Methylglyoxal-Induced Retinal Angiogenesis in Zebrafish Embryo: A Potential Animal Model of Neovascular Retinopathy.

Methylglyoxal (MG) is an intermediate of glucose metabolism and the precursor of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) found in high levels in blood or tissue of diabetic patients. MG and AGEs are thought to play a major role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. In order to determine if zebrafish is valuable to help us understand more about retinopathy, we evaluate if MG induces abnormal vascular change and angiogenesis in zebrafish in a short incubation period.

CTEP Versus LESS Totally Extraperitoneal Hernioplasty.

Background And Objectives: The authors sought to assess and compare the surgical outcomes of laparoendoscopic single-port surgery (LESS) for totally extraperitoneal (LESS-TEP) hernioplasty and conventional totally extraperitoneal (CTEP) hernioplasty.

Methods: From March 2015 through May 2018, a retrospective analysis of postoperative outcomes was conducted that included 81 cases of LESS-TEP and 88 cases of CTEP hernioplasty patients. For postoperative indicator comparisons, a visual-analog pain scale and 5-level cosmesis evaluation sheet were applied.

miR-494 inhibits cervical cancer cell proliferation through upregulation of SOCS6 expression.

It is unclear how microRNA (miR)-494 inhibits the proliferation of cervical cancer cells by altering the expression of SOCS6. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying miR-494 regulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 6 (SOCS6) in human cervical cancer samples and the human cervical cancer HeLa cell line. The expression of miR-494 was determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Nephrin loss is reduced by grape seed proanthocyanidins in the experimental diabetic nephropathy rat model.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the major causes of end‑stage renal failure. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts (GSPE) are known to act as antioxidants. The current study aimed to determine the effects of GSPE on the streptozotocin (STZ)‑induced diabetic rat model and to explore the underlying mechanism of its action.

Isorhamnetin prevents H2O2‑induced oxidative stress in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Isorhamnetin, a 3‑O‑methylated metabolite of quercetin, exhibits antioxidant effects. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study to date has focused on the effects of isorhamnetin on retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells, and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Therefore, the present study aimed to examine the potential protective effect of isorhamnetin against oxidative stress in human RPE cells.

Resectable primary pleural myxoid liposarcoma with a pedicle: report of a rare case and literature review.

Primary pleural myxoid liposarcoma is a rare tumor. Here, we report a primary myxoid liposarcoma occupying the majority of the left thoracic cavity with features suggesting invasion. Computed tomography (CT) at medical check-up incidentally revealed a bulky inhomogeneous fatty mass.

Chronic kidney disease in Chinese postmenopausal women: A cross-sectional survey.

Introduction: Despite advances in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD), there is ongoing uncertainty regarding the prevalence of CKD in postmenopausal women. This study was designed to investigate both CKD prevalence and related risk factors in a cohort of postmenopausal Chinese women.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to a nationally representative sample of female Chinese participants, including a total of 47,204 subjects, among whom were 8573 self-reported postmenopausal women.

Silicotuberculosis with Esophagobronchial Fistula and Broncholithiasis.

A 69-year-old woman was admitted to hospital 4 times from November 2007 to June 2009. The patient had silicosis complicated by broncholithiasis, esophagobronchial fistula, and relapsed tuberculosis. She had worked as a stone crusher for 3 years and was exposed to a large amount of quartz dust.

Enhanced antitumor activity and attenuated cardiotoxicity of Epirubicin combined with Paeonol against breast cancer.

Epirubicin is widely used for the therapy of various breast cancers. However, it has serious adverse side effects, particularly cardiotoxicity, which can cause irreversible damage in patients. Paeonol, an active component from Moutan Cortex, enhances antitumor activity of antineoplastics and reduces toxicities induced by chemotherapeutics.

Restoration of Mimecan Expression by Grape Seed Procyanidin B2 Through Regulation of Nuclear Factor-kappaB in Mice With Diabetic Nephropathy.

Grape seed procyanidin B2 (GSPB2) exerts a variety of potent protective pharmacological effects on diabetic complications. The renal protective effects of GSPB2 and the target protein mimecan regulated by GSPB2, discovered in a previous quantitative proteomic analysis, were assessed in mice with diabetic nephropathy Twenty-four db/db mice were divided into 2 groups of the vehicle-treated and GSPB2-treated (30 mg/kg/d) diabetic groups. All animals were observed for 10 weeks.

Research progress on chemopreventive effects of phytochemicals on colorectal cancer and their mechanisms.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a type of cancer with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide and has become a global health problem. The conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy regimen for CRC not only has a low cure rate but also causes side effects. Many studies have shown that adequate intake of fruits and vegetables in the diet may have a protective effect on CRC occurrence, possibly due to the special biological protective effect of the phytochemicals in these foods.

Correlation between Helicobacter pylori-associated gastric diseases and colorectal neoplasia.

Aim: To explore the correlation between Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-associated gastric diseases and colorectal neoplasia.

Methods: Patients included in this study underwent a colonoscopy and esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) along with histopathological measurement between March 2012 and March 2015 at Qi-Lu Hospital of Shandong University, who also had results of H.

An asymmetrically dimethylarginated nuclear 90 kDa protein (p90aDMA) induced by interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 or IL-6 in the tumor microenvironment is selectively degraded by autophagy.

Protein arginine methylation is a common posttranslational modification resulting in the generation of asymmetric dimethylarginine (aDMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (sDMA). Currently, the regulation of aDMA or sDMA by hypoxia, nutrient stavation or cytokines in the tumor microenvironment remains largely unknown. Here we show that p90aDMA, p70aDMA and p90sDMA, endogenous proteins containing aDMA or sDMA with mass 70 or 90 kDa, were widely and dominantly expressed in breast cancer cell lines.

Simvastatin improves the homing of BMSCs via the PI3K/AKT/miR-9 pathway.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) have great therapeutic potential for many diseases. However, the homing of BMSCs to injury sites remains a difficult problem. Recent evidence indicates that simvastatin stimulates AKT phosphorylation, and p-AKT affects the expression of chemokine (CXC motif) receptor-4 (CXCR4).

The protective effects of paeonol against epirubicin-induced hepatotoxicity in 4T1-tumor bearing mice via inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/NF-kB pathway.

Epirubicin is widely used for the treatment of various breast cancers; however, it has serious adverse side effects, such as hepatotoxicity, which require dose-adjustment or therapy substitution. Paeonol, an active component from Moutan Cortex, has a variety of biological activities, including preventing or reducing various toxicities induced by antineoplastics. Protection by paeonol against hepatotoxicity induced by epirubicin and the underlying mechanism of action were investigated in this study.

CIP2A is associated with multidrug resistance in cervical adenocarcinoma by a P-glycoprotein pathway.

Cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A) is a recently identified oncoprotein. Here, we investigated its role in the formation of multidrug resistance (MDR) of cervical adenocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo. MTT assay showed that knockdown of CIP2A expression increased the drug sensitivity of HeLa and Dox-resistant HeLa cells (HeLa-Dox) to doxorubicin, cisplatin, and paclitaxel significantly, while overexpression of CIP2A decreased the sensitivity of HeLa cells to chemo-drugs dramatically.

INHIBITORY ACTION OF CoCl2-INDUCED MCF-7 CELL HYPOXIA MODEL OF BREAST CANCER AND ITS INFLUENCE ON VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR.

Breast cancer, a malignant tumor frequently occurring in females, is traditionally treated with excision. In the search for a new treatment, we analyzed the influence of CoCl2 on MCF-7 cell proliferation of breast cancer and tumor angiogenesis factor and discussed the results. Having applied CoCl2 as chemical hypoxia-induced agent, in-vitro MCF-7 cell hypoxia model of breast cancer was established, after which methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) staining was performed in detecting inhibitory action of CoCl2 to proliferation of MCF-7 cells cultured in-vitro, and inverted phase contrast microscope was adopted to observe morphological changes of MCF-7 cell in hypoxia model.

Efficacy and safety of weekly leflunomide for the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, multi-center study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of a weekly dose of leflunomide (50 mg/week) in early rheumatoid arthritis patients with mild or moderate disease activity.

Methods: The patients of early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) with mild or moderate disease activity were randomly selected for inclusion in this study and were assigned to either the treatment group (leflunomide 50 mg/week, LEF50) or the control group (leflunomide 10 mg/day, LEF10). All patients were treated for 24 weeks.

Preoperative prediction of conversion from laparoscopic rectal resection to open surgery: a clinical study of conversion scoring of laparoscopic rectal resection to open surgery.

Objective: The objectives of this paper were to establish a model for the conversion of laparoscopic rectal resection to open surgery and to predict possible conversion before surgery.

Methods: The clinical data of 602 cases of laparoscopic rectal resection were retrospectively assessed. Risk factors associated with conversion of laparoscopic rectal resection to open rectal surgery were identified by logistic regression analysis.

Assessment of MRI Contrast Agent Kinetics via Retro-Orbital Injection in Mice: Comparison with Tail Vein Injection.

It is not known whether administration of contrast agent via retro-orbital injection or the tail vein route affects the efficiency of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Therefore, we compared the effects of retro-orbital and tail vein injection on the kinetics of the contrast agent used for MRI in mice. The same group of nine healthy female mice received contrast agent via either route.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate protects against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced apoptosis.

Cisplatin (CP)-induced nephrotoxicity hampers its application in clinic. Green tea, particularly its predominant polyphenolic constituent epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties. The present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of EGCG against CP-induced nephrotoxicity in mice.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene -308G > A polymorphism alters the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in a Han Chinese population.

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) -308 G > A polymorphism on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk.

Methods: The present case-control study was conducted in a Han Chinese population consisting of 753 HCC patients and 760 controls from May 2010 to March 2013. The -308 TNF-a promoter polymorphisms were detected.

Effects of co-treatment with sulforaphane and autophagy modulators on uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase 1A isoforms and cytochrome P450 3A4 expression in Caco-2 human colon cancer cells.

Sulforaphane (SFN), which is highly enriched in cruciferous vegetables, has been investigated for its cancer chemopreventive properties and ability to induce autophagy. Uridine 5'-diphospho (UDP)-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A induction is one of the mechanisms that is responsible for the cancer chemopreventive activity of SFN. The current study demonstrates that rapamycin may enhance the chemopreventive effects of SFN on Caco-2 cells; this may be partially attributed to nuclear translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)- and human pregnane X receptor (hPXR)-mediated UGT1A1, UGT1A8 and UGT1A10 induction.

Quantitative proteomics study of protective effects of grape seed procyanidin B2 on diabetic cardiomyopathy in db/db mice.

Diabetic cardiomyopathy is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress appears to play a substantial role in cardiomyopathy. Grape seed procyanidin B2 (GSPB2) has been known as an anti-oxidant in treating diabetes mellitus; however, little is known about its effects and underlying mechanisms on diabetic cardiomyopathy.