Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization enhances expression of Nm23-H1 and TIMP-2 in the tumor tissue of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: To investigate the effects of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) on expression of nm23-H1 and TIMP-2 in the tumor tissue and prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methodology: Seventy-two patients with resectable HCC were randomized into two equal groups with 36 patients in each: TACE before surgical resection of HCC (Group A) and direct surgical resection of HCC (Group B). All samples were subjected to pathological examination and immunohistochemical staining using nm23-H1 and TIMP-2 antibodies.

[An infrared imaging system for detecting electrophoretic mobility shift of DNA-protein complexes].

Objective: To establish a new non-radioactive method for electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) to investigate the binding between glucocorticoid induced leucine zipper (GILZ) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma 2 (PPARgamma2) promoter oligonucleotides.

Methods: GILZ protein prepared by prokaryotic expression was linked to PPARgamma2 promoter oligonucleotides end-labeled with IRDye 800 infrared dye. The DNA-protein complex was separated with non-denatured polyacrylamide gel and scanned with the Odyssey.

[Construction of a recombinant adenoviral vector carrying integrin-alpha v and the influence of integrin-alpha on the adhesion characteristics of SMMC-7721 cells].

Objective: To establish human integrin-alpha v adenovirus expressed in human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells and analyze the characteristics of integrin-alpha adhesion to liver cancer cells.

Methods: Human integrin-alpha v cDNA was cloned into the plasmid pAdTrack-CMV. Then, pAdTrack-integrin-alpha v was cotransformed with adenoviral backbone vector into E.

[Construction of GFP-AWP1 fusion gene vector and its expression in 293 cells].

Objective: To construct green fluorescent protein (GFP)-AWP1 (a novel human protein associated with protein kinase C-related kinase 1) fusion gene vector for observing the expression and localization of AWP1 in 293 cells.

Methods: The coding region in AWP1 cDNA was amplified by RT-PCR from human endothelial cell line ECV304 and recombined into pEGFP-C2 plasmid expressing GFP. After identification with restriction endonucleases and sequence analysis, the recombinant plasmid was transfected into 293 cells with the cationic liposome DOTAP as the transfection reagent.

[Effect of astrocyte-conditioned medium on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced apoptosis of PC12 cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of astrocyte-conditioned medium (ACM) on PC12 cell apoptosis induced by reactive oxygen species tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tbOOH).

Methods: PC12 cells attacked by tbOOH were cultured with Sprague Dawley rat cerebral cortex ACM, and the cell apoptosis was observed by fluorescent microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The cell apoptosis rate was evaluated by flow cytometry and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration measured using thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reacting substances (TRABS).