Catechin Attenuates Coronary Heart Disease in a Rat Model by Inhibiting Inflammation.

Accumulating evidence has established that systemic inflammation is an important pathophysiologic factor of coronary heart disease (CHD). In this study, we investigated whether catechin exerts anti-inflammatory function in CHD rats. CHD model of rats was established by high-fat diet feeding and pituitrin injection.

Identification of crucial genes of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease in remission by protein-protein interaction network and module analyses.

Background: Although the main treatments of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) aim at the induction and maintenance of clinical remission, several studies have demonstrated inflammation still present in clinical remission. The goal of this study was to analyze the gene expression profiles between the pediatric IBD and control samples, aiming to further investigate the underlying therapeutic target in remission.

Methods: Gene expression profiles data of GSE33943 were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus, which included 45 pediatric IBD samples and 13 control samples.

The effect of ventilator mask atomization inhalation of ipratropium bromide and budesonide suspension liquid in the treatment of COPD in acute exacerbation period on circulating levels of inflammation and prognosis.

Objective: We investigated the effects of ventilator mask atomization inhalation of ipratropium bromide and budesonide suspension liquid in the treatment of acute exacerbation COPD (AECOPD) on circulating levels of inflammatory factors and prognosis.

Patients And Methods: A total of 86 cases of patients on ventilator support were randomly divided into control group and observation group with 43 cases each. The control group was administered routine treatment including basic disease treatment, anti-infection, maintenance of a stable internal environment, nutritional support, oxygen inhalation and so on.

The insertion in the double-stranded RNA binding domain of human Drosha is important for its function.

microRNAs (miRNAs) are first transcribed as long, primary transcripts, which are then processed by multiple enzymes and proteins to generate the single-stranded, approximately 22-nucleotide (nt)-long mature miRNAs. A critical step in animal miRNA biogenesis is the cleavage of primary miRNA transcripts (pri-miRNAs) to produce precursor miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) by the enzyme Drosha. How Drosha recognizes its substrates remains incompletely understood.

Ocular pulse amplitude in different types of glaucoma using dynamic contour tonometry: Diagnosis and follow-up of glaucoma.

The aim of the present study was to compare the ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) in patients with different types of glaucoma using dynamic contour tonometry (DCT), to evaluate ocular and systemic factors associated with the OPA and to verify whether OPA measured by DCT is an independent predictor for glaucoma diagnosis. A total of 217 eyes of 217 participants in the following five groups were included in this cross-sectional study: Chronic angle closure glaucoma (CACG), primary open angle glaucoma, normal tension glaucoma (NTG), suspected open angle glaucoma (SOAG) and normal control (NC). The following tests were simultaneously performed during a single visit: Intra-ocular pressure (IOP), OPA, cup-to-disk (C/D) ratio, mean damage (MD) and loss variance (LV).

Prognostic value and preoperative predictors of microvascular invasion in solitary hepatocellular carcinoma ≤ 5 cm without macrovascular invasion.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value and preoperative predictors of microvascular invasion (MVI) in solitary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ≤ 5 cm without macrovascular invasion.

Methods: A total of 233 consecutive HCC patients underwent curative hepatectomy were included in our study. Independent risk factors influencing the prognosis were identified, and preoperative predictors for MVI were determined.

Association between PSCA gene polymorphisms and the risk of cancer: an updated meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Previous studies have investigated the relationships between PSCA rs2294008 C>T and rs2976392 G>A polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility. However, the available findings remained inconsistent and even controversial. Thus, the aim of this meta-analysis was performed to clarify such associations.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging reflects activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 during focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) is a unique protein family that binds to DNA, coupled with tyrosine phosphorylation signaling pathways, acting as a transcriptional regulator to mediate a variety of biological effects. Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion can activate STATs signaling pathway, but no studies have confirmed whether STAT activation can be verified by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) in rats after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Here, we established a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia injury using the modified Longa method.

Assessment of stereotactic radiosurgery treatment response for brain metastases using MRI based diffusion index.

Introduction: To investigate the clinical predictive values of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) as a biomarker in radiation response of brain metastases.

Method: Forty-one patients with brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) were imaged at baseline, one month post SRS, and six months post SRS using diffusion weighted MRI. The mean of ADC for metastases and tumor volume was calculated.

Curcumin alleviates macrophage activation and lung inflammation induced by influenza virus infection through inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Background: Influenza A viruses (IAV) result in severe public health problems with worldwide each year. Overresponse of immune system to IAV infection leads to complications, and ultimately causing morbidity and mortality.

Objective: Curcumin has been reported to have anti-inflammatory ability.

Association between vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and the risk and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of the meta-analysis was to clarify the associations between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphisms and the risk and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A meta-analysis was performed by searching the databases PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science for the relevant available studies until August 1st, 2016, and fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the strength of such associations.

Imipramine Protects against Bone Loss by Inhibition of Osteoblast-Derived Microvesicles.

The maintenance of bone homeostasis is largely dependent upon cellular communication between osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Microvesicles (MVs) represent a novel mechanism for osteoblasts and osteoclasts communication, as has been demonstrated in our previous study. Sphingomyelinases catalyze the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin, which leads to increased membrane fluidity and facilitates MV generation.

Red blood cell distribution width and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio are correlated with disease activity of dermatomyositis and polymyositis.

Background: Previous studies indicated that both red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were useful indices in assessing the disease activity of autoimmune diseases. However, the evidence for the association between RDW, NLR and dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) is limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the disease activity of PM/DM and both RDW and NLR.

Sulforaphane attenuates di-N-butylphthalate-induced reproductive damage in pubertal mice: Involvement of the Nrf2-antioxidant system.

di-N-butylphthalate (DBP) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant used for plastic coating and in the cosmetics industry. It has toxic effects on body health, especially the male reproductive system. Here, we investigated the effects of DBP on the male reproductive system of pubertal mice and explored the protective role of sulforaphane (SFN).

Development and validation of a novel predictive scoring model for microvascular invasion in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: Microvascular invasion (MVI) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cannot be accurately predicted preoperatively. This study aimed to establish a predictive scoring model of MVI in solitary HCC patients without macroscopic vascular invasion.

Methods: A total of 309 consecutive HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy were divided into the derivation (n=206) and validation cohort (n=103).

PRPS1 silencing reverses cisplatin resistance in human breast cancer cells.

PRPS1 (phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetase 1), which drives the nucleotide biosynthesis pathway, modulates a variety of functions by providing central building blocks and cofactors for cell homeostasis. As tumor cells often display abnormal nucleotide metabolism, dysregulated de-novo nucleotide synthesis has potential impacts in cancers. We now report that PRPS1 is specifically and highly expressed in chemoresistant (CR) cancer cells derived from cisplatin-resistant human breast cancer cell lines SK-BR-3 and MCF-7.

Dual inhibition of PCDH9 expression by miR-215-5p up-regulation in gliomas.

The clinical prognosis of malignant gliomas is poor and PCDH9 down-regulation is strongly associated with its poor prognosis. But the mechanism of PCDH9 down-regulation is unknown. Abnormal miRNAs profiles regulate tumor phenotypes through inhibiting their target genes and miRNAs could inhibit target genes more efficiently by binding to both the promoter and 3'UTR of target genes.

Red blood cell distribution width and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio are associated with outcomes of adult subarachnoid haemorrhage patients admitted to intensive care unit.

Background Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have been reported to be associated with outcomes of acute cerebral infarction. However, their prognostic value in patients with subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) remains largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of RDW and NLR in SAH patients.

Associations of microRNA single nucleotide polymorphisms and disease risk and pathophysiology.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are genetic variations that contribute to human phenotypes associated with various diseases. SNPs are involved in the regulation of a broad range of physiological and pathological processes, such as cellular senescence, apoptosis, inflammation, and immune response, by upregulating the expression of classical inflammation markers. Recent studies have suggested that SNPs located in gene-encoding microRNAs (miRNAs) affect various aspects of diseases by regulating the expression or activity of miRNAs.

Erythropoietin reduces apoptosis of brain tissue cells in rats after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury: a characteristic analysis using magnetic resonance imaging.

Some experiments have shown that erythropoietin (EPO) increases resistance to apoptosis and facilitates neuronal survival following cerebral ischemia. However, results from studies are rarely reported. Perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) have been applied successfully to distinguish acute cerebral ischemic necrosis and penumbra in living animals; therefore, we hypothesized that PWI and DWI could be used to provide imaging evidence for the conclusion that EPO could reduce apoptosis in brain areas injured by cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Methylation of Notch3 modulates chemoresistance via P-glycoprotein.

The global gene expression and DNA methylation of genes in adriamycin-resistant human breast cancer cells (MCF-7/ADM cells) are similar to those in paclitaxel-resistant MCF-7 cells (MCF-7/PTX) and are significantly different from those in wild-type MCF-7 cells. DNA methylation is associated with chemoresistance in breast cancer and changes the characteristics of chemoresistant and chemosensitive cells. Here, we showed that the tumor-suppressor gene Notch3 was inactivated due to epigenetic silencing DNA hypermethylation in MCF-7/ADM cells.

Prediction of Vascular Invasion Using a 3-Point Scale Computed Tomography Grading System in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Correlation With Surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between a 3-point scale multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) grading system and surgical exploration in predicting vascular invasion and resectability in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA).

Methods: Fifty-five patients with surgical and pathologic confirmation of PDA were retrospectively analyzed by 3 radiologists independently. All patients had MDCT examination with multiplanar reformatted images, computed tomography (CT) angiography, and negative-contrast CT cholangiopancreatography (nCTCP).

Resveratrol improves treatment outcome and laboratory parameters in patients with Takayasu arteritis: A randomized double-blind and placebo-controlled trial.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors have exhibited certain clinical efficacy in treating refractory Takayasu arteritis (TA), albeit with severe adverse effects. We aimed to explore the anti-TNF function of resveratrol, a natural compound, in the treatment of TA. A total of 271 patients diagnosed of acute TA were enrolled in this clinical trial, who were then randomized to be administered 250mg resveratrol or placebo on a daily basis for a period of 3 months, and revisited biweekly to assess treatment outcomes.