Atorvastatin inhibits the expression of RAGE induced by advanced glycation end products on aortas in healthy Sprague-Dawley rats.

Background: Atorvastatin can downregulate the expression of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) in the aortas of diabetic rats. However, its effect on healthy rats remains unclear. The aim of this study was to observe the direct impact of atorvastatin on advanced glycation end products- (AGEs) induced RAGE expression in healthy Sprague Dawley (SD) rats.

CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cell differentiation mediated by endometrial stromal cell-derived TECK promotes the growth and invasion of endometriotic lesions.

Endometriosis is associated with an abnormal immune response to endometrial cells, which can facilitate the implantation and proliferation of ectopic endometrial tissue. The proportion of CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) is significantly increased in the peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis. The thymus-expressed chemokine TECK/CCL25 directly promotes the invasiveness of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs).

[Application of apparent diffusion coefficient ratio in the diagnosis of bladder cancer grading pre-operation].

Objective: To explore the value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) ratio in the diagnosis of bladder cancer pre-operation by analyzing its differences among different grades of bladder cancer.

Methods: A total of 52 cases of bladder cancer were all definitely diagnosed with histological results.Routine examinations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were performed preoperatively on each patient.

The evaluation of rapid cooling as an anesthetic method for the zebrafish.

As zebrafish became a popular research system in contemporary biomedical research, effective anesthesia, which had low toxicity and high efficacy, was needed. The objective of this article was to evaluate the anesthetic effect of rapid cooling for embryo and larvae zebrafish with ice slush (ice and water admixture). The time to stage 5 anesthesia and maintaining for more than 5 s were detected and compared to MS-222 anesthesia.

Predictive value of plasma galectin-3 in patients with chronic heart failure.

Aim: To study the predictive value of plasma galectin-3 in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Materials And Methods: Patients with CHF (New York Heart Association functional class II-IV) caused by coronary heart disease were recruited. The levels of plasma galectin-3 and NT-proBNP were measured by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay.

[SOX2 defect and anophthalmia and microphthalmia].

As a severe congenital developmental disorder, anophthalmia and microphthalmia are usually accompanied with vision impairment and hypoevolutism of the orbit in the affected side. Many genes are involved in anophthalmia and microphthalmia, in which, SOX2 is an important one. The defect of SOX2 causes multiple system disorders, including anophthalmia and microphthalmia.

TGF-β promotes colorectal cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo.

Background/aims: TGF-β has dual functions as a tumor promoter or a tumor suppressor. Recent studies suggest the roles of TGF-β might change from a tumor suppressor to a tumor promoter, when lacking SMAD4 expression in CRC (colorectal cancer). However, the precise role of TGF-β as tumor promoter in CRC is still unclear.

Transdifferentiation of hepatic oval cells into pancreatic islet beta-cells.

Insulin production by beta-cells derived from hepatic oval cells is a promising new approach for the treatment of diabetes. Hepatic oval cells can be redirected to the beta-cell linage by an appropriate combination of high extracellular glucose, specific extracellular matrix proteins (laminin and fibronectin), cytokines (activin A), and the expression of several differentiation-related transcription factors (Pdx-1, Ngn-3, MafA). We explore the process of hepatic oval cell transdifferentiation into pancreatic islet beta-cells and the cellular signaling pathways involved.

Trace glucose and lipid metabolism in high androgen and high-fat diet induced polycystic ovary syndrome rats.

Background: There is a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and dyslipidemia in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of different metabolic pathways in the development of diabetes mellitus in high-androgen female mice fed with a high-fat diet.

Methods: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: the control group(C), n = 10; the andronate-treated group (Andronate), n = 10 (treated with andronate, 1 mg/100 g body weight/day for 8 weeks); and the andronate-treated and high-fat diet group (Andronate+HFD), n = 10.

Changes of pituitary and penile structure in male adult rats following castration and high-fat diet.

Aim: To investigate the influence of low androgen levels and high-fat diet on the structure of pituitary and penis in male rats.

Methods: Ten-week-old adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 groups, one fed a high-fat diet the other fed a normal diet; each group consisted of 3 subgroups: controls, castrated rats (with low androgen), and castrated rats given undecanoate replenishment. After 11 weeks, the structure of pituitary and penis were observed under light microscopy.

The effects of rosiglitazione on renal artery endothelium in diabetic rats.

Background: Macrovascular disease is a common complication of Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Study of renal artery endothelium may serve as a surrogate for cardiovascular and renal vascular disease.

Object: This study is to elucidate (1) how about the changes of renal endothelial ultrastructures it is in different time of diabetes animals (2) Whether PPARgamma ligand (such as rosiglitazone: ROS) could improve endothelium destruction in diabetes.