Brucecraft6993

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to analyze the safety and efficacy of tirofiban when used for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients not undergoing endovascular treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS An electronic search was performed for English-language studies on PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) databases up to 31st July 2019. All types of studies comparing tirofiban monotherapy or combined intravenous (IV) thrombolysis and tirofiban therapy with controls for AIS patients were included. RESULTS Six studies were included in the review. Three evaluated tirofiban monotherapy while three compared IV thrombolysis and tirofiban therapy with controls. Meta-analysis indicates that tirofiban monotherapy does not significantly increase the incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) (Odds Ration [OR] 1.14, 95% CI 0.72-1.82, p = 0.57; I2 = 0%), symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.09-3.03, p = 0.46; I2 = 0%) and mortality (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.13-2.07, p = 0.36; I2 = 63%) in AIS patients. Similarly, our analysis indicates no significant increase in the rates of ICH (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.33-2.07, p = 0.68; I2 = 0%), sICH (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.16-5.16, p = 0.91; I2 = 0%) and mortality (OR 1.50, 95% CI 0.42-5.38, p= 0.54; I2 = 0%) in AIS patients treated with combined IV thrombolysis and tirofiban therapy. Meta-analysis for functional outcome was not possible. CONCLUSIONS To conclude, tirofiban appears to be safe when used following IV thrombolysis or as monotherapy in AIS patients. Conclusions regarding improvement in functional improvement cannot be drawn. Further trials are needed to strengthen the evidence on this topic.OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and molecular mechanisms of ZSP1603 as a novel anti-fibrotic compound. MATERIALS AND METHODS The unilateral left pulmonary fibrosis model was established in the Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. The bilateral pulmonary fibrosis model was established in the C57BL/6J mice. The therapeutic treatment regimen began after the induction of pulmonary fibrosis. The preventive treatment regimen began on the first day of bleomycin administration. Animals were randomly divided into the sham, model, Nintedanib, and ZSP1603 treatment groups. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's trichrome staining were performed to evaluate pulmonary injury, inflammation, and fibrosis. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and Western blot were used to investigate the effects and mechanisms of ZSP1603 on the proliferation of primary human pulmonary fibroblasts (pHPFs). The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1), and collagen 1A1 (COL1A1) in pHPFs was detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). ADH1 RESULTS ZSP1603 inhibited the proliferation of pHPFs in vitro by blocking the platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β (PDGF-Rβ) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling pathway. ZSP1603 also inhibited the differentiation of pHPFs by reducing the expression of TGF-β1, TIMP-1, and COL1A1. ZSP1603 significantly attenuated pulmonary injury, inflammation, and fibrosis in vivo in four independent animal studies of pulmonary fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS ZSP1603 is an effective anti-fibrotic compound with clear mechanisms.OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) using CalliSpheres beads loading with arsenic trioxide (ATO) (CBATO) in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighty-six unresectable HCC patients about to receive TACE with CBATO or conventional TACE (cTACE) with ATO were consecutively enrolled and divided into CBATO group (N=38) or cTACE group (N=48), respectively. Treatment response at 3 months (M3) and 6 months (M6) after the first treatment, and the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Also, the biochemical indexes were documented before treatment, at 7 days, M3, and M6 after the first treatment. RESULTS The 3-month complete response (CR), overall response rate (ORR), and the 6-month CR, ORR, as well as the disease control rate (DCR) were increased in CBATO group compared with the cTACE group. Also, the TACE with CBATO was an independent predicting factor for lower stable disease+ progressive disease (non-ORR). Besides, PFS and OS were longer in CBATO group compared with cTACE group. Referring to biochemical indexes (including liver function indexes, kidney function indexes, and blood routine indexes), no difference between the two groups was found. As for adverse events, the prevalence of nausea and vomiting was decreased, while the prevalence of other adverse events were similar in CBATO group compared to cTACE group. CONCLUSIONS TACE with CBATO is more effective and equally tolerant compared with cTACE in treating unresectable HCC patients.OBJECTIVE To explore the role of estrogen and estrogen receptors in the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells in varicose lower-extremity veins. PATIENTS AND METHODS Tissue samples of normal lower extremity vein (56 cases) and varicose lower extremity vein (47 cases) were collected. Western blot and real-time fluorescent qPCR were performed to measure the expression of Estrogen receptor α (ERα) in tissues. Two cell co-culture systems were established for human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human umbilical vein smooth muscle cells (HUVSMCs). One system was incubated under normal oxygen conditions (normal oxygen group), and the other was under oxygen-poor conditions (hypoxia group). The two systems were treated with 10-7 mM Estrogen E2, 10-7 mM BSA-conjugated Estrogen E2-BSA, 10-7 mM Estrogen E2+10-3 mM Tamoxifen (TAM), respectively for 24 h. The treated cells were subjected to cell scratch assay, transwell assay, and Western blot analysis of MMP2 and MMP9 protein expression. RESULTS The expression of ERα in varicose lower extremity vein was significantly up-regulated compared with that in normal lower extremity vein. The cell migration rate and the number of migrating cells in untreated hypoxia group and E2-treated normal oxygen group were comparable (p>0.05) to those in untreated normal oxygen group. The cell migration rate and the number of migrating cells were significantly increased (p less then 0.05) in E2-treated hypoxia group, compared with E2-treated normal oxygen group and untreated hypoxia group. The cell migration rate, the number of migrating cells, and expression levels of MMP2 and MMP9 were significantly decreased in E2/TAM-treated hypoxia group, compared with those in E2-treated hypoxia group. CONCLUSIONS In summary, E2 can promote the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells and induce varicose veins of the lower extremities, which may be related to the promotion of MMP2 and MMP9 expression through the classical pathway of ER.