Prognostic nomogram for hepatocellular carcinoma patients after transarterial chemoembolization based on des-γ-carboxy prothrombin reactivity and modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.

Aims: The aim of this study was to construct a nomogram that will predict the overall survival (OS) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE).

Materials And Methods: Imaging data, clinical characteristics, and serum des-γ-carboxy prothrombin (DCP) levels of 93 HCC patients treated with TACE were collected. Lasso regression, random forest, and other methods were used to screen the OS-related variables and construct the Cox prognosis model.

Annexin A2 promotion of hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis the immune microenvironment.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with a dismal prognosis, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages. Annexin A2 (ANXA2), is found to promote cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. However, the underlining mechanisms of ANXA2 in immune escape of HCC remain poorly understood up to now.

MicroRNA-30c inhibits metastasis of ovarian cancer by targeting metastasis-associated gene 1.

Background: It is important to find reliable molecular markers or biological targets that associate with ovarian cancer (OC) metastasis for diagnosis and treatment. In this study, researchers investigated the regulated chain of microRNA-30c (miR-30c) and metastasis-associated gene 1 (MTA1) in OC tissues and cells.

Materials And Methods: Expression of miR-30c and MTA1 was detected with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry in 33 OC and matched adjacent tissues.

Actin cytoskeleton reorganization correlates with polarization of secretory vesicle and cell morphology in the degranulation of mast cell subtypes in human colon tissues.

Mast cells play a central role in the intestinal immune response. To investigate the relationship between degranulation, cell polarization and the reorganization of actin cytoskeleton of mast cells, we used fluorescence or gold labeling methods to identify different mast cell subtypes in human colon. The reorganization of filamentous actin was visualized and then the polarization of secretory vesicles, as well as cell surfaces, was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy.

[Short hairpin RNA mediated glypican-3 silencing inhibits hepatoma cell invasiveness and disrupts molecular pathways of angiogenesis].

Objective: To construct glypican-3 (GPC-3) short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and investigate the effects of GPC-3 transcription silencing on hepatoma cell invasion and angiogenesis mechanisms.

Methods: GPC-3-specific shRNA and non-target control shRNA were constructed and transfected into the human hepatoma cell lines HepG2, MHCC-97H, and Huh7. shRNA-mediated silencing of GPC-3 expression was confirmed at the mRNA and protein levels by fluorescence quantitative reverse transcription (FQRT)-PCR and western blotting, respectively.

Values of circulating GPC-3 mRNA and alpha-fetoprotein in detecting patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poor and its early diagnosis is of the utmost importance. This study aimed to investigate the values of glypican-3 (GPC-3) expression in the liver and sera and its gene transcription for diagnosis and monitoring of metastasis of HCC.

Methods: Liver GPC-3 was analyzed in HCC tissues from 36 patients by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting.

[Correlation between epigenetic alterations in the insulin growth factor-II gene and hepatocellular carcinoma].

To investigate whether epigenetic alterations in the insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) gene that cause differential transcription or expression are correlated with onset and severity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patient-matched specimens of HCC, paracancerous, and non-cancerous tissues were collected from 40 primary liver cancer patients. Epigenetic alterations in the promoter (P3) sequence of the IGF-II gene were analyzed by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and IGF-II transcription was measured by RT-PCR.

Effects of N-n-butyl haloperidol iodide on the rat myocardial sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase during ischemia/reperfusion.

We have previously shown that N-n-butyl haloperidol iodide (F(2)), a newly synthesized compound, reduces ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury by preventing intracellular Ca(2+) overload through inhibiting L-type calcium channels and outward current of Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger. This study was to investigate the effects of F(2) on activity and protein expression of the rat myocardial sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) during I/R to discover other molecular mechanisms by which F(2) maintains intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis. In an in vivo rat model of myocardial I/R achieved by occluding coronary artery for 30-60 min followed by 0-120 min reperfusion, treatment with F(2) (0.

Oncofetal antigen glypican-3 as a promising early diagnostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by a multi-cause, multi-stage and multi-focus process of tumor progression. Its prognosis is poor and early diagnosis is of utmost importance. This study was undertaken to investigate the dynamic expression of oncofetal antigen glypican-3 (GPC-3) and GPC-3 mRNA in hepatocarcinogenesis and to explore their early diagnostic value for HCC.

[Inhibitory effect of miRNA silencing hypoxia-inducible factor alpha subunit gene on the proliferation of HepG2 cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of miRNA silencing HIF-1α gene on the proliferation of HepG2 cells.

Methods: The eukaryotic expression plasmids of HIF-1α miRNA and report gene containing hypoxia-reponse element were constructed and transfected into HepG2 cells. The expressions of HIF-1α gene and protein were determined by real time-PCR and Western blotting.

[Expression features of glypican-3 and its diagnostic and differential values in hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the expression features of glypican-3 (GPC-3) and its diagnostic and differential values in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Rat hepatoma models were made and the dynamic expression features of GPC-3 protein and its gene were investigated by Western blotting and RT-PCR respectively. Liver specimens from 36 HCC patients were collected by self-control method and the expression and clinicopathological features of GPC-3 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

[Dynamic alterations of VEGF and intervention of its expression on effect of hepatocyte malignant transformation].

Objective: To investigate the influences of VEGF expression through the intervention of thalidomide in malignant transformation of hepatocytes.

Methods: Hepatoma model was induced with 2-fluorenyl-acetamide (2-FAA, 0.05%) in male SD rats.

[Effect of siRNA-mediated inhibition of nuclear transcription factor-kappa B on apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of siRNA-mediated inhibition of NF-κB on apoptosis of hepatocarcinoma cells.

Methods: Specific small interfering RNA Targeting NF-κB gene was synthesized and transfected into HepG2 cells by liposomes. Nested RT-PCR and quantitative RT-PCR were used to detect the mRNA expression of NF-κB.

[Expression characteristics of hypoxia inducible factor-1a and its clinical values in hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the dynamic expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and its clinical values in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The dynamic changes of liver pathology, HIF-1alpha transcription and expression were observed through the hepatoma model. The self-control specimens from 35 human HCC patients were collected and the expression, cellular distribution, and clinicopathological features of HIF-1alpha and its gene was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, western blotting and nested- PCR, respectively.

[Determination of serum copper and zinc in different chemical forms by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with ethanol-EDTA precipitation method].

A simple and reliable method was developed for the determination of serum copper and zinc in different chemical forms by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) with ethanol-EDTA precipitation. The serum and ethanol were mixed with volume ratio 1 : 2. The mixture was incubated at 70 degrees C and ultra-centrifuged to precipitate proteins.

Delayed hepatocarcinogenesis through antiangiogenic intervention in the nuclear factor-kappa B activation pathway in rats.

Background: The active form of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) is involved in the initiation, generation, and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and is up-regulated in inflammation-associated malignancies. We investigated the dynamic expression of NF-kappaB and its influences on the occurrence of HCC through antiangiogenic (thalidomide) intervention in NF-kappaB activation.

Methods: Hepatoma models were induced with 2-fluorenylacetamide (2-FAA, 0.

N-n-Butyl haloperidol iodide protects against hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced cardiomyocyte injury by modulating protein kinase C activity.

N-n-Butyl haloperidol iodide (F2), a novel compound derived from haloperidol, protects against the damaging effects of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in vitro and in vivo. We tested whether the myocardial protection of F2 on cardiomyocyte hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury is mediated by modulating protein kinase C (PKC) activity in primary cultured cardiomyocytes. Primary cultures of ventricular cardiomyocytes underwent 2-h hypoxia and 30-min reoxygenation.

[Determination of trace free copper and zinc in serum samples by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry after two-step precipitation of protein].

A method was developed for the determination of trace free copper and zinc in serum sample by GFAAS after two-step precipitation. The serum and ethanol were mixed with volume ratio of 1 : 2. The mixture was subsequently denatured at 70 degrees C and centrifuged to precipitate proteins.

Characteristics of hepatic nuclear-transcription factor-kappa B expression and quantitative analysis in rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. We analyzed the expression of nuclear-transcription factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) during hepatocarcinogenesis in order to evaluate its dynamic expression and its clinical value in the development and diagnosis of HCC.

Methods: Hepatoma models were induced by oral administration of 2-acetamidoflurene (2-FAA) to male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Quantitative analysis of hepatic hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha and its abnormal gene expression during the formation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatic hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is activated in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the dynamic alterations of HIF-1alpha and its gene expression so as to explore the relationship between HIF-1alpha expression and hepatocarcinogenesis at the early stage of HCC.

Methods: A hepatoma model was made with 2-fluorenyl-acetamide (2-FAA) in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Abnormal expression of insulin-like growth factor-II and its dynamic quantitative analysis at different stages of hepatocellular carcinoma development.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is characterized by multiple causes, clear multiple stages and a multifocal process of tumor progression related intimately to the overexpression of many cellular factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamic expression of insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) and its abnormal alteration in the early stages of HCC development.

Methods: Hepatoma models were induced by 2-fluorenylacetamide (2-FAA) in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Clinical impact of plasma TGF-beta1 and circulating TGF-beta1 mRNA in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays an important role in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation, angiogenesis, extracellular matrix formation, immunosuppression and cancer development. In this study, we investigated the levels of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta1 mRNA expression, their relationship with HBV replication, and their diagnostic value for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Total RNAs were extracted from HCC samples and matched non-tumor tissues, and from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in HCC patients.