Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Predicts Poor Disease-Free Survival in Patients Receiving Radical Gastrectomy.

BACKGROUND Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) has been proved to be a negative prognostic factor for several malignancies, but its clinical significance in gastric cancer (GC) patients has not been sufficiently studied. In the present retrospective study, we investigated the effect of serum ALP on disease-free survival (DFS) after radical gastrectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS We included 491 GC patients receiving radical gastrectomy at the Chinese People's Liberation Army 309th Hospital.

Clinical observation of gastric bypass in treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Background: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (GBP) is the main surgical procedure used in type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the different types of GBP in treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into two groups: those who underwent gastrojejunal loop anastomosis bypass and those who underwent gastrojejunal Roux-en-Y bypass.

Differential regulation and recovery of intracellular Ca2+ in cerebral and small mesenteric arterial smooth muscle cells of simulated microgravity rat.

Background: The differential adaptations of cerebrovasculature and small mesenteric arteries could be one of critical factors in postspaceflight orthostatic intolerance, but the cellular mechanisms remain unknown. We hypothesize that there is a differential regulation of intracellular Ca(2+) determined by the alterations in the functions of plasma membrane Ca(L) channels and ryanodine-sensitive Ca(2+) releases from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) in cerebral and small mesenteric vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of simulated microgravity rats, respectively.

Methodology/principal Findings: Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to 28-day hindlimb unweighting to simulate microgravity.

High glucose alters apoptosis and proliferation in HEK293 cells by inhibition of cloned BK Ca channel.

It has been reported that diabetic vascular dysfunction is associated with impaired function of large conductance Ca(2+) -activated K(+) (BK(Ca) ) channels. However, it is unclear whether impaired BK(Ca) channel directly participates in regulating diabetic vascular remodeling by altering cell growth in response to hyperglycemia. In the present study, we investigated the specific role of BK(Ca) channel in controlling apoptosis and proliferation under high glucose concentration (25 mM).

Lipopolysaccharide up-regulates IL-6R alpha expression in cultured leptomeningeal cells via activation of ERK1/2 pathway.

To clarify the response of leptomeningeal cells to immune stimulation, the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on expression of IL-6 receptors in the cultured leptomeningeal cells was investigated. The results showed that the expression of IL-6R alpha was invisible in the purified leptomeningeal cells while it was seen in the cells when they were co-cultured with astrocytes. On the other hand, GP130 was moderately expressed in both conditions.