Protective treatments and their target retinal ganglion cells in diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is one of the complications of diabetes which could cause severe vision loss. Retinal ganglion cell(RGC)injury has been confirmed prior to micro-vascular damage. Over the past few decades, a number of animal and clinical studies have confirmed that RGC impairment leads to an early deterioration of vision in DR.

Function of obestatin in the digestive system.

Physical health has a direct relationship with digestive function. Any abnormalities in the link may cause malnutrition, endocrine disorders, and the decline of organ functions. Obestatin, a biologically active peptide, is encoded by the ghrelin gene.

Hepcidin and iron metabolism in non-diabetic obese and type 2 diabetic rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of iron levels and hepatic regulatory molecules expression involved in iron metabolism in non-diabetic obese/type 2 diabetic rat models. Male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups: control group, non-diabetic obese group and type 2 diabetic group (n=20 each). The rats were evaluated physiologically and biochemically.

Expression and prognostic value of ING3 in human primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

The tumor-suppressor ING3 has been shown to be involved in tumor transcriptional regulation, apoptosis and the cell cycle. Some studies have demonstrated that ING3 is dysregulated in several types of cancers. However, the expression and function of ING3 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear.

Relationship between down-regulation of HIC1 and PTEN genes and dysfunction of pancreatic islet cells in diabetic rats.

The aim of the study was to investigate the protein expression of hypermethylated in cancer 1 (HIC1 ) and phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) genes and to study their mRNA expressions in normal and diabetic pancreatic islet cells in rats in order to try and identify the functions of these genes in the development and advancement of diabetes. We further aimed to analyze the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which is regulated by PTEN and to investigate the possible mechanism of PTEN affecting the function of diabetic islet cells. The expressions of HIC1, PTEN and mTOR genes were examined in the pancreatic islets of 20 normal male Wistar rats and 47 diabetic male Wistar rats by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR.

Expression and prognostic values of Id-1 and Id-3 in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: Id (inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding)-1 and -3 are involved in neoangiogenesis; they antagonize basic helix-loop-helix proteins, inhibit differentiation, and enhance cell proliferation. The aim of this study was to investigate Id-1 and -3 expression in gastric tumors and their clinical relevance in gastric cancer.

Materials And Methods: We investigated Id-1 and Id-3 expression in gastric cancer samples by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, and further analyzed the relationship between expression of Id-1 and Id-3 and clinicopathologic characteristics.

Expression and prognostic value of Id protein family in human breast carcinoma.

Inhibitors of DNA binding/inhibitors of differentiation (Id) protein family (Id-1, -2, -3 and -4) of helix-loop-helix proteins have been shown to be involved in carcinogenesis and are regarded as prognostic markers in several types of human cancers. However, the roles of Id proteins during breast carcinoma progression remain unclear. The objective was to study the effects of Id proteins in breast cancer.