Sophocarpine inhibits tumor progression by antagonizing the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of sophocarpine on the progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and the underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods: DU145 and PC3 cells (two CRPC cell lines), incubated with different concentrations of sophocarpine, were used. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, real-time cellular analysis, and colony formation assay were conducted to evaluate the proliferation of CRPC cells.

[Corrigendum] Anti‑fibrotic effect of Bunge extract in kidneys via the hedgehog signaling pathway.

Subsequently to the publication of the above paper, an interested reader drew to the authors' attention that certain of the data featured in Fig. 1A on p. 740 had already appeared in another publication written by the same authors [ Bunge extract exerts renal anti‑fibrotic effects and .

Preparation, characterization, and in vitro tumor-suppressive effect of anti-miR-21-equipped RNA nanoparticles.

MicroRNAs play an irreplaceable role in gene expression regulation. Upregulation of several miRNAs increases the risk of invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells. An oncogenic miRNA, miR-21, is highly expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and is associated with tumor proliferation, invasion, carcinogenesis, prognosis, and therapeutic resistance.

Resveratrol suppresses the myofibroblastic phenotype and fibrosis formation in kidneys via proliferation-related signalling pathways.

Background And Purpose: Renal fibrosis acts as the common pathway leading to the development of end-stage renal disease. Previous studies have shown that resveratrol has anti-fibrotic activity, but its potential molecular mechanisms of action are not well understood.

Experimental Approach: The anti-fibrotic effects of resveratrol were assayed in a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in vivo and in fibroblasts and tubular epithelial cells (TECs) stimulated by TGF-β1 in vitro.

Altered expression of glucose metabolism associated genes in a tacrolimus‑induced post‑transplantation diabetes mellitus in rat model.

Post‑transplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a known side effect in transplant recipients administered with immunosuppressant drugs, such as tacrolimus (Tac). Although injury of islet cells is considered a major reason for Tac‑induced PTDM, the involvement of insulin resistance in PTDM remains unknown. In the present study, expression levels of adipocytokines, glucose metabolism associated genes and peroxisome proliferator‑activated receptor (PPAR)‑γ in adipose, muscular and liver tissues from a rat model induced with Tac (1 mg/kg/day) were examined.

Sedum sarmentosum Bunge extract alleviates inflammation and kidney injury via inhibition of M1-macrophage polarization.

Background: Sedum sarmentosum Bunge extract (SSBE) has been used traditionally to treat liver inflammatory diseases in the Asian area.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of SSBE on renal injury.

Methods: We investigated whether SSBE has an anti-inflammatory effect by suppressing M1-macrophage polarization in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and in cultured macrophages.

HMGB1/RAGE axis mediates the apoptosis, invasion, autophagy, and angiogenesis of the renal cell carcinoma.

Background: High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) is a sort of non-histone protein in chromatin, which plays an important role in tumor proliferation, invasion, and immune escape. HMGB1-RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end products) interactions have been reported to be important in a number of cancers.

Methods: CCK8, flow cytometry and qRT-PCR were used to detected cell viability, apoptosis and gene expression, respectively.

Anti‑fibrotic effect of Sedum sarmentosum Bunge extract in kidneys via the hedgehog signaling pathway.

Sedum sarmentosum Bunge (SSBE) is a perennial plant widely distributed in Asian countries, and its extract is traditionally used for the treatment of certain inflammatory diseases. Our previous studies demonstrated that SSBE has marked renal anti‑fibrotic effects. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated.

Synchronous renal cell carcinoma metastasis to the contralateral adrenal gland and pancreas: A case report with 7-year follow-up subsequent to surgical therapy.

Metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) disseminates to a number of organ sites and few patients demonstrate long-term survival following surgery. However, synchronous metastasis of RCC to the contralateral adrenal gland and pancreas is rare. In the present report, a case of synchronous RCC metastasis to the contralateral adrenal gland and pancreas in a 55-year-old patient, with an 116×92×61 mm right renal tumor and a 96×79×57 mm left adrenal lesion, is described.

Receptors for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is associated with microvessel density and is a prognostic biomarker for clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is involved in a variety of biological processes, including tumorigenisis. Previous studies have demonstrated that RAGE regulates the neo-angiogenesis related downstream molecule - vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2). Here, we investigated the potential relationship between RAGE, VEGFR-2 and angiogenesis in 80 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients.

Efficacy and safety of pirarubicin combined with hyaluronic acid for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer after transurethral resection: a prospective, randomized study.

Objective: To verify the efficacy and safety of intravesical instillation of pirarubicin combined with hyaluronic acid after TURBT in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer patients.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study recruiting 127 eligible patients from 2008 to 2010. Patients were randomly assigned to Group A (pirarubicin combined with hyaluronic acid) and Group B (pirarubicin alone).

Oxymatrine inhibits the proliferation of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

Oxymatrine is an alkaloid, which is derived from the traditional Chinese herb, Sophora flavescens Aiton. Oxymatrine has been shown to exhibit anti‑inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer properties. The present study aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of oxymatrine in human prostate cancer cells, and the underlying molecular mechanisms of these effects.

Simultaneous monitoring of CMV and BKV by quantitative PCR in renal transplant recipients.

Polyomavirus (BKV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) are associated with renal graft failure. The aim was to establish a quantitative PCR method (Q-PCR) to detect BKV and CMV simultaneously. The conserved sequences of BKV and CMV were amplified and cloned into the plasmids as standards.

[Application of HLAMatchmaker analysis eplets mismatch of renal transplant matching].

Objective: Eplets mismatch based on HLAMatchmaker software evaluates the clinical application of kidney transplantation.

Methods: In 239 cases of renal transplant,merits of methods of the traditional HLA six antigen matcheing criteria, cross reaction groups standard and Eplets mismatch based on HLAMatchmaker standard were compared respectively.

Results: The number of mismatchs with three methods in 239 cases, were grouped according to low-high mismatchs.

Resveratrol inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and renal fibrosis by antagonizing the hedgehog signaling pathway.

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a biologic process in which tubular cells lose their epithelial phenotypes and acquire new characteristic features of mesenchymal properties, is increasingly recognized as an integral part of renal tissue fibrogenesis. Recent studies indicate that resveratrol, a botanical compound derived mainly from the skins of red grapes, may have anti-fibrotic effects in many tissues, but the potential molecular mechanism remains unknown. In the present study, we identified that resveratrol inhibits the induction of EMT and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) through antagonizing the hedgehog pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Hepatic stellate cell is activated by microRNA-181b via PTEN/Akt pathway.

Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is an essential event in the initiation and progression of liver fibrosis. MicroRNAs have been shown to play a pivotal role in regulating HSC functions such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Recently, miR-181b has been reported to promote HSCs proliferation by targeting p27.

Sedum sarmentosum Bunge extract exerts renal anti-fibrotic effects in vivo and in vitro.

Aims: Sedum sarmentosum Bunge, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, has a wide range of clinical effects, including anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-cancer properties. In this study, we determined whether S. sarmentosum Bunge Extract (SSBE) has anti-fibrotic effects on renal tissues.

[The application of genotyping in the complicated ABO blood group type].

Objective: To investigate the application of ABO blood group genotyping in complicated ABO blood group type.

Methods: Ten specimens of complicated ABO blood group were genotyped by sequence specific primer PCR (PCR -SSP), and confirmed by DNA sequencing and alignment. Six hundred and ten blood samples typed by ABO immunoassay were as control of genotyping.

[Study on KIR gene polymorphisms in 416 renal transplantation recipients from southern Zhejiang].

Objective: To investigate polymorphisms of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor gene (KIR) in renal transplant recipients from southern Zhejiang.

Methods: KIR genotypes were analyzed by PCR-SSP in 416 renal transplant recipients, and the genotype frequencies were compared with populations from Eastern China and worldwide.

Results: All 16 known KIR genes were detected in the renal transplant recipients, and KIR2DL4, 3DL2-3, 3PD1 were found in all.

Curcumin up-regulates phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 through microRNA-mediated control of DNA methylation--a novel mechanism suppressing liver fibrosis.

Phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) has been reported to play a role in the suppression of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Moreover, it has been demonstrated that hypermethylation of the PTEN promoter is responsible for the loss of PTEN expression during HSC activation. Methylation is now established as a fundamental regulator of gene transcription.

[Establishment of a real-time PCR assay for simultaneously detecting human BKV and CMV DNA and its application in renal transplantation recipients].

To establish a fluorescent quantitative PCR method (FQ-PCR) with TaqMan probe for simultaneous detection of polyomavirus (BKV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) and to evaluate its clinical application in the renal transplantation recipients. The conservative sequences of BKV and CMV were targeted and amplified by nested PCR technique. The PCR products were cloned into the plasmids pcDNA3.

Activation of hepatic stellate cells is suppressed by microRNA-150.

microRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been reported to be involved in the progression of liver fibrosis. It has previously been shown that miR-150 can inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) via the inhibition of C-myb expression. However, the reduced C-myb expression is not responsible for all the effects of miR-150, there may be other molecular mechanisms for the suppression of HSCs by miR-150.