IL-17 and IL-21 polymorphisms in relation to HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese Han population.

Objective: Inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms may influence the hepatic and extrahepatic HBV-related disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of IL-17, IL-21 gene and HBV related hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese Han population.

Methods: We performed a multi-center study comprised 866 HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and 1086 unrelated patients with a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) as control to evaluate the effects of IL-17 (rs4711998), IL-21 SNPs (rs12508721, rs13143866 and rs2221903) and the susceptibility of HCC.

Involvement of in Age-Related Susceptibility to Oxidative Stress in ARPE-19 Cells by Targeting the Silent Mating Type Information Regulation 2 Homolog 1/p66shc Pathway: Implications for Age-Related Macular Degeneration.

The aging retinal pigment epithelium and oxidative stress, mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, have been implicated in the mechanisms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The expression level of the adapter protein p66shc, a key protein that regulates cellular oxidative stress, is relatively low under normal conditions because of the effects of silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) on the binding of fully deacetylated histone H3' to the promoter region, thus inhibiting p66shc transcription and expression. The equilibrium between SIRT1 and p66shc is disrupted in the presence of various stresses, including AMD.

Expression profile and prognostic value of SAV1 in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

SAV1 is a human homolog of salvador that contains two protein-protein interaction modules known as WW domains and acts as a scaffolding protein for Hpo and Warts. SAV1 is known to be a tumor suppressor, but its clinical and prognostic implications remain elusive. This study aimed at evaluating the prognostic significance and associated expression of SAV1 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients.

Associations of genotypes and haplotypes of IL-17 with risk of gastric cancer in an eastern Chinese population.

Interleukin-17 plays a crucial role in inflammation-related carcinogenesis. We hypothesize that genetic variants in IL-17 are associated with gastric cancer (GCa) risk, and we genotyped five potentially functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1974226 G > A, rs2275913 A > G, rs3819024 A > G, rs4711998 A > G, and rs8193036 C > T) of IL-17 in 1121 GCa patients and 1216 cancer-free controls in an eastern Chinese population. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Findings in Multifocal Choroiditis With Active Lesions.

Purpose: To describe optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) findings in multifocal choroiditis (MFC) with active lesions and to characterize the concordance between the OCTA and other traditional imaging modalities.

Design: Reliability and validity analysis.

Methods: Patients with suspected choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or acute inflammatory lesions associated with MFC were assessed in this study.

Genetic variants of DNA repair genes predict the survival of patients with esophageal squamous cell cancer receiving platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: Adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with resected esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) remains controversial for its uncertain role in improving overall survival (OS). Nucleotide excision repair (NER) removes DNA-adducts in tumor cells induced by the platinum-based chemotherapy and thus may modulate efficacy of the treatment. The present study evaluated if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of NER genes were prognostic biomarkers in ESCC patients treated with platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy (PAC).

Associations of potentially functional variants in IL-6, JAKs and STAT3 with gastric cancer risk in an eastern Chinese population.

The interleukin-6 (IL-6)/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway plays a central role in inflammation-mediated cancers, including gastric cancer (GCa). We evaluated associations between 10 potentially functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of four essential genes in the pathway and GCa risk in a study of 1,125 GCa cases and 1,221 cancer-free controls. We found that a significant higher GCa risk was associated with IL-6 rs2069837G variant genotypes [adjusted odds ratios (OR) = 1.

FOXM1-LDHA signaling promoted gastric cancer glycolytic phenotype and progression.

The oncogenic transcription factor forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) plays critical roles in gastric cancer (GC) development and progression. However, the underlying mechanisms has not fully demonstrated. Lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) is widely overexpressed in a series of cancers and is one of the two subunits of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is the key glycolytic enzyme and catalyzes the interconversion of pyruvate and lactate.

Accuracy of Lung Ultrasonography versus Chest Radiography for the Diagnosis of Adult Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Review of the Literature and Meta-Analysis.

Lung ultrasonography (LUS) is being increasingly utilized in emergency and critical settings. We performed a systematic review of the current literature to compare the accuracy of LUS and chest radiography (CR) for the diagnosis of adult community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We searched in Pub Med, EMBASE dealing with both LUS and CR for diagnosis of adult CAP, and conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of LUS in comparison with CR.

Paroxetine alleviates rat limb post-ischemia induced allodynia through GRK2 upregulation in superior cervical ganglia.

Long-lasting neuroplastic changes induced by transient decrease in G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) in nociceptors enhances and prolongs inflammatory hyperalgesia. Here, we investigated the effects of paroxetine (a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor and GRK2 inhibitor) on GRK2 expression in superior cervical ganglion (SCG) in a rat model of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I). After ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, the ipsilateral 50% paw withdrawal thresholds (PWTs) to mechanical stimuli and the expression levels of GRK2 protein and mRNA in the ipsilateral SCGs all decreased significantly; the ipsilateral cold allodynia scores increased significantly.

Gold Nanorods Bioconjugates for Intracellular Delivery and Cancer Cell Apoptosis.

The aim of this study was to identify an improved delivery scheme for intracellular delivery and anticancer therapy. Novel gold nanorods (GNRs) bioconjugates were prepared by using GNRs as nonviral vectors conjugated with thiol-modified antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ASODNs). We then investigated the possibility of using GNRs as carriers for nucleus delivery of ASODNs genes by using confocal microscopy and cell transmission electron microscope imaging.

Dexmedetomidine alleviates rat post-ischemia induced allodynia through GRK2 upregulation in superior cervical ganglia.

A transient decrease in G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) in nociceptors can produce long-lasting neuroplastic changes in nociceptor function, eventually enhancing and prolonging inflammatory hyperalgesia. Here, we investigated the effects of selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist dexmedetomidine (DMED) on GRK2 expression in superior cervical ganglion (SCG) in a rat model of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS-I). The ipsilateral 50% paw withdrawal thresholds (PWTs) to mechanical stimuli decreased significantly starting from 24 h after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, and lasted for over 3 weeks; the ipsilateral cold allodynia scores, GRK2 protein and mRNA levels in SCGs all increased significantly.

Bilateral perifoveal macular ischemia in sarcoidosis.

Purpose: To represent and evaluate the findings of bilateral perifoveal macular ischemia in a patient with biopsy-proven, multiorgan involved sarcoidosis.

Methods: Case report. A 55-year-old man, with a medical history of pulmonary disease, experienced reduced vision bilaterally.

Decreased expression of histone deacetylase 10 predicts poor prognosis of gastric cancer patients.

Aberrant expression of histone deacetylase (HDACs) was associated with carcinogenesis and progression of various tumors. However, the association of HDAC10 with clinical outcomes in gastric cancer patients is unclear. Thus, the objective of the current study was to evaluate the association of expression level of HDAC10 with clinicopathologic factors and prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

The spectrum of superficial and deep capillary ischemia in retinal artery occlusion.

Purpose: To describe the spectrum of retinal capillary ischemia, including superficial and deep capillary ischemia, as identified with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT), that occurs in retinal arterial occlusive disease.

Design: Retrospective observational case series.

Methods: Clinical charts, color fundus photography, red-free fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, near-infrared reflectance, and SD OCT imaging in 40 eyes of 35 patients with retinal arterial occlusive disease were studied in both the acute and chronic phases in multicenter clinical practices.

Hydrogen-rich saline promotes survival of retinal ganglion cells in a rat model of optic nerve crush.

Objective: To investigate the effect of molecular hydrogen (H2) in a rat model subjected to optic nerve crush (ONC).

Methods: We tested the hypothesis that after optic nerve crush (ONC), retinal ganglion cell (RGC) could be protected by H₂. Rats in different groups received saline or hydrogen-rich saline every day for 14 days after ONC.

The deposition of Notch1 in hepatitis B virus-associated nephropathy and its role in hepatitis B virus X protein-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation and immunity disorder in renal tubular epithelial cells.

Notch1 plays an important role in the regulation of immune responses and epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT). Previous studies have observed inflammatory cell infiltration and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in the renal biopsies from patients with HBV-associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN). We hypothesized that Notch1 may be involved in the progression of HBV-GN.

Pleth variability index-directed fluid management in abdominal surgery under combined general and epidural anesthesia.

Pleth variability index (PVI), a noninvasive dynamic indicator of fluid responsiveness has been demonstrated to be useful in the management of the patients with goal directed fluid therapy under general anesthesia, but whether PVI can be used to optimize fluid management under combined general and epidural anesthesia (GEN-EPI) remains to be elucidated. The aim of our study was to explore the impact of PVI as a goal-directed fluid therapy parameter on the tissue perfusion for patients with GEN-EPI. Thirty ASA I-II patients scheduled for major abdominal surgeries under GEN-EPI were randomized into PVI-directed fluid management group (PVI group) and non PVI-directed fluid management group (control group).

Effects of hepatitis B virus X gene on apoptosis and expression of immune molecules of human proximal tubular epithelial cells.

The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is the most important determinant in viral pathogenesis. HBx regulates HBV replication, cellular transcription, signal transduction, proteasome activity and cell cycle progression. In this study, HK-2 cells were transiently transfected with the HBx gene using a eukaryotic vector, pcDNA3.

Diosmin alleviates retinal edema by protecting the blood-retinal barrier and reducing retinal vascular permeability during ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Background And Purpose: Retinal swelling, leading to irreversible visual impairment, is an important early complication in retinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Diosmin, a naturally occurring flavonoid glycoside, has been shown to have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects against I/R injury. The present study was performed to evaluate the retinal microvascular protective effect of diosmin in a model of I/R injury.

XRCC1 polymorphisms increase bladder cancer risk in Asians: a meta-analysis.

X-ray cross complementing group 1 (XRCC1) polymorphisms and bladder cancer risk has been investigated for years, but the result in Asian population is till inconclusive. Thus, we performed this meta-analysis to determine the association of XRCC1 Arg194Trp, Arg280His, and Arg399Gln polymorphisms with bladder cancer risk in the Asian population. PubMed, EMBASE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched up to January 2013 to identify eligible studies.

MicroRNA-21 regulates the sensitivity of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells to the CHOP chemotherapy regimen.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that microRNA-21 (miR-21), as an oncogene, is involved in the occurrence of many types of tumor and the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. In the present study, we investigated whether miR-21 is involved in regulating the sensitivity of the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell line CRL2631 to the cyclophosphamide, vincristine, Adriamycin, and prednisone (CHOP) chemotherapeutic regimen. Knockdown of miR-21 with antisense oligonucleotides significantly increased the cytotoxic effects of the CHOP regimen in CRL2631 cells.

Inverse relationship between macular pigment optical density and axial length in Chinese subjects with myopia.

Background: Macular pigment (MP) has been the focus of much attention in recent years, due to its protective effect against macular degenerations. In this study, we investigated the association between macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and axial length (AL) in Chinese subjects with myopia.

Methods: In total, 173 myopes (mean spherical equivalent [MSE] ≤-1.