Inhibition of GDNF-Driven Macrophage-to-Myofibroblast Transition Protects Against Colitis-Associated Intestinal Fibrosis.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been demonstrated to promote the development of liver fibrosis, but its role in intestinal fibrosis is unknown. Macrophage-to-myofibroblast transition (MMT) is an important pathway contributing to fibrosis diseases. However, whether MMT cells, characterized by co-expressing both macrophage (CD68 or F4/80) and myofibroblast (α-SMA) markers, occurs in intestinal fibrosis remain to be addressed.

Yiwei Xiaoyu granules for treatment of chronic atrophic gastritis with deficiency syndrome of the spleen and stomach.

Background: The Correa sequence, initiated by (), commonly progresses to gastric cancer through the stage of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). Although eradication of only reduces the risk of gastric cancer, it does not eliminate the risk for neoplastic progression. Yiwei Xiaoyu granules (YWXY) are a commonly used composite preparation in Chinese clinics.

Preventive and inhibitive effects of Yiwei Xiaoyu granules on the development and progression of spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia lesions.

Background: Spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM) is a potential preneoplastic lesion.

Aim: To elucidate the microRNA (miR)-7-mediated preventive and inhibitive effects of Yiwei Xiaoyu granules (YWXY) in SPEM lesions.

Methods: Gastric mucosa biopsies were collected from chronic atrophic gastritis patients and healthy people with signed informed consent.

Ultrastructure Characteristics of Different Chinese Medicine Syndromes of Helicobacter pylori-Correlated Gastric Diseases.

Objective: To explore the ultrastructure characteristics of patients with dampness-heat of Pi (Spleen)-Wei (Stomach) syndrome (DHPW) and Pi-qi deficiency syndrome (PQD), both of which are Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-correlated gastric diseases (HPCG), and implicate a helpful hint for the clinical microcosmic syndrome differentiation.

Methods: Fourteen gastric mucosa samples from 6 chronic gastritis (CG) and 6 active peptic ulcer (including 8 DHPW, 4 PQD) as well as 2 healthy volunteers were collected and tested for Hp infection. The ultrastructure of gastric mucosa was observed under the transmission electron microscope (TEM).

Role of microRNA-7 in digestive system malignancy.

There are several malignancies of the digestive system (including gastric, pancreatic and colorectal cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma), which are the most common types of cancer and a major cause of death worldwide. MicroRNA (miR)-7 is abundant in the pancreas, playing an important role in pancreatic development and endocrine function. Expression of miR-7 is downregulated in digestive system malignancies compared with normal tissue.

Sex-specific association of rs4746172 of VCL gene with hypertension in two Han populations from Southern China.

Hypertension is the most common and lethal risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Numerous variants have been associated with hypertension, however, most of which failed to get replication due to ethnic differences. In this study, we analyzed associations of 10 newly reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Europeans with hypertension in Chinese.

Sp1 and c-Myc modulate drug resistance of leukemia stem cells by regulating survivin expression through the ERK-MSK MAPK signaling pathway.

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is initiated and maintained by a subset of self-renewing leukemia stem cells (LSCs), which contribute to the progression, recurrence and therapeutic resistance of leukemia. However, the mechanisms underlying the maintenance of LSCs drug resistance have not been fully defined. In this study, we attempted to elucidate the mechanisms of LSCs drug resistance.

Molecular characterization of SMN copy number derived from carrier screening and from core families with SMA in a Chinese population.

Screening for carriers of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is necessary for effective clinical/prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling. However, a population-based study of SMA prevalence in mainland China has not yet been conducted. In this study, the copy number of survival motor neuron (SMN) genes was determined in 1712 newborn cord blood samples collected from southern China and from 25 core families, which included 26 SMA patients and 44 parents, to identify SMA carriers.

Identification, characteristic and phylogenetic analysis of type II DNA topoisomerase gene in Giardia lamblia.

The genes encoding type II DNA topoisomerases were investigated in Giardia lamblia genome, and a type IIA gene, GlTop 2 was identified. It is a single copy gene with a 4476 bp long ORF without intron. The deduced amino acid sequence shows strong homology to eukaryotic DNA Top 2.