The influence of marital status on the survival of patients with operable gastrointestinal stromal tumor: A SEER-based study.

Background: Marital status has been demonstrated as a predictive factor for prognosis in diverse malignancies, but its role in the survival of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) remains unclear.

Material And Methods: This study was aimed to investigate the impact of marital status on the overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) of operable GIST cases, by using data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. In total, 6582 GIST patients between 1973 and 2013 were identified from SEER database.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) inhibits starch digestion and improves glucose homeostasis through direct or indirect activation of PXR/CAR-mediated phase II metabolism in diabetic mice.

As a major component of green tea, (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has attracted interest from scientists owing to its potential to combat a variety of human diseases including abnormal glucose metabolism in obesity and diabetes. This study aims to (1) evaluate the molecular mechanism of EGCG in starch digestion before EGCG absorption; (2) investigate the link between PXR/CAR-mediated phase II metabolism and glucose homeostasis after EGCG is transported to small intestine and liver. EGCG suppressed starch hydrolysis both in vitro and in vivo.

Tannic acid attenuated irradiation-induced apoptosis in megakaryocytes.

Ionizing radiation (IR) triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which shows potential roles in damaging the DNA and proteins at the nucleus, and eventually results in apoptosis and even cell death. Antioxidant agents can inhibit the generation of ROS after IR exposure. Tannic acid (TA), has an antioxidant activity involving in preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

Elimination of donor CD47 protects against vascularized allograft rejection in mice.

CD47 is a ubiquitously expressed transmembrane glycoprotein that plays a complex role in regulation of cell survival and function. We have previously shown that the interspecies incompatibility of CD47 plays an important role in triggering rejection of cellular xenografts by macrophages. However, the role of CD47 in solid organ transplantation remains undetermined.

Knockdown of FOXA2 enhances the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells partly via activation of the ERK signalling pathway.

Forkhead box protein A2 (FOXA2) is a core transcription factor that controls cell differentiation and may have an important role in bone metabolism. However, the role of FOXA2 during osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) remains largely unknown. In this study, decreased expression of FOXA2 was observed during osteogenic differentiation of rat BMSCs (rBMSCs).

Suppression of spontaneous modulation instability and phase noise with a coherent seed in the interferometric fiber sensing systems.

A method is proposed to suppress spontaneous modulation instability (MI) and phase noise with a coherent seed in the interferometric fiber sensing systems. By generating coherent seeds with phase modulation, induced MI is excited in an optical fiber. The preferential gain of the coherent seeds compared to the amplified spontaneous emission noise suppresses spontaneous MI.

Profiling of Stem/Progenitor Cell Regulatory Genes of the Synovial Joint by Genome-Wide RNA-Seq Analysis.

Synovial joints suffer from arthritis and trauma that may be severely debilitative. Despite robust investigations in the roles of individual genes in synovial joint development and arthritis, little is known about global profiles of genes that regulate stem/progenitor cells of a synovial joint. The temporomandibular joint is a poorly understood synovial arthrosis with few clinical treatment options.

Azithromycin Inhibits Biofilm Formation by and Affects Histidine Biosynthesis Pathway.

, a coagulase-negative, non-pathogenic bacterium, responsible for opportunistic infections in humans and bovine mastitis, has the ability to form biofilms, which are responsible for persistent infections and antibiotic resistance. In our study, azithromycin significantly inhibited biofilm formation by altering protein expression. Of the 1764 proteins measured by the isobaric Tag for Relative and Absolute Quantification (iTRAQ) technique, only 148 proteins showed significantly different expression between the azithromycin-treated and untreated cells.

The serrulatane diterpenoid natural products RAD288 and RAD289 stimulate properties of olfactory ensheathing cells useful for neural repair therapies.

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) are being trialled for cell transplantation therapies for neural repair as they have unique properties which can enhance neuron regeneration. However, improvements in cell viability, proliferation and migration are needed to enhance therapeutic outcomes. Growth factors can enhance cell activity, but they can also induce side effects as they can act on numerous cell types.

Gold-Catalyzed Formal C-C Bond Insertion Reaction of 2-Aryl-2-diazoesters with 1,3-Diketones.

The transition-metal-catalyzed formal C-C bond insertion reaction of diazo compounds with monocarbonyl compounds is well established, but the related reaction of 1,3-diketones instead gives C-H bond insertion products. Herein, we report a protocol for a gold-catalyzed formal C-C bond insertion reaction of 2-aryl-2-diazoesters with 1,3-diketones, which provides efficient access to polycarbonyl compounds with an all-carbon quaternary center. The aryl ester moiety plays a crucial role in the unusual chemoselectivity, and the addition of a Brønsted acid to the reaction mixture improves the yield of the C-C bond insertion product.

SRC-3 is involved in maintaining hematopoietic stem cell quiescence by regulation of mitochondrial metabolism in mice.

Quiescence maintenance is an important property of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), whereas the regulatory factors and underlying mechanisms involved in HSC quiescence maintenance are not fully uncovered. Here, we show that steroid receptor coactivator 3 (SRC-3) is highly expressed in HSCs, and SRC-3-deficient HSCs are less quiescent and more proliferative, resulting in increased sensitivity to chemotherapy and irradiation. Moreover, the long-term reconstituting ability of HSCs is markedly impaired in the absence of SRC-3, and SRC-3 knockout (SRC-3) mice exhibit a significant disruption of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell homeostasis.

Interleukin-32: its role in asthma and potential as a therapeutic agent.

Interleukin (IL)-32, also named natural killer cell transcript 4 (NK4), has increasingly been described as an immunoregulator that controls cell differentiation and cell death and is involved in the stimulation of anti-/pro-inflammatory cytokines. Abnormal presence of IL-32 has been repeatedly noticed during the pathogenesis of allergic, infectious, cancerous, and inflammatory diseases. Of particular note was the observation of the anti-inflammatory property of IL-32 in a murine ovalbumin model of allergic asthma.

Pulmonary hemangioma mimicking bronchiectasis: A case report.

Rationale: Pulmonary hemangioma is a rare thoracic condition that can lead to hemoptysis. Here we report a case that presented with lumen dilatation suggestive of bronchiectasis on high-resolution computed tomography (CT) and was misdiagnosed as bronchiectasis for more than 10 years.

Patient Concerns: A 41-year-old female patient was admitted to the Department of Respiratory Medicine due to hemoptysis.

Spectrum-Effect Relationships Between the Bioactive Ingredient of Lindl. Leaves and Its Role in Inhibiting the Biofilm Formation of .

Lindl. () has been used in herbal medicines for treating bacterial diseases. It is also thought to inhibit () biofilm formation.

Pulmonary embolism presenting with itinerant chest pain and migratory pleural effusion: A case report.

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) presents with complex clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic to chest pain, hemoptysis, syncope, shock, or sudden death. To the authors' knowledge, itinerant chest pain has not been reported as sign or symptom of PE.

Case Presentation: A 41-year-old woman presenting with left chest pain, no hemoptysis, or breathing difficulties.

IGF-1 facilitates thrombopoiesis primarily through Akt activation.

It is known that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) also functions as a hematopoietic factor, although its direct effect on thrombopoiesis remains unclear. In this study, we show that IGF-1 is able to promote CD34 cell differentiation toward megakaryocytes (MKs), as well as the facilitation of proplatelet formation (PPF) and platelet production from cultured MKs. The in vivo study demonstrates that IGF-1 administration accelerates platelet recovery in mice after 6.

ZEB1-mediated vasculogenic mimicry formation associates with epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer stem cell phenotypes in prostate cancer.

The zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) induced the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and altered ZEB1 expression could lead to aggressive and cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotypes in various cancers. Tissue specimens from 96 prostate cancer patients were collected for immunohistochemistry and CD34/periodic acid-Schiff double staining. Prostate cancer cells were subjected to ZEB1 knockdown or overexpression and assessment of the effects on vasculogenic mimicry formation in vitro and in vivo.

Video evidence of improved hand function following repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with physical therapy in stroke: a case report.

In a 46-year-old female 6 months poststroke who presented with minimal paretic hand function, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), and exercises considerably improved her function beyond that accomplished with conventional rehabilitation. However, intermittent rTMS (2 sessions/week) was required to sustain the benefits. Research is required to determine the critical frequency of intermittent rTMS needed to sustain functional gains long term.

Postprandial increase in serum CA125 as a surrogate biomarker for early diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Background: CA125 is a prevalently used serum biomarker for detecting ovarian cancer over the last three decades. However, it has a significant deficiency in screening for early-stage cancer. With the purpose of exploring an effective approach to improve its performance in early diagnosis, we investigated the postprandial fluctuation pattern of cancer-derived CA125 and the underlying mechanism.

[Advances in structure-function relation of plant type Ⅲ polyketide synthases by site-directed mutagenesis].

Plant type Ⅲ polyketide synthases (PKSs), the pivotal enzymes in the biosynthesis of polyketides, produce backbones of many structurally diverse and functionally different polyketides. So far, a variety of functionally diverse plant type Ⅲ PKSs have been cloned and identified from plant origin. Site-directed mutagenesis is a useful technique to study the complex relationship between protein structure and function.

Angio-3, a 10-residue peptide derived from human plasminogen kringle 3, suppresses tumor growth in mice via impeding both angiogenesis and vascular permeability.

Anti-angiogenesis therapy is an established therapeutic strategy for cancer. The endogenous angiogenic inhibitor angiostatin contains the first 3-4 kringle domains of plasminogen and inhibits both angiogenesis and vascular permeability. We present here a 10-residue peptide, Angio-3, derived from plasminogen kringle 3, which retains the functions of angiostatin in inhibiting both angiogenesis and vascular permeability.

A WRKY transcription factor, PcWRKY33, from Polygonum cuspidatum reduces salt tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana.

PcWRKY33 is a transcription factor which can reduce salt tolerance by decreasing the expression of stress-related genes and increasing the cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). WRKY transcription factors play important roles in the regulation of biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we report a group I WRKY gene from Polygonum cuspidatum, PcWRKY33, that encodes a nucleoprotein, which specifically binds to the W-box in the promoter of target genes to regulate their expression.

Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Modulates Corticospinal Excitability During Motor Training.

: Cerebellar activity can be modulated using cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation (ctDCS) and, when applied concurrently with task training, has been shown to facilitate cognitive and motor performance. However, how ctDCS facilitates motor performance is not fully understood. : To assess the electrophysiological and motor performance effects of ctDCS applied during motor training.

Isorenieratene interaction with human serum albumin: Multi-spectroscopic analyses and docking simulation.

Isorenierantene was reported to be an aromatic carotenoid and has become a food ingredient, mainly from smear cheese, which possesses special antioxidant ability and significant photoprotective effect. In this paper, the interaction of isorenieratene with human serum albumin (HSA) was explored and compared with that of nonaromatic carotenoids using multi-spectroscopic methods and docking simulations. The results suggested isorenieratene could bind to HSA through a static quenching mechanism.