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Activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) with an increased proliferation and migration ability are the partners in crime with pancreatic cancer cells. Acid-sensing ion channel 1 (ASIC1) is expressed in pancreatic cancer and PSCs, and especially, it mediates the activation of PSCs. However, whether ASIC1 is involved in pancreatic cancer cells-induced biological behavior re-educating of PSCs is unclear. In this study, the change of ASIC1 expression in PSCs and pancreatic cancer Panc-1 cells after in-direct co-culture was detected by western blotting, and the proliferation and migration of PSCs with ASIC1 knockdown under Panc-1 cells-conditioned medium (Panc-1-CM) was assessed. The results showed that pancreatic cancer cells induced ASIC1 overexpression, and the enhanced proliferation and migration of PSCs was weakened by ASIC1 inhibition. In addition, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression in PSCs remained stable, but the phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) expression in PSCs treated with Panc-1-CM increased, which was suppressed by ASIC1 knockdown. These results indicate that ASIC1 participates in the regulation of PSCs proliferation and migration induced by cancer cells via the ERK pathway, and ASIC1 inhibition may be beneficial to pancreatic cancer treatment.

To explore the impact of H-uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (H-UPPP) in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and gain insights into the potential mechanism underlying improvement by H-UPPP.In a cohort of 11 OSAS patients, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models of the upper airway were obtained using commercial software from computed tomography (CT) datasets before and after H-UPPP. Morphological and numerical parameters were respectively computed and compared during the peak tidal inspiratory flow. The correlations among polysomnography endpoints, airway dimensions, and pre- and post-operative airflow properties were analyzed with Spearman's rank correlation.The preoperative minimum cross-sectional area was significantly increased by 89.56% (p .05), with a positive correlation to the apnea hypoapnea index (AHI) (r = 0.974). However, the capacity of all pharyngeal regions was not significantly altered (p .05). Following H-UPPP, we observed a significant increase in pressure and reduction of velocity (p .05) in the previously constricted areas. The change in pressure and velocity were significantly correlated with AHI (r = 0.922 and r = 0.946, respectively). In addition, the pressure drop in the constricted area, oropharynx, and hypopharynx were also significantly decreased (p .05).H-UPPP is capable of expanding the constricted region of the velopharynx and can decrease the airway resistance which will in turn decrease the workload necessary for breathing and facilitate inspiration.

Background The underlying mechanism of pulsatile flushing technique has not been fully elucidated, and the partial understanding of the mechanism has been confined to hydrodynamic simulation, ignoring the dynamic interaction among the catheter, blood vessel, blood stream, and saline. Methods The peripheral intravenous catheter and vein models and their internal flow fields were assessed using a commercial software. The parameters of both fluid and structural mechanics were calculated and compared in the push and pause phase. The effect of different flushing volumes per bolus before each pause (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mL) were compared, respectively corresponding to group (A, B, C and D). Findings In groups C and D, the wall shear stress value (≥2 Pa) and enhanced shear rates (peaks up to 10,000 s−1) were higher in the vessel wall near the catheter tip, which may be at risk of vascular endothelial injury. Furthermore, extraluminal flushing might be attributed to the recirculation of jet from the catheter outlet. The vortices of all groups faded away in an extremely short period (≤0.1 s) if the push was suddenly discontinued. Finally, overlarge displacement of the catheter tip in groups C and D (0.91 and 1.1 mm, respectively) caused the peripheral intravenous catheters to angle with the venous wall. Interpretation The pulsatile flushing technique can facilitate intra- and extraluminal flushing of peripheral intravenous catheters. Furthermore, an insufficient volume per bolus can lead to inefficient flushing, and an overdose of single push may cause mechanical endothelial injury.

Published reports about polyps of larynx at the ventricular bands are extremely rare. The first symptom of this case presents recurrent hemoptysis. The video laryngoscope demonstrated that a smooth-faced and hyperemic polypoid lesion was found in the anterior part of the right false vocal cord, close to laryngeal surface of epiglottis. Postoperative pathological report revealed that the mass was a vascular polyp.

The aim of the present study was to explore the efficacy and safety of saxagliptin in a large Chinese population with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).In all, 1423 T2DM patients from 92 research centers, either drug naïve or uncontrolled by metformin, were enrolled in this single-arm cohort study; patients were treated with saxagliptin 5 mg once daily for 24 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change from baseline in HbA1c at 24 weeks in the per-protocol analysis set. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of patients achieving HbA1c7% and changes from baseline in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) concentrations at 24 weeks. Safety endpoints included adverse events (AEs) and the incidence of hypoglycemia.Among 1210 patients in the per-protocol analysis set, mean HbA1c, FPG and 2-h PPG decreased by 1.61 ± 0.04%, 0.55 ± 0.07 mmol/L, and 2.83 ± 0.27 mmol/L, respectively, at week 24. The proportion of patients achieving HbA1c7% was 44.1%. No new (previously unreported) AEs occurred. The incidence of serious AEs and hypoglycemia was low (1.8% and 1.2%, respectively). There were no significant differences in efficacy endpoints in subgroup analyses by age, creatinine clearance, body mass index, or treatment background. In elderly patients (≥65 years) and those with mild renal impairment (50 CCr ≤ 80 mL/min), the incidence of AEs was similar to that of the entire study population.Saxagliptin significantly improved glycemic control and was well tolerated in Chinese T2DM patients, including the elderly and patients with mild renal impairment.