RASSF4 is downregulated in nonsmall cell lung cancer and inhibits cancer cell proliferation and invasion.

RASSF4 has been implicated as a tumor suppressor in several human cancers. Its clinical significance and biological characteristics in human nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been explored yet. In this study, we explored expression pattern of RASSF4 in 89 NSCLC specimens.

Overexpression of ATP1B1 predicts an adverse prognosis in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia.

ATP1B1 encodes the Na,K-ATPase β subunit, a key regulator of the Na+ and K+ electrochemical gradients across the plasma membrane and an essential regulator of cellular activity. We used several microarray datasets to test the prognostic efficacy of ATP1B1 expression in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML). Within the primary cohort (n = 157), high ATP1B1 expression (ATP1B1(high)) was associated with shorter overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) (P = 0.

Ultra-low dose CT attenuation correction for PET/CT: analysis of sparse view data acquisition and reconstruction algorithms.

For PET/CT systems, PET image reconstruction requires corresponding CT images for anatomical localization and attenuation correction. In the case of PET respiratory gating, multiple gated CT scans can offer phase-matched attenuation and motion correction, at the expense of increased radiation dose. We aim to minimize the dose of the CT scan, while preserving adequate image quality for the purpose of PET attenuation correction by introducing sparse view CT data acquisition.

Efficacy of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Intermediate-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia Adult Patients in First Complete Remission: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Studies.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and consolidation chemotherapy have been used to treat intermediate-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients in first complete remission (CR1). However, it is still unclear which treatments are most effective for these patients. The aim of our study was to analyze the relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) benefit of allogeneic HSCT (alloHSCT) for intermediate-risk AML patients in CR1.

Investigation of Protein-Protein Interactions and Conformational Changes in Hedgehog Signaling Pathway by FRET.

Protein-protein interactions and signal-induced protein conformational changes are fundamental molecular events that are considered as essential in modern life sciences. Among various techniques developed to study such phenomena, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a widely used method with many advantages in detecting these molecular events. Here, we describe the application of FRET in the mechanistic investigation of cell signal transduction, taking the example of the Hh signaling pathway, which plays a critical role in embryonic development and tissue homeostasis.

Vitamin D3 inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced placental inflammation through reinforcing interaction between vitamin D receptor and nuclear factor kappa B p65 subunit.

It is increasingly recognized that vitamin D3 (VitD3) has an anti-inflammatory activity. The present study investigated the effects of maternal VitD3 supplementation during pregnancy on LPS-induced placental inflammation and fetal intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). All pregnant mice except controls were intraperitoneally injected with LPS (100 μg/kg) daily from gestational day (GD)15-17.

Maternal zinc deficiency during pregnancy elevates the risks of fetal growth restriction: a population-based birth cohort study.

We investigated the association between maternal zinc level during pregnancy and the risks of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) infants in a large population-based birth cohort study. In this study, 3187 pregnant women were recruited. For serum zinc level, 2940 pregnant women were sufficient (≥56 μg/dL) and 247 deficient (<56 μg/dL).

High-level expression and characterization of a thermophilic β-mannanase from Aspergillus niger in Pichia pastoris.

Objectives: A novel, high-level expression, thermostable mannan endo-1,4-beta-mannosidase is urgently needed for industrial applications.

Results: The mannan endo-1,4-β-mannosidase gene (MAN) from Aspergillus niger CBS 513.88 was optimized based on the codon usage bias in Pichia pastoris and synthesized by overlapping PCR to produce MAN-P.

A returning migrant worker with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus infection in Guizhou, China: a case report.

Introduction: Human infection with avian influenza A (H7N9) virus was first reported on March, 2013 in the Yangtze River Delta region of China. The majority of human cases were detected in mainland China; other regions out of mainland China reported imported human cases, including Hong Kong SAR, Taiwan (the Republic of China) and Malaysia, due to human transportation. Here, we report the first human case of H7N9 infection imported into Guizhou Province during the Spring Festival travel season in January 2014.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase binding protein 1 (MAPKBP1) is an unfavorable prognostic biomarker in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase binding protein 1 (MAPKBP1) is a key transcription factor in the NF-κB signalling pathway. In this study, associations between MAPKBP1 expression and molecular and clinical characteristics were evaluated by several microarray datasets. We found that MAPKBP1 was over-expressed in cytogenetically normal AML (CN-AML) patients compared to normal bone marrow.

DNA methylation combinations in adjacent normal colon tissue predict cancer recurrence: evidence from a clinical cohort study.

Accumulating evidence has suggested the requirement for further stratification of patients in the same tumor stage according to molecular factors. We evaluate the combination of cancer stage and DNA methylation status as an indicator of the risk of recurrence and mortality among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). A cohort study of 215 patients with CRC (mean age 64.

Effect of low-dose glucocorticoid on corticosteroid insufficient patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate of critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency (CIRCI) and the effect of low-dose glucocorticoid on prognosis of CIRCI in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

Methods: Since January 2010 to December 2012, 385 patients, who met the criteria of AECOPD, were enrolled in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the First People's Hospital and Municipal Central Hospital of Xiangtan City. The AECOPD patients complicated with CIRCI screened by an adrenalcorticotrophic hormone test within 12 hours after admission to ICU were divided into a treatment group (n=32) and a control group (n=31) for a prospective, randomized and controlled clinical trial.

High expression of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor, type 2 (ITPR2) as a novel biomarker for worse prognosis in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia.

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor, type 2 (ITPR2) is a key regulator for the activity of calcium ion transmembrane transportation, which plays a critical role in cell cycle and proliferation. However, the clinical impact of ITPR2 in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML) remained unknown. Several microarray datasets were used to evaluate the association between ITPR2 expression and clinical and molecular characteristics.

Maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy elevates the risks of small for gestational age and low birth weight infants in Chinese population.

Context: Vitamin D deficiency is common in pregnant women. Nevertheless, the association between maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy and the risk of having small for gestational age (SGA) and low birth weight (LBW) infants is uncertain.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is a correlation between maternal vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy and the risk of having SGA and LBW infants in a Chinese population.

Continuous 24-hour ocular dimensional profile recording in medically treated normal-tension glaucoma.

Purpose: To analyze the 24-hour ocular dimensional profile in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients on medical treatment.

Methods: Consecutive, medically treated NTG subjects were recruited from a university eye center. Subjects were on a mean of 1.

Phase transformations in binary colloidal monolayers.

Phase transformations can be difficult to characterize at the microscopic level due to the inability to directly observe individual atomic motions. Model colloidal systems, by contrast, permit the direct observation of individual particle dynamics and of collective rearrangements, which allows for real-space characterization of phase transitions. Here, we study a quasi-two-dimensional, binary colloidal alloy that exhibits liquid-solid and solid-solid phase transitions, focusing on the kinetics of a diffusionless transformation between two crystal phases.

High-density genetic linkage map construction and QTL mapping of grain shape and size in the wheat population Yanda1817 × Beinong6.

High-density genetic linkage maps are necessary for precisely mapping quantitative trait loci (QTLs) controlling grain shape and size in wheat. By applying the Infinium iSelect 9K SNP assay, we have constructed a high-density genetic linkage map with 269 F 8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) developed between a Chinese cornerstone wheat breeding parental line Yanda1817 and a high-yielding line Beinong6. The map contains 2431 SNPs and 128 SSR & EST-SSR markers in a total coverage of 3213.

Supplementation with vitamin D3 during pregnancy protects against lipopolysaccharide-induced neural tube defects through improving placental folate transportation.

Several reports demonstrated that maternal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure at middle gestational stage caused neural tube defects (NTDs). This study investigated the effects of supplementation with vitamin D3 (VitD3) during pregnancy on LPS-induced NTDs. Pregnant mice except controls were ip injected with LPS (25 μg/kg) daily from gestational day (GD)8 to GD12.

Identification of let-7a-2-3p or/and miR-188-5p as prognostic biomarkers in cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia.

Cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN-AML) is the largest and most heterogeneous AML subgroup. It lacks sensitive and specific biomarkers. Emerging evidences have suggested that microRNAs are involved in the pathogenesis of various leukemias.

[Computed tomograph findings of tissue adjacent to thoracic vertebrae involved by IgG4-related disease].

Objective: To evaluate the computed tomograph (CT) findings of IgG4-related disease (RD) involving soft tissue adjacent to thoracic vertebrae.

Methods: The chest and abdomen CT findings of 22 cases of IgG4-RD proved by orbital pathology and/or laboratory examination were retrospectively reviewed. The CT findings of paravertebral soft tissue in posterior mediastinum and the corresponding follow-up after therapy were primarily observed.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the survival outcomes of first-line treatment options in high-risk prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-dermatologic cancer in the western countries in western countries. High-risk PCa accounts for 15% of the diagnosed cases. In this study, we compare the long-term survival outcomes of radical prostatectomy (RP), radiation therapy (RT), brachytherapy (BT), androgen- deprivation therapy (ADT), and watchful waiting (WW) in high-risk prostate cancer (PCa).

The role of electrical stimulation therapy in ophthalmic diseases.

Introduction: Electrical stimulation therapy (EST) involves the use of a low-intensity electrical current in the treatment of neuromuscular conditions. During the recent two decades, EST has emerged as a potential neuroprotective strategy in certain ophthalmic diseases, aided by a lack of effective management for these conditions.

Purpose: The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss current available evidence for the use of EST in ophthalmic diseases in the laboratory setting and in human trials.

Twenty-four-hour intraocular pressure related changes following adjuvant selective laser trabeculoplasty for normal tension glaucoma.

To investigate intraocular pressure (IOP) related patterns before and after selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) for normal tension glaucoma (NTG).In this prospective cohort study, 18 NTG patients underwent SLT. Success was defined as IOP reduction ≥ 20% by Goldmann applanation tonometry.

Orally administered melatonin prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced neural tube defects in mice.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been associated with adverse pregnant outcomes, including fetal demise, intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR), neural tube defects (NTDs) and preterm delivery in rodent animals. Previous studies demonstrated that melatonin protected against LPS-induced fetal demise, IUGR and preterm delivery. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of melatonin on LPS-induced NTDs.

CRKL protein overexpression enhances cell proliferation and invasion in pancreatic cancer.

CRKL is an adapter protein which is overexpressed in many malignant tumors and plays crucial roles in tumor progression. However, expression pattern and biological roles of CRKL in pancreatic cancer have not been examined. In the present study, we found that CRKL expression in pancreatic cancer specimens was higher than that in normal pancreatic tissues.