliva and serum lectin microarrays and saliva and serum microarrays were used to screen and verify the differences in the levels of lectin among the three groups.

Reliability and validity of the 12-item WHODAS 2.0 in patients with Kashin-Beck disease.

The purpose of this study was to check the reliability and validity of the 12-item Chinese version of the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0) for the assessment of disability in patients with Kashin-Beck disease (KBD).

Scaffold-free approach produces neocartilage tissue of similar quality as the use of HyStem™ and Hydromatrix™ scaffolds.

Numerous biomaterials are being considered for cartilage tissue engineering, while scaffold-free systems have also been introduced. Thus, it is important to know do the scaffolds improve the formation of manufactured neocartilages. This study compares scaffold-free cultures to two scaffold-containing ones.

Effects of Articular Cartilage Constituents on Phosphotungstic Acid Enhanced Micro-Computed Tomography.

Contrast-enhanced micro-computed tomography (CEμCT) with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) has shown potential for detecting collagen distribution of articular cartilage. However, the selectivity of the PTA staining to articular cartilage constituents remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the dependence of PTA for the collagen content in bovine articular cartilage.

Structure-function analysis of DNA helicase HELQ: A new diagnostic marker in ovarian cancer.

It has been previously reported that a deficiency of the helicase, POLQ-like (HELQ) gene increases the risk of ovarian cancer. The present study aimed to explore the structure-function association of HELQ and discuss the effect of molecular structure on the occurrence of tumors. ExPASy tools were employed to analyze the physicochemical properties and secondary structure of the genes.

[Effect of air pollution on pregnancy outcome of women at reproductive age in Xi'an, 2010-2013].

To compare the differences in the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcome in different area, and confirm if the incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes is closely associated with air pollution. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the central urban area and the rural-urban area of Xi'an through a questionnaire survey conducted among the local reproductive women selected through multistage stratified random sampling during 2010-2013, all the reproductive women surveyed were in pregnancy or had definite pregnancy outcomes. The annual average of SO concentration in the central urban area was 38-54 μg/m, higher than that in the rural-urban area (29-43 μg/m).

Reliability and validity of the EQ-5D-3L for Kashin-Beck disease in China.

Background: Kashin-Beck Disease (KBD) is an endemic osteoarthropathy in areas which extend from the North-East to the South-West of China. Most of the patients with KBD suffer multiple dysfunctions in major joints causing decreased health status. However because of their low education level and unique living habits, it is hard to find tools to measure the health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Combined detection of serum CTX-II and COMP concentrations in osteoarthritis model rabbits: an effective technique for early diagnosis and estimation of disease severity.

Background: Early diagnosis of osteoarthritis (OA) is difficult. Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) and crosslinked C-telopeptides of type II collagen (CTX-II) are two markers which can potentially predict the destruction of articular cartilage of early OA. To comprehensively evaluate the diagnosis value of serum COMP and CTX-II markers in OA, the longitudinal and combined measurement of serum COMP and CTX-II were performed at different stages of pathological process of OA in adult rabbits with OA, compared with the sham-operated rabbits.

Curcumin ameliorates alveolar epithelial injury in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Aims: To investigate the effects of curcumin on alveolar epithelial injury in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its potential mechanism.

Main Methods: The rat COPD model was established by cigarette smoke exposure combined with intratracheal administration of lipopolysaccharide. Thirty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, COPD model, COPD with curcumin and COPD with solvent groups.

[Epidemiological study on adverse pregnancy outcomes in Shaanxi province].

To understand the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of adverse pregnancy outcome in Shaanxi province. General information of the study was derived from the prevalence and risk factors of birth defects in Shaanxi province in 2010-2013. Descriptive epidemiological method was used to analyze the data of adverse pregnancy outcome.

G-CSF improves CUMS-induced depressive behaviors through downregulating Ras/ERK/MAPK signaling pathway.

Neuronal plasticity in hippocampal neurons is closely related to memory, mood and behavior as well as in the development of depression. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) can promote neuronal plasticity and enhance motor skills. However, the function of G-CSF in depression remains poorly understood.

A combined experimental atomic force microscopy-based nanoindentation and computational modeling approach to unravel the key contributors to the time-dependent mechanical behavior of single cells.

Cellular responses to mechanical stimuli are influenced by the mechanical properties of cells and the surrounding tissue matrix. Cells exhibit viscoelastic behavior in response to an applied stress. This has been attributed to fluid flow-dependent and flow-independent mechanisms.

Elevation of IGFBP2 contributes to mycotoxin T-2-induced chondrocyte injury and metabolism.

Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) is an endemic degenerative osteoarthropathy. The mycotoxin of T-2 toxin is extensively accepted as a major etiological contributor to KBD. However, its function and mechanism in KBD remains unclearly elucidated.

Comparative analysis of gene expression profiles of hip articular cartilage between non-traumatic necrosis and osteoarthritis.

Hip cartilage destruction is consistently observed in the non-traumatic osteonecrosis of femoral head (NOFH) and accelerates its bone necrosis. The molecular mechanism underlying the cartilage damage of NOFH remains elusive. In this study, we conducted a systematically comparative study of gene expression profiles between NOFH and osteoarthritis (OA).

[Prenatal exposure to outdoor air pollution and preterm birth: a Meta-analysis].

Objective: To assess the association between exposure to prenatal outdoor air pollution and preterm birth to provide evidence in setting up programs for prevention on premature birth.

Methods: Case-control studies regarding association between pregnant exposure to outdoor air pollution and preterm birth were collected. Data were analyzed with Stata 12.

The roles of selenium, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 in the pathogenesis of Kashin-Beck disease.

We aimed to verify the levels of IGFBP2 and SOCS3 in cartilage and chondrocytes of Kashin-Beck disease (KBD) patients and the effects of different selenium concentrations on the protein expression levels. Chondrocytes were cultured with sodium selenite in vitro. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were used to verify the protein expressions.

Inhibition of MAPK signaling pathways enhances cell death induced by 5-Aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic therapy in skin squamous carcinoma cells.

Combination of a photosensitizer, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), with photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely used to treat skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). However, a portion of SCC patients do not respond well to PDT. The molecular reason for this resistance is not clear.

Prediction of Candidate Drugs for Treating Pancreatic Cancer by Using a Combined Approach.

Pancreatic cancer is the leading cause of death from solid malignancies worldwide. Currently, gemcitabine is the only drug approved for treating pancreatic cancer. Developing new therapeutic drugs for this disease is, therefore, an urgent need.