Age-related morphological change in bony segment and cartilage segment of Eustachian tube.

Background: Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) is the predominant cause of otitis media with effusion in children and adults. Balloon dilatation of the Eustachian tube (BDET) provides a new method for restoring the ventilatory function of Eustachian tube (ET). However, the differences in age-related morphological changes in the dimensions and positions of ET in children and adults are unclear.

Fever of unknown origin characterized by acute kidney injury and nephrotic syndrome diagnosed as intravascular large B-cell lymphoma of kidney: case report and literature review.

A 60-year-old Chinese female patient was admitted to the hospital with complaint of intermittent fever for more than seven months. The main clinical manifestations were acute kidney injury and nephrotic syndrome which developed into a hemophagocytic syndrome. The symptoms did not improve with antibiotics.

IFN-α facilitates the effect of sorafenib via shifting the M2-like polarization of TAM in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and how they are activated play critical roles in tumor progression and metastasis, and in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), they are associated with sorafenib resistance. Reprogramming of TAMs into M1-like macrophages has been proposed as an approach to stimulate tumor regression. Here we studied the collective effects of interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and sorafenib on HCC.

Body-Integrated, Enzyme-Triggered Degradable, Silk-Based Mechanical Sensors for Customized Health/Fitness Monitoring and In Situ Treatment.

Mechanical signals such as pressure and strain reflect important psychological and physiological states of the human body. Body-integrated sensors, including skin-mounted and surgically implanted ones, allow personalized health monitoring for the general population as well as patients. However, the development of such measuring devices has been hindered by the strict requirements for human-biocompatible materials and the need for high performance sensors; most existing devices or sensors do not meet all the desired specifications.

MiR-499a suppresses LPS-induced human vascular endothelial cell inflammatory response and apoptosis by regulating STAT1.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been revealed to be involved in dysfunction and inflammatory conditions of vascular endothelial cells (ECs). However, the role of miR-499a in inflammatory responses and apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) remains unclear. The expression of miR-499a and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) was analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction or western blot assay, respectively.

Inflammatory Smooth Muscle Cells Induce Endothelial Cell Alterations to Influence Cerebral Aneurysm Progression via Regulation of Integrin and VEGF Expression.

Cerebral aneurysm growth is characterized by vessel wall frailness, although the underlying cellular mechanisms are unclear. Here, we examined the relationship between inflammatory smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) in cerebral aneurysms, including the mechanisms underlying inflammatory SMC-induced changes in ECs. Five saccular cerebral aneurysms were collected and five temporal artery samples were used as controls.

Development of tungsten bronze nanorods for redox-enhanced photoacoustic imaging-guided photothermal therapy of tumors.

Although various kinds of nanomaterials have been used as anticancer theranostics by exploiting the tumor microenvironment, relatively few nanomaterials can be efficiently activated by the tumor redox status for imaging and therapy. Oxygen-deficient tungsten-based oxides or bronzes are appearing as new classes of near-infrared (NIR)-responsive nanomaterials due to their unique properties such as tunable and broad NIR absorption. Herein, we synthesized PEG-Na WO nanorods (NRs) by a simple thermal decomposition method and investigated their redox-activated performance for enhanced photoacoustic (PA) imaging and photothermal therapy (PTT) of cancers.

Influence of biological scaffold regulation on the proliferation of chondrocytes and the repair of articular cartilage.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of hard tissue engineering scaffold (the material is β-TCP) with different micro-structures on the proliferation of chondrocytes, and the influence of its composite erythrocytes on the repair of articular cartilage defects.

Methods: Rabbit cartilage cells were on β-TCP bioceramic scaffold with different micro-structures in vitro, the proliferation growth trend of chondrocytes within the scaffold was calculated, and a optimal micro-structure suitable for cartilage cell growth was determined. Composite chondrocytes were implanted into rabbit models of articular cartilage defects, and the repair situation was observed.

Effect of prostaglandin reductase 1 (PTGR1) on gastric carcinoma using lentivirus-mediated system.

Gastric carcinoma is a digestive related malignant tumor with poor diagnosis and prognosis for advanced patients. PTGR1 (prostaglandin reductase 1), as a potential cancer biomarker, has not been reported in gastric carcinoma occurrence. To investigate the role of PTGR1 on gastric carcinoma cells, human PTGR1 was efficiently silenced by lentivirus-mediated system in MGC-803 cells confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot.

Outflow facility efficacy of five drugs in enucleated porcine eyes by a method of constant-pressure perfusion.

This study aimed to characterize a technique that assesses the outflow facility (C) efficacy of five kinds of IOP-lowering drugs commonly used clinically in enucleated porcine Eyes. Eyes were perfused at 15 mmHg with GPBS first to establish the baseline outflow facility (C0). Then the anterior chamber contents were exchanged for GPBS with corresponding concentration eye drops (4.