Improving the biotransformation efficiency of soybean phytosterols in by the combined deletion of and in cell envelope synthesis.

Biotransformation of soybean phytosterols into 9-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (9-OHAD) by mycobacteria is the core step in the synthesis of adrenocortical hormone. However, the low permeability of the dense cell envelope largely inhibits the overall conversion efficiency of phytosterols. The antigen 85 (Ag85) complex encoded by , , and was proposed as the key factor in the combined catalysis of mycoloyl for producing mycolyl-arabinogalactan (m-AG) and trehalose dimycolate (TDM) in mycobacterial cell envelope.

Stroke risk and its association with quality of life: a cross-sectional study among Chinese urban adults.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide. Most stroke risk studies focused on more established biological and pathophysiological risk factors such as hypertension and smoking, psychosocial factors such as quality of life are often under-investigated and thus less reported. The current study aims to estimate stroke risk and explore the impact of quality of life on stroke risk among a community sample of urban residents in Shanghai.

ICAM-1-carrying targeted nano contrast agent for evaluating inflammatory injury in rabbits with atherosclerosis.

To investigate the feasibility of using ICAM-1-targeted nano ultrasonic contrast to evaluate the degree of inflammatory injury at different stages in the abdominal aorta of rabbits with atherosclerosis (AS). Twenty-five experimental rabbits were assigned to five groups: the control group (A); the week-4 after modeling group (B); the week-8 after modeling group (C); the week-12 after modeling group (D); the week-16 after modeling group (E). All groups were given 2D ultrasonography, conventional ultrasonic contrast (SonoVue), and ICAM-1-targeted nano ultrasonic contrast, respectively.

A Novel Combined DNA Vaccine Encoding Toxoplasma gondii SAG1 and ROP18 Provokes Protective Immunity Against a Lethal Challenge in Mice.

Purpose: Antigens expressed by Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) during its life cycle trigger various immune responses in the host. Recently, toxoplasma vaccine research focused on T.

Hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced upregulation of miRNA-542-5p aggravated cardiomyocyte injury by repressing autophagy.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) and autophagy exert an important role in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced cardiomyocyte injury. The current study aimed to explore the role of miRNA and autophagy in H/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury. Cardiomyocyte H9c2 was exposed to H/R to simulate H/R injury in vitro.

Improving the biotransformation of phytosterols to 9α-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione by deleting embC associated with the assembly of cell envelope in Mycobacterium neoaurum.

The conversion of low value-added phytosterols into 9α-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (9-OHAD) by mycobacteria is an important step in the steroid pharmaceutical industry. However, the highly dense cell envelope with extremely low permeability largely affects the overall transformation efficiency. Here, we preliminarily located the key gene embC required for the synthesis of lipoarabinomannan from lipomannan in Mycobacterium neoaurum.

Novel small-insertion mutation in the LIPH gene in a patient with autosomal recessive woolly hair/hypotrichosis.

Autosomal recessive woolly hair/hypotrichosis (ARWH/H) is a rare form of congenital alopecia, which can be caused by mutations in lipase H (LIPH), lysophosphatidic acid receptor 6 (LPAR6/P2RY5) or keratin 25 (KRT25) genes. We present a 32-year-old woman with typical clinical features of ARWH. Hair microscopy was performed to observe differences between the patient's hair and a normal sample.

Role of shear wave elastography in the evaluation of the treatment and prognosis of supraspinatus tendinitis.

Background: Supraspinatus tendinitis recurs easily after treatment. One of the main reasons is the lack of objective tools for the efficacy evaluation. Shear wave elastography (SWE) can quantitatively analyze the tissue elasticity of region of interest by measuring the Young's modulus (YM) value.

XPD inhibits cell growth and invasion and enhances chemosensitivity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a lethal disease due to its high aggressiveness. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group D (XPD) in the growth and invasion of ESCC and to elucidate the potential underlying molecular mechanisms. Western blot analysis and RT‑qPCR were used to detect the expression level of XPD in ESCC tissue samples and adjacent normal esophageal tissue samples.

Correlations of PCNA expression with thyroid cancer ultrasound and histopathologic features.

Objective: To investigate the correlations of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) gene expression with thyroid cancer (TC) ultrasound (US) features, histopathology and clinical stage.

Methods: A total of 66 TC patients admitted and treated in the Department of Oncology of our hospital from April 2014 to April 2018 were enrolled randomly. The conventional US imaging data of the patients were collected.

Preclinical development of a novel CD47 nanobody with less toxicity and enhanced anti-cancer therapeutic potential.

Background: CD47, the integrin-related protein, plays an important role in immune resistance and escape of tumor cells. Antibodies blocking the CD47/SIRPα signal pathway can effectively stimulate macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of tumor cells, which becomes a promising approach for tumor immunotherapy. Nanobodies (Nbs) derived from camelid animals are emerging as a new force in antibody therapy.

Type 2 myocardial infarction among critically ill elderly patients in the Intensive Care Unit: the clinical features and in-hospital prognosis.

Background: Type 2 myocardial infarction (T2MI) refers to myocardial ischemic necrosis as a result of myocardial oxygen supply/demand mismatch, which are common comorbidities of critically ill patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence rate and risks of T2MI in critically ill elderly patients and further elucidate in-hospital prognostic factors.

Methods: A total of 223 critically ill elderly patients admitted to our hospital from October 2016 to September 2018 were recruited.

High immunoglobulin E level is associated with increased readmission in children with bronchopneumonia.

Background: Increased immunoglobulin E (IgE) is associated with lower respiratory tract infections. The study aimed to evaluate the association between IgE and the rate of bronchopneumonia-related readmission within 12 months in children.

Methods: A total of 1099 children aged over 1 year with bronchopneumonia, from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2016, were enrolled.

Hypofractionated radiotherapy as a salvage treatment for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma with inferior vena cava/right atrium tumor thrombus: a multi-center analysis.

Background: Recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a tumor thrombus (TT) extending into the inferior vena cava (IVC)/right atrium (RA) is generally regarded as a terminal-stage condition and there is no worldwide consensus on the proper management of this situation. In the present study, we report the efficacy of hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) as a salvage treatment for recurrent HCC with IVC/RA TT.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 75 HCC patients with an IVC/RA TT who were referred for HFRT at three institutions between 2008 and 2016.

Poor short-term glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes impairs the intestinal mucosal barrier: a prospective, single-center, observational study.

Background: To determine the relation between daily glycemic fluturation and the intestinal mucosal barrier dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Totally 66 patients with T2DM were enrolled, 33 healthy volunteers were also recruited according to the enrolled patients' gender and age in a ratio of 2: 1. Patients were bisected by the median of endotoxins level into low(< 12.

Retinoic Acid-Related Orphan Receptor C Regulates Proliferation, Glycolysis, and Chemoresistance via the PD-L1/ITGB6/STAT3 Signaling Axis in Bladder Cancer.

Retinoic acid-related orphan receptor C (RORC) is a member of the nuclear orphan receptor family and performs critical regulatory functions in cell proliferation, metastasis, and chemoresistance in various types of malignant tumors. Here we showed that expression of RORC is lost in tumor tissues of bladder cancer patients. Enhanced expression of RORC suppressed cell proliferation and glucose metabolism and increased cisplatin-induced apoptosis and .

Astragalus saponins inhibit cell growth, aerobic glycolysis and attenuate the inflammatory response in a DSS-induced colitis model.

Recent studies have reported that Astragalus saponins (AST), extracted from the medicinal plant Astragalus membranaceus, possess anti‑tumor and apoptosis‑inducing abilities on various types of human cancer in vitro and in vivo. However, limited studies have explored how AST impacts glucose metabolism and growth conditions in vitro. The present study aimed to explore cell growth, proliferation, apoptosis and a series of glycolysis metabolic alterations associated with AST treatment in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.

Treatment of colon cancer in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report.

Background: Gastrointestinal symptoms occur in approximately 50% of patients with systemic lupus erythematous with low specificity. Although it is well established that colon cancer is one of the many gastrointestinal manifestations associated with systemic lupus erythematous, the diagnosis and treatment remains complex due to adrenal insufficiency symptoms.

Case Presentation: A 43-year-old Chinese woman with a five-year history of systemic lupus erythematous was diagnosed with colon cancer based on imaging test.

Genetic analysis of the Vitamin D receptor start codon polymorphism (FokI) in cervical vertebra and lumbar spine pathologies: a meta-analysis.

Background: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) FokI polymorphism has been reported to influence the risk of spinal diseases. However, several studies suggest inconsistent results. Therefore, we performed this analysis to reveal the accurate relationship between VDR FokI polymorphism and spinal diseases.