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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The present study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of serum soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) regarding the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in sepsis patients, and investigate its correlation/association with disease severity, inflammation and mortality in sepsis patients with ARDS. A total of 57 sepsis patients with ARDS and 58 sepsis patients without ARDS were recruited for the present case-control study. Laboratory tests, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score were evaluated, and mortality during hospitalization was recorded. ⋯ In sepsis patients with ARDS, serum suPAR levels were positively correlated with the APACHE II score, SOFA score and the levels of CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-8. In addition, serum suPAR levels were lower in survivors compared with those in non-survivors, and ROC curve analysis suggested that serum suPAR was able to predict the probability of mortality. In conclusion, serum suPAR independently predicted an elevated risk of ARDS in patients with sepsis, and was correlated/associated with greater disease severity, higher inflammation and increased mortality in patients with sepsis and ARDS.
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The increasing aging of the world population is accompanied by a rise in the incidence of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). There has been a growing interest in shockwave treatment for orthopedic diseases, including KOA. In previous trials, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) was compared to physical therapy or placebo in the treatment of KOA. ⋯ The outcomes regarding pain, ROM, LI and WOMAC were significantly different between the two different groups (P<0.05). The present meta-analysis suggested that ESWT may achieve a better therapeutic effect for patients with KOA as compared to physical therapy. However, high-quality trials with large sample sizes are essential to substantiate these results.