Relationship between abnormal pelvic floor electromyography and obstetric factors in postpartum women: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the surface electromyography (sEMG) of pelvic floor muscles (PFMs), compare between vaginal birth and cesarean section and correlate with maternity and obstetrics characteristics in primiparous 6-8 weeks postpartum. METHODS: PFMs surface electromyography screening data of primiparous postpartum women in our hospital at 6-8 weeks postpartum from 2018 to 2021 were selected and analyzed. The study collected data on delivery activities of 543 postpartum women totally. RESULTS: In general, the abnormal incidence of pelvic floor electromyography in postpartum women mainly occurred in slow muscle (type I fiber) stage and endurance testing stage. Compared to vaginal birth postpartum women, the incidence of abnormal pelvic floor electromyography in cesarean section postpartum women is lower. There were statistical differences in measurement values of pelvic floor electromyography in several different stages between cesarean section and vaginal birth (P < 0.005). Regarding the influence on pelvic floor electromyography, there were more influencing factors on vaginal birth postpartum women including age, height, weight, weight gain during pregnancy, gestational week, and first and second stage of labor than on cesarean section postpartum women whose influencing factors included age, weight gain during pregnancy, and newborn weight. CONCLUSION: Effects on surface electromyography (sEMG) of pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) at 6-8 weeks postpartum differed based on the different modes of delivery. The high-risk obstetric factors closely related to abnormal surface electromyography (sEMG) of pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) were maternal age, height, weight, and second stage of labor.

Trigeminal neuralgia caused by a persistent primitive trigeminal artery variant passing through Meckel's cavity: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Persistent primitive trigeminal artery variant (PPTAv) is a rare remnant of the primitive intracranial embryonic anastomotic arteries, and its persistence has an unknown etiology. Trigeminal neuralgia attributed to a PPTAv passing through Meckel's cavity is extremely uncommon. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old woman presented with right-sided facial pain for 10 years that had failed to respond to medication. Magnetic resonance angiography suggested the presence of a PPTAv compressing the trigeminal nerve, as the abnormal artery originated from the right internal carotid artery. During microvascular decompression (MVD), the offending vessel was inferred to be a PPTAv, as it continued to become the anterior inferior cerebellar artery after passing through Meckel's cavity. Postoperative computed tomography angiography showed the PPTAv continuing posteriorly as the anterior inferior cerebellar artery and supplying the cerebellar hemisphere, which confirmed the intraoperative judgment. The pain resolved after MVD and has not recurred in 12 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: MVD is the best surgical choice for trigeminal neuralgia combined with a PPTAv. For patients with neurovascular conflicts, particularly those with suspected vascular variations, preoperative imaging examinations play a critical role in meticulously evaluating the anatomical locations of the nerves and blood vessels. Semilunar puncture (for radiofrequency ablation or percutaneous balloon compression) is contraindicated in patients with a PPTAv.

Hippocampus protection from apoptosis by Baicalin in a LiCl-pilocarpine-induced rat status epilepticus model through autophagy activation.

BACKGROUND: Autophagy is associated with hippocampal injury following status epilepticus (SE) and is considered a potential therapeutic mechanism. Baicalin, an emerging multitherapeutic drug, has shown neuroprotective effects in patients with nervous system diseases due to its antioxidant properties. AIM: To investigate the potential role of autophagy in LiCl-pilocarpine-induced SE. METHODS: The drugs were administered 30 min before SE. Nissl staining showed that Baicalin attenuated hippocampal injury and reduced neuronal death in the hippocampus. Western blotting and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay confirmed that Baicalin reversed the expression intensity of cleaved caspase-3 and apoptosis in hippocampal CA1 following SE. Fur-thermore, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were used to measure the expression of autophagy markers (p62/SQSTM1, Beclin 1, and LC3) and apoptotic pathway markers (cleaved caspase-3 and Bcl-2). RESULTS: Baicalin significantly upregulated autophagic activity and downregulated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway markers. Conversely, 3-methyladenine, a commonly used autophagy inhibitor, was simultaneously administered to inhibit the Baicalin-induced autophagy, abrogating the protective effect of Baicalin on the mitochondrial apoptotic level. CONCLUSION: We illustrated that Baicalin-induced activation of autophagy alleviates apoptotic death and protects the hippocampus of SE rats.

A review of the effects of estrogen and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation on intrauterine adhesion and endometriosis.

Uterus transplantation has become an option for women suffering from some form of infertility. Current review discusses key physiological functions of the endometrium requiring the transition of tissue cells between the mesenchyme and epithelial cell phenotype, a process known as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Estrogen and EMT play a key role in the pathogenesis and treatment of intrauterine adhesion and endometriosis. There is also a close regulatory relationship between estrogen and EMT, and investigation of this relationship is of great significance for the treatment of endometrial disorders. The present review discusses the effects of estrogen on endometrial dysfunction, with a focus on the relationship between estrogen and EMT in endometrial disorders, taking into consideration the mechanisms by which receptors that regulate their functions and proteins that regulate their local biological functions interact with the factors involved in EMT. In addition, the review summarizes emerging drugs targeting receptors or proteins and provides information on the direction of new therapies for endometrial disorders.

The significance of EphA2-regulated Wnt/ß-catenin signal pathway in promoting the metastasis of HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is closely associated with the malignant progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism involved in the HBV-related HCC development remains poorly understood. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate the regulatory mechanism of EphA2-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the metastasis of HBV-related HCC cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: The expression level of EphA2 was determined in HBV-related human HCC cells. Then, the effects of EphA2 silencing on the EMT-associated proteins, the Wnt/ß-catenin signal pathway and the metastatic potential of HBV-related HCC cells were evaluated. Finally, the inhibitory role of Entecavir (a potent antiviral drug for HBV) on EphA2-induced EMT was explored. The present study revealed that the EphA2 expression level was increased in HBV-related HCC cells compared with non-related HCC cells. Following EphA2 knockdown, the downregulation of Vimentin, ß-catenin and p-GSK-3ßSer9 expressions, the upregulation of E-cadherin expression, and the suppressed migration and invasion ability of HBV-related HCC cells were found. Additionally, Entecavir was proved to have a significant inhibitory effect on EphA2-induced EMT via attenuating the Wnt/ß-catenin signal pathway. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found that EphA2-induced EMT was involved in the enhanced metastatic potential of HBV-related HCC cells through the activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin signal pathway.

Clinical study on multi-focused laser in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus.

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of Multi-focused (MF) laser in the treatment of vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS). Methods: In this single-center, randomized controlled trial, we compared the effect of fractionated MF laser with other treatments on patients with biopsy-proven VLS. Patients with VLS were enrolled in this study and randomly divided into three groups. Patients in the experimental group were treated with a CO2 laser, control group 1 was treated with radiofrequency, and control group 2 was treated topically with glucocorticoids and soaking with Chinese patent medicine. The pruritus degree, skin elasticity, skin color, lesion scope, and total score were compared before treatment, at one month after treatment, and three months after treatment. Results: One month after treatment, the pruritus degree, skin elasticity, skin color, lesion scope, and total score decreased in the experimental group, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). In control group 1, the differences in pruritus degree, skin color, and total score were statistically significant (P < 0.05), but the differences in skin elasticity and lesion scope were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In control group 2, the differences in pruritus degree and total score were statistically significant (P < 0.05), but the differences in skin elasticity, skin color, and lesion scope were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). At one month after the end of treatment, the differences in pruritus degree, skin elasticity, skin color, lesion scope, and total score among the three groups were not statistically significant. At three months after the end of treatment, the differences in the scores of the five indicators were statistically significant. Conclusion: For the three treatment methods for VLS, topical corticosteroids + traditional Chinese medicine can quickly relieve itching symptoms in patients, but it cannot significantly improve skin elasticity, skin color, and lesion scope, and VLS easily relapses after treatment. Radiofrequency can improve itching symptoms and skin color but has poor effects on the change of skin elasticity and lesion scope. Multi-focused laser treatment can alleviate the degree of pruritus, improve skin color and elasticity, and narrow the lesion scope, and VLS will not relapse within three months after treatment.

Comparative studies on superconductivity in Cr3Ru compounds with bcc and A15 structures.

Chromium (Cr) is a transition metal element with 3dorbital electrons. In most compounds containing Cr, due to the correlation effect, twofold features, namely localization and itinerancy are expected. The localization gives rise to a magnetic moment, while the latter exhibits as the effective coherent weight for conductivity. Here we report the physical properties of Cr3Ru compounds with body-centered cubic (bcc) and A15 structures by using multiple experimental tools. The resistivity measurements show sharp superconducting transitions atTc= 2.77 K andTc= 3.37 K for the bcc and A15 structures, respectively. A high residual resistivity exists in both phases. Magnetization measurements also show rather narrow superconducting transitions, with a clear hump feature in the intermediate temperature region (about 150 K), which may be ascribed to the remaining antiferromagnetic spin fluctuations. A pronounced second peak effect has been observed in magnetization hysteresis loops in the superconducting state only for samples with bcc structure. The specific heat coefficient reveals a clear jump at critical temperatures (Tc). We find thats-wave gaps can be adopted to fit the low temperature specific heat data of both samples yielding ratios of2Δ/kBTcabout 3.6, indicating a moderate pairing strength. Interestingly, the Wilson ratiosRW=Aχ0/γnare 3.81 and 3.62 for the bcc and A15 phases, suggesting a moderate correlation effect of conducting electrons in the normal state. Besides, for samples with A15 structure, another specific heat anomaly occurs at about 0.85 K and is sensitive to magnetic fields. In addition, by applying high pressures, both systems will exhibit an enhancement ofTcwith a rate of about 0.019 K GPa-1and 0.013 K GPa-1for the bcc and A15 phases, respectively. Our combinatory results point to unusual behavior of both superconducting and normal states in these two Cr based alloys.

Crocin-I Protects Against High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity via Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Inflammation in Mice.

Crocin-I can regulate physiological changes in the human body by altering inflammation and microbial composition. Gut microbiota are also involved in modulating the pathophysiology of obesity. However, crocin-I's effect on obesity and the mechanism underlying its effects on gut microbiota and inflammation remain poorly understood. Here, high-fat diet (HFD) -induced obese mice were administrated crocin-I (20 mg/kg/day) for 10 weeks using an oral gavage (HFD-C20 group). HFD-C20, HFD, and Normal chow (NC) groups were compared. The fat content, colon tissue inflammatory cytokine levels, gut microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) levels were measured. We show that crocin-I reduced body weight and liver weight and improved glucose resistance in HFD-induced mice, and reduced the lipid accumulation in the liver. Strikingly, crocin-I alleviated intestinal microbial disorders and decreased the F/B ratio and the abundance of Proteobacteria in HFD-induced obese mice. Crocin-I also rescued the decrease in the levels of SCFAs and repaired altered intestinal barrier functioning and intestinal inflammation in HFD-induced obese mice. These findings indicate that crocin-I may inhibit obesity by modulating the composition of gut microbiota and intestinal inflammation.

Clinical characteristics, outcome and prognostic factors in critically ill patients with lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) in intensive care unit (ICU), identify prognostic factors and construct a predictive model of in-ICU survival. METHODS: A total of 505 ICU admissions of lupus patients were screened and LN patients confirmed by renal biopsy were enrolled. Clinical characteristics and outcome of patients in ICU were collected. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent prognostic factors and a nomogram was plotted to construct a predictive model. RESULTS: A total of 70 patients with LN were enrolled. The median age of the patients was 28.5 years, and the median course of LN was two months. Renal pathology classes indicated that 38 patients were class IV, 11 were class IV+V, and 10 were class III. The most common primary cause of ICU admission was infection in 40 patients, followed by LN in 11 patients. Forty-one patients died in ICU. The multivariate analyses revealed that lactic acid (OR 1.682 [2.130-17.944], p=0.001), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (OR 1.057 [1.009-1.107], p=0.020), APACHE II (OR 3.852 [1.176-12.618], p=0.026), vasopressor (OR 10.571 [1.615-69.199], p=0.014) and platelet count (OR 0.967 [0.941-0.993], p=0.013) were independently associated with ICU survival of critical LN patients. A predictive model was constructed and validated. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to elucidate the features and identify prognostic factors in critically ill patients with LN. These findings could help clinicians to early identify high-risk patients of mortality, which consequently may reduce the mortality of critically ill patients with LN.

Effects of Metformin and Exercise in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. Metformin is introduced for treatment of women with PCOS, and the beneficial effects of exercise in women with PCOS are found for a range of outcomes. Our aim is to compare the effects of metformin plus exercise with exercise intervention in PCOS on clinical, anthropometric, metabolic, and psychological parameters. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for studies. Nine studies were considered eligible for inclusion. The meta-analysis reveals that metformin offers additive benefits to exercise, leading to modest improvements in menstrual cycles, hyperandrogenism, and abdominal fat.

Enhanced antitumor efficacy through microwave ablation combined with a dendritic cell-derived exosome vaccine in hepatocellular carcinoma.

AIM: To investigate the antitumor efficacy of microwave ablation combined with dendritic cell-derived exosomes (Dex) or dendritic cells (DC) in treating hepatocellular carcinoma using a tumor-bearing mouse model. METHODS: We used a bilateral tumor-bearing mouse model treated with MWA, MWA + DC (DC-combined group) or MWA + Dex (Dex-combined group). Following tumor ablation on one side, the tumor volume on the contralateral side was monitored. The proportions of CD8+ (cytotoxic) T cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells in the spleen were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the number of CD8+ T cells and Treg cells in tumor sites was detected by immunohistochemistry. The concentration of interleukin-10 and interferon-γ in plasma was identified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The combination therapy significantly inhibited tumor growth compared with MWA monotherapy. In addition, the tumor immune microenvironment was significantly improved in HCC mice in the combination therapy groups compared to MWA group demonstrated by an increased number of CD8+ T cells and a decreased number of Treg cells in tumor sites. A lower proportion of Treg cells were observed in the spleen in the combination therapy groups compared to MWA group. Moreover, the concentration of plasma IFN-γ increased, and the concentration of plasma IL-10 decreased in the combination therapy groups compared to the MWA group. However, there was no statistical difference between the Dex-combined group and the DC-combined group in the comparisons mentioned above. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that MWA combined with Dex can significantly inhibit tumor growth and improve the immune microenvironment compared to MWA alone. Furthermore, the immune-enhancing effect of Dex and DC was equivalent in our combination therapy strategy.

Interleukin 22 is related to development and poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Immune response against hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Studies have reported that interleukin 22 (IL-22) exhibits both protective and pathological properties in liver diseases. Our aim was to explore the importance of IL-22 in the development of HCC, and to characterize the relationship between IL-22 levels and the prognosis of HCC. METHODS: Totally, 136 liver biopsy specimens from 46 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 37 with atypical hyperplasia (AH), 53 with HCC, patient-matched tumors and peritumoral surgical specimens from 56 HCC patients included in the study. The expression of IL-22 and CD8 was evaluated by immunochemistry. Corresponding serum samples were collected from 30 CHB, 30 AH, and 30 HCC patients. IL-22 expression was determined by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Liver-infiltrating IL-22+ cells increased in a stepwise manner from CHB to AH and HCC (CHB vs. AH, P=0.002; AH vs. HCC, P=0.010), whereas a decreasing trend was observed for CD8+ T cells (CHB vs. AH, P=0.031; AH vs. HCC, P=0.652). Serum IL-22 levels also increased from CHB to AH and HCC (CHB vs. AH, P=0.024; AH vs. HCC, P=0.026). Tumor-infiltrating IL-22+ cells and serum IL-22 were associated with histologic grade (P=0.024 and P=0.033). Additionally, CD8+ T cells correlated with tumor size (P=0.032). Furthermore, the high intratumoral IL-22+ cell group and high serum IL-22 group showed lower overall survival (OS; P=0.001, P=0.017) and disease-free survival (DFS; P=0.005, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that intratumoral IL-22+ cells and serum IL-22 levels were independent prognostic factors for both OS and DFS. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that IL-22 promotes the progression of HCC in CHB patients. High tumor-infiltrating IL-22+ cells and serum IL-22 levels are thought to be unfavorable prognostic indicators for HCC.

Ivermectin Augments the In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy of Cisplatin in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer by Suppressing Akt/mTOR Signaling.

BACKGROUND: The poor outcomes in epithelial ovarian cancer necessitate new treatments. In this work, we systematically analyzed the inhibitory effects of ivermectin and the molecular mechanism of its action in ovarian cancer. METHODS: The effects of ivermectin alone and its combination with cisplatin on growth and survival were examined using cultured ovarian cancer cells and a xenograft mouse model. The molecular mechanism of action of ivermectin, focusing on Akt/mTOR signaling, was elucidated. RESULTS: Ivermectin arrested growth in the G2/M phase and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in ovarian cancer, regardless of specific cellular and molecular differences. Ivermectin significantly augmented the inhibitory effect of cisplatin on ovarian cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, ivermectin suppressed the phosphorylation of key molecules in the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in ovarian cancer cells. In addition, overexpression of constitutively active Akt restored ivermectin-induced inhibition of Akt/mTOR, growth arrest and apoptosis. In an ovarian cancer xenograft mouse model, ivermectin alone significantly inhibited tumor growth. In combination with cisplatin, tumor growth was completely reversed over the entire duration of drug treatment without any toxicity. Furthermore, the concentrations of ivermectin used in our study are pharmacologically achievable. CONCLUSIONS: Our work suggests that ivermectin may be a useful addition to the treatment armamentarium for ovarian cancer and that targeting Akt/mTOR signaling is a therapeutic strategy to increase chemosensitivity in ovarian cancer.

LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 promotes osteoblast differentiation of human aortic valve interstitial cells through regulating miR-155/SMAD5 axis.

AIM: Degenerative calcific aortic valve disease (DCAVD) is a common valve disease characterized by massive calcium deposits in the aortic valve. Osteoblast differentiation of valve interstitial cells (VICs) is responsible for the formation of calcific nodules. This study aims to explore the function and underlying mechanism of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) AFAP1-AS1 (actin filament-associated protein 1 antisense RNA 1) in the pathogenesis of DCAVD. METHODS: AFAP1-AS1, miR-155 and mRNA levels were detected by qRT-PCR. Protein levels were measured by Western blot. Calcification deposition was examined by Alizarin Red staining. The interaction between AFAP1-AS1 and miR-155, as well as miR-155 and SMAD5 was evaluated using luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: AFAP1-AS1 expression was increased both in calcified aortic valves from DCAVD patients and after osteogenic induction in human VICs. Furthermore, AFAP1-AS1 overexpression promoted osteogenic differentiation of VICs, whereas AFAP1-AS1 knockdown inhibited osteogenic differentiation. Mechanistically, AFAP1-AS1 acted as a sponge for miR-155 to elevate SMAD5 expression. Further functional assays revealed that miR-155 mimic and SMAD5 silencing effectively reversed AFAP1-AS1-promoted osteogenic differentiation of VICs. CONCLUSION: Collectively, AFAP1-AS1 promotes osteogenic differentiation of VICs, at least in part, by sponging miR-155 to upregulate SMAD5. This study sheds new light on lncRNA-directed therapeutics in DCAVD.

Comparison of the efficacy between NAC and metformin in treating PCOS patients: a meta-analysis.

Our aim is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety by comparing N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) with metformin administrated by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for studies. 10 studies were considered eligible for inclusion. NAC significantly reduced BMI and total testosterone, there was no significant difference in pregnancy rate, serum LH level, fasting insulin, and LH/FSH ratio. In conclusions, NAC may be considered as an alternative supplement to metformin, but large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy and safety of NAC in PCOS patients.

Downregulation of lncrna uca1 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ovarian endometriosis.

OBJECTIVE: Ovarian endometriosis seriously affects the quality of life of females, and long non-coding RNA lncRNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) plays pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of various ovarian diseases. However, the involvement of lncRNA UCA1 in ovarian endometriosis remains unknown to date. Therefore, the present study aims to study the role of UCA1 in ovarian endometriosis. METHODS: A total of 98 patients with ovarian endometriosis and 28 healthy females were included. The expression of lncRNA UCA1 in ectopic and eutopic endometrium tissues of ovarian endometriosis patients and controls was detected using qRT-PCR. A ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic values of serum lncRNA UCA1 for ovarian endometriosis. Patients were followed up for 2 years after discharge, and the recurrence of ovarian endometriosis was recorded. RESULTS: The expression level of lncRNA UCA1 was significantly higher in ectopic endometrium tissues than in paired eutopic endometrium tissues for most of the patients. The serum lncRNA UCA1 level showed no significant correlations with either patients' age or living habits. After the treatment, the serum lncRNA UCA1 level increased, and serum levels of lncRNA UCA1 on the day of discharge were significantly lower in patients with recurrence than those in patients without recurrence. Conclusion: The downregulation of lncRNA UCA1 is involved in the pathogenesis of ovarian endometriosis and may serve as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for the disease.

Downregulation of lncrna uca1 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ovarian endometriosis

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Ovarian endometriosis seriously affects the quality of life of females, and long non-coding RNA lncRNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) plays pivotal roles in the pathogenesis of various ovarian diseases. However, the involvement of lncRNA UCA1 in ovarian endometriosis remains unknown to date. Therefore, the present study aims to study the role of UCA1 in ovarian endometriosis. METHODS: A total of 98 patients with ovarian endometriosis and 28 healthy females were included. The expression of lncRNA UCA1 in ectopic and eutopic endometrium tissues of ovarian endometriosis patients and controls was detected using qRT-PCR. A ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic values of serum lncRNA UCA1 for ovarian endometriosis. Patients were followed up for 2 years after discharge, and the recurrence of ovarian endometriosis was recorded. RESULTS: The expression level of lncRNA UCA1 was significantly higher in ectopic endometrium tissues than in paired eutopic endometrium tissues for most of the patients. The serum lncRNA UCA1 level showed no significant correlations with either patients' age or living habits. After the treatment, the serum lncRNA UCA1 level increased, and serum levels of lncRNA UCA1 on the day of discharge were significantly lower in patients with recurrence than those in patients without recurrence. Conclusion: The downregulation of lncRNA UCA1 is involved in the pathogenesis of ovarian endometriosis and may serve as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for the disease.

RESUMO OBJETIVO: A endometriose ovariana afeta seriamente a qualidade de vida das mulheres, e o carcinoma urotelial 1 de urcélio de RNA não codificador longo 1 (UCA1) desempenha um papel crucial na patogênese de várias doenças ovarianas. No entanto, o envolvimento do lncRNA UCA1 na endometriose ovariana permanece desconhecido até o momento. Portanto, o presente estudo tem como objetivo estudar o papel do UCA1 na endometriose ovariana. Métodos: Um total de 98 pacientes com endometriose ovariana e de 28 mulheres saudáveis foi incluído. A expressão de lncRNA UCA1 em tecidos de endométrio ectópico e eutópico de pacientes com endometriose ovariana e controles foi detectada por qRT-PCR. A análise da curva ROC foi realizada para avaliar os valores diagnósticos do lncRNA UCA1 sérico para endometriose ovariana. Os pacientes foram acompanhados por dois anos após a alta, e a recorrência da endometriose ovariana foi registrada. RESULTADOS: O nível de expressão do lncRNA O UCA1 foi significativamente maior nos tecidos do endométrio ectópico do que nos tecidos do endométrio eutópico pareados para a maioria dos pacientes. O nível sérico de UCA1 foi diminuído com a progressão da endometriose ovariana. O soro UCA1 pode ser usado para diagnosticar com precisão a endometriose ovariana. O nível sérico de UCA1 não apresentou correlações significativas com a idade ou com os hábitos de vida dos pacientes. Após o tratamento, o nível sérico do lncRNA UCA1 foi aumentado, e os níveis séricos de lncRNA UCA1 no dia da alta foram significativamente menores nos pacientes com recidiva do que naqueles sem recorrência. CONCLUSÃO: A regulação negativa do lncRNA UCA1 está envolvida na patogênese da endometriose ovariana e pode servir como um promissor biomarcador diagnóstico e prognóstico para a doença.

Propranolol suppresses the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of liver cancer cells.

An increasing amount of evidence indicates that the inhibition of ß adrenergic signaling can result in the inhibition of tumor growth. However, the role of propranolol in liver cancer and the underlying mechanism remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the role of propranolol in liver cancer cell lines and provide evidence for further clinical study. Propranolol was added at different concentrations to HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 liver cancer cells and HL­7702 normal human liver cells. The proliferation of the cell lines was monitored by live­cell imaging at a range of time intervals. Immunofluorescence using DAPI and Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide (PI) staining, Annexin V­FITC/PI double­staining flow cytometry, western blotting and reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to investigate the effect of propranolol on liver cancer cell apoptosis. The proliferation of HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 cells was inhibited by 40 and 80 µmol/l propranolol. However, the proliferation of HL­7702 cells was not affected by <160 µmol/l propranolol. Propranolol treatment decreased the expression of adrenergic receptor ß­2 to a greater extent than adrenergic receptor ß­1, and induced apoptosis in the liver cancer cells. The apoptotic rates of HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 cells increased following treatment with propranolol, while the apoptotic rate of HL­7702 cells was not affected. Propranolol promoted poly (ADP­ribose) polymerase cleavage and decreased the expression of full­length caspase­3 in liver cancer cell lines; it induced S­phase arrest in HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 cell lines, while HL­7702 cells were arrested at the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Thus, it was demonstrated that propranolol inhibited proliferation, promoted apoptosis and induced S-phase arrest in HepG2 and HepG2.2.15 cells.

Three-dimensional hydrogel culture conditions promote the differentiation of human induced pluripotent stem cells into hepatocytes.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are becoming increasingly popular in research endeavors due to their potential for clinical application; however, such application is challenging due to limitations such as inferior function and low induction efficiency. In this study, we aimed to establish a three-dimensional (3D) culture condition to mimic the environment in which hepatogenesis occurs in vivo to enhance the differentiation of hiPSCs for large-scale culture and high throughput BAL application. METHODS: We used hydrogel to create hepatocyte-like cell (HLC) spheroids in a 3D culture condition and analyzed the cell-behavior and differentiation properties of hiPSCs in a synthetic nanofiber scaffold. RESULTS: We found that treating cells with Y-27632 promoted the formation of spheroids, and the cells aggregated more rapidly in a 3D culture condition. The ALB secretion, urea production and glycogen synthesis by HLCs in 3D were significantly higher than those grown in a 2-dimensional culture condition. In addition, the metabolic activities of the CYP450 enzymes were also higher in cells differentiated in the 3D culture condition. CONCLUSIONS: 3D hydrogel culture condition can promote differentiation of hiPSCs into hepatocytes. The 3D culture approach could be applied to the differentiation of hiPSCs into hepatocytes for bioartificial liver.

The state of T cells before cryopreservation: Effects on post-thaw proliferation and function.

AIM: We aim to assess the effect of the state of T cells before cryopreservation on the post-thaw proliferative capacity, phenotype and functional response. METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patient, and the T cells were frozen during cell culture according to our experimental design. After a period of re-culture, the proliferative capacity of the cryopreserved cells, the expression of T cell surface markers and the secretion of IFN-γ and IL-10 were assayed. RESULTS: There was >90% cell viability after thaw in every group. Lymphocytes cryopreserved at day 4, 8 or 12 during the cell culture were allowed to recover for 24 h, whereas lymphocytes cryopreserved while freshly isolated were allowed to recover for 72 h. After the period of re-culture, cryopreservation at day 4, 8 or 12 during T cell culture was not found to alter the T cell subpopulation. The proportions of NKT and Treg cells were unchanged when cells were cryopreserved at day 12 during T cell culture. IFN-γ secretion was not impacted by cryopreservation, and IL-10 secretion was significantly decreased when cells were cryopreserved at day 8 or 12 during T cell culture. CONCLUSION: The state of T cells before cryopreservation has effects on the post-thaw proliferation capacity, the phenotype and the secretion of IFN-γ and IL-10. Cryopreservation of lymphocytes at day 8 or 12 during the cell culture may be the best choice for T cell immunotherapy.