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The febrile seizure (FS) is a common disease in emergency pediatrics, and about 30% of patients are children aged between 6 months and 5 years. Therefore, we aim to observe the protective impact of liraglutide (LIR) on brain injury in mice with FS and to explore its relevant mechanisms. Male SD mice were selected, and the FS model was established by heat bath method. The behavioral score was performed on mice with Racine grading, and nerve cells in apoptosis in the hippocampus were determined by TUNEL. The content of glutamate was determined by ELISA. mRNA levels and protein expression of GLP-1, GLP-1R, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and cleaved-caspase 3 were examined in mice by q-PCR and WB. Protein expression of γ-aminobutyric acid was influenced by WB as well. LIR prolonged the seizure latency and seizure duration in mice with FS. The GLP-1 and GLP-1R in the mouse hippocampus with FS expressed highly and also inhibited the number of nerve cells in apoptosis, decreased glutamate content, and increased γ-aminobutyric acid expression in the mouse hippocampus with FS. In addition, The IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, in the mouse hippocampus with FS expressed to reduce with LIR. LIR is protective against brain injury in mice with FS and protects brain injury by inhibiting inflammatory factors in mice with FS. Our finding provides a reference for mitigating and delaying the development of FS as well as the prevention and treatment of brain injury caused by FS.

Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Snail, galectin-3, and IGF1R in benign and malignant pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) and explore their role in the diagnosis of malignant PPGL. Methods. We retrospectively collected and analyzed surgical tumor tissue from 226 patients initially diagnosed with PPGL who underwent surgery from Jan. 2009 to Jan. 2016 at West China Hospital, Sichuan University. We observed and quantified the expression of Snail, galectin-3, and IGF1R in paraffin-embedded samples by immunohistochemical staining. Results. The significant difference in survival time among the three groups (benign PHEO, benign PGL, and potentially malignant PPGL) was compared by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The positive staining of Snail, galectin-3, and IGF1R in the benign PHEO group was significantly lower than that in the other three groups (P<0.001). The Kaplan-Meier survival plots indicated that the survival time of the patients with intense positive staining was significantly lower than that of the patients with weak positive staining. Conclusion. The intense expression of Snail, galectin-3, and IGF1R may be valuable indicators for the diagnosis of malignant PPGL.

Background: This research was designed to probe into the role of miRNA-21 in the pathogenesis of childhood asthma and its correlation with the severity. Methods: Fifty-four children with bronchial asthma admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Qiqihar Medical University from Jun 2018 to Dec 2019 were included. Forty nine healthy children underwent physical examination at this time period were also enrolled. The miR-21 expression in peripheral blood serum was analyzed by qRT-PCR. The relationship between the expression and severity of asthma in children was explored by Spearman correlation analysis and ROC curve. Bronchial epithelial cell lines were cultured in vitro and divided into blank control group, negative control group and miR-21 inhibition and activation group. The changes of cell proliferation after treatment were detected by CCK-8 test in different groups. The expression of TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway protein in cells was assessed by Western blot (WB). Results: Compared with that of healthy children, the miR-21 expression in peripheral blood serum of asthmatic children was higher (P

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) act as pivotal functions in tumor progression. Nevertheless, the functions and mechanism of circRNAs in T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) remain unclear. In this work, we first screened the differentially expressed circRNAs between T-LBL tissues and normal infantile thymus and circ-LAMP1 was identified the highest expressed circRNA in cancerous tissues. qRT-PCR further verified its upregulation in T-LBL tissues and cell lines. Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) experiment proved the cell proliferation-promoting role of circ-LAMP1. This effect is partially dependent on its inhibition on cell apoptosis proved by flow cytometric assay. Dual-luciferase reporter system further identified that miR-615-5p could be sponged by circ-LAMP1 and discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (DDR2) 3'-UTR is the direct target of miR-615-5p. Rescue assays demonstrated that the biological function of circ-LAMP1 is partly attributed to the modulation of miR-615-5p/DDR2 signaling. In summary, these findings documented that circ-LAMP1 might be an oncogene in T-LBL, which might be useful in developing promising therapies for T-LBL.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have recently been considered as key regulators in carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, the study of circRNAs involved in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains largely unclear. In this study, we aim to explore the clinical significance, regulatory effect and mechanism of circ-FOXM1 in NSCLC. The results indicated that circ-FOXM1 overexpression was observed in NSCLC tissues and closely associated with lymph node invasion, higher TNM stage, and unfavorable prognosis. Furthermore, knockdown and ectopic expression of circ-FOXM1 significantly inhibited and promoted the growth, migration and invasion of NSCLC cells, respectively. Mechanistically, miR-1304-5p was discovered as a direct target of circ-FOXM1. Circ-FOXM1 upregulated the level of pancreatic progenitor cell differentiation and proliferation factor (PPDPF) and metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) by sponging miR-1304-5p, thereby increasing the proliferation and invasion of NSCLC cells. Taken together, this work revealed that circ-FOXM1/miR-1304-5p/PPDPF/MACC1 signaling was essential for the development and progression of NSCLC.

To investigate the association between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and myocardial dysfunction and to determine whether its association is independent of myocardial perfusion.Sixty-four patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were recruited. They were divided into groups according to their HbA1c level: the controlled T2DM group (HbA1c 7%) and uncontrolled T2DM groups (HbA1c ≥ 7%). Meanwhile, 30 age-matched healthy volunteers were included. All patients with T2DM and healthy controls underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate the myocardial mechanics and perfusion parameters.The circumferential and longitudinal peak strain (PS) (p = 0.009 and 0.002 respectively) and global radial, circumferential, and longitudinal peak strain diastolic strain rates (PDSRs) (p = 0.002, 0.001, and 0.001 respectively) were lower in the uncontrolled T2DM group than in the controls without diabetes. In multivariable linear regression analysis, HbA1c was independently related to all directions of the PS and PDSR. The myocardial perfusion parameters were not independently associated with the PS or PDSR.Cardiac function is impaired in Chinese T2DM patients with poor glucose control (HbA1c ≥ 7%), with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, and disease duration10 years. Poor blood glucose control is an independent predictor of LV myocardial dysfunction for patients with short-term T2DM.

Foot ulcers are one of the most common and severe complication of diabetes mellitus with significant resultant morbidity and mortality. Multiple factors impair wound healing include skin injury, diabetic neuropathy, ischemia, infection, inadequate glycemic control, poor nutritional status, and severe morbidity. It is currently believed that oxidative stress plays a vital role in diabetic wound healing. An imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body results in overproduction of reactive oxygen species which lead to cell, tissue damage, and delayed wound healing. Therefore, decreasing ROS levels through antioxidative systems may reduce oxidative stress-induced damage to improve healing. In this context, we provide an update on the role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in diabetic wound healing through following four perspectives. We then discuss several therapeutic strategies especially dietary bioactive compounds by targeting oxidative stress to improve wounds healing.

Herein we combine the sandwich immunoreaction at a vertically aligned single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-based immunosensor and the enzymatically catalytic deposition of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) by a gold nanoprobe to develop a novel electrochemical immunosensing method. The vertically arranged nanostructure was prepared through the covalent linking of terminally carboxylated SWCNTs at an aryldiazonium-modified electrode. It not only provides an excellent platform for the high density immobilization of antibodies to obtain the immunosensor but also serves as useful molecular wires to accelerate electron transfer during the electrochemical immunosensing process. Meanwhile, the enzymatic reaction of the nanoprobe prepared by surface functionalization of the nanocarrier of Au NPs by high-content glucoamylases can catalyze the deposition of a large number of Au NPs at the immunosensor. The electrochemical stripping analysis of these nanoparticles enabled the convenient signal transduction of the method. Due to the sensitive gold stripping analysis at the vertically aligned SWCNTs and the multi-enzyme signal amplification of the nanoprobe, the electrochemical signal response was greatly enhanced. Thus, the method can be used for the ultrasensitive detection of the tumor biomarker of carcinoembryonic antigen in a wide linear range of 5 orders of magnitude with a low detection limit of 0.48 pg mL-1. Considering its obvious performance superiorities, this immunosensing method exhibits an extensive prospect for practical applications.

To develop a more effective and safer treatment for Hyperuricemia (HUA), this research investigated the anti-hyperuricemic mechanism of KGM from the perspectives of uric acid (UA) production and excretion in rat model. After four-week experiment, KGM at 168 mg/kg did best in reducing serum UA level. The mechanism of KGM improving HUA was related to its inhibitory capacity to the activities and mRNA expression of xanthine oxidase (XOD) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in liver. Meanwhile, KGM could also down-regulate the protein expression of uric acid transporters1 (URAT1) and up-regulate the mRNA and protein expression of urate transporter (UAT), organic anion transporter1 (OAT1) and organic anion transporter3 (OAT3) in kidney. Moreover, KGM could also alleviate the renal dysfunction caused by HUA by mitigating urate deposition, and reducing serum creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. KGM might complement existing therapies to improve HUA.

Corn starch was esterified with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA), in which semidry method assisted with vacuum-microwave treatment was used under the alkalescent condition. The effect of vacuum treatment on esterification was studied. The products were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction. And the emulsifying properties were investigated with the emulsifying capacity (EC), emulsion droplet size and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The degree of substitution (DS) of OSA starch increased significantly (ρ

To compare the metabolic status and pancreatic β-cell function in first-degree relatives (FDRs) of type 2 diabetic patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT).Three hundred twelve subjects, who were NGT-FDR of type 2 diabetic patients and 1348 subjects, who were NGT individuals with no family history of diabetes, were defined as NGT-FDRs and NGT-controls (NGT-C), respectively. Blood pressure, body weight, waist circumference, plasma glucose, lipid profile, and insulin levels were measured in all subjects. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HOMA-β, insulin sensitivity index (ISI), and disposition index (DI) was used to evaluate insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity.The HOMA-IR and HOMA-β indices were significantly higher in the NGT-FDR group relative to the NGT-C, while the ISI, DI, and ΔIMetabolic disorders developed frequently in the NGT-FDRs of type 2 diabetic patients. As the number of coexisting metabolic disorders increased, pancreatic β-cell secretory ability and insulin sensitivity decreased. Therefore, it is necessary to provide early preventive interventions and monitoring of metabolic indices for NGT-FDRs of type 2 diabetic patients.