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In spite of the achievement in treatment, the gastric cancer (GC) mortality still remains high. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small noncoding RNAs that play a crucial part in tumor progression. In this study, we explored the expression and function of microRNA-501-5p (miR-501-5p) in GC cell lines. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay results suggested that miR-501-5p was significantly upregulated in GC tissues and cell lines. And, the Cell Counting Kit-8 colony formation and cell migration assay results showed that the downregulation of miR-501-5p decreased GC cell proliferation and migration. Besides that, we found that GC cell cycle was arrested in G2 phase and cell apoptosis rate was increased by silencing the expression of miR-501-5p in GC cell lines using the flow cytometry. We also found that miR-501-5p could directly target lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 (LPAR1) and negatively regulate LPAR1 expression in GC cell lines by performing dual-luciferase reporter gene assay and Western blot analysis. And, LPAR1 was significantly downregulated in GC tissues and inversely correlated with miR-501-5p expression. Furthermore, LPAR1 downregulation promoted cell proliferation and migration, which were attenuated by cotransfection of miR-501-5p inhibitor in GC cells. In conclusion, miR-501-5p can promote GC cell proliferation and migration by targeting and downregulating LPAR1. miR-501-5p/LPAR1 may become a potential therapeutic target for GC treatment.

OBJECTIVES To assess features and outcome in fetuses with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD). METHODS Fetuses with PA-VSD were prospectively enrolled and grouped on the basis of the pulmonary blood supply, including type A (only arterial duct [DA]), type B (both DA and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries [MAPCAs] present), and type C (MAPCAs only). The echocardiography features, associated chromosomal/genetic malformations, and postnatal outcome were compared among the three groups. RESULTS Fifty-five fetuses with PA-VSD were enrolled. The presence of confluent PAs varied, with the highest displaying rate in type A and lowest rate in type C (100% vs 41.1%). The intrapericardial pulmonary arteries in all groups were hypoplastic but smaller in types B and C than in type A (P < .05). Deletion of 22q11.2 and right aortic arch were more frequently observed in types B and C than in type A. At the end of the study, overall survival rates in type C were lower than those in type A (22.1% vs 77.3%). CONCLUSION There are great differences in the size of pulmonary arteries, associated genetic malformations, and perinatal outcomes among fetuses with PA-VSD. These results could be used for family counseling and surgical planning.

Cytology and histology obstacles have been the main barriers to multiple tissues injury repair. In search of the most promising treatment strategies for spinal cord injury (SCI), stem cell-based transplantation coupled with various materials/technologies have been explored extensively to enhance SCI repair. Chitosan (CS) has demonstrated immense potential for widespread application in the form of scaffolds and micro-particles for SCI repair. The current review summarizes the evidences for stem cell-based transplantation and CS in SCI repair. Stem cells transplantation, which plays a key role in the repair of SCI, mainly results from its neural differentiation potential and neurotrophic effects. Application of CS enhances the survival of grafted stem cells, upregulates the expression level of neurotrophic factors and heightens the neural differentiation of stem cells as well as the functional recovery of spinal cord. Meanwhile, CS can also be exploited as growth factors/RNA carriers to control the release of regenerating molecules which are beneficial to damage spinal cord repair.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the effects of exercise programmes on pain, function and disease activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase, CNKI and Wanfang from inception to February 2020. Randomized controlled trials comparing exercises with nonexercise interventions in AS patients were applied. Studies that assessed the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were included. Outcomes of home-based exercise intervention were also reported independently. RESULTS Ten studies met the inclusion criteria in all, including 534 patients (278 exercise, 256 control). Compared with the nonexercise group, exercise group had statistically significant improvements in pain (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -1.02 [95% CI: -1.50 to -0.55]) (I2 : 31%, P

Aims Diminished energy turnover of skeletal muscle is involved in the development of type 2 diabetes. Intensive insulin therapy has been reported to maintain glycaemic control in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, while the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Herein, we aimed to characterize the contribution of muscular mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) activity to insulin-induced glycaemic control. Materials and methods There were 21 drug naive patients with type 2 diabetes receiving continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion for 7 days. Nine nondiabetics matched for age, body mass index, and physical activity were recruited as controls. We applied 31 P magnetic resonance spectroscopy to record in vivo muscular phosphocreatine (PCr) flux in controls and diabetics before and after insulin therapy. The mitochondrial OxPhos rate was calculated as ΔPCr / Δtime during the first 50 seconds after cessation of exercise. Results In drug naive type 2 diabetes, muscular mitochondrial OxPhos rate was restored after insulin therapy. Notably, this alteration was positively associated with the improvements of 1,5-anhydroglucitol, a serum marker for glucose control over the last 1 week, as well as homeostasis model assessment of β cell function and C-peptide/glucose ratio t0 , two indices for basal insulin secretion. Furthermore, patients with diabetes family history and more severe glucotoxicity tend to achieve greater improvement in mitochondrial function by insulin. Conclusions This study provides evidence that intensive insulin therapy facilitates muscular energy metabolism in drug naive type 2 diabetes. It correlates to the recovery of β cell function, contributing to insulin-induced glucose control.

Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has a high prevalence in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, we sought to provide a comprehensive assessment regarding the effects of anti-diabetic agents on NAFLD in patients with T2DM. Methods MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with different anti-diabetic agents in T2DM. Observational trials were also recruited to expand our population. Hepatic fat content and liver histology were evaluated as primary outcomes. Pooled estimates were calculated using a fixed effect model. Results One thousand one hundred ninety-six participants in 19 RCTs and 14 non-randomized studies were included. Evidence from RCTs and observational studies suggested that greater hepatic fat content reduction and improved liver histology were seen in thiazolidinediones for 12–72 weeks; glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists had beneficial effects on hepatic fat content after 26–50 weeks intervention, and insulin/metformin combination with 3–7 months improved hepatic fat content. Initiating metformin or dapagliflozin showed no benefit on hepatic fat content or liver histology in 16–48 weeks. Besides, nateglinide for 18 months was reported in a small sample-size RCT to improve hepatic fat content and liver histology. Sitagliptin therapy of 1 year also provided benefit on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis score in an observational study. Conclusions For T2DM with NAFLD, administrating thiazolidinediones and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists seems to provide more identified advances in attenuating hepatic fat content. Further RCTs are warranted to assess the efficacy of various hypoglycemic agents on clinical outcomes associated with NAFLD in T2DM. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.