Arch Med Sci
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Pediatric asthma has remained a health threat to children in recent years. The abnormal proliferation of airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells contributes to airway remodeling during development of asthma. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators of ASM cell proliferation during airway remodeling. miR-590-5p has been reported to regulate cell proliferation in various cell types. However, it remains unclear whether miR-590-5p regulates ASM cell proliferation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of miR-590-5p in regulating fetal ASM cell proliferation in vitro stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF). ⋯ MiR-590-5p inhibits proliferation of fetal ASM cells by down-regulating STAT3, thereby suggesting a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of pediatric asthma.
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Lenalidomide is an effective therapy of POEMS syndrome. However, there is concern that exposure to lenalidomide may reduce the efficiency of blood cell collection in persons who may eventually receive an autotransplant. We studied the impact of lenalidomide therapy on subsequent blood cell mobilization and collection including frequency of blood CD34+ cells and CXCR4 expression before and after mobilization with cyclophosphamide and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). ⋯ Brief lenalidomide treatment for POEMS did not reduce numbers of CD34+ blood cells collected but increased CXCR4 expression on bone marrow CD34+ cells.
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There is no gold-standard method for hospital nutrition screening. The new screening tool termed Control of Food Intake, Protein, and Anthropometry (CIPA) gives positive results when at least one of the following parameters is met: control of food intake for 72 h < 50%, serum albumin < 3 g/dl, body mass index < 18.5 kg/m2 or mid-upper arm circumference ≤ 22.5 cm. This method was validated in comparison with Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) in hospitalized patients with non-surgical pathologies. ⋯ The CIPA and the SGA screening tools detect patients with a higher risk of mortality, but only CIPA identifies patients with an increased mean LOS. CIPA screening proved valid for use in non-surgical inpatients.
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Preimplantation genetic diagnosis/screening (PGD/PGS) can effectively detect chromosomal abnormalities in an embryo but only if an embryo is available. However, not all couples can obtain an embryo that is available for testing. The purpose of this study was to identify factors which might affect the formation of PGD/PGS embryos to predict the possibility of obtaining embryos that could be detected. ⋯ Elderly women, those with lower AMH and women with 47, XXX or 45, X have fewer ova, leading to the possibility of no blastocyst. These couples should be fully informed and weigh the advantages and disadvantages before undergoing PGD/PGS.
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Few large-scale investigations on genotype (GT) distribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Hunan Province, China, are reported. ⋯ HCV GT1 was the most predominant HCV genotype in Hunan Province, and GT6 and GT3 accounted for a significant percentage, especially in young patients. The HCV distribution pattern was more similar to those of the regions in south China.