Loss of TGF-β adaptor β2SP activates notch signaling and SOX9 expression in esophageal adenocarcinoma.

TGF-β and Notch signaling pathways play important roles in regulating self-renewal of stem cells and gastrointestinal carcinogenesis. Loss of TGF-β signaling components activates Notch signaling in esophageal adenocarcinoma, but the basis for this effect has been unclear. Here we report that loss of TGF-β adapter β2SP (SPNB2) activates Notch signaling and its target SOX9 in primary fibroblasts or esophageal adenocarcinoma cells.

A prospective, randomized, double blind and placebo-control study comparing the additive effect of oral midazolam and clonidine for postoperative nausea and vomiting prophylaxis in granisetron premedicated patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystecomy.

Background: Reduction of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) continues to be a major challenge in perioperative care in spite of introduction of newer antiemetics with better efficacy and safety profiles. Therefore, we evaluated the additive effect of oral midazolam and clonidine for PONV prophylaxis in granisetron premedicated patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Materials And Methods: In a prospective, randomized fashion, 120 selected cases were randomized into three groups: I, II or III to receive a tablet of midazolam (15 mg, n = 36), clonidine (150 mcg, n = 40), or glucose as placebo (5 g, n = 44) orally, 1 h before anesthesia.

Identification of microRNAs specifically expressed in hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma.

Although several studies have investigated the association of miRNAs with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the data published so far are not concordant. A reason for these discrepancies may be the fact that most studies used the nontumorous tissue surrounding the HCC lesion as a control, which is almost invariably affected by cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis, as well as other pathological conditions such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Moreover, HCC is often analyzed as a single group regardless of the different viral etiologies.

A Type III Dens Invaginatus with Unusual Helical CT and Histologic Findings: A Case Report.

Dens Invaginatus (DI) is a rare developmental anomaly which affects the tooth, which shows an infolding of enamel and dentine which extends into the pulp chamber and sometimes into the root. The aim of this case report was to describe its radiographic findings, to emphasize the bizarre morphology and the difficulties which are encountered in the diagnosis by using conventional radiographic techniques and the importance of computed tomography as a valuable diagnostic aid. Dens Invaginatus is clinically significant due to the possibility of an early pulpal involvement and the chronic periapical lesions are often associated with this anomaly without any clinical symptoms.

Liver regeneration signature in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated acute liver failure identified by gene expression profiling.

Introduction: The liver has inherent regenerative capacity via mitotic division of mature hepatocytes or, when the hepatic loss is massive or hepatocyte proliferation is impaired, through activation of hepatic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC). The dramatic clinical course of acute liver failure (ALF) has posed major limitations to investigating the molecular mechanisms of liver regeneration and the role of HSPC in this setting. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of liver regeneration in 4 patients who underwent liver transplantation for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated ALF.

Hepatocellular carcinoma risk prediction model for the general population: the predictive power of transaminases.

Background: Risk prediction models for hepatocellular carcinoma are available for individuals with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections who are at high risk but not for the general population with average or unknown risk. We developed five simple risk prediction models based on clinically available data from the general population.

Methods: A prospective cohort of 428 584 subjects from a private health screening firm in Taiwan was divided into two subgroups-one with known HCV test results (n = 130 533 subjects) and the other without (n = 298 051 subjects).

Spectroscopic interaction of a coumarin derivative with bovine serum albumin.

The absorption and fluorescence spectra of the 7-diethylamino-4-methyl coumarin (DAMC) in ethanol-water (1:9 v/v) solution at varying pH values were investigated. The interaction between DAMC and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was investigated by fluorescence spectroscopy. The Stern-Volmer quenching constant, the quenching rate constant of the bimolecular reaction (kq), the binding constant, and number of binding sites are mentioned but not calculated in the paper.

Hepatocellular carcinoma biology.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary hepatic malignancy. Its incidence and prevalence is globally heterogeneous with the highest rates in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. In Western Industry nations, its incidence has significantly increased throughout the previous three decades.

Monte Carlo simulation of embedded 241Am activity in injured palm.

This paper describes a methodology to estimate embedded activity of (241)Am and Pu isotopes in a wound at an unknown depth. Theoretical calibration of an array of high-purity germanium detectors is carried out using the Monte Carlo code 'FLUKA' for a (241)Am source embedded at different depths in a soft tissue phantom of dimension 10 × 10 × 4 cm(3) simulating the palm of a worker. It is observed that, in the case of contamination due to pure (241)Am, the ratio of counts in 59.

Biomarkers, bundled payments, and colorectal cancer care.

Changes in the management of cancers such as colorectal cancer (CRC) are urgently needed, as such cancers continue to be one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers; CRC accounts for 21% of all cancers and is responsible for mortalities second only to lung cancer in the United States. A comprehensive science-driven approach towards markedly improved early detection/screening to efficacious targeted therapeutics with clear diagnostic and prognostic markers is essential. In addition, further changes addressing rising costs, stemming from recent health care reform measures, will be brought about in part by changes in how care is reimbursed.

Regulation of S100A2 expression by TGF-β-induced MEK/ERK signalling and its role in cell migration/invasion.

S100A2, an EF hand calcium-binding protein, is a potential biomarker in several cancers and is also a TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β)-regulated gene in melanoma and lung cancer cells. However, the mechanism of S100A2 regulation by TGF-β and its significance in cancer progression remains largely unknown. In the present study we report the mechanism of S100A2 regulation by TGF-β and its possible role in TGF-β-mediated tumour promotion.

Hepatic stem cells and transforming growth factor β in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common and lethal cancers worldwide. It arises from modulation of multiple genes by mutations, epigenetic regulation, noncoding RNAs and translational modifications of encoded proteins. Although >40% of HCCs are clonal and thought to arise from cancer stem cells (CSCs), the precise identification and mechanisms of CSC formation remain poorly understood.

Dysregulated Krüppel-like factor 4 and vitamin D receptor signaling contribute to progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a transcription factor and putative tumor suppressor. However, little is known about its effects in hepatocellular carcinogenesis. We investigated the clinical significance, biologic effects, and mechanisms of dysregulated KLF4 signaling.

Antimalarial activity of newly synthesized chalcone derivatives in vitro.

Twenty-seven novel chalcone derivatives were synthesized using Claisen-Schmidt condensation and their antimalarial activity against asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum was determined. Antiplasmodial IC(50) (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) activity of a compound against malaria parasites in vitro provides a good first screen for identifying the antimalarial potential of the compound. The most active compound was 1-(4-benzimidazol-1-yl-phenyl)-3-(2, 4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-propen-1-one with IC(50) of 1.

Synthesis and characterization of Ru(II)-DMSO-Cl-chalcone complexes: DNA binding, nuclease, and topoisomerase II inhibitory activity.

The complexes of type cis-[Ru(S-DMSO)(3)(R-CO-CH═CH-R')Cl] (R = 2-hydroxyphenyl for all, R' = phenyl 1, naphthyl 2, anthracenyl 3, thiophene 4, 3-methyl thiophene 5) are synthesized and characterized using spectroscopic (IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR, and UV-vis) and single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. Their crystal structures show the formation of both intermolecular and intramolecular H-bonding. The molecular assembly of complex 5 using secondary interactions provides a butterfly structure.

Synergistic inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma growth by cotargeting chromatin modifying enzymes and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases.

Unlabelled: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a particularly lethal form of cancer, yet effective therapeutic options for advanced HCC are limited. The poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs) are emerging to be among the most promising targets in cancer therapy, and sensitivity to PARP inhibition depends on homologous recombination (HR) deficiency and inhibition of HDAC activity blocks the HR pathway. Here, we tested the hypothesis that cotargeting both enzymatic activities could synergistically inhibit HCC growth and defined the molecular determinants of sensitivity to both enzyme inhibitors.

Comparative clinical study of effect of neostigmine and ketamine for postoperative analgesia.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate and compare the role of neostigmine and ketamine as an additive to epidural bupivacaine to prolong the duration of postoperative analgesia. A double-blind randomised study was done on 60 adult patients, of both sexes, between 18 and 50 years, belonging to ASA grades I and II, undergoing below umbilical surgeries under epidural anaesthesia. All the patients were divided into three groups of 20 each to receive 20 ml of 0.

Wanted: interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary, and knowledge translation and exchange training for students of public health.

Students vocalized their concern with public health training programs in Canada at the 2010 CPHA Centennial Conference. Given these concerns, we reviewed the objectives and curricula of public health graduate (master's) programs in Canada. Our objective was to understand to what extent public and population health graduate programs in Canada support interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary and knowledge translation and exchange (KTE) training.

Disruption of Klf4 in villin-positive gastric progenitor cells promotes formation and progression of tumors of the antrum in mice.

Background & Aims: Krüppel-like factor 4 (Klf4) is a putative gastric tumor suppressor gene. Rare, villin-positive progenitor cells in the gastric antrum have multilineage potential. We investigated the function of Klf4 in these cells and in gastric carcinogenesis.

Interleukin-30: a novel antiinflammatory cytokine candidate for prevention and treatment of inflammatory cytokine-induced liver injury.

Unlabelled: The liver is the major metabolic organ and is subjected to constant attacks from chronic viral infection, uptake of therapeutic drugs, life behavior (alcoholic), and environmental contaminants, all of which result in chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and, ultimately, cancer. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover effective therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of liver injury, the ideal drug being a naturally occurring biological inhibitor. Here we establish the role of IL30 as a potent antiinflammatory cytokine that can inhibit inflammation-induced liver injury.

Stem cells in liver diseases and cancer: recent advances on the path to new therapies.

Stem cells have potential for therapy of liver diseases, but may also be involved in the formation of liver cancer. Recently, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases Henry M. and Lillian Stratton Basic Research Single Topic Conference "Stem Cells in Liver Diseases and Cancer: Discovery and Promise" brought together a diverse group of investigators to define the status of research on stem cells and cancer stem cells in the liver and identify problems and solutions on the path to clinical translation.

Complementary hydrogen bonding of a carboxylato-barbiturate with urea and acetamide: experimental and theoretical approach.

A barbiturate derivative, 4-(2,4,6-trioxo-tetrahydro-pyrimidine-5-ylidenemethyl)-benzoic acid (L1) possessing functional complementarity to amides has been synthesized and characterized. Its binding separately with urea and acetamide was monitored using UV-vis, fluorescence and (1)H-NMR spectroscopic titrations. Experiments suggested stronger binding of L1 with urea as compared to acetamide.

Comparison of propofol based anaesthesia to conventional inhalational general anaesthesia for spine surgery.

Background: Often conventional Inhalational agents are used for maintenance of anaesthesia in spine surgery. This study was undertaken to compare propofol with isoflurane anaesthesia with regard to haemodynamic stability, early emergence, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and early assessment of neurological functions. PATIENTS #ENTITYSTARTX00026;

Methods: Eighty ASA grade I &II adult patients were randomly allocated into two groups.