Pneumolysin-Dependent Calpain Activation and Interleukin-1α Secretion in Macrophages Infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Pneumolysin (PLY), a major virulence factor of , is a pore-forming cytolysin that modulates host innate responses contributing to host defense against and pathogenesis of pneumococcal infections. Interleukin-1α (IL-1α) has been shown to be involved in tissue damage in a pneumococcal pneumonia model; however, the mechanism by which this cytokine is produced during infection remains unclear. In this study, we examined the role of PLY in IL-1α production.

Effect of TNF-α Inhibition on Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Neurological Function Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury via the Wnt Signaling Pathway in a Rat Model.

Aim: The present study aimed to examine the effect of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) inhibition on bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in neurological function recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) via the Wnt signaling pathway in a rat model.

Methods: The rat model of SCI was established using Allen's method. Seventy-two adult male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups (18 rats in each group): the sham control group, saline control group, BMSCs group (injection with BMSCs at the injured site) and BMSCs + TNF-α group (injection with BMSCs under TNF-α treatment at the injured site).

Establishment of mouse neuron and microglial cell co-cultured models and its action mechanism.

Objective: The objective of this study is to establish a co-culture model of mouse neurons and microglial cells, and to analyze the mechanism of action of oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) and transient oxygen glucose deprivation (tOGD) preconditioning cell models.

Results: Mouse primary neurons and BV2 microglial cells were successfully cultured, and the OGD and tOGD models were also established. In the co-culture of mouse primary neurons and microglial cells, the cell number of tOGD mouse neurons and microglial cells was larger than the OGD cell number, observed by a microscope.

OVCA1 expression and its correlation with the expression levels of cyclin D1 and p16 in cervical cancer and intraepithelial neoplasia.

The present study aimed to examine the associations between the protein and mRNA expression levels of ovarian cancer gene 1 (OVCA1), cyclin D1 and p16 and high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection in cervical lesions. The protein expression levels of OVCA1, cyclin D1 and p16 in 66 cases of cervical cancer, 64 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 34 normal cervix tissues were detected using immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression levels of OVCA1, cyclin D1 and p16 in cervical cancer and normal cervix cells were detected using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Specific distribution of the light captured by silver nanowire.

The silver nanowire (AgNW) has excellent light capture ability, showing great prospects in many fields. Based on discrete dipole approximation simulations, it is found that the captured light can be subdivided into three parts: the near-field light occupies ~27.3%, mainly confined around the nanowire with a distance <20nm; the far-field part occupies ~59.

Chelation versus Non-Chelation Control in the Stereoselective Alkenyl sp C-H Bond Functionalization Reaction.

A hydroxy group chelation-assisted stereospecific oxidative cross-coupling reaction between alkenes was developed under mild reaction conditions. In the presence of palladium catalyst, the alkenes tethered with hydroxy functionality can couple efficiently with electron-deficient alkenes to form the corresponding multi-substituted olefin products. The hydroxy group on the substrate could play dual roles in reaction, acting as the directing group for alkenyl C-H bond activation and controlling the stereoselectivity of the products.

Laser peripheral iridotomy versus laser peripheral iridotomy plus laser peripheral iridoplasty in the treatment of multi-mechanism angle closure: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: China has the largest burden of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) worldwide. The mechanism of the angle closure is complex and includes pupillary block and non-pupillary block. Currently, opinion is that laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) alone is not sufficient to prevent disease progression.

Gastric Cancer Associated Genes Identified by an Integrative Analysis of Gene Expression Data.

Gastric cancer is one of the most severe complex diseases with high morbidity and mortality in the world. The molecular mechanisms and risk factors for this disease are still not clear since the cancer heterogeneity caused by different genetic and environmental factors. With more and more expression data accumulated nowadays, we can perform integrative analysis for these data to understand the complexity of gastric cancer and to identify consensus players for the heterogeneous cancer.

Signal Factors Secreted by 2D and Spheroid Mesenchymal Stem Cells and by Cocultures of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived Microvesicles and Retinal Photoreceptor Neurons.

We aim to identify levels of signal factors secreted by MSCs cultured in 2D monolayers (2D-MSCs), spheroids (spheroids MSCs), and cocultures of microvesicles (MVs) derived from 2D-MSCs or spheroid MSCs and retinal photoreceptor neurons. We seeded 2D-MSCs, spheroid MSCs, and cells derived from spheroids MSCs at equal numbers. MVs isolated from all 3 culture conditions were incubated with 661W cells.

Palladium-Catalyzed Direct Intramolecular C-N Bond Formation: Access to Multisubstituted Dihydropyrroles.

A palladium-catalyzed intramolecular amination of alkenes with retention of olefin functionalization was achieved under mild reaction conditions. In the presence of palladium catalyst, the tosyl-protected amine can directly couple with a double bond to provide versatile dihydropyrrole derivatives in moderate to excellent yields.

A selective CB2R agonist (JWH133) restores neuronal circuit after Germinal Matrix Hemorrhage in the preterm via CX3CR1 microglia.

Microglia play dual roles after germinal matrix hemorrhage, and the neurotrophic phenotype maybe neuroprotective. However, the phenotype transformation and the way by which neuron-microglia dialogue remain unclear. We raise the hypothesis that a cannabinoid receptor2 agonist (JWH133) accelerates the CX3CR1 microglia secreting neurotrophic factors and restores damaged neuronal circuit.

Transumbilical endoscopic technique for complete closure of inguinal hernias in female pediatric patients.

Laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure of inguinal hernia with variable devices as an effective technique in minimal-access surgery for pediatric inguinal hernias in children was investigated in the present study. A Veress needle was inserted into the abdomen. Trocars, laparoscope and needle holder were placed through the umbilical incision.

Role of miR-223/paired box 6 signaling in temozolomide chemoresistance in glioblastoma multiforme cells.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the predominant and most fatal type of brain tumor in adults. The prognosis of GBM remains poor despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. It is common that patients with GBM exhibit innate or acquired resistance to temozolomide (TMZ), a standard chemotherapeutic agent for GBM, and a previous report demonstrated that miRNA‑233 (miR‑223) promotes the growth and invasion of GBM cells by targeting tumor suppressor paired box 6 (PAX6).

Coiling Is Not Superior to Clipping in Patients with High-Grade Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Outcomes of coiling embolization versus clipping for patients with high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) have not been previously compared. We reviewed current evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of clipping versus coiling for high-grade aSAH.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of studies that compared clipping with coiling in patients with high-grade aSAH published from January 1999 to February 2016 in Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases based on PRISMA inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Role of Glibenclamide in Brain Injury After Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

Brain edema following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) causes severe secondary brain injury, and no efficient pharmacological preventions are available. The present study was designed to demonstrate the neuroprotective effects of glibenclamide on brain edema and key factors of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The study was divided into two parts.

Cannabinoid receptor 2 activation restricts fibrosis and alleviates hydrocephalus after intraventricular hemorrhage.

Fibrosis in ventricular system has a role in hydrocephalus following intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). The cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) has been reported to participate in alleviating the fibrosis process of many diseases. However, its role in fibrosis after IVH was unclear so far, and we hypothesized that CB2 activation has potential to attenuate hydrocephalus after IVH via restricting fibrosis.

PTGFR and SLCO2A1 Gene Polymorphisms Determine Intraocular Pressure Response to Latanoprost in Han Chinese Patients with Glaucoma.

Purpose: To determine the relationship between the polymorphisms of the prostaglandin F2α receptor (PTGFR) and solute carrier organic anion transporter family 2A1 (SLCO2A1) genes and response to latanoprost treatment in Han Chinese patients with glaucoma.

Materials And Methods: 89 patients with POAG or OH received latanoprost treatment and intraocular pressure (IOP) data was collected on day 7 and day 30. The rs12093097, rs35586449, rs3753380, and rs3766355 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PTGFR gene and rs2370512, rs34550074, and rs4241366 SNPs in the SLCO2A1 gene were analyzed using direct DNA sequencing or polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Cannabinoid receptor-2 stimulation suppresses neuroinflammation by regulating microglial M1/M2 polarization through the cAMP/PKA pathway in an experimental GMH rat model.

Excessive inflammatory responses are involved in secondary brain injury during germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH). The process of microglial polarization to the pro-inflammatory M1 or anti-inflammatory M2 phenotypes is considered to occur in a major immunomodulatory manner during brain inflammation. We previously found that cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2R) stimulation attenuated microglial accumulation and brain injury following experimental GMH.

MicroRNA-93 promotes the malignant phenotypes of human glioma cells and induces their chemoresistance to temozolomide.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, can induce mRNA degradation or repress translation by binding to the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of its target mRNA. Recently, some specific miRNAs, e.g.

Curcumin inhibits intracellular fatty acid synthase and induces apoptosis in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells.

High levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression have been found in many tumors, including prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers, and inhibition of FAS has been reported to obstruct tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. Curcumin is one of the major active ingredients of Curcuma longa, which has been proven to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the potential activity of curcumin as a FAS inhibitor for chemoprevention of breast cancer.

Etching anisotropy mechanisms lead to morphology-controlled silicon nanoporous structures by metal assisted chemical etching.

The etching anisotropy induced by the morphology and rotation of silver particles controls the morphology of silicon nanoporous structures, through various underlying complex etching mechanisms. The level of etching anisotropy can be modulated by controlling the morphology of the silver catalyst to obtain silicon nanoporous structures with straight pores, cone-shaped pores and pyramid-shaped pores. In addition, the structures with helical pores are obtained by taking advantage of the special anisotropic etching, which is induced by the rotation and revolution of silver particles during the etching process.

MicroRNA-663 inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioblastoma cells via targeting TGF-β1.

Cell migration and invasion are key processes involved during tumor metastasis. Recently, microRNAs (miRs) have been demonstrated to play important roles in the regulation of cancer metastasis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown.

Aberrant NEAT1 expression is associated with clinical outcome in high grade glioma patients.

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1 has been reported to play critical roles in various human tumor entities and related to the survival of patients with malignancies. However, little is known about the role of lncRNA NEAT1 in glioma patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of NEAT1 in human glioma and its correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis in human glioma; we analyzed the relationship of lncRNA NEAT1 expression with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in glioma patients.

Spheroid Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Derived Microvesicles: Two Potential Therapeutic Strategies.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have drawn worldwide attention of scientists and clinicians due to their ability to differentiate into other cell lineages, secrete paracrine factors, modulate inflammation and immunity, and also due to the effectiveness of MSCs in treating degenerative diseases. Recent studies have shown that, when cultured in spheroids, MSCs have greater differentiation ability, and increased anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory capacities compared with traditional two-dimensional (2D) cultures. Furthermore, spheroid MSCs can be used on scale-up productions in clinically relevant manufacturing platforms.

Pharmacological Preventions of Brain Injury Following Experimental Germinal Matrix Hemorrhage: an Up-to-Date Review.

Germinal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) is defined as the rupture of immature blood vessels in the subependymal zone of premature infants with significant mortality and morbidity. Considering the notable social and ecological stress brought by GMH-induced brain injury and sequelae, safe and efficient pharmacological preventions are badly needed. Currently, several appropriate animal models are available to mimic the clinical outcomes of GMH in human patients.