Osteopontin Deficiency Alters Biliary Homeostasis and Protects against Gallstone Formation.

The precipitation of excess biliary cholesterol as solid crystals is a prerequisite for cholesterol gallstone formation, which occurs due to disturbed biliary homeostasis. Biliary homeostasis is regulated by an elaborate network of genes in hepatocytes. If unmanaged, the cholesterol crystals will aggregate, fuse and form gallstones.

Loss of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 promotes growth of gallbladder cancer.

The aim of this study is to investigate the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in gallbladder cancer (GBC) and the therapeutic potential of angiotensin receptor blocker in GBC. Human gallbladder epithelial cells (HGBEC) together with GBC cells and tissue samples were used. In vitro studies were carried out to investigate the role of ACE2 in GBC cells.

Inhibition of mTOR pathway attenuates migration and invasion of gallbladder cancer via EMT inhibition.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive disease in which epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a critical role. Whether inhibition of mTOR effects via EMT reversal in GBC remains unclear. Using genetic and pharmacologic inhibitions of mTOR, we investigated the changes of EMT levels in GBC cells.

Do hyperechoic thyroid nodules on B-ultrasound represent calcification?

Objective: To explore the correlation between hyperechoic thyroid nodules observed on B-ultrasound and histological calcification seen in paraffin-wax sections.

Methods: Records of patients who underwent surgical removal of thyroid nodules diagnosed on preoperative B-ultrasound were analysed retrospectively. Calcification present on B-ultrasound was compared with calcification seen in postoperative pathology specimens.

Therapeutic effect of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F multiglycosides on gut barrier dysfunction in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

The aim of the current study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F multiglycosides (TWG) on gut barrier dysfunction in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). ANP was induced in rats using 3.5% sodium taurocholate.

Comparative proteomic analysis of gallbladder bile proteins related to cholesterol gallstones.

Background: Nucleation of cholesterol monohydrate crystals following the aggregation and fusion of cholesterol-enriched vesicles is a critical procedure in the formation of cholesterol gallstone. Biliary proteins play important roles in the process. It is inefficient to screen pro-nucleating or anti-nucleating proteins with routine physiochemical techniques, by which we discovered several pro-nucleating proteins.

Osteopontin and integrin are involved in cholesterol gallstone formation.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the role of osteopontin and its receptor, integrin αv, in gallstone formation using human tissue specimens and a guinea pig lithogenic model.

Material/methods: The nucleation role of osteopontin was determined in patients' and normal gallbladder bile samples in vitro. Normal gallbladder was the control, and gallstone gallbladders were divided into group I (with normal epithelia) and group II (with degenerated epithelia) based on pathology change.

A randomized trial of somatostatin to regulate the VEGFs/VEGFRs in patients with gastric cancer.

Background/aims: Angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are essential for tumor growth and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factors and their receptors (VEGFs/VEGFRs) are important to modulate vasculogenesis. Disregulation of the VEGFs/VEGFRs are closely related to tumor progression and prognosis.

The association of polymorphisms on TGFBR1 and colorectal cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Epidemiological studies found inconsistent results on the association of two variants on TGFBR1 (TGFBR1*6A and Int7G24A) with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. The present study was aimed to evaluate the association of these two variants with CRC susceptibility via the meta-analysis methods. For variant TGFBR1*6A, nine reports including 6,765 CRC patients and 8,496 unrelated controls were identified.

Preliminary screening and identification of stem cell-like sphere clones in a gallbladder cancer cell line GBC-SD.

This paper aims to screen and identify sphere clone cells with characteristics similar to cancer stem cells in human gallbladder cancer cell line GBC-SD. GBC-SD cells were cultured in a serum-free culture medium with different concentrations of the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin for generating sphere clones. The mRNA expressions of stem cell-related genes CD133, OCT-4, Nanog, and drug resistance genes ABCG2 and MDR-1 in sphere clones were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Osteopontin plays an anti-nucleation role in cholesterol gallstone formation.

Aim:   To investigate the role of osteopontin in cholesterol gallstone formation.

Methods:   Nucleation time was determined in model and human gallbladder bile in vitro. Effect of osteopontin on vesicles of bile was investigated via transmission electron microscopy.

[Experimental research of the inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor C expression in gastric cancer by targeting RNA interference].

Objective: To construct the plasmid expression vector pSIH1-H1-copGFP for RNA interference against vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and to evaluate its effect on the expression of VEGF-C mRNA in gastric cancer cells after transfection.

Methods: Three siRNAs of genome sequence of VEGF-C gene were retrieved from GenBank and one negative chain was used as control. Four siRNAs were cloned into plasmid pSIH1-H1-copGFP,which were then transfected into gastric cancer cells (SGC7901).

Over-expression of c-FLIP confers the resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis on gallbladder carcinoma.

Gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is an aggressive malignancy with high mortality, mainly due to the reduced chance of curative resection and the resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. Here, we showed that cellular Fas-associated death domain-like interleukin-1 converting enzyme inhibitory protein (c-FLIP), an anti-apoptotic protein, was over-expressed in the most of gallbladder carcinoma tissues, as judged by immunohistochemistry. Semi-quantitation was performed by determining the percentage of c-FLIP-positive cells: no positive cells (-), approximately 1% positive cells (+), approximately 30% positive cells (++), and >70% positive cells (+++).

[Differential analysis of protein profiles of vesicular phase and micellar phase of gallbladder bile from cholesterol gallstone patients].

Objective: To identify the proteins which play key roles during the formation of cholesterol gallstone, differential analysis was carried out that the proteome of vesicular phase and micellar phase of gallbladder bile from cholesterol gallstone patients.

Methods: Vesicular and micellar phases were isolated by the density gradient ultracentrifugation method. Total proteins from the two phases were extracted, and the protein expressional profiles were established by two-dimensional electrophoresis respectively.

Effect of Lidan Granule on bile lithogenesis in patients with choledocholithiasis combined with cholecystolithiasis.

Objective: To observe the effect of Lidan Granule (, LDG) on bile lithogenic tendency and biliary 33.5 kd vesicular protein (VP) and to explore its mechanism.

Methods: Sixty patients with choledocholithiasis combined with cholecystolithiasis were randomly assigned to the LDG treated group, the sodium cholate treated group for positive control, and the untreated control group, 20 patients in each group.

IL-12p40 is not required for islet allograft rejection.

Aim: To investigate whether IL-12p40 plays a crucial role in regulating islet allograft rejection in a streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mouse model.

Methods: C57BL/6 and IL-12p40 gene knockout mice were selected as recipient mice, to which the diabetes was induced with a treatment of STZ (150-200 mg/kg) by a single ip injection. BALB/c mice were selected as donor mice and islet cells were isolated from the mice.

[The study of the pro-nucleating activity of bacteria identified in cholesterol gallstones in model bile systems].

Objective: To explore the relationship of bacteria identified in cholesterol gallstones and gallstone formation.

Methods: Observe the bacteria activity in model bile and the influence of bacteria on the cholesterol nucleation time (NT).

Results: (1) Model bile were suitable for the growth of E.

[ELISA kit for detection of biliary vesicular protein and its preliminary clinical application].

Objective: To establish a rapid and precise detective method of 33.5 kd vesicular protein and to screen an effective treatment of cholelithiasis.

Methods: Specific antibody of the biliary vesicular protein was obtained by immunizing rabbits and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit was developed.

Purification and characterization of 33.5 kDa vesicular protein in human bile.

Aim: The present study was undertaken to purify and partially characterize the 33.5-kilodalton (33.5 kDa) vesicular protein in human bile and to explore the possible molecular mechanisms of the initial crystal nucleation process.

Identification of chromosomal imbalances in pancreatic carcinoma using comparative genomic hybridization.

Objective: To identify genetic abnormalities in primary pancreatic carcinoma in humans.

Methods: Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to investigate genomic imbalances in 27 cases of pancreatic carcinomas. Multiple deletions and gains were observed in all tumor specimens.

[Inhibition of proliferation of human vascular smooth muscle cells by overexpression of p21 gene].

Objective: To observe the apoptosis of human vascular smooth muscle cells (HVSMCs) transfected with p21 gene and investigate its potential mechanism.

Methods: An adenoviral expression vector with full-length cDNA of p21 gene insert (Ad-p21) was constructed and transfected into HVSMC. A mock vector, pAdeno-X-lac Z constructed with the same method, was transfected into HVSMCs as control.

[The study of pro-nucleating activity on 33.5 x 10(3) vesicular protein in bile].

Objective: To evaluate the pro-nucleating activity in 33.5 x 10(3) vesicular protein.

Methods: The model biles were established according Kibe and Zhu.