High Glucose and Lipopolysaccharide Prime NLRP3 Inflammasome via ROS/TXNIP Pathway in Mesangial Cells.

While inflammation is considered a central component in the development in diabetic nephropathy, the mechanism remains unclear. The NLRP3 inflammasome acts as both a sensor and a regulator of the inflammatory response. The NLRP3 inflammasome responds to exogenous and endogenous danger signals, resulting in cleavage of procaspase-1 and activation of cytokines IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-33, ultimately triggering an inflammatory cascade reaction.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 and kidney fibrosis in diabetes.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause of end-stage kidney disease worldwide and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Recent evidence revealed that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors may exhibit a protective effect against DN. In fact, the kidney is the organ where the DPP-4 activity is the highest level per organ weight.

Elevated Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Free Fatty Acid Levels Are Associated with Unfavorable Functional Outcome in Subjects with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) free fatty acid (FFA) levels in a cohort of patients with an acute ischemic stroke (AIS). In a prospective study, FFA levels were measured using an enzyme cycling method on admission in serum and CSF of 252 consecutive patients with AIS. The prognostic value of FFA to predict the functional outcome and mortality within 90-day was compared with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score and with other known outcome predictors.

Angiomyolipoma of the rib: A rare case report.

Angiomyolipoma is a benign mesenchymal tumor, most commonly arising from the kidney. With the exception of the liver, extrarenal angiomyolipoma is an infrequent entity that may be misdiagnosed as other tumors. Angiomyolipoma occurring in the skeleton is an extremely rare occurrence and often difficult to differentiate from other bone diseases.

Associations of 6p21.3 Region with Age-related Macular Degeneration and Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy.

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) are leading causes of blindness in aging populations. This study was conducted to investigate the associations of chromosome 6p21.3 region, including CFB-SKIV2L-TNXB-FKBPL-NOTCH4 genes, with both neovascular AMD and PCV.

Combined implant-residual tooth supported prosthesis after tooth hemisection: A finite element analysis.

Tooth hemisection preserves partial tooth structure and reduces the resorption of alveolar bone. The aim of this study was to analyze the feasibility of preserving a molar after hemisection and inserting a dental implant with different prosthetic superstructures by means of finite element analysis. First, the distance between the root of the mandibular second premolar and the distal root of the first molar were measured in 80 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data sets.

Association between the change in body mass index from early adulthood to midlife and subsequent type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: To clarify the quantitative relationship of body mass index (BMI) change from early adulthood to midlife with presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after midlife.

Methods: This study included 120,666 middle-aged and elderly, whose retrospectively self-reported body weight at 20 and 40 years and measured height were available. BMI at 20 and 40 years and BMI change in between were defined as early-adulthood BMI, midlife BMI, and early-adulthood BMI change.

Efficacy and safety of empagliflozin as add-on to metformin for type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of empagliflozin (EMPA) as add-on to metformin (MET) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Medline, OVID, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials of EMPA as add-on to MET for T2DM were included.

Platelet proteomics in diagnostic differentiation of primary immune thrombocytopenia using SELDI-TOF-MS.

Background: Primary immune thrombocytopenic purpura (pITP) is defined as isolated autoimmune thrombocytopenia with idiopathic low platelet count, normal bone marrow, and unexplained causes of thrombocytopenia. Currently there is no definite criterion for ITP diagnosis.

Methods: We conducted proteomic screen of patients with pITP, secondary immune thrombocytopenia (sITP), and healthy controls using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS).

[Relationship between serum cystatin-C levels and vibrating perception threshold in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Objective: To explore the relationship between serum cystatin-C (Cys-c) levels and vibrating perception threshold (VPT) in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).


Methods: According to the symptoms, signs and results of lab examination, a total of 352 patients with T2DM were divided into a diabetic peripheral neuropathy group (DPN group, n=107) and a non-diabetic peripheral neuropathy group (NDPN group, n=245). Serum Cys-c levels were measured by radioimmunoassay method.

miR-485-5p acts as a negative regulator in gastric cancer progression by targeting flotillin-1.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in cancer progression including gastric cancer. miR-485-5p is reported as a potential suppressor in breast cancer, but its expression, cellular function and clinic features in gastric cancer is not known. In our study, we found that miR-485-5p expression was down-regulated in gastric cancer cell lines.

Association of cytokine gene polymorphisms (IL‑6, IL‑12B, IL‑18) with Behcet's disease : A meta-analysis.

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the association of cytokine gene polymorphisms with the risk of Behcet's disease (BD) via comprehensive meta-analysis.

Methods: The Embase and PubMed databases covering the period from the earliest possible year to May 2015 were searched. A total of 13 eligible articles including 2,065 BD patients and 1,559 controls were recruited.

Overexpression of the long noncoding RNA TUG1 protects against cold-induced injury of mouse livers by inhibiting apoptosis and inflammation.

Unlabelled: Hepatic injury provoked by cold storage is a major problem affecting liver transplantation, as exposure to cold induces apoptosis in hepatic tissues. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are increasingly understood to regulate apoptosis, but the contribution of lncRNAs to cold-induced liver injury remains unknown. Using RNA-seq, we determined the differential lncRNA expression profile in mouse livers after cold storage and found that expression of the lncRNA TUG1 was significantly down-regulated.

MiR-613 induces cell cycle arrest by targeting CDK4 in non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Deregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) has been associated with a variety of cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we investigated anomalous miR-613 expression and its possible functional consequences in primary NSCLC samples and NSCLC-derived cell lines.

Methods: The expression of miR-613 was measured by quantitative RT-PCR in 56 primary NSCLC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues.

Lyn Delivers Bacteria to Lysosomes for Eradication through TLR2-Initiated Autophagy Related Phagocytosis.

Extracellular bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, have been reported to induce autophagy; however, the role and machinery of infection-induced autophagy remain elusive. We show that the pleiotropic Src kinase Lyn mediates phagocytosis and autophagosome maturation in alveolar macrophages (AM), which facilitates eventual bacterial eradication. We report that Lyn is required for bacterial infection-induced recruitment of autophagic components to pathogen-containing phagosomes.

Adiponectin Receptor Agonist, AdipoRon, Causes Vasorelaxation Predominantly Via a Direct Smooth Muscle Action.

Objective: AdipoRon, an adiponectin receptor agonist, was recently proposed for treating insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. As adiponectin is vasoprotective via NO-mediated signaling, it was hypothesized that adipoRon similarly exerts potentially beneficial vasodilator effects. We therefore examined if adipoRon induces vasorelaxation and via what contributing mechanisms.

[Increased IL-1 and IL-6 expressions are negatively correlated with modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scores of discogenic low back pain].

Objective: To detect the expressions of IL-1 and IL-6 in the degenerative intervertebral discs of patients with discogenic low back pain (DLBP), record the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scores and analyze the correlation between the expressions and the scores.

Methods: The study chose 30 cases of DLBP aged between 45-65 years old from the same race and district and 10 control cases of vertebral fractures scheduled for surgical treatment but with no history of low back pain within one year and no disc degeneration based on imaging data. The degree of DLBP was evaluated by mJOA scores.

Diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography perfusion in patients with acute stroke: A meta-analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) in diagnosing acute ischemic stroke in patients presenting to the emergency department with stroke-like symptoms.

Methods: Medline, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases were searched until November 5, 2014 using the following terms: magnetic resonance imaging/MRI, computed tomography/CT, and stroke. Randomized controlled trials, retrospective, and case-controlled studies were included which evaluated patients who presented for emergency assessment of stroke-like systems.

Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) in the paraglottic space: report of a case and review of literature.

Sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy is also known as Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) and is characterized by painless bilateral cervical lymphadenopathy. In the present case report, a 67-year-old Chinese woman presented with a 3-month history of progressive voice hoarseness, progressive dyspnea on exertion and a foreign body sensation. MRI revealed a lesion involving the right side of the paraglottic space.

Advanced glycation endproducts regulate smooth muscle cells calcification in cultured HSMCs.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) promoting the calcification of smooth muscle cells.

Methods: The successfully cultured smooth muscle cells were divided into three groups: normal culture group (group A), calcified culture group (group B), calcification + AGEs group (group C); the concentration of intracellular calcium ion was detected in each group; the promotion of AGEs on the calcification of HSMCs was confirmed by VON KOSSA staining; and the expressions of β-catenin, RAGE, β-catenin, OPG and E-cadherin protein were detected by immunofluorescence and western blot.

Results: The morphology of the cells in each group showed that the amount of calcified plaques in calcification + AGES group were significantly higher than the calcification group.

Levels of plasma Epstein-Barr virus DNA prior and subsequent to treatment predicts the prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The level of Epstein-Barr virus DNA (EBV-DNA) in the plasma prior and subsequent to treatment is a reliable biomarker for the screening, diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The present retrospective study aimed to determine whether pre- and post-treatment levels of plasma EBV-DNA were predictive of survival in a large sample of patients with NPC. The level of plasma EBV-DNA in 637 NPC patients prior and subsequent to treatment was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Myricetin inhibits Kv1.5 channels in HEK293 cells.

Myricetin (Myr) is a flavonoid that exerts anti-arrhythmic effects. However, its potential effects on ion channels have remained elusive. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Myr on Kv1.

Influence of the Interval Between Renal Computed Tomographic Angiography and Kidney Transplantation on Allograft Function: A Prospective, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Background: Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) requires contrast agents that may cause nephropathy. We wanted to assess whether donors using contrast agents long or immediately before nephrectomy affects recipient allograft function.

Methods: Pairs of kidney donors and recipients in our center were recruited between May 2012 and October 2014.

Association of the Glu504Lys polymorphism in the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene with endothelium-dependent dilation disorder in Chinese Han patients with essential hypertension.

Background: In essential hypertension (EH), 30-50% of the variability in blood pressure is determined by genetic factors. The aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene Glu504Lys polymorphism is associated with 'alcohol flush' and might be associated with EH.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of the Glu504Lys polymorphism in the ALDH2 gene with endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD) disorder in Chinese Han patients with EH.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy under spinal anaesthesia vs. general anaesthesia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Background: Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) is conventionally performed under general anaesthesia (GA), but there are multiple studies which have found spinal anaesthesia (SA) as a safe alternative. This meta-analysis was performed after adding many recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to clarify this issue.

Methods: Relevant articles published in English were identified by searching PubMed, Embase, Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register from January 1, 2000 to December 1, 2014.