Neuroprotective effects of an Nrf2 agonist on high glucose-induced damage in HT22 cells.

Background: Oxidative stress is the hallmark of diabetic encephalopathy, which may be caused by hyperglycaemic toxicity. We aimed to discover pharmacologic targets to restore redox homeostasis. We identified the transcription factor Nrf2 as such a target.

Abnormal resting-state regional homogeneity in unmedicated bipolar II disorder.

Background: Previous studies demonstrated that patients with bipolar disorder (BD) exhibited abnormal neural activity in multiple brain regions. However, no study has been conducted to identify regional intrinsic neural activity changes in BD II. In the present study, we used the regional homogeneity (ReHo) approach to explore the regional abnormal neural activity in bipolar II disorder METHODS: One hundred unmedicated patients with BD II depression and 100 healthy controls (HC) underwent the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

Disrupted functional connectivity within the default mode network and salience network in unmedicated bipolar II disorder.

Background: Recent studies demonstrate that functional disruption in resting-state networks contributes to cognitive and affective symptoms of bipolar disorder (BD), however, the functional connectivity (FC) pattern underlying BD II depression within the default mode network (DMN), salience network (SN), and frontoparietal network (FPN) is still not well understood. The primary aim of this study was to explore whether the pathophysiology of BD II derived from the pattern of FC within the DMN, SN, and FPN by using seed-based FC approach of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).

Methods: Ninety-six BD II patients and 100 HCs underwent rs-fMRI and three-dimensional structural data acquisition.

The role of ERK and Smad2 signal pathways in the alternatively activated macrophages induced by TGF-β1 and high-ambient glucose.

Macrophages can be alternatively activated by TGF-β1 and high-ambient glucose, in which the role of Smad2 and the crosstalk between ERK and Smad2 pathways are not fully understood. The activation of ERK and Smad2 pathways and the expression of arginase-1 were detected by Western blot. The role of Smad2 and the relationship between ERK and Smad2 pathways were investigated by using biochemical inhibitors.

Development and external validation of nomograms to predict the risk of skeletal metastasis at the time of diagnosis and skeletal metastasis-free survival in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Background: The skeletal system is the most common site of distant metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC); various prognostic factors have been reported for skeletal metastasis, though most studies have focused on a single factor. We aimed to establish nomograms to effectively predict skeletal metastasis at initial diagnosis (SMAD) and skeletal metastasis-free survival (SMFS) in NPC.

Methods: A total of 2685 patients with NPC who received bone scintigraphy (BS) and/or 18F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and 2496 patients without skeletal metastasis were retrospectively assessed to develop individual nomograms for SMAD and SMFS.

[Influences of inferior mesenteric artery types and Riolan artery arcade absence on the incidence of anastomotic leakage after laparoscopic resection of rectal cancer].

Objective: To evaluate the influences of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) types and Riolan artery arcade absence on the incidence of anastomotic leakage(AL) after laparoscopic resection of rectal cancer.

Methods: Clinical data of 116 local advanced rectal cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic resection in The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 2012 to December 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. IMA and Riolan artery arcade were examined by preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) reconstruction.

Prostate tumor overexpressed-1, in conjunction with human papillomavirus status, predicts outcome in early-stage human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

In human cancer, molecular markers combined with clinical characteristics are used increasingly to predict prognosis. Prostate tumor overexpressed-1 (PTOV1), first identified in prostate cancer, is a key factor in tumor progression and correlates with unfavorable clinical outcomes. HPV infection status was tested by HPV E6-targeted multiplex real-time PCR and p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Development and External Validation of Nomograms for Predicting Survival in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients after Definitive Radiotherapy.

The distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) and overall survival (OS) differ significantly among individuals even within the same clinical stages. The purpose of this retrospective study was to build nomograms incorporating plasma EBV DNA for predicting DMFS and OS of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients after definitive radiotherapy. A total of 1168 non-metastatic NPC patients from two institutions were included to develop the nomograms.

The potential signaling pathway between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma and retinoic acid receptor alpha in renal interstitial fibrosis disease.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ (PPARγ) can regulate the process of cell apoptosis and is related to the progression of renal disorders. Retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) is one of the nuclear receptors involved in a variety of kidney diseases. Renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) is a common denominator of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Effects of an oral allosteric AKT inhibitor (MK-2206) on human nasopharyngeal cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Aim: Protein kinase B (AKT) signaling frequently is deregulated in human cancers and plays an important role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This preclinical study investigated the effect of MK-2206, a potent allosteric AKT inhibitor, on human NPC cells in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: The effect of MK-2206 on the growth and proliferation of CNE-1, CNE-2, HONE-1, and SUNE-1 cells was assessed by Cell Counting Kit 8 and colony formation assay.

[Study on preparaion of nongsuo danggui dispersible tablets and determination of its dissolution].

Objective: To prepare nongsuo danggui dispersible tablets and determine its dissolution.

Methods: The dissolution of the tablets was determined by HPLC.

Results: The linear range of ferulic acid was 0.