Serum fetuin-A levels in patients with cardiovascular disease: a meta-analysis.

Background: Fetuin-A (FA) suppresses arterial calcification, promotes insulin resistance, and appears to be elevated in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the data is still inconsistent. To clarify the correlation between serum FA levels and the presence and severity of CVDs, we performed this meta-analysis.

Method: Potential relevant studies were identified covering the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CISCOM, CINAHL, Google Scholar, China BioMedicine (CBM), and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases.

Chinese guidelines for endovascular management of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.

Endovascular technology was initially applied in treating peripheral vascular disease and was further developed in managing coronary artery disease. During the latest two decades, it has been introduced into the arena of cerebrovascular diseases, which has garnered attention and research interests.

Association of tagging SNPs in the MTHFR gene with risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and serum homocysteine levels in a Chinese population.

Diabetes is a global public health crisis, and the prevalence is increasing rapidly. Folate supplementation is proved to be effective in reducing the risk of diabetes or improving its symptoms. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is an important enzyme involved in folate metabolism.

Anatomical study of insula and its relationship with the adjacent structures.

Introduction: Insular lobe is folded deep in the sylvian fissure, and the transsylvian transinsular approach is one of the most commonly used methods for lesions in the insula, basal ganglia, amygdala, and hippocampus. Hence, it is essential for surgeons to master a specific anatomic knowledge of the insula and its adjacent structures. This study aims to locate the insula, measure relevant parameters, and reduce the occurrence of surgical injury and postoperative complications.

The surgical treatment of three young chronic subdural hematoma patients with different causes.

Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH), which rarely happens in the young, is thought to be a disease of the elderly. Whereas unspecific symptoms and insidious onset in juveniles and young adults, as a result of its relative low morbidity, CSDH is usually neglected even undertreated in the young. Through the three cases and review of the current literature on this subject, we tried to illustrate the clinical and etiopathological characteristics of this entity and find out the most appropriate treatment strategy.

Inhibitory effects of a polysaccharide extract from the Chaga medicinal mushroom, Inonotus obliquus (higher Basidiomycetes), on the proliferation of human neurogliocytoma cells.

This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory roles of a polysaccharide extract from Inonotus obliquus on U251 human neurogliocytoma cells cultured in vitro. After administering the polysaccharide extract from I. obliquus to U251 cells cultivated in vitro, methyl thiazolyl tetrazoliym assay was performed to measure the inhibitory effects of the extract on tumor cell proliferation.

Knockdown of toll-like receptor 4 inhibits human NSCLC cancer cell growth and inflammatory cytokine secretion in vitro and in vivo.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-mediated signaling has been implicated in tumor cell invasion, survival and metastasis in several types of cancers. However, the expression of TLR4 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its biological function in the development and progression of NSCLC have not been elucidated to date. Here, we sought to characterize the expression of TLR4 in patients with NSCLC and to investigate the biological roles of TLR4 in lung metastasis, cell invasion and survival.

MiR-29b protects dorsal root ganglia neurons from diabetic rat.

Accumulated evidences implicated that microRNAs may be involved in diabetic neuropathy. Here, we investigated miR-29's roles in primary isolated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons from STZ-induced diabetic rats. First, miR-29b was found down-regulated after STZ-injection.

Relative location of foramen ovale, foramen lacerum, and foramen spinosum in Hartel pathway.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a common disease in Chinese people. Minimal invasive transforaminal pathway is widely used in treating trigeminal neuralgia. The Hartel pathway is the most commonly used operation route, but it has potential to injure vessels such as arteria meningea media and the internal carotid artery.

Is brain damage really involved in the pathogenesis of obstructive sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome is a surprisingly complex and highly individualized disease, with different factors contributing toward the disease process. Many factors can induce OSA disease, such as hypertrophy uvula, adenoidectomy, tonsil caused by mechanical obstruction of the airway, airway obstruction on obesity cause of decubitus, etc.; in addition, abnormal structure and function of the central nervous system (CNS) is also one of the important factors.

Emerging new trends in neurosurgical technologies.

There has been tremendous progress in the modern day technologies causing a rapid evolution in the field of neurosurgery. The neurosurgeons have been equipped with the latest advancements such as the use of robotics in surgery, the image-guided neurosurgical procedures, and the stereotactic neurosurgery. In addition, the preoperative screening techniques have drastically improved the success of the surgical procedure.

Characterization of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells following tissue mass culture.

The human umbilical cord represents a promising resource of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In order to improve our understanding of MSCs derived from human umbilical cord (UC-MSCs), we isolated UC-MSCs from human umbilical cord tissues through a direct culture approach. We performed a comprehensive characterization of these cells based on analyses of morphology, growth features, cell surface antigen markers and differentiation capacity.

Nanopore film based enrichment and quantification of low abundance hepcidin from human bodily fluids.

Unlabelled: Endogenous peptides that represent biological and pathological information of disease have attracted interest for diagnosis. However, the extraction of those low abundance peptides is still a challenge because of the complexity of human bodily fluids (HBF). Hepcidin, a peptide hormone, has been recognized as a biomarker for iron-related diseases.

Association of functional FEN1 genetic variants and haplotypes and breast cancer risk.

Aim: As a tumor suppressor, FEN1 plays an essential role in preventing tumorigenesis. Two functional germline variants (-69G>A and 4150G>T) in the FEN1 gene have been associated with DNA damage levels in coke-oven workers and multiple cancer risk in general populations. However, it is still unknown how these genetic variants are involved in breast cancer susceptibility.

Identification of three novel mutations in the FRMD7 gene for X-linked idiopathic congenital nystagmus.

Idiopathic congenital nystagmus (ICN) consists of involuntary and periodic ocular motility, often with seriously reduced visual acuity. To identify the genetic defects associated with X-linked ICN, we performed PCR-based DNA direct sequencing of two candidate genes, FRMD7 and GPR143, in four families. Mutation analysis led to identification of three novel mutations, p.

Occluded middle cerebral artery vascular stump mimicking aneurysm: case report and review of literature.

The stump of an occluded middle cerebral artery (MCA) is a rare but important aneurysm mimic. A 57-year-old male was admitted due to recurrent onset of transient ischemic attack. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed a total obstruction in the right MCA with moyamoya phenomenon at distal trunks and a protruding lesion in the left MCA bifurcation.

Effects of immediate blood pressure reduction on death and major disability in patients with acute ischemic stroke: the CATIS randomized clinical trial.

Importance: Although the benefit of reducing blood pressure for primary and secondary prevention of stroke has been established, the effect of antihypertensive treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke is uncertain.

Objective: To evaluate whether immediate blood pressure reduction in patients with acute ischemic stroke would reduce death and major disability at 14 days or hospital discharge.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke, a single-blind, blinded end-points randomized clinical trial, conducted among 4071 patients with nonthrombolysed ischemic stroke within 48 hours of onset and elevated systolic blood pressure.

Microarray‑based identification of nerve growth‑promoting genes in neurofibromatosis type I.

As a genetic disease, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is characterized by abnormalities in multiple tissues derived from the neural crest, including neoplasms in the ends of the limbs. The exact mechanism of nerve growth in NF1 is unclear. In the present study, the gene expression profile of nerves in healthy controls and NF1 patients with macrodactylia of the fingers or toes were analyzed in order to identify possible genes associated with nerve growth.

The tissue-selecting technique: segmental stapled hemorrhoidopexy.

We describe a technique for the management of prolapsing hemorrhoids, with the aim to minimize the risk of anal stricture and rectovaginal fistula and to reduce the impact of the stapling technique on rectal compliance. This modified procedure was successfully applied in China, and preliminary data showed promising outcomes (see Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, http://links.lww.

Elevated serum ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 levels in patients with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Objective: Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) has been established as a reliable and potential biomarker of neuronal damage after acute neurologic insults, such as ischemic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and traumatic brain injury. However, the effect of serum UCH-L1 levels has not been investigated in carbon monoxide (CO)-poisoned patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether serum UCH-L1 levels are a reliable marker of brain damage and the association of UCH-L1 with outcome.

Cognitive correlates of interictal epileptiform discharges in adult patients with epilepsy in China.

Objective: Learning difficulties or cognitive impairment has been observed in many patients with epilepsy. Evidence from neurophysiologic and functional neuroimaging suggests that epileptic seizures and/or epileptiform activity can be the dominant factors inhibiting specific brain areas. However, most previous studies were focused on cognitive performance in children.

Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery: report of two cases.

Cystic adventitial disease (CAD) of the popliteal artery is a rare vascular disorder in which a mucin-containing cyst develops in the adventitial layer of the artery. We report two such cases, each of which was treated differently. The first case was of a 49-year-old man, treated by excision of the involved arterial segment and interposition of an autologous saphenous vein graft.

Expression and clinical significance of connective tissue growth factor in thyroid carcinomas.

Objectives: To examine expression of the connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) gene in human thyroid cancer and establish whether a correlation exists between the presence of CTGF protein and clinicopathological parameters of the disease.

Methods: CTGF protein expression was investigated retrospectively by immunohistochemical analysis of CTGF protein levels in thyroid tumour tissue. Associations between immunohistochemical score and several clinicopathological parameters were examined.