Oncogenic and immunological roles of RACGAP1 in pan-cancer and its potential value in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

A particular GTPase-activating protein called RACGAP1 is involved in apoptosis, proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance in a variety of malignancies. Nevertheless, the role of RACGAP1 in pan-cancer was less studied, and its value of the expression and prognostic of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has not been explored. Hence, the goal of this study was to investigate the oncogenic and immunological roles of RACGAP1 in various cancers and its potential value in NPC.

Solitary neurofibroma of the heart.

Solitary neurofibroma of the heart is extremely unusual. Few reports of neurofibroma in the left ventricle have been published. In this case report, we present the results of transthoracic echocardiography, myocardial contrast echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and histopathologic examination of a patient with a neurofibroma of the heart.

The Effect of Compound on Fluorouracil and Oxaliplatin Resistance in Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Fluorouracil (5-FU) and oxaliplatin (L-OHP) are the most commonly used chemotherapy drugs for colorectal cancer, though resistance is common. Compound injection is a traditional Chinese medicine that can protect the liver against oxidation, improve immunity, and enhance sensitivity to chemotherapy; it may have an effect of reversing resistance in 5-FU- and L-OHP-resistant gastric cancer cells (5-FU/SW480 and L-OHP/SW480, respectively). A concentration gradient experiment was performed to identify a nontoxic dose of compound injection.

Contrast Transthoracic Echocardiography Using 50% Glucose as a Contrast Agent for Screening of a Patent Foramen Ovale.

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) is considered a risk factor for neurologic events. The goal of the study described here was to assess the feasibility, advantages, diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy of contrast transthoracic echocardiography examination (cTTE) using 50% glucose as a contrast agent in comparison with the use of agitated saline as contrast to screen for PFO. In our study, we found that the peak time, effective duration and duration of microbubbles produced by 50% glucose were all longer than those produced by the physiologic saline.

[Effect of vascular endothelial growth factor C and collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 expression on prognosis of rectal carcinoma patients].

Objective: To explore the relationship of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1) expression with the carcinogenesis and prognosis of rectal cancer.

Methods: Cancer tissue samples from 120 rectal cancer patients confirmed by pathology in the People's Hospital of Yichun City from September 2005 to September 2010 were included in the study. Expressions of CTHRC1 and VEGF-C were examined by immunohistochemistry and their correlations with clinicopathological features and prognosis were analyzed.

Molecular imaging of vulnerable plaques in rabbits using contrast-enhanced ultrasound targeting to vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2.

Purpose: Increased neovascularization has been identified as a feature of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability and can be traced by microbubble ultrasound contrast agents (UCA). We investigated the relationship between retention of a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) targeted UCA and VEGFR-2 expression in a vulnerable plaque model in rabbits.

Methods: Microbubbles targeting to VEGFR-2 were prepared by conjugation of biotinylated microbubbles with biotinylated VEGFR-2 antibody via streptavidin.

Myocardium-targeted transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells by diagnostic ultrasound-mediated microbubble destruction improves cardiac function in myocardial infarction of New Zealand rabbits.

Background: Therapeutic ultrasound-mediated microbubble destruction has been applied in the targeted delivery of genes, drugs and stem cells. We intended to study whether diagnostic US irradiating lipid-coated microbubble destruction combined with bone-marrow derived MSC infusion could enable the targeted delivery of MSCs into the myocardium and improve cardiac function of the myocardial infarction of New Zealand rabbits.

Methods: Diagnostic ultrasound was applied to the anterior chest for 10 min after intravenous injection of lipid-coated microbubble followed by infusion of BM-MSCs.

Value of myocardial regional perfusion on long-term function in collateral-dependent myocardium.

Background: Collateral circulation is considered key for left ventricular (LV) function recovery in patients with chronic total occlusion (CTO). However, there are conflicting reports about the influence of collaterals on LV recovery after revascularization.

Methods: Echocardiographic assessment of regional myocardial perfusion, wall motion score (WMS), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were performed in patients with angiographically visible collateral circulation of grades 2 and 3.

[Beneficial effects of probucol on endothelial function in patients with acute coronary syndrome].

Objective: The study investigate the antioxidant probucol on endothelial function in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: A total of 49 ACS patients randomly received standard therapy plus probucol (P, n = 24) or standard therapy (C, n = 25). Plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), nitric oxide (NO) and circulating endothelial cells (CEC) were measured.

Analysis of cytogenetic damage in rice seeds induced by energetic heavy ions on-ground and after spaceflight.

To analyze the biological effects of the space environment, we flew nine lines of rice seeds on the Chinese 20(th) recoverable satellite for a duration of 18 days. The same lines of seeds were also irradiated to low doses (2.0 mGy) of Carbon, or Neon or Iron ions (with different LET value of 13.