Insights into the clinical value of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 in glioma: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggested that expression of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) may promote the migration and invasion of human glioma cells. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical value of CDK5 in different grades of glioma in relation to Ki-67 labeling index (LI). METHODS: We firstly assessed by immunohistochemistry the expression of CDK5 in 152 glioma tissues and 16 normal brain tissues and further explored the relationship between CDK5 expression and other clinical features. RESULTS: The positive ratio of CDK5 in gliomas (57.2%) was higher than that in normal brain tissues (12.5%, P=0.001). Difference of CDK5 expression among four World Health Organization (WHO) grades was statistically significant (P=0.001). The significant differences of CDK5 expression were also observed between WHO I glioma (34.8%) and WHO III glioma (62.5%), as well as WHO IV glioma (82.8%; P=0.026, P<0.001, respectively). Furthermore, Spearman's rank correlation confirmed that CDK5 was positively correlated with the pathological grade of glioma (r=0.831, P<0.001). The CDK5 expression was also positively correlated with Ki-67 LI (r=0.347, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The current result suggests that CDK5 may play an essential role in the tumorigenesis and aggressiveness of gliomas.

Decompressive hemicraniectomy in patients with malignant middle cerebral artery infarction: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: Malignant middle cerebral artery infarctions (mMCAI) are one of the most devastating ischemic strokes, with up to 80% mortality in non-surgically treated patients. With the publication of three European randomized controlled trials (RCTs), decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) was recommended in patients with mMCAI who are aged ≤ 60 years. Recently, three other RCTs enrolling patients aged > 60 years were published; thus, it is necessary to update the previous meta-analysis to re-evaluate the effects of DHC in mMCAI. METHODS: A systematic literature search of PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library was conducted for published RCTs investigating the effects of DHC in mMCAI. Primary outcomes were mortality and major disability (modified Rankin Scale score: 4-5) among survivors. Secondary outcomes were death or major disability (mRS score > 3), and death or severe disability (mRS score > 4). Effect sizes were expressed in Peto odds ratio (Peto OR) with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Six studies with 314 patients were subjected to meta-analysis. Data showed that DHC, significantly decreased mortality risk, death or major disability (mRS score > 3), and death or severe disability (mRS score > 4); but was associated with a slightly higher proportion of major disability (mRS score: 4-5) among survivors. There were no statistically significant age differences. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to conservative treatment, DHC significantly decreased mortality and improved functional outcome, with a non-significant increase in the proportion of survivors with major disability. Further studies are required for multidimensional evaluation of DHC for mMCAI.

Does Citrulline Have Protective Effects on Liver Injury in Septic Rats?

Citrulline (Cit) supplementation was proposed to serve as a therapeutic intervention to restore arginine (Arg) concentrations and improve related functions in sepsis. This study explored whether citrulline had positive effects on liver injury and cytokine release in the early stages of sepsis. The cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model was utilized in our study. Rats were divided into four groups: normal, Cit, CLP, and CLP+Cit. The CLP group and CLP+Cit group were separated into 6-, 12-, and 24-hour groups, according to the time points of sacrifice after surgery. Intragastric administration of L-citrulline was applied to rats in Cit and CLP+Cit groups before surgery. Serum AST and ALT levels and levels of MDA, SOD, NO, and iNOS in the liver tissues were evaluated. Plasma concentrations of Cit and Arg were assessed using HPLC-MS/MS. Serum concentrations of cytokines and chemokines were calculated by Luminex. Results showed SOD activities of CLP+Cit groups were significantly higher than that of CLP groups, contrasting with the MDA and NO levels which were significantly lower in CLP+Cit groups than in CLP groups. In addition, plasma concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1ß were significantly lower in the CLP+Cit 6-hour group than in the CLP 6-hour group.

Promoting Effects on Proliferation and Chondrogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Four "Kidney-Tonifying" Traditional Chinese Herbs.

Traditional Chinese medicine can promote the proliferation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). We chose four "Kidney-tonifying" Chinese herbal medicines, Radix Astragali, Salvia, Herba Epimedii, and Saussurea Involucrata, to evaluate whether they had positive effects on the proliferation of BMSCs and TGF-ß1-induced chondrogenic differentiation of BMSCs. The four Chinese herbal medicines were intragastrically administered to Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively, to prepare drug-containing serums of corresponding Chinese herbs. BMSCs were isolated, cultured, and exposed to culture solution containing 1%, 5%, 10%, and 15% (v/v) Radix Astragali-, Salvia-, Herba Epimedii-, and Saussurea Involucrata-containing serum, respectively. TGF-ß1-induced BMSCs were addressed in the same manner. Collagen type II protein was assessed by immunofluorescence methods. To assess whether the drug-containing serums had positive effects on the proliferation of BMSCs and TGF-ß1-induced BMSCs, MTT method was assessed. The proliferation of BMSCs was significantly enhanced when exposed to culture solutions containing 1% and 5% Radix Astragali-, 1% and 5% Salvia-, 5% Herba Epimedii-, and 1%, 5%, and 10% Saussurea Involucrata-containing serum. The proliferation of TGF-ß1-induced BMSCs was significantly enhanced when exposed to 1%, 5%, and 15% Radix Astragali-, 10% and 15% Salvia-, 5%, and 15% Herba Epimedii-, and 1%, 5%, and 10% Saussurea Involucrata-containing serum.