Protrusion-localized STAT3 mRNA promotes metastasis of highly metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro.

Aim: Recent evidence shows that localization of mRNAs and their protein products at cellular protrusions plays a decisive function in the metastasis of cancer cells. The aim of this study was to identify the variety of proteins encoded by protrusion-localized mRNAs and their roles in the metastasis and invasion of liver cancer cells.

Methods: Highly metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HCCLM3 and non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 were examined.

Postoperative plasma copeptin levels independently predict delirium and cognitive dysfunction after coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Copeptin can reflect individual's stress state and are correlated with poor outcome of critical illness. The occurrence of postoperative delirium (POD) and cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is associated with worse outcome after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The present study aimed to investigate the ability of postoperative plasma copeptin level to predict POD and POCD in patients undergoing CABG surgery.

Gene expression profiling of Clostridium botulinum under heat shock stress.

During growth, C. botulinum is always exposed to different environmental changes, such as temperature increase, nutrient deprivation, and pH change; however, its corresponding global transcriptional profile is uncharacterized. This study is the first description of the genome-wide gene expression profile of C.

[Association of IL-8 gene polymorphisms with inflammatory bowel disease in Chinese patients].

Objective: To investigate the association of interleukin 8 (IL-8) gene polymorphisms with the risks of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-8 gene at -845 T/C, -738 T/A, -353 A/T, -251 T/A and +678 T/C were analyzed in 183 IBD patients. They included Crohn's disease (CD, n = 41), ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 142) and healthy controls (n = 160).

Transcriptome analysis of adaptive heat shock response of Streptococcus thermophilus.

Streptococcus thermophilus, a gram-positive facultative anaerobe, is one of the most important lactic acid bacteria widely used in the dairy fermentation industry. In this study, we have analyzed the global transcriptional profiling of S. thermophilus upon temperature change.

[Association of combined polymorphisms in MIP-1α and ApoE genes with the susceptibility of inflammatory bowel disease].

Objective: To investigate whether the macrophage inflammatory protein 1 alpha (MIP-1α) and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene polymorphisms, either alone or in combination, affect the susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods: Genomic DNA of IBD patients with Crohn's disease (CD, n = 41) and with ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 142) and healthy controls (n = 160) was extracted and genotyped for the MIP-1α and ApoE gene polymorphisms by restriction fragment length polymorphism assay.

Results: MIP-1α -906(TA)(6)/(TA)(6) homozygotes had a significantly elevated risk of UC (OR = 1.