The characteristics and medical applications of antler stem cells.

Antlers are the only fully regenerable mammalian appendages whose annual renewal is initiated by antler stem cells (ASCs), defined as a specialized type of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with embryonic stem cell properties. ASCs possess the same biological features as MSCs, including the capacity for self-renewal and multidirectional differentiation, immunomodulatory functions, and the maintenance of stem cell characteristics after multiple passages. Several preclinical studies have shown that ASCs exhibit promising potential in wound healing, bone repair, osteoarthritis, anti-tissue fibrosis, anti-aging, and hair regeneration.

A new lymph node ratio-based staging system for rectosigmoid cancer: a retrospective study with external validation.

Background: This study evaluated the clinical value of a new American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor node metastasis (TNM) staging prediction model based on lymph node ratio (LNR) in rectosigmoid cancer (RSC).

Methods: The analysis included 1444 patients with nonmetastatic RSC diagnosed pathologically between 2010 and 2016 who were collected from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Results database. The AJCC N-stage was redefined according to the LNR cutoff point, and the ability of the new staging system to predict prognosis was compared with that of the AJCC TNM staging system.

Screening of characteristic genes in ulcerative colitis by integrating gene expression profiles.

Background: This study aimed to screen the feature modules and characteristic genes related to ulcerative colitis (UC) and construct a support vector machine (SVM) classifier to distinguish UC patients.

Methods: Four datasets that contained UC and control samples were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with consistency were screened via the MetaDE method.

CHSY1 is upregulated and acts as tumor promotor in gastric cancer through regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration.

Gastric cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignant tumors, with rapid progression and poor prognosis. The role of chondroitin sulfate synthase 1 (CHSY1) in the development and progression of gastric cancer was explored and clarified in this study. The immunohistochemistry analysis of clinical tissue samples as well as data mining of public database showed that CHSY1 was significantly upregulated in gastric cancer and associated with more advanced tumor stage and poorer prognosis.

Oncologic Nomogram for Stage I Rectal Cancer to Assist Patient Selection for Adjuvant (Chemo)Radiotherapy Following Local Excision.

Because of the low rate of lymph node metastasis in stage I rectal cancer (RC), local resection (LR) can achieve high survival benefits and quality of life. However, the indications for postoperative adjuvant therapy (AT) remain controversial. A retrospective analysis was performed in 6,486 patients with RC (pT1/T2) using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Repression of circRNA_000684 inhibits malignant phenotypes of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells via miR-145-mediated KLF5.

Background: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are aberrantly expressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In the current study, we investigated how circRNA_000684 affected the progression of PDAC, and how it regulated kruppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) and microRNA (miR)-145.

Methods: Differentially expressed circRNAs, miRs and genes related to PDAC as well as their targeting relationship were predicted using bioinformatics analyses.

Identification of an Immune Signature Predicting Prognosis Risk and Lymphocyte Infiltration in Colon Cancer.

Increasing studies have highlighted the effects of the tumor immune micro-environment (TIM) on colon cancer (CC) tumorigenesis, prognosis, and metastasis. However, there is no reliable molecular marker that can effectively estimate the immune infiltration and predict the CC relapse risk. Here, we leveraged the gene expression profile and clinical characteristics from 1430 samples, including four gene expression omnibus database (GEO) databases and the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) database, to construct an immune risk signature that could be used as a predictor of survival outcome and immune activity.

RETRACTED: LncRNA SNHG3 promotes the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer by regulating miR-539/RUNX2 axis.

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).

Effect of sitagliptin, a DPP-4 inhibitor, against DENA-induced liver cancer in rats mediated via NF-κB activation and inflammatory cytokines.

The target of the current research was to investigate the anticancer activity of sitagliptin on diethylnitrosamine (DENA)-induced cancer in the liver. Wistar rats were treated with or without sitagliptin before DENA treatment. We detected liver weight, blood glucose, and histopathology of the liver.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor EIF3H potentiates gastric carcinoma cell proliferation.

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit H (EIF3H) is required for the progression of several types of cancer. However, little is known about the function of EIF3H in gastric carcinoma. To address this issue, in the present study, we investigated EIF3H genetic alterations in and expression of EIF3H in gastric cancer tissue samples using cBioPortal and Oncomine databases.

Knockdown of long noncoding RNA 00152 (LINC00152) inhibits human retinoblastoma progression.

Background: A growing body of evidence supports the involvement of long noncoding RNA 00152 (LINC00152) in the progression and metastasis of multiple cancers. However, the exact roles of LINC00152 in the progression of human retinoblastoma (RB) remain unknown. We explored the expression and biological function of human RB.

Multiple gastrointestinal metastases of squamous-cell lung cancer: A case report.

Rationale: Gastrointestinal multiple metastases of lung cancer are extremely rare. The majority of gastrointestinal metastasis cases are diagnosed at a late stage and the prognosis is extremely poor. This report describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes of a patient with gastrointestinal multiple metastases from squamous-cell lung cancer, with special emphasis on the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic lung cancer.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0000673 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma malignance by decreasing miR-767-3p targeting SET.

The importance of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in human cancers has gradually been acknowledged. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), several circRNAs have been reported to regulate tumor growth and metastasis. However, the role of hsa_circ_0000673 in HCC remains largely unknown.

miR-539 inhibits human colorectal cancer progression by targeting RUNX2.

Emerging evidence has shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) such as miR-539 play critical roles in carcinogenesis and progression in many types of cancer, including human colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the roles and underlying mechanism of miR-539 in CRC have not been well identified. The aims of this study were, therefore, to investigate the regulatory role and potential mechanism of miR-539 in human CRC.

miR-148b inhibits glycolysis in gastric cancer through targeting SLC2A1.

Although the molecular biology of GC has been well characterized, early diagnostic biomarkers and effective therapeutic options in gastric cancer are still under investigation. Here, we found that miR-148b expression decreased in human gastric cancer tissues compared with matched adjacent nontumor tissues by q-PCR analysis and in situ hybridization. Further investigation revealed that overexpression of miR-148b limited glycolysis including glucose consumption, lactate production in gastric cancer cell lines BGC-823 and MKN45.

Growth inhibition of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells in vitro by STO-609 is independent of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-beta and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase.

Adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase is a recently identified downstream target of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-beta, and is involved in the regulation of cell metabolism and cell proliferation. STO-609 is a selective antagonist of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-beta. In the present study, we found that STO-609 suppressed AMP-activated protein kinase activity, reduced expression of Akt and ERK, and increased cell apoptosis in SNU-1 and N87 cells but not normal gastric epithelial cells (CCL-241).

p38MAPK Signaling Enhances Glycolysis Through the Up-Regulation of the Glucose Transporter GLUT-4 in Gastric Cancer Cells.

Background/aims: Previous studies have shown that p38MAPK is involved in gastric cancer, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Methods: q-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to explore the expression of PP2A and the phosphorylation of p38MAPK in gastric cancer tissues and normal gastric tissues. Activated p38MAPK in the gastric cancer cell line MKN45 using activator, then q-PCR, glucose uptake assay and colony formation assay were performed to determine whether p38MAPK promotes gastric cancer through the enhancement of glycolysis.

[Application of totally laparoscopic anastomosis in laparoscopic gastrectomy].

Objective: To explore the safety and feasibility of the total laparoscopic anastomosis in laparoscopic gastrectomy.

Methods: Clinical data of 36 patients who received totally laparoscopic anastomosis and another 47 patients who received anastomosis through small incision in our department from July 2012 to July 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups.

miR-133b acts as a tumor suppressor and negatively regulates FGFR1 in gastric cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate protein expression by binding protein-coding mRNAs and repressing translation. Accumulating evidence suggests that miRNAs are involved in cancer development and progression, acting as either tumor suppressors or oncogenes. Intriguingly, it has been shown that miR-133b was significantly downregulated in several types of cancers.