Search

Purpose: To investigate the optimal starting time point of sorafenib therapy in suppressing the tumor-promoting effects of VEGF up-regulation, which is frequently found after local therapy in clinical practice. Methods: VEGF was intravenously injected to imitate the evaluated expression after local tumor therapy, such as TACE. A total of 40 SD rats bearing hepatic tumors were randomly divided into four groups and sorafenib was administered at different timepoints: (A) control group: VEGF injection only; (B) initiating sorafenib 72 h prior to VEGF injection; (C) initiating sorafenib simultaneously with VEGF injection; (D) initiating sorafenib 72 h post-VEGF injection. The rate of tumor growth, median survival time, expression of VEGF, and microvessel density (MVD), as determined by immunohistochemical (IHC) examination, were compared. Results: The results revealed that the tumor size and median survival time were significantly different between the three sorafenib groups compared to the control group ( p < 0.05). Median survival times were 19.6 ± 1.78, 31.2 ± 6.99, 27.4 ± 4.9, and 26.5 ± 4.6 days in group A, B, C, and D, respectively. Furthermore, there was a difference in statistical significance between the two sorafenib groups B and D ( p = 0.04). Tumors were collected for HE staining and IHC examination. The expression levels of VEGF in B, C, and D were 42.8 ± 7.96, 71.9 ± 15.73, and 73.6 ± 13.73, and all of them were significantly lower than that in the control group (88.3 ± 13.61). Furthermore, the level of MVD was 109.2 ± 8.98 in the control group, which was significantly higher than in the three sorafenib groups (45.7 ± 16.92, 77.1 ± 16.29, and 93.6 ± 12.87, all p < 0.05). Conclusions: According to our results, the most suitable regimen for the administration of sorafenib is before the increased expression of VEGF, which showed a potential advantage for controlling the tumor growth and prolonging the survival time of test animal via inhibiting VEGF-receptor expression through the bifunction of VEGF, and the reduction of tumor angiogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chiral recognition is an emerging field of modern chemical analysis, and the development of health-related fields depends on the production of enantiomers. Cellulose is a kind of natural polymer material with certain chiral recognition ability. Limited by the chiral recognition ability of natural cellulose itself, more cellulose derivatives have been gradually developed for chiral recognition and separation. Based on the difference in action between cellulose derivatives and enantiomers, this work synthesized cellulose-tris(4-methylphenylcarbamate) (CMPC) chiral recognition mediators and a CMPC-functionalized extended-gate organic field effect transistor (EG-OFET) was constructed for the first time. Three chiral molecules were selected as model analytes to evaluate the enantiomeric recognition ability of the platform, including threonine (Thr), 2-chloromandelic acid (CA), and 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine (DPEA). The detection limit for 1,2-diphenylethylenediamine (DPEA) is down to 10 -13  M. Through the amplification effect of the EG-OFET platform, the difference in the interaction between CMPC and three chiral molecules with different structures is converted into a current signal output. At the same time, the enantiomer discrimination mechanism of CMPC was further studied by means of spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance., (© 2022. Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

The composition, physical and chemical properties, sources, and temporal and spatial changes in airborne particulate matter have been extensively investigated in previous studies. However, less is known about bioaerosols, which are mainly composed of bacteria and fungi and constitute up to 25% of the total airborne particulate matter. In this study, we used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and ion chromatography to determine the concentrations of trace elements and water-soluble ions in atmospheric particulates, respectively. These analyses were combined with high-throughput sequencing methods and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to analyze the microbial compositions in PM 1.0 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 samples, which were collected from July to September in Hefei City. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the bacterial community diversity across the three size fractions (analysis of variance (ANOVA), P >0.05). The bacterial and fungal community diversities on sunny days were lower than those on rainy days, and the bacterial community diversity in all samples was significantly higher than the fungal community diversity (ANOVA, P <0.01). The predominant bacterial phyla were Proteobacteria (46.19%), Firmicutes (33.42%), Bacteroidetes (10.99%), Cyanobacteria (3.33%), and Actinobacteria (2.11%). Ascomycota (73.23%), Basidiomycota (5.78%), Mortierellomycota (3.41%), and Mucoromycota (0.10%) were the dominant fungal phyla. Our results indicated that soils, plant leaves, and animal feces were the dominant sources of airborne bacterial communities in Hefei City, and the main sources of the fungal communities were plant leaves and soils. The bacterial community was mainly affected by K, Pb, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na + , NO 2 - , and wind speed, and the main influencing factors of the fungal community were V, Mn, Sr, NO 2 - , NO 3 - , Na + , Cl - , the air quality index, and PM 10 . In addition, nine specific bacteria and fungi that are linked to human health risks were identified, including Acinetobacter , Streptococcus , Enterobacter , Pseudomonas , Delftia , Serratia , Trichoderma , Alternaria , and Aspergillus , which can lead to a wide range of diseases in humans and other organisms. The research results are helpful for revealing the various characteristics of airborne microbial communities, their influencing factors, and their impacts on human health, and are an important reference for subsequent research and the formulation of government policies.

Objectives: To explore the clinical effect and safety of laparoscopic radical cystectomy + orthotopic ileal neobladder and open surgery., Methods: The study was conducted at Jingzhou First People's Hospital from January 2017 to July 2018. In this study 87 patients undergoing radical cystectomy + orthotopic ileal neobladder were chosen and classified into an observation group (48 cases) and a control group (39 cases) according to the surgical methods. The observation group underwent laparoscopic surgery, while the control group underwent open surgery. Perioperative period and prognostic conditions were compared in both groups., Results: The intraoperative bleeding amount obviously decreased. The recovery time of gastroenteric function and postoperative hospitalization time were significantly shortened. Postoperative pain was significantly alleviated. Compared with the control group, the observation group showed significant differences (P<0.05). The time, amount and difference in pelvic lymph node dissection in both groups were not significantly different (P>0.05). The differences in both groups in terms of the daytime/nighttime urinary continence rate, maximum urinary flow rate, internal bladder pressure, maximum bladder pressure during urination, internal urethral pressure, bladder capacity, and residual urine volume six months after the operation were not statistically significant (P>0.05). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications, including urinary fistula, bleeding, urinary tract infection, pulmonary infection, dysuria, lymphatic leakage, ureterostenosis, or relapse (P>0.05). The ileus incidence rate in the observation group was obviously lower than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Laparoscopic radical cystectomy + orthotopic ileal neobladder has the characteristics of limited trauma, a minimal amount of bleeding and a fast recovery. The functions of orthotopic neobladders are good, and the occurrence rate of postoperative complications is low. In addition, body immunity is protected. Hence, this procedure deserves to be promoted clinically., (Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.)

Aim: To determine the potential protective role of adiponectin in intestinal ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury., Methods: A rat model of intestinal I/R injury was established. The serum level of adiponectin in rats with intestinal I/R injury was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were also measured by ELISA. Apoptosis of intestinal cells was detected using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. The production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and villous injury scores were also measured., Results: Adiponectin was downregulated in the serum of rats with intestinal I/R injury compared with sham rats. No significant changes in the expression of adiponectin receptor 1 and adiponectin receptor 2 were found between sham and I/R rats. Pre-treatment with recombinant adiponectin attenuated intestinal I/R injury. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, in rats with intestinal I/R injury was reduced by adiponectin pre-treatment. The production of MDA was inhibited, and the release of SOD was restored by adiponectin pre-treatment in rats with intestinal I/R injury. Adiponectin pre-treatment also inhibited cell apoptosis in these rats. Treatment with the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway inhibitor, compound C, or the heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) inhibitor, Snpp, attenuated the protective effects of adiponectin against intestinal I/R injury., Conclusion: Adiponectin exhibits protective effects against intestinal I/R injury, which may involve the AMPK/HO-1 pathway.