Exp Ther Med
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While previous trials have indicated that the use of corticosteroids for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is effective, the dosage and time-course for the use of corticosteroids remain a subject of controversy. The present study aimed to address and resolve these problems. PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library databases were searched from inception to March 2017 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which included patients with ARDS using corticosteroids. ⋯ Glucocorticoids significantly reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation (MD: 3.08; 95% CI: 1.49-4.68; P<0.05) and significantly improved the PaO2/FiO2 ratio (MD: 66.39; 95% CI: 57.79-74.98; P<0.05). The use of corticosteroids did not significantly increase the rate of infectious complications (OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.32-1.12; P>0.05). The use of low-dose corticosteroids may significantly reduce the mortality rate, particularly in the early stages of ARD, shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation and improve the PaO2/FiO2 ratio without increasing the risk of a new infection.
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Liver cancer exhibits the fourth most common cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Due to the rapid growth, solid tumors undergo severe hypoxia and produce high levels of extracellular adenosine to maintain homeostasis. A previous study indicated that the hypoxic condition in liver cancer increased hepatic adenosine, which is known to facilitate cancer survival and proliferation. ⋯ Furthermore, the siRNA-mediated downregulation of A2B inhibited the growth and proliferation of HepG2, which is a liver cancer cell line. The relationship between HIF-1α and A2B expression was also identified in human liver cancer specimens. In conclusion, the current study indicated that A2B is induced by the HIF-1α transcriptional regulator during hypoxia, and it may be a potential pharmacologic and therapeutic target for the treatment of patients with liver cancer.
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Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that impairs the quality of life of affected patients. Emerging studies indicate that certain long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have important roles in psoriasis. However, the exact functions of lncRNAs and their regulatory mechanisms as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in psoriasis have remained to be fully elucidated. ⋯ A total of 253 lncRNAs, 106 miRNAs and 1,156 mRNAs were identified as being differentially expressed between psoriasis skin and healthy control skin. The present study identified two key lncRNAs that may potentially have a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis: AL035425.3 and Prader Willi/Angelman region RNA 6. This integrative analysis enhances the understanding of the molecular mechanism of psoriasis and may provide novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of psoriasis.
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Professor George P. Chrousos, Professor Emeritus of Paediatrics and Endocrinology at the University of Athens School of Medicine, in Athens, Greece, is the most distinguished Professor of Paediatrics in the modern history of Hellenic Paediatrics and among the 100 most prominent clinical investigators worldwide. According to Professor Chrousos, viruses frequently interact with the host endocrine signaling pathways, while stress triggers acutely an early inflammatory response termed 'neurogenic inflammation'. ⋯ Professor Chrousos declares that Paediatrics is a very broad scientific field, where paediatric trainees have many avenues to follow beyond clinical practice and into basic, preclinical, translational, clinical, applied, or epidemiologic research. He supports that researching and producing new knowledge to the benefit of humanity is a product of practicing Aristotle's ancient Greek virtues and a worthy cause of life's meaning. He completes our interview calling young paediatricians to 'listen to their minds and hearts' to select a life course that would lead them to acquire personal wisdom and eudaimonia.
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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious disease that may lead to the occurrence of anxiety and depression; however, at present, little is known about the role of care intervention in the mental health of patients with CRC receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Hence, an incremental patient care program (IPCP) was designed and its effects on anxiety, depression and quality of life (QoL) in patients with CRC receiving adjuvant chemotherapy was assessed. A total of consecutivel 298 patients with CRC who had undergone surgery were recruited for the present randomized, controlled study. ⋯ M0 was decreased (P=0.002) in the IPCP group compared with that in the controls, but no difference was observed in the QLQ-C30 function score between the two groups. Subgroup analysis by tumor-nodes-metastasis stage (II or III) demonstrated similar trends to those mentioned above. In conclusion, participation in the IPCP led to a slight decrease in anxiety, and contributed to a significant reduction in depression and an improvement in QoL in patients with CRC receiving adjuvant chemotherapy.