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).     

Successful treatment of patients with paraquat intoxication: three case reports and review of the literature

Objective  

To report on three patients with paraquat (PQ) intoxication surviving after combined therapy with hemoperfusion (HP), cyclophosphamide (CTX), and glucocorticoid.     

Cordycepin induces apoptosis by enhancing JNK and p38 kinase activity and increasing the protein expression of Bcl-2 pro-apoptotic molecules

Objective  

To explore the molecular mechanism by which cordycepin inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells.     

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.     

Association between TaqIB polymorphism of cholesteryl ester transfer protein and coronary artery disease in the Chinese population

Objective  

To assess whether the TaqIB polymorphism of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) in Chinese population, we performed a meta-analysis in this paper.     

Effect of intensive multifactorial treatment on the intima-media thickness of large arteries in patients with new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective  

To quantify the changes in blood glucose, blood lipids, blood pressure, and the intima-media thickness (IMT) of large arteries in patients with new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus who received either intensive multifactorial treatment or conventional treatment.     

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.     

Clinical outcomes of fertility-sparing treatments in young patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma

Objective  

To assess the clinical outcomes of fertility-sparing treatments in young patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC).     

Preparation of glucosamine by hydrolysis of chitosan with commercial α-amylase and glucoamylase

Objective  

In order to overcome the defects of chemical hydrolysis approach to prepare glucosamine, an enzymatic hydrolysis method was developed.     

Evaluation of a risk factor scoring model in screening for undiagnosed diabetes in China population

Objective  

To develop a risk scoring model for screening for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes in Chinese population.     

Use of digital subtraction angiography for assessment of digital replantation

Objective  

To assess the blood flow of the proper digital artery using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in the early stage after replantation.     

Minimally-invasive treatment of communicating hydrocephalus using a percutaneous lumboperitoneal shunt

Objective  

To investigate the clinical value of a minimally-invasive treatment of communicating hydrocephalus using a percutaneous lumboperitoneal (LP) shunt.     

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.     

Value of T-tube in biliary tract reconstruction during orthotopic liver transplantation: a meta-analysis

Objective  

To compare biliary complications after biliary tract reconstruction with or without T-tube in orthotopic liver transplantation     

Classroom effects are as large as grade-level effects on curriculum-based measurement maze reading scores of secondary school students with and without special educational needs

Background

Previous studies used curriculum-based measurement (CBM) maze scores as an indicator of the reading comprehension level of secondary school students with and without special educational needs in multiple grades, pinpointing a high influence of both student- and context-related variables. However, studies on cumulative influence are necessary for better understanding of data-based decision-making.

Methods

We examined a sample of 1066 secondary school students using four linear mixed-effect models: How much variance in maze scores exists between multiple student characteristics (i.e., gender, immigration background, learning disability and developmental language disorder) and context variables (i.e., classroom, grade and school type) across Grades 5–8?

Results

The intra-class correlation (ICC) results show that the influence by the context-related variable classroom (ICC = .094) is almost as large as by the variable grade level (ICC = .126). School type (i.e., inclusive school vs. special school) has the least influence (ICC = .02). In addition, the effects of student-related variables explain only a small proportion of the variance (marginal R² = .114).

Conclusions

Maze scores can be used as a screening instrument for students with multiple characteristics across grades; they also show that it makes no difference which type of school students attend. As teachers and further classroom-related variables have almost as much influence as grade level, we discuss that teachers can minimise classroom effects by using maze scores as a formative approach.     

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.     

Three-dimensional evaluation of upper anterior alveolar bone dehiscence after incisor retraction and intrusion in adult patients with bimaxillary protrusion malocclusion

Objective  

The purpose of this study was to evaluate three-dimensional (3D) dehiscence of upper anterior alveolar bone during incisor retraction and intrusion in adult patients with maximum anchorage.     

An evaluation of the effectiveness of a computer‐assisted reading intervention

Background

A cost‐effective method to address reading delays is to use computer‐assisted learning, but these techniques are not always effective.

Methods

We evaluated a commercially available computer system that uses visual mnemonics, in a randomised controlled trial with 78 English‐speaking children (mean age 7 years) who their schools identified as needing reading support. School‐based individual tutorials usually took place 2–3 times/week. Only the experimental group received the intervention in the first 10 months; thereafter, both the experimental and control groups received the intervention for 6 months.

Results

After 10 months, the experimental group had significantly higher standardised scores than the waiting list control group of decoding, phonological awareness, naming speed, phonological short‐term memory and executive loaded working memory.

Conclusions

The computer‐assisted intervention was effective, and this suggests that this medium can be used for reading interventions with English‐speaking children. What is already known about this topic

• There are comparatively few randomised controlled trial evaluations of computer‐based reading interventions.
• Meta‐analyses report small positive effect sizes for such interventions with English‐speaking children.
• The use of visual mnemonics to improve reading has rarely been investigated.

What this paper adds

• The findings suggest that computer‐based interventions for English‐speaking, struggling readers can be effective.
• The effects extended beyond the targeted abilities, and a longer intervention was more effective than a shorter one.
• Apart from spelling, the mean reading and reading related standardised scores for children at the end of the intervention were above or just below 100.

Implications for theory, policy or practice

• Computer‐based interventions can be used to support English‐speaking, struggling readers, and their effects can go beyond targeted abilities.
• The use of visual mnemonics and the development of the intervention programme over a number of years could have contributed to this success.
• The role of visual mnemonics as a help for struggling readers deserves further investigation.

     

Chewing substances with or without tobacco and risk of cardiovascular disease in Asia: a meta-analysis

Objective  

To assess whether people who ever use any form of chewing substance in Asia are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).