MicroRNA-205 suppresses the invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of human gastric cancer cells.

Distant metastasis is the predominant pattern of gastric cancer (GC) recurrence, and is the most common cause of cancer‑associated mortality. Accumulating evidence has suggested that aberrant activation of epithelial‑mesenchymal transition has a crucial role in the genesis, invasion and metastasis of various types of cancer, including GC. Using Cell Counting kit‑8 and Transwell assays, the effects of microRNA (miR)‑205 on the proliferation, migration and invasion of NCI‑H87 GC cells were determined, and the potential underlying mechanisms were explored.

BDNF levels in adipose tissue and hypothalamus were reduced in mice with MSG-induced obesity.

Objectives: To observe the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hypothalamic and adipose tissue in mice with monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity.

Methods: The effects of hypothalamic lesions, specifically arcuate nucleus (ARC) lesions, induced by MSG injection were studied in male ICR mice at the neonatal stage. The following parameters were compared: body weight, body length, Lee's index, food intake, body temperature, fat weight, and levels of total cholesterol (CHOL), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and blood glucose (GLU).

Modified glasgow prognostic score predicting high conversion ratio in opioid switching from oral oxycodone to transdermal fentanyl in patients with cancer pain.

The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors for higher conversion ratio in opioid switching from oral oxycodone to transdermal fentanyl (TDF) in patients with cancer pain. The participants of this study were 156 hospitalized cancer patients who underwent opioid switching from oral oxycodone to TDF at the Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University between January 1st, 2010 and March 31st, 2014. Patient characteristics, modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS), daily oxycodone dose, and reasons for opioid switching were retrospectively collected.

PGC-1α may associated with the anti-obesity effect of taurine on rats induced by arcuate nucleus lesion.

Objective: To observe the effect of taurine treatment in rats with monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced obesity.

Methods: Rats with MSG-induced obesity were administered taurine for five weeks. The Lee's index, food intake, blood pressure, body temperature, body mass index (BMI), fat weight, and triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were compared.