The significant differentially expressed genes obtained by RNA-seq were distinctly enriched in the p53 signaling pathway. The apoptosis induced by EPI in MKN-45 cells would be effectively inhibited with the treatment of p53 siRNA and p53 inhibitor PFT-α. Western blotting demonstrated that EPI diminished the expression of Bcl-2 and XIAP, and increased those of p53, Bax, p21, p27, Cytochrome C and Cleaved-caspase 3. Animal experiments confirmed that EPI significantly alleviated tumor growth in MKN-45 xenograft mice via p53/Bax pathway. Conclusions These data indicated that EPI could be a novel anti-tumor candidate against MKN-45-related gastric cancer via targeting p53-dependent mitochondria-associated pathway.The anti-tuberculosis vaccine Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is able to boost innate immune responses through a process called ‘trained immunity’. It is hypothesized that BCG-induced trained immunity contributes to protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Since alveolar macrophages are the first cell type to encounter M. tuberculosis upon infection, we aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of BCG vaccination on alveolar macrophages. Searching for a less-invasive method than bronchoalveolar lavage, we optimized the isolation of alveolar macrophages from induced sputum of healthy volunteers. Viable alveolar macrophages could be successfully isolated from induced sputum and showed signs of activation already upon retrieval. Further flow cytometric analyses revealed that at baseline, higher expression levels of activation markers were observed on the alveolar macrophages of smokers compared to non-smokers. In addition, BCG vaccination resulted in decreased expression of the activation markers CD11b and HLA-DR on alveolar macrophages. Future studies should evaluate the functional consequences of this reduced activation of alveolar macrophages after BCG vaccination.Objectives Although mycophenolate mofetil-induced (MMF) effectively improves long-term graft survival, the gastrointestinal (GI) side effects due to MMF-induced GI barrier damage limit its use in clinic. Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) plays a crucial role in the intestinal protection and repair process. This study is designed to investigate the protective effect of KGF on MMF-induced intestinal mucosal barrier disruption and the potential mechanism. Methods Thirty adult male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to one of the following groups the MMF group, the MMF + KGF group, and the control group (n = 10 in each group). Animals in the MMF group received MMF (500 mg/kg) by gavage once daily for 15 consecutive days; animals in the MMF + KGF group received MMF (500 mg/kg) by gavage and KGF (5 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection once daily for 15 consecutive days; and control mice were given an equal volume of vehicle during the 15-day experimental period. In each group, intestinal paracellular permeability, histopathorotective role to ameliorate the disruption and provide a therapeutic intervention for gastrointestinal disorders induced by MMF.Hyaline cartilage lining the surfaces of diarthrodial joints is an important construct for transmission of load and to reduce friction between the bones. Normal wear and tear accounts for about 3-5 percent knee cartilage loss ever year in otherwise healthy people after the age of 30 years. Several conditions and diseases lead to premature cartilage degeneration. Standardized description of cartilage loss, detailed evaluation of the joint health and determining the underlying etiology of cartilage loss are important for effective reporting, multidisciplinary communications and patient management. In this article, the authors discuss normal and abnormal imaging appearances of the hyaline cartilage of knee with focus on using controlled terminology and MRI classifications. The reader will benefit and learn key MR imaging features of a spectrum of common and uncommon conditions and diseases affecting the knee cartilage, such as trauma, secondary injury associated with meniscus and ligament injury related instability, arthritis, ischemia, idiopathic, and hereditary conditions including Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) mutations and mucopolysaccharidosis type IX disease with illustrative case examples.Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic potential of MRI in patients with suspected CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome). UNC1999 chemical structure Method A retrospective health-record search was conducted for patients with suspected CRPS (foot). Fifty patients with initially suspected CRPS were included (37 females (51 ± 13 years) and 13 males (44 ± 15 years)). All patients underwent MRI. Two radiologists assessed skin, bone, and soft tissue parameters on MRI. The final diagnosis was CRPS (Gold standard Budapest criteria) or non-CRPS. MRI parameters were compared between CRPS patients and non-CRPS patients. Results CRPS was diagnosed in 22/50(44 %) patients. Skin thickness (1.9 ± 0.5 mm vs. 1.7 ± 0.3 mm, p = 0.399), enhancement, and subcutaneous edema showed no differences between CRPS and non-CRPS patients. Bone marrow edema presence and pattern were not different between groups. Up to 50 % of CRPS patients showed no bone marrow edema. Subcortical enhancement and periosteal enhancement were not different between groups. For reader 1, muscle edema score was higher in the non-CRPS group compared to the CRPS group (0.1 ± 0.2 vs. 0.6 ± 1.0, p = 0.008), but not different for reader 2 (0.1 ± 0.5 vs. 0.2 ± 0.8, p = 0.819). Perfusion pattern was more extensive in non-CRPS patients for reader 1 (p = 0.048), but not for reader 2 (p = 0.157). Joint effusions showed no difference between groups. Conclusions MRI cannot distinguish between CRPS and non-CRPS patients. The role of MR imaging in patients with suspected CRPS is to exclude alternative diagnoses that would better explain patients’ symptoms.Purpose Background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) often affects interpretation of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) MRI. There is limited evidence that reduced BPE is a feature of ultrafast DCE (UF-DCE) MRI. We aimed to evaluate the effect of BPE levels on lesion detectability on UF-DCE MRI in comparison with conventional DCE MRI. Method MRIs of 70 patients with histologically proven breast lesions were retrospectively evaluated. The total number of analyzed lesions was 84 (56 malignant and 28 benign). Using 3 T MRI, 20 phases of UF-DCE MRI based on the three-dimensional gradient-echo VIBE sequence combined with a compressed sensing reconstruction were acquired followed by conventional DCE MRI. Three maximum intensity projection (MIP) images were generated from the 12th phase, the 20th phase of UF-DCE MRI and the initial phase of conventional DCE MRI. Two radiologists independently evaluated the degree of BPE and lesion detectability of the three MIP images for each breast with histologically confirmed lesions. The degree of BPE was scored on a four-point scale and lesion detectability (conspicuity and confidence levels) was scored on a three-point scale.