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Objective: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignant tumour in the oral cavity. OSCC is aggressive and prone to metastasis; it is associated with high mortality and short survival. In this study, we investigated the function of the long non‐coding RNA LINC00525 in OSCC progression and the molecular mechanisms through in vitro and in vivo experiments. Materials and Methods: CCK8 assay was used to detect the effect of LINC00525 on cell viability; transwell migration and invasion assays and scratch assay were used to examine the role of LINC00525 in cell migration and invasion. Flow cytometry, RT‐PCR and western blot were used to detect apoptosis indexes. Tumorigenic effects were investigated using mouse xenograft tumour models. Results: LINC00525 was associated with OSCC survival and prognosis. LINC00525 knockdown decreased cell viability and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) properties and increased apoptosis and also shortened the cell cycle of OSCC cells in vitro. The downregulation of LINC00525 reduced the growth of OSCC tumour in vivo. LINC00525 can regulate OSCC cells via the apoptotic signalling pathway. Conclusion: Our results indicate that LINC00525 exhibits oncogenic functions in OSCC. LINC00525 may be a new promising and potential target for the treatment of OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease. It is common in middle-aged and elderly people and is one of the main causes of disability. Currently, the etiology of OA is unclear, and no specific biomarkers for the diagnosis of OA have been identified. Therefore, finding a highly sensitive biomarker is essential for a proper diagnosis. TRNA-derived fragments (tRFs) and tRNA-derived stress-induced RNAs (tiRNAs) are newly discovered classes of noncoding RNAs. tRF has been proven in several studies to have significant associations with tumor diagnosis, making it a promising biomarker in cancer research. However, the diagnostic utility of tRF in OA patients and the correlation between OA progression and trf differential expression have yet to be elaborated. The purpose of this research was to identify tRFs with differential expression in OA to assess their potential as OA biomarkers. To determine the tRF-5022B expression level in this research, real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR has been employed. Agarose gel electrophoresis, Sanger sequencing, and other investigations have been employed for evaluating tRF-5022B's molecular properties. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis has been utilized for assessing the diagnostic effectiveness of the tRF-5022B. The findings demonstrated that tRF-5022B expression was considerably lower in OA serum. The Kellgren–Lawrence grading scale was shown to correspond with serum expression levels. The ROC curve confirmed that tRF-5022B serum expression levels might differentiate OA cases from healthy individuals and RA patients. According to the aforementioned findings, tRF-5022B may be employed as a novel biomarker for OA diagnosis due to its excellent diagnostic value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between quantitative value of endolymphatic hydrops in the affected ear and the hearing threshold in patients with unilateral Meniere's disease. Study Design: Prospective study. Methods: Forty patients with unilateral definite Meniere's disease were diagnosed in outpatient clinic. We recorded their clinical symptoms (duration of vertigo and tinnitus and duration of vertigo attacks), and obtained the hearing thresholds of high, middle, and low by pure tone audiometry. A 3D-FLAIR MRI revealed endolymphatic hydrops and assessed quantitative values of cochlear and vestibular endolymphatic hydrops. We assessed the correlation between hearing thresholds and quantitative values of endolymphatic hydrops. Results: All patients showed varying degrees of endolymphatic hydrops in the affected ear. With the duration of vertigo, tinnitus and vertigo attacks as control variables, partial correlation analysis showed that the correlation coefficients between quantitative value of cochlear hydrops and hearing thresholds of low, middle, and high tone in the affected ear were 0.581, 0.610, and 0.125, respectively. The correlation coefficients between quantitative value of vestibular hydrops and hearing thresholds of low, middle, and high tone in the affected ear were 0.727, 0.569, and 0.201, respectively. Conclusions: The degree of endolymphatic hydrops in Meniere's disease can be revealed and assessed by 3D-FLAIR MRI after intravenous administration of double doses of gadoterate meglumine. Clinical evaluation of endolymphatic hydrops in Meniere's disease can be assisted by low- and middle-tone hearing thresholds, thereby providing anatomical support for the clinical symptoms of Meniere's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major risk factor for end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Here we estimated the global prevalence and absolute burden of CKD in 2010 by pooling data from population-based studies. We searched MEDLINE (January 1990 to December 2014), International Society of Nephrology Global Outreach Program-funded projects, and bibliographies of retrieved articles and selected 33 studies reporting gender- and age-specific prevalence of CKD in representative population samples. The age-standardized global prevalence of CKD stages 1-5 in adults aged 20 and older was 10.4% in men (95% confidence interval 9.3-11.9%) and 11.8% in women (11.2-12.6%). This consisted of 8.6% in men (7.3-9.8%) and 9.6% in women (7.7-11.1%) in high-income countries, and 10.6% in men (9.4-13.1%) and 12.5% in women (11.8-14.0%) in low- and middle-income countries. The total number of adults with CKD was 225.7 million (205.7-257.4 million) men and 271.8 million (258.0-293.7 million) women. This consisted of 48.3 million (42.3-53.3 million) men and 61.7 million (50.4-69.9 million) women in high-income countries, and 177.4 million (159.2-215.9 million) men and 210.1 million (200.8-231.7 million) women in low- and middle-income countries. Thus, CKD is an important global-health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries. National and international efforts for prevention, detection, and treatment of CKD are needed to reduce its morbidity and mortality worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim of the study: To elucidate the mechanisms of Gong Qing Decoction(GQD) on human trephocytes and decidual cells in vivo based upon the effective practice of alleviating uterine bleeding in RU486 medical abortion. Materials and methods: 90 intrauterine pregnancy women within 7 weeks, presenting for elective termination of pregnancy, were divided into the GQD-RU486 group, the RU486 group and the vacuum aspiration group. Duration of uterine bleeding was recorded and volume of uterine bleeding was measured by the method of alkaline hematin photometric. Ultramicrostructure of trephocytes and decidual cells were observed with transmission electron microscope (TEM), and apoptosis rate (AR) was assessed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. At the same time, immunohistochemical staining was performed and integral optical density was analyzed to evaluate the protein expression of Fas, FasL, Caspase-8 and Caspase-3 in both trephocytes and decidual cells preliminarily. Results: In comparison with the RU486 group and the vacuum aspiration group, both the duration and volume of uterine bleeding decreased significantly in the GQD-RU486 group. At the same time, both trephocytes and decidual cells in the GQD-RU486 group showed typical character of apoptotic ultramicrostructure and displayed up-regulated apoptosis rate. Synchronously, the integral optical density showed increased protein expression of Fas, FasL, Caspase-8 and Caspase-3 in both trephocytes and decidual cells in the GQD-RU486 group compared with other groups. Conclusion: These data suggest that GQD can alleviate uterine bleeding effectively in RU486 medical abortion by way of apoptosis induction. The apoptosis enhancement of RU486 by GQD may be attributable to the activation of Fas and FasL. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim of the study: Huang-Lian-Jie-Du-Tang (HLJDT) is a traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory use. In the present study, the effects of its component herbs and pure components were observed on eicosanoid generation to find out the contributory components and their precise targets on arachidonic acid (AA) cascade. Materials and methods: By monitoring leukotriene B4 (LTB4), 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE), and 12-hydroxy-5,8,10-heptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHT), we compared the effects of HLJDT, HLJDT free of one or two component herbs, and water extract of four single component herbs of HLJDT (Rhizoma coptidis, Radix scutellariae, Cortex phellodendri and Fructus gardeniae) on eicosanoid generation in rat elicited peritoneal macrophages. In addition, thirteen pure compounds from HLJDT (baicalin, baicalein, wogonoside, wogonin, berberine, magnoflorine, phellodendrine, coptisine, palmatine, jateorrhizine, crocin, chlorogenic acid, and geniposide) were tested in the macrophages. Furthermore, the efficacies of these thirteen compounds were evaluated on cell-free purified enzymes: leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H), 5-, 15-lipoxygenase (5-, 15-LO), and cyclo-oxygenase-1/2 (COX-1/2). Moreover, the possible synergetic effect on LO pathway derived LTB4 generation between the active components was also tested in rat peritoneal macrophages. Results: Our experiments showed that Rhizoma coptidis and Radix scutellariae were responsible for the suppressive effect of HLJDT on eicosanoid generation. Some of the pure components including baicalein, baicalin, wogonoside, wogonin, coptisine, and magnoflorine inhibited eicosanoid generation in rat macrophages via LO pathway of AA cascade. Further experiments on cell-free purified enzymes confirmed that Radix scutellariae derived baicalein and baicalin showed significant inhibition on 5-LO and 15-LO, while Rhizoma coptidis derived coptisine showed medium inhibition on LTA4H. On the other hand, no significant inhibition of thirteen components on COX-1/2 was observed. Moreover, the slight synergetic inhibition on LTB4 between baicalein and coptisine was proved in the rat peritoneal macrophages. Conclusions: Baicalein and coptisine, the active components of HLJDT, for the first time are found to interfere with arachidonic acid cascade via inhibition on different points of LO pathway. This finding makes the mechanism of HLJDT clearer and achieves its safer therapeutic application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aim of the study: Tanshinone IIA (T), salvianolic acid B (S) and ginsenoside Rb1 (G) are the three major active ingredients of Compound Danshen Formula (CDF) for its protective effects on myocardial ischemia (MI). In this study, we aimed to investigate therapeutic and synergistic effects of TSG (combination of T, S and G) on MI rats with metabolomic strategy. Materials and methods: MI model were induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. MI rats were respectively administrated T, S, G, TSG and CDF. Plasma was analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS). Partial least squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) models were built to evaluate the therapeutic and synergistic effects of TSG at whole level. 22 MI biomarkers in rat plasma were also investigated to explain that. Results: TSG brings nearly equal therapeutic effects on MI as CDF and it plays more stable regulated action on those 22 identified metabolites than single compound. Conclusions: Overall, there were few methods for the study of synergistic effects of Chinese medicine. Our results suggested that metabolomics offers a new idea for Chinese medicine research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]