Relationship Between Serum Neopterin Level and Peripheral Arterial Plaque in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Neopterin is an inflammatory factor synthesized by monocyte macrophages in response to γ-interferon. It plays an important role in regulating a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This study aims to clarify the relationship between peripheral arterial plaque and serum neopterin in type 2 diabetes.

Association between serum visfatin levels and atherosclerotic plaque in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Background: Visfatin is a multifaceted protein that plays an important role in regulating a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, circulating visfatin levels in atherosclerosis plaque progression in patients with type 2 diabetes, or its association with the vascular territory affected remain unclear.

Methods: We evaluated the relationship between visfatin levels and carotid or femoral artery atherosclerosis in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Expression of Phosphorylated AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Predicts Response to Transarterial Chemoembolization in Postoperative Cases of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in the world. Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) was commonly used for HCC patients postoperatively. However, the survival benefits of adjuvant TACE were controversial due to the extensive heterogeneity of HCC.

Identification and differential expression of human carcinoma-associated antigens in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues.

This study was designed to identify and verify hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-associated human carcinoma antigens (HCAs) that may be useful as tumor markers for HCC. We found that BCE075 and BCD021 anti-HCA antibodies were immunostained in the liver tissue samples and showed specific staining. Their expression was increased in HCC compared with normal liver tissues (P = 0.

Profound impact of gut homeostasis on chemically-induced pro-tumorigenic inflammation and hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

Background & Aims: Due to its anatomic connection, the liver is constantly exposed to gut-derived bacterial products or metabolites. Disruption of gut homeostasis is associated with many human diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the role of gut homeostasis in initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

OV6⁺ tumor-initiating cells contribute to tumor progression and invasion in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Accumulating evidence suggests the involvement of tumor-initiating cells (T-ICs) in cancer genesis, but whether liver T-ICs contribute to HCC invasion and metastasis remains unclear.

Methods: OV6(+) T-ICs were isolated from SMMC7721 and HuH7 cell lines by magnetic sorting. Characteristics of T-ICs were assessed by in vitro and mouse xenograft assays.

Down-regulated expression of the protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is associated with aggressive clinicopathologic features and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a classical non-transmembrane protein tyrosine phosphatase that plays a key role in metabolic signaling and can exert both tumor suppressing and tumor promoting effects in different cancers depending on the substrate involved and the cellular context. However, the expression level and function of PTP1B in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. In this study, PTP1B expression was detected by immunohistochemistry in normal liver tissue (n=16) and hepatocellular carcinoma (n=169).

Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) induces tumorigenicity of hepatic progenitor cells in 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine-treated HBx transgenic mice.

Unlabelled: Hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein is implicated in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated liver carcinogenesis. However, it remains unclear whether HBx-expressing hepatic progenitor cells (HPCs) are attributed to liver tumor formation. In this study, by using HBx transgenic mice and a 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC)-induced liver injury model, the relationship between HBx expression and tumorigenicity of HPCs was analyzed.

[Modulative effect of zhenqing recipe on expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 in experimental type 2 diabetic rats].

Objective: To explore the effect of Zhenqing Recipe (ZQR) on renal structure and expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) in experimental type 2 diabetic rats.

Methods: The rat models of type 2 diabetic were set up by intraperitoneally giving small-dose streptozotocin (STZ) after fed with high carbohydrate and high fat diets for one month. The model rats were randomly divided into the model group,the high and low dose ZQR-treated groups,and the enalapril-treated group; a normal control group was also established.