Knockdown of PKM2 and GLS1 expression can significantly reverse oxaliplatin-resistance in colorectal cancer cells.

Clinical treatment for colorectal cancer (CRC) thus far encounters a huge challenge due to oxaliplatin-resistance. As crucial rate-limiting enzymes in aerobic glycolysis and glutaminolysis, pyruvate kinase M2 type (PKM2) and kidney-type glutaminase (GLS1) are proposed to carry important implications in colorectal carcinogenesis and drug-resistance. This study aimed to explore the possible association of oxaliplatin-resistance with aerobic glycolysis/glutaminolysis indexed by PKM2/GLS1 expression.

Enhanced circulating transforming growth factor beta 1 is causally associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: a mendelian randomization meta-analysis.

The aim of this study was to test the causal association between circulating transforming growth factor beta 1 (protein: TGF-β1 and coding gene: TGFB1) and hepatocellular carcinoma by choosing TGFB1 gene C-509T polymorphism as an instrument in a Mendelian randomization (MR) meta-analysis. Ten English articles were identified for analysis. Two authors independently assessed each article and abstracted relevant data.

[Influence of oxaliplatin combined with LCP on proliferation and apoptosis of colon cancer cell line HT29].

Objective: To study the effects of oxaliplatin combined with low-molecular-weight citrus pectin (LCP) on cell proliferation and apoptosis in human colon carcinoma cell line HT29 in vitro.

Methods: Effects of oxaliplatin alone and oxaliplatin combined with LCP on HT29 cells proliferation were determined by MTT. Coefficient of drug interaction (CDI) was calculated.

[Hepatectomy combined with cryoablation and ethanol injection for unresectable multiple liver metastases from colorectal cancer].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of hepatectomy combined with cryoablation and ethanol injection in patients with unresectable multiple liver metastases from colorectal cancer.

Methods: Clinical data of 23 patients with multiple liver metastases form colorectal cancer in the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College between January 2005 and December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 15 males and 8 females with average age of 52.

Lithium impacts on the amplitude and period of the molecular circadian clockwork.

Lithium salt has been widely used in treatment of Bipolar Disorder, a mental disturbance associated with circadian rhythm disruptions. Lithium mildly but consistently lengthens circadian period of behavioural rhythms in multiple organisms. To systematically address the impacts of lithium on circadian pacemaking and the underlying mechanisms, we measured locomotor activity in mice in vivo following chronic lithium treatment, and also tracked clock protein dynamics (PER2::Luciferase) in vitro in lithium-treated tissue slices/cells.

Entrainment of disrupted circadian behavior through inhibition of casein kinase 1 (CK1) enzymes.

Circadian pacemaking requires the orderly synthesis, posttranslational modification, and degradation of clock proteins. In mammals, mutations in casein kinase 1 (CK1) epsilon or delta can alter the circadian period, but the particular functions of the WT isoforms within the pacemaker remain unclear. We selectively targeted WT CK1epsilon and CK1delta using pharmacological inhibitors (PF-4800567 and PF-670462, respectively) alongside genetic knockout and knockdown to reveal that CK1 activity is essential to molecular pacemaking.

Inhibitory effect of modified citrus pectin on liver metastases in a mouse colon cancer model.

Aim: To discuss the expression of glactin-3 in liver metastasis of colon cancer and its inhibition by modified citrus pectin (MCP) in mice.

Methods: Seventy-five Balb/c mice were randomly divided into negative control group (n = 15), positive control group (n = 15), low MCP concentration group (n = 15), middle MCP concentration group (n = 15) and high MCP concentration group (n = 15). CT26 colon cancer cells were injected into the subcapsule of mouse spleen in positive control group, low, middle and high MCP concentrations groups, except in negative control, to set up a colon cancer liver metastasis model.

Ligand modulation of REV-ERBalpha function resets the peripheral circadian clock in a phasic manner.

The nuclear receptor REV-ERBalpha is a key negative-feedback regulator of the biological clock. REV-ERBalpha binds to ROR elements of the Bmal1 (Arntl) promoter and represses Bmal1 transcription. This stabilizing negative loop is important for precise control of the circadian pacemaker.

Correlation between CD105 expression and postoperative recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Angiogenesis is one of the mechanisms most critical to the postoperative recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, finding the molecular markers associated with angiogenesis may help identify patients at increased risk for recurrence and metastasis of HCC. This study was designed to investigate whether CD105 or CD34 could serve as a valid prognostic marker in patients with HCC by determining if there is a correlation between CD105 or CD34 expression and postoperative recurrence or metastasis.

Expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor in hepatocellular carcinoma: Impact on neovascularization and survival.

Aim: To study the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the impact on neovascularization and survival.

Methods: Expressions of HIF-1alpha, VEGF and microvessel density (MVD) are studied through immunohistochemistry in 36 cases of HCC and the corresponding paraneoplastic tissue and 6 cases of normal liver tissue. The relationship of the expressions of HIF-1alpha and VEGF with the clinicopathological data and survival are analyzed.

[Overexpression of the RhoC gene correlates with invasion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: Rho, a ras homologous gene, encodes a group of GTP-binding proteins. Our previous study suggested that one member of the Rho gene family, RhoC, was related to the progression of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study is to elucidate correlation of Rho overexpression with invasion and metastasis of HCC.

ADAM17 mRNA expression and pathological features of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To study the expression of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate the relationship between ADAM17 mRNA expression and clinicopathological features of HCC.

Methods: Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) from 31 cases were divided into small HCC (SHCC), nodular HCC (NHCC) and solitary large HCC (SLHCC) according to tumor diameter and the number of nodes. ADAM17 mRNA expressions were compared among those groups by means of semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

[Epidemiological study on semen quality of 562 volunteers aged 22-30].

Objective: This study is to understand the difference of semen quality among the different areas and the related factors.

Methods: Five hundred and sixty-two people were under from seven provinces.

Results: Results showed that the quantity and density of semen, the rate of moving forward semen, livability, percent age of normal formed semen and the total number of semen were statistically different among the seven areas.

Effects of PI3K and p42/p44 MAPK on overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To study the relationship between hypoxia or epidermal growth factor (EGF) and the overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the signal transduction pathway of the transcription of VEGF in hepatoma cells.

Methods: Cobalt chloride and recombinant human EGF were used to stimulate the hepatoma cell lines HepG(2). VEGF mRNA was detected by using of semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Expression and significance of RhoC gene in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the expression of RhoC gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate the relationship between RhoC gene expression and invasion and metastasis of HCC.

Methods: mRNA expression level of RhoC gene was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in 25 cases of HCC and para-cancerous normal liver tissues. In addition, mutation of RhoC gene was examined by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP).