Serum cardiac troponin elevation predicts mortality in patients with pulmonary hypertension: A meta-analysis of eight cohort studies.

Objective: To determine the association of serum cardiac troponin (cTn) with the mortality of pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients via a meta-analysis.

Date Source: We searched PubMed and EMBASE from inception to October 25, 2017.

Study Selection: The reference lists of the retrieved articles were also consulted.

Long noncoding RNA LINC00978 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in non‑small cell lung cancer by inhibiting miR‑6754‑5p.

Long noncoding RNA LINC00978 has been reported to regulate the progression of several human types of cancer, including gastric and breast cancer. However, knowledge on LINC00978 in non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is limited. In the present study, it was demonstrated that LINC00978 expression was significantly upregulated in NSCLC tissues compared with the adjacent normal tissues.

[Huanshao Capsules combined with levocarnitine for the treatment of asthenospermia, oligospermia and teratozoospermia].

Objective: To observe the clinical effects of Huanshao Capsules (HSC) combined with levocarnitine (LC) on asthenospermia, oligospermia, teratozoospermia, and the semen parameters of the patients.

Methods: This randomized controlled clinical study included 186 infertility patients with spleen and kidney asthenia. We randomly divided them into three groups of equal number and treated them orally with HSC at the dose of 3 capsules tid, LC at 10 ml tid, and HSC+LC, respectively, all for 12 weeks.

Glutamine addiction activates polyglutamine-based nanocarriers delivering therapeutic siRNAs to orthotopic lung tumor mediated by glutamine transporter SLC1A5.

Many human cancer cells exhibit an oncogenetic-driven addiction to glutamine (Gln) as rapidly proliferating cancer cells consume Gln at a dramatically increased rate compared to normal cells. Tumor cells, therefore, compete with host cells for Gln, which causes Gln to flux from normal tissues to the tumor. We have developed and characterized a Gln macromolecular analog polyglutamine (PGS) for the delivery of gene regulators, such as siRNAs, in our previous works.

Mn12Ac inhibits the migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of lung cancer cells by downregulating the Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of global cancer-associated mortality, therefore it is important to reveal the molecular mechanisms of lung cancer progression and to develop novel therapeutic targets. The results of the present study identified that manganese-12 acetate (Mn12Ac) was able to significantly inhibit the migration and invasion of A549 cells. Western blotting demonstrated that treatment with Mn12Ac was able to upregulate E-cadherin, and downregulate N-cadherin and vimentin.

Lymphatic vessel density as a prognostic indicator in Asian NSCLC patients: a meta-analysis.

Background: To determine the association of lymphatic vessel density (LVD) with the prognosis of Asian non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients via a meta-analysis.

Methods: Eligible studies were selected by searching PubMed and EMBASE from inception to July 25, 2017. The reference lists of the retrieved articles were also consulted.

Structural analysis and anticoagulant activities of three highly regular fucan sulfates as novel intrinsic factor Xase inhibitors.

Fucoidan or fucan sulfate, a sulfated polysaccharide from algae or echinoderm mainly containing fucoses, possesses complex chemical structure and various biological activities. Herein, three fucan sulfates consisted of distinctive simplest repeating units were isolated from Holothuria fuscopunctata, Thelenota ananas and Stichopus horrens. The structural sequences of these fucan sulfates from H.

An anticoagulant fucan sulfate with hexasaccharide repeating units from the sea cucumber Holothuria albiventer.

A fucan sulfate was isolated and purified from the sea cucumber Holothuria albiventer by papain enzymolysis, alkaline hydrolysis and ion-exchange chromatography. The water-soluble polysaccharide had high molecular weight and contained fucose and sulfate in a molar ratio of about 1:0.83.

Structural analysis and anticoagulant activities of two sulfated polysaccharides from the sea cucumber Holothuria coluber.

Sulfated polysaccharides such as fucosylated glycosaminoglycan and fucan sulfate from echinoderm possess complex chemical structure and various biological activities. The two sulfated polysaccharides were purified from the low-value sea cucumber Holothuria coluber. Their physicochemical properties and chemical structures were analyzed and characterized by chemical and instrumental methods.

Effects of age, comorbidity and adherence to current antimicrobial guidelines on mortality in hospitalized elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Limited information exists on the clinical characteristics predictive of mortality in patients aged ≥65 years in many countries. The impact of adherence to current antimicrobial guidelines on the mortality of hospitalized elderly patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has never been assessed.

Methods: A total of 3131 patients aged ≥65 years were enrolled from a multi-center, retrospective, observational study initiated by the CAP-China network.

Association of polymorphisms in MALAT1 with risk of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease in a Chinese population.

Background: Metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) plays an important role in vascular remodeling. Down-regulation of MALAT1 can inhibit the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improve left ventricular function, which is closely linked to numerous pathological processes such as coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAD). The aim of this study was to investigate whether polymorphisms in MALAT1 were associated with the susceptibility to CAD.

Synergistic action of inflammation and lipid dysmetabolism on kidney damage in rats.

In kidney disease, inflammation and lipid dysmetabolism are often associated together, however, the effect and mechanism of inflammatory mediators and lipid dysmetabolism on kidney damage is still unclear. In this study, Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: normal diet + saline (Group N), high-fat diet (HF)+ saline (Group HF), normal diet + adriamycin (Group ADR), HF + adriamycin (Group ADR + HF). After 10 weeks of feeding, rats in each group were randomly sacrificed.

Mangiferin prevents diabetic nephropathy progression and protects podocyte function via autophagy in diabetic rat glomeruli.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most severe microangiopathies of diabetes mellitus and is a leading cause of end stage renal disease. Numerous studies suggest that podocyte injury contributes to progressive proteinuria. Podocytes are highly specialized, terminally differentiated cells that are unable to proliferate, autophagy plays a key role in maintaining the structure and function of podocytes.

Manganese-12 acetate suppresses the migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in breast cancer cells.

Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the world, and it is of great value to reveal the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer progression and develop new therapeutic targets.

Methods: Transwell assay is used to analyze the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Real-time PCR and western blotting assay are applied to detect the expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers and the key members of Wnt/β-catenin and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Isolation and characterization of two lytic cold-active bacteriophages infecting Pseudomonas fluorescens from the Napahai plateau wetland.

As the "kidneys of the Earth", wetlands play important roles as biodiversity reservoirs, in water purification, and in flood control. In this study, 2 lytic cold-active bacteriophages, named VW-6S and VW-6B, infecting Pseudomonas fluorescens W-6 cells from the Napahai plateau wetland in China were isolated and characterized. Electron microscopy showed that both VW-6S and VW-6B had an icosahedral head (66.

Influence of androgen on myocardial apoptosis and expression of myocardial IR and IRS‑1 in chronic heart failure rat models.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of androgens on chronic heart failure (CHF) in a rat model. A total of 120 Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly divided into the following groups: (A) sham operation group, (B) castrated group, (C) heart failure (HF) group, (D) castrated + HF group, and (E) castrated + HF + testosterone (T) replacement therapy group. There were 20 rats in group A, and 25 rats in the other groups.

Perioperative entecavir for patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma and low levels of viral DNA: analysis using propensity score matching.

The safety and efficacy of perioperative antiviral therapy for patients with hepatitis B virus related hepatocellular carcinoma and low serum levels of hepatitis B virus DNA are unknown. This retrospective study compared serum levels of hepatitis B virus DNA, liver function, morbidity, and length of hospital stay between patients who underwent hepatic resection alone and patients who received entecavir therapy before and after resection ( = 44 in each group). Propensity score matching was used to reduce confounding due to baseline differences between the groups.

microRNA-130a is an oncomir suppressing the expression of in gastric cancer.

Gastric cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide, although its incidence has steadily declined in recent years. There is strong evidence that aberrantly expressed microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in gastric cancer tumorigenesis. Furthermore, is closely associated with the occurrence and development of gastric cancer, and our predictions suggest that miR-130a, which can promote gastric cancer tumorigenesis, is a potential regulator.

Timely meta-analysis on the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma patients after curative therapy.

Aims: The role of adoptive immunotherapy (AIT) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have received curative therapy is still not well illustrated. This timely meta-analysis aims to update the current evidence on efficacy and safety of AIT for patients with HCC who have received curative therapy.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and the Cochrane Library Through January 2017 for relevant studies.

Curative effect of neutral macroporous resin hemoperfusion on treating hemodialysis patients with refractory uremic pruritus.

This study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of neutral macroporous resin hemoperfusion in treating maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients with refractory uremic pruritus (RUP).Ninety patients were enrolled and were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, experiment 1 group, and experiment 2 group. Clinical symptom scores of skin itching were recorded before and at 4 and 8 weeks after the treatment.

Expressions of Immune Negative Regulator FoxP3+Treg and PD-L1 Protein in the Immune Microenvironment of Cervical Lesion.

Objective To explore the expression patterns of immune negative regulator FoxP3+Treg and PD-L1 protein in cervical carcinoma and its precancerous lesions. Methods The expression patterns of FoxP3+Treg and PD-L1 protein in 45 cases of cervical lesions tissues of the cervix and 20 cases of normal cervix tissues by using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results Compared with the normal cervix,the expressions of FoxP3+Treg (H=43.