Versatile and Tunable Performance of PVA/PAM Tridimensional Hydrogel Models for Tissues and Organs: Augmenting Realism in Advanced Surgical Training.

The increasing complexity and difficulty of surgical procedures have led to a rise in medical errors within clinical settings in recent years. Gastrointestinal diseases, in particular, present significant medical challenges and impose substantial economic burdens, underscoring the urgent need for experiential, high-fidelity gastrointestinal surgical training tools. This study leverages patient-specific computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, combined with 3D printed manufacturing, to develop hydrogel organ models with tunable performance and tissue-mimicking softness. These properties are achieved by regulating the freeze-thaw cycles, cross-linking agents, and the concentration of incorporated antibacterial nanoparticles in DN hydrogels. Through the application of indirect 3D printing and the "sacrificial material method", we successfully fabricate organ tissues such as the stomach, intestines, and blood vessels with high precision. In ex vivo surgical training demonstrations, these tissue-like soft hydrogels provide an effective platform for preoperative simulation and surgical training in digestive surgery, accommodating various surgical procedures and accurately simulating intraoperative bleeding. The development of advanced bionic organ models with specific and tunable characteristics based on DN hydrogels is poised to significantly advance surgical training, medical device testing, and the reform of medical education.

Photothermal Particle-Loaded Panax Notoginseng Polysaccharide Cryogels As Personalized Tumor Vaccines.

Combination immunotherapy is being increasingly explored for cancer treatment, leading to various vector materials for the codelivery of immune agents and drugs. However, current tumor vaccines exhibit poor immunogenicity, severely compromising their therapeutic efficacy. Herein, an injectable hydrogel was developed based on dopamine (DA) and Panax notoginseng polysaccharide (PNPS) loaded with hair microparticles (HMPs) to enhance the immunogenicity of tumor vaccines. Photothermal effects of incorporated HMPs can trigger immunogenic cancer cell death and the release of abundant autologous tumor antigens, which are captured by catechol groups. Concomitant breakdown of PNPS recruits and activates dendritic cells (DCs). The macroporous structure of cryogels allows immune cell infiltration and interaction with antigens adsorbed on PNPS and DA cryogels (PD cryogels), thereby provoking potent cytotoxic T-cell responses. Hence, PD cryogels enabling cell infiltration and accelerated DC maturation may serve as a therapeutic vaccination platform against cancer.

Knockdown of NADK promotes LUAD ferroptosis via NADPH/FSP1 axis.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is a serious threat to human health and is the first leading cause of cancer death. Ferroptosis, a newly discovered form of programmed cell death associated with redox homeostasis, is of particular interest in the lung cancer, given the high oxygen environment of lung cancer. NADPH has reducing properties and therefore holds the potential to resist ferroptosis. Resistance to ferroptosis exists in lung cancer, but the role of NADK in regulating ferroptosis in lung cancer has not been reported yet. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to analyse the expression of NADK in 86 cases of lung adenocarcinoma(LUAD) and adjacent tissues, and a IHC score was assigned to each sample. Chi-square and kaplan-meier curve was performed to analyse the differences in metastasis and five-year survival between the two groups with NADK high or low scores. Proliferation of NADK-knockdown LUAD cell lines was detected in vivo and vitro. Furthermore, leves of ROS, MDA and Fe2+ were measured to validate the effect and mechanism of NADK on ferroptosis in LUAD. RESULTS: The expression of NADK was significantly evaluated in LUAD tissues as compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues. The proliferation of NADK-knockdown cells was inhibited both in vivo and vitro, and increasing levels of intracellular ROS, Fe2+ and lipid peroxide products (MDA) were observed. Furthermore, NADK-knockdown promoted the ferroptosis of LUAD cells induced by Erastin/RSL3 by regulating the level of NADPH and the expression of FSP1. Knockdown of NADK enhanced the sensitivities of LUAD cells to Erastin/RSL3-induced ferroptosis by regulating NADPH level and FSP1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: NADK is over-expressed in LUAD patients. Knockdown of NADK inhibited the proliferation of LUAD cells both in vitro and in vivo and promotes the Erastin/RSL3-induced ferroptosis of LUAD cells by down-regulating the NADPH/FSP1 axis.

Double-nylon purse-string suture in closing postoperative wounds following endoscopic resection of large (≥ 3 cm) gastric submucosal tumors.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic full-thickness resection (EFTR) of gastric submucosal tumors (SMTs) is safe and effective; however, postoperative wound management is equally important. Literature on suturing following EFTR for large (≥ 3 cm) SMTs is scarce and limited. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy and clinical value of double-nylon purse-string suture in closing postoperative wounds following EFTR of large (≥ 3 cm) SMTs. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 85 patients with gastric SMTs in the fundus of the stomach or in the lesser curvature of the gastric body whose wounds were treated with double-nylon purse-string sutures after successful tumor resection at the Endoscopy Center of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. The operative, postoperative, and follow-up conditions of the patients were evaluated. RESULTS: All tumors were completely resected using EFTR. 36 (42.35%) patients had tumors located in the fundus of the stomach, and 49 (57.65%) had tumors located in the body of the stomach. All patients underwent suturing with double-nylon sutures after EFTR without laparoscopic assistance or further surgical treatment. Postoperative fever and stomach pain were reported in 13 (15.29%) and 14 (16.47%) patients, respectively. No serious adverse events occurred during the intraoperative or postoperative periods. A postoperative review of all patients revealed no residual or recurrent lesions. CONCLUSION: Double-nylon purse-string sutures can be used to successfully close wounds that cannot be completely closed with a single nylon suture, especially for large (≥ 3 cm) EFTR wounds in SMTs.

Dual cation-modified hierarchical nickel hydroxide nanosheet arrays as efficient and robust electrocatalysts for the urea oxidation reaction.

The rational modification of electronic structures to create catalytically active sites has been proved to be a promising strategy to efficiently facilitate the urea oxidation reaction (UOR). Herein, a well-defined nanosheet arrays catalyst of Ni(OH)2 doped with dual cations of Co and Mn on Ni foam (NF) (Co/Mn-Ni(OH)2) is synthesized through a simple hydrothermal process. Benefiting from the advantages of unique structures and modified binding strengths, it is found experimentally that the obtained Co/Mn-Ni(OH)2 catalyst only requires a potential of 1.38 V to deliver a current density of 100 mA cm-2 and exhibits a small Tafel slope of 35 mV dec-1, outperforming single-component-incorporated Ni(OH)2. Moreover, the catalyst has shown excellent stability for 25 h at a current density of 50 mA cm-2. Additionally, first-principles calculations demonstrate that the co-incorporation of Co and Mn remarkably lowers the adsorption barrier of CO(NH2)2* on the catalyst surface, and accelerates the dissociation of the CO(NH2)2* intermediate into CO* and NH* intermediates, which synergistically improve the UOR reaction kinetics. This work provides a generic paradigm for designing advanced and effective catalysts toward the UOR.

Subcutaneous Rapid Dissolution Microneedle Patch Integrated with CuO2 and Disulfiram for Augmented Antimelanoma Efficacy through Multimodal Synergy of Photothermal Therapy, Chemodynamic Therapy, and Chemotherapy.

Melanoma is a malignancy of the skin that is resistant to conventional treatment, necessitating the development of effective and safe new therapies. The percutaneous microneedle (MN) system has garnered increasing interest as a viable treatment option due to its high efficacy, minimal invasiveness, painlessness, and secure benefits. In this investigation, a sensitive MN system with multiple functions was created to combat melanoma effectively. This MN system utilized polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as microneedle substrates and biocompatibility panax notoginseng polysaccharide (PNPS) as microneedle tips, which encapsulated PVP-stabilized CuO2 nanoparticles as a therapeutic agent and disulfiram-containing F127 micelles to enhance the tumor treatment effect. The MN system had sufficient mechanical properties to pierce the skin, and the excellent water solubility of PNPS brought high-speed dissolution properties under the bio conditions, allowing the MNs to effectively penetrate the skin and deliver the CuO2 nanoparticles as well as the drug-loaded micelles to the melanoma site. CuO2 nanoparticles released by the MN system generated Cu2+ and H2O2 in the tumor acidic environment to achieve self-supply of hydrogen peroxide to chemodynamic therapy (CDT). In addition, Cu2+ was chelated with disulfiram to produce CuET, which killed tumor cells. And the MN system had excellent near-infrared (NIR) photothermal properties due to the loading of CuO2 nanoparticles and induced localized thermotherapy in the melanoma region to further inhibit tumor growth. Thus, the designed MN system accomplished effective tumor suppression and minimal side effects in vivo via combined therapy, offering patients a safe and effective option for melanoma treatment.

Multifunctional high-simulation 3D-printed hydrogel model manufacturing engineering for surgical training.

Advanced bionic organ models with vivid biological structures and wetness and softness are essential for medical-surgical training. Still, there are many challenges in the preparation process, such as matching mechanical properties, good feedback on surgical instruments, reproducibility of specific surgical scenarios, and distinguishability between structural levels. In this paper, we achieved tissuemimicking dual-network (DN) hydrogels with customizable stiffness by adjusting the composition of the hydrogel matrix and the immersion time of the ionic solution to match different biological soft tissues precisely. Combined with advanced threedimensional (3D) printing fabrication techniques, various performance-tunable bionic hydrogel organ models with structural complexity and fidelity, including kidney, liver, pancreas, and vascular tissues, were perfectly fabricated. The simulation and applicability of the model were also simulated for the forced change of the suture needle in the puncture and suture of a single tissue and between different tissues, the cutting of substantive organs by ultrasonic scalpel, the coagulation and hemostasis of blood vessels, the visualization of the internal structure under ultrasound, and the microwave ablation of liver tumors. By constructing advanced biomimetic organ models based on hydrogel with specific and tunable properties, the development of surgical training, medical device testing, and medical education reform will be significantly promoted.

The Tribological and Mechanical Properties of PI/PAI/EP Polymer Coating under Oil Lubrication, Seawater Corrosion and Dry Sliding Wear.

To investigate the tribological performance of a copper alloy engine bearing under oil lubrication, seawater corrosion and dry sliding wear, three different PI/PAI/EP coatings consisting of 1.5 wt% Ce2O3, 2 wt% Ce2O3, 2.5 wt% Ce2O3 were designed, respectively. These designed coatings were prepared on the surface of CuPb22Sn2.5 copper alloy using a liquid spraying process. The tribological properties of these coatings under different working conditions were tested. The results show that the hardness of the coating decreases gradually with the addition of Ce2O3, and the agglomeration of Ce2O3 is the main reason for the decrease of hardness. The wear amount of the coating increases first and then decreases with the increase of Ce2O3 content under dry sliding wear. The wear mechanism is abrasive wear under the condition of seawater. The wear resistance of the coating decreases with the increase of Ce2O3 content. The wear resistance of the coating with 1.5 wt% Ce2O3 is the best under-seawater corrosion. Although Ce2O3 has corrosion resistance, the coating of 2.5 wt% Ce2O3 has the worst wear resistance under seawater conditions due to severe wear caused by agglomeration. Under oil lubrication conditions, the frictional coefficient of the coating is stable. The lubricating oil film has a good lubrication and protection effect.

Clinical risk factors for patients with ruptured hepatoblastoma in children: a retrospective study from a single center in China.

OBJECTIVE: Hepatoblastoma (HB) tumor rupture is a high-risk criterion in the International Childhood Liver Tumors Strategy Group (SIOPEL) 3/4 protocol. However, the causes and risk factors for HB rupture are still unknown, and whether tumor rupture is an independent risk factor for HB prognosis is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical characteristics of children with HB tumor rupture and to search for clinical risk factors to conduct early prediction and intervention. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 27 patients with HB rupture between July 2009 and July 2019. To further identify the risk factors for HB rupture, we included 97 nonruptured HB patients from January 2013 to January 2019. We searched for potentially useful characteristics for HB rupture by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: There were 27 patients with HB rupture, with the median age of 31 (12, 69) months. Nineteen cases (70.37%) were spontaneous tumor rupture, 1 case (3.70%) was posttraumatic rupture, 2 cases (7.41%) were tumor rupture after the biopsy, and 5 cases (18.52%) were tumor rupture after chemotherapy. After the tumor rupture, 4 patients died of hemorrhagic shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), 4 patients refused further therapy and were discharged against medical advice, and the remaining 19 patients were stable after emergency treatment. After the treatment, 14 patients survived without disease, 2 patients died, and 3 patients were lost to follow-up. The median follow-up was 48 (33, 60) months, the 3-year overall survival (OS) was 54.7%. Compared with the non-tumor rupture group by multivariate logistic regression analysis, it was found that the maximum diameter of the primary tumor > 13.4 cm, and vascular invasion were independent risk factors for tumor rupture. CONCLUSION: HB rupture is rare, but it seriously threatens the life and health of children. In the acute phase of tumor rupture, surgery, rescue chemotherapy, transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) and other supportive care can be adopted. Large tumors and vascular invasion are risk factors for HB rupture. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Non-Newtonian fluid gating membranes with acoustically responsive and self-protective gas transport control.

Control of gas transport through porous media is desired in multifarious processes such as chemical reactions, interface absorption, and medical treatment. Liquid gating technology, based on dynamically adaptive interfaces, has been developed in recent years and has shown excellent control capability in gas manipulation-the reversible opening and closing of a liquid gate for gas transport as the applied pressure changes. Here, we report a new strategy to achieve self-protective gas transport control by regulating the dynamic porous interface in a non-Newtonian fluid gating membrane based on the shear thickening fluid. The gas transport process can be suspended and restored via modulation of the acoustic field, owing to the transition of particle-to-particle interactions in a confined geometry. Our experimental and theoretical results support the stability and tunability of the gas transport control. In addition, relying on the shear thickening behaviour of the gating fluid, the transient response can be achieved to resist high-impact pressure. This strategy could be utilized to design integrated smart materials used in complex and extreme environments such as hazardous and explosive gas transportation.

Carbon Dioxide Chemically Responsive Switchable Gas Valves with Protonation-Induced Liquid Gating Self-Adaptive Systems.

Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) capture and storage technologies are promising to limit CO2 emission from anthropogenic activities, to achieve carbon neutrality goals. CO2 capture requires one to separate CO2 from other gases, and therefore a gas flow system that exhibits discernible gating behaviors for CO2 would be very useful. Here we propose a self-adaptive CO2 gas valve composed of chemically responsive liquid gating systems. The transmembrane critical pressures of the liquid gate vary upon the presence of CO2 , due to the superamphiphiles assembled by poly(propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropyl ether) and oleic acid in gating liquids that are protonated specifically by CO2 . It is shown that the valve can perform self-adaptive regulation for specific gases and different concentrations of CO2 . This protonation-induced liquid gating mechanism opens a potential platform for applications of CO2 separators, detectors, sensors and beyond.

Characteristics, sources and health risks assessment of VOCs in Zhengzhou, China during haze pollution season.

Zhengzhou is one of the most haze-polluted cities in Central China with high organic carbon emission, which accounts for 15%-20% of particulate matter (PM2.5) in winter and causes significantly adverse health effects. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the precursors of secondary PM2.5 and O3 formation. An investigation of characteristics, sources and health risks assessment of VOCs was carried out at the urban area of Zhengzhou from 1st to 31st December, 2019. The mean concentrations of total detected VOCs were 48.8 ± 23.0 ppbv. Alkanes (22.0 ± 10.4 ppbv), halocarbons (8.1 ± 3.9 ppbv) and aromatics (6.5 ± 3.9 ppbv) were the predominant VOC species, followed by alkenes (5.1 ± 3.3 ppbv), oxygenated VOCs (3.6 ± 1.8 ppbv), alkyne (3.5 ± 1.9, ppbv) and sulfide (0.5 ± 0.9 ppbv). The Positive Matrix Factorization model was used to identify and apportion VOCs sources. Five major sources of VOCs were identified as vehicular exhaust, industrial processes, combustion, fuel evaporation, and solvent use. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk values of species were calculated. The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of almost all air toxics increased during haze days. The total non-carcinogenic risks exceeded the acceptable ranges. Most VOC species posed no non-carcinogenic risk during three haze events. The carcinogenic risks of chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,2-dibromoethane, benzyl chloride, hexachloro-1,3-butadiene, benzene and naphthalene were above the acceptable level (1.0  ×  10-6) but below the tolerable risk level (1.0  ×  10-4). Industrial emission was the major contributor to non-carcinogenic, and solvent use was the major contributor to carcinogenic risks.

Charge-Reversible Surfactant-Induced Transformation Between Oil-in-Dispersion Emulsions and Pickering Emulsions.

A novel charge-reversible surfactant, (CH3 )2 N-(CH2 )10 COONa, was designed and synthesized, which together with silica nanoparticles can stabilize a smart n-octane-in-water emulsion responsive to pH. At high pH (9.3) the surfactant is anionic carboxylate, which together with the negatively charged silica nanoparticles co-stabilize flowable oil-in-dispersion emulsions, whereas at low pH (4.1) it is turned to cationic form by forming amine salt which can hydrophobize in situ the negatively charged silica nanoparticles to stabilize viscous oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsions. At neutral pH (7.5), however, this surfactant is converted to zwitterionic form, which only weakly hydrophobises the silica particles to stabilize O/W Pickering emulsions of large droplet size. Moreover, demulsification can be achieved rapidly triggered by pH. With this strategy particles can be controlled either dispersed in water or adsorbed at the oil-water interface endowing emulsions with the capacity for intelligent and precise control of stability as well as viscosity and droplet size.

Biopromoters for Gas Hydrate Formation: A Mini Review of Current Status.

Gas hydrates have promising application prospects in the fields of future energy sources, natural gas storage and transportation, CO2 capture and sequestration, gas separation, and cold energy. However, the application of hydrate technologies is being restricted due to the slow formation rate of gas hydrates. Kinetic promoters have been receiving increased attention, given that they can improve the hydrate formation rate with very small doses and do not affect gas storage capacity. However, most kinetic promoters are non-renewable, petrochemical-derived, non-degradable materials, inevitably leading to resource waste and environmental pollution. Biopromoters, derived from biomass, are renewable, biodegradable, environmentally friendly, non-toxic (or low toxic), and economically feasible. This mini review summarizes the current status of already discovered biopromoters, including lignosulfonate, amino acid, biosurfactant, and biological porous structures, which have the potential to replace petrochemical-derived promoters in hydrate technologies. Finally, future research directions are given for the development of biopromoters.

Characteristics, source apportionment and health risks of ambient VOCs during high ozone period at an urban site in central plain, China.

On 3rd to May 24, 2018, volatile organic compound (VOC) samples were collected four times a day by using stainless steel canisters at an urban site in Zhengzhou, China. The concentrations, compositions, sources, ozone (O3) formation potential (OFP), and health risk assessment of VOCs were discussed based on the measurements of 103 VOC species. Results show that the average mixing ratio of VOCs was 29.11 ± 15.33 ppbv, and the dominant components comprised oxygenated VOCs (OVOCs) and alkanes, followed by halocarbons, alkenes, aromatics, and a sulfide. Various groups of VOCs had typical diurnal variation characteristics. Alkenes, alkanes, and aromatics contributed most to the OFP. Five sources identified by the positive matrix factorization model revealed solvent utilization as the largest contributor, followed by industrial production, long-lived and secondary species, vehicular emission, and biogenic emission. Solvent utilization and vehicular emission were important sources to OFP. During O3 episode days, the mixing ratios of alkanes, alkenes, halocarbons, OVOCs, aromatics, and TVOCs decreased to varying degrees; the source contribution of solvent utilization decreased significantly while industrial production showed the opposite trend. VOC species and sources posed no non-carcinogenic risk while five species and all sources except for biogenic emission had carcinogenic risks to exposed population. Industrial emission was the largest contributor to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. These results will help to provide some references for O3 pollution research and prevention and control of pollution sources.

Amyloid-Polyphenol Hybrid Nanofilaments Mitigate Colitis and Regulate Gut Microbial Dysbiosis.

It is a desirable and powerful strategy to precisely fabricate functional soft matter through self-assembly of molecular building blocks across a range of length scales. Proteins, nucleic acids, and polyphenols are the self-assemblers ubiquitous in nature. Assembly of proteins into flexible biocolloids, amyloid fibrils with high aspect ratio, has emerged as an unchallenged templating strategy for high-end technological materials and bio-nanotechnologies. We demonstrate the ability of these fibrils to support the deposition and self-assembly of polyphenols into hybrid nanofilaments and functional macroscopic hydrogels made thereof. The length scale of the substance that amyloid fibrils can attach with acting as the building templates was extended from nanometer down to sub-nanometer. Significantly increased loading capacities of polyphenols (up to 4.0 wt %) compared to that of other delivery systems and improved stability were realized. After oral administration, the hydrogels could transport from the stomach to the small intestine and finally to the gut (cecum, colon, rectum), with a long retention time in the colon. Oral administration of the hydrogels significantly ameliorated colitis in a mouse model, promoted intestinal barrier function, suppressed the pro-inflammatory mRNA expression, and very significantly (P < 0.01) regulated gut microbial dysbiosis. Specifically, it reduced the abundance of normally enriched operational taxonomic units related to colitis, especially targeting facultative anaerobes of the phylum Proteobacteria, such as Aestuariispira and Escherichia. The short-chain fatty acid metabolites were enriched. Combined with their nontoxic nature observed in this long-term study in mice, the obtained amyloid-polyphenol gels have high application potentials for gastrointestinal diseases by "drugging the microbiome".

A novel artificial intelligence system for the assessment of bowel preparation (with video).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The quality of bowel preparation is an important factor that can affect the effectiveness of a colonoscopy. Several tools, such as the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) and Ottawa Bowel Preparation Scale, have been developed to evaluate bowel preparation. However, understanding the differences between evaluation methods and consistently applying them can be challenging for endoscopists. There are also subjective biases and differences among endoscopists. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a novel, objective, and stable method for the assessment of bowel preparation through artificial intelligence. METHODS: We used a deep convolutional neural network to develop this novel system. First, we retrospectively collected colonoscopy images to train the system and then compared its performance with endoscopists via a human-machine contest. Then, we applied this model to colonoscopy videos and developed a system named ENDOANGEL to provide bowel preparation scores every 30 seconds and to show the cumulative ratio of frames for each score during the withdrawal phase of the colonoscopy. RESULTS: ENDOANGEL achieved 93.33% accuracy in the human-machine contest with 120 images, which was better than that of all endoscopists. Moreover, ENDOANGEL achieved 80.00% accuracy among 100 images with bubbles. In 20 colonoscopy videos, accuracy was 89.04%, and ENDOANGEL continuously showed the accumulated percentage of the images for different BBPS scores during the withdrawal phase and prompted us for bowel preparation scores every 30 seconds. CONCLUSIONS: We provided a novel and more accurate evaluation method for bowel preparation and developed an objective and stable system-ENDOANGEL-that could be applied reliably and steadily in clinical settings.

Polydatin ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis by decreasing oxidative stress and apoptosis partially via Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation, oxidative stress and epithelial barrier dysfunction have been implicated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathology. The targeted inhibition of these features may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for IBD. Polydatin is an effective natural antioxidant that possesses strong antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. Thus, we studied the protective effects of polydatin treatments on a mouse model of experimental colitis. METHODS: Acute colitis was experimentally induced by adding 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to the drinking water provided to mice for 7 days and by administering different doses of polydatin (15, 30, or 45 mg/kg) during the same period. Mice were also treated with the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway inhibitor cyclopamine to estimate the efficacy of polydatin and Shh inhibitors on colitis. The disease activity index (DAI), colon length, histology, levels of oxidative and apoptotic mediators and levels of Shh pathway components were evaluated. RESULTS: The polydatin treatment significantly attenuated the DAI, colon shortening and histological damage. In addition, polydatin administration effectively decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and increased the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Polydatin also inhibited apoptosis in mice with colitis by downregulating the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, caspase 3 and cleaved caspase 3 and increasing the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Furthermore, polydatin modulated Shh signaling pathway activation. After polydatin treatment, the main components of the Shh pathway, including Shh, Patched (Ptc), Smoothened (Smo), and glioblastoma-1 (Gli1), were upregulated at the mRNA and protein levels. Blockade of the Shh pathway using cyclopamine abolished the effects of polydatin on mice with colitis. CONCLUSION: Based on these observations, polydatin may suppress experimental colitis at least partially by regulating the Shh signaling pathway.

Expression and clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase-17 and -25 in gastric cancer.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression and clinicopathological features of matrix metalloproteinase 17 (MMP17; also known as MT4-MMP) and MMP25 (also known as MT6-MMP) in gastric cancer. Immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to detect the expression of MMP17 and MMP25 in 42 cases of gastric carcinoma and normal tissues, and 40 cases of atrophic gastritis. The expression of MMP17 in the normal gastric and atrophic gastritis tissues was significantly lower than that in the gastric cancer tissues (P<0.05). The expression of MMP25 in the gastric cancer and atrophic gastritis tissues was markedly higher compared with the normal gastric tissues (P<0.05). The expression of MMP17 and MMP25 was significantly associated with the depth of tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis and serous membrane involvement (P<0.05), but not with patient age and gender, or lesion length, site and histological grade (P>0.05). Therefore, this indicates that the expression of MMP17 and MMP25 is increased with the degree of progress of gastric carcinoma. The detection of MMP17 and MMP25 expression may have clinical value in predicting the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

Association between CD14 gene polymorphisms and cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Two polymorphisms, -260C/T and -651C/T, in the CD14 gene have been implicated in susceptibility to cancer. However, the results remain inconclusive. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the association between the two polymorphisms and risk of cancer. METHODS: All eligible case-control studies published up to March 2014 were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI and WanFang database. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to access the strength of this association in fixed- or random-effects model. RESULTS: 17 case-control studies from fourteen articles were included. Of those, there were 17 studies (4198 cases and 4194 controls) for -260C/T polymorphism and three studies (832 cases and 1190 controls) for -651C/T polymorphism. Overall, no significant associations between the two polymorphisms of CD14 gene and cancer risk were found. When stratified by ethnicity, cancer type and source of control, similar results were observed among them. In addition, in further subgroups analysis by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection status and tumor location in gastric cancer subgroup, we found that the CD14 -260C/T polymorphism may increase the risk of gastric cancer in H. pylori-infected individuals. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggests that the CD14 -260C/T polymorphism may increase the risk of gastric cancer in H. pylori-infected individuals. However, large and well-designed studies are warranted to validate our findings.