Long-Term Survival of Patients With Chemotherapy-Naïve Metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Receiving Cetuximab Plus Docetaxel and Cisplatin Regimen.

Metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (mNPC) remains incurable. This prospective study aimed to investigate whether adding cetuximab to cisplatin-based induction therapy could improve efficacy and survival for chemotherapy-naïve mNPC patients. Eligible chemotherapy-naïve mNPC patients were enrolled, including those initially diagnosed with mNPC (IM) and those with first-relapse metastases after radiotherapy (RM).

Ribonuclease T2 from Aspergillus fumigatus promotes T helper type 2 responses through M2 polarization of macrophages.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is an allergic immunological response to Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) exposure, which induces a strong T helper 2 (Th2) response via mechanisms that have yet to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the hypothesis that T2 ribonuclease from Af (Af RNASET2) induces M2‑type macrophage polarization to produce a T helper 2 (Th2) immune response. Recombinant Af RNASET2 (rAf RNASET2) was expressed and purified in a prokaryotic pET system and BALB/c mice were immunized with rAf RNASET2 for in vivo analyses.

High Glucose Exacerbates TNF--Induced Proliferative Inhibition in Human Periodontal Ligament Stem Cells through Upregulation and Activation of TNF Receptor 1.

Objective: This research is aimed at investigating how high glucose affects the proliferation and apoptosis in periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) in the presence of TNF-.

Methods: PDLSCs obtained from periodontal healthy permanent teeth were treated under either high-glucose condition (30 mmol/L, G30 group) or normal glucose condition (5.6 mmol/L, G5.

Staphylococcus aureus with an erm-mediated constitutive macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance phenotype has reduced susceptibility to the new ketolide, solithromycin.

Background: Solithromycin, the fourth generation of ketolides, has been demonstrated potent antibacterial effect against commonly-isolated gram-positive strains. However, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains with a higher solithromycin MIC have already been emerged, the mechanism of which is unknown.

Linezolid Consumption Facilitates the Development of Linezolid Resistance in in a Tertiary-Care Hospital: A 5-Year Surveillance Study.

Although case reports and clinical studies of linezolid (LZD)-resistant (LREF) have gradually increased in recent years, the relationship between LZD resistance and antibiotic consumption in hospital settings still remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the dynamic relationship between the yearly detection frequency of LREF clinical isolates and yearly consumption of LZD and vancomycin (VCM) over a 5-year period in a Chinese hospital setting. Antibiotic consumption data (LZD and VCM) from 2011 to 2015 were obtained from a computerized database and recalculated as the defined daily doses (DDDs) per 100 bed-days (DBD).

Comparison between human infections caused by highly and low pathogenic H7N9 avian influenza viruses in Wave Five: Clinical and virological findings.

Objective: The newly emerged highly pathogenic (HP) H7N9 avian influenza virus during Wave Five has caused 28 human infections, while differences in disease severity between low pathogenic (LP)- and HP-H7N9 human infections remain unclear.

Methods: Clinical data, concentrations of serum cytokines, dynamics of virus shedding and PaO/FiO from patients infected with LP-H7N9 (n = 7, LP group) and HP-H7N9 (n = 5, HP group) viruses during Wave Five were compared. In addition, critical mutations associated with H7N9 virulence in mammal/human were analyzed.

Extent of Lung Involvement and Serum Cryptococcal Antigen Test in Non-Human Immunodeficiency Virus Adult Patients with Pulmonary Cryptococcosis.

Background: Serum cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) test is the most used noninvasive method to detect cryptococcal infection. However, false-negative CrAg test is not uncommon in clinical practice. Then, the aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with false-negative CrAg test among non-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) adult patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis and its clinical features.

GLP-1 Analogue Liraglutide Enhances SP-A Expression in LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury through the TTF-1 Signaling Pathway.

The reduction of pulmonary surfactant (PS) is essential for decreased pulmonary compliance and edema in acute lung injury (ALI). Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) plays a major role in the regulation of surfactant protein-A (SP-A), the most abundant protein component of PS. Simultaneously, the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogue can enhance SP-A expression in the lung.

In vitro-induced erythromycin resistance facilitates cross-resistance to the novel fluoroketolide, solithromycin, in Staphylococcus aureus.

The aim of this study was to determine whether in vitro induced erythromycin resistance facilitates the cross-resistance to the novel fluoroketolide, solithromycin, in Staphylococcus aureus. Four strains of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus strains S2, S3, S5 and S7 were successfully induced to establish erythromycin-resistant strains by continuous in vitro culture with erythromycin.

Rate of Adjacent Segment Degeneration of Cervical Disc Arthroplasty Versus Fusion Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: The concern of adjacent segment disease (ASD) has led to the development of motion-preserving technologies, such as cervical disc arthroplasty (CDA). However, there is still controversy whether CDA is superior to anterior cervical decompression and fusion (ACDF) as to the incidence of ASD. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the rate of ASD between CDA and ACDF.

High glucose induces podocyte epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition by demethylation‑mediated enhancement of MMP9 expression.

Abnormal expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) is correlated with podocyte epithelial-to---mesenchymal transition (EMT) in diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the mechanisms underlying this process are not well defined. Site‑specific demethylation may sustain high expression levels of target genes.

Long noncoding RNA ENSRNOG00000037522 is involved in the podocyte epithelial‑mesenchymal transition in diabetic rats.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common complications associated with type I and II diabetes mellitus. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in various physiological and pathological processes, and recent evidence has demonstrated that they are involved in the process of the epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT). In the present study, the potential functions of lncRNA ENSRNOG00000037522 during the EMT process in DN were investigated.

Effect of tedizolid on clinical Enterococcus isolates: in vitro activity, distribution of virulence factor, resistance genes and multilocus sequence typing.

Enterococcal infections have become one of the most challenging nosocomial problems. Tedizolid, the second oxazolidinone, is 4-fold to 8-fold more potent in vivo and in vitro than linezolid against enterococci. However, the characteristics of tedizolid related to enterococci isolates in China remain elusive.

Scalp acupuncture plus low-frequency rTMS promotes repair of brain white matter tracts in stroke patients: A DTI study.

To study the clinical effects of scalp acupuncture plus low frequency rTMS in hemiplegic stroke patients. A total of 28 hemiplegic stroke patients were recruited and randomly assigned to the experimental group (scalp acupuncture low frequency rTMS routine rehabilitation treatment) or the control group (scalp acupuncture routine rehabilitation treatment). All patients received a diffusion tensor imaging examination on the day of admission and on the fourteenth day.

Electroacupuncture Stimulation of Language-Implicated Acupoint Tongli (HT 5) in Healthy Subjects: An fMRI Evaluation Study.

Objective: To explore brain activations associated with electroacupuncture simulation at Tongli (HT 5) and its comparison with brain activations during picture-naming task.

Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Half of them received electroacupuncture stimulation at HT 5 (ACUP group) and the other half of them received stimulation at a nonmeridian sham acupoint (SHAM group).

Rhabdomyolysis, lactic acidosis, and multiple organ failure during telbivudine treatment for hepatitis B: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Telbivudine can cause severe side effects, including myositis, neuritis, rhabdomyolysis, and lactic acidosis. However, reported cases of telbivudine leading to multiple organ failure are rare. Here, we report a case of telbivudine-induced severe polymyositis, lactic acidosis, and multiple organ failure.

Deferoxamine synergizes with transforming growth factor-β signaling in chondrogenesis.

Osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative arthritis or degenerative joint disease, is an epidemic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Despite extensive recent work on the cellular biology of osteoarthritis, the precise mechanisms involved are still poorly understood and there is no effective treatment for this disease. The role of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in promoting chondrogenesis and inducing the expression of cartilage-specific extracellular matrix molecules to form cartilage is well-established.

Advanced oxidation protein products induce hepatocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition via a ROS-dependent, TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurs during the progression of liver fibrosis in response to chronic liver injury. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the regulation of hepatocyte EMT remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) had an effect on hepatocyte EMT.

A multi-shRNA vector enhances the silencing efficiency of exogenous and endogenous genes in human cells.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful technology for suppressing gene function. In most studies, small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) consist of one short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and, therefore, are often unable to achieve loss-of-function of their target genes. In the current study, an RNAi vector containing three shRNAs under the control of three RNA polymerase III U6 promoters was constructed.

Anti-bacterial and Anti-biofilm Evaluation of Thiazolopyrimidinone Derivatives Targeting the Histidine Kinase YycG Protein of .

Staphylococcus epidermidis is one of the most important opportunistic pathogens in nosocomial infections. The main pathogenicity associated with involves the formation of biofilms on implanted medical devices, biofilms dramatically decrease the efficacy of conventional antibiotics and the host immune system. This emphasizes the urgent need for designing novel anti-staphylococcal biofilm agents.

Bloodstream infections caused by Enterococcus spp: A 10-year retrospective analysis at a tertiary hospital in China.

In order to discover the risk factors for 30-day mortality in bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by Enterococcus spp. strains, we explored the clinical and therapeutic profile of patients with Enterococcus spp. BSI and the characteristics of this condition.

Long non-coding RNA XIST promotes cell growth by regulating miR-139-5p/PDK1/AKT axis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abnormal expression of long non-coding RNA often contributes to unrestricted growth of cancer cells. Long non-coding RNA XIST expression is upregulated in several cancers; however, its modulatory mechanisms have not been reported in hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we found that XIST expression was significantly increased in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and cell lines.