Knockdown of long non-coding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 inhibits cell proliferation while promotes cell apoptosis via regulating miR-486-mediated CDK4 and BCAS2 in multiple myeloma.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effect of long non-coding RNA-plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (lnc-Pvt1) knockdown on regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis, and to explore its molecular mechanism in multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods: Lnc-Pvt1 expression was detected in MM cell lines (NCI-H929, U-266, LP-1 and RPMI-8226 cell lines) and human normal plasma cells. In U-266 cells and LP-1 cells, control shRNA and lnc-Pvt1 shRNA plasmids were transferred.

[L-carnitine combined with coenzyme Q10 for idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia: A double-blind randomized controlled trial].

Objective: To evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of L-carnitine (LC) in combination with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on idiopathic oligoasthenozoospermia (iOAT).

Methods: Using the computer-generated random number sequence, we randomly assigned 262 infertile men with iOAT to four groups to receive oral administration of LC at 10 mL bid (n = 62), CoQ10 (n = 63) at 20 mg tid, LC combined with CoQ10 at the above dose (n = 63), and vitamin B1 as the placebo control (n = 74). After 3 months of treatment, we obtained sperm concentration, sperm motility, the percentage of progressively motile sperm, sperm DNA fragmentation index, the rate of sperm acrosome reaction, and the outcomes of clinical pregnancy and compared them among the four groups of patients.

[Application value of frozen-thawed mouse round spermatids in in vitro fertilization].

Objective: To investigate the application value of the frozen-thawed round spermatids of the mouse in in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Methods: Haploid spermatids of the mouse obtained in vitro were divided into a frozen-thawed and a fresh group and oocytes were collected from 6－8 weeks old female mice. After diamidino-phenyl-indole (DAPI) staining, the oocytes were subjected to intracytoplasmic round spermatid injection (ROSI), 259 in the frozen-thawed and 238 in the fresh group.

Deep sequencing of HBV pre-S region reveals high heterogeneity of HBV genotypes and associations of word pattern frequencies with HCC.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a common problem in the world, especially in China. More than 60-80% of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases can be attributed to HBV infection in high HBV prevalent regions. Although traditional Sanger sequencing has been extensively used to investigate HBV sequences, NGS is becoming more commonly used.

Next-generation sequencing revealed divergence in deletions of the preS region in the HBV genome between different HBV-related liver diseases.

In order to investigate if deletion patterns of the preS region can predict liver disease advancement, the preS region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome in 45 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 94 HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients was sequenced by next-generation sequencing (NGS) and the percentages of nucleotide deletion in the preS region were analysed. Hierarchical clustering and heatmaps based on deletion percentages of preS revealed different deletion patterns between CHB and HCC patients. Intergenotype comparison also indicated divergence in preS deletions between HBV genotype B and C.

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.

The Short- and Long-Term Risk of Stroke after Herpes Zoster: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that stroke risk may be increased following herpes zoster. The aim of this study is to perform a meta-analysis of current literature to systematically analyze and quantitatively estimate the short and long-term effects of herpes zoster on the risk of stroke.

Methods: Embase, PubMed and Cochrane library databases were searched for relevant studies up to March 2016.

Three-Dimensional Visualization of Myocardial Ischemia Based on the Standard Twelve-Lead Electrocardiogram.

A novel method was proposed for transforming the ischemic information in the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) into the pseudo-color pattern displayed on a 3D heart model based on the projection of a ST injury vector in this study. The projection of the ST injury vector at a point on the heart surface was used for identifying the presence of myocardial ischemia by the difference between the projection value and the detection threshold. Supposing that myocardial ischemia was uniform and continuous, the location and range of myocardial ischemia could be accurately calculated and visually displayed in a color-encoding way.

The Distinct Effects of Estrogen and Hydrostatic Pressure on Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation: Involvement of Estrogen Receptor Signaling.

This study aimed to investigate the differential and synergistic effects of mechanical stimulation and estrogen on the proliferation and osteogenic or chondrogenic differentiation potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and the roles of estrogen receptor (ER) in them. BMSCs were isolated and cultured using the whole bone marrow adherence method, and flow cytometry was used to identify the surface marker molecules of BMSCs. Cells were pre-treated with 1 nM 17β-estradiol or 1 nM of the estrogen receptor antagonist tamoxifen.

Ultrasound guided double injection of blood into cisterna magna: a rabbit model for treatment of cerebral vasospasm.

Background: Double injection of blood into cisterna magna using a rabbit model results in cerebral vasospasm. An unacceptably high mortality rate tends to limit the application of model. Ultrasound guided puncture can provide real-time imaging guidance for operation.

Histone Deacetylase 1 Regulates the Expression of Progesterone Receptor A During Human Parturition by Occupying the Progesterone Receptor A Promoter.

The functional withdrawal of progesterone is mediated by the enhanced expression ratio of the 2 progesterone receptor (PR) isoforms, PRA and PRB, and causes the pregnant human myometrium to switch from a quiet state to a state of excitation-contraction and subsequent laboring. However, the precise mechanisms responsible for alterations in PRA and PRB expression during human parturition have yet to be resolved. In the present study, we report that PRA expression was increased in myometrium samples during labor (P < .

[Associations between interleukin-17A expression and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To detect the expression of interleukin-17A(IL-17A) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCCs) tissues, and to analyze its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Methods: The expression of IL-17A, E-cadherin, vimentin proteins and Snail mRNA were detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization histochemistry in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues of 74 patients.

Results: IL-17A staining was detected in 54.

Association analysis between HFM1 variation and primary ovarian insufficiency in Chinese women.

HFM1 is a meiosis-specific gene and expressed in germ-line tissues. More recently, evidence has indicated that variations in HFM1 gene could be causative for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), also known as premature ovarian failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between HFM1 gene variants and sporadic POI in Chinese women.

Vascular Complications of Intercavernous Sinuses during Transsphenoidal Surgery: An Anatomical Analysis Based on Autopsy and Magnetic Resonance Venography.

Purpose: Vascular complications induced by intercavernous sinus injury during dural opening in the transsphenoidal surgery may contribute to incomplete tumour resections. Preoperative neuro-imaging is of crucial importance in planning surgical approach. The aim of this study is to correlate the microanatomy of intercavernous sinuses with its contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography (CE-MRV).

CT and MRI Determination of Intermuscular Space within Lumbar Paraspinal Muscles at Different Intervertebral Disc Levels.

Background: Recognition of the intermuscular spaces within lumbar paraspinal muscles is critically important for using the paramedian muscle-splitting approach to the lumbar spine. As such, it is important to determine the intermuscular spaces within the lumbar paraspinal muscles by utilizing modern medical imaging such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A total of 30 adult cadavers were studied by sectional anatomic dissection, and 60 patients were examined using CT (16 slices, 3-mm thickness, 3-mm intersection gap, n = 30) and MRI (3.

Coaxial Electrospray of Curcumin-Loaded Microparticles for Sustained Drug Release.

Curcumin exhibits superior anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and analgesic activities without significant side effects. However, clinical dissemination of this natural medicine is limited by its low solubility and poor bio-availability. To overcome this limitation, we propose to encapsulate curcumin in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles (MPs) by an improved coaxial electrospray (CES) process.

Association between etiologic factors in infertile couples and fertilization failure in conventional in vitro fertilization cycles.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the etiology of the couples and risk of fertilization failure (FF) in conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles and the effect of rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique to offspring. A total of 2542 IVF cycles were divided into four groups according to infertile etiology: Group A - primary infertility with normal semen parameters; Group B - secondary infertility with oligoasthenozoospermia; Group C - primary infertility with oligoasthenozoospermia; and Group D - secondary infertility with normal semen parameters. The results showed that there were significant differences in incidence of FF among Group A (16.

Human urine kininogenase attenuates balloon-induced intimal hyperplasia in rabbit carotid artery through transforming growth factor β1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.

Objective: Effective treatments against restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting are largely lacking. Human tissue kallikrein gene transfer has been shown to be able to attenuate neointima formation induced by balloon catheter. As a tissue kallikrein in vivo, human urinary kininogenase (HUK) is widely used to prevent ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Chloroform-Methanol Residue of Coxiella burnetii Markedly Potentiated the Specific Immunoprotection Elicited by a Recombinant Protein Fragment rOmpB-4 Derived from Outer Membrane Protein B of Rickettsia rickettsii in C3H/HeN Mice.

The obligate intracellular bacteria, Rickettsia rickettsii and Coxiella burnetii, are the potential agents of bio-warfare/bio-terrorism. Here C3H/HeN mice were immunized with a recombinant protein fragment rOmp-4 derived from outer membrane protein B, a major protective antigen of R. rickettsii, combined with chloroform-methanol residue (CMR) extracted from phase I C.

Enhanced protection against Rickettsia rickettsii infection in C3H/HeN mice by immunization with a combination of a recombinant adhesin rAdr2 and a protein fragment rOmpB-4 derived from outer membrane protein B.

Background: Two surface proteins of Rickettsia rickettsii, outer membrane protein B (OmpB) and adhesion 2 (Adr2), have been recognized as protective antigens. Herein, the immunization with both OmpB and Adr2 was performed in mice so as to explore whether their combination could induce an enhanced immunoprotection against R. rickettsii infection.

Human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cell transplantation suppresses inflammatory responses and neuronal apoptosis during early stage of focal cerebral ischemia in rabbits.

Aim: Human umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) have been shown to ameliorate cerebral ischemia in animal models. In this study we investigated the effects of hUCB-MSCs on inflammatory responses and neuronal apoptosis during the early stage of focal cerebral ischemia in rabbits.

Methods: Focal cerebral ischemia was induced in male New Zealand rabbits by occlusion of MCA for 2 h.

Caffeine inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cells induced by acetaldehyde via adenosine A2A receptor mediated by the cAMP/PKA/SRC/ERK1/2/P38 MAPK signal pathway.

Unlabelled: Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation is an essential event during alcoholic liver fibrosis. Evidence suggests that adenosine aggravates liver fibrosis via the adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR). Caffeine, which is being widely consumed during daily life, inhibits the action of adenosine.

[Application of chemical activation to in vitro fertilization by round spermatid injection in mice].

Objective: To search for an optimal activation protocol by comparing the chemical activation effects of single-activator and combined activation protocols on mouse oocytes following injection of round spermatids (ROSI) from spermatogenic cells cultured in vitro.

Methods: Using different concentrations of ethanol, ionomycin (Ion), calcium ionophore A23187 (CIA), strontium chloride (SrCl2), cycloheximide (CHX), and 6-dimethylaminopurine (6-DMAP) , we activated post-ROSI oocytes for different times, and activated them by combined protocols at optimal concentrations and action times according to different activation channels. We compared the activation effects of single-activator and combined activation protocols by comparing the rates of fertilization, cleavages, and morulas and blastocysts.