Single-chain fragment antibody disrupting the EphA4 function as a therapeutic drug for gastric cancer.

Studies have shown that the high expression of EphA4 in gastric cancer tissues may correlate with unfavorable clinical pathological characteristics. Therefore, EphA4 may be an effective target for treating gastric cancer in addition to HER-2/neu. In this study, generated scFv S3 can bind endogenous EphA4 of gastric cancer cells and has significant membrane staining.

Comparison between linear regression and four different machine learning methods in selecting risk factors for osteoporosis in a Chinese female aged cohort.

Background: Population aging is emerging as an increasingly acute challenge for countries around the world. One particular manifestation of this phenomenon is the impact of osteoporosis on individuals and national health systems. Previous studies of risk factors for osteoporosis were conducted using traditional statistical methods, but more recent efforts have turned to machine learning approaches.

Effect of Arsenate and p-Phenylenediamine on the Expression of Aquaporins in Cultured Human Urothelial Cells.

Background: Exposure to arsenic (As) or ‑phenylenediamine (PPD) can lead to dysfunction, or even cancer, in various types of organs, including the urinary bladder, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Aquaporins (AQPs) are widely expressed small water channel proteins that provide the major route for the transport of water and other small molecules across plasma membranes in diverse cell types. Altered expression of AQPs has been associated with pathologies in all major organs, including the urinary bladder.

Salmonella inhibits tumor metastasis by downregulating epithelial cell adhesion molecules through the protein kinase-B/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway.

Epithelial cell adhesion molecules (EpCAM) are highly expressed in many carcinomas and regulate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which is required for tumor metastasis. Furthermore, EpCAM overexpression induces tumor cells to develop a stem cell-like phenotype and promotes tumor progression. Targeting EpCAM may be a promising approach for inhibiting tumor metastasis and progression.

A Low-Cost, Sensitive Reporter System Using Membrane-Tethered Horseradish Peroxidase for Efficient Gene Expression Analysis.

Reporter gene assays are essential for high-throughput analysis, such as drug screening or determining downstream signaling activation/inhibition. However, use of this technology has been hampered by the high cost of the substrate (e.g.

Dual-probe ligation without PCR for fluorescent sandwich assay of EGFR nucleotide variants in magnetic gene capture platform.

A simple, rapid, and highly efficient fluorescent detection technique without PCR through dual-probe ligation with the genetic capture of magnetic beads and reported probe was developed for determination of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene exon 19 deletions. The EGFR exon 19 deletion mutation makes up 48% of all mutations associated with anti-tyrosine kinase inhibition sensitivity, and thus, the EGFR nucleotide variant is very important in clinical diagnosis. In this approach, the dual-probe ligation was designed to target exon 19 deletion.

Oral Administration of Protease-Soluble Chicken Type II Collagen Ameliorates Anterior Cruciate Ligament Transection-Induced Osteoarthritis in Rats.

This study investigated whether oral supplementation with protease-soluble chicken type II collagen (PSCC-II) mitigates the progression of anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT)-induced osteoarthritis (OA) in rats. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: control, sham, ACLT, group A (ACLT + pepsin-soluble collagen type II collagen (C-II) with type I collagen), group B (ACLT + Amano M-soluble C-II with type I collagen), group C (ACLT + high-dose Amano M-soluble C-II with type I collagen), and group D (ACLT + unproteolyzed C-II). Various methods were employed to analyze the knee joint: nociceptive tests, microcomputed tomography, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry.

Eplerenone improves hyperglycemia and sympathetic excitation in chronic renocardiac syndrome in rats.

We aimed to assess the efficacy of eplerenone, a steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist known to reduce blood pressure and mitigate cardiovascular disease (CVD) progression, in retarding the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and CVD in a rat model of type 4 cardiorenal syndrome (CRS). We grouped rats into four experimental categories: sham surgery, sham treatment with eplerenone, nephrectomy without eplerenone (Nx), and nephrectomy with eplerenone (Nx + EP). For the Nx + EP group, rats received five-sixths nephrectomy, inducing CKD and CVD conditions such as renal hypertension and hyperglycemia, and were then treated with eplerenone (100 mg/kg/day, orally) over 4 weeks after an initial 4-week observation period.

An Innovative Biofunctional Composite Hydrogel with Enhanced Printability, Rheological Properties, and Structural Integrity for Cell Scaffold Applications.

The present study was conducted to manipulate various biomaterials to find potential hydrogel formulations through three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting fabrication for tissue repair, reconstruction, or regeneration. The hydrogels were prepared using sodium alginate and gelatin combined with different concentrations of Pluronic F127 (6% (3 g), 8% (4 g), and 10% (5 g)) and were marked as AGF-6%, AGF-8%, and AGF-10%, respectively. The properties of the hydrogels were investigated using a contact angle goniometer, rheometer, and 3D bioprinter.

Preparing Well for Esophageal Endoscopic Detection Using a Hybrid Model and Transfer Learning.

Early detection of esophageal cancer through endoscopic imaging is pivotal for effective treatment. However, the intricacies of endoscopic diagnosis, contingent on the physician's expertise, pose challenges. Esophageal cancer features often manifest ambiguously, leading to potential confusions with other inflammatory esophageal conditions, thereby complicating diagnostic accuracy.

Suppression of TGFβ-Induced Interleukin-6 Secretion by Sinulariolide from Soft Corals through Attenuation of the p38-NF-kB Pathway in Carcinoma Cells.

Sinulariolide (SC-1) is a natural product extracted from the cultured-type soft coral and possesses anti-inflammation, anti-proliferative, and anti-migratory in several types of cancer cells. However, the molecular pathway behind its effects on inflammation remains poorly understood. Since inflammatory cytokines such as TGFβ, TNFα, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8 activate transcription factors such as Smads, NF-κB, STAT3, Snail, Twist, and Zeb that drive the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in this study, we focus on the investigation in effects of SC-1 on TGFβ-induced interleukin-6 (IL-6) releases in an in vitro cell culture model.

Detection of Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy via Hyperspectral and Deep Learning through Ophthalmoscope Images.

Hydroxychloroquine, also known as quinine, is primarily utilized to manage various autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Sjogren's syndrome. However, this drug has side effects, including diarrhea, blurred vision, headache, skin itching, poor appetite, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Blurred vision is caused by irreversible retinal damages and can only be mitigated by reducing hydroxychloroquine dosage or discontinuing the drug under a physician's supervision.

Manoalide Induces Intrinsic Apoptosis by Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Human Osteosarcoma Cells.

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor that produces immature osteoid. Metastatic OS has a poor prognosis with a death rate of >70%. Manoalide is a natural sesterterpenoid isolated from marine sponges.

The Presence of Diabetes Mellitus or Pre-diabetes Mellitus Increases Mortality from Heart Disease in a Taiwanese Population: A 10-year Follow-Up Study.

Background: We evaluated hyperglycemia-associated mortality in the Taiwanese population by conducting a 10-year retrospective cohort study.

Methods: From 2007 to 2017, all participants, regardless of their age or underlying diseases, were identified at a Health Screening Center in Taiwan. Overall, 114,534 participants were included in the analysis.

G Tolerance Prediction Model Using Mobile Device-Measured Cardiac Force Index for Military Aircrew: Observational Study.

Background: During flight, G force compels blood to stay in leg muscles and reduces blood flow to the heart. Cardiovascular responses activated by the autonomic nerve system and strengthened by anti-G straining maneuvers can alleviate the challenges faced during G loading. To our knowledge, no definite cardiac information measured using a mobile health device exists for analyzing G tolerance.

Percutaneous transhepatic duodenal drainage is good option for afferent loop syndrome for obstructive colorectal cancer patient with history of Billroth's operation II: A case report of a rare postoperative complication.

Key Clinical Message: Temporal percutaneous transhepatic duodenum drainage (PTDD) seems to be effective in the treatment of postoperative afferent loop syndrome (ALS) following transverse loop colostomy for obstructive colorectal cancer.

Abstract: Management of obstructive colorectal cancer still remains a challenge. There are various options with different risks of mortality and mobility for obstructive colorectal cancer.

[Practice Barriers for Nurse Practitioners in Rural Hospitals].

Background: Nurse practitioners (NPs) are regarded as part of the primary healthcare professional team in rural hospitals, which often faced difficulties in hiring doctors. Only a few studies have been conducted that assess the barriers to practice for NPs in rural hospitals in Taiwan.

Purpose: This study was designed to explore the barriers of practice for NPs working in rural hospitals.

Aging Affects Insulin Resistance, Insulin Secretion, and Glucose Effectiveness in Subjects with Normal Blood Glucose and Body Weight.

Aim: Several studies have demonstrated that factors including diabetes, including insulin resistance (IR), glucose effectiveness (GE), and the first and second phase of insulin secretion (FPIS, SPIS) could easily be calculated using basic characteristics and biochemistry profiles. Aging is accompanied by deteriorations of insulin resistance (IR) and insulin secretion. However, little is known about the roles of aging in the different phases of insulin secretion (ISEC), i.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Alginate-Based Nanogels as Sustained Drug Carriers for Caffeine.

The objective of this study is to design a polymeric network of nanogels for sustained release of caffeine. Therefore, alginate-based nanogels were fabricated by a free-radical polymerization technique for the sustained delivery of caffeine. Polymer alginate was crosslinked with monomer 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid by crosslinker ','-methylene bisacrylamide.

Coexistence of urinary tuberculosis and urothelial carcinoma: A case report.

Background: Taiwan has a high prevalence of tuberculosis and urothelial carcinoma. However, the simultaneous occurrence of both disorders in one patient is uncommon. Tuberculosis and urothelial carcinoma share some common risk factors and could demonstrate overlapping clinical manifestations.