Association between MMP-12-82A/G polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Background: Numerous studies have focused on the association between MMP-12-82A>G polymorphism and cancer risk, but produced inconsistent results. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of case-control study to evaluate the association of MMP-12-82A>G polymorphism and cancer risk.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted among PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wangfang databases updated on May 1st, 2015.

Elevated homocysteine levels contribute to larger hematoma volume in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: We investigate whether plasma homocysteine (HCY) levels are associated with hematoma volume and outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

Methods: A total of 69 patients admitted within 24 hours after ICH onset was divided into 2 groups based on admission plasma HCY levels (low homocysteinemia [LHCY] group, plasma HCY concentrations ≤14.62 μmol/L, versus high homocysteinemia [HHCY] group, >14.

Increased expression of USP22 is associated with disease progression and patient prognosis of salivary duct carcinoma.

Objectives: Ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) could exhibit a critical function in pathological processes, including oncogenesis and cell cycle progression. This study examines the protein expression of USP22 in salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) in association with patient survival and other clinicopathologic parameters.

Materials And Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to determine the expression of USP22 protein in 44 SDCs in comparison with 20 non-cancerous salivary tissues.

Alendronate-conjugated amphiphilic hyperbranched polymer based on Boltorn H40 and poly(ethylene glycol) for bone-targeted drug delivery.

A novel type of alendronate(ALE)-conjugated amphiphilic hyperbranched copolymer based on a hydrophobic hyperbranched Boltorn H40 (H40) core with ALE targeting moiety and many hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) arms was synthesized as a carrier for bone-targeted drug delivery. The star copolymer H40-star-PEG/ALE was characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analysis. Benefiting from its highly branched structure, H40-star-PEG/ALE could form micelles in aqueous solution, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques.

USP22 is useful as a novel molecular marker for predicting disease progression and patient prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Background And Objective: The significance of ubiquitin-specific protease 22 (USP22) as a potential marker has been growing in the field of oncology. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of USP22 and the association with its potential targets in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of USP22 protein in 319 OSCC patients in comparison with 42 healthy controls.

Increased expression of CD147 and MMP-9 is correlated with poor prognosis of salivary duct carcinoma.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate expression of CD147 and MMP-9 in salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) so as to determine whether these two genes may be correlated with poor prognosis of SDC.

Methods: We examined the significance of the CD147 and MMP-9 expression in SDC (n = 35), non-cancerous salivary tissue (n = 20) in previously untreated patients using immunohistochemical staining. Furthermore, we analyzed the correlation between the expression of these two genes and various clinicopathologic factors including survival status of patients with SDC.

New mutation of the patched homologue 1 gene in a Chinese family with naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.

Naevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), also known as Gorlin syndrome, is inherited in an autosomal dominant mode characterised by a combination of developmental anomalies and a predisposition to form tumours. Our aim was to search for patched homologue 1 (PTHC1) mutations in a Chinese family with NBCCS. Mutation analysis of PTCH1 was done of all 10 members of this family by amplified polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing.