[Circulating miR-152 helps early prediction of postoperative biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer].

Objective: To investigate the value of circulating miR-152 in the early prediction of postoperative biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer.

Methods: Sixty-six cases of prostate cancer were included in this study, 35 with and 31 without biochemical recurrence within two years postoperatively, and another 31 healthy individuals were enrolled as normal controls. The relative expression levels of circulating miR-152 in the serum of the subjects were detected by qRT-PCR, its value in the early diagnosis of postoperative biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer was assessed by ROC curve analysis, and the correlation of its expression level with the clinicopathological parameters of the patients were analyzed.

Clinical value of serum trophoblast cell surface protein 2 (TROP2) antibody in non-small-cell lung cancer patients.

Objective: This study was to explore the clinical role of serum trophoblast cell surface protein 2 (TROP2) antibody in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: We collected serum specimens from 117 NSCLC patients, 40 benign lung disease patients, and 60 healthy controls. TROP2 antibody concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A Novel Method for Detection the Deafness-Associated Mitochondrial A1555G and C1494T Mutations.

Background: To develop a novel method for molecular detection of deafness-associated mitochondrial A1555G and C1494T mutations.

Methods: We designed four primers that specifically bind to human mitochondrial 12S rRNA. PCR amplification of DNA samples including the A1555G, C1494T, and healthy controls is performed.

Mitochondrial COI/tRNASer(UCN) G7444A mutation may be associated with aminoglycoside-induced and non-syndromic hearing impairment.

Mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been reported to have important roles in aminoglycoside-induced hearing impairment; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms have remained largely elusive. The current study presented a case of a Chinese patient with maternally inherited aminoglycoside-induced hearing impairment. A profound hearing impairment was identified by clinical evaluation; furthermore, analysis of the mitochondrial genome sequence of the patient revealed the presence of an A1555G mutation in the 12S rRNA as well as a G7444A mutation in the COI/tRNASer(UCN) gene.

Expression of ERCC1, MSH2 and PARP1 in non-small cell lung cancer and prognostic value in patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate the prognostic value of the expression of excision repair cross-complementation group l (ERCC1), MutS protein homolog 2 (MSH2) and poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) in non-small-cell lung cancer patients receiving platinum-based postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of ERCC1, MSH2 and PARP1 in 111 cases of non-small cell lung cancer paraffin embedded surgical specimens. Through og-rank survival analysis, we evaluated the prognostic value of the ERCC1, MSH2, PARP1 and the related clinicopathological factors.

Clinical value of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) in non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new type of tumor biomarker, eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2), in serum for the early diagnosis, confirmative diagnosis as well as assessment of treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: 130 patients with NSCLC and 50 healthy individuals undergoing physical examination in our hospital provided the observation and healthy control groups. An enzyme linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) method was applied to determine serum eEF2 levels.

Regulation of the calcium-sensing receptor in both stomatal movement and photosynthetic electron transport is crucial for water use efficiency and drought tolerance in Arabidopsis.

Production per amount of water used (water use efficiency, WUE) is closely correlated with drought tolerance. Although stomatal aperture can regulate WUE, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. Previous reports revealed that stomatal closure was inhibited in the calcium-sensing receptor (CAS) antisense line of Arabidopsis (CASas).

Emissions of nitric oxide from 79 plant species in response to simulated nitrogen deposition.

To assess the potential contribution of nitric oxide (NO) emission from the plants grown under the increasing nitrogen (N) deposition to atmospheric NO budget, the effects of simulated N deposition on NO emission and various leaf traits (e.g., specific leaf area, leaf N concentration, net photosynthetic rate, etc.

Calcium-sensing receptor regulates stomatal closure through hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide in response to extracellular calcium in Arabidopsis.

The Arabidopsis calcium-sensing receptor CAS is a crucial regulator of extracellular calcium-induced stomatal closure. Free cytosolic Ca(2+) (Ca(2+)(i)) increases in response to a high extracellular calcium (Ca(2+)(o)) level through a CAS signalling pathway and finally leads to stomatal closure. Multidisciplinary approaches including histochemical, pharmacological, fluorescent, electrochemical, and molecular biological methods were used to discuss the relationship of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and nitric oxide (NO) signalling in the CAS signalling pathway in guard cells in response to Ca(2+)(o).

Calcium and calcium receptor CAS promote Arabidopsis thaliana de-etiolation.

As a second messenger, the free cytosolic calcium ion (Ca(2+)) plays important roles in many biochemical and physiological processes including photosynthesis in plants. In this study, we investigated morphological changes, chlorophyll accumulation and chloroplast development during early photomorphogenesis in etiolated seedlings of both Arabidopsis thaliana wild type (WT) and those with the antisense of CAS, a calcium sensor (CASas). Seedlings were grown at high, medium and low Ca(2+) concentrations to identify the roles of Ca(2+) and CAS in de-etiolation and chloroplast development.

Hydrogen sulphide enhances photosynthesis through promoting chloroplast biogenesis, photosynthetic enzyme expression, and thiol redox modification in Spinacia oleracea seedlings.

Hydrogen sulphide (H(2)S) is emerging as a potential messenger molecule involved in modulation of physiological processes in animals and plants. In this report, the role of H(2)S in modulating photosynthesis of Spinacia oleracea seedlings was investigated. The main results are as follows.

Effects of calcium on seed germination, seedling growth and photosynthesis of six forest tree species under simulated acid rain.

We selected six tree species, Pinus massoniana Lamb., Cryptomeria fortunei Hooibr. ex Otto et Dietr.

Identification of cytokines involved in hepatic differentiation of mBM-MSCs under liver-injury conditions.

Aim: To identify the key cytokines involved in hepatic differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mBM-MSCs) under liver-injury conditions.

Methods: Abdominal injection of CCl(4) was adopted to duplicate a mouse acute liver injury model. Global gene expression analysis was performed to evaluate the potential genes involved in hepatic commitment under liver-injury conditions.

Direct hepatic differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells induced by valproic acid and cytokines.

Aim: To develop a protocol for direct hepatic lineage differentiation from early developmental progenitors to a population of mature hepatocytes.

Methods: Hepatic progenitor cells and then mature hepatocytes from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells were obtained in a sequential manner, induced by valproic acid (VPA) and cytokines (hepatocyte growth factor, epidermal growth factor and insulin). Morphological changes of the differentiated cells were examined by phase-contrast microscopy and electron microscopy.

Recruitment of endogenous bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells towards injured liver.

Recent studies suggest that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess a greater differentiation potential than once thought and that they have the capacity to regenerate damaged tissues/organs. However, the evidence is insufficient, and the mechanism governing the recruitment and homing of MSCs to these injured sites is not well understood. We first examined the MSCs circulating in peripheral blood and then performed chemotaxis, wound healing and tubule-formation assays to investigate the migration capability of mouse bone marrow MSCs (mBM-MSCs) in response to liver-injury signals.

Induction of hepatic differentiation of mouse bone marrow stromal stem cells by the histone deacetylase inhibitor VPA.

Bone marrow stromal stem cells (BMSSCs) may have potential to differentiate in vitro and in vivo into hepatocytes. Here, we investigated the effects of valproic acid (VPA) involved in epigenetic modification, a direct inhibitor of histone deacetylase, on hepatic differentiation of mouse BMSSCs. Following the treatment of 2.

Mesenchymal stem cells: a promising candidate in regenerative medicine.

Mesenchymal stem cells were initially characterized as plastic adherent, fibroblastoid cells. In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on mesenchymal stem cells since they have great plasticity and are potential for therapeutic applications. Mesenchymal stem cells or mesenchymal stem cell-like cells have been shown to reside within the connective tissues of most organs.

[Differentiation of adult mouse mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes cultured in a conditioned culture medium of injured hepatocytes].

Objective: To establish a method through which murine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be induced into hepatocytes in vitro.

Methods: A conditioned medium of injured hepatocytes (with CCl4 in vivo) was used to culture the isolated MSCs. The differentiated cells were identified by morphological observation, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunofluorescence assay (for AFP, Albumin, and CK18) and periodic acid schiff reaction (PAS) for glycogen.

In vitro differentiation of mouse bone marrow stromal stem cells into hepatocytes induced by conditioned culture medium of hepatocytes.

The differentiation potential of adult stem cells has long been believed to be limited to the tissue or germ layer of their origin. However, recent studies have demonstrated that adult stem cells may encompass a greater potential than once thought. In the present study, we examined whether murine bone marrow derived stromal stem cells (BMSSCs) are able to differentiate into functional hepatocytes in vitro.

[Establishment and application of fluorescent quantitative PCR method for detecting human herpes virus type 6].

Objective: To establish fluorescent quantitative PCR method for detecting human herpes virus type 6 (HHV6).

Methods: According to the specific sequence of human herpes virus type 6 genes, the primers and the fluorescent probe (TaqMan) were designed and synthesized. The fragment generated from HHV 6 gene as template was cloned into the pMD18-T vector which was constructed from the pUC 18.