Metformin Induces Autophagy via the AMPK-mTOR Signaling Pathway in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

Background: Metformin may exert the anticancer effect on multiple types of cancers and some potential mechanisms have been suggested. Our study was designed to determine the effect of metformin on the cell autophagy and autophagic flux via the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

Methods: MHCC97H and HepG2 cell lines were cultured and treated without and with metformin at various concentrations (2, 5, 10 and 20 mM) for 48 h.

Expression and Significance of Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: Insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) is an important molecule of the insulin signal transduction pathway and has been associated with the occurrence and development of many tumors, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our study was designed to determine the expression and significance of IRS-1 in human HCC.

Methods: Two hundred and forty specimens were drawn from 140 patients, including 100 HCC tissues and 100 paracancerous (PC) tissues from 100 HCC patients, 20 liver cirrhosis (LC) tissues from 20 LC patients, and 20 chronic hepatitis (CH) tissues from 20 CH patients.

Increased Level of Systolic Blood Pressure in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: More than 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) also have hypertension. Moreover, hypertension has been regarded as one paraneoplastic phenomenon of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our study was designed to determine the relationship between blood pressure and DM in HCC patients.

[Effect of baicalin on liver fatty acid binding protein in oxidative stress model in vitro].

Objective: To investigate the effect of baicalin on liver fatty acid binding protein in oxidative stress model in vitro.

Methods: (1) Cellular oxidative stress in vitro was induced by incubating cells with 400μmol/L hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) for 20 minutes at 37 degrees C in the dark. After Chang liver cell line was treated with different dose of baicalin for 24, 48 and 72 hours.