A Controlled Study of the Feasibility and Efficacy of a Cloud-Based Interactive Management Program Between Patients with Psoriasis and Physicians.

BACKGROUND Dermatology patients continue to receive improved treatment, but for patients with psoriasis, there have been few studies on ways to improve patient management by improving communication with patients and their dermatologists. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of cloud-based interactive patient and physician management of psoriasis. MATERIAL AND METHODS The cloud-based platform was created by professional software engineers to educate and manage patients with psoriasis in a single hospital, where patients and research staff had a network platform for sharing data.

Stapled Hemorrhoidectomy Versus Transanal Hemorrhoidal Dearterialization in the Treatment of Hemorrhoids: An Updated Meta-Analysis.

This meta-analysis aimed to compare the clinical outcomes of stapled hemorrhoidectomy (SH) and transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization (THD) for treating hemorrhoidal disease. Randomized control trials (RCTs) comparing SH with THD were searched in databases, including MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library database. Nine RCTs, with 1077 patients, were included in this meta-analysis.

Technical Feasibility of Tissue Microarray (TMA) Analysis of Tumor-Associated Immune Response in Prostate Cancer.

: The androgen receptor (AR) regulates immune-related epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and prostate cancer (PCa) metastasis. Primary tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) [CD3, CD4, and CD8 TILs] are potential prognostic indicators in PCa, and variations may contribute to racial disparities in tumor biology and PCa outcomes. : To assess the technical feasibility of tumor microarray (TMA)-based methods to perform multi-marker TIL profiling in primary resected PCa.

Clinical Research on the Comprehensive Curative Effect of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine for Pelvic Inflammatory Sequelae.

BACKGROUND This randomized, controlled trial was designed to assess whether acupuncture plus an oral administration of Chinese herbal medicine provides greater relief of symptoms than oral administration of Chinese herbal medicine alone for treatment of pelvic inflammatory sequelae. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty-two patients ages 22 to 45 years with pelvic inflammatory sequelae were randomly assigned into one of 2 groups: an herbal group (n=30) and an herbal with acupuncture group (n=32). Both groups were treated for 3 courses of 3 months each.

Astragalus and Baicalein Regulate Inflammation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) by the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)/ERK Pathway.

BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as an attractive alternative to modulating immune response after transplantation. Recent studies have shown that systemically administered MSCs enter the inflamed intestine. In the present study, we propose a strategy to improve the efficacy of MSC-based cellular therapy for inflammation using Astragaloside and Baicalein to enhance cell survival, inhibit apoptosis, and modulate inflammatory response in vitro.

Atypical choroid plexus papilloma: clinicopathological and neuroradiological features.

Background Atypical choroid plexus papilloma (APP) is a rare, newly introduced entity with intermediate characteristics. To date, few reports have revealed the magnetic resonance (MR) findings. Purpose To analyze the clinicopathological and MR features of APP.

The Cholesterol-Lowering Effect of Alisol Acetates Based on HMG-CoA Reductase and Its Molecular Mechanism.

This study measured the impact of alisol B 23-acetate and alisol A 24-acetate, the main active ingredients of the traditional Chinese medicine Alismatis rhizoma, on total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels of hyperlipidemic mice. The binding of alisol B 23-acetate and alisol A 24-acetate to the key enzyme involved in the metabolism of TC, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutary-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, was studied using the reagent kit method and the western blotting technique combined with a molecular simulation technique. According to the results, alisol acetates significantly lower the TC, TG, and LDL-C concentrations of hyperlipidemic mice, while raising HDL-C concentrations.

One-pot facile synthesis of PEGylated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for MRI contrast enhancement.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (PEG·SPIONs) were prepared by a facile one-pot approach. The synthesized PEG·SPIONs were found to be uniform in size with an average hydrodynamic diameter of 11.7 nm.

Tumor-infiltrating immune cells: triggers for tumor capsule disruption and tumor progression?

Background: Our previous studies of human breast and prostate cancer have shown that aberrant immune cell infiltration is associated with focal tumor capsule disruption and tumor cell budding that facilitate invasion and metastasis. Our current study attempted to determine whether aberrant immune cell infiltration would have similar impact on colorectal cancer (CRC).

Materials And Methods: Tissue sections from 100 patients with primary CRC were assessed for the frequencies of focal basement membrane (BM) disruption, muscularis mucosa (MM) fragmentation, and tumor cell dissemination in epithelial structures adjacent and distal to infiltrating lymphoid aggregates using a panel of biomarkers and quantitative digital imaging.

Association of EGFR mutations with low BRCA1 gene expression in non-small cell lung cancer.

Clinical studies suggest that the mRNA expression level of excision repair cross complementing group 1 gene (ERCC1) is associated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and breast cancer susceptibility 1 gene (BRCA1) mRNA expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, the correlation between EGFR mutation status and ERCC1 and BRCA1 gene expression in Chinese NSCLC patients was examined. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing were used to detect mRNA expression levels and EGFR mutation status, respectively in microdissected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded non-small cell lung cancer tissues.

Tube-like structures with co-expression of D2-40 and CD34: newly formed vasculatures?

Background: A great number of in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested that many pathways or factors can stimulate angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, which facilitate tumor progression and metastasis. However, the morphological and immunohistochemical profile of newly formed vasculatures has not been elucidated, making it difficult to differentiate them from the pre-existing ones, and to identify their unique molecular profiles for diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.

Experimental Findings: As cytokeratin (CK)-19 is a well-recognized stem cell marker and CK-19-positive cells are frequently detected in the peripheral blood of patients with metastatic cancer, our recent studies have assessed the involvement of CK-19 in the formation of new vasculatures in primary colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues.

[The idea of Sun yi (reduction and reinforcement) and the reinforcement and reduction in acupuncture].

Sun yi (reduction and reinforcement) is a couple of a united and opposing conceptive category. To reduce the excess and reinforce the deficiency was considered as the rule of nature by ancient people. This thought had a profound influence on the therapeutic ideas in TCM of reinforcing insufficiency and reducing excess, especially in acupuncture therapy.