Identification of differentially expressed molecular functions associated with breast cancer using Gibbs sampling.

The aim of the present study was to identify differentially expressed molecular functions (DEMFs) for breast cancer using the Gibbs sampling approach. Molecular functions (MFs) were obtained on the basis of the Bayesian Approach for Geneset Selection package. Subsequently, MFs were converted into Markov chains (MCs) prior to calculating their probabilities, utilizing the MC Monte Carlo algorithm.

[A Modified Procedure to Isolate Synchronous Cells from Yeasts with Continuous Percoll Density Gradient and Their Raman Discrimination].

A modified procedure of Percoll density gradient centrifugation was developed to isolate and fractionate synchronous cells from stationary phase (sp) cultures of different yeast strains, as well as Raman spectra discrimination of single yeast cells was reported. About 1.75 mL Percoll solution in 2 mL polypropylene centrifugal tube was centrifuged at 19,320 g, 20 °C with an angle rotor for 15 min to form continuous densities gradient (1.

Effect of shRNA-Mediated Gene Silencing of Bmi-1 Expression on Chemosensitivity of CD44+ Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cancer Stem-Like Cells.

In this study, we investigate the effect of short hairpin RNA-mediated gene silencing of Bmi-1 expression on chemosensitivity of CD44(+) nasopharyngeal carcinoma cancer stem-like cells. The sequence-specific short hairpin RNA lentivirus targeting at human Bmi-1 was synthesized and used to infect CD44(+) nasopharyngeal cells that were sorted by flow cytometry. We also employed flow cytometry to detect transfection efficiency.

ShRNA targeting Bmi-1 sensitizes CD44⁺ nasopharyngeal cancer stem-like cells to radiotherapy.

Accumulating evidence indicates that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are involved in resistance to radiation therapy (RT). Bmi-1, a member of the Polycomb family of transcriptional repressors, is essential for maintaining the self-renewal abilities of stem cells and overexpression of Bmi-1 correlates with cancer therapy failure. Our previous study identified that the CD44+ nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) cells may be assumed as one of markers of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cancer stem cell-like cells (CSC-LCs) and Bmi-1 is overexpressed in CD44+ NPC.

[Raman spectra of endospores of Bacillus subtilis by alkali stress].

To research the lethal mechanism of spores stressed by alkali, laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy (LTRS) combined with principal components analysis (PCA) was used to study the physiological process of single spore with alkali stress. The results showed that both spores and germinated spores had tolerance with alkali in a certain range, but the ability of spores was obviously lower than that of spores due to the release of their Ca2+ -DPA which plays a key role in spores resistance as well as spores resistance to many stresses; A small amount of Ca2+ -DPA of spores was observed to release after alkali stress, however, the behavior of release was different with the normal Ca2+ -DPA release behavior induced by L-alanine; The data before and after alkali stress of the spores and g. spores with PCA reflected that alkali mainly injured the membrane of spores, and alkali could be easily enter into the inner structure of spores to damage the structure of protein backbone and injure the nucleic acid of spores.

Identification of cancer stem-like CD44+ cells in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line.

Background And Aims: Recent studies suggest that cancer stem cells (CSC) may be responsible for tumorigenesis and contribute to some individuals' resistance to cancer therapy. Although research is rapidly advancing in this field, to our knowledge there are few published reports about the CSC in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). We undertook this study to separate, expand, and explore the biological features of CD44+ stem-like cancer cells from the human NPC SUNE-1 5-8F cell line.

Clinical effect of erlotinib as first-line treatment for Asian elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicities of erlotinib as first-line treatment for Asian elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Untreated patients with advanced NSCLC were included in this study; erlotinib was orally administered at a dose of 150 mg daily until disease progression or intolerable toxicity or for other reasons.

Results: A total of 35 patients were enrolled.

Erlotinib in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer after gefitinib failure.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of erlotinib in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer after failure of gefitinib treatment.

Patients And Methods: Patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC, who had progressed after gefitinib treatment, were included in this study; patients received erlotinib 150 mg/day until disease progression or intolerable toxicity.

Results: Twenty-one patients were included in this study.