Arch Med Sci
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Review
The effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on C-reactive protein: results from a meta-analysis.
Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that causes chronic gastroduodenal infection and affects various systemic diseases. An increase in the blood level of C-reactive protein (CRP; a systemic inflammatory marker), at a low-grade chronic inflammation level, is observed in cases of infection. However, the effect of H. pylori eradication on CRP remains undetermined. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the circulating CRP levels in eradicated patients through a meta-analysis. ⋯ Weak evidence exists regarding the effects of H. pylori eradication on CRP levels. Further research is called for.
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Emerging evidence has illustrated that Collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1) is crucial for tumorigenesis and development. However, the effects of CTHRC1 on bladder cancer progression remain largely unclear. Here, we aim to investigate the function and mechanism of CTHRC1 in behaviors of bladder cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. ⋯ Our data demonstrated that CTHRC1 played an oncogenic role in bladder cancer by modulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which sheds novel light on diagnosis and treatment of bladder cancer.
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Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease, and its aetiology is not entirely known. The aim of the study was to evaluate the involvement of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-20 (IL-20) in the pathogenesis of knee OA and their correlations with other markers of inflammation and destruction of joint cartilage, as well as clinical and radiological changes. ⋯ The analysis of ROC curves showed that IL-20 as well as COMP, MMP-3, and YKL-40 may be diagnostic markers of knee OA. The observations indicate that IL-18 potentially mediates mainly in intra-articular processes and IL-20 could be primarily responsible for the systemic inflammatory reaction.
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Surfactant replacement therapy (SRT) might cause acute changes in cerebral oxygenation and alteration of brain bioelectrical activity. Varying physiologic responses and clinical outcomes were observed when different surfactant preparations were instilled to treat neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). ⋯ This is the first study assessing brain bioelectrical function and oxygenation while using two different surfactant preparations in a neonate. Cerebral effects of SRT are observed regardless of the type of surfactant, but their magnitude may depend on the preparation and/or dosing used.
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The aim of the study was to develop a simple tool for early identification of high-risk patients with recurrent acute pancreatitis (RAP) progression to chronic pancreatitis (CP) in primary hospitals or outpatient clinics. ⋯ The nomogram provided a means of predicting which patients were at high risk of progression to CP.