High dose chemoradiotherapy increases chance of organ preservation with satisfactory functional outcome for rectal cancer.

Background: High dose chemoradiotherapy offers a curative chance for patients with rectal cancer that are unfit or unwilling to undergo surgical resection, yet its long-term survival and functional outcomes have been rarely investigated.

Methods: Patients with non-metastatic rectal adenocarcinoma who received pelvic radiation for curative intent from April 2006 to July 2017 were retrospectively investigated. Survival rates were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Joint damage is amplified in rheumatoid arthritis patients with positive thyroid autoantibodies.

Background: Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), which is characterized by an increased presence of thyroid autoantibodies (TAbs), such as antibodies against thyroid peroxidase (TPOAbs) and antibodies against thyroglobulin (TgAbs), has been reported to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because AITD and RA both involve autoimmunity. However, few data are available on the incidence of TAbs in Chinese RA patients, and studies on the association between TAbs and joint damage as well as synovitis in RA patients remain sparse. Here, we aimed to evaluate the incidence of TAbs in a consecutive Chinese RA cohort and to investigate whether the elevated presence of TAbs is associated with joint damage and synovitis in RA patients.

The ARL2 GTPase is required for mitochondrial morphology, motility, and maintenance of ATP levels.

ARF-like 2 (ARL2) is a member of the ARF family and RAS superfamily of regulatory GTPases, predicted to be present in the last eukaryotic common ancestor, and essential in a number of model genetic systems. Though best studied as a regulator of tubulin folding, we previously demonstrated that ARL2 partially localizes to mitochondria. Here, we show that ARL2 is essential to a number of mitochondrial functions, including mitochondrial morphology, motility, and maintenance of ATP levels.

Polymorphisms of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 are not associated with orthostatic blood pressure dysregulation in hypertensive patients.

Aim: The genetic background of orthostatic blood pressure dysregulation remains poorly understood. Since the renin-angiotensin system plays an important role in blood pressure regulation and response to position change, we hypothesized that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 genetic polymorphisms might contribute, at least partially, to orthostatic blood pressure dysregulation in hypertensive patients.

Methods: Two tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ACE2 and ACE I/D were genotyped in 3630 untreated hypertensive patients and 826 normotensive subjects.

Identification of caveolae and their signature proteins caveolin 1 and 2 in the lens.

This study shows that caveolae are present in lens epithelia of rabbit and guinea pig under normal conditions. Caveolae are unique lipid membrane microdomains observed in many cell types. They are believed to play crucial roles in a variety of basic physiological functions including signal transduction, lipid and transcellular transport.

Microtubule configuration and membranous vesicle transport in elongating fiber cells of the rat lens.

This study examines the microtubule configuration and its close association with the Golgi complex and Golgi-derived membranous vesicles in elongating fiber cells of the rat lens. Since fiber cells elongate tremendously during lens differentiation, we hypothesize that a microtubule-based motor system exists in the elongating fiber cells for transporting important membrane proteins and organelles to the target regions for cell growth. The newly synthesized membrane proteins are known to be transported from the trans-Golgi network in the form of vesicles to the target plasma membrane.

Association of clathrin, AP-2 adaptor and actin cytoskeleton with developing interlocking membrane domains of lens fibre cells.

Interlocking membrane domains are specialized membrane interdigitations in the form of ball-and-sockets and protrusions between lens fibre cells of all species. They are believed to play a key role in maintaining fibre-fibre stability and are therefore, important for normal lens function. Here we report the specific association of the clathrin/AP-2 adaptor complex and the branching F-actin network with the development of interlocking domains in rats and several other species.