MicroRNAs in thyroid cancer with focus on medullary thyroid carcinoma: potential therapeutic targets and diagnostic/prognostic markers and web based tools.

This review aimed to describe the inculpation of microRNAs (miRNAs) in thyroid cancer (TC) and its subtypes, mainly medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), and to outline web-based tools and databases for bioinformatics analysis of miRNAs in TC. Additionally, the capacity of miRNAs to serve as therapeutic targets and biomarkers in TC management will be discussed. This review is based on a literature search of relevant articles on the role of miRNAs in TC and its subtypes, mainly MTC.

Recent developments in cell shipping methods.

As opposed to remarkable advances in the cell therapy industry, research reveal inexplicable difficulties associated with preserving and post-thawing cell death. Post cryopreservation apoptosis is a common occurrence that has attracted the attention of scientists to use apoptosis inhibitors. Transporting cells without compromising their survival and function is crucial for any experimental cell-based therapy.

The Oral and Fecal Microbiota in a Canadian Cohort of Alzheimer's Disease.

Background: Despite decades of research, our understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD) etiology remains incomplete. In recent years, appreciation has grown for potential roles for the microbiota in shaping neurological health.

Objective: This study aimed to examine associations between the microbiota and AD in a human cross-sectional cohort.

Low level of plasma fibulin-1 in patients with thyroid lesions: a case-control study and literature review.

Investigating novel biomarkers discriminating thyroid nodules is a matter of great importance for differential diagnosis. The current study was planned to investigate the diagnostic value of fibulin-1 in plasma specimens of patients with thyroid nodules. A literature review was also performed to gain an understanding of the existing research relevant to the main role of fibulin-1 in carcinogenesis.

The impact of pre-analytical variations on biochemical analytes stability: A systematic review.

Objective: A common problem in clinical laboratories is maintaining the stability of analytes during pre-analytical processes. The aim of this study was to systematically summarize the results of a set of studies about the biochemical analytes stability.

Methods: A literature search was performed on the Advanced search field of PubMed using the keywords: "(stability) AND (analytes OR laboratory analytes OR laboratory tests OR biochemical analytes OR biochemical tests OR biochemical laboratory tests).

Versican localizes to the nucleus in proliferating mesenchymal cells.

Objective: Versican is a versatile and highly interactive chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan that is found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of many tissues and is a major component of developing and developed lesions in atherosclerotic vascular disease. In this paper, we present data to indicate that versican may have important intracellular functions in addition to its better known roles in the ECM.

Methods And Results: Rat aortic smooth muscle cells were fixed and immunostained for versican and images of fluorescently labeled cells were obtained by confocal microscopy.

Versican V1 Overexpression Induces a Myofibroblast-Like Phenotype in Cultured Fibroblasts.

Background: Versican, a chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan, is one of the key components of the provisional extracellular matrix expressed after injury. The current study evaluated the hypothesis that a versican-rich matrix alters the phenotype of cultured fibroblasts.

Methods And Results: The full-length cDNA for the V1 isoform of human versican was cloned and the recombinant proteoglycan was expressed in murine fibroblasts.

1,25 Dihydroxyvitamin D3 Inhibits TGFβ1-Mediated Primary Human Cardiac Myofibroblast Activation.

Aims: Epidemiological and interventional studies have suggested a protective role for vitamin D in cardiovascular disease, and basic research has implicated vitamin D as a potential inhibitor of fibrosis in a number of organ systems; yet little is known regarding direct effects of vitamin D on human cardiac cells. Given the critical role of fibrotic responses in end stage cardiac disease, we examined the effect of active vitamin D treatment on fibrotic responses in primary human adult ventricular cardiac fibroblasts (HCF-av), and investigated the relationship between circulating vitamin D (25(OH)D3) and cardiac fibrosis in human myocardial samples.

Methods And Results: Interstitial cardiac fibrosis in end stage HF was evaluated by image analysis of picrosirius red stained myocardial sections.

An ERK-p38 subnetwork coordinates host cell apoptosis and necrosis during coxsackievirus B3 infection.

The host response to a virus is determined by intracellular signaling pathways that are modified during infection. These pathways converge as networks and produce interdependent phenotypes, making it difficult to link virus-induced signals and responses at a systems level. Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection induces death of cardiomyocytes, causing tissue damage and virus dissemination, through incompletely characterized host cell signaling networks.

Versican and CD44 in in vitro valvular interstitial cell injury and repair.

Background: Versican is one of the key components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that is expressed during injury, inflammatory, and repair processes. The current study evaluated the relationship between versican and the membrane receptor CD44 during in vitro valvular interstitial cell (VIC) injury and repair.

Methods: Subconfluent, confluent, and wounded cultures of human VICs were fixed and immunostained to detect versican and the membrane receptor CD44.

Coxsackievirus B3 activates nuclear factor kappa B transcription factor via a phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/protein kinase B-dependent pathway to improve host cell viability.

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is the most common viral infectant of heart muscle. CVB3 directly injures cardiomyocytes. We have previously reported on a regulatory role for the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway during CVB3 infection.

Androgen receptor regulation of the versican gene through an androgen response element in the proximal promoter.

Versican, one of the key components of prostatic stroma, plays a central role in tumor initiation and progression. Here, we investigated promoter elements and mechanisms of androgen receptor (AR)-mediated regulation of the versican gene in prostate cancer cells. Using transient transfection assays in prostate cancer LNCaP and cervical cancer HeLa cells engineered to express the AR, we demonstrate that the synthetic androgen R1881 and dihydrotestosterone stimulate expression of a versican promoter-driven luciferase reporter vector (versican-Luc).