A positive feedback regulatory loop involving the lncRNA PVT1 and HIF-1α in pancreatic cancer.

Extreme hypoxia is among the most prominent pathogenic features of pancreatic cancer (PC). Both the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 (PVT1) and hypoxic inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) are highly expressed in PC patients and play a crucial role in disease progression. Reciprocal regulation involving PVT1 and HIF-1α in PC, however, is poorly understood.

Urinary miRNA-29a-3p levels are associated with metabolic parameters via regulation of IGF1 in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) have been demonstrated to serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in metabolic syndrome (MetS). The role of urinary miRNAs in MetS diagnosis remains unknown. Here, elevated miR-29a-3p levels were observed in urine samples of patients with MetS compared with control subjects using a microarray analysis (n=4/group) and validation via reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (n=40/group).

Circulating miR-143-3p inhibition protects against insulin resistance in Metabolic Syndrome via targeting of the insulin-like growth factor 2 receptor.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by a cluster of metabolic disorders including obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension. Here, we report that 27 microRNAs were found to be expressed differently in serum and urine samples of MetS patients compared to control subjects on microarray analysis. Further qualitative real time- polymerase chain reaction analyses confirmed that circulating levels of miR-143-3p were significantly elevated in MetS patients compared with controls, both in serum and urine samples.

A Small Indel Mutant Mouse Model of Epidermolytic Palmoplantar Keratoderma and Its Application to Mutant-specific shRNA Therapy.

Epidermolytic palmoplantar keratoderma (EPPK) is a relatively common autosomal-dominant skin disorder caused by mutations in the keratin 9 gene (KRT9), with few therapeutic options for the affected so far. Here, we report a knock-in transgenic mouse model that carried a small insertion-deletion (indel) mutant of Krt9, c.434delAinsGGCT (p.

Transcatheter arterial embolization for intercostal arterial bleeding in a patient after chest tube insertion.

Retrograde tube radiography is commonly used in cholangiography and pyelography. We present a case of massive chest tube bleeding 10 days after tube insertion with no noted contrast extravasation on contrast enhanced chest CT with active bleeding detected by retrograde radiography via the chest tube. Subsequent transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was successfully performed as a definitive treatment to stop active bleeding.

Resection of a cholangiocarcinoma via laparoscopic hepatopancreato- duodenectomy: a case report.

Some laterally advanced cholangiocarcinomas behave as ductal spread or local invasion, and hepatopancreatoduodenectomy (HPD) may be performed for R0 resection. To date, there have been no reports of laparoscopic HPD (LHPD) in the English literature. We report the first case of LHPD for the resection of a Bismuth IIIa cholangiocarcinoma invading the duodenum.

Pancreatic solid cystic desmoid tumor: case report and literature review.

Desmoid tumors (DTs) are nonmetastatic, locally aggressive neoplasms with a high rate of postoperative recurrence. Pancreatic DTs are especially rare; only a few cases have been reported to date. This paper describes a case of a sporadic cystic DT of the pancreas managed successfully with central pancreatectomy, with no signs of recurrence 40 mo after surgery.

Successful interventional radiological management of postoperative complications of laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy.

During the past decade, laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) has gained increasing acceptance in the surgical community as a viable treatment option for distal pancreatic lesions. However, the possible complication of post-LDP pancreatic leakage remains a challenge, because it may lead to a series of events resulting in intraperitoneal abscess formation, sepsis, pseudoaneurysm formation, and occasional fatal hemorrhage. Dealing with these complications is extremely difficult and not much experience has been reported to date.

EGB1212 post-treatment ameliorates hippocampal CA1 neuronal death and memory impairment induced by transient global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.

Extracts of Ginkgo biloba have been used in traditional medicines for centuries, and have potential for clinical applications in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, standardized extracts have proven protective only as pre-treatments, and the major mechanisms of action remain unclear. We explored the potential of the novel extract EGB1212, which meets the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 31 standardization criteria for pharmaceutical use, as a post-treatment after global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (GCI/R) injury in a rat model.

Modeling, synthesis and biological evaluation of potential retinoid X receptor (RXR) selective agonists: novel analogues of 4-[1-(3,5,5,8,8-pentamethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (bexarotene).

This report describes the synthesis of analogues of 4-[1-(3,5,5,8,8-pentamethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl)ethynyl]benzoic acid (1), commonly known as bexarotene, and their analysis in acting as retinoid X receptor (RXR)-specific agonists. Compound 1 has FDA approval to treat cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL); however, its use can cause side effects such as hypothyroidism and increased triglyceride concentrations, presumably by disruption of RXR heterodimerization with other nuclear receptors. The novel analogues in the present study have been evaluated for RXR activation in an RXR mammalian-2-hybrid assay as well as an RXRE-mediated transcriptional assay and for their ability to induce apoptosis as well as for their mutagenicity and cytotoxicity.