Echinoderm microtubule-associated protein -like protein 5 in anterior temporal neocortex of patients with intractable epilepsy.

Objectives: EMAP-like Protein 5 (EML5) is a new echinoderm microtubule-associated protein that is expressed in the central nervous system. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profile of EML5 in the anterior temporal neocortex of patients presenting with intractable epilepsy (IE).

Materials And Methods: Western blot assays were performed to determine EML5 expression in 36 surgically resected anterior temporal neocortices of patients with IE and eight control tissues.

Isoflavone Attenuates the Caspase-1 and Caspase-3 Level in Cell Model of Parkinsonism.

The study has investigated the effect of isoflavone attenuates the caspase-1 and caspase-3 level in cell model of Parkinsonism. The subjects were PC12 cells. They were randomly divided into six groups: control, MPP(+) (250 μmol/L), isoflavone (10 μM), isoflavone (10 μM) + MPP(+) (250 μmol/L), Z-YVAD-CHO (10 nM) + MPP(+) group, and Z-DEVD-CHO (10 nM) + MPP(+) group.

RNA-sequencing based identification of crucial genes for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Aims: To identify key genes and pathways in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma with RNA-seq data.

Materials And Methods: RNA-seq data including three paired samples were downloaded from Sequence Read Archive database under accession number SRP007169 and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified with package edge R of R. Functional enrichment analysis was performed to uncover their biological functions with the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) tools.

In vitro studies of phenethyl isothiocyanate against the growth of LN229 human glioma cells.

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is one of the best studied members of isothiocyanates (ITC), a variety of edible cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, watercress, and cabbage, and have generated particular interest because of its remarkable chemopreventive activity. Many literature reports proved that phenethyl isothiocyanate exhibited significant anti-cancer chemopreventive effects including lung, glioma and leukemia cancer. In this study, we explored the inhibitory effects as well as mechanisms of PEITC on human glioma LN229 cells.

Osthole suppresses the proliferation and accelerates the apoptosis of human glioma cells via the upregulation of microRNA-16 and downregulation of MMP-9.

Osthole (7-methoxy-8-isoamyl alkenyl coumarin) has been reported to exhibit marked anticancer effects on several types of cancer. The expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are closely associated with the pathogenesis of glioma. Furthermore, it is reported that the upregulation of microRNA‑16 (miR‑16) by the MMP‑9 signaling pathway can restrain the proliferation of cancer cells.

Effect of Carotid Artery Stenting on Cognitive Function in Patients with Internal Carotid Artery Stenosis and Cerebral Lacunar Infarction: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study in China.

Background And Objectives: Carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an important therapeutic strategy for patients with carotid artery stenosis. However, the potential influence of CAS on cognitive function in patients with carotid artery stenosis and cerebral lacunar infarction has not been determined. This study investigated changes in cognitive function associated with CAS and the factors related to these changes.

Visible Thrombolysis Acceleration of a Nanomachine Powered by Light-Driving F0F1-ATPase Motor.

We report on thrombolysis acceleration of a nanomachine powered by light-driving δ-subunit-free F0F1-ATPase motor. It is composed of a mechanical device, locating device, energy storage device, and propeller. The rotory δ-subunit-free F0F1-ATPase motor acts as a mechanical device, which was obtained by reconstructing an original chromatophore extracted from Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Associations between biomarkers of renal function with cerebral microbleeds in hypertensive patients.

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) have been observed in the elderly and have been regarded as a manifestation of small vessel disease (SVD). Cerebral and glomerular SVD may have a common source of pathogenesis because these organs are closely connected through anatomic and hemodynamic similarities. The purpose of this study was to clarify the associations between kidney biomarker levels and CMBs in hypertensive patients.

Expression of angiogenesis regulatory proteins and epithelial-mesenchymal transition factors in platelets of the breast cancer patients.

Platelets play a role in tumor angiogenesis and growth and are the main transporters of several angiogenesis regulators. Here, we aimed to determine the levels of angiogenesis regulators and epithelial-mesenchymal transition factors sequestered by circulating platelets in breast cancer patients and age-matched healthy controls. Platelet pellets (PP) and platelet-poor plasma (PPP) were collected by routine protocols.

Age trend of the male to female sex ratio in surgical gastric cancer patients at a single institution.

Background: In previous reports concerning the association between sex disparity and age, gastric cancer (GC) patients were simply divided into younger and older groups by age. We analyzed the age trend of the male to female sex ratio (MFSR) in GC based on patient sequential age in order to observe the changing process of MFSR with age.

Methods: One thousand seven hundred fifty-one surgical gastric adenocarcinoma patients aged 26 to 85 years were investigated between January 1996 and December 2010.

Clinical therapeutic effects of AO/ASIF clavicle hook plate on distal clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular joint dislocations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the security and effectiveness of AO/ASIF clavicle hook plate in the treatment of distal clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular joint dislocations.

Methods: One hundred patients with distal clavicle fractures and acromioclavicular joint dislocations who were admitted in our hospital from January 2012 to January 2013 were selected as the study subjects. They were then randomly divided into a control group and an observation group (n=50).

Protective Effect of Polysaccharides from Inonotus obliquus on Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Symptoms and Their Potential Mechanisms in Rats.

The present study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of polysaccharides from Inonotus obliquus (PIO) on streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic symptoms and their potential mechanisms. The effect of PIO on body weight, blood glucose, damaged pancreatic β-cells, oxidative stresses, proinflammatory cytokines, and glucose metabolizing enzymes in liver was studied. The results show that administration of PIO can restore abnormal oxidative indices near normal levels.

Value of multi-detector computed tomography angiography in predicting acute cardiac events in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the predictive value of multi-detector computed tomography angiography (MDCTA) on acute coronary artery events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MDCTA was performed in 150 patients with T2DM (males, 74; mean age, 66±6.7 years for all patients) that had experienced atypical chest pains.

Aberrant promoter methylation and silencing of RASSF2A gene in cervical cancer.

Aim: Ras association domain family (RASSF)2A as a negative effector of Ras protein is inactivated by promoter hypermethylation in many cancers. This study evaluated the methylation status of RASSF2A in cervical cancer (CC) and its correlation with clinicopathological characteristics.

Methods: Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were utilized to analyze the methylation status and RASSF2A mRNA expression in four CC cell lines and tissue samples from 25 normal controls and 46 CC patients.

Postural sway in idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: a potential marker of prodromal Parkinson's disease.

There is compelling evidence that postural instability occurs at very early clinical stages of Parkinson's disease (PD), making it tempting to speculate that changes in postural sway may even occur at a prodromal phase. Studies estimate that approximately half of patients with idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) will eventually develop PD, so RBD may be an indicator of prodromal PD. This study was undertaken to investigate postural sway and its relation to stereopsis function in patients with RBD.

Totally thoracoscopic closure of ventricular septal defect without a robotically assisted surgical system: a summary of 119 cases.

Objectives: To summarize the clinical outcomes of totally thoracoscopic closure of a ventricular septal defect (VSD).

Methods: Totally thoracoscopic VSD closure was performed in 119 patients (66 boys; mean age, 7.1 ± 3.

Nurses' knowledge and attitudes on comfort nursing care for hospitalized patients.

To investigate the knowledge and attitudes of practicing nurses on comfort care for hospitalized patients, a survey was conducted in 311 registered nurses from a major teaching hospital. A total of 212 (68.1%) of the participants showed an adequate knowledge of comfort care.

Rare saccular aneurysm in a medial type persistent trigeminal artery trunk and literature review.

Purpose: We report an extremely rare case of saccular aneurysm in the left medial type persistent trigeminal artery (PTA) trunk and discuss its clinical importance.

Materials And Methods: A 77-year-old woman who had symptom suggestive of vertebrobasilar insufficiency underwent cerebral magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and non-contrast three dimensional time-of-flight MR angiography (3D TOF MRA) using a 3 T scanner.

Results: 3D TOF MRA images revealed a left medial type PTA originated from the left internal carotid artery C5 portion, through cavernous sinus and connected to the basilar artery with a saccular aneurysm in the mid portion of its trunk.

Persistent trigeminal artery/persistent trigeminal artery variant and coexisting variants of the head and neck vessels diagnosed using 3 T MRA.

Aim: To report the prevalence and characteristic features of persistent trigeminal artery (PTA), PTA variant (PTAV), and other variants of the head and neck vessels, identified using magnetic resonance angiography (MRA).

Materials And Methods: The three-dimensional (3D) time of flight (TOF) MRA and 3D contrast-enhanced (CE) MRA images of 6095 consecutive patients who underwent 3 T MRA at Liaocheng People's Hospital from 1 September 2008 through 31 May 2012 were retrospectively reviewed and analysed. Thirty-two patients were excluded because of suboptimal image quality or internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for peripartum cardiomyopathy.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a potentially fatal form of heart failure and the recognition of its risk factors is important for prevention and treatment.

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics and the risk factors for PPCM.

Methods: Echocardiographic was used to examine the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Diaphragm valves reduce gastroesophageal reflux following cardiomyotomy for patients with achalasia.

Background: This study was designed to investigate the effect of a novel surgical method on cardia sphincter function and complication rates after Heller's cardiomyotomy for patients with achalasia.

Methods: Forty-eight patients (19 males, mean age 34.0 +/- 10.

Factors influencing the prognosis of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Background And Aims: The outcome of surgical treatment of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is poor. This study was designed to analyze prognostic factors following surgical treatment for ICC.

Patients And Methods: A structured telephone interview was conducted in 132 patients who were surgically treated for ICC.

Effect of preoperational mechanical ventilation on short-term postoperative outcomes in patients with severe tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: This study is designed to investigate the effect of preoperational mechanical ventilation on the short-term postoperative outcomes following corrective surgery for severe tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).

Methods: Ninety-two patients (58 males, mean age 20.5±8.

Effect of stenting on patients with chronic internal carotid artery occlusion.

Aim: Effects of carotid artery stenting (CAS) on patients with chronic internal carotid artery occlusion are unknown.

Methods: This study included 21 patients who underwent successful CAS treatment and 41 patients who received optimal medical therapy. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and cardiocerebral vascular events were compared between CAS and medical therapy group.