Helicobacter pylori Infection Facilitates the Expression of Resistin-like Molecule Beta in Gastric Carcinoma and Precursor Lesions.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) was reported to be associated with gastric carcinogenesis. Resistin-like molecule beta (RELMβ), a recently described goblet cell-specific protein, was demonstrated to aberrantly express in gastric cancer and correlated with its clinicopathological features.

A Modified Approach for Inguinal Hernias in Children: Hybrid Single-Incision Laparoscopic Intraperitoneal Ligation.

Purpose: To report a laparoscopic approach for pediatric inguinal hernia repair using a hybrid single-incision laparoscopic (H-SIL) technique and its clinical outcomes.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study was carried out in inguinal hernia cases treated with the new H-SIL approach using intracorporeal jumping purse-string sutures. The operative time, length of postoperative hospital stay, efficiency of the operation, and complications were analyzed.

Over-expression of testis-specific expressed gene 1 attenuates the proliferation and induces apoptosis of GC-1spg cells.

The effects of over-expression of testis-specific expressed gene 1 (TSEG-1) on the viability and apoptosis of cultured spermatogonial GC-1spg cells were investigated, and the immortal spermatogonial cell line GC-1spg (CRL-2053™) was obtained as the cell model in order to explore the function of TSEG-1. We transfected the eukaryotic vector of TSEG-1, named as pEGFP-TSEG-1 into cultured spermatogonial GC-1spg cells. Over-expression of TSEG-1 inhibited the proliferation of GC-1spg cells, and arrested cell cycle slightly at G0/G1 phase.

Association of Ureaplasma urealyticum colonization with development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

There is controversy regarding the roles of Ureaplasma urealyticum (U. urealyticum) colonization in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). This study explored the association between U.

The roles of microRNAs in neuroblastoma.

Background: Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood and displays remarkable heterogeneity in clinical behaviors, ranging from spontaneous regression to rapid progression or resistance to multimodal treatment. Recent evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are involved in tumor development and progression. This article aimed to review recent advances in investigating the roles of miRNAs in NB.

Effects of resistin-like molecule β over-expression on gastric cancer cells in vitro.

Aim: To investigate the effects of resistin-like molecule β (RELMβ) over-expression on the invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis of gastric cancer cells.

Methods: Human RELMβ encoding expression vector was constructed and transfected into the RELMβ lowly-expressed gastric cancer cell lines SGC-7901 and MKN-45. Gene expression was measured by Western blotting, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR.

Laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through for high imperforate anus in infants: intermediate results.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and postoperative anal function in infants with congenital high imperforate anus treated with laparoscopically assisted anorectal pull-through (LAARP).

Methods: From January 2004 to July 2007, 33 patients (28 boys and 5 girls, age ranging from 3 to 10 months) with high imperforate anus underwent LAARP. Clinical data of the LAARP group were retrospectively compared with those treated by posterior sagittal anorectoplasty (PSARP; n = 28) during the same time period.

Endoscopic transaxillary approach for congenital muscular torticollis.

Background: Surgical correction of the congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) is recommended for patients with unsuccessful conservative treatment. Open operative techniques all leave noticeable scars. We proposed a modified endoscopic 1-trocar transaxillary and neck microincision approach for the treatment of CMT.

Laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision, hepaticojejunostomy, and extracorporeal Roux-en-Y anastomosis: a technical skill and intermediate-term report in 62 cases.

Background: This study aimed to present the authors' technique and the intermediate-term outcome for laparoscopic choledochal cyst excision with Roux-en-Y hepatoenterostomy.

Methods: This retrospective study investigated 62 children (39 girls and 23 boys) who had undergone laparoscopic resection of choledochal cyst. The average age of the children was 2.

Laparoscopic extensive colectomy with transanal Soave pull-through for intestinal neuronal dysplasia in 17 children.

Background: Open colectomy has been preferred for intestinal neuronal dysplasia type B (IND) due to its low morbidity rate and good functional results. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and results of laparoscopic colectomy with transanal Soave pull-through for the treatment of IND in children.

Methods: Seventeen infants and children suffering from IND were treated by laparoscopic extensive colectomy with transanal Soave pull-through.

Clinical value of pelvic 3-dimensional magnetic resonance image reconstruction in anorectal malformations.

Objective: The study aimed to build a 3-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of pelvic magnetic resonance images and evaluate the clinical value in anorectal malformations (ARMs).

Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were performed on a 1.5-T magnet.

The evaluation of laparoscopy-assisted cholangiography in the diagnosis of prolonged jaundice in infants.

Background: Biliary atresia (BA) is the progressive inflammatory obstruction and fibro-obliteration of all or part of the extrahepatic biliary tree and the intrahepatic bile ducts and has its onset exclusively within the first several months of life. This study was undertaken to present the value of diagnostic laparoscopy in infants with prolonged jaundice and technique for laparoscopic cholangiography.

Methods: A 5-mm umbilical trocar was introduced to create a port for a 30-degree laparoscope.

Stable knockdown of heparanase expression in gastric cancer cells in vitro.

Aim: To develop short hairpin RNA (shRNA) against heparanase, and to determine its effects on heparanase expression and the malignant characteristics of gastric cancer cells.

Methods: Heparanase-specific shRNA was constructed and transferred into cultured the gastric cancer cell line SGC-7901. Stable subclonal cells were screened by G418 selection.

Nuss operation for pectus excavatum: a single-institution experience.

Background: The Nuss procedure for repair of pectus excavatum (PE) has been accepted worldwide because of minimal invasiveness and excellent cosmetic results. We summarized our experience with the treatment of 115 patients aged 2.7-18 years.

Duodenal heterotopic pancreas in a child.

Background: Heterotopic pancreas is characterized by pancreatic tissue outside the pancreatic bed. However, duodenal heterotopic pancreas in children is rarely reported so far. We describe herein duodenal heterotopic pancreas in a child who suffered from chronic abdominal pain.

Expression and clinical significance of heparanase in neuroblastoma.

Background: Previous studies indicate that heparanase (HPA), an endoglycosidase involved in tumor angiogenesis and metastasis, is up-regulated in a variety of malignancies. However, the expression of HPA in neuroblastoma (NB), one of the most common extra cranial solid tumors in children, remains unknown. This study was undertaken to explore the expression and clinical significance of HPA in NB.

[Cloning and expression of a novel mouse testis gene TSEG-2].

Objective: To clone the mouse testis specific gene TSEG-2 via a bioinformatic approach.

Methods: The expressed sequence tags (EST) in the normal mouse testis were obtained from the online EST database ZooDDD. Their highly homologous EST sequences were retrieved through the dbEST database to construct contigs and spliced with the biomedical software Biolign.

Gastric carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells: a case report and review of the literature.

Gastric carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells (OGCs) is an extremely rare tumor. So far, only six cases have been reported in the literature. Here we report an additional case of this tumor in a Chinese 78-year-old man presented with abdominal pain, vomiting, and hematemesis.

[Methyl jasmonate induces apoptosis of human neuroblastoma cell line BE(2) -C and its mechanism].

This study is to explore the inhibitory effect of methyl jasmonate on cell proliferation and expression of XIAP and survivin of human neuroblastoma cell line BE(2)-C. After cultivation of 1 - 2 mmol x L(-1) jasmonates with BE (2) -C cells for 6 - 24 h, the growth inhibiting rates of BE (2) -C cells were studied by MTT colorimetry. Cell proliferation was detected by colony formation assay.

Enhanced expression of resistin-like molecule beta in human colon cancer and its clinical significance.

Previous studies have indicated that resistin-like molecule beta (RELM beta), an intestinal goblet cell-specific protein, is markedly increased in the intestinal tumors of min mice and over-expressed in a human colon cancer cell line. We hypothesized that RELM beta might be enhanced in human colon cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical importance of RELM beta expression in colon cancer patients and to correlate its expression with various clinicopathological parameters, upstream regulatory molecule expression, tumor proliferative capacity, and patients' survival.

Natural jasmonates of different structures suppress the growth of human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y and its mechanisms.

Aim: Recent evidence has indicated that members of natural jasmonates, a family of plant stress hormones, exhibit anticancer activity. The current study was undertaken to investigate the effects of jasmonates on the in vitro growth of human neuroblastomas, one of the most common solid tumors in children.

Methods: Cellular proliferation was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide colorimetry and colony formation assay.

Methyl jasmonate downregulates expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and induces apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cell lines.

Recent evidence indicates that methyl jasmonate, a plant stress hormone, exhibits anticancer activity on human cancer cells. Whether methyl jasmonate could inhibit the growth of human neuroblastoma cells still, however, remains largely unknown. In this study, administration of methyl jasmonate to cultured neuroblastoma cell lines, SK-N-SH and BE(2)-C, resulted in a decrease of cell viability in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner as demonstrated by MTT colorimetry and colony formation assay.

Expression and clinical significance of stem cell marker CD133 in human neuroblastoma.

Background: Recent evidences indicate that CD133, a kind of transmembrane protein, can be used as a marker to isolate stem cells from tumors originating from neural crest. This study was undertaken to explore the expression and clinical significance of stem cell marker CD133 in neuroblastoma (NB).

Methods: Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of CD133 in 32 patients with NB and 8 patients with ganglioneuroblastoma (GNB).

[Cloning and sequence analysis of TSEG-1, a novel gene specifically expressed in mouse testis].

The expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of normal mouse testis were obtained from online EST database ZooDDD. Their highly homologous EST sequences were found through the dbEST database to construct contigs, and spliced by the biomedical software Biolign. The corresponding exons and introns within genome sequences were predicted by software GeneScan.