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It has been shown that oxidative damage and inflammation caused by hyperglycemia in endothelial cells are key factors triggering diabetic vascular complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory effects of Danhong Huayu Koufuye (DHK)‑medicated serum on high glucose (HG)‑induced injury in endothelial cells, and examine its underlying mechanisms. EA. hy926 cells were treated with normal glucose, HG, or HG with DHK‑medicated serum. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT method. Apoptosis was detected using flow cytometry. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were measured using the 2',7'‑dichlorodihydrofluorescein method. Cell culture supernatant was collected for detecting the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). The protein expression levels of intercellular adhesion molecule‑1 (ICAM‑1), nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB), hypoxia‑inducible factor‑1α (HIF‑1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were determined using western blot analysis. The results revealed that DHK‑medicated serum accelerated the proliferation and inhibited the apoptosis of cells treated with HG (P<0.01) in a dose‑dependent manner. Compared with the HG group, the high levels of ROS and MDA were significantly reduced by DHK‑medicated serum (P<0.01). A 10% concentration of DHK‑medicated serum increased the activities of SOD and GPx by 59.4 and 95.5%, respectively. The high protein expression levels of ICAM‑1, NF‑κB, VEGF and HIF‑1α were significantly ameliorated by DHK‑medicated serum (P<0.01, vs. HG group). These findings indicated that DHK‑medicated serum protected EA. hy926 cells from HG‑induced injury and apoptosis through antioxidation and anti‑inflammatory effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The benefit of transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) for mid and low rectal cancer is conflicting. Aim: To assess and compare the short-term outcomes of TaTME with conventional laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LaTME) for middle and low rectal cancer. Material and methods: We searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library databases for studies addressing TaTME versus conventional LaTME for rectal cancer between 2008 and December 2018. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective studies which compared TaTME with LaTME were included. Results: Twelve retrospective case-control studies were identified, including a total of 899 patients. We did not find significant differences in overall intraoperative complications, blood loss, conversion rate, operative time, overall postoperative complication, anastomotic leakage, ileus, or urinary morbidity. Also no significant differences in oncological outcomes including circumferential resection margin (CRM), positive CRM, distal margin distance (DRM), positive DRM, quality of mesorectum, number of harvested lymph nodes, temporary stoma or local recurrence were found. Although the TaTME group had better postoperative outcomes (readmission, reoperation, length of hospital stay) on average, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Transanal total mesorectal excision offers a safe and feasible alternative to LaTME although the clinicopathological features were not superior to LaTME in this study. Currently, with the lack of evidence on benefits of TaTME, further evaluation of TaTME requires large randomized control trials to be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To further evaluate the safety of Fuganlin Oral Liquid (FGLOL) for clinical application by conducting toxicological tests in young rats. Methods: Based on the clinical dose for infants aged less than 1 year, 4-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were orally administered FGLOL3.88, 11.64 and 38.75 g crude drug/kg for 18 days, followed by a 3-week withdrawal. This was followed by evaluating the effect of FGLOL on various growth and development indicators, nerve reflex function and spontaneous behavior of the rats. Based on the clinical dose for children aged 1 - 6 years, 15-day-old rats were orally administered FGLOL3.88, 11.64 and 38.75 g crude drug/kg for 31 days, followed by a 3-week withdrawal in order to evaluate the impact of the FGLOL on the development of reproductive organs and nervous systems in young rats. The effects of FGLOL on the safety of young rats were judged based on ophthalmic examination, physical examination, spontaneous behavior and other developmental effects. Results: FGLOL did not cause animal death, and no significant toxicological changes were observed in the body weight, growth and development, and behavior of the young rats (p < 0.05). No observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) even after administering the higher dose at each stage. However, the results at each stage showed that oral administration of a large amount of FGLOL had a greater effect on normal food consumption of the rats (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate that Fuganlin Oral Liquid, a traditional Chinese medicine formulation, is safe in rats. However, clinical trials are required to acertain its safety in humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]