Dapagliflozin can alleviate renal fibrosis in rats with streptozotocin‑induced type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of Dapagliflozin on renal fibrosis in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats, and to determine the underlying mechanism of action. A total of 24 SPF male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: A normal (Control) group, model group (STZ-induced T2DM rats), Dapagliflozin group (STZ-induced T2DM rats treated with 1 mg/kg Dapagliflozin), and a metformin group (STZ-induced T2DM rats treated with 200 mg/kg metformin), with 6 rats per a group. Peripheral blood and renal tissues were collected from these rats, and the renal indices of each group were examined.

Electrochemical Detection of Nuciferine in the Lotus Leaf Based on Efficient Catalysis by Zirconium-MOFs.

Background: Nuciferine is an amorphine alkaloid in lotus leaf that has anti-inflammatory, lipid-lowering and hypoglycemic effects, so the quantitation of detected nuciferine is important.

Objective: An electrochemical method was developed for nuciferine detection based on efficient catalysis by Zr-MOFs (Metal-organic frameworks).

Methods: In this work, the ratiometric electrochemical method was developed for nuciferine detection based on efficient catalysis by Zr-MOFs.

Dual-functional AIE fluorescent probes for imaging β-amyloid plaques and lipid droplets.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease. Better imaging and early diagnosis of biomarkers of AD is extremely important for therapeutic interventions. The amyloid cascade hypothesis and its revised version identify insoluble β-amyloid deposition as a good diagnostic biomarker for AD.

Novel D-π-A type near-infrared fluorescent probes for the detection of Aβ aggregates.

Aberrant accumulation of Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is closely related to Alzheimer's disease. Thus, it is important to develop featured probes for the specific detection of Aβ species. Herein, we designed and synthesized a novel near-infrared fluorescent probe SDPY based on the D-π-A architecture for the detection of Aβ aggregates.

Evaluation of p16/Ki-67 Dual-Stained Cytology in Triaging HPV-Positive Women during Cervical Cancer Screening.

Background: We aimed to evaluate the utility of p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology for triaging human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive women.

Methods: HPV-positive women ages ≥ 21 years were recruited in a multicenter prospective observational study between May 2016 and May 2017. The clinical performance of dual-stained cytology, with or without HPV16/18 genotyping, was evaluated for all HPV-positive women to detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2+).

Transfer RNA-derived fragments as potential exosome tRNA-derived fragment biomarkers for osteoporosis.

Aim: Osteoporosis is one of the common orthopedic diseases featured in low bone mineral density. Exosomes have been proven to be potential markers for many diseases and health problems. The roles of messenger RNAs and microRNAs in osteoporosis have been comprehensively studied; however, little research has focused on the function of plasma exosomal transfer RNA-derived fragments (tRFs) in osteoporosis.

Identification of genes and signaling pathways associated with the pathogenesis of juvenile spondyloarthritis.

The aim of the present study was to identify key genes and signaling pathways associated with the pathogenesis of juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSA). The gene expression profile dataset GSE58667, including data from 15 human whole blood samples collected from 11 patients with JSA and four healthy controls, was analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with disease characteristics. Additionally, Gene Ontology term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses of the DEGs were performed.

Effects of Fasudil on Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension Associated with Left Ventricular Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction: A Prospective Intervention Study.

Background: Pulmonary hypertension due to left ventricular heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF) is an increasingly medical problem. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of fasudil on PH-HFpEF elderly patients and to figure out the subtype of PH-HFpEF which may be the therapeutic object of fasudil.

Method: 58 PH-HFpEF elderly patients were enrolled.

High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Combined with Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol as the Targets of Statin Therapy in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

To investigate the combination of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-C as the targets for statin treatment in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This single-center, prospective, randomized study was performed in 400 patients treated with atorvastatin 40 mg/day for 1 month and then with atorvastatin 20 mg/day as maintenance. The patients were randomized to the LDL group (LDL-C target of < 2.

Carbenoxolone inhibits mechanical stress-induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by regulating p38 MAPK phosphorylation.

The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of pannexin1 (Px1) protein channels on osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) under mechanical stress stimulation. MSCs were isolated from Sprague Dawley rats (3 weeks old, weighing 100-120 g) and cultured . A safe concentration of carbenoxolone was determined (CBX, an inhibitor of Px1 channels; 100 µM) on MSCs using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) method.

Mir-29b promotes human aortic valve interstitial cell calcification via inhibiting TGF-β3 through activation of wnt3/β-catenin/Smad3 signaling.

Herein, we hypothesized that pro-osteogenic MicroRNAs (miRs) could play functional roles in the calcification of the aortic valve and aimed to explore the functional role of miR-29b in the osteoblastic differentiation of human aortic valve interstitial cells (hAVICs) and the underlying molecular mechanism. Osteoblastic differentiation of hAVICs isolated from human calcific aortic valve leaflets obtained intraoperatively was induced with an osteogenic medium. Alizarin red S staining was used to evaluate calcium deposition.

In vivo investigation of tissue-engineered periosteum for the repair of allogeneic critical size bone defects in rabbits.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of tissue-engineered periosteum (TEP) in repairing allogenic bone defects in the long term.

Materials & Methods: TEP was biofabricated with osteoinduced rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS). A total of 24 critical sized defects were created bilaterally in radii of 12 New Zealand White rabbits.

Interleukin-6 -572C/G polymorphism is associated with serum interleukin-6 levels and risk of idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional proinflammatory cytokine that is elevated in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of IL-6 have been reported to transcriptional regulate the expression of IL-6. The aim of the present study is to investigate the roles of two common polymorphisms (-572C/G [rs1800796] and -6331T/C [rs10499563]) of IL-6 in idiopathic PAH (IPAH).

Treatment and outcome prognosis of patients with high-energy transsyndesmotic ankle fracture dislocation-the "Logsplitter" injury.

Background: This study aimed to retrospectively review the clinical efficacy of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) for treatment of high-energy transsyndesmotic ankle fracture dislocation-the "Logsplitter" injury.

Methods: Between December 2006 and December 2014, 41 patients (29 males and 12 females; mean age, 41.46 ± 13.

Minimally invasive (sinus tarsi) approach for calcaneal fractures.

Background: According to the anatomic characteristics of the calcaneus and the sinus tarsi approach, we designed a combined plate. The goal of this study was to retrospectively assess the functional outcomes and complications of treatment with our self-designed plate.

Methods: From March 2014 to October 2015, 18 patients with closed calcaneal fractures (14 Sanders type II and 4 type III) were treated with our combined locking plate through a minimally invasive sinus tarsi approach.

Heterogeneity of glycometabolism in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus: Retrospective study of 1,683 pregnant women.

Aims/introduction: To evaluate the glycometabolism and outcomes of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) patients according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group (IADPSG) criteria in China.

Materials And Methods: According to the results of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test, 1,683 pregnant women were divided into three groups: (i) an increment GDM group (patients meet the IADPSG criteria, but not the previous Chinese criteria); (ii) a stock GDM group (patients meet both criteria); and (iii) a normal glucose tolerance group. Their glycometabolism outcomes, prepregnancy and postpartum body mass index were compared, as were maternal-fetal outcomes.

In vitro study of bioactivity of homemade tissue-engineered periosteum.

This study was aimed to evaluate in vitro bioactivity of tissue-engineered periosteum (TEP) which was fabricated by coupling either rabbits' MSCs or osteodifferentiated MSCs (O-MSCs) with porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS), and that produced two kinds of TEPs (M1=MSCs+SIS and M2=Osteoblast+SIS). The cell adherence was observed under scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Cell proliferation was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl]-2,5-diphenyl-2 H-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) test.

Research note. Clinical reports and analysis of patients with clinical manifestations of migraine-like headache and unruptured aneurysm.

A retrospective analysis of three cases of clinical manifestations of migraine-like headache, including clinical features, imaging findings, and follow-up results was done to explore the potential correlation between migraine and unruptured aneurysm. Clinical data and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) results were retrospectively analyzed. All three patients met the diagnostic criteria for migraine without aura stated in the second edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, established by the International Headache Society in 2004.

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.

Silence of STIM1 attenuates the proliferation and migration of EPCs after vascular injury and its mechanism.

Objective: To investigate the effect of stromal interaction molecule 1(STIM1) knockdown on the proliferation and migration of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) after vascular injury and its mechanism.

Methods: The rat bone marrow derived EPCs were divided into three groups: adenovirus negative control (group NSC), rat STIM1 adenovirus vector transfection group (group si/rSTIM1) and rat &human recombinant STIM1 adenovirus transfection group (group si/rSTIM1+hSTIM1). The STIM1 expressions in each group were detected by reverse transcription PCR after transfection; the cell proliferation was tested by [(3)H] thymidine incorporation assay ((3)H-TdR); Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry; the cells' migration activity was detected by Boyden assay; Calcium ion concentration was detected by using laser confocal method.