[Down-regulated clusterin expression enhances sensitivity of hepatoma cells to anti-cancer drugs].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between and underlying mechanistic pathway of clusterin (CLU) and chemo-resistance ofhepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells.

Methods: CLU protein expression in HCC cell lines (Hep3B, SMMC7721, PLC, and HepG2) and HepG2/ADM cells was quantified by western blotting. Four short-hairpin (sh)RNAs designed to block CLU-mRNA were generated, screened by RT-PCR, and transfected into the cells to determine effects of CLU on cell viability and apoptosis.

Chemosensitization of HepG2 cells by suppression of NF-κB/p65 gene transcription with specific-siRNA.

Aim: To investigate small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation and multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype formation in human HepG2 cells.

Methods: Total RNA was extracted from human HepG2 or LO2 cells. NF-κB/p65 mRNA was amplified by nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and confirmed by sequencing.

Application of positron emission tomography/computed tomography in radiation treatment planning for head and neck cancers.

18-fluorodeoxygluocose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ((18)FDG-PET/CT) provides significant information in multiple settings in the management of head and neck cancers (HNC). This article seeks to define the additional benefit of PET/CT as related to radiation treatment planning for squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck through a review of relevant literature. By helping further define both primary and nodal volumes, radiation treatment planning can be improved using PET/CT.

Manual Therapy for Hip Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Hip osteoarthritis (HOA) is one of the major causes of disability in seniors and is costly to society. Manual therapy is one therapeutic approach to treating HOA.

Objectives: To assess the effect of manual therapy compared to the placebo or wait-list/no treatment or a minimal intervention control for HOA at post-treatment and short-, intermediate- and long-term follow-ups.

Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation of the segmental Glissonian pedicle: A new technique for anatomic liver resection.

Background: Anatomic liver resection is widely accepted as the optimal surgical treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the complexity of conventional operative methods limits their use. To explore the possibility of using modern techniques to achieve a simpler approach, we have evaluated ultrasound-guided segmental radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the Glissonian pedicle before liver resection in a porcine model and in HCC patients.

Methods: This study had 2 stages.

Crystal Structure of the 3.8-MDa Respiratory Supermolecule Hemocyanin at 3.0 Å Resolution.

Molluscan hemocyanin, a copper-containing oxygen transporter, is one of the largest known proteins. Although molluscan hemocyanins are currently applied as immunotherapeutic agents, their precise structure has not been determined because of their enormous size. Here, we have determined the first X-ray crystal structure of intact molluscan hemocyanin.

Regulation signature of miR-143 and miR-26 in porcine Salmonella infection identified by binding site enrichment analysis.

Salmonella infects many vertebrate species, and pigs colonized with Salmonella are typically Salmonella carriers. Transcriptomic analysis of the response to Salmonella infection in whole blood has been reported for the pig. The objective of this study is to identify the important miRNAs involved in Salmonella infection using binding site enrichment analysis.

Abnormality of Wnt3a expression as novel specific biomarker for diagnosis and differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma.

The member 3a of Wingless-type MMTV integration site family (Wnt3a) as an oncogene is overexpressed in many kinds of tumors with a worse outcome. However, the mechanism and alteration of Wnt3a expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been clarified. In this study, the levels of Wnt3a expression were investigated in 80 HCC tissues or sera of 186 patients with chronic liver diseases.

Effects of Placental Ischemia Are Attenuated by 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Treatment and Associated with Reduced Apoptosis and Increased Autophagy.

We evaluated the effects of administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) during pregnancy on relieving adverse outcomes of preeclampsia and the pathologic and biochemical changes in reduction in uteroplacental perfusion (RUPP) model of rats. On day 1, 7, and 14 of pregnancy, rats in pregnant RUPP plus 1,25(OH)2D (RUPP+VD) group (n = 15) received 120 ng/100 g body weight/week of 1,25(OH)2D by subcutaneous injection, while rats in normal pregnant (n = 12) and the RUPP group (n = 14) received 1,25(OH)2D vehicle (saline solution). On day 19 of pregnancy, after measure of blood pressure and cardiac function and urine collection, rats were euthanized, and fetal and maternal serum, placenta, and heart and kidney were collected.

A comparison of PGC-1α mRNA and protein expression in response to 1-week endurance training on alternate days or 4 consecutive days.

To understand the molecular mechanisms of adaptation to different training protocols, this study compared the effects of 4 sessions of 90 min treadmill exercise on alternate days or consecutive days in 1 week on messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression of proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-α in rat gastrocnemius muscle. The mRNA significantly increased by 25.8-fold after alternate-day and 10.

Evaluating the use of fibrin glue for sealing low-output enterocutaneous fistulas: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The management of an enterocutaneous fistula poses a significant challenge to surgeons and is often associated with a costly hospital stay and long-term discomfort. The use of fibrin glue in the fistula tract has been shown to promote closure of low output enterocutaneous fistulas. Our previous nonrandomized study demonstrated that autologous platelet-rich fibrin glue treatment significantly decreased time to fistula closure and promoted closure rates.

Structural basis for pore-forming mechanism of staphylococcal α-hemolysin.

Staphylococcal α-hemolysin (α-HL) is a β-barrel pore-forming toxin (PFT) expressed by Staphylococcus aureus. α-HL is secreted as a water-soluble monomeric protein, which binds to target membranes and forms membrane-inserted heptameric pores. To explore the pore-forming mechanism of α-HL in detail, we determined the crystal structure of the α-HL monomer and prepore using H35A mutant and W179A/R200A mutant, respectively.

Melatonin for Spinal Cord Injury in Animal Models: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to loss of function below the lesion and affects individuals worldwide. An increasing number of experimental studies support the effectiveness of melatonin (MT) for SCI. Our objectives were to investigate neurological recovery and anti-oxidant effects of MT in animal models of SCI, and to explore the appropriate dose.

Experimental Validation of Monte Carlo Simulations Based on a Virtual Source Model for TomoTherapy in a RANDO Phantom.

A virtual source model for Monte Carlo simulations of helical TomoTherapy has been developed previously by the authors. The purpose of this work is to perform experiments in an anthropomorphic (RANDO) phantom with the same order of complexity as in clinical treatments to validate the virtual source model to be used for quality assurance secondary check on TomoTherapy patient planning dose. Helical TomoTherapy involves complex delivery pattern with irregular beam apertures and couch movement during irradiation.

Incidence of Inadvertent Intraoperative Hypothermia and Its Risk Factors in Patients Undergoing General Anesthesia in Beijing: A Prospective Regional Survey.

Background/objective: Inadvertent intraoperative hypothermia (core temperature <360 C) is a recognized risk in surgery and has adverse consequences. However, no data about this complication in China are available. Our study aimed to determine the incidence of inadvertent intraoperative hypothermia and its associated risk factors in a sample of Chinese patients.

Biomarker-based MicroRNA Therapeutic Strategies for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key factors involved in a series of biological processes, ranging from embryogenesis to programmed cell death. Its link to aberrant expression profiles has rendered it a potentially attractive tool for the diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment of various diseases. Accumulating evidence has indicated that miRNAs act as tumor suppressors in hepatocyte malignant transformation by regulating development, differentiation, proliferation, and tumorigenesis.

[Clinical research of transvaginal repair of cesarean scar diverticulum].

Objective: To explore the clinical effect of transvaginal repair of cesarean scar diverticulum (CSD).

Methods: Totally 64 patients of CSD in the First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University between Mar. 2013 and Sept.

Diagnostic and prognostic significance of secretory clusterin expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

The upregulation of secretory clusterin (sCLU) is associated with tumor progression by contributing to angiogenesis, chemo-resistance, cell survival, and metastasis. However, its diagnostic or prognostic values for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) still remain to be clarified. The average serum sCLU level analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was significantly higher (P < 0.

The loop structure of Actinomycete glycoside hydrolase family 5 mannanases governs substrate recognition.

Endo-β-1,4-mannanases from Streptomyces thermolilacinus (StMan) and Thermobifida fusca (TfMan) demonstrated different substrate specificities. StMan hydrolyzed galactosylmannooligosaccharide (GGM5; 6(III) ,6(IV) -α-d-galactosyl mannopentaose) to GGM3 and M2, whereas TfMan hydrolyzed GGM5 to GGM4 and M1. To determine the region involved in the substrate specificity, we constructed chimeric enzymes of StMan and TfMan and evaluated their substrate specificities.

Glypican-3 is a biomarker and a therapeutic target of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: The carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a multi-factorial, multi-step and complex process. Early diagnosis and effective treatments are of utmost importance. This review summarized the recent studies of oncofetal glypican-3 (GPC-3), a membrane-associated heparan sulfate proteoglycan, in the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.

TGF-β Negatively Regulates CXCL1 Chemokine Expression in Mammary Fibroblasts through Enhancement of Smad2/3 and Suppression of HGF/c-Met Signaling Mechanisms.

Fibroblasts are major cellular components of the breast cancer stroma, and influence the growth, survival and invasion of epithelial cells. Compared to normal tissue fibroblasts, carcinoma associated fibroblasts (CAFs) show increased expression of numerous soluble factors including growth factors and cytokines. However, the mechanisms regulating expression of these factors remain poorly understood.

Quantitative evaluation of image segmentation incorporating medical consideration functions.

Purpose: A quantitative and objective metric, the medical similarity index (MSI), has been developed for evaluating the accuracy of a medical image segmentation relative to a reference segmentation. The MSI uses the medical consideration function (MCF) as its basis.

Methods: Currently, no indices provide quantitative evaluations of segmentation accuracy with medical considerations.

Up-regulation of annexin A2 expression predicates advanced clinicopathological features and poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatic annexin A2 (ANXA2) orchestrates multiple biologic processes and clinical symptoms and plays a key role in development, metastasis, and drug resistance of lethal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the prognostic significance of ANXA2 for HCC has not been elucidated up to now. In this study, ANXA2 was frequently found to be up-regulated in HCC tissues compared with benign liver disease (BLD) tissues, which was consistent with the results in serum samples and tissue specimens of patients with HCC.

Complications from Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Lung Cancer.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has become a standard treatment option for early stage, node negative non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients who are either medically inoperable or refuse surgical resection. SBRT has high local control rates and a favorable toxicity profile relative to other surgical and non-surgical approaches. Given the excellent tumor control rates and increasing utilization of SBRT, recent efforts have focused on limiting toxicity while expanding treatment to increasingly complex patients.