SMARCD3 Overexpression Promotes Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Gastric Cancer.

This study investigates the role of SMARCD3 in gastric cancer by comparing its expression in signet ring cell (SRC) and well-differentiated (WD) groups within gastric cancer cell lines and tissues. We observed elevated SMARCD3 levels in the SRC group compared to the WD group. Functional analysis was conducted through both SMARCD3 knock-in and knock-out methods.

PHLPP1 Overexpression was Associated With a Good Prognosis With Decreased AKT Activity in Gastric Cancer.

The aim of this study was to perform a clinicopathologic analysis of PHLPP1 expression in gastric cancer patients and analyze AKT activity with chemotherapy drug treatment in cancer subtypes. Surgically resected gastric cancer tissue specimens were obtained from 309 patients who underwent gastrectomy, and PHLPP1 expression was validated by tissue microarray analysis with immunohistochemistry. We assessed whether PHLPP1 selectively dephosphorylates Ser473 of AKT in an in-vitro study.

Transcriptome Analysis and the Prognostic Role of NUDC in Diffuse and Intestinal Gastric Cancer.

Introduction: There have been few studies about gene differences between patients with diffuse-type gastric cancer and those with intestinal-type gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to compare the transcriptomes of signet ring cell gastric cancer (worst prognosis in diffuse-type) and well-differentiated gastric cancer (best prognosis in intestinal-type); NUDC was identified, and its prognostic role was studied.

Materials And Methods: We performed next-generation sequencing with 5 well-differentiated gastric cancers and 3 of signet ring cell gastric cancer surgical samples.

ERH overexpression is associated with decreased cell migration and invasion and a good prognosis in gastric cancer.

Background: The enhancer of rudimentary homolog (ERH) protein is implicated in transcriptional regulation, cell cycle progression, and malignancy. We previously conducted a proteomics analysis using gastric cancer (GC) tissues and identified ERH as a biomarker candidate. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ERH may be useful as a prognostic marker for GC.

PRDX4 overexpression is associated with poor prognosis in gastric cancer.

Peroxiredoxin IV (PRDX4) is a multifunctional protein that is involved in cell protection against oxidative injury, regulation of cell proliferation, modulation of intracellular signaling, and the pathogenesis of tumors. We previously conducted a proteomic analysis to investigate tumor-specific protein expression in gastric cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether PRDX4 could be a marker of poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer.

Nomogram for predicting gastric cancer recurrence using biomarker gene expression.

Background: Recently, researchers have tried to predict patient prognosis using biomarker expression in cancer patients. The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram predicting the 5-year recurrence-free probability (RFP) of gastric cancer patients using prognostic biomarker gene expression.

Methods: We enrolled 360 patients in the training data set to develop the predictive model and nomogram.

Wnt inhibitory factor (WIF)-1 promotes melanogenesis in normal human melanocytes.

Wnt signaling plays a role in the differentiation as well as the development of melanocytes. Using a microarray analysis, hyperpigmentary skin of melasma expressed high levels of Wnt inhibitory factor-1 (WIF-1) compared with perilesional normal skin. In this study, the expression and functional roles of WIF-1 on melanocytes were investigated.

Effects of Xanthium stramarium and Psoralea corylifolia Extracts Combined with UVA1 Irradiation on the Cell Proliferation and TGF-β1 Expression of Keloid Fibroblasts.

Background: Xanthium stramarium (XAS) and Psoralea corylifolia (PSC), phototoxic oriental medicinal plants, has been used in traditional medicines in Asian countries.

Objective: The effects of highly purified XAS or PSC extract combined with ultraviolet A1 (UVA1) irradiation on cell proliferation and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1) expression of the keloid fibroblast were being investigated to define potential therapeutic uses for keloid treatments.

Methods: The keloid fibroblasts were treated with XAS or PSC alone or in the combination with UVA1 irradiation.

The auto-ubiquitylation of E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Chfr at G2 phase is required for accumulation of polo-like kinase 1 and mitotic entry in mammalian cells.

The E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Chfr is a mitotic stress checkpoint protein that delays mitotic entry in response to microtubule damage; however, the molecular mechanism by which Chfr accomplishes this remains elusive. Here, we show that Chfr levels are elevated in response to microtubule-damaging stress. Moreover, G(2)/M transition is associated with cell cycle-dependent turnover of Chfr accompanied by high autoubiquitylation activity, suggesting that regulation of Chfr levels and auto-ubiquitylation activity are functionally significant.

Determination of diastolic dysfunction cut-off value by tissue Doppler imaging in adults 70 years of age or older: a comparative analysis of pulsed-wave and color-coded tissue Doppler imaging.

Background And Objectives: The cut-off value of diastolic dysfunction by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is affected by aging and modalities used (pulsed-wave vs. color-coded). The purpose of this study was to investigate the diastolic function of healthy elderly people and to determine the appropriate cut-off value of diastolic dysfunction in elderly individuals.

A case of cardiac amyloidosis with diuretic-refractory pleural effusions treated with bevacizumab.

Cardiac amyloidosis describes a clinical disorder caused by infiltration of abnormal insoluble fibrils in the heart, characterized by progressive heart failure and a grave prognosis. Pleural effusion in cardiac amyloidosis may represent a sign of heart failure, but it can also result from pleural infiltration of amyloid, manifested by recurrent large fluid accumulations. Recently, the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of refractory pleural effusion.

Reduction of door-to-balloon time by new performance processes in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the adoption of new performance processes reduced the door-to-balloon time for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). To reduce the door-to-balloon time, we adopted 3 new performance processes: concurrent activation at the emergency department rather than stepwise activation; direct phone call rather than using a pager or message; patient transferred to catheterization laboratory before the PCI team arrive. A total of 139 consecutive patients were compared before and after the new performance processes.

Anomalous origins of the right and posterior descending coronary arteries from the left anterior descending coronary artery: Unusual pattern of single coronary artery.

We present an unusual pattern of single coronary artery which has not been reported previously. The proximal portion of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery gives rise to right coronary artery (RCA) and the distal LAD extends to the posterior descending artery which reaches the cardiac crux. A stent was implanted successfully at the middle portion of the LAD just beyond the origin of the RCA.

A case of right ventricular dysfunction caused by pectus excavatum.

Pectus excavatum compresses the underlying right side of the heart, which might lead to right ventricular dysfunction as illustrated in this case report.

Relationship between giant negative T-wave and severity of apical hypertrophy in patients with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: This study was aimed at evaluating the usefulness of giant negative T-wave (GNT) as an index of apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ACM) severity and as a better echocardiographic index to represent apical hypertrophy.

Methods: Seventy-five patients who were recently diagnosed with ACM by echocardiography were enrolled in this study. ACM patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (ACM with GNT) and group 2 (ACM without GNT).

Segmental tissue Doppler image-derived tei index in patients with regional wall motion abnormalities.

Background And Objectives: Although the Tei index is a useful predictor of global ventricular function, it has not been investigated at the level of regional myocardial function. We therefore investigated the segmental tissue Doppler image derived-Tei index (TDI-Tei index) in patients with regional wall motion abnormalities.

Subjects And Methods: We prospectively studied 17 patients (mean age 62+/-9 years, 5 women) with left ventricular (LV) regional wall motion abnormalities.

Depletion of BubR1 promotes premature centrosomal localization of cyclin B1 and accelerates mitotic entry.

The role of BubR1 has been established mainly in mitosis as an essential mitotic checkpoint protein although it is expressed throughout the cell cycle. To explore a possible role of BubR1 in regulating the G(2) phase of cell cycle, we have employed siRNA-mediated hBubR1 knockdown in HeLa cells. Here, we demonstrate that reducing BubR1 levels during the G(2) phase causes accelerated mitotic entry.

Mitotic aberration coupled with centrosome amplification is induced by hepatitis B virus X oncoprotein via the Ras-mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase-mitogen-activated protein pathway.

Multinucleated cells have been noted in pathophysiological states of the liver including infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), the status of which is also closely associated with genomic instability in liver cancer. Here, we showed that hepatitis B virus X oncoprotein (HBx) expression in Chang cells results in a multinuclear phenotype and an abnormal number of centrosomes (n >or=3). Regulation of centrosome duplication in HBx-expressing ChangX-34 cells was defective and uncoupled from the cell cycle.