[Influence of diastolic filling pattern on the efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy].

Objective: To investigate the influence of diastolic filling pattern on the efficacy of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Between January 2012 and September 2013, 100 patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing CRT were enrolled in the study, and all patients were grouped by the pre-CRT diastolic filling pattern as impaired relaxation, pseudonormalized and restrictive filling. After follow up for 12 months, the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class and echocardiography were used to assess the efficacy of CRT.

Resting-state functional connectivity between the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and thalamus is associated with risky decision-making in nicotine addicts.

Nicotine addiction is associated with risky behaviors and abnormalities in local brain areas related to risky decision-making such as the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), anterior insula (AI), and thalamus. Although these brain abnormalities are anatomically separated, they may in fact belong to one neural network. However, it is unclear whether circuit-level abnormalities lead to risky decision-making in smokers.

ΔNp63α attenuates tumor aggressiveness by suppressing miR-205/ZEB1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Cervical cancer is one of the most common female cancers worldwide. Although the therapeutic outcomes of patients with early-stage cervical cancer have been significantly improved in the past decades, tumor metastasis and recurrence remain the major causes of cervical cancer-related deaths. In cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), the aberrant activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a crucial process in invasion and metastasis of epithelial cancer, could promote lymph nodal metastasis and recurrence, and predicts poor prognosis.

Negative Correlation Between miR-326 and Ets-1 in Regulatory T Cells from new-Onset SLE Patients.

To analyze the relationship between miR-326 and Ets-1 mRNA levels in Treg cells and clinical manifestations in patients with SLE and explore the role of miR-326 and Ets-1 in the pathogenesis and activity of SLE. Twenty-five new-onset SLE patients without treatment, twenty-eight inactive SLE patients (SLEDA ≤ 4) and twenty-two healthy controls were included in the present study. Clinical data of SLE patients were recorded.

Association between shortage of energy supply and nuclear gene mutations leading to carcinomatous transformation.

Anaerobic bacteria use glycolysis, an oxygen-independent metabolic pathway, whereas energy metabolism in the evolved eukaryotic cell is performed via oxidative phosphorylation, with all eukaryotic cell activities depending upon high energy consumption. However, in cancer cells evolving from eukaryotic cells, the energy metabolism switches from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. The shortage of energy supply induces cancer cells to acquire specific characteristics.

Expression Profile of microRNAs and Their Targeted Pathways in Human Ovaries Detected by Next-Generation Small RNA Sequencing.

Recently, post-transcriptional gene regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs) has been reported to play a key role during ovary development and differentiation. However, there are no published studies identifying miRNA profiles of human ovarian tissues directly using next-generation sequencing technology. In the human ovary, a total of 762 known and 21 novel human miRNAs were detected, indicating that human ovaries have a complex population of small RNAs.

[Protective effects of metformin on glomerular podocytes of type 2 diabetes model rats].

Objective: To observe the effects of metformin (MET) on podocalyxin (PCX) expression in renal tissue from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) model rats and investigate its protective effects against glomerular podocyte injury.

Method: The rat model of T2DM was established by feeding with high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of low dose of streptozotocin (STZ). All the rats were divided into four groups: diabetic group (n=9), metformin group (300 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), n=8), glibenclamide group (5 mg·kg(-1)·d(-1), n=8 ) and normal group (n=8).

[Alterations of brain network efficiency in patients with post-concussion syndrome].

Objective: To discuss the alterations of brain network efficiency in patients with post-concussion syndrome.

Methods: A total of 23 patients from Anhui Provincial Hospital in the period from 2013/6 to 2014/3 who have had the concussion for 3 months were enrolled and 23 volunteers paired in sex, age and education were also enrolled as healthy controls. Comparisons of selective attention of both groups were conducted using Stroop Word-Color Test.

Total flavonoids of Bidens bipinnata L. ameliorate experimental adjuvant-induced arthritis through induction of synovial apoptosis.

Background: Bidens bipinnata are widely distributed in China, which have been widely used as a traditional Chinese medicine. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of total flavonoids of Bidens pilosa L. (TFB) on adjuvant arthritis (AA) and its possible mechanisms.

Silencing Matrix Metalloproteinases 9 and 2 Inhibits Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cell Invasion and Migration.

Purpose: Proliferative retinal angiogenesis may severely impair the retina. Previous studies have indicated that matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 play important roles in the process of retinal angiogenesis. In this study, we suppressed MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression with RNA interference (RNAi) and then observed the inhibitory effects on the invasion and migration of human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs).

Abnormal Methylation Status of the GNAS Exon 1A Region in Pseudohypohyperparathyroidism Combined With Turner Syndrome.

Pseudohypohyperparathyroidism (PHHP) is a rare type of pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP), which seems to have a normal skeletal response to parathyroid hormone but shows renal resistance. Almost all patients with PHHP have PHP Ib, a subtype of PHP that is usually caused by GNAS methylation defects, often in exon 1A. Some features of Albright hereditary osteodystrophy can occasionally be found in patients with PHHP, but these features are also common in Turner syndrome.

[Comparison of clinical application of exercise challenge test and methacholine challenge test in measurement of airway hyperresponsiveness].

Objective: To compare the advantages and disadvantages between exercise challenge test (ECT) and methacholine challenge test (MCT) in the measurement of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), in order to identify a better and safer method to measure AHR.

Methods: Forty-seven children with controlled asthma after regular treatment were enrolled. ECT and MCT were performed for each child successively, and sensitivity was obtained through comparison with the golden standard (PD20).

Paeonol inhibits B16F10 melanoma metastasis in vitro and in vivo via disrupting proinflammatory cytokines-mediated NF-κB and STAT3 pathways.

Cancer related inflammation (CRI) is now recognized as the seventh hallmark in the pathogenesis of many types of malignancies. Paeonol, a natural phenolic component isolated from the root bark of Paeonia moutan, has significant anti-inflammatory activity. Recently, accumulating body of research has revealed potent anti-tumor effects mediated by paeonol.

Application of Modified Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimation Equations in Chinese Diabetic Patients with Chronic Kidney Diseases.

Objective: To evaluate the applicability of modified formulae based on plasma creatinine levels in Chinese diabetic patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD).

Methods: A total of 294 diabetic patients were investigated. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated with the Ruijin equation, Cockcroft-Gault (CG) and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formulae.

[Value of combined measurement of C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, lactate dehydrogenase and serum ferritin in etiological diagnosis of fever of unknown origin in children].

Objective: To study the clinical value of combined measurement of C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and serum ferritin (SF) in the etiological diagnosis of fever of unknown origin (FUO) in children.

Methods: The clinical data of 154 hospitalized children who had FUO for at least two weeks were retrospectively analyzed, and they were classified into infection (n=54), rheumatism (n=67), and tumor (n=33) groups according to the diagnosis at discharge. The levels of CRP, ESR, LDH, and SF were compared between the three groups, and the diagnostic values of the four indices alone or together were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Maternal folate status and obesity/insulin resistance in the offspring: a systematic review.

Objective: Prenatal folic acid supplementation or maternal folate sufficiency may protect the offspring from obesity and insulin resistance. This study aims to summarize the findings of association between prenatal folic acid supplementation/maternal folate sufficiency and obesity/insulin resistance in the offspring.

Methods: Twelve databases were searched for both published and unpublished work of prenatal folic acid supplementation/maternal folate status up to 1 July 2014.

Activation of 5-HT2A/C receptor reduces glycine receptor-mediated currents in cultured auditory cortical neurons.

Glycine receptors (GlyRs) permeable to chloride only mediate tonic inhibition in the cerebral cortex where glycinergic projection is completely absent. The functional modulation of GlyRs was largely studied in subcortical brain regions with glycinergic transmissions, but the function of cortical GlyRs was rarely addressed. Serotonin could broadly modulate many ion channels through activating 5-HT2 receptor, but whether cortical GlyRs are subjected to serotonergic modulation remains unexplored.

Total glucosides of paeony can reduce the hepatotoxicity caused by Methotrexate and Leflunomide combination treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Total glucosides of paeony (TGP) have been confirmed to exert anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects. Methotrexate (MTX) and Leflunomide (LEF) combination has a better efficacy in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but hepatotoxicity was observed. In this study, we investigated the effect of TGP on hepatic dysfunction caused by MTX and LEF in patients with active RA.

Role of Neurexin-1β and Neuroligin-1 in Cognitive Dysfunction After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats.

Background And Purpose: Neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 play an important role in the formation, maintenance, and regulation of synaptic structures. This study is to estimate the potential role of neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-induced cognitive dysfunction.

Methods: In vivo, 228 Sprague-Dawley rats were used.

MicroRNA Expression Profile in Penile Cancer Revealed by Next-Generation Small RNA Sequencing.

Penile cancer (PeCa) is a relatively rare tumor entity but possesses higher morbidity and mortality rates especially in developing countries. To date, the concrete pathogenic signaling pathways and core machineries involved in tumorigenesis and progression of PeCa remain to be elucidated. Several studies suggested miRNAs, which modulate gene expression at posttranscriptional level, were frequently mis-regulated and aberrantly expressed in human cancers.

[Amplification Ex Vivo and Cytocidal Activity of Leukemia Tumor-Associated Antigen-Specific Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes].

Objective: To explore the feasibility of amplifying the leukemia tumor associated antigens-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (TAA-CTL) ex vivo and to evaluate the cytotoxicity of TAA-CTL.

Methods: The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were enriched by density gradient centrifugtion; TAA-CTL were generated by stimulation of PBMNC with peptide-pulsed DC at an effector-to-target ratio of 10:1; immunophenotype of TAA-CTL was analyzed by flow cytometry; cytotoxicity assay was used to evaluate the cytotoxic activity of TAA-CTL against peptide-pulsed autologous target cells (PHA-Blasts).

Results: TAA-CTL expanded from volunteer showed a mean expansion of 3.

SmartArc-based volumetric modulated arc therapy can improve the middle ear, vestibule and cochlea sparing for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a dosimetric comparison with step-and-shoot intensity-modulated radiotherapy.

Objective: Radiation-induced sensorineural hearing loss is a common complication after radiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) that significantly affects their quality of life. The goal of this study was to compare SmartArc-based volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT-S) with step-and-shoot intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for patients with locoregionally advanced NPC with regard to the sparing effect on middle ear, vestibule and cochlea.

Methods: 20 patients with non-metastatic Stage III or IV NPC were selected to have planning with VMAT-S and IMRT [using Philips Pinnacle Planning System (Philips, Fitchburg, WI) for Varian accelerator] for dosimetric comparison.

Metformin Ameliorates Podocyte Damage by Restoring Renal Tissue Podocalyxin Expression in Type 2 Diabetic Rats.

Podocalyxin (PCX) is a signature molecule of the glomerular podocyte and of maintaining integrity of filtration function of glomerulus. The aim of this study was to observe the effect of different doses of metformin on renal tissue PCX expression in type 2 diabetic rats and clarify its protection on glomerular podocytes. Type 2 diabetic Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats in which diabetes was induced by high-fat diet/streptozotocin (HFD-STZ) were treated with different doses of metformin (150, 300, and 500 mg/kg per day, resp.