Iptakalim, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, confers neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats by protecting neurovascular unit cells

Objective  

To investigate the role of iptakalim, an ATP-sensitive potassium channel opener, in transient cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and its involved mechanisms.     

Development of a symptom expectation questionnaire for minor head injury

Background and objective  

Expectations and beliefs are important predictors of outcome following minor head injury. In this paper, the primary purpose is to develop a simple symptom expectation questionnaire for minor head injury for use in future research studies.     

Imbalanced expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinases in lung squamous cell carcinoma

Objective  

Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are correlated with a more malignant phenotype in many cancers. This study was designed to evaluate the predictive value of the expression of MAPK phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) and phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (p-ERK_1/2), as the key regulatory mechanism of the MAPKs, in lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).     

Proteomic analysis of primary colon cancer-associated fibroblasts using the SELDI-ProteinChip platform

Objective: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the hallmarks of the cancer microenvironment. Recent evidence has indicated that CAFs are more competent in enhancing cancer cell growth and migration than normal fibroblasts. However, the unique protein expression of CAFs has not been fully elucidated. This study aims to investigate the characterizations of colon CAFs by comparing the differential protein expression between CAFs and normal fibroblasts. Methods: Primary fibroblasts were isolated from surgical specimen of human colon cancer and matched normal colonic tissue. Purity of the cell population was verified through immunostain analysis. Total cell lysates and conditioned media from each group of cells were extracted, and protein expression analysis was conducted using the surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) ProteinChip platform. Results: Most primary cells showed typical fibroblast-like features after two weeks. Increased proportion of α-smooth muscle actin-positive myofibroblasts was detected within the CAFs in four of the six pairs of primary cells. Fibroblast activation protein was weakly expressed in most cells without differences. Using SELDI-TOF-MS ProteinChip platform, four protein peaks mass over charge ratio (m/z) 1142, 3011, 4035, and 4945 were detected in the total cell lysates, and two protein peaks m/z 1368 and 1389 were detected in the conditioned media. The potential candidate proteins found in the Swiss-Prot database include morphogenetic neuropeptides, FMRFamide-related peptides, insulin-like growth factor II, thymosin β-4-like protein 3, and tight junction-associated protein 1. Conclusions: Using the SELDI-ProteinChip platform, differential protein expressions were identified in colon CAFs compared with normal colonic stromal fibroblasts. The complex proteomic alternations in colon CAFs may play important roles related to the colon cancer microenvironment.     

Up-regulation of mitochondrial antioxidation signals in ovarian cancer cells with aggressive biologic behavior

Objective  

Recently, a high frequency of mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been detected in ovarian cancer. To explore the alterations of proteins in mitochondria in ovarian cancer, a pair of human ovarian carcinoma cell lines (SKOV3/SKOV3.ip1) with different metastatic potentials was examined.     

Promoting foundational linguistic skills for reading development in young Chinese language learners: A 1-year intervention study

Background

Using a 1-year longitudinal design, we evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention programme to improve reading attainments among Chinese-as-a-second-language (CSL) learners. Using the simple view of reading as a theoretical framework, the intervention focused on students' orthographic knowledge, word reading and listening comprehension to facilitate reading comprehension.

Method

A total of 186 Grade 4 CSL students (mean age = 9.22, SD = 0.56) participated in the study and were grouped into the treatment (N = 96) and control (N = 90) groups. A range of Chinese language and literacy skills were assessed before and after the intervention.

Results

The path analysis showed that the intervention significantly affected orthographic knowledge, word reading and listening comprehension directly and reading comprehension indirectly through the three componential skills after controlling for nonverbal reasoning, vocabulary and autoregressors.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that orthographic knowledge, word reading and listening comprehension may be promising targets for instructing young CSL learners.     

Effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 on the properties of mesenchymal stem cells in vitro

Objective  

To explore the effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on migration, proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).     

Construction of a eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-C1-BMP-2 and its effect on cell migration

Objective  

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are known to play an important role in bone and cartilage development. Recent research has shown that BMPs may induce tumorigenesis and promote tumor to spread, but the molecular mechanisms have not been elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the regulatory function of BMP-2 in the migration of COS-7 cells and the underlying mechanisms.     

Cardioprotective effect of liposomal prostaglandin E1 on a porcine model of myocardial infarction reperfusion no-reflow

Objective  

To evaluate whether liposomal prostaglandin E1 (lipo-PGE1) can decrease reperfusion no-reflow in a catheter-based porcine model of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).     

Pathogenic mutations of TGFBI and CHST6 genes in Chinese patients with Avellino, lattice, and macular corneal dystrophies

Objective  

To investigate gene mutations associated with three different types of corneal dystrophies (CDs), and to establish a phenotype-genotype correlation.     

Effects of atorvastatin on progression of diabetic nephropathy and local RAGE and soluble RAGE expressions in rats

Objective  

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) exert inflammatory and oxidative stress insults to produce diabetic nephropathy mainly through the receptor for AGEs (RAGE). This study aimed to assess the effect of atorvastatin on diabetic nephropathy via soluble RAGE (sRAGE) and RAGE expressions in the rat kidney.     

Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction decreases IL-6 levels in patients with acute pancreatitis

Objective  

In this paper, we investigated the effect of the traditional Chinese medicine Chaiqin Chengqi Decoction (CQCQD) on serum cytokines in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients.     

Elevated skin autofluorescence is strongly associated with foot ulcers in patients with diabetes: a cross-sectional, observational study of Chinese subjects

Objective  

This study was designed to evaluate the association between skin autofluorescence (AF), an indicator of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), and foot ulcers in subjects with diabetes.     

Effects of the duration of expressions on the recognition of microexpressions

Objective  

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the duration of expressions on the recognition of microexpressions, which are closely related to deception.     

Association between SNP rs1800875, serum chymase and immunoglobulin E levels in patients with coronary heart disease

Objective  

The gene for mast cell chymase (CMA1) is an ideal candidate for investigating the genetic predisposition to coronary heart disease (CHD), as activated mast cells have been found to be present in a greater proportion in the shoulder region of atheroma than in normal coronary intimae. Previous studies have indicated that CMA1 promoter polymorphism rs1800875 may be involved in regulating immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels in patients with eczema, and it is associated with the progression of immunoglobulin A nephropathy.     

RRM1 gene expression in peripheral blood is predictive of shorter survival in Chinese patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated by gemcitabine and platinum

Objective  

To evaluate the predictive values of gene expressions of ribonucleotide reductase M1 (RRM1) and breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) in peripheral blood from Chinese patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with gemcitabine plus platinum.     

Protective effect of hydrogen-rich saline on ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat skin flap

Objective

Skin damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a multifactorial process that often occurs in plastic surgery. The mechanisms of I/R injury include hypoxia, inflammation, and oxidative damage. Hydrogen gas has been reported to alleviate cerebral I/R injury by acting as a free radical scavenger. Here, we assessed the protective effect of hydrogen-rich saline (HRS) on skin flap I/R injury.

Methods

Abdominal skin flaps of rats were elevated and ischemia was induced for 3 h; subsequently, HRS or physiological saline was administered intraperitoneally 10 min before reperfusion. On postoperative Day 5, flap survival, blood perfusion, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and levels of cytokines were evaluated. Histological examinations were performed to assess inflammatory cell infiltration.

Results

Skin flap survival and blood flow perfusion were improved by HRS relative to the controls. The production of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of lipid peroxidation, was markedly reduced. A multiplex cytokine assay revealed that HRS reduced the elevation in the levels of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, with the exception of RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) growth factor. HRS treatment also reduced inflammatory cell infiltration induced by I/R injury.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that HRS mitigates I/R injury by decreasing inflammation and, therefore, has the potential for application as a therapy for improving skin flap survival.