RBP4/Lp-PLA2/Netrin-1 signaling regulation of cognitive dysfunction in diabetic nephropathy complicated with silent cerebral infarction.

To investigate the RBP4/Lp-PLA/Netrin-1 signal regulation of cognitive function impairment in diabetic nephropathy patients with silent cerebral infarction (SCI). One-hundred patients newly diagnosed with diabetic nephropathy patients were included. The patients were divided into SCI group and NSCI group according to the radiological data.

Renin-angiotensin system activation accelerates atherosclerosis in experimental renal failure by promoting endoplasmic reticulum stress-related inflammation.

In this study, we investigated the association between the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and atherosclerosis (AS) in uremic apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE-/-) mice. Mild uremia was induced by a 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6 Nx) in 10-week-old apoE-/- mice. Four weeks after nephrectomy, the mice received losartan or no treatment for 16 weeks.

High glucose induces autophagy of MC3T3-E1 cells via ROS-AKT-mTOR axis.

In the present study, we investigate the function of ROS-AKT-mTOR axis on the apoptosis, proliferation and autophagy of MC3T3-E1 cells, and the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells after autophagy inhibition under high glucose conditions. MC3T3-E1 cells cultured in vitro were divided into the following groups: normal control group, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) group, 11.0 mM high glucose group, 11.

MicroRNA‑21 inhibits SMAD7 expression through a target sequence in the 3' untranslated region and inhibits proliferation of renal tubular epithelial cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non‑coding single‑stranded RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Since the identification of miRNA, accumulating research has shown their involvement in numerous biological processes, including timing of developmental patterning, embryogenesis, cell differentiation, organogenesis, growth control and pathogenesis of human diseases. It is estimated that >30% human genes may be regulated by miRNA, and that each miRNA can regulate >100 target mRNAs.

Treg/Th17 imbalance is associated with cardiovascular complications in uremic patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

Investigations of Treg/Th17 imbalance associated with cardiovascular complications in hemodialysis are limited. The aim of this study was to examine the association between Treg/Th17 balance and cardiovascular comorbidity in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Uremic patients included in the present study were divided into three groups: the WHD group comprising 30 patients with no cardiovascular complications or maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), the MHD1 group comprising 36 patients presenting with cardiovascular complications during MHD, and the MHD2 group comprising 30 patients with a lack of cardiovascular complications during MHD.

Expression of DNMTs and MBD2 in GIST.

The aim of this study was to investigate the protein expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs, including DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3A, DNMT3B and DNMT3L) and methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 (MBD2) in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis were used to detect expression of DNMT and MBD2 in 15 pairs of adult GIST and matched non-tumor tissues. The protein expression of DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3B, DNMT3L and MBD2 was significantly higher in adult GISTs compared to the matched non-tumor tissues (P<0.

[Silencing hypoxia inducible factor-2α gene by small interference RNA inhibits the growth of mammosphere cells in nude mice under hypoxic microenvironment].

Objective: To explore the effects of silencing hypoxia inducible factor-2α (HIF-2α) by small interference RNA on the growth of mammosphere cells in nude mice under hypoxic microenvironment.

Methods: The empty and interference vectors were transfected into MCF-7 cell. Then G418 was added to screen the positive cells to obtain stable cell line.

The effects of rhBMP-2 and Treg/Th17 functional disequilibrium in uremic patients with cardiovascular complication after maintenance hemodialysis.

Objectives: We compared the correlation of regulatory T cell (Treg) and Th17 cell function disequilibrium with calcification in uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) with healthy controls, and investigated if their influence possibly increased the development and outcome of cardiovascular complications in uremic patients after MHD.

Methods: The extent of coronary artery calcification was assessed by coronary artery calcification scoring (CACS) in uremic patients with and without adverse cardiovascular events after MHD (MHD group 1 vs. MHD group 2, respectively).

Expression of DNMTs and genomic DNA methylation in gastric signet ring cell carcinoma.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protein expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and genomic DNA methylation status of genomes in gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC). Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze DNMT expression and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation microarray (MeDIP‑chip) and MeDIP quantitative real‑time PCR (MeDIP‑qPCR) were performed to analyze the genomic DNA methylation status in gastric SRC tissue. An increase in DNMT1 and decrease in DNMT3A expression in SRC tissue was observed compared with matched non‑cancerous tissue.

[Expression of breast cancer resistance protein and p-glycoprotein in residual breast cancer tissue after chemotherapy and its correlation with cancer stem cells].

Objective: To compare the expression differences of breast cancer resistance protein(BCRP/ABCG2) and P-glycoprotein(P-gp) in breast cancer tissue before chemotherapy and in residual breast cancer tissue, and to explore its correlation with breast cancer stem cells.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ABCG2, P-gp, and breast cancer stem cells(BCSCs) markers(CD44 and CD24) in breast cancer tissue before chemotherapy and residual breast cancer tissue after chemotherapy. Immunofluorescence was applied for determination of the CD44 and CD24 protein expressions of BCSCs microspheres cells.

HMGA2 elicits EMT by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in gastric cancer.

Background: The high mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) is an architectural transcription factor that plays an important role in the development and progression of many malignant neoplasms. High expression of HMGA2 in gastric cancer correlates with invasiveness of cancer and is an independent prognostic factor. The reason for this might be HMGA2 promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT), which is the key process of metastasis for some underlying mechanisms.

Protective effects of nicotinamide against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury.

Nicotinamide (NAM), the amide form of vitamin B3, is involved in a wide range of biological processes. Recent evidence revealed the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of NAM and suggests it may be used as a novel strategy in the prevention of acute liver injury. In the present study, we investigated the potential protective effects of NAM on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Integrin-linked kinase functions as a tumor promoter in bladder transitional cell carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of the integrin-linked kinase (ILK) gene in development of human bladder transitional cell carcinoma (BTCC). Expression of ILK protein and ILK mRNA in 56 cases of human BTCC tissue and in 30 cases of adjacent normal bladder tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry S-P and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Four specific miRNA RNAi vectors targeting human ILK were synthesized and transfected into BIU-87 cells by liposome to obtain stable expression cell strains.

[Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) combined with 5-fluorouracil on IGFBP-3 expression in human esophageal carcinoma 109 cell xenograft in nude mice].

Objective: To investigate the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) and 5-fluorouracil, either alone or in combination, on the expression of IGFBP-3 in human esophageal carcinoma 109 cell xenograft in nude mice.

Methods: In vitro cultured esophageal carcinoma Eca-109 cells were inoculated subcutaneously in BALB/c mice. The tumor-bearing mice were randomly divided into control group (A), 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) group (B), 5-fluorouracil group (C), and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) plus 5-fluorouracil group (D).

Treg/Th17 functional disequilibrium in Chinese uremia on hemodialysis: a link between calcification and cardiovascular disease.

Aim: To investigate the correlation of the functional disequilibrium of regulatory T cells (Treg)/T-helper (Th17) cells with calcification and to explore the significance of their influence on the outcome of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in uremic patients after hemodialysis (HD).

Methods: Out of 66 uremia patients, 36 patients had CVD after HD (maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) group1) and 30 patients did not have CVD (MHD group2). Twenty healthy volunteers were selected as normal control group.

Effects of peripheral blood mononuclear cells morphology on vascular calcification in uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

We used high-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM) to examine possible changes in the morphology of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and to investigate their influence on vascular calcification in uremic patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). 36 uremic patients had cardiovascular diseases after MHD (MHD group1) and 30 uremic patients did not (MHD group 2), and 20 healthy volunteers were the control group. The extent of coronary artery calcification was assessed with coronary artery calcification score (CACS).

The C-terminal region of the hepatitis B virus X protein is required for its stimulation of HBV replication in primary mouse hepatocytes.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx), a multifunctional regulatory protein encoded by HBV, is known to be involved in stimulation of viral replication by modulating cell cycle status. HBx is required for maximal virus replication in plasmid-based replication assays in immortalized human liver HepG2 cells and in primary rat hepatocytes.

Genome-wide analysis of HMGA2 transcription factor binding sites by ChIP on chip in gastric carcinoma cells.

High mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) is an architectural transcription factor that plays an important role in development and progression of malignant neoplasias. Recently, some studies reported that HMGA2 is also implicated in epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMT) and cancer stem cells. But the underlying mechanisms of these conditions are poorly understood.

Proinflammatory CD14+CD16+ monocytes are associated with microinflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and diabetic nephropathy uremia.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mortality. Innate immunity has been shown to be closely associated with the occurrence and progression of T2DM-associated complications. In this study, we investigated the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and CD14(+)CD16(+) monocytes in patients with T2DM and DN patients with uremia and TLR4 response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and to further explore the potential effects of inflammatory immune response in T2DM and DN uremia.

[Inhibitory effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate combined with matrine on the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between activation of nuclear factor-K-gene binding (NF-κB) and apoptosis induced by matrine(MT) in transplanted tumor of human hepatocellular carcinoma in nude mouse.

Methods: Tumors were established by injection of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 into the back of nude mice. The mice were divided randomly into four groups: Control group, MT group (35 mg/kg), PDTC group (120 mg/kg) and Combination group: PDTC + MT group (120 mg/kg + 35 mg/kg), the reagents were injected peritoneally.

Overexpression of Forkhead Box M1 transcription factor and nuclear factor-κB in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a potential indicator for poor prognosis.

The Forkhead Box M1 transcription factor and nuclear factor-κB have been shown to play important roles in the development and progression of human cancers. However, the functional significance of Forkhead Box M1 transcription factor in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and the correlation between Forkhead Box M1 transcription factor and nuclear factor-κB remain unclear. In the current study, we have shown that Forkhead Box M1 transcription factor and nuclear factor-κB were significantly overexpressed in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma tissues and precancerous lesions, compared with adjacent normal tissues (both P < .

[Expression of paxillin in breast cancer cell with high and low metastatic potentiality].

Objective: To study the expression of paxillin in the two subgroups of human breast cancer cells with high and low metastatic potentialities and the effect of paxillin on tumor metastasis and adhesion.

Methods: Human breast cancer MDA-MB-435s cells were cultured in Transwell chamber with artificial matrigel, two subgroups of MDA-MB-435s cells with different metastatic potentiality were obtained by the ability of cells penetrating artificial matrigel. The expressions of paxillin mRNA and protein were examined by Immune histochemistry, Western blot and RT-PCR.

The role of Crk/Dock180/Rac1 pathway in the malignant behavior of human ovarian cancer cell SKOV3.

Small GTPases, particularly the Rho family, are key regulators of cell motility and migration. Dock180 was well known for the main target of signal adaptor protein Crk and acted as a guanine-nucleotide exchange factor for small GTPase Rac1. In the present study, Dock180 was found to combine primarily with CrkI other than CrkII, and its association with Elmo1 was also demonstrated in ovarian cancer cell SKOV3.

[Effect of P38MAPK signal transduction pathway on apoptosis of THP-1 induced by allicin].

Objective: The objective of this paper was to study the change of P38MAPK and Fas in the apoptosis of THP-1 cells induced by allicin.

Method: The proliferation inhibition rates of THP-1 cells after various treatments were examined by MTT assay. Apoptosis rate was determined with Annexin V- FITC/PI double staining by flow cytometry.