Red blood cell distribution width is associated with neuronal damage in acute ischemic stroke.

Elevated red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been found to be associated with the occurrence of ischemic stroke. However, there is no defined relationship between RDW and neuronal damage in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study was designed to determine the relationship between RDW and neuronal damage in AIS patients.

Landscape genetics reveals that adaptive genetic divergence in Pinus bungeana (Pinaceae) is driven by environmental variables relating to ecological habitats.

Background: Understanding the genetic basis of local adaptation has long been the concern of biologists. Identifying these adaptive genetic variabilities is crucial not only to improve our knowledge of the genetic mechanism of local adaptation but also to explore the adaptation potential of species.

Results: Using 10 natural populations and 12 start codon targeted (SCoT) markers, a total of 430 unambiguous loci were yielded.

Mechanisms of CXCR7 induction in malignant melanoma development.

Malignant melanoma (MM) is a highly malignant skin tumor. The mechanism of MM pathogenesis and its signaling pathways are not well characterized. C-X-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CXCR7) has been reported to regulate cancer cell invasion.

Circular RNA circ-ABCB10 promotes breast cancer proliferation and progression through sponging miR-1271.

Circular RNA (circRNA) is a key regulator in the development and progression of human cancers, however its role in breast cancer tumorigenesis is not well understood. The present study aims to investigate the expression profiles and potential modulation of circRNA on breast cancer carcinogenesis. Human circRNA microarray was performed to screen for abnormally expressed circRNA in breast cancer tissue.

Effects of microRNA-374 on proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis of human SCC cells by targeting Gadd45a through P53 signaling pathway.

The present study investigated the effects of microRNA-374 (miR-374) on human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis through P53 signaling pathway by targeting growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible protein 45 α (Gadd45a). Skin samples were collected from patients with skin SCC and normal skin samples. Expression of miR-374, Gadd45a, P53, P73, P16, c-myc, bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting.

Pin1 liberates the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1): Must we stop it?

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is mainly caused by the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). To our knowledge, this is the first review focusing on the vital role of Pin1 in the infection of HIV-1 and the development of AIDS. We and others have demonstrated that Pin1, the only known cis-to-trans isomerase recognizing the pThr/pSer-Pro motifs in proteins, plays striking roles in several human diseases.

Pin1-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for breast cancer.

Pin1 is the only known cis-to-trans isomerase that recognizes the phosphorylated pThr/pSer-Pro motifs in many signaling molecules, playing unique roles in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. First, Pin1 is prevalently over-expressed in kinds of breast cancer cell lines and tissues, such as MDA-MB-231 cell, MCF-7 cell, Her2+, ERα+, and basal-like breast cancer subtypes. Second, Pin1 amplifies many oncogenic signaling pathways, inhibits multiple tumor suppressors, promotes the angiogenesis and metastasis of breast cancer cells, and enhances the resistance of breast cancer cells to anti-tumor medicines.

[Minimally invasive low-collar incision in near total thyroidectomy].

Objective: To explore the clinical feasibility and features of adopting a low-collar arc-shaped incision for minimally invasive near total thyroidectomy.

Methods: From April 1998 to March 2007, the procedure was accepted by 53 patients with thyroidal nodules, including nodular goiter (n = 34), thyroid adenoma (n = 12) and thyroid carcinoma (n = 7). Near total thyroidectomy was performed through a 2 - 4 cm low-collar horizontal skin incision by conventional instrumentation.

Involvement of osteopontin as a core protein in craniopharyngioma calcification formation.

Matrix proteins are considered to be essential for biomineralization and to be important factors in cranioharyngioma calcification. Osteopontin (OPN) is a noncollagenous, acidic bone-matrix glycoprotein, which binds tightly to hydroxyapatite and appears to form an integral part of the mineralized matrix, probably important to the integrity of cell-matrix interactions. OPN is also a ligand for a cell membrane receptor, CD44v6, which is required for efficient OPN binding.

[Analysis of the factors contributing to diabetes insipidus after surgeries for craniopharyngiomas].

Objective: To analyze the factors contributing to the occurrence of diabetes insipidus after operations for craniopharyngiomas.

Methods: A total of 121 cases of diabetes insipidus following surgeries for craniopharyngiomas were retrospectively analyzed and the factors associated with postoperative diabetes insipidus were analyzed.

Results: The incidence of diabetes insipidus was 27.

[Growth of craniopharyngioma involving the third ventricular floor in relation to the hypothalamus].

Objective: To investigate the growth of craniopharyngioma involving the third ventricular floor with regard to the hypothalamus by detecting expressions of leukocyte common antigen (CD45) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) in the tumor tissue.

Methods: The expressions of CD45 and ICAM-1 proteins in 30 craniopharyngioma samples with third ventricular floor involvement were detected by SP immunohistochemistry.

Results: The inflammations labeled by CD45 were identified commonly in the craniopharyngioma tissues involving the third ventricular floor.

Urotensin II accelerates cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy of rats induced by isoproterenol.

Aim: To study whether urotensin II (UII), a potent vasoconstrictive peptide, is involved in the development of cardiac hypertrophy and fibrogenesis of rats induced by isoproterenol (ISO).

Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups. Group 1 was the healthy control group, group 2 was the ISO group, and group 3 was the ISO+UII group.

[Effects of jingui shenqi pill combined prednisone on expression of glucocorticoid receptor and its clinical effect in treating bullous pemphigoid patients].

Objective: To investigate the effect of Jingui Shenqi Pill (JSP) on the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the skin lesion and its clinical effect in treating bullous pemphigoid (BP) patients.

Methods: Thirty BP patients were randomly divided into the treatment group (n=15) treated with JSP plus prednisone and the prednisone group (n=15) with prednisone alone both for 4 weeks. And a normal control group was set up also.