Zoster duplex: a clinical report and etiologic analysis.

Objective: Herpes zoster (HZ) duplex is a rare disease presentation. The mechanisms of varicella zoster virus (VZV) reactivation in multiple dermal regions are unknown. To present a HZ duplex case occurring in an immunocompetent woman and to analyze the possible underlying causes of HZ duplex.

MicroRNA-539 suppresses osteosarcoma cell invasion and migration in vitro and targeting Matrix metallopeptidase-8.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a class of small, non-coding RNA that involved in different cancer-related processes. Previous studies have been indicated miR-539 as a tumor suppressor during tumorigenesis. However, the role of miR-539 in osteosarcoma is still unclear.

Clinical efficacy and safety of ICS/LABA in patients with combined idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.

The study aim was to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)/long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA) in combined with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. 45 patients with combined idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) who were treated with ICS/LABA (Group A), 24 patients with CPFE who were treated without ICS/LABA (Group B) and 35 patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) (Group C) were enrolled into this study. Then, clinical efficacy and safety of ICS/LABA was analyzed through lung function scores and lung high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans.

Protective effects of LM22A-4 on injured spinal cord nerves.

Objective: The goal of this study was to elucidate the protection by and potential mechanisms of LM22A-4, a specific agonist of tyrosine kinase receptor B, against spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Spinal cord trauma was induced by the application of vascular clips to the dura of mice via a four-level T7-T11 laminectomy. Thirty minutes after the injury, an abdominal injection of LM22A-4 (at dosages of 10 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg) or an equal volume of solvent was provided.

Effects of dexmedetomidine on the protection of hyperoxia-induced lung injury in newborn rats.

Dexmedetomidine (Dex) is a specific agonist of α2-adrenoceptor and was reported to have protective effect on a variety of organs, however the effect of Dex on hyperoxia-induced lung injury remains unknown. In the present study, Dex was administrated to newborn rats and its effect against hyperoxia-induced lung injury was examined. The results showed that, Dex significantly attenuated the aberration, macrophage infiltration, inflammatory responses and pulmonary edema induced by hyperoxia.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate neurological deficits and blood-brain barrier dysfunction after intracerebral hemorrhage in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a common and fatal subtype of stroke, with hypertension the most common cause of this disorder. Bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) have been shown to elicit protective properties in stroke models. In the present study, male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were subjected to ICH by intracerebral injection with autologous blood, Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were employed as control.

miR-218 modulate hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation through PTEN/AKT/PI3K pathway and HoxA10.

Purpose: To investigate the regulatory mechanism of miR-218 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: qPCR was used to compare the expression levels miR-218 among six hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and normal liver tissues. After transfecting MHCC97L cells with either miR-218 mimics or miR-218 inhibitor, western blotting was used to examine the expressing patterns of cyclinD1, p21, and PTEN/AKT/PI3K signaling pathway-related proteins.

[Testosterone has beneficial effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells].

Aim: To investigate the influences of testosterone with varied concentrations on the functions of HUVEC.

Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells within 2-3 passages were cultured with testosterone (3 x 10(-10) to 3 x 10(-8), 3 x 10(-6), 3 x 10(-5) mol/ L), and the control confluent cells were cultured in the same medium without steroid. MTT experiment was repeated for 7 days to investigate each groups' cell proliferation.