Quantitative comparisons between relaxation enhanced compressed sensing 3D MERGE and conventional 3D MERGE for vessel wall imaging in equal scan time: preliminary studies.

In this study, we quantitatively compared relaxation enhanced compressed sensing (RECS-3D MERGE) with conventional 3D MERGE techniques on blood suppression efficiency, wall-lumen contrast and plaque burden measurement for carotid atherosclerotic imaging in equal scan time. Twelve patients were recruited in the study. RECS-3D MERGE and conventional 3D MERGE were implemented.

Decreased eGFR Is Associated With Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is increasingly indicated as a cause of cardioembolic syndrome, in particular, cardioembolic ischemia stroke. However, the potential risk factors for stroke among DCM patients remain under investigated. DCM patients hospitalized from June 2011 to June 2016 were included.

THAP7 promotes cell proliferation by regulating the G1/S phase transition via epigenetically silencing p21 in lung adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The THanatos-Associated Proteins (THAP) family plays an essential role in multiple cancers. However, the role of THAP7 in cancers has remained elusive.

Spectral Computed Tomographic Parameters Predict the Therapeutic Efficacy and Overall Survival of the Angiogenesis Inhibitor AL3818 in Hepatic Lesions: Preliminary Animal Study.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the predictive and prognostic values of repeated spectral computed tomographic (CT) parameter changes for the prediction of treatment responses to the angiogenesis inhibitor AL3818 in hepatic tumors.

Methods: A total of 30 rabbits with VX2 hepatic tumors that underwent spectral contrast-enhanced abdominal CT before and during treatment were included in the study. The percent change (Δ, %) of the normalized iodine concentration (nIC) during the arterial phase (AP) and venous phase (VP) was used to predict the tumor response and to calculate the overall survival (OS).

Efficacy and safety of Hou Gu Mi Xi for peptic ulcer diseases: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a major burden worldwide. Several challenges remain with standard Western treatment of PUD, such as persistent weakness, fatigue, and relapse. A dietary traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, Hou Gu Mi Xi (HGMX), has been developed as a complementary treatment for PUD.

Non-Vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants Versus Warfarin in Patients With Cancer and Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Several studies have investigated the effect of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with cancer, but the results remain controversial. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of NOACs versus warfarin in this population. Methods and Results We systematically searched the PubMed and Embase databases until February 16, 2019 for studies comparing the effect of NOACs with warfarin in AF patients with cancer.

Meta-analysis of the effects of drug-coated balloons among patients with small-vessel coronary artery disease.

Objective: This study evaluated the clinical value of drug-coated balloons for patients with small-vessel coronary artery disease (SVD).

Methods: A computerized literature search was performed using the databases to conduct a meta-analysis and evaluate the clinical value of drug-coated balloons among patients with SVD.

Results: This review enrolling 1545 patients receiving drug-coated balloons and 1010 patients receiving stents (including drug-eluting stents and bare-metal stents).

Relation of Body Mass Index Categories with Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the body mass index (BMI) categories with the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in a systematic review and meta-analysis.We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases up to February 2018 for all studies reporting an association between BMI and risk of SCD. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted and pooled using a random effects model.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor, AR-42, exerts antitumor effects by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in Y79 cells.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common type of intraocular malignant tumor that occurs in childhood. AR-42, a member of a newly discovered class of phenylbutyrate-derived histone deacetylase inhibitors, exerts antitumor effects on many cancers. In the present study, we initially evaluated the effect of AR-42 towards RB cells and explored the underlying mechanism in this disease.

Mesenchymal stem cell-associated lncRNA in osteogenic differentiation.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to differentiate into multiple cell types, including osteogenic, chondrogenic and adipogenic lineages. Osteogenic differentiation of MSCs plays a critical role in bone tissue engineering. Inducing MSC osteogenesis represents a potential treatment that promotes bone formation and bone regeneration.

Relationship between contrast sensitivity and corneal shape following overnight orthokeratology.

Aim: To evaluate the relationship between contrast sensitivity (CS) and corneal shape following overnight orthokeratology (OK).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective clinical study of 80 lens-wearing myopia patients, all of whom had undergone OK and had been evaluated by Orbscan II topography. We measured the surface irregularity index (SIRI) of corneal topography at 3 and 5 mm, the size of the flattened central corneal curvature of OK lens (zone A), the size of the cornea altered by OK lens (zone B), the size of the pupillary area at the corneal level (zone C), the area of crossover between zones A and C (zone AC), the area of crossover between zones B and C (BC), the ratio of BC to B (BC/B), and the ratio of AC to C (AC/C).

Long noncoding RNA GAS5 inhibits angiogenesis and metastasis of colorectal cancer through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Objective: Angiogenesis plays a key role in the tumorigenesis and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we investigated the effect of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) GAS5 on the angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis of CRC, and the involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Methods: CRC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were collected from 52 patients with CRC.

Quercetin rescued TNF-alpha-induced impairments in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell osteogenesis and improved osteoporosis in rats.

To investigate the effect of quercetin on promoting the proliferation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and improving osteoporosis in rats. Rats were randomly divided into the sham, OVX and quercetin+OVX groups. In the sham and OVX groups, rats were given carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na).

Histone deacetylase 7 inhibits plakoglobin expression to promote lung cancer cell growth and metastasis.

Plakoglobin is a tumor suppressor gene in lung cancer; however, the mechanism by which it is downregulated in lung cancer is largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate plakoglobin expression in lung cancer. The effects of overexpression or knockdown of HDAC7 on plakoglobin were determined using stably transfected lung cancer cell lines.

CSN5 promotes the invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer by stabilization of FOXM1.

COP9 signalosome subunit 5 (CSN5) has been involved in the progression of diverse human cancers. MMP2 plays an important role in the metastasis of cancer cells. However, the roles and relationship of in pancreatic cancer (PC) is still unknown.

Laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration: surgical indications and procedure strategies.

Background: LTCBDE combined with or without modified techniques is safe and efficacious for the management of gallstones and concomitant, even large, common bile duct (CBD) stones.

Methods: To describe the surgical indications and procedure strategies of laparoscopic transcystic common bile duct exploration (LTCBDE), a retrospective analysis of 205 patients with concomitant gallstones and CBD stones treated using LTCBDE between June 2008 and June 2015 was performed. Clinical data on disease characteristics, methods for cystic duct incision and CBD stone extraction (with or without laser lithotripsy), and surgical outcomes were collected and reviewed.

SKLB023 protects mice against acute liver injury by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine production in both T cells and macrophages.

Acute liver failure is a severe clinical syndrome accompanied with excessive inflammatory response. Our previous study demonstrated that SKLB023, a novel thiazolidinedione derivative, showed potent anti-inflammatory activity in rheumatoid arthritis. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the protective effect of SKLB023 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-GalN-induced liver failure and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Snail promotes metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma partly by down-regulating TEL2.

Background: Metastasis is the major cause of treatment failure in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We previously reported that TEL2, a negative regulator of SERPINE1, could inhibit NPC metastasis to lymph nodes.

Method: A series of in vivo and in vitro assays were performed to elucidate the regulation between Snail and TEL2.

LncRNA SNHG5 promotes the progression of osteosarcoma by sponging the miR-212-3p/SGK3 axis.

Background: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) SNHG5 has been found to play an important role in tumors. Nevertheless, the function and mechanism of lncRNA SNHG5 in osteosarcoma (OS) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether lncRNA SNHG5 can regulate the occurrence and development of OS cells.

Study on Attenuating Angiogenesis and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma (NSCLC) by Regulating MAGEC2.

Objective: To investigate the role of MAGE family member C2 in angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Methods: The Cancer Genome Atlas data set was analyzed to filter the highly expressed gene melanoma antigen family C2 in non-small cell lung carcinoma. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed to verify the overexpression of melanoma antigen family C2 in non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines.

Atorvastatin ameliorates the contractile dysfunction of the aorta induced by organ culture.

Statins are widely used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Studies have demonstrated that statins could maintain vascular contractile function through inhibiting the transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from the contractile phenotype to the synthetic phenotype. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated.

Contribution of KCTD12 to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: It has been shown that the expression of potassium channel tetramerization domain containing 12 (KCTD12) as a regulator of GABAB receptor signaling is reversely associated with gastrointestinal stromal tumors. In present study we examined the probable role of KCTD12 in regulation of several signaling pathways and chromatin remodelers in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: KCTD12 ectopic expression was done in KYSE30 cell line.

Downregulation of lncRNA TUG1 is involved in ankylosing spondylitis and is related to disease activity and course of treatment.

Long non-coding RNA taurine-upregulated gene 1 (lncRNA TUG1) promotes osteosarcoma, while its involvement in other bone diseases, such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is unknown. Expression of TUG1 in serum and open sacroiliac biopsies of AS patents and healthy controls was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Ankylosing spondylitis disease activity score (ASDAS) system was used to evaluate disease activity.

Analysis of anti-osteoporosis function of chlorogenic acid by gene microarray profiling in ovariectomy rat model.

The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) on estrogen deficiency-induced osteoporosis based on micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and potential mechanism of gene regulation via microarray profiling. Eighteen female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into sham-operated group, ovariectomy (OVX) plus saline vehicle group, and OVX plus CGA treatment group (CGA at 45 mg/kg/day). The loss of bone mass of the femoral metaphysis was evaluated by micro-CT to represent.