Lentinan Enhances the Function of Oxaliplatin on the Esophageal Tumors by Persuading Immunogenic Cell Death.

Objective: The focus of this research was to look at the effects of the combination of the lentinan (LNT) and oxaliplatin (Oxa) on the apoptosis of human esophageal cancer cells, as well as the underlying mechanism.

Methods: LNT and Oxa were used to treat EC-109 human esophageal cancerous cells at various doses, and the cell survival rate was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. In addition, 24 h after treatment of EC-109 cells with a combination of LNT and Oxa, flow cytometry was used to analyze their apoptotic effect on these cells.

[Retracted] MicroRNA‑448 inhibits the progression of retinoblastoma by directly targeting ROCK1 and regulating PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.

Following the publication of this paper, it was drawn to the Editors' attention by a concerned reader that three data panels featured in the flow cytometric plots shown in Figs. 5D and 6D, and several panels from the cell invasion assays shown in Figs. 5C and 6C, were strikingly similar to data appearing in different form in other articles by different authors.

Biliverdin/Bilirubin Redox Pair Protects Lens Epithelial Cells against Oxidative Stress in Age-Related Cataract by Regulating NF-B/iNOS and Nrf2/HO-1 Pathways.

Age-related cataract (ARC) is the leading cause of vision impairment globally. It has been widely accepted that excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in lens epithelial cells (LECs) is a critical risk factor for ARC formation. Biliverdin (BV)/bilirubin (BR) redox pair is the active by-product of heme degradation with robust antioxidative stress and antiapoptotic effects.

CKB inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and prostate cancer progression by sequestering and inhibiting AKT activation.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) contributes to tumor invasion, metastasis and drug resistance. AKT activation is key in a number of cellular processes. While many positive regulators for either EMT or AKT activation have been reported, few negative regulators are established.

Markedly Elevated Serum Level of T-Helper Cell 17-Related Cytokines/Chemokines in Acute Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody-Associated Optic Neuritis.

The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in immunopathogenesis based on the cytokine/chemokine profiles in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-IgG)-positive and -negative groups. We measured the levels of T-helper cell 17 (Th17) cell-related cytokines/chemokines in 74 serum samples, which were divided into four groups: healthy control (HC) group ( = 15), idiopathic demyelinating optic neuritis (IDON) group ( = 20), aquaporin 4 (AQP4)-IgG-positive optic neuritis (ON) group ( = 18), and MOG-IgG positive-ON group ( = 21). Serum IL17, IL21, IL28, IL31, CXCL1, CXCL2, CCL2, CCL11, CCL20, and LT-α were detected.

MEIS2C and MEIS2D promote tumor progression via Wnt/β-catenin and hippo/YAP signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: MEIS2 has been identified as one of the key transcription factors in the gene regulatory network in the development and pathogenesis of human cancers. Our study aims to identify the regulatory mechanisms of MEIS2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which could be targeted to develop new therapeutic strategies.

Methods: The variation of MEIS2 levels were assayed in a cohort of HCC patients.

Cytokines and chemokines expression in serum of patients with neuromyelitis optica.

Objective: To study the differences in immunopathogenesis based on chemokine profile in neuromyelitis optica patients positive for AQP4 antibodies or MOG antibodies.

Patients And Methods: We measured 52 cytokines/chemokines using ELISA in 59 serum samples, which were divided into three groups according to CBA results: HCs (n=16), AQP4+ (n=20) and MOG+ (n=23). The regression equation ( >0.

Simultaneous bilateral optic neuritis in China: clinical, serological and prognostic characteristics.

Purpose: To analyse the clinical characteristics of simultaneous bilateral ON patients in China.

Methods: This retrospective study was done on 51 primary bilateral ON patients between April 2008 and July 2016 at the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital. Fifty eight primary unilateral ON patients formed the control group.

MicroRNA‑448 inhibits the progression of retinoblastoma by directly targeting ROCK1 and regulating PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy during infancy and childhood worldwide. Numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) contribute to RB initiation and progression through the regulation of cell proliferation, cycle, apoptosis, migration, invasion and metastasis. Therefore, further investigation concerning the expression, roles and associated mechanisms of RB‑related miRNAs may be beneficial to develop novel strategies for patients with this malignancy.

Optic Neuritis in the Older Chinese Population: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study.

Objective: This study aims to describe the clinical manifestations and outcomes in a cohort of older Chinese patients.

Method: A retrospective study of patients aged ≥ 45 years who had a first episode of optic neuritis (ON) between May 2008 and November 2012. Clinical features at onset and last follow-up were analyzed within subgroups (age 45-65 years and age ≥ 65 years).

Distinct clinical characteristics of atypical optic neuritis with seronegative aquaporin-4 antibody among Chinese patients.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical features and prognosis of atypical optic neuritis (ON) with seronegative aquaporin-4 (AQP4) antibody in Chinese patients.

Methods: All patients with first or relapsing ON were recruited from the Neuro-ophthalmology Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital from January 2013 to December 2014 and assigned to one of three groups based on diagnosis: atypical ON, typical ON and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)-ON.

Results: A total of 173 patients were included in the cohort.

The poor recovery of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder is associated with a lower level of CXCL12 in the human brain.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSDs) are blindness-causing neuritis. In NMOSD patients, NMO-IgG evokes astrocytopathy that in turn causes demyelination. While measurement of NMO-IgG titer will help neurologists make the diagnosis of NMOSDs, it is not sufficient to evaluate the severity of astrocytopathy.

Histone cross-talk connects protein phosphatase 1α (PP1α) and histone deacetylase (HDAC) pathways to regulate the functional transition of bromodomain-containing 4 (BRD4) for inducible gene expression.

Transcription elongation has been recognized as a rate-limiting step for the expression of signal-inducible genes. Through recruitment of positive transcription elongation factor P-TEFb, the bromodomain-containing protein BRD4 plays critical roles in regulating the transcription elongation of a vast array of inducible genes that are important for multiple cellular processes. The diverse biological roles of BRD4 have been proposed to rely on its functional transition between chromatin targeting and transcription regulation.

GRK3 is essential for metastatic cells and promotes prostate tumor progression.

The biochemical mechanisms that regulate the process of cancer metastasis are still poorly understood. Because kinases, and the signaling pathways they comprise, play key roles in regulation of many cellular processes, we used an unbiased RNAi in vitro screen and a focused cDNA in vivo screen against human kinases to identify those with previously undocumented roles in metastasis. We discovered that G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 3 (GRK3; or β-adrenergic receptor kinase 2) was not only necessary for survival and proliferation of metastatic cells, but also sufficient to promote primary prostate tumor growth and metastasis upon exogenous expression in poorly metastatic cells in mouse xenograft models.

Signal-induced Brd4 release from chromatin is essential for its role transition from chromatin targeting to transcriptional regulation.

Bromodomain-containing protein Brd4 is shown to persistently associate with chromosomes during mitosis for transmitting epigenetic memory across cell divisions. During interphase, Brd4 also plays a key role in regulating the transcription of signal-inducible genes by recruiting positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) to promoters. How the chromatin-bound Brd4 transits into a transcriptional regulation mode in response to stimulation, however, is largely unknown.

PP2B and PP1alpha cooperatively disrupt 7SK snRNP to release P-TEFb for transcription in response to Ca2+ signaling.

The positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), consisting of Cdk9 and cyclin T, stimulates RNA polymerase II elongation and cotranscriptional pre-mRNA processing. To accommodate different growth conditions and transcriptional demands, a reservoir of P-TEFb is kept in an inactive state in the multisubunit 7SK snRNP. Under certain stress or disease conditions, P-TEFb is released to activate transcription, although the signaling pathway(s) that controls this is largely unknown.