MicroRNA‑320a inhibition decreases insulin‑induced KGN cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting PCGF1.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are widely involved in regulation of cellular processes of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the function of miR‑320a in PCOS remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore the effect of miR‑320a on PCOS cell proliferation and apoptosis following treatment with insulin, and to clarify the underlying mechanism.

Phenotypic characterization and anti-tumor effects of cytokine-induced killer cells derived from cord blood.

Background Aims: Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy represents a feasible immunotherapeutic option for treating malignancies. However, the number of anti-tumor lymphocytes cannot be easily obtained from the cancer patients with poor immunity status, and older patients cannot tolerate repeated collection of blood. Cord blood-derived CIK (CB-CIK) cells have shown efficacy in treating the patients with cancer in several clinical trials.

Loading of myoglobin into multilayer films assembled by ZrO2 nanoparticles and phytic acid: electrochemistry and electrocatalysis.

Small-molecular phytic acid (PA) with its unique structure was successfully assembled with ZrO2 nanoparticles into {PA/ZrO2}n layer-by-layer films on solid surfaces, which was confirmed by quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) with K3Fe(CN)6 as the electroactive probe. Myoglobin (Mb) could be gradually "absorbed" or loaded into the films when the films were immersed into Mb solutions. The Mb-loaded films at pyrolytic graphite (PG) electrodes, designated as {PA/ZrO2}n-Mb, demonstrated well-defined and quasi-reversible CV responses for Mb Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple and good electrocatalytic properties toward oxygen and H2O2.

Diabetic ketoacidosis in pregnancy tends to occur at lower blood glucose levels: case-control study and a case report of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis in pregnancy.

Background And Objective: The occurrence of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during pregnancy is considered a medical emergency. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the incidence of DKA in pregnant and non-pregnant women with diabetes; to compare the blood glucose levels at the diagnosis of DKA in pregnant and non-pregnant women; and to show a case of euglycemic DKA in pregnancy.

Methods: The subjects consisted of 90 cases of DKA in pregnant women with diabetes and 286 cases of non-pregnant female inpatients receiving treatment for diabetes during 2001 to 2005 in our hospital.

Self-assembly of electroactive layer-by-layer films of heme proteins with anionic surfactant dihexadecyl phosphate.

Anionic surfactant dihexadecyl phosphate (DHP) with two hydrocarbon chains can be self-assembled into a double-layer structure with tail-to-tail configuration and negatively charged head groups toward outside in its aqueous dispersion. Due to this unique biomembrane-like structure, the "charge reversal" in DHP adsorption on solid surface was realized, and the DHP was successfully assembled with positively charged myoglobin (Mb) or hemoglobin (Hb) into {DHP/protein}(n) layer-by-layer films. Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), UV-vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry (CV) were used to monitor or confirm the film assembly process.