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Surgical ciliated cysts are rare benign cystic lesions that generally occur a number of years after invasive surgical procedures or trauma involving the maxilla. The appearance of this cyst after orthognathic surgery is a complication that has rarely been reported. It usually shows as a well-defined radiolucency in the maxilla in young adults mimicking other maxillary cysts. Therefore, an exhaustive clinical-radiological diagnosis is needed to establish its differential diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The present study describes the case of a surgical ciliated cyst that appeared 20 years after LeFort I orthognathic surgery. Treatment consisted of complete enucleation with primary closure and removal of osteosynthesis material. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a maxillary cyst lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar cells. Clinicians should be aware of this rare type of cyst in patients with a history of maxillary surgery or trauma to establish a differential diagnosis and ensure appropriate management.

Bioceramic-based fillers have been evaluated in several in vitro studies but in vivo studies are still limited. The present study examined 36 postoperative radiographic analyses that were divided into four groups, of which three used bioceramic-based fillers, namely Total Fill, BioRoot RCS and Biodentine, while the fourth group was used as control and implemented the resin-based AH Plus Jet sealer. The present results did not indicate significant differences in radiopacity between sealers at a certain level of obturation. Biodentine-based fillers have a radiodensity close to that of dentin, which makes it difficult for the physician to radiologically assess the correctness of the canal filling.

Scoparone (SCO) is a compound found in the stems and leaves of Artemisia capillaris. The pharmacological uses of SCO include significant hypotensive, cholagogic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, lipid-lowering, anti-asthmatic and anti-coagulant effects. The present study aimed to verify the anticancer potential of SCO in breast cancer (BC) cells and its underlying molecular mechanism. Cell Counting Kit-8 and flow cytometry were used to analyze the effects of SCO on cell viability and apoptosis. Nucleocytoplasmic separation was used to analyze the location of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) small nucleolar RNA host gene 12 (SNHG12) in BC cells. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to analyze the effect of SCO on the expression levels of SNHG12, microRNA (miRNA/miR)-140-3p and tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 2 (TRAF2). Western blotting was used to analyze the protein expression levels of TRAF2 and downstream nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways. The results demonstrated that SCO had a time- and dose-dependent inhibitory effect on the viability of BC cells, and that the upregulated lncRNA SNHG12 in BC cells was inhibited by SCO. SNHG12, which was primarily expressed in the cytoplasm, acted as a competing endogenous RNA, sponged miR-140-3p and inhibited the expression of miR-140-3p. The transcriptional activity and translational level of TRAF2, a downstream target of miR-140-3p, decreased following the SCO-mediated suppression of SNHG12 expression. As an upstream effector, TRAF2 activity reduction mediated the inhibition of NF-κB signaling, decreased the viability and migration of BC cells, and promoted BC cell apoptosis. In conclusion, SCO-induced inhibition of viability and promotion of apoptosis in BC cells are achieved through the inhibition of NF-κB signaling, which is associated with regulation of the SNHG12/miR-140-3p/TRAF2 axis. This understanding provides new drug candidates for the treatment of BC and a theoretical basis for biology.

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. The proportion of cases of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in China is gradually increasing. Glaucoma surgery has become more effective, safer, minimally invasive and personalized over the years. CO(2) laser-assisted sclerectomy surgery (CLASS) is a minimally invasive glaucoma treatment. CLASS has recently been used to gradually lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with POAG, pseudocapsular detachment syndrome and secondary glaucoma. In this operation, precise ablation of dry tissue followed by photocoagulation and effective absorption of water and percolating aqueous humor using CO(2) laser are performed, and the IOP is lowered by the laser ablation of the deep sclera and the outer wall of the Schlemm's canal, facilitating the drainage of the aqueous humor. Compared with other filtering surgeries, CLASS has a shorter learning curve, lower technical difficulty and higher safety. The present study reviews the clinical application progress, safety and effectiveness of CLASS.

Treatment of kidney and ureter multiple calculi is a difficult procedure in urology. It is especially difficult to eliminate the high burden stones in a one-stage operation. When a patient has had only one kidney since he/she was born (a condition termed ‘solitary kidney’), the conservation of the renal function is especially important. A series of combined surgery techniques have been developed, including endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy sandwich therapy and laparoscopy-assisted percutaneous nephrolithotomy, but not laparoscopy or endoscopy cooperative surgery. The present study described the case of a patient with a solitary kidney and ureter who developed multiple calculi. This condition led to hydronephrosis and severe anuria for 3 days. Urinary ultrasound indicated hydronephrosis of the left kidney and several stones were detected. The maximum renal stone was sized ~2.7x0.8 cm. In addition, a maximally sized stone of 2.9x0.9 cm was found in the left upper ureter. The patient had only one kidney, the right kidney was absent. Laboratory examinations revealed severe renal dysfunction. A percutaneous nephrostomy was immediately performed on the left kidney. Laparoscopy, flexible ureteroscopy, rigid ureteroscopy and ureteroscope pneumatic lithotripsy were used to eliminate all the stones in one stage. The patient recovered well and was discharged on the eighth day post-surgery. The present case report highlighted that the conservation of kidney function is critical in the treatment of anuria lasting for 3 days in a patient with calculus. When the situation arises, laparoscopy combined with ureteroscopy cooperative surgery was shown to be a good choice for one-stage clearance of complex stones in patients with a solitary kidney and ureter.

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer, which accounts for 15-20% of all breast cancer, is associated with tumor recurrence and poor prognosis. RAS association domain family protein 1 subtype A (RASSF1A) is a tumor suppressor that is silenced in a variety of human cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the role of RASSF1A in HER2+ breast cancer and the therapeutic potential of RASSF1A-based targeted gene therapy for this malignancy. RASSF1A expression in human HER2+ breast cancer tissues and cell lines was evaluated by reverse transcription PCR and western blot analysis. The associations between tumorous RASSF1A level and tumor grade, TNM stage, tumor size, lymph node metastasis and five-year survival were examined. HER2+ and HER2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer cells were transfected with a lentiviral vector (LV-5HH-RASSF1A) that could express RASSF1A under the control of five copies of the hypoxia-responsive element (5HRE) and one copy of the HER2 promoter (HER2p). Cell proliferation was evaluated by the MTT and colony formation assays. It was found that tumorous RASSF1A level was negatively associated with tumor grade (P=0.014), TNM stage (P=0.0056), tumor size (P=0.014) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.029) and positively associated with five-year survival (P=0.038) in HER2+ breast cancer patients. Lentiviral transfection of HER2+ breast cancer cells resulted in increased RASSF1A expression and decreased cell proliferation, especially under hypoxic conditions. However, lentiviral transfection of HER2-breast cancer cells did not affect RASSF1A expression. In conclusion, these findings verified the clinical significance of RASSF1A as a tumor suppressor in HER2+ breast cancer and supported LV-5HH-RASSF1A as a potential targeted gene therapy for this malignancy.

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of individualized nursing on improving the satisfaction of elderly patients with lung cancer undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy. A total of 72 elderly patients with lung cancer undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy in the First Hospital of Qinhuangdao (Qinhuangdao, China) were randomly allocated to a control group (n=36) or an observation group (n=36). The patients in the control group received routine nursing, and the patients in the observation group received individualized nursing. The patients' compliance with respiratory function exercise, the complications after surgery, and nursing satisfaction were recorded. The patients' compliance with respiratory rehabilitation exercise and the patients' satisfaction in the observation group were significantly higher than that in the control group. The length of hospital postoperative stay, the time of drainage tube indwelling, and the incidence of postoperative complications in the observation group were significantly lower than in the control group. Thus, an individualized nursing model can accelerate the rehabilitation of elderly patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy and improve patient satisfaction.

Previously, anti-inflammatory properties of 3,4,5-Trihydroxycinnamic acid (THC) has been reported in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells and in an LPS-induced sepsis BALB/c mice animal model. However, the effect of THC on the anti-allergic effect in mast cells has not been elucidated. The current study aimed to demonstrate the anti-allergic properties of THC and its underlying mechanism. Rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells were treated with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) and A23187, a calcium ionophore, to be activated. The anti-allergic effect of THC was determined by measuring cytokine and histamine release. Western blotting was conducted to determine mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) translocation. THC significantly suppressed PMA/A23187-induced tumor necrosis factor α secretion and THC also significantly attenuated degranulation, releasing β-hexosaminidase and histamine in concentration-dependent manners. Furthermore, THC significantly attenuated PMA/A23187-induced cyclooxygenase 2 expression and nuclear translocation of NF-κB. THC significantly suppressed PMA/A23187-induced increased phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, phosphorylated (p-)extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase in RBL-2H3 cells. Overall, the results demonstrated that THC exhibited anti-allergic action by significantly attenuating degranulation of mast cells through the inhibition of MAPKs/NF-κB signaling pathway in RBL-2H3 cells.

We previously demonstrated that a transforming growth factor β type II receptor (TGFBR2) mutation can predict resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), based on publicly available immunotherapeutic cohorts. However, the efficacy of ICI-based regimens in patients with advanced NSCLC harboring TGFBR2 mutations in the real-world setting is rarely reported. The present study describes the case of a patient with advanced NSCLC who harbors a TGFBR2 mutation. The patient was treated with ICI monotherapy and experienced hyperprogressive disease (HPD). The clinical information was retrospectively collected. The progression-free survival (PFS) was only 1.3 months. In conclusion, HPD occurred in a patient with advanced NSCLC with a TGFBR2 mutation who received an ICI monotherapy regimen. The findings suggested that caution may be required regarding the clinical delivery of ICI monotherapy to patients with NSCLC and TGFBR2 mutations; ICIs combined with chemotherapy may be an alternative treatment option.

During liver surgery and transplantation, periods of partial or total vascular occlusion are inevitable and result in ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Nanomedicine uses the latest technological advancement, which has emerged from interdisciplinary efforts involving biomedical sciences, physics and engineering to protect and improve human health. Antioxidant nanoparticles are potential therapeutic agents. The present study investigated the effects of cerium oxide (Co) administration and sevoflurane anesthesia on liver tissue with IR injury. A total of 36 rats were randomly divided into control, Co, IR, IR-Sevoflurane (IRS), Co + IR and Co + IRS groups. In the IR, IRS and Co + IRS groups, hepatic IR was induced. Intraperitoneal Co was administered to the Co groups 30 min before ischemia. Sevoflurane was administered to the IRS and Co + IRS groups during IR injury. Liver tissue samples were examined under the light microscope by staining with hematoxylin and eosin. Thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) levels as well as catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) enzyme activity were evaluated in liver tissue samples. The IR group had considerably more hydropic degeneration, sinusoidal dilatation and parenchymal neutrophil infiltration than the Co, IRS, Co + IR and Co + IRS groups. CAT and GST enzyme activity were significantly higher in Co and Co + IR groups compared with the IR group. TBARS levels were significantly lower in Co, IRS, Co + IR and Co + IRS groups compared whit those in the IR group. Intraperitoneal injection of Co with sevoflurane decreased oxidative stress and damage to the liver.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a refractory disease of the central nervous system with a high disability and incidence rate. In recent years, bioactive material combined with cell transplantation has been considered an effective method for the treatment of SCI. The present study encapsulated activated Schwann cells (ASCs) in a 3D gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel in order to investigate its therapeutic effects on SCI. ASCs were isolated from previously ligated rat sciatic nerves. Scanning electron microscopy and live/dead staining were used to evaluate the biocompatibility of hydrogels with the ASCs. The scaffold was transplanted into the spinal cord of rats in the hemisection model. Behavioral tests and hematoxylin and eosin staining were employed to assess the locomotion recovery and lesion areas before and after treatment. Cell apoptosis was evaluated using TUNEL staining and immunochemistry, and apoptosis-related protein expression was detected using western blot analysis. The ASCs exhibited a favorable survival and proliferative ability in the 3D GelMA hydrogel. The scaffold transplantation significantly reduced the cavities and improved functional recovery. Moreover, the GelMA/ASCs implants significantly inhibited cell apoptosis following SCI and this effect may be mediated via the p38 MAPK pathway. Overall, these findings indicated that ASCs combined with the 3D GelMA hydrogel may be a promising therapeutic strategy for SCI.

Phase angle (PhA), as measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis, is an important parameter in nutritional assessment and is highly predictive of clinical outcomes in various diseases; however, there is little research on its use in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the association between PhA and malnutrition and to clarify the prognostic significance of PhA for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in adult patients with AML (excluding acute promyelocytic leukemia) who were undergoing chemotherapy. A total of 70 patients with newly diagnosed AML were enrolled. After chemotherapy, the nutritional risk for patients with a reduced baseline PhA increased significantly. Disease progression occurred in 28 patients, of which 23 died, with a median follow-up of 9.3 months. A reduced baseline PhA was associated with poor PFS (7.1 months vs. 11.6 months; P=0.001) and OS (8.2 months vs. 12.1 months; P=0.011). A multivariate analysis revealed that a reduced PhA was an independent risk factor for disease progression (hazard ratio, 3.13; 95% CI, 1.21-8.11; P=0.019). Overall, these results suggested that PhA is an effective and sensitive indicator that may provide important nutritional and prognostic information in patients with AML.

The side effects and drug resistance during chemotherapy seriously affect the outcome of and may lead to the failure of chemotherapy for patients with hepatoma. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between the expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter G2 (ABCG2) in hepatoma cells and the drug resistance of hepatoma. An MTT assay was used to determine the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of Adriamycin (ADM) in hepatoma HepG2 cells after treatment with ADM for 24 h. An ADM-resistant hepatoma cell subline, HepG2/ADM, was generated from the HepG2 hepatoma cell line through a stepwise selection with ADM doses from 0.01 to 0.1 µg/ml. The HepG2/ABCG2 cell line, an ABCG2-overexpressing hepatoma cell line, was established by transfecting the ABCG2 gene into HepG2 cells. The MTT assay was then used to detect the IC(50) of ADM in HepG2/ADM and HepG2/ABCG2 cells after treatment with ADM for 24 h and the resistance index was calculated. The apoptosis, cell cycle and ABCG2 protein expression levels in HepG2/ADM, HepG2/ABCG2 cells, HepG2/PCDNA3.1 and their parental HepG2 cells were detected by flow cytometry. In addition, flow cytometry was used to detect the efflux effect of HepG2/ADM and HepG2/ABCG2 cells after ADM treatment. ABCG2 mRNA expression in cells was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. After 3 months of ADM treatment, HepG2/ADM cells grew stably in the cell culture medium containing 0.1 µg/ml ADM and the cells were named HepG2/ADM cells. ABCG2 was overexpressed in HepG2/ABCG2 cells. The IC(50) of ADM in HepG2, HepG2/PCDNA3.1, HepG2/ADM and HepG2/ABCG2 cells was 0.72±0.03, 0.74±0.01, 11.17±0.59 and 12.75±0.47 µg/ml, respectively. The cell apoptotic rate of HepG2/ADM and HepG2/ABCG2 cells was not significantly different compared with that of HepG2 and HepG2/PCDNA3.1 cells (P>0.05), but the G(0)/G(1) phase population of the cell cycle decreased and the proliferation index increased significantly (P0.05). The ADM efflux effect of HepG2/ADM and HepG2/ABCG2 cells was significantly higher than that of parental HepG2 and HepG2/PCDNA3.1 cells (P

Idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) is an otological emergency in which etiopathogenesis remains unclear. A number of disorders is considered as the cause; therefore, different treatment modalities are used without certainty of a cure. The present study aimed to analyse the potential correlation between serum α-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and galectin-3 levels with ISSNHL, and to investigate markers for guidance of treatment. A total of 55 patients with ISSNHL [29 (52.7%) female, 26 male, mean age, 46.76±17.68 years] and 47 healthy volunteers [25 (53.2%) female, 21 male, mean age, 43.95±12.96 years) were included in the study. The complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, serum galectin-3 and AGP levels were evaluated. The audiological investigation included pure tone average and speech discrimination scores were also recorded before and after corticosteroid treatment. Serum AGP levels in the study group vs. the control group were 64.08±25.10 and 67.01±21.59 mg/dl (P=0.53), respectively. Galectin-3 levels were 16.80±4.55 in the study group and 15.15±3.74 ng/ml in the control group (P=0.05). Serum galectin-3 levels were significantly correlated with unresponsiveness to treatment (P

Urogenital fistulas are abnormal communications between the female genital and urinary tract; while such fistulas, which are the most commonly encountered, are located between the vagina and urinary bladder and are caused by the local extension of a tumoral process. Another frequently encountered cause is represented by the obstetric one, leading to the development of uterovesical fistulas. However, many questions regarding the diagnosis and management of uterovesical fistulas remain unanswered. Therefore, the aim of this article was to review the existent data so far, with special attention being focused on the pathogenic mechanisms leading to this complication, on the modalities of diagnosis, and on the possible therapeutic strategies. Therefore, according to the time of diagnosis, uterovesical fistulas can be classified as early fistulas, diagnosed in the first months postoperatively and late fistulas, diagnosed within several years from the initial surgical procedure. For early fistulas, a conservative therapeutic strategy can be taken in consideration, while in cases diagnosed after a longer period of time, a surgical approach should be taken into consideration. Meanwhile, although a surgical approach can cure most of the cases, attention should be given towards preventive strategies such as provision of quality obstetric care with improvements of surgical skills.

Underreporting is a problem in dietary surveys, and data on Japanese individuals with obesity are lacking. In addition, in dietary surveys of individuals with obesity, underreporting and extreme energy restrictive practices for short periods of time have been reported, and blood total ketone levels (ketone bodies) may be able to distinguish between these factors. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between underreporting [energy intake (EI)/basal metabolic rate estimate (BMR)] and ketone bodies in obese Japanese women. The participants included 91 women with obesity aged 47±9 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 29.8±3.9 kg/m² who met the exclusion criteria out of 164 individuals who participated in an institutional cohort study baseline survey between September 2006 and September 2015. The current study defined the relationship between EI/BMR, BMI and the participants' ketone body levels. EI/BMR

The present study reports the case of an elderly male inpatient with uraemia who had a sudden onset of numbness and weakness in the right limbs during sleep at night, accompanied by blurred and double vision, during the induction of haemodialysis (HD). Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed signs of brainstem haemorrhage. Consequently, a proactive treatment approach was adopted for decreasing the blood and intracranial pressures of the patient, and regular HD was continued. The condition of the patient improved, and the limbs showed no impairment of sensation, with normal movement. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an inpatient with uraemia undergoing HD who developed a sudden brainstem haemorrhage during the induction phase of HD and completely recovered after conservative treatment. This unusual case deserves the attention of all clinicians, who should pay more attention to the patients with spontaneous brainstem hemorrhage.

The present study explored whether the dopamine 2-like receptor agonist, ropinirole, a drug used for treating Parkinson's disease, suppresses neutrophilic inflammation and alveolar bone loss in an experimental rat model of periodontitis. Periodontitis is a neutrophilic inflammatory disease caused by periodontal pathogens. An excessive T helper (Th)17 immune response is involved in the progression of periodontitis, and interleukin (IL)-17 promotes the exacerbation of inflammation and alveolar bone destruction. Recent evidence has suggested that dopamine signaling plays a key role in Th17 cell differentiation, and that dopamine 2-like receptor agonists suppress cytokine production from Th17 cells. We previously demonstrated that tannic acid, which is a dopamine 2-like receptor agonist, inhibits alveolar bone resorption in an experimental model of periodontitis. The present study used a carrageenan-induced rat model of periodontitis with or without ropinirole. Micro-computed tomography analysis was performed. Cells of the murine gingival epithelial cell line GE1 were stimulated with carrageenan and IL-17A in the presence or absence of ropinirole. The anti-inflammatory effect of ropinirole was analyzed using reverse transcription- quantitative PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Subsequently, in the carrageenan-induced rat model of periodontitis, alveolar bone resorption was observed in the maxillary second molar by micro-computed tomography analysis. Intriguingly, ropinirole suppressed the alveolar bone destruction. The expression levels of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1) and IL-17 receptor A (IL-17RA) in GE1 cells were increased by carrageenan, and CXCL1 expression in GE1 cells was upregulated under IL-17A stimulation. Moreover, ropinirole inhibited CXCL1 and IL-17RA expression in GE1 cells in the presence of IL-17A and carrageenan. Finally, haloperidol promoted CXCL1 expression in GE1 cells in the presence of carrageenan. Overall, these findings suggested that ropinirole suppressed neutrophilic inflammation and alveolar bone destruction in periodontitis by inhibiting CXCL1 expression in gingival epithelial cells through the dopamine 2-like receptor. Thus, ropinirole shows promise as a drug for the treatment of periodontitis.

The present randomized controlled study aimed to investigate the effects of TopClosure(®) tension-relief system (TRS) on patients with breast cancer undergoing mastectomy. A total of 402 female patients with breast cancer who came to the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between March 2014 and June 2018 were involved in the present study. All patients receiving mastectomy were randomly divided into the TRS group (n=201) and the control group (n=201). Serum levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, TNF-α, IL-6 and procalcitonin were measured using ELISA. Vancouver Scar Scale was recorded at 2 weeks and 1-3 and 6 months following the operation. The 36-Item Health Survey Scales were performed for all patients at 1 month after surgery. The TRS reduced the incidence of flap necrosis, infection and the duration of hospital stay. In addition, the TRS was found to attenuate inflammation and improve scar outcomes as well as the quality of life. It was concluded that the TRS could significantly improve the clinical outcomes.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is an important pathway that contributes to the pathophysiology of acute liver injury due to paracetamol toxicity. Omapatrilat, a RAAS-acting agent, inhibits both angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and neprilysin/neutral endopeptidase (NEP). The aim of the present study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of omapatrilat and examine the role of ACE/NEP pathway on the physiopathology of paracetamol toxicity. A total of 56 BALB/c mice were separated into seven groups: Control, 40 mg/kg omapatrilat only, 400 mg/kg paracetamol only, paracetamol and 140 mg/kg N-acetylcysteine and three groups with paracetamol and 10-40 mg/kg omapatrilat. Blood and liver tissue samples were studied through histopathological imaging, alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) liver function tests and oxidant/antioxidant biomarker measurements including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). ACE and NEP activities were also measured. Histopathological analysis revealed that paracetamol toxicity resulted in a number of apoptotic and necrotic cells in liver tissue samples. By contrast, with 40 mg/kg omapatrilat administration in toxicity-induced mice, hepatocytes were significantly improved and exhibited similar appearance to the control group. Biochemical measurements also supported these histopathological results. Omapatrilat pretreatment provided a dose-dependent reduction in oxidative stress and reversed paracetamol toxicity indications by reducing ALT and AST activities, increasing SOD activity and GSH levels and reducing MDA levels. Dose-dependent increase of ACE and NEP enzymes in omapatrilat groups was also observed. The results demonstrated promotion of antioxidant activity by omapatrilat and suppression of oxidative stress associated with acute liver injury. These findings revealed the potential role of ACE/NEP pathway in paracetamol toxicity and hepatoprotective effects of omapatrilat against oxidative stress.

Approximately 1.14 billion smokers worldwide are at risk of developing tumors, cardiovascular diseases and respiratory diseases. Smoking cessation is the first choice of health care; however, the disease should be attenuated in individuals who never stop smoking, which escalates medical costs. Therefore, alternative options are needed to manage the social burden. The present study proposed an alternative method to prevent such diseases by inhalation of β-caryophyllene (BCP). A placebo-targeted, dose-searching, double-blind, parallel-group comparative study was conducted on 19 subjects. The BCP intervention was performed using a flavor capsule inserted in a cigarette filter. The primary endpoint was the reducibility of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). The secondary endpoints were confirmation of the bioavailability of BCP inhalation with cigarette smoke, confirmation of the effect of BCP inhalation on respiratory function, and association between respiratory function and blood concentration and baPWV reduction. The BCP concentration in the blood reached 4 ng/ml in the BCP 15% group 10 min after inhalation. The baPWV decreased in BCP-inhaling subjects whose initial baPWV was >1,300 cm/sec. The correlation analyses revealed that the higher the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, the better the transition of baPWV. Inhaled BCP with cigarette smoke could reduce the baPWV and the risk of cardiovascular diseases in smokers. These findings indicated that with the introduction of BCP capsule-cigarettes in the future, smokers will be able to take care of their health, which may help reduce national medical costs. BCP microcapsules placed in cigarette wrapping paper may possibly reduce the risk of sidestream smoke and contribute to improved public health. This clinical research was retrospectively registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN)-Clinical Trials Registry with the following identifications: UMIN000048510 and UMIN000048512 on August 15, 2022.

Schwannoma is a benign tumor of the nerve sheath originating from Schwann cells. The tumor rarely occurs in the sciatic nerve. The patient in the present case report was a 58-year-old woman presenting with pain in the right hip and leg, as well as numbness of the right lower limb. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a solid tumor of 2.9 cm in diameter in the right pelvic space. The mass was considered to be a neurogenic tumor originating from the right sciatic nerve. Total laparoscopic surgery was performed to safely separate the tumor from the surrounding tissues, with preservation of the right sciatic nerve. The pathological result suggested a schwannoma. The patient recovered well with a transient numbness in the right heel. The laparoscopic approach used for this intrapelvic schwannoma of the sciatic nerve was safe and feasible, with the advantages of a magnified surgical field and small skin incision. However, the specific surgical approach should be based on the detailed condition of each patient and the experience of the surgeon with regard to laparoscopic surgery on benign presacral tumors and rectal tumors.

The present study investigated the effect of transcription factor yin yang 1 (YY1) on aerobic glycolysis and cell proliferation in neuroblastoma and its mechanism. Neuroblastoma cell lines were used to investigate the association between YY1 and lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) expression. Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 and clone formation experiments were used to detect the cell viability. The interaction of YY1 and LDHA was detected using chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Glucose uptake, intra/extracellular lactate and pyruvate and LDHA expression were evaluated using standard methods. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR, western blotting and gene overexpression or silencing were undertaken to explore the biological effects and underlying mechanisms of transcriptional regulators in NB cells. The results demonstrated that YY1 was significantly upregulated in neuroblastoma cell lines. The results of aerobic glycolysis and CCK-8 indicated that YY1 significantly promoted the proliferation and aerobic glycolysis of neuroblastoma cells. In addition, chromatin immunoprecipitation-PCR results demonstrated that YY1 was directly bound to the promoter LDHA. Overexpression of LDHA could reverse the inhibitory effect of sh-YY1 on aerobic glycolysis and proliferation of neuroblastoma cells. In conclusion, YY1 could induce aerobic glycolysis and proliferation of neuroblastoma cell lines, and may directly mediate the regulation of LDHA. These findings may provide novel insight for the treatment of neuroblastoma.

The present single-center retrospective clinical real-world study aimed to assess the feasibility and outcomes of patients who underwent simultaneous prostate biopsy and general urological surgeries. The medical records of 49 patients who underwent prostate biopsy and general urological surgeries simultaneously from October 2016 to June 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients' outcomes were evaluated 3 days, 1 month and 6 months after biopsy. Of the 49 biopsy cases, 41 were treated by transurethral prostatectomy, two by ureteroscopic lithotripsy, two by laparoscopic renal cyst decortication, two by cystostomy and two by ureteral stent extraction. The overall detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer was 22.4%. The rate in patients with a prostate imaging reporting and data system (PI-RADS) score of 4-5 was 100%, while in cases with a PI-RADS score of

Acquired benign trachea-oesophageal fistula is a rare benign pathological entity with varying aetiologies that most often occurs post-intubation. This case report presents the case of a female patient, 31 years old, admitted to the emergency room with sepsis syndrome following bilateral aspiration pneumonia caused by a large trachea-oesophageal fistula. The fistula was the result of intra-tracheal migration of an oesophageal stent placed for post lye ingestion stenosis. Esophageal diversion and partial resection with oesophageal patch to repair the tracheal defect, under general anaesthesia with ventilation using rigid bronchoscopy and high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV), followed at a later date by esophageal replacement with colic graft were the procedures performed with a view to curing the patient. In conclusion, complex cases always require a tailored approach. It is important to note that HFJV may be applied for a longer period of time and the oesophagus can be used as patch for the posterior tracheal wall in selected cases. Staged surgery is also an option when the patients' poor health status does not permit major surgery.

The anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) antibody is a breakthrough immune checkpoint inhibitor that modulates T-cell function. However, it may result in multiple immune-related adverse events (irAEs), such as endocrine toxicity. The present case report describes a 59-year-old female patient with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with a tumor proportion score of 50% for programmed death ligand 1. The patient developed dry skin, dizziness and fatigue after receiving the third infusion of the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab. Based on several clinical indicators, including low serum free T3 and free T4 titers, an elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone level and a high titer of thyroid peroxidase autoantibody, the patient was diagnosed with immune-induced autoimmune thyroiditis. The patient received continuous thyroxine replacement therapy until her thyroid function returned to normal. After the fifth infusion of pembrolizumab, the patient exhibited hyperglycemia, high serum ketone levels and low arterial blood pH, thus meeting the criteria for immune-induced autoimmune diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis. As a result, the immunotherapy was discontinued and the patient was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Following anti-PD-1 medication, the patient experienced autoimmune thyroid damage and autoimmune diabetes. Therefore, clinicians should regularly monitor patients undergoing immunotherapy and pay close attention to the characteristics irAEs. Patients with underlying thyroiditis should be carefully monitored due to this being a risk factor, and for patients with thyroiditis care should be taken when deciding on whether they should be treated with immunotherapy. The article also discusses the features and general mechanisms of immune-related endocrine toxicity.

Castleman's disease (CD) is an uncommon lymphoproliferative disorder, which mostly occurs in the chest and neck. Lesions originating in the pelvic retroperitoneum are rare. It is important to consider CD as a differential diagnosis when a pelvic lesion is found. The present study reports a unique case of CD in the pelvic retroperitoneum, where the tumor was demonstrated to have a highly vascular nature on CT scanning. The preoperative diagnosis was uncertain and a vascular-derived tumor was considered. Laparoscopic surgery was performed and the mass was completely resected along with regional lymphadenectomy. The pathological diagnosis was the hyaline vascular type of CD. The patient was free of recurrence after 1 year of follow-up. As the underlying etiology remains elusive and the differential diagnosis is challenging preoperatively, surgical excision is the preferred treatment strategy for this type of benign lesion.

In the last two decades, the existence of key oncogenic alterations, such as activating mutations or chromosomal reorganization, has become crucial in the advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment paradigm. Among these, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement is reported in 3-7% of NSCLC cases worldwide. In patients who respond to long-term ALK therapy, treatment duration is uncertain. The present study reported a case of variant type 1 ALK-rearranged stage 3B lung adenocarcinoma that maintained a complete response for >6 years under treatment with crizotinib. As first-line treatment, crizotinib was administered twice daily (250 mg) and a complete response was confirmed after 3 months. After a complete response to crizotinib for 6 years, the treatment was stopped and the patient was followed up. Multiple brain metastases were detected during the third month of follow-up.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is the most common disorder of neuromuscular transmission and is a heterogeneous disorder generally caused by auto-antibody to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The current study presented a rare case of MG that occurred a long time after surgical resection of lung cancer. A 58-year-old man with lung adenocarcinoma underwent upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymph node dissection. Severe myasthenic symptoms began 7 years after the operation, and emergent mechanical ventilation was needed because of myasthenic crises. Levels of serum anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody were high and typical decremental responses to repetitive stimulation on electromyography were observed. Appropriate therapies for a severe acute condition were performed, and MG has been controlled for 6 years since then. There is no recurrence of lung cancer or appearance of thymoma. In conclusion, although very rare, physicians should be aware of MG as a potential comorbidity developing in patients with a history of lung cancer.

Cystic hydatid disease commonly affects the liver and lungs. Cardiac hydatid cysts are a rare occurrence and can cause fatal complications, including anaphylactic shock, systemic or pulmonary embolism, dissemination, arrhythmias, valvular dysfunction or sudden death. The case of a 19-year-old male from a rural area who was admitted to the emergency room with anaphylactic shock is presented in the current study. The patient was subsequently referred to the Department of Pneumology due to a mild fever, a dry cough and thoracic pain. Pneumonia was suspected and antibiotics were administered. As the patient didn't respond to the antibiotics, a pulmonary CT-scan was performed, which demonstrated a bilateral pulmonary embolism of the segmental arteries and the patient was referred to the Department of Cardiology. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) demonstrated the presence of a right ventricular mass of ~25x18 mm, attached to its free wall, adjacent to the tricuspid valve causing no tricuspid inflow obstruction. Blood tests were positive for echinococcal infection. Considering that previous reviews had included cases published up until 2018, the present study also included a short literature review of the studies published between 2018 and 2021. The review showed that cardiac hydatid cysts are diagnosed more often in underdeveloped countries, especially in men. Transthoracic echocardiography is the most useful non-invasive imaging technique for diagnosis. Surgery is the treatment of choice, but consideration must be given to the risk-benefit ratio and the shared decision-making approach. The complete surgical removal of the cyst(s) is the major prognosis factor of the cardiac manifestation. This study emphasizes the importance of considering cardiac echinococcosis as a potential diagnosis in patients from endemic or farming areas.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the long noncoding RNA HIT000218960 on gastric cancer cell resistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and to explore the underlying molecular mechanism. HIT000218960 expression was measured in gastric cancer tissues and cells lines using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. Gastric cancer cell lines with overexpressed or repressed HIT000218960 levels were generated to study its influence on apoptosis induced by 5-FU, which was analyzed using flow cytometry analysis. Compared with those in normal gastric mucosal tissues and non-cancerous gastric mucosal epithelial cells, HIT000218960 and high mobility group A2 (HMGA2) proteins were found to be upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and cells. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between the expression of HIT000218960 and HMGA2 in gastric cancer tissues. In patients with gastric cancer, HIT000218960 expression was revealed to associate negatively with the efficacy of chemotherapy and 3-year overall survival rate. Overexpression of HIT000218960 suppressed apoptosis in SNU-5 cells, whilst HIT000218960 knockdown increased the apoptosis of NCI-N87 cells following 5-FU treatment. Downstream, HIT000218960 was demonstrated to promote HMGA2 protein expression in gastric cancer cells. In these cells, knocking down HMGA2 expression significantly increased apoptosis in addition to reducing AKT, mTOR and P70S6 kinase (P70S6K) phosphorylation after 5-FU treatment. In conclusion, HIT000218960 is overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues and cells, which is associated with the efficacy of chemotherapy. Mechanistically, this may be mediated by the upregulation HMGA2 expression and AKT/mTOR/P70S6K signaling.

The aim of the present study was to develop a novel animal model of lumbar facet joint osteoarthritis induced by persistent compressive injury. An intraspinal compression spring was randomly implanted into either the L4/5 or the L5/6 spinal segments of 40 Sprague Dawley (SD) rats to induce compression. Sham-operations were used in the other segment of the same rats as the control levels. The animals were sacrificed at 7, 14, 28, 42 and 56 days after surgery, prior to the radiological confirmation of the spring location. Degeneration of the lumbar facet joints was evaluated by macroscopic observation in addition to histological and immunohistological analyses. The results of this present study revealed the absence of spring dislocation during the entire observation period. Macroscopic and Osteoarthritis Research Society International scores of the compression levels were found to be higher in the compression levels compared with those noted in the control levels (P

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve a crucial role in every aspect of cell biological functions as well as in a variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer and nervous system disease. However, the differential expression profiles of lncRNAs in Marfan syndrome (MFS) have not been reported. The aim of the present study was to identify potential target genes behind the pathogenesis of MFS by analyzing microarray profiles of lncRNA in aortic tissues from individuals with MFS and normal aortas (NA). The differentially expressed lncRNA profiles between MFS (n=3) and NA (n=4) tissues were analyzed using microarrays. Bioinformatics analyses were used to further investigate the candidate lncRNAs. Reverse transcription-quantitative (RT-qPCR) was applied to validate the results. In total, the present study identified 294 lncRNAs (245 upregulated and 49 downregulated) and 644 mRNAs (455 upregulated and 189 downregulated) which were differential expressed between MFS and NA tissues (fold change ≥1.5; P

Hydrocephalus is among the most common pediatric conditions treated by neurosurgeons. An antibiotic-impregnated shunt (AIS) was designed to reduce the rate of shunt infections. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to assess the efficiency of AIS in reducing the rate of shunt infection compared with standard shunts (SSs). A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, Cochrane Library, TRIP Database, CINAHL and Google Scholar databases was performed. Eligible studies included observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCT) that compared the effects of AIS and SS for preventing shunt infections in pediatric patients. Twelve observational studies and one RCT conducted from January 2005 through October 2019 involving 7,952 pediatric patients were included in the analysis. The use of AIS significantly decreased the risk of CRI [risk ratio (RR) 0.42; 95% confidence interval: 0.33 to 0.53; P

The present study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an optimized single transseptal puncture technique and contact force sensing atrial fibrillation (AF) radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) strategy within a clinical setting. Fast anatomic mapping and contact force sensing ablation was applied to patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) ablation between September 2014 and December 2016 using a single trans-septal sheath. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and linear ablation were performed in PAF individually with a 10-20 g contact force with minimal fluoroscopy. Stimulation with 10 mA outputs on the lesions without capture was used as endpoint. A total of 419 consecutive patients who underwent first-time RFCA were enrolled in the current study, and acute PVI was achieved in all patients. The average procedure time was 74.5±9.7 min, with an average ablation time of 27.3±7.8 min. The average fluoroscopy time was 4.7±3.3 min and the average radiation dose was 24.3±25.2 mGy. At a mean follow-up time of 14.5 ± 4.1 months, sinus rhythm was maintained at 85.0%. Cardiac tamponade occurred in one case. The results indicated that this simplified technique was a simple, safe and effective approach for PAF ablation therapy.

The present study investigated the effect of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) Dlx6os1 silencing on cell proliferation, apoptosis and fibrosis, and further explored its influence on the mRNA expression profile in mouse mesangial cells (MMCs) of a diabetic nephropathy (DN) cellular model. A DN cellular model was constructed in SV40 MES13 MMCs under high glucose conditions (30 mmol/l glucose culture). lncRNA Dlx6os1 short hairpin (sh)RNA plasmids and negative control (NC) shRNA plasmids were transfected into the MMCs of the DN cellular model as the sh-lncRNA group and sh-NC group respectively. The mRNA expression profile was determined in the sh-lncRNA and sh-NC groups. Compared with the sh-NC group, the cell proliferation, mRNA and protein expression levels of proliferative markers (cyclin D1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen) as well as fibrosis markers (fibronectin and collagen I) were suppressed, whereas cell apoptosis was promoted in the sh-lncRNA group. The mRNA expression profile identified 423 upregulated mRNAs and 438 downregulated mRNAs in the sh-lncRNA group compared with the sh-NC group. Additionally, Gene Ontology/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses revealed that the differentially expressed mRNAs were enriched in apoptosis and inflammation-related pathways. Further gene-set enrichment analysis of apoptosis and inflammation revealed that lncRNA Dlx6os1 inhibition promoted apoptosis and suppressed inflammation in MMCs of the DN cellular model. In conclusion, lncRNA Dlx6os1 may serve as a potential treatment target for DN via regulation of multiple apoptosis- and inflammation-related pathways.

To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the interaction between autophagosomes of alveolar type II epithelial (A549) cells and Klebsiella pneumoniae, an in vitro model of K. pneumoniae-infected A549 cells was established. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect the distribution of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 (LC3) and the expression of the LC3-phosphatidylethanolamine conjugate (LC3-II). K. pneumoniae-infected A549 cells were treated with different concentrations of an autophagy inhibitor or promoter for different time periods to assess the level of autophagy. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining showed that K. pneumoniae could induce autophagy by A549 cells. With an increase in bacterial concentration and time of infection, autophagy gradually increased. The autophagy inhibitor significantly downregulated, while the promoter upregulated, expression of the autophagy-related protein LC3-II. Autophagy plays an important role in the resistance of alveolar type II epithelial (A549) cells to K. pneumoniae infection.

The metastatic behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the key factors that leads to poor prognosis. The aim of the current study was to determine the changes in metastasis and the proliferation potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in high metastatic potential hepatocellular carcinoma (MHCC97-H) following gene silencing. The osteopontin (OPN) and transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ1) genes, which are associated with metastasis and tumor proliferation, were silenced in MHCC97-H cells. Transwell assays were used to evaluate the migration of MHCC97-H cells in vitro. Additionally, a murine model of MHCC97-H lung metastasis was established. Following OPN and TGFβ1 silencing, the migration of MHCC97-H cells was significantly reduced following BMSC intervention (P0.05). The metastasis and proliferation potential of MHCC97-H following BMSC intervention were significantly reduced in vitro and in vivo, especially in the TGFβ1-silenced group. The decrease in the metastatic potential in gene-silenced MHCC97-H cells was not associated with integrin αvβ3 expression. Therefore, OPN and TGFβ1 may be potential targets for HCC treatment, and TGFβ1 may have a higher therapeutic potential for BMSC intervention.

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) can promote the proliferation and differentiation of intervertebral disc cells and participates in its repair process. However, whether TGF-β1 engages in the process of disc degeneration has not yet been fully elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the function of high-dose TGF-β1 on the metabolism of nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs). TGF-β1 levels in human degenerative intervertebral disc tissues and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced degenerative NPCs were analyzed. Furthermore, NPCs were treated with TGF-β1 and inhibitors of TGF-β1 receptors [ALK tyrosine kinase receptor (ALK) 1 and ALK5] to determine the effect of the receptors in the mediation of NPC degeneration. The NPC state was determined by the components of secretory collagen I/II, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 (TIMP-3) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13. The mRNA expression of Smad1/2/3/5/8, the downstream gene of TGF-β1 mediated by ALK, was also measured. Results showed that TGF-β1 and ALK1 were positively associated with the degree of degeneration of NP or NPCs in vitro, but negatively associated with ALK5. Furthermore, high-doses of TGF-β1 suppressed collagen II, but enhanced collagen I, TIMP-3, MMP-13, ALK1/5 and Smad1/2/3/5/8 expression. ALK5 inhibition induced the suppression of Smad2/3 and aggravated high-dose TGF-β1-induced NPC degeneration, as shown by the reduction in collagen II and increase in collagen I, TIMP-3 and MMP-13. By contrast, ALK1 inhibition resulted in Smad1/5/8 suppression and alleviated high-dose TGF-β1-induced NPC degeneration. Taken together, it was concluded that high-doses of TGF-β1 contributed to the degeneration of NPCs via the upregulation of ALK1 and Smad1/5/8.

The current study aimed to investigate the imaging manifestations of vertebral aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC), and examine the clinical value of interventional embolization. Imaging examinations of 5 patients with pathologically confirmed spinal ABC were analysed and arterial angiography and embolization were performed prior to surgery. The cases in this cohort exhibited different degrees of intrusion into the vertebral arch and spinous and transverse processes. Lesions that protruded into the spinal canal resulted in compression of the thecal sac and spinal cord. Enlargement of arteries was detected by digital subtraction angiography and decreased significantly following embolization. Blood loss during surgery was also significantly reduced. Preoperative embolization of ABC reduces bleeding and allows for easy access to tissue, which is of great clinical value.

Doxorubicin (DOX) has been widely employed to treat cancer, particularly solid tumors and hematological malignancies, owing to its high efficacy; however, chemotherapy has been indicated to be cardiotoxic and induce adverse effects, including mitochondrial dysfunction and DNA damage, which limits its application. The mitochondria-associated protein leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat-containing (LRPPRC) has been reported to serve critical regulatory roles in physiological processes via regulating mitochondrial function. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible protective effects of LRPPRC against DOX-induced cardiac injury. In a DOX-induced cardiotoxicity model in H9C2 cells, LRPPRC was indicated to be transcriptionally upregulated and stabilize Bcl-2 and Bax. LRPPRC overexpression exhibited protective effects against proliferation and both apoptotic and non-apoptotic cell death following DOX treatment, but not under normal conditions. It was additionally observed that overexpressed LRPPRC reversed the decreases in ATP synthesis, mitochondrial mass and transcriptional activity, which were induced by DOX exposure. Overexpressed LRPPRC also decreased the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under DOX treatment and inhibited cell death to a similar extent as N-acetyl-L-cysteine, which is a known ROS scavenger, indicating that LRPPRC potentially exerts protective effects via inhibiting ROS accumulation. Moreover, LRPPRC overexpression protected H9C2 cells against oxidative stress induced by H2O2, which also indicated its ROS-scavenging function. The present study demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that DOX-induced LRPPRC may exert cardioprotective effects via inhibiting ROS accumulation, thereby maintaining mitochondrial function.

The present study aimed to evaluate the value of serum amyloid A (SAA) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and compared the efficacy of SAA and C-reactive protein (CRP) in predicting the severity and recovery of COVID-19. A retrospective study was conducted on COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Wuhan No. 1 Hospital (Hubei, China) from January 21, 2020 to March 4, 2020. A two-way ANOVA analysis was used to compare the serum CRP and SAA levels between mild group and severe group during hospitalization days. Linear regression was used to analyze the relationship between the serum CRP, SAA levels and treatment days in recovered patients. The Logistic regression analysis and the area under curve (AUC) were calculated to determine the probability for predicting the severity and recovery of COVID-19. The severe group displayed higher CRP and SAA levels compared with the mild group during hospitalization (P

The present study aimed to investigate the expression and significance of the mRNA of genes associated with autophagy and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) GAS5 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The mRNA levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3), Beclin1, autophagy-related gene (ATG)3, ATG5, ATG12, ATG 16 ligand 1 (ATG16L1) and lncRNA growth arrest-specific 5 (GAS5) in PBMCs from 60 patients with AS and 30 healthy controls (HC) were examined by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR. The correlations between the levels of LC3, Beclin1, ATG3, ATG5, ATG12 and ATG16L1 mRNA as well as lncRNA GAS5 levels with disease activity and laboratory parameters in patients with AS were determined by Spearman correlation analysis. In addition, the diagnostic value of lncRNA GAS5 for AS was explored through establishing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The results indicated that, compared to the HCs, patients with AS had lower expression levels of LC3, ATG5, ATG12, ATG16L1 and lncRNA GAS5 in their PBMCs. Compared with those in patients with inactive AS, the levels of ATG5 and ATG12 were lower than those in patients with active AS. Of note, ATG5 and ATG12 mRNA levels were negatively correlated with disease activity indexes. lncRNA GAS5 was positively correlated with the expression of Beclin1, ATG3, ATG5, ATG12 and ATG16L1. The area under the ROC curve for the use of lncRNA GAS5 expression to diagnose AS was 0.808 with a 95% CI of 0.714-0.902. In conclusion, patients with AS had decreased expression of genes associated with autophagy and lncRNA GAS5. The extent of the reduction in ATG5 and ATG12 expression levels in patients with AS was correlated with the disease severity and activity. Furthermore, lncRNA GAS5 was a diagnostic indicator of AS.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is on the increase in developing countries, where lifestyle choices such as smoking, bad diet, and no exercise contribute and increase the incidence of high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels to cause CHD. Through utilization of a biomarker-based approach for developing interventions, the aim of the study was to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their association and impact on various bio-targets. The microarray datasets of both healthy and CHD patients were analyzed to identify the DEGs and their interactions using Gene Ontology, PANTHER, Reactome, and STRING (for the possible associated genes with multiple targets). Our data mining approach suggests that the DEGs were associated with molecular functions, including protein binding (75%) and catalytic activity (56%); biological processes such as cellular process (83%), biological regulation (57%), and metabolic process (44%); and cellular components such as cell (65%) and organelle (58%); as well as other associations including apoptosis, inflammatory, cell development and metabolic pathways. The molecular functions were further analyzed, and protein binding in particular was analyzed using network analysis to determine whether there was a clear association with CHD and disease. The ingenuity pathway analysis revealed pathways related to cell cholesterol biosynthesis, the immune system including cytokinin signaling, in which, the understanding of DEGs is crucial to predict the advancement of preventive strategies. Results of the present study showed that, there is a need to validate the top DEGs to rule out their molecular mechanism in heart failure caused by CHD.

The aim of the present study was to explore how dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) may differentiate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from hepatic metastasis of rectal cancer (HMRC) by extracting pharmacokinetic parameters and radiomic features. A total of 75 patients, including 41 cases with HCC and 34 cases with HMRC, underwent DCE-MRI examination. Dual-input two-compartment extended Tofts tracer kinetic model attached to a specialized image post-processing software package from OmniKinetics; GE Healthcare was used to calculate the values of the pharmacokinetic parameters and radiomic features, which were extracted from the lesions at the same region of interest. These values were evaluated using Student's t-test and receiver operating characteristic curves, and discriminant models were built to differentiate between HCC and HRMC. The results identified statistically significant differences in the values of the pharmacokinetic parameters hepatic perfusion index (HPI), endothelial transfer constant (Ktrans), initial area under the gadolinium concentration curve during the first 60 sec (IAUC) between the HCC and HRMC groups. In addition, statistically significant differences in 17 radiomic features were observed between the two groups (P

Inflammatory factors play an important role in the process of fracture healing. The influence of interleukin (IL)-1β, a key inflammatory factory, on new bone formation has been controversial. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether IL-1β affects the osteogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MBMMSCs), and examined its effective concentration range and molecular mechanism of action. MBMMSC proliferation in the presence of IL-1β was observed using a Cell-Counting Kit-8 assay, and the effect of IL-1β on MBMMSC apoptosis was examined via flow cytometry. Alkaline phosphatase assay, Alizarin Red staining and quantitative assays were performed to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation of MBMMSCs. The expression levels of osteogenic differentiation markers were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). It was demonstrated that within a concentration range of 0.01-1 ng/ml, IL-1β promoted osteogenic differentiation of MBMMSCs and did not induce apoptosis. Furthermore, RT-qPCR results indicated that IL-1β increased osteogenic gene expression within this concentration range. Moreover, Western blotting results identified that the bone morphogenetic protein/Smad (BMP/Smad) signaling pathway was significantly activated by IL-1β under osteogenic conditions. Therefore, the present results suggested that within a certain concentration range, IL-1β promoted osteogenic differentiation and function of MBMMSCs via the BMP/Smad signaling pathway.

The onset of depression and anxiety during the antenatal stage of pregnancy is common. Despite the conception of numerous interventions in the past decades, studies show no signs of decline in the prevalence of antenatal depression and anxiety. Recently, the use of midwife-supported psychotherapy to treat these psychosomatic disorders has garnered a lot of attention. However, no attempt to date has been made to synthesize the evidence evaluating the influence of midwife-supported psychotherapy on antenatal depression, anxiety, and overall maternal health-status. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to demonstrate the effectiveness of midwife-supported psychotherapy on depression, anxiety, and maternal health-status outcome during the antenatal stage of pregnancy. A systematic identification of literature was performed according to PRISMA guidelines on four academic databases: MEDLINE, Scopus, EMBASE and CENTRAL. A meta-analysis evaluated the influence of midwife-supported psychotherapy on depression, anxiety, and maternal health-status outcome as compared to conventional obstetric care. Of the 1,011 records, 17 articles, including 6,193 pregnant women (mean age: 28.9±2.2 years) were included in this meta-analysis. Eleven studies compared the effects of midwife-supported therapy on depression, 14 compared its effects on anxiety and 2 compared its effects on maternal health-status outcome. The meta-analysis reveals the beneficial effects of midwife-supported psychotherapy for reducing depression (Hedge's g: -0.9), anxiety (-0.8) and enhancing maternal health-status outcome (0.1), as compared to conventional obstetric care. The current systematic review and meta-analysis recommend the use of midwife-supported psychotherapy for the reduction of depression, anxiety and enhancing maternal health-status during the antenatal stage of pregnancy.

The present study aimed to clarify the influence of long non-coding RNA small nuclear host gene 16 (lncRNA SNHG16) on cardiomyocyte proliferation following ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) and the potential mechanism. An IRI model in mice was established by performing ligation of the anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Primary cardiomyocytes were isolated from newborn mice and subjected to H2O2 treatment to mimic in vitro IRI. Relative levels of SNHG16 and miRNA-770-5p in both in vivo and in vitro IRI models were examined. The regulatory effects of SNHG16 and miRNA-770-5p on the proliferative ability of H2O2-treated cardiomyocytes were assessed by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. The binding relationship between SNHG16 and miRNA-770-5p was verified through dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. It is found that SNHG16 was time-dependently downregulated in the IRI models. Overexpression of SNHG16 enhanced the proliferative ability of the cardiomyocytes. miRNA-770-5p was found to be a direct target of SNHG16. Moreover, SNHG16 was able to negatively regulate the miRNA-770-5p level. Overexpression of miRNA-770-5p partially reversed the role of SNHG16 on accelerating cardiomyocyte proliferation. Collectively, SNHG16 accelerates the proliferative ability of cardiomyocytes following IRI by negatively regulating miRNA-770-5p.

The current study investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of 0.1% tacrolimus eye drops for the treatment of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPK) for severe infectious keratitis during early disease stages and reported the long-term clinical outcomes. The present retrospective study included 20 eyes from patients diagnosed with severe keratitis who underwent TPK surgery. Patients were followed-up for up to 12-18 months. Tacrolimus eye drops were administered 4 times/day starting on the first day post-surgery. Glucocorticoid eye drops were subsequently added to treatment plans one-month post-surgery. All patients were followed-up for the first 3 post-operative days, then examined once a week thereafter for the first month. In early post-operative stages, the states of the grafts (ΔS) and the absorption of intraocular inflammation (S) were observed. ΔS was defined as the difference between the states of the grafts on the first post-operative day (SS1d) and those at one month post-surgery (SS1m). S was calculated as the difference between the inflammation score mean one day post-surgery (T1d) and the mean one-month post-surgery (T1m). For long term clinical outcomes, graft failure rates and complications were recorded. Among the 20 eyes analyzed, the mean T1d, T1m and S were 7.4±2.06, 2.0±2.47 and 5.4±2.13 (P