Publications by authors named "Qi-you Wei"

Recently, a membrane-based estrogen receptor (ER), ER-α36, was identified and cloned that transduces membrane-initiated estrogen signaling such as activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling pathway. Here we show that the postmenopausal level of estradiol (E2) induces mitogenic, antiapoptotic, and antiosteogenic effects and proapoptotic effects in postmenopausal osteoblasts and osteoclasts with high levels of ER-α36 expression, respectively. We also found that ER-α36 mediated the effects of postmenopausal-level E(2) on proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation of osteoblasts through transient activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway, whereas ER-α36-mediated postmenopausal-level E(2) induces apoptosis of osteoclasts through prolonged activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway with the involvement of reactive oxygen species.

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Progressive pseudorheumatoid dysplasia (PPD) is characterized by continuous degeneration and loss of articular cartilage, which has been attributed to mutations in the gene encoding WISP3. We collected a PPD family and analyzed their WISP3 genes mutation. Articular chondrocytes (ACs) were purified from the femurs of a PPD patient after hip replacement surgery.

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Objective: To investigate the relationship between the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) and angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Methods: Seventy-two PTC cases were divided into 3 groups according to the level of invasion: papillary microcarcinoma group (PMC group), intrathyroid carcinoma group (IPC group), and extrathyroid carcinoma group (EPC group). They were again divided into 2 groups according to lymph node metastasis: lymph node metastasis group and lymph node no-metastasis group.

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Objective: To investigate the feasibility of applying immunohistochemistry (IH) and in situ hybridization (ISH) technique to the undecalcified bone sections.

Methods: The proximal tibiae of SD rats were embedded with the modified methylmethacrylate low-temperature embedding method and then made into undecalcified bone sections. The sections were stained with Goldner's Masson Trichrome, and the expression of IGF-1 mRNA and protein in the bone tissue cells were detected by IH and ISH.

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Objective: To characterize the clinical manifestations, features of roentgenography and MR imaging, and the pathology of articular cartilage and matrix of spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda with progressive arthropathy (SEDT-PA), to screen the mutations of the disease-causing CCN6 gene, and try to elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of SEDT-PA.

Methods: A questionnaire survey on the clinical manifestations and history was conducted among a pedigree of SEDT-PA with 57 persons (53 living members) in tolal, including 2 probands, a 19-year old female and a 9-year old male. Physical examination and roentgenography and MR imaging were used on the 2 probands to characterize the features of their joints and articular cartilage.

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Estrogen plays an important role in maintaining normal bone metabolism via the direct or indirect regulation of bone cells. Osteoblastic cells, as the target cells of estrogen, can secrete multiple matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that participate in bone remodeling. It has been demonstrated that bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency is closely related to the abnormal expression of multiple MMPs in osteoblastic cells.

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Objective: To explore the expression and clinical prognostic significance of matrix metalloproteinase-2 mRNA (MMP-2 mRNA), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 mRNA (TIMP-2 mRNA), matrix metalloproteinase-2 protein (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9 protein (MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 protein (TIMP-1), and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 protein (TIMP-2) in the hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs).

Methods: Fifty-six specimens of HCCs from 56 patients, who were followed-up, were investigated by in situ hybridization with specific probes for MMP-2, TIMP-2, and by immunohistochemistry with anti-MMP-2, MMP-9 and anti-TIMP-1, TIMP-2 monoclonal antibody. We analyzed the data with chi-square test, spearmans correlation analysis, monovariate Kaplan-Meier plot and multivariate Cox regression analysis.

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Background & Objective: Expression imbalance between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) play pivotal roles in tumor invasion and metastasis. But little is known about the correlation between their expression and breast cancer prognosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 in breast carcinomas and to seek their relationship with breast cancer invasion, metastasis, and prognosis.

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Background & Objective: Malignant cells are often associated with aberrant expression or localization of connexins. Expression of Cx26, Cx32, Cx43, and Cx45 genes were studied to gain their expression profile in tissue microarrayers consisting of various carcinomas and to elucidate their function in carcinogenesis.

Methods: Basing on the principle of constructing tissue microarrays, the authors take use of self-made tissue arrayer to construct tissue microarrays for the different kinds of cancer specimens.

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Objective: Recently our studies have shown that nylestriol in combination with levonorgestrel prevented bone loss, decreased bone turnover rate and increased the maximal loading of bone without obvious side effects in retinoic acid (RA) induced osteoporotic rats. In addition to the animal experiments, we evaluate the effect of Compound Nylestriol Tablet (CNT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Compound Nylestriol Tablet, which contains 0.

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