[A clinical study on the effect of nattokinase on carotid artery atherosclerosis and hyperlipidaemia].

To evaluate the efficacy of oral nattokinase (NK) in the reduction of common carotid artery intimal medial thickness (CCA-IMT) and carotid artery plaque size and in lowering blood lipids, and to explore the underlying mechanism of actions of NK and its potential clinical use. All enrolled patients were from the Out-Patient Clinic of the Department of TCM at the 3(rd) Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University. Using randomised picking method, all patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups, NK and Statin (ST) group.

Prognostic and Predictive Value of p21-activated Kinase 6 Associated Support Vector Machine Classifier in Gastric Cancer Treated by 5-fluorouracil/Oxaliplatin Chemotherapy.

To determine whether p21-activated Kinase (PAK) 6 is a prognostic and predictive marker in gastric cancer (GC) and to construct a classifier that can identify a subset of patients who are highly sensitive to 5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin chemotherapy. We retrospectively analyzed the expression levels of PAK6, cyclooxygenase 2, p21, Ki-67, excision repair cross-complementing gene 1, and thymidylate synthase in 242 paraffin-embedded GC specimens of the training cohort by immunohistochemistry. Then, we used support vector machine (SVM)-based methods to develop a predictive classifier for chemotherapy (chemotherapy score - CS-SVM classifier).

Long non-coding RNA ATB promotes malignancy of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating miR-200b/Kindlin-2 axis.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, especially in China. In addition, the prognosis of late stage patients is extremely poor. However, the biological significance of the long non-coding RNA lnc-ATB and its potential role in ESCC remain to be documented.

Surgical treatment in non-small cell lung cancer with pulmonary oligometastasis.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated survival benefits for local treatment in solitary metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).This study aimed to investigate the effect of local surgery for NSCLC with pulmonary oligometastasis.

Methods: This study included 21 patients of NSCLC with pulmonary oligometastasis between January 2003 and December 2013, which were divided into two groups, group A (11 cases) for local surgery and group B (10 cases) for systematic chemotherapy, compared the median survival time (MST) and 5-year survival rate between the two groups, and analyzed the impact of the pathological types, the TNM and pN stage of primary tumor, the site, and the mode and number of oligometastatic nodule on group A.

Prognostic Value of E-cadherin-, CD44-, and MSH2-associated Nomograms in Patients With Stage II and III Colorectal Cancer.

Background: To evaluate the prognostic value of E-cadherin, CD44, and MSH2 expression for colorectal cancer (CRC) and construct nomograms that can predict prognosis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the expression of E-cadherin, CD44, and MSH2 in 223 paraffin-embedded stage II and III CRC specimens using immunohistochemistry in the training cohort. Their prognostic values were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves and univariate and multivariate COX regression models.

ImmunoScore Signature: A Prognostic and Predictive Tool in Gastric Cancer.

Objective: We postulated that the ImmunoScore (IS) could markedly improve the prediction of postsurgical survival and chemotherapeutic benefits in gastric cancer (GC).

Summary Background Data: A prediction model for GC patients was developed using data from 879 consecutive patients.

Methods: The expression of 27 immune features was detected in 251 specimens by using immunohistochemistry, and a 5-feature-based ISGC was then constructed using the LASSO Cox regression model.

Volasertib suppresses the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma and .

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most frequent malignant tumor with poor prognosis, and its clinical therapeutic outcome is poor. Volasertib, a potent small molecular inhibitor of polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), is currently tested for treatment of multiple cancers in the clinical trials. However, the antitumor effect of volasertib on HCC is still unknown.

Carvacrol Alleviates Prostate Cancer Cell Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion through Regulation of PI3K/Akt and MAPK Signaling Pathways.

TRPM7 is a potential therapeutic target for treatment of prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the effects of nonselective TRPM7 inhibitor carvacrol on cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of prostate cancer PC-3 and DU145 cells. Our results showed that carvacrol blocked TRPM7-like currents in PC-3 and DU145 cells and reduced their proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Targeting ABCB1-mediated tumor multidrug resistance by CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing.

The RNA-guided clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic (CRISPR) in combination with a CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9) nuclease system is a new rapid and precise technology for genome editing. In the present study, we applied the CRISPR/Cas9 system to target ABCB1 (also named MDR1) gene which encodes a 170 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein (P-glycoprotein/P-gp) transporting multiple types of chemotherapeutic drugs including taxanes, epipodophyllotoxins, vinca alkaloids and anthracyclines out of cells to contribute multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells. Our data showed that knockout of ABCB1 by CRISPR/Cas9 system was succesfully archieved with two target sgRNAs in two MDR cancer cells due to the alteration of genome sequences.

ODAM is a predictor for biomedical recurrence and inhibits the migration and invasion of prostate cancer.

Odontogenic ameloblast associated protein (ODAM) is a protein contributed to cell adhesion and has been shown to express in normal prostate tissue, but the expression and significance of ODAM in prostate cancer remain unknown. In this study, we detected the protein expressions of ODAM in 88 prostate cancer tissues with immunohistochemical staining, and found that 53 cases (60.2%) was high expression of ODAM, which was shown in the cytoplasm and paranuclear regions.

Effects and mechanisms of melatonin on neural differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells.

Melatonin, a lipophilic molecule mainly synthesized in the pineal gland, has properties of antioxidation, anti-inflammation, and antiapoptosis to improve neuroprotective functions. Here, we investigate effects and mechanisms of melatonin on neural differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). iPSCs were induced into neural stem cells (NSCs), then further differentiated into neurons in medium with or without melatonin, melatonin receptor antagonist (Luzindole) or Phosphatidylinositide 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (LY294002).

Gastric cancer cells inhibit natural killer cell proliferation and induce apoptosis via prostaglandin E2.

Defects in natural killer (NK) cell functions are necessary for tumor immune escape, but their underlying regulatory mechanisms in human cancers remain largely unknown. Here we showed, in detailed studies of NK cells from 235 untreated patients with gastric cancer (GC), the NK cell density in GC tissues could predict improved survival of patients. However, NK cells were significantly decreased in number with advanced-stage GC.

Clinical and prognostic characteristics of 158 cases of relapsing polychondritis in China and review of the literature.

This work is aimed to study the clinical and prognostic features of relapsing polychondritis (RP) in China. A total of 158 RP cases from 1985 to 2013 in China were included and compared with international case series in terms of clinical features, systemic involvement, differential diagnosis and prognosis. (1) The average age at the onset was 45.

Tacrolimus restores podocyte injury and stabilizes the expression of Cabin1 in 5/6 nephrectomized rats.

Podocyte injury is a vital factor, which induces massive proteinuria. Studies have shown that tacrolimus (TAC) protected podocyte via stabilizing cytoskeleton. Our latest study indicates that calcineurin binding protein 1 (Cabin1) undergoes nuclear translocation during podocytes injury.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A multicenter registry study in Guangdong, China.

Background: A lack of demographic and clinical data hinders efforts of health care providers in China to support patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Therefore, the aim of the present retrospective study was to provide an overview of the demographic and clinical characteristics of Chinese patients with T1D.

Methods: Hospital medical records of patients with T1D (diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2011) in 105 secondary and tertiary hospitals across Guangdong province were reviewed.

Risk Factors for Immediate and Delayed-Onset Fever After Percutaneous Transhepatic Biliary Drainage.

Objectives: To prospectively investigate the pre and intra-procedural risk factors for immediate (IF) and delayed-onset (DOF) fever development after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD).

Methods: Institutional review board approval and informed patient consent were obtained. Between February 2013 and February 2014, 97 afebrile patients (77 at the Sapienza University of Rome, Italy and 20 at the Sun Yat-sen University of Guangzhou, China) with benign (n = 31) and malignant (n = 66) indications for a first PTBD were prospectively enrolled.

Activated hepatic stellate cells promote angiogenesis via interleukin-8 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Chemokines have been recognized as important modulators of angiogenesis, and they play critical roles in the development and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), although their origins and latent molecular mechanisms remain elusive. The aim of this study was to investigate how activated hepatic stellate cells (a-HSCs) promote angiogenesis in HCC.

Methods: A total of 22 HCC patients were enrolled randomly.

Regulation of migration and invasion by Toll-like receptor-9 signaling network in prostate cancer.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in tumorigenesis and progress of prostate cancer. However, the function and mechanism of Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) in prostate cancer is not totally understood. Here, we found that high expression of TLR9 was associated with a higher probability of lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis.

Protective Effects and Mechanisms of Salvianolic Acid B Against H₂O₂-Induced Injury in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neural Stem Cells.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have the potential to differentiate into neural lineages. Salvianolic acid B (Sal B) is a commonly used, traditional Chinese medicine for enhancing neuroprotective effects, and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. Here, we explore the potential mechanism of Sal B in protecting iPSC-derived neural stem cells (NSCs) against H2O2-induced injury.

Activation of the Nrf2-ARE pathway attenuates hyperglycemia-mediated injuries in mouse podocytes.

Background: Damage to podocytes caused by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to onset and progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is a redox-sensing transcription factor that can induce the expression of antioxidant enzymes. We explored whether activation of Nrf2 pathway attenuated hyperglycemia-induced injuries in mouse podocytes.

Patient considerations and targeted therapies in the management of psoriasis in Chinese patients: role of ustekinumab.

Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease affecting approximately 0.1% to 0.5% of the population in the People's Republic of China.

Augmenting multi-instance multilabel learning with sparse bayesian models for skin biopsy image analysis.

Skin biopsy images can reveal causes and severity of many skin diseases, which is a significant complement for skin surface inspection. Automatic annotation of skin biopsy image is an important problem for increasing efficiency and reducing the subjectiveness in diagnosis. However it is challenging particularly when there exists indirect relationship between annotation terms and local regions of a biopsy image, as well as local structures with different textures.

Effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza on neural differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Salvia miltiorrhiza, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used to treat some neurological diseases because of its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties. We investigate whether Salvia miltiorrhiza can improve the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into neurons in vitro, and promote iPSCs-derived neural stem cells survival, integrate, and differentiation after their transplantation to the ischemic brain tissues.

Materials And Methods: Induced pluripotent stem cells were used to differentiate into neural stem cells, and further into neurons in induction medium with various concentrations of Salvia miltiorrhiza.