Fibrinogen alpha chain promotes the migration and invasion of human endometrial stromal cells in endometriosis through focal adhesion kinase/protein kinase B/matrix metallopeptidase 2 pathway†.

Fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA), a cell adhesion molecule, contains two arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid (RGD) cell adhesion sequences. Our previous study demonstrated that FGA, as an up-regulated protein in endometriosis (EM), was closely related to disease severity and involved in the development of EM. However, the biological functions and underlying mechanism of FGA in EM have not been fully understood.

Age and menopausal status are important factors influencing the serum human epididymis secretory protein 4 level: a prospective cross-sectional study in healthy Chinese people.

Background: Human epididymis secretory protein 4 (HE4) is a new ovarian cancer biomarker. The factors influencing HE4 levels are not clear, and the reference data in China are limited. Here, we aim to evaluate the effects of menopause and age on HE4 levels and to provide a possible reference value for HE4 in healthy Chinese people.

Fibrinogen alpha chain is up-regulated and affects the pathogenesis of endometriosis.

Research Question: In the group's previous study, fibrinogen alpha chain (FGA) was identified as an up-regulated differential protein that was highly expressed in women with endometriosis. The current study investigated the expression and effects of FGA in endometriosis. It also evaluated the effects of FGA on human endometrial stromal cells and studied the possible mechanism.

Overexpression of GPNMB predicts an unfavorable outcome of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Objective: Glycoprotein non-metastatic protein B (GPNMB) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is expressed at higher levels in several malignant human tissues than those in matched normal tissues. Thus, GPNMB may serve as an attractive therapeutic target of cancer treatment. In this study, the prognostic value of GPNMB expression was examined in tumors derived from a cohort of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC).

Evaluation of Circulating Endometrial Cells as a Biomarker for Endometriosis.

Background: Circulating endometrial cells (CECs) have been reported to be present in the peripheral blood of women with endometriosis (EM), providing clear and specific evidence of the presence of ectopic lesions. In this study, we established a method with a high detection rate of CECs, assessed the diagnostic value of CECs for EM and compared with serum CA125, and proposed a hypothesis for the pathogenesis of EM from the new perspective of CECs.

Methods: The participants were enrolled prospectively from October 2015 to July 2016.

Low programmed cell death 5 expression is a prognostic factor in ovarian cancer.

Background: Ovarian cancer is a leading gynecological malignancy. We investigated the prognostic value of programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) in patients with ovarian cancer.

Methods: Expression levels of PDCD5 mRNA and protein were examined in six ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3, CAOV3, ES2, OV1, 3AO, and HOC1A) and one normal ovarian epithelial cell line (T29) using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and flow cytometry.

Human epididymis protein 4 inhibits proliferation of human ovarian cancer cells via the mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT pathways.

Objectives: Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is a promising novel biomarker for the detection of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). The role of HE4 in EOC tumorigenesis is unclear. This study investigated the cellular and molecular mechanisms of HE4 in ovarian cancer cell proliferation.

[Expression and significance of tumor necrosis factor receptor associated protein 1 in epithelial ovarian cancer].

Objective: To explore the levels of TRAP1 and its roles in patients with ovarian tumor, and investigate the correlation between the expressions of TRAP1 in ovarian tumor tissues and related clinicopathological characteristics.

Methods: 38 health women, 50 cases of benign ovarian tumors and 114 cases of epithelial ovarian cancers were examined by real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining.

Results: The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that TRAP1 protein was mainly located in the cytoplasm, the protein and mRNA expression of TRAP1 in ovarian cancer were significantly increased compared with those of normal control and benign tumor (P < 0.

Effect of high-fat diet on liver and placenta fatty infiltration in early onset preeclampsia-like mouse model.

Background: Preeclampsia, especially early onset of preeclampsia (PE), is a common and serious disorder with high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Dietary factor is one of the most important factors which may affect the occurrence and development of the disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary factors on pathological changes of liver and placenta in preeclampsia-like mouse model by establishing the model at multiple stages of gestation.

[Interaction of fatty acid oxidation with oxidative stress in preeclampsia-like mouse model at multiple stages of gestation].

Objective: To investigate the interactions of fatty acid oxidation with oxidative stress on the preeclampsia (PE)-like development by establishing murine models at multiple stages of gestation.

Methods: Wild-type (WT) mice were injected subcutaneously with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 50 mg×kg(-1)×d(-1)) to establish PE-like model (L-NAME group) at early, middle and late pregnant periods respectively. Normal saline (NS group) was injected simultaneously as a control.

Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase lowers fatty acid oxidation in preeclampsia-like mice at early gestational stage.

Background: Preeclampsia is one of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. It is associated with abnormal lipid metabolism, including fatty acid oxidation metabolism. Long chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) plays an indispensable role in the oxidation of fatty acids.

[Dietary effect on plasma lipid changes and pregnant outcomes in early-onset pre-eclampsia-like murine model].

Objective: To investigate the effects of dietary factors on the pre-eclampsia-like mouse model development at multiple stages of gestation.

Methods: Pre-eclampsia-like model was established in C57 wild-type (WT) and apoE(-/-) pregnant mice at early, middle and late gestational stages by injecting nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) subcutaneously. Control groups received normal saline (NS) simultaneously.

Effects of preeclampsia-like symptoms at early gestational stage on feto-placental outcomes in a mouse model.

Background: Early and late-onset preeclampsia is thought to be different disease entities. This study aimed to determine the effects of early-onset preeclampsia-like symptoms on feto-placental outcomes and the adverse impacts of various factors on placental and fetal growth and development at different gestational stages in a mouse model.

Methods: Pregnant C57BL/6J mice were divided into control and preeclampsia (PE) groups, and injected subcutaneously with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) 50 mgxkg(-1)d(-1).

Scanning electron microscopic observation: three-dimensional architecture of the collagen in hepatic fibrosis rats.

Background: In the process of hepatic fibrosis, the accumulation of collagen fibers is strongly related to the hepatic function. The aim of this study was to investigate the three-dimensional architecture of the collagen network in the liver of rats with hepatic fibrosis.

Methods: Healthy adult male Wistar rats (n = 32) were randomly divided into a control group (n = 16) and a hepatic fibrosis group (n = 16).