Articles: disease.
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Review
'Fragmentation' of NMJs: a sign of degeneration or regeneration? A long journey with many junctions.
Mammalian neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) often consist of curved bands of synaptic contact, about 3-6 μm wide, which resemble pretzels. This contrasts with the NMJs of most animal species which consist of a cluster of separate synaptic spots, each of which is also about 3-6 μm across. In a number of situations, including a variety of disease states as well as normal ageing, mammalian NMJs acquire a more 'fragmented' appearance that resembles somewhat that of other species. ⋯ Further, where appropriate studies have been performed, no evidence of a correlation between the degree of fragmentation and the efficacy of transmission has emerged. It may therefore be more appropriate to consider NMJ 'fragmentation' as a form of regeneration, rather than of degeneration. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Honoring Ricardo Miledi - outstanding neuroscientist of XX-XXI centuries.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Cervus and cucumis peptides combined umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.
Cervus and cucumis peptides (Lugua polypeptides, LG) are traditional Chinese medicine, which are active components of polypeptide extracted from Sika deer bone and melon seed, and they contain bone induced polypeptide biological factors. Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell, (UC-MSC) have tissue repair multiple effects, anti-inflammatory, and immune regulation function, which become a very promising start in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment. Hence, LG combined UC-MSC can significantly enhance the UC-MSC treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ The Health Assessment Questionnaire; the 28 joint disease activity score; C reactive protein; the erythrocyte sedimentation rate; rheumatoid factor; and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody were significantly reduced in treatment group 1 year after treatment (P < .05). In vitro, compared with the control group, the number of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), the secretion of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and tumor necrosis factor-inducible gene 6 protein (TSG6) increased significantly (P < .05). LG combined UC-MSCs can significantly improve the curative effect of RA patients, while LG may reduce inflammatory cytokines, regulate immunity, improve microcirculation, and are conducive to UC-MSCs migration and the repair of damaged tissue.
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This study aimed to determine the role of survivin in sepsis patients. Serum samples of 288 sepsis patients and 290 healthy individuals (as healthy controls) were collected 24 hours within enrollment. Serum survivin and inflammatory cytokines were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and biochemical indexes were recorded. ⋯ However, multivariate logistic regression revealed survivin was not an independent predictive factor for 28-day mortality, indicating it might interact with other independent factors to affect prognosis of sepsis patients. Survivin was decreased in sepsis patients and predicted decreased sepsis risk. Meanwhile, survivin was correlated with declined inflammation, reduced disease severity, and favorable prognosis in sepsis patients.
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Surgical lung biopsy is regarded as the golden standard for the diagnosis of idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (IIPs). Here, we attempted to show the diagnostic accuracy of multidisciplinary classifications based on transbronchial pathology including transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) , bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration biopsy (EBUS-TBNA). Patients with suspected interstitial lung diseases admitted from June 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 were involved. ⋯ The diagnoses of 4 patients with progressed clinical feature were revised. As a result, 94.3% initial MDD classifications based on transbronchial pathology were consistent with the final MDD, and the difference of diagnostic yield wasn't significant between initial and final MDD (Z = -1.414, P = .157). Classifications of IIPs based on transbronchial pathology were useful and quite agreed with final MDD.