Exosomes: The role in mammalian reproductive regulation and pregnancy-related diseases.

Exosomes are a kind of extracellular vesicles that are produced and secreted by different mammalian cells. They serve as cargo proteins and can transfer different kinds of biomolecules, including proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, which consequently act on target cells to exert different biological effects. Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in the number of studies on exosomes due to the potential effects of exosomes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, and immune disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated that exosomal contents, especially miRNAs, are implicated in numerous physiological processes such as reproduction, and are crucial regulators of mammalian reproduction and pregnancy-related diseases. Here, we describe the origin, composition, and intercellular communication of exosomes, and discuss their functions in follicular development, early embryonic development, embryonic implantation, male reproduction and development of pregnancy-related diseases in humans and animals. We believe this study will provide a foundation for revealing the mechanism of exosomes in regulating mammalian reproduction, and providing new approaches and ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy-related diseases.

[Anti-breast cancer mechanism of flavonoids].

Flavonoids are a kind of ubiquitous natural products in plants and essential active ingredients of many medicinal plants. They have the characteristics of broad biological activity, high efficiency and low toxicity, with good prevention and cure effects on various types of tumors. Breast cancer is the commonest cancer disease and the main cause of cancer death in women worldwide. In China, the morbidity and mortality are still on the rise. Flavonoids can inhibit the occurrence and development of breast cancer in various aspects. The main mechanisms include the inhibition of aerobic glycolysis, the promotion of apoptosis, the retardation of cell cycle, the suppression of invasion and migration, the induction of DNA damage, and the inhibition of aromatase and microtubule production. Due to its chemical structure similar to estrogen, flavonoids have unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. In this paper, studies on anti-breast cancer of flavonoids in recent years were reviewed, which could provide reference for further studies.

Percutaneous transhepatic embolization of gastroesophageal varices combined with partial splenic embolization for the treatment of variceal bleeding and hypersplenism.

This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic results of percutaneous transhepatic embolization of gastroesophageal varices combined with partial splenic embolization in patients with liver cirrhosis, and to explore the role of this minimally invasive treatment as an alternative to surgery. 25 patients with liver cirrhosis were received percutaneous transhepatic embolization of gastroesophageal varices combined with partial splenic embolization. Another 25 patients with liver cirrhosis underwent Hassab's operation. They were followed up, and received endoscopy, B ultrasound, liver function and hematologic examination at 24 months after the therapy. In minimal invasive group, before treatment and after 24 month following up after treatment, improved varices, improved portal hypertension and improved hypersplenism were showed comparing with the surgery group, and that they were measured by endoscopic visualization, ultrasound and blood counts. the white blood cell and platelet count were 2.33±0.65 (10(9)/L) and 3.63±1.05 (10(10)/L), 7.98±3.0 (10(9)/L) and 16.3±9.10 (10(10)/L) (P<0.05); the diameter of the portal vein were 1.47±0.25 cm, 1.31±0.23 cm (P<0.05). Esophageal varices passed from grade III to lower grade II in 11 patients, and from grade II to lower grade I in 6 patients at 24 month following up. In surgical group, the white blood cell and platelet count were 2.2±0.60 (10(9)/L), 4.1±1.25 (10(10)/L) before treatment; 9.3±2.56 (10(9)/L), 32.1±12.47 (10(10)/L) after the treatment at 24 month following up (P<0.05). The diameter of the portal vein were 1.43±0.22 cm before the treatment and 1.28±0.18 cm after the treatment (P<0.05). Esophageal varices passed from grade III to lower grade II in 13 patients, and from grade II to lower grade I in 7 patients. The combination of PGEV and PSE can be considered as an option for the treatment of variceal bleeding with hypersplenism.