Dispersive solid-phase extraction followed by vortex-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on the solidification of a floating organic droplet for the determination of benzoylurea insecticides in soil and sewage sludge.

A novel dispersive solid-phase extraction combined with vortex-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction based on solidification of floating organic droplet was developed for the determination of eight benzoylurea insecticides in soil and sewage sludge samples before high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. The analytes were first extracted from the soil and sludge samples into acetone under optimized pretreatment conditions. Clean-up of the extract was conducted by dispersive solid-phase extraction using activated carbon as the sorbent.

Evolution of DNA aptamers for malignant brain tumor gliosarcoma cell recognition and clinical tissue imaging.

Gliosarcoma, a variant of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is a highly invasive malignant tumor. Unfortunately, this disease still marked by poor prognosis regardless of modern treatments. It is of great significance to discover specific molecular probes targeting gliosarcoma for early cancer diagnosis and therapy.

Case-control study of GRIA1 and GRIA3 gene variants in migraine.

Background: As the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, glutamate has been accepted to play a major role in the pathophysiology of migraine. The previous studies have reported the glutamate receptor ionotropic GRIA1 and GRIA3 genes variants associated with migraine. The project aims to investigate the polymorphisms in both genes for their association with migraine in the Chinese Han population.

Prehypertensive treatment with losartan, however not amlodipine, leads to long-term effects on blood pressure and reduces the risk of stroke in spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats.

The current study investigated the efficacy of losartan and amlodipine in protecting spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone (SHRSP) rats against the risk of stroke. SHRSP rats were administered losartan, amlodipine or the vehicle for 6 weeks. There were no significant differences in systolic blood pressure (SBP) in rats treated with losartan or amlodipine, however, following drug withdrawal, rats treated with losartan maintained reduced SBP for a longer time compared with rats treated with amlodipine.

The drug-drug interaction of sorafenib mediated by P-glycoprotein and CYP3A4.

1. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential drug-drug interaction of sorafenib mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). 2.

Opposing actions of TRPV4 channel activation in the lung vasculature.

Objectives: Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) calcium channels are known to promote endothelium-dependent relaxation of mouse mesenteric arteries but TRPV4's role in the pulmonary vasculature is uncertain. Thus, we characterized TRPV4 channel vascular tone regulation in mouse main pulmonary artery rings and in the isolated perfused pulmonary circulation and studied possible mechanisms behind these characterizations.

Methods And Results: Using myography and a TRPV4 specific agonist GSK1016790A in a C57BL/6 WT mouse model of isolated constant-flow lung perfusion, we studied vascular tone regulation in arterial rings from the main left and right pulmonary arteries and vascular resistance of the intra-pulmonary circulation beyond the second branches of the pulmonary arteries.

Retractorless Surgery for Anterior Circulation Aneurysms via a Pterional Keyhole Approach.

Brain retraction is required during many intracranial procedures to provide more working space. However, it is difficult to avoid brain retraction injury. Here, we report on retractorless surgery for anterior circulation aneurysms via a pterional keyhole approach.

The Effect of Statin Therapy on Coronary Plaque Composition Using Virtual Histology Intravascular Ultrasound: A Meta-Analysis.

Objective: Previous studies have indicated that statin therapy may promote plaque regression. However, the impact of statin therapy on plaque composition has not been clearly elucidated. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the effect of statin therapy on coronary plaque composition as assessed by virtual histology intravascular ultrasound (VH-IVUS).

A proteomic analysis of transplanted liver in a rat model of chronic rejection.

Background: Chronic rejection (CR) is an important cause of liver allograft failure. In the latter condition, re-transplantation of the liver (ReLT) is the only option for survival. Unfortunately, with the current state of knowledge, it is difficult to diagnose and treat early CR.

Diagnostic advantages of intratympanically gadolinium contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in patients with bilateral Meniere's disease.

Purpose: The aim of the study is to probe whether intratympanically gadolinium contrast-enhanced three-dimensional fluid-attenuated inversion recovery magnetic resonance imaging, together with magnetic resonance imaging scoring system of the perilymphatic space, had advantages in diagnosing patients with bilateral Meniere's disease.

Materials And Methods: Eight patients diagnosed as 'definite' bilateral Meniere's disease and two patients considered as 'possible' Meniere's disease were selected for the current study. All ten patients underwent caloric test, vestibular evoked myogenic potential and intratympanically gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

Selection of DNA aptamers against epidermal growth factor receptor with high affinity and specificity.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/HER1/c-ErbB1), is overexpressed in many solid cancers, such as epidermoid carcinomas, malignant gliomas, etc. EGFR plays roles in proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis of malignant cancer cells and is the ideal antigen for clinical applications in cancer detection, imaging and therapy. Aptamers, the output of the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX), are DNA/RNA oligonucleotides which can bind protein and other substances with specificity.

Protection from vascular endothelial dysfunction in acute glycemic load-induced primary hypertension by vitamin C and E.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of acute glycemic load on vascular endothelial function in patients with hypertension and to evaluate the protective effect of vitamins C and E during the acute glycemic phase. We randomly selected 39 hypertensive patients and 21 normal subjects and divided them into 3 groups: 75 g oral glucose (glycemic load group), 75 g glucose+0.9 g vitamin C (VC group), 75 g glucose+2 g vitamin C+0.

Glutamate/glutamine metabolism coupling between astrocytes and glioma cells: neuroprotection and inhibition of glioma growth.

Glioma glutamate release has been shown to promote the growth of glioma cells and induce neuronal injuries from epilepsy to neuronal death. However, potential counteractions from normal astrocytes against glioma glutamate release have not been fully evaluated. In this study, we investigated the glutamate/glutamine cycling between glioma cells and astrocytes and their impact on neuronal function.

Overexpressing neuroglobin improves functional recovery by inhibiting neuronal apoptosis after spinal cord injury.

The current study was performed to evaluate the mechanisms and therapeutic effects of overexpressing neuroglobin (Ngb) on spinal cord injury (SCI). Adeno-associated virus (AAV) was injected in the T12 section 7 days before SCI. Animals were randomly divided into four groups: a sham group, a vehicle group, an AAV-EGFP group and an AAV-Ngb group.

[Anti-fibrosis effects of fenofibrate in mice with hepatic fibrosis].

Objective: To investigate the anti-fibrosis effects and mechanisms of fenofibrate on hepatic fibrosis using a mouse model of fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

Methods: Twenty-six male C57BL mice were divided into the following three groups: CCL4-induced untreated model control (n = 10), CCl4-induced fenofibrate-treated model (n = 10), and uninduced/untreated normal control (n = 6). All animals were sacrificed after the 5 weeks of induction and treatment.

The effect of FFAR1 on pioglitazone-mediated attenuation of palmitic acid-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in βTC6 cells.

Objective: We sought to determine whether free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1), a receptor for free fatty acids on the β-cell membrane, can mediate the pioglitazone (PIO)-attenuating effect on lipoapoptosis in β cells and its relationship to oxidative stress.

Methods: The glucose-sensitive mouse beta pancreatic cell line βTC6 was used to investigate the effect of FFAR1 on PIO-attenuating palmitic acid (PA)-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Results: (1) PIO reduced PA-induced lipoapoptosis in β cells and upregulated the expression of FFAR1 at the mRNA and protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Long-term prehypertension treatment with losartan effectively prevents brain damage and stroke in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Prehypertension has been associated with adverse cerebrovascular events and brain damage. The aims of this study were to investigate ⅰ) whether short‑ and long-term treatments with losartan or amlodipine for prehypertension were able to prevent blood pressure (BP)-linked brain damage, and ⅱ) whether there is a difference in the effectiveness of treatment with losartan and amlodipine in protecting BP-linked brain damage. In the present study, prehypertensive treatment with losartan and amlodipine (6 and 16 weeks treatment with each drug) was performed on 4-week‑old stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP).

One-year follow-up period after transumbilical thoracic sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis: outcomes and consequences.

Objectives: Thoracic sympathectomy is considered the most effective method to treat palmar hyperhidrosis. We developed a novel approach for thoracic sympathectomy in patients with palmar hyperhidrosis through the umbilicus, using an ultrathin gastroscope. The aim of this study was to evaluate the continuing efficacy and patient satisfaction of this innovative surgery.

Differential effects of antihypertensive treatments on apoptosis, oxidative stress, and expression of angiotensin receptors in the cerebral cortex from the onset of prehypertension and hypertension in stroke-prone spontaneous hypertensive rats.

To investigate the effects of losartan and amlodipine on cell apoptosis in the cerebral cortex of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) from the onset of prehypertension or hypertension. SHRSP were randomly divided into five experimental groups that were administered losartan, amlodipine (n=8 in each group; 4 weeks old or 10 weeks old), or vehicle, respectively. Wistar-Kyoto rats were used as control animals.

FIM-A, a phosphorus-containing sirolimus, inhibits the angiogenesis and proliferation of osteosarcomas.

The mTOR pathway is a central control of cell growth, proliferation, metabolism, and survival, and is deregulated in most cancers. Cancer cells are addicted to increased activity of mTOR kinase-mediated signaling pathways, leading to numerous inhibitors of mTOR signaling in preclinic and clinical trials for cancer therapy. Phosphorus-containing sirolimus (FIM-A), which targets mTOR signaling, inhibits cancer cell growth in vitro.

Knockdown of DEPTOR inhibits cell proliferation and increases chemosensitivity to melphalan in human multiple myeloma RPMI-8226 cells via inhibiting PI3K/AKT activity.

Objective: The present study determined the role of DEP domain containing mTOR-interacting protein (DEPTOR) in the proliferation, apoptosis and chemosensitivity of RPMI-8226 multiple myeloma cells, using small hairpin RNA (shRNA) to knock down DEPTOR gene expression in vitro.

Methods: DEPTOR mRNA and protein levels in RPMI-8226 cells treated with DEPTOR-specific shRNA were evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Expression of apoptosis-associated proteins (including cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly-ADP ribose polymerase [PARP]) and activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homologue 1 (AKT) signalling pathway were detected by Western blotting.

A mathematical model to predict short-term recurrence and metastasis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma larger than 10 cm in diameter.

Background/aims: To construct a mathematical model to predict short-term recurrence and metastasis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) larger than 10 cm in diameter after radical resection and analyze the influencing factors.

Methodology: A total of 166 patients with primary HCC larger than 10 cm were recruited from January 2002 to December 2010. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed and a mathematic model predicting the recurrence of HCC at different time points was constructed.

Knockdown of DEPTOR induces apoptosis, increases chemosensitivity to doxorubicin and suppresses autophagy in RPMI-8226 human multiple myeloma cells in vitro.

DEP domain containing mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-interacting protein (DEPTOR) is an mTOR binding protein that is overexpressed in RPMI-8226 human multiple myeloma cells, and plays an important role in maintaining cell survival. However, knowledge on the effects of DEPTOR knockdown on the biological functions of RPMI‑8226 human multiple myeloma cells, is limited. This study aimed to determine the role of DEPTOR in the proliferation, apoptosis and autophagy in these cells and to elucidate the mechanisms by which DEPTOR contributes to the chemosensitivity of myeloma cells.

Evaluation of the clinical features of HCC following hepatectomy for different stages of HCC.

Background/aims: This study was to evaluate and compare the clinical and pathological characteristics and patient outcomes after hepatic resection for different stages of HCC according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) classification system.

Methodology: Three hundred and sixteen primary hepatectomies for HCC were divided into stage 0-c, according to BCLC classification. The clinicopathological variables of the patients in each group were compared statistically.