MicroRNA-7 downregulates the oncogene VDAC1 to influence hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation and metastasis.

Recent studies have been shown that voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) plays an important role in carcinogenesis. However, its molecular biological function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been entirely clarified. This study investigated the expression of VDAC1 in HCC and its prognostic value for HCC patients.

Synthetic Lethality of a Novel Small Molecule Against Mutant KRAS-Expressing Cancer Cells Involves AKT-Dependent ROS Production.

Aims: We recently reported the death-inducing activity of a small-molecule compound, C1, which triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent autophagy-associated apoptosis in a variety of human cancer cell lines. In this study, we examine the ability of the compound to specifically target cancer cells harboring mutant KRAS with minimal activity against wild-type (WT) RAS-expressing cells.

Results: HCT116 cells expressing mutated KRAS are susceptible, while the WT-expressing HT29 cells are resistant.

Quantification and bio-assay of α-glucosidase inhibitors from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.

This work aimed to investigate the α-glucosidase inhibitor from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch. Seven flavonoids were isolated, and the total content of compounds 1-7 were more than 50% in Glycyrrhiza total flavones (GTF), and the content of compound 1 and 2 was abundant in GTF. The results of the α-glucosidase inhibitory activities indicated that compounds 1-6 and GTF respectively with the IC50 values of 31.

Diagnostic and therapeutic value of computed tomography guided coil placement after digital subtraction angiography guided video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery resection for solitary pulmonary nodules.

Background: With the widespread use of general health examinations, the detection rate of pulmonary nodules has increased; however, locating the pulmonary nodules is still a challenge.

Methods: We reviewed cases that underwent computed tomography (CT)-guided coil localization followed by real-time digital subtraction angiography (DSA)-guided accurate resection of solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs) using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) at our hospital, and we evaluated the clinical value. From September 2011 to October 2014, 116 cases with SPNs were treated in our unit.

Measurement of the Target-Normal Single-Spin Asymmetry in Quasielastic Scattering from the Reaction (3)He(↑)(e,e').

We report the first measurement of the target single-spin asymmetry, A(y), in quasielastic scattering from the inclusive reaction (3)He(↑)(e,e') on a (3)He gas target polarized normal to the lepton scattering plane. Assuming time-reversal invariance, this asymmetry is strictly zero for one-photon exchange. A nonzero A(y) can arise from the interference between the one- and two-photon exchange processes which is sensitive to the details of the substructure of the nucleon.

Role played by the SP4 gene in schizophrenia and major depressive disorder in the Han Chinese population.

Background: Psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and major depressive disorder (MDD) are likely to be caused by multiple susceptibility genes, each with small effects in increasing the risk of illness. Identifying DNA variants associated with schizophrenia and MDD is a crucial step in understanding the pathophysiology of these disorders.

Aims: To investigate whether the SP4 gene plays a significant role in schizophrenia or MDD in the Han Chinese population.

Eating on impulse: Implicit attitudes, self-regulatory resources, and trait self-control as determinants of food consumption.

Self-regulatory resources and trait self-control have been found to moderate the impulse-behavior relationship. The current study investigated whether the interaction of self-regulatory resources and trait self-control moderates the association between implicit attitudes and food consumption. One hundred twenty female participants were randomly assigned to either a depletion condition in which their self-regulatory resources were reduced or a no-depletion condition.

Effects of hydrogen sulfide on high glucose-induced glomerular podocyte injury in mice.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of hydrogen sulfide on high glucose-induced mouse podocyte (MPC) injury and the underlying mechanisms. Mouse podocytes were randomly divided into 4 groups, including high glucose (HG), normal glucose (NG), normal glucose + DL-propargylglycine (PPG), and high glucose + NaHS (HG + NaHS) groups for treatment. Then, ZO-2, nephrin, β-catenin, and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) protein expression levels were determined by western blot.

One-Pot Hydrothermal Synthesis of FeMoO₄ Nanocubes as an Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries with Excellent Electrochemical Performance.

Metal molybdates nanostructures hold great promise as high-performance electrode materials for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. In this work, the facial design and synthesis of monodisperse FeMoO4 nanocubes with the edge lengths of about 100 nm have been successfully prepared and present as a novel anode material for highly efficient and reversible lithium storage. Well-defined single-crystalline FeMoO4 with high uniformity are first obtained as nanosheets and then self-aggregated into nanocubes.

Impact of elevated aspartate and alanine aminotransferase on metabolic syndrome and its components among adult people living in Ningxia, China.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a combination of medical disorders that increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. It suggests an association between an elevated serum aminotransferase level and MS. Little data show the relationship between the levels of serum aminotransferase and the incidence of MS in Ningxia, China.

Genome-wide analysis of androgen receptor binding sites in prostate cancer cells.

The transformation of prostate cancer from an androgen-dependent state to an androgen-independent state is a lethal progression. Alterations in transcriptional programs are the basis of prostate cancer deterioration. The androgen receptor (AR), a member of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily, mediates prostate cancer progression by functioning primarily through the ligand-activated transcription of target genes.

Precision Measurement of the p(e,e^{'}p)π^{0} Reaction at Threshold.

New results are reported from a measurement of π^{0} electroproduction near threshold using the p(e,e^{'}p)π^{0} reaction. The experiment was designed to determine precisely the energy dependence of s- and p-wave electromagnetic multipoles as a stringent test of the predictions of chiral perturbation theory (ChPT). The data were taken with an electron beam energy of 1192 MeV using a two-spectrometer setup in Hall A at Jefferson Lab.

miR-106a* inhibits the proliferation of renal carcinoma cells by targeting IRS-2.

MicroRNAs play critical roles in the development and progression of human cancers. Although it has been reported that miR-106a* is downregulated in follicular lymphoma, its role in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unknown. This study investigated the expression and role of miR-106a* in human RCC.

[Association between occupational psychological stress and metabolic syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the association between occupational psychological stress and metabolic syndrome (MS) in Hui and Han populations in Ningxia, China.

Methods: A 1:1 matched case-control study was performed. A total of 600 unrelated patients aged from 20 to 60 years who were clearly diagnosed with MS in General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University and Wuzhong People's Hospital from October 2011 to October 2012 were collected as the case group (MS group).

Individualized perfusion of sargent gloryvine decoction for clinical severe acute pancreatitis treatment.

Background/aims: To observe the effects of Sargent gloryvine decoction (SGD) on severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) treatment and to evaluate its clinical value.

Methodology: 112 patients of SAP in our hospital from January, 2005 to December, 2012 were recruited for retrospective analysis. They were divided into two groups, SGD group (62 patients) and control group without treated with SGD (50 patients).

Nitrogen-doped hierarchical porous carbon microsphere through KOH activation for supercapacitors.

A porous carbon microsphere with moderate specific surface area and superior specific capacitance for supercapacitors is fabricated from polyphosphazene microsphere as the single heteroatoms source by the carbonization and subsequent KOH activation under N2 atmosphere. With KOH activation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirms that the phosphorus of polyphosphazene microsphere totally vanishes, and the doping content of nitrogen and its population of various functionalities on porous carbon microsphere surface are tuned. Compared with non-porous carbon microsphere, the texture property of the resultant porous carbon microsphere subjected to KOH activation has been remarkably developed with the specific surface area growing from 315 to 1341 m(2) g(-1)and the pore volume turning from 0.

APOBEC family mutational signatures are associated with poor prognosis translocations in multiple myeloma.

We have sequenced 463 presenting cases of myeloma entered into the UK Myeloma XI study using whole exome sequencing. Here we identify mutations induced as a consequence of misdirected AID in the partner oncogenes of IGH translocations, which are activating and associated with impaired clinical outcome. An APOBEC mutational signature is seen in 3.

Abnormal expression of Forkhead Box J2 (FOXJ2) suppresses migration and invasion in extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and is associated with prognosis.

Extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is an aggressive malignancy with dismal prognosis and characterized by early invasion, metastasis and postoperative recurrence. Therefore, understanding the main molecular mechanisms of this malignancy is the key for the development of novel and effective therapeutic strategies for extrahepatic CC. Foxj2 is a novel forkhead factor.

A new method of detecting pulmonary nodules with PET/CT based on an improved watershed algorithm.

Background: Integrated 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) is widely performed for staging solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs). However, the diagnostic efficacy of SPNs based on PET/CT is not optimal. Here, we propose a method of detection based on PET/CT that can differentiate malignant and benign SPNs with few false-positives.

A flexible transparent gas barrier film employing the method of mixing ALD/MLD-grown Al2O3 and alucone layers.

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) has been widely reported as a novel method for thin film encapsulation (TFE) of organic light-emitting diodes and organic photovoltaic cells. Both organic and inorganic thin films can be deposited by ALD with a variety of precursors. In this work, the performances of Al2O3 thin films and Al2O3/alucone hybrid films have been investigated.

Decreased STAT4 indicates poor prognosis and enhanced cell proliferation in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the role of signal transduction and activation of transcription 4 (STAT4) in the development and progression of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Recent genetic investigations have identified that a genetic variant of STAT4 is associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related HCC. The level of STAT4 in 90 HCC patients was examined via Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses.

Development of microsatellite markers for Carallia brachiata (Rhizophoraceae).

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite markers were developed for Carallia brachiata to assess the genetic diversity and structure of this terrestrial species of the Rhizophoraceae.

Methods And Results: Based on transcriptome data for C. brachiata, 40 primer pairs were initially designed and tested, of which 18 were successfully amplified and 11 were polymorphic.

PPIase is associated with the diversity of conotoxins from cone snail venom glands.

Cone snails are incredibly rich sources of bioactive conopeptides with potential for use in neuroscience research and novel drug development. In order to investigate the synthesis of diversified conopeptides in venom glands, the proteome and peptidome profiles of conus venom were analyzed using HPLC and mass spectrometry. The peptidome profile of the venom components with a molecular weight under 10 kDa showed that the peptides with unique mass values from the venom glands of Conus caracteristicus, Conus lividus and Conus textile are 188, 413 and 265, respectively, and there are 39 overlapping peptides among the three species.