A microRNA expression screen was performed analyzing 157 different microRNAs in laser-microdissected tissues from benign melanocytic nevi （n = 10） and primary malignant melanomas （n = 10）, using quantitative real-...A microRNA expression screen was performed analyzing 157 different microRNAs in laser-microdissected tissues from benign melanocytic nevi （n = 10） and primary malignant melanomas （n = 10）, using quantitative real-time PCR. Differential expression was found for 72 microRNAs. Members of the let-7 family of microRNAs were significantly downregulated in primary melanomas as compared with benign nevi, suggestive for a possible role of these molecules as tumor suppressors in malignant melanoma. Interestingly, similar findings had been described for lung and colon cancer. Overexpression of let-7b in melanoma cells in vitro downregulated the expression of cyclins D1, D3, and A, and cyclin-dependent kinase （Cdk） 4, all of which had been described to play a role in melanoma development. The effect oflet-7b on protein expression was due to targeting of 3＇-untranslated regions （3＇UTRs） of individual mRNAs, as exemplified by reporter gene analyses for cyclin D1. In line with its downmodulating effects on cell cycle regulators, let-7b inhibited cell cycle progression and anchorage-independent growth of melanoma cells. Taken together, these findings not only point to new regulatory mechanisms of early melanoma development, but also may open avenues for future targeted therapies of this tumor.展开更多
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality.The principal treatment is surgical resection or liver transplantation,depending on whether the patient is a suitable transplant can...Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality.The principal treatment is surgical resection or liver transplantation,depending on whether the patient is a suitable transplant candidate.However,in most patients with HCC the diagnosis is often late,thereby excluding the patients from definitive surgical resection.Medical treatment includes sorafenib,which is the most commonly used systemic therapy;although,it has been shown to only minimally impact patient survival by several months.Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are generally ineffective.Due to the poor prognosis of patients with HCC,newer treatments are needed with several being in development,either in preclinical or clinical studies.In this review article,we provide an update on the current and future medical and surgical management of HCC.展开更多
Plants produce a myriad of structurally and functionally diverse metabolites that play many different roles in plant growth and development and in plant response to continually changing environmental conditions as wel...Plants produce a myriad of structurally and functionally diverse metabolites that play many different roles in plant growth and development and in plant response to continually changing environmental conditions as well as abiotic and biotic stresses. This metabolic diversity is, to a large extent, due to chemical modification of the basic skeletons of metabolites. Here, we review the major known plant metabolite modifications and summarize the progress that has been achieved and the challenges we are facing in the field. We focus on discussing both technical and functional aspects in studying the influences that various modifications have on biosynthesis, degradation, transport, and storage of metabolites, as well as their bioactivity and toxicity. Finally, we discuss some emerging insights into the evolution of metabolic pathways and metabolite functionality.展开更多
Tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)is a major horticultural crop worldwide and has emerged as a preeminent model for metabolic research.Although many research efforts have focused on the analysis of metabolite differences be...Tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)is a major horticultural crop worldwide and has emerged as a preeminent model for metabolic research.Although many research efforts have focused on the analysis of metabolite differences between varieties and species,the dynamics of metabolic changes during the tomato growth cycle and the regulatory networks that underlie these changes are poorly understood.In this study,we integrated high-resolution spatio-temporal metabolome and transcriptome data to systematically explore the metabolic landscape across 20 major tomato tissues and growth stages.In the resulting MicroTom Metabolic Network,the 540 detected metabolites and their co-expressed genes could be divided into 10 distinct clusters based on their biological functions.Using this dataset,we constructed a global map of the major metabolic changes that occur throughout the tomato growth cycle and dissected the underlying regulatory network.In addition to verifying previously well-established regulatory networks for important metabolites,we identified novel transcription factors that regulate the biosynthesis of important secondary metabolites such as steroidal glycoalkaloids and flavonoids.Our findings provide insights into spatiotemporal changes in tomato metabolism and generate a valuable resource for the study of metabolic regulatory processes in model plants.展开更多
′In this article, we use the fractional complex transformation to convert nonlinear partial fractional differential equations to nonlinear ordinary differential equations. We use the improved （G′/G）-expansion func...′In this article, we use the fractional complex transformation to convert nonlinear partial fractional differential equations to nonlinear ordinary differential equations. We use the improved （G′/G）-expansion function method to calculate the exact solutions to the time- and space-fractional derivative foam drainage equation and the time- and space-fractional derivative nonlinear KdV equation. This method is efficient and powerful for solving wide classes of nonlinear evolution fractional order equations.展开更多
Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a rare but potentially life threatening adverse drug reaction.DILI may mimic any morphologic characteristic of acute or chronic liver disease,and the histopathologic features of DIL...Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a rare but potentially life threatening adverse drug reaction.DILI may mimic any morphologic characteristic of acute or chronic liver disease,and the histopathologic features of DILI may be indistinguishable from those of other causes of liver injury,such as acute viral hepatitis.In this review article,we provide an update on causative agents,clinical features,pathogenesis,diagnosis modalities,and outcomes of DILI.In addition,we review results of recently reported genetic studies and updates on pharmacological and invasive treatments.展开更多
Hepatic encephalopathy is a spectrum of reversible neuropsychiatric abnormalities,seen in patients with liver dysfunction and/or portosystemic shunting.One of the most debilitating complications of cirrhosis,encephalo...Hepatic encephalopathy is a spectrum of reversible neuropsychiatric abnormalities,seen in patients with liver dysfunction and/or portosystemic shunting.One of the most debilitating complications of cirrhosis,encephalopathy affects 30-45% of cirrhotics.In addition to significantly affecting the lives of patients and their caregivers,it is also associated with increased morbidity and mortality as well as significant utilization of health care resources.In this paper,we provide an overview on the pathophysiology,diagnosis,management and newer therapies of hepatic encephalopathy.展开更多
Premature ejaculation(PE)is the most comm on male sexual dysfunction,which represents a diag no stic as well as a therapeutic challenge for physicians.However,no universally accepted definition is currently available ...Premature ejaculation(PE)is the most comm on male sexual dysfunction,which represents a diag no stic as well as a therapeutic challenge for physicians.However,no universally accepted definition is currently available for PE.As a result,physicians continue to diagnose patients with PE according to major guidelines set by the professional societies.These guidelines either recommend the use of validated questionnaires or patient-reported outcomes.Recent efforts directed toward classifying PE may help provide a better understanding of the prevalence and risk factors of this disorder.While the exact etiology of PE has not been clearly elucidated,several risk factors have been strongly reported in the literature.Clearly,to understand the revised definition of PE,its etiology and pathophysiology is necessary to improve the clinical management of this medical condition and form the basis of future research in this regard.In this review,we highlight the past and current definitions of PE and present an appraisal on the classifications and theories suggested for the etiopathogenesis of PE.展开更多
Mg-Y-Zn alloys with long period stacking ordered(LPSO)structure have received much attention recently and exhibit great potential in applications such as automotive,aerospace and in bio-medical fields.This paper aimed...Mg-Y-Zn alloys with long period stacking ordered(LPSO)structure have received much attention recently and exhibit great potential in applications such as automotive,aerospace and in bio-medical fields.This paper aimed to investigate the effect of different phase constitution of LPSO structures on corrosion rate of bio-medical Mg-Y-Zn alloys.The results showed that as-cast Mg98.5Y1Zn0.5 alloys containing only 18R structure exhibited the highest corrosion resistance with the corrosion rate of 2.78 mm/year.The precipitation of 14H lamellas within a-Mg grains during solid solution treatment introduced the crystallographic orientation corrosion by accelerating micro-galvanic corrosion.The increase of 18R/14H interfaces deteriorated the corrosion resistance,and the grain boundaries also suffered from severe electrochemical dissolution.This work suggested that Mg-Y-Zn alloys with single LPSO structure(either 18R or 14H)exhibited better corrosion resistance than alloys with co-existence 18R and I4H LPSO structures.展开更多
OBJECTIVE： To investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and adipokine-ameliorating effects of Liuwei Dihuang （LWDH）, a traditional Chinese herbal formula, in obese rats. METHODS： After 2 weeks of a...OBJECTIVE： To investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and adipokine-ameliorating effects of Liuwei Dihuang （LWDH）, a traditional Chinese herbal formula, in obese rats. METHODS： After 2 weeks of acclimation with free access to regular rodent chow and water, obese-prone-caesarean-derived （OP-CD） rats were fed a modified AIN-93G diet containing 60% energy from fat. Treatment was performed twice daily by gavage feeding with 500, 1 500, or 3 500 mg/kg body weight LWDH suspended in water （n=12 rats per group）. Twelve obese-resistant-CD （OR-CD） rats were fed the atherogenic diet and gavaged with water, and served as the normal control. Blood biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and adiponectin were measured post-sacrifice and used to determine the treatment effect of LWDH and assess the suitability of OR/OP-CD rats for studying these parameters. RESULTS： After 9 weeks of treatment, LWDH lowered serum C-reactive protein （CRP） and tumour necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） levels. Serum interleukin-6 （IL-6） levels showed a tendency towards reduction, but were not significantly different from the OP-CD control. Liver superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity was increased in response to all three doses of LWDH, while the levels of reduced （GSH） and oxidized glutathione （GSSG） and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances （TBARS） were unchanged. Serum adiponectin levels were increased in response to oral administration of LWDH at the dose of either 500 or 1 500 mg/kg body weight. In addition, comparisons between OR-CD and OP-CD rats revealed differential, and for some biomarkers, conflicting characteristics of high-fat diet-fed OP-CD rats in reference to obese human subjects in terms of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and circulating adiponectin levels. CONCLUSION： The results show, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress and adiponectin-ameliorating effects of LWDH in obese rats. The suitability of the OP-JOP-CD rat model as展开更多
Despite improvements in technique and technology for total knee arthroplasty(TKA),anterior knee pain impacts patient outcomes and satisfaction.Addressing the prosthetic and surgical technique related causes of pain af...Despite improvements in technique and technology for total knee arthroplasty(TKA),anterior knee pain impacts patient outcomes and satisfaction.Addressing the prosthetic and surgical technique related causes of pain after TKA,specifically as it relates to anterior knee pain,can aid surgeons in addressing these issues with their patients.Design features of the femoral and patellar components which have been reported as pain generators include: Improper femoral as well as patellar component sizing or designs that result in patellofemoral stuffing; a shortened trochlear groove distance from the flange to the intercondylar box; and then surgical technique related issues resulting in: Lateral patellar facet syndrome; overstuffed patella/flange combination; asymmetric patellar resurfacing,improper transverse plane component rotation resulting in patellar subluxation/tilt.Any design consideration that allows impingement of extensor mechanism anatomical elements has the possibility of impacting outcome by becoming a pain generator.As the number of TKA procedures continues to increase,it is increasingly critical to develop improved,evidence based prostheses that maximize function and patient satisfaction while minimizing pain and other complications.展开更多
Vitiligo is a common pigmentary disorder. Many studies across decades and all over the world have attempted to illustrate the pathogenesis behind it; however, the pathogenesis of vitiligo remains elusive. This review ...Vitiligo is a common pigmentary disorder. Many studies across decades and all over the world have attempted to illustrate the pathogenesis behind it; however, the pathogenesis of vitiligo remains elusive. This review article, we present the findings behind the most and updated theories behind this psychologically debilitating and disfiguring disease. The discussion begun with the role of genetic predisposition followed by neural theory first proposed in the 1950 s. Wehighlight the autoimmune hypothesis, followed by the reactive oxygen species model, zinc-α2-glycoprotein deficiency hypothesis, viral theory, intrinsic theory and biochemical, molecular and cellular alterations accounting for loss of functioning melanocytes in vitiligo. Many theories were elaborated to clarify vitiligo pathogenesis. It is a multifactorial disease involving the interplay of several factors. Future research is needed to clarify the interaction of these factors for better understanding of vitiligo pathogenesis and subsequent successful treatment.展开更多
Crohn’s disease(CD)is a chronic inflammatory condition that plagues millions all over the world.This debilitating bowel disease can start in early childhood and continue into late adulthood.Signs and symptoms are usu...Crohn’s disease(CD)is a chronic inflammatory condition that plagues millions all over the world.This debilitating bowel disease can start in early childhood and continue into late adulthood.Signs and symptoms are usually many and multiple tests are often required for the diagnosis and confirmation of this disease.However,little is still understood about the cause(s)of CD.As a result,several theories have been proposed over the years.One theory in particular is that Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis(MAP)is intimately linked to the etiology of CD.This fastidious bacterium also known to cause Johne’s disease in cattle has infected the intestines of animals for years.It is believed that due to the thick,waxy cell wall of MAP it is able to survive the process of pasteurization as well as chemical processes seen in irrigation purification systems.Subsequently meat,dairy products and water serve as key vehicles in the transmission of MAP infection to humans(from farm to fork)who have a genetic predisposition,thus leading to the development of CD.The challenges faced in culturing this bacterium from CD are many.Examples include its extreme slow growth,lack of cell wall,low abundance,and its mycobactin dependency.In this review article,data from 60 studies showing the detection and isolation of MAP by PCR and culture techniques have been reviewed.Although this review may not be 100%comprehensive of all studies,clearly the majority of the studies overwhelmingly and definitively support the role of MAP in at least30%-50%of CD patients.It is very possible that lack of detection of MAP from some CD patients may be due to the absence of MAP role in these patients.The latter statement is conditional on utilization of methodology appropriate for detection of human MAP strains.Ultimately,stratification of CD and inflammatory bowel disease patients for the presence or absence of MAP is necessary for appropriate and effective treatment which may lead to a cure.展开更多
Essential oils(EOs)are more complex and comprise a number of volatile and natural bioactive compounds,which often used in food industries as the best alternatives.This review focuses on the impact of EOs and the roles...Essential oils(EOs)are more complex and comprise a number of volatile and natural bioactive compounds,which often used in food industries as the best alternatives.This review focuses on the impact of EOs and the roles of their major components in food manufacturing as natural preservatives with the related mechanisms of action.In addition,the major bioactive molecules of different types of EOs and their pharmacological activities such as antioxidant,antifungal and antimicrobial effects on crop protection were also discussed.The major compounds of EOs represent potential antioxidant,antimicrobial and antifungal activities through various mechanisms.Different types of EOs such as tea tree oil,lemon oil,clove oil,cinnamon oil and thyme oil from various traditional plants,have significantly showed better antimicrobial and antioxidant activities,and also effectively increased the shelf lives of the cereal products and increased the quality of food safety.The major groups of EOs such as terpenes and aromatic volatile compounds,play a key role in food safety without affecting the quality.Due to their various activities including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities,EOs could be used as alternative preservatives to increase the shelf lives of cereals and crops.展开更多
AIMTo evaluate the reversibility of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) following liver transplantation (LT) in Egyptian cirrhotic patients. METHODSThis prospective study included twenty patients with biopsy-proven l...AIMTo evaluate the reversibility of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) following liver transplantation (LT) in Egyptian cirrhotic patients. METHODSThis prospective study included twenty patients with biopsy-proven liver cirrhosis listed for LT and twenty age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. All underwent neuro-psychiatric examination, laboratory investigations, radiological studies and psychometric tests including trail making test A (TMT A), TMT B, digit symbol test and serial dotting test. The psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) was calculated for patients to diagnose MHE. Psychometric tests were repeated six months following LT in the cirrhotic patient group. RESULTSBefore LT, psychometric tests showed highly significant deficits in cirrhotic patients in comparison to controls (P P P P = 0.005). More patients in whom reversal of MHE was observed had a pre-transplant MELD score CONCLUSIONReversal of MHE in cirrhotic patients could be achieved by LT, especially in those with a MELD score展开更多
The diterpenoid paclitaxel(Taxol)is a chemotherapy medication widely used as a first-line treatment against several types of solid cancers.The supply of paclitaxel from natural sources is limited.However,missing knowl...The diterpenoid paclitaxel(Taxol)is a chemotherapy medication widely used as a first-line treatment against several types of solid cancers.The supply of paclitaxel from natural sources is limited.However,missing knowledge about the genes involved in several specific metabolic steps of paclitaxel biosynthesis has rendered it difficult to engineer the full pathway.In this study,we used a combination of transcriptomics,cell biology,metabolomics,and pathway reconstitution to identify the complete gene set required for the heterologous production of paclitaxel.We identified the missing steps from the current model of paclitaxel biosynthesis and confirmed the activity of most of the missing enzymes via heterologous expression in Nicotiana benthamiana.Notably,we identified a new C4β-C20 epoxidase that could overcome the first bottleneck of metabolic engineering.We used both previously characterized and newly identified oxomutases/epoxidases,taxane 1β-hydroxylase,taxane 9aα-hydroxylase,taxane 9α-dioxygenase,and phenylalanine-CoA ligase,to successfully biosynthesize the key intermediate baccatin Ill and to convert baccatin Ill into paclitaxel in N.benthamiana.In combination,these approaches establisha metabolic route to taxoidbiosynthesis and provide insights into the unique chemistry that plants use to generate complex bioactive metabolites.展开更多
A large subset of corneal pathologies involves the formation of new vessels(neovascularization), leading to compromised visual acuity. This article aims to review the clinical causes and presentations of corneal neova...A large subset of corneal pathologies involves the formation of new vessels(neovascularization), leading to compromised visual acuity. This article aims to review the clinical causes and presentations of corneal neovascularization(CNV) by examining the mechanisms behind common CNV-related corneal pathologies, with a particular focus on herpes simplex stromal keratitis,contact lenses-induced keratitis and CNV secondary to keratoplasty. Moreover, we reviewed CNV in the context of different types of corneal transplantation and keratoprosthesis, and summarized the most relevant treatment available so far.展开更多
Hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis(HTGP) accounts for up to 10% of acute pancreatitis presentations in nonpregnant individuals and is the third most common cause of acute pancreatitis after alcohol and gallstones. Ther...Hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis(HTGP) accounts for up to 10% of acute pancreatitis presentations in nonpregnant individuals and is the third most common cause of acute pancreatitis after alcohol and gallstones. There are a number of retrospective studies and case reports that have suggested a role for apheresis and insulin infusion in the acute inpatient setting. We report a case of HTGP in a male with hyperlipoproteinemia type Ⅲ who was treated successfully with insulin and apheresis on the initial inpatient presentation followed by bi-monthly outpatient maintenance apheresis sessions for the prevention of recurrent HTGP. We also reviewed the literature for the different inpatient and outpatient management modalities of HTGP. Given that there are no guidelines or randomized clinical trials that evaluate the outpatient management of HTGP, this case report may provide insight into a possible role for outpatient apheresis maintenance therapy.展开更多
文摘A microRNA expression screen was performed analyzing 157 different microRNAs in laser-microdissected tissues from benign melanocytic nevi （n = 10） and primary malignant melanomas （n = 10）, using quantitative real-time PCR. Differential expression was found for 72 microRNAs. Members of the let-7 family of microRNAs were significantly downregulated in primary melanomas as compared with benign nevi, suggestive for a possible role of these molecules as tumor suppressors in malignant melanoma. Interestingly, similar findings had been described for lung and colon cancer. Overexpression of let-7b in melanoma cells in vitro downregulated the expression of cyclins D1, D3, and A, and cyclin-dependent kinase （Cdk） 4, all of which had been described to play a role in melanoma development. The effect oflet-7b on protein expression was due to targeting of 3＇-untranslated regions （3＇UTRs） of individual mRNAs, as exemplified by reporter gene analyses for cyclin D1. In line with its downmodulating effects on cell cycle regulators, let-7b inhibited cell cycle progression and anchorage-independent growth of melanoma cells. Taken together, these findings not only point to new regulatory mechanisms of early melanoma development, but also may open avenues for future targeted therapies of this tumor.
文摘Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is among the leading causes of cancer-related mortality.The principal treatment is surgical resection or liver transplantation,depending on whether the patient is a suitable transplant candidate.However,in most patients with HCC the diagnosis is often late,thereby excluding the patients from definitive surgical resection.Medical treatment includes sorafenib,which is the most commonly used systemic therapy;although,it has been shown to only minimally impact patient survival by several months.Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are generally ineffective.Due to the poor prognosis of patients with HCC,newer treatments are needed with several being in development,either in preclinical or clinical studies.In this review article,we provide an update on the current and future medical and surgical management of HCC.
基金National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (no. 31625021)the State Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 31530052)+3 种基金which were provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of ChinaThe Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (319QN155)Hainan University Startup Fund (KYQD(ZR)1866 to J.L., KYQD(ZR) 1916 to S.W.)the PlantaSYST project by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (SGA-CSA no. 664621 and no. 739582 under FPA no. 664620).
文摘Plants produce a myriad of structurally and functionally diverse metabolites that play many different roles in plant growth and development and in plant response to continually changing environmental conditions as well as abiotic and biotic stresses. This metabolic diversity is, to a large extent, due to chemical modification of the basic skeletons of metabolites. Here, we review the major known plant metabolite modifications and summarize the progress that has been achieved and the challenges we are facing in the field. We focus on discussing both technical and functional aspects in studying the influences that various modifications have on biosynthesis, degradation, transport, and storage of metabolites, as well as their bioactivity and toxicity. Finally, we discuss some emerging insights into the evolution of metabolic pathways and metabolite functionality.
基金This study was funded by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31701255,31772372,and 31670352)Y.Z.was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2017SCU04A11 and SCU2019D013)+1 种基金M.L.acknowledges support from the National Key R&D Program of China(2016YFD0400100)S.A.and A.R.F.acknowledge support from the PlantaSYST project of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program(SGA-CSA no.664621 and no.739582 under FPA no.664620).
文摘Tomato(Solanum lycopersicum)is a major horticultural crop worldwide and has emerged as a preeminent model for metabolic research.Although many research efforts have focused on the analysis of metabolite differences between varieties and species,the dynamics of metabolic changes during the tomato growth cycle and the regulatory networks that underlie these changes are poorly understood.In this study,we integrated high-resolution spatio-temporal metabolome and transcriptome data to systematically explore the metabolic landscape across 20 major tomato tissues and growth stages.In the resulting MicroTom Metabolic Network,the 540 detected metabolites and their co-expressed genes could be divided into 10 distinct clusters based on their biological functions.Using this dataset,we constructed a global map of the major metabolic changes that occur throughout the tomato growth cycle and dissected the underlying regulatory network.In addition to verifying previously well-established regulatory networks for important metabolites,we identified novel transcription factors that regulate the biosynthesis of important secondary metabolites such as steroidal glycoalkaloids and flavonoids.Our findings provide insights into spatiotemporal changes in tomato metabolism and generate a valuable resource for the study of metabolic regulatory processes in model plants.
文摘′In this article, we use the fractional complex transformation to convert nonlinear partial fractional differential equations to nonlinear ordinary differential equations. We use the improved （G′/G）-expansion function method to calculate the exact solutions to the time- and space-fractional derivative foam drainage equation and the time- and space-fractional derivative nonlinear KdV equation. This method is efficient and powerful for solving wide classes of nonlinear evolution fractional order equations.
文摘Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a rare but potentially life threatening adverse drug reaction.DILI may mimic any morphologic characteristic of acute or chronic liver disease,and the histopathologic features of DILI may be indistinguishable from those of other causes of liver injury,such as acute viral hepatitis.In this review article,we provide an update on causative agents,clinical features,pathogenesis,diagnosis modalities,and outcomes of DILI.In addition,we review results of recently reported genetic studies and updates on pharmacological and invasive treatments.
文摘Hepatic encephalopathy is a spectrum of reversible neuropsychiatric abnormalities,seen in patients with liver dysfunction and/or portosystemic shunting.One of the most debilitating complications of cirrhosis,encephalopathy affects 30-45% of cirrhotics.In addition to significantly affecting the lives of patients and their caregivers,it is also associated with increased morbidity and mortality as well as significant utilization of health care resources.In this paper,we provide an overview on the pathophysiology,diagnosis,management and newer therapies of hepatic encephalopathy.
文摘Premature ejaculation(PE)is the most comm on male sexual dysfunction,which represents a diag no stic as well as a therapeutic challenge for physicians.However,no universally accepted definition is currently available for PE.As a result,physicians continue to diagnose patients with PE according to major guidelines set by the professional societies.These guidelines either recommend the use of validated questionnaires or patient-reported outcomes.Recent efforts directed toward classifying PE may help provide a better understanding of the prevalence and risk factors of this disorder.While the exact etiology of PE has not been clearly elucidated,several risk factors have been strongly reported in the literature.Clearly,to understand the revised definition of PE,its etiology and pathophysiology is necessary to improve the clinical management of this medical condition and form the basis of future research in this regard.In this review,we highlight the past and current definitions of PE and present an appraisal on the classifications and theories suggested for the etiopathogenesis of PE.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51774109 and 51979099)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.2018B48414 and 2018B690X14)+3 种基金Postgraduate Research&Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province(Grant No.KYCX18_0570)The Key Research and Development Project of Jiangsu Province of China(Grant No.BE2017148)Postgraduate Education Reform Project of Jiangsu Province(JGLX19_027)Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51979099).
文摘Mg-Y-Zn alloys with long period stacking ordered(LPSO)structure have received much attention recently and exhibit great potential in applications such as automotive,aerospace and in bio-medical fields.This paper aimed to investigate the effect of different phase constitution of LPSO structures on corrosion rate of bio-medical Mg-Y-Zn alloys.The results showed that as-cast Mg98.5Y1Zn0.5 alloys containing only 18R structure exhibited the highest corrosion resistance with the corrosion rate of 2.78 mm/year.The precipitation of 14H lamellas within a-Mg grains during solid solution treatment introduced the crystallographic orientation corrosion by accelerating micro-galvanic corrosion.The increase of 18R/14H interfaces deteriorated the corrosion resistance,and the grain boundaries also suffered from severe electrochemical dissolution.This work suggested that Mg-Y-Zn alloys with single LPSO structure(either 18R or 14H)exhibited better corrosion resistance than alloys with co-existence 18R and I4H LPSO structures.
基金supported by funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research(CIHR)-China-Canada Joint Health Research Initiative(CCI-92219)
文摘OBJECTIVE： To investigate the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and adipokine-ameliorating effects of Liuwei Dihuang （LWDH）, a traditional Chinese herbal formula, in obese rats. METHODS： After 2 weeks of acclimation with free access to regular rodent chow and water, obese-prone-caesarean-derived （OP-CD） rats were fed a modified AIN-93G diet containing 60% energy from fat. Treatment was performed twice daily by gavage feeding with 500, 1 500, or 3 500 mg/kg body weight LWDH suspended in water （n=12 rats per group）. Twelve obese-resistant-CD （OR-CD） rats were fed the atherogenic diet and gavaged with water, and served as the normal control. Blood biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and adiponectin were measured post-sacrifice and used to determine the treatment effect of LWDH and assess the suitability of OR/OP-CD rats for studying these parameters. RESULTS： After 9 weeks of treatment, LWDH lowered serum C-reactive protein （CRP） and tumour necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） levels. Serum interleukin-6 （IL-6） levels showed a tendency towards reduction, but were not significantly different from the OP-CD control. Liver superoxide dismutase （SOD） activity was increased in response to all three doses of LWDH, while the levels of reduced （GSH） and oxidized glutathione （GSSG） and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances （TBARS） were unchanged. Serum adiponectin levels were increased in response to oral administration of LWDH at the dose of either 500 or 1 500 mg/kg body weight. In addition, comparisons between OR-CD and OP-CD rats revealed differential, and for some biomarkers, conflicting characteristics of high-fat diet-fed OP-CD rats in reference to obese human subjects in terms of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and circulating adiponectin levels. CONCLUSION： The results show, for the first time, the anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress and adiponectin-ameliorating effects of LWDH in obese rats. The suitability of the OP-JOP-CD rat model as
文摘Despite improvements in technique and technology for total knee arthroplasty(TKA),anterior knee pain impacts patient outcomes and satisfaction.Addressing the prosthetic and surgical technique related causes of pain after TKA,specifically as it relates to anterior knee pain,can aid surgeons in addressing these issues with their patients.Design features of the femoral and patellar components which have been reported as pain generators include: Improper femoral as well as patellar component sizing or designs that result in patellofemoral stuffing; a shortened trochlear groove distance from the flange to the intercondylar box; and then surgical technique related issues resulting in: Lateral patellar facet syndrome; overstuffed patella/flange combination; asymmetric patellar resurfacing,improper transverse plane component rotation resulting in patellar subluxation/tilt.Any design consideration that allows impingement of extensor mechanism anatomical elements has the possibility of impacting outcome by becoming a pain generator.As the number of TKA procedures continues to increase,it is increasingly critical to develop improved,evidence based prostheses that maximize function and patient satisfaction while minimizing pain and other complications.
文摘Vitiligo is a common pigmentary disorder. Many studies across decades and all over the world have attempted to illustrate the pathogenesis behind it; however, the pathogenesis of vitiligo remains elusive. This review article, we present the findings behind the most and updated theories behind this psychologically debilitating and disfiguring disease. The discussion begun with the role of genetic predisposition followed by neural theory first proposed in the 1950 s. Wehighlight the autoimmune hypothesis, followed by the reactive oxygen species model, zinc-α2-glycoprotein deficiency hypothesis, viral theory, intrinsic theory and biochemical, molecular and cellular alterations accounting for loss of functioning melanocytes in vitiligo. Many theories were elaborated to clarify vitiligo pathogenesis. It is a multifactorial disease involving the interplay of several factors. Future research is needed to clarify the interaction of these factors for better understanding of vitiligo pathogenesis and subsequent successful treatment.
文摘Crohn’s disease(CD)is a chronic inflammatory condition that plagues millions all over the world.This debilitating bowel disease can start in early childhood and continue into late adulthood.Signs and symptoms are usually many and multiple tests are often required for the diagnosis and confirmation of this disease.However,little is still understood about the cause(s)of CD.As a result,several theories have been proposed over the years.One theory in particular is that Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis(MAP)is intimately linked to the etiology of CD.This fastidious bacterium also known to cause Johne’s disease in cattle has infected the intestines of animals for years.It is believed that due to the thick,waxy cell wall of MAP it is able to survive the process of pasteurization as well as chemical processes seen in irrigation purification systems.Subsequently meat,dairy products and water serve as key vehicles in the transmission of MAP infection to humans(from farm to fork)who have a genetic predisposition,thus leading to the development of CD.The challenges faced in culturing this bacterium from CD are many.Examples include its extreme slow growth,lack of cell wall,low abundance,and its mycobactin dependency.In this review article,data from 60 studies showing the detection and isolation of MAP by PCR and culture techniques have been reviewed.Although this review may not be 100%comprehensive of all studies,clearly the majority of the studies overwhelmingly and definitively support the role of MAP in at least30%-50%of CD patients.It is very possible that lack of detection of MAP from some CD patients may be due to the absence of MAP role in these patients.The latter statement is conditional on utilization of methodology appropriate for detection of human MAP strains.Ultimately,stratification of CD and inflammatory bowel disease patients for the presence or absence of MAP is necessary for appropriate and effective treatment which may lead to a cure.
基金the College of Food and Dairy Technology,Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University(TANUVAS)Chennai,India for providing the Ph D research fellowship
文摘Essential oils(EOs)are more complex and comprise a number of volatile and natural bioactive compounds,which often used in food industries as the best alternatives.This review focuses on the impact of EOs and the roles of their major components in food manufacturing as natural preservatives with the related mechanisms of action.In addition,the major bioactive molecules of different types of EOs and their pharmacological activities such as antioxidant,antifungal and antimicrobial effects on crop protection were also discussed.The major compounds of EOs represent potential antioxidant,antimicrobial and antifungal activities through various mechanisms.Different types of EOs such as tea tree oil,lemon oil,clove oil,cinnamon oil and thyme oil from various traditional plants,have significantly showed better antimicrobial and antioxidant activities,and also effectively increased the shelf lives of the cereal products and increased the quality of food safety.The major groups of EOs such as terpenes and aromatic volatile compounds,play a key role in food safety without affecting the quality.Due to their various activities including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities,EOs could be used as alternative preservatives to increase the shelf lives of cereals and crops.
文摘AIMTo evaluate the reversibility of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) following liver transplantation (LT) in Egyptian cirrhotic patients. METHODSThis prospective study included twenty patients with biopsy-proven liver cirrhosis listed for LT and twenty age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. All underwent neuro-psychiatric examination, laboratory investigations, radiological studies and psychometric tests including trail making test A (TMT A), TMT B, digit symbol test and serial dotting test. The psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES) was calculated for patients to diagnose MHE. Psychometric tests were repeated six months following LT in the cirrhotic patient group. RESULTSBefore LT, psychometric tests showed highly significant deficits in cirrhotic patients in comparison to controls (P P P P = 0.005). More patients in whom reversal of MHE was observed had a pre-transplant MELD score CONCLUSIONReversal of MHE in cirrhotic patients could be achieved by LT, especially in those with a MELD score
基金the Max Planck Society(Y.Z-.,S.A.,L.P.d.S.,F.S.,and A.R.F.),and Y.Z.,S.A.,and A.R.F.acknowledge the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme,project PlantaSYST(SGA-CSA No.739582 under FPA No.664620)the BG05M2OP001-1.003-001-C01 project,financed by the European Regional Development Fund through the Bulgarian"Science and Education for Smart Growth"Operational Programme.J.J.M.thanks the Fonds der Chemischen Industrie,FCI for funding,H.F.thanks the Chinese Scholarship Councilfor funding.
文摘The diterpenoid paclitaxel(Taxol)is a chemotherapy medication widely used as a first-line treatment against several types of solid cancers.The supply of paclitaxel from natural sources is limited.However,missing knowledge about the genes involved in several specific metabolic steps of paclitaxel biosynthesis has rendered it difficult to engineer the full pathway.In this study,we used a combination of transcriptomics,cell biology,metabolomics,and pathway reconstitution to identify the complete gene set required for the heterologous production of paclitaxel.We identified the missing steps from the current model of paclitaxel biosynthesis and confirmed the activity of most of the missing enzymes via heterologous expression in Nicotiana benthamiana.Notably,we identified a new C4β-C20 epoxidase that could overcome the first bottleneck of metabolic engineering.We used both previously characterized and newly identified oxomutases/epoxidases,taxane 1β-hydroxylase,taxane 9aα-hydroxylase,taxane 9α-dioxygenase,and phenylalanine-CoA ligase,to successfully biosynthesize the key intermediate baccatin Ill and to convert baccatin Ill into paclitaxel in N.benthamiana.In combination,these approaches establisha metabolic route to taxoidbiosynthesis and provide insights into the unique chemistry that plants use to generate complex bioactive metabolites.
文摘A large subset of corneal pathologies involves the formation of new vessels(neovascularization), leading to compromised visual acuity. This article aims to review the clinical causes and presentations of corneal neovascularization(CNV) by examining the mechanisms behind common CNV-related corneal pathologies, with a particular focus on herpes simplex stromal keratitis,contact lenses-induced keratitis and CNV secondary to keratoplasty. Moreover, we reviewed CNV in the context of different types of corneal transplantation and keratoprosthesis, and summarized the most relevant treatment available so far.
文摘Hypertriglyceridemic pancreatitis(HTGP) accounts for up to 10% of acute pancreatitis presentations in nonpregnant individuals and is the third most common cause of acute pancreatitis after alcohol and gallstones. There are a number of retrospective studies and case reports that have suggested a role for apheresis and insulin infusion in the acute inpatient setting. We report a case of HTGP in a male with hyperlipoproteinemia type Ⅲ who was treated successfully with insulin and apheresis on the initial inpatient presentation followed by bi-monthly outpatient maintenance apheresis sessions for the prevention of recurrent HTGP. We also reviewed the literature for the different inpatient and outpatient management modalities of HTGP. Given that there are no guidelines or randomized clinical trials that evaluate the outpatient management of HTGP, this case report may provide insight into a possible role for outpatient apheresis maintenance therapy.
