Polyphyllin VII Promotes Apoptosis in Breast Cancer by Inhibiting MAPK/ERK Signaling Pathway through Downregulation of SOS1.

Polyphyllin VII is a biologically active herbal monomer extracted from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Chonglou. Many studies have demonstrated the anticancer activity of polyphyllin VII against various types of cancers, such as colon, liver, and lung cancer, but its effect on breast cancer has not been elucidated. In this study, we demonstrate that polyphyllin VII inhibited proliferation, increased production of intracellular reactive oxygen species, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential in breast cancer cells.

Methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD)2/3 specifically recognizes and binds to the genomic mCpG site with a β-sheet in the MBD to affect embryonic development in Bombyx mori.

Methyl-CpG (mCpG) binding domain (MBD) proteins especially bind with methylated DNA, and are involved in many important biological processes; however, the binding mechanism between insect MBD2/3 and mCpG remains unclear. In this study, we identified 2 isoforms of the MBD2/3 gene in Bombyx mori, MBD2/3-S and MBD2/3-L. Binding analysis of MBD2/3-L, MBD2/3-S, and 7 mutant MBD2/3-L proteins deficient in β1-β6 or α1 in the MBD showed that β2-β3-turns in the β-sheet of the MBD are necessary for the formation of the MBD2/3-mCpG complex; furthermore, other secondary structures, namely, β4-β6 and an α-helix, play a role in stabilizing the β-sheet structure to ensure that the MBD is able to bind mCpG.

Homeobox protein A1-like and DNA methylation regulate embryo-specific Zinc finger protein 615 gene expression and embryonic development in the silkworm Bombyx mori.

DNA methylation and transcription factors play roles in gene expression and animal development. In insects, DNA methylation modifies gene bodies, but how DNA methylation and transcription factors regulate gene expression is unclear. In this study, we investigated the mechanism that regulates the expression of Bombyx mori Zinc finger protein 615 (ZnF 615), which is a downstream gene of DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1), and its effects on the regulation of embryonic development.

DNA methylation-mediated expression of zinc finger protein 615 affects embryonic development in .

Cell division and differentiation after egg fertilization are critical steps in the development of embryos from single cells to multicellular individuals and are regulated by DNA methylation via its effects on gene expression. However, the mechanisms by which DNA methylation regulates these processes in insects remain unclear. Here, we studied the impacts of DNA methylation on early embryonic development in .

Molecular characterization of a novel ovodefensin gene in chickens.

Host defense peptides (HDPs) represent a large group of diverse small peptides that play important roles in host defense and disease resistance. In vertebrates, one of the main types of HDPs belong to defensins, which are less than 100 amino acid residues and characterized by a highly conserved motif of cysteine residues. Recently, a subfamily of defensins, namely ovodefensins (OvoDs), has been identified in birds and reptiles.

[Research progress of the selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 agonists].

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a lysophospholipid signaling molecule that regulates important biological functions in both intracellular and extracellular compartments. It interacts with five G protein-coupled receptors subtypes (S1PR(1-5)) to generate multiple downstream signaling. Activation of S1PR1 has been validated to be involved in the process of immune modulation.

[Indications, technique and efficacy of organ preserving pancreatectomy].

Objective: To discuss the proper surgical management of pancreatic benign and low-grade malignant potential neoplasm.

Methods: The experience of 72 cases who accepted organ preserving pancreatectomy from January 1990 to May 2010 was analyzed retrospectively. There were 24 male and 48 female, aged from 15 to 68 years with mean age of 46 years.

[The value of CT in assessing the prognosis of sever acute pancreatitis: a report of 62 cases].

Objective: To study the relationship between CT imaging classification criteria and the prognosis of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Methods: From January 2000 to December 2009, 62 cases with SAP were analyzed, retrospectively. They were all executed CT examination in 72 h after admission, and their CT imaging were classified as grade C (n = 13), grade D (n = 26), and grade E (n = 23) according to the Balthazar classification criteria and also classified as grade I (n = 11), grade II (n = 39), grade III (n = 12) according to the Balthazar CT severity index (CTSI) criteria, respectively.

[Analysis of pancreatic leaking-related risk factors after pancreaticoduodenectomy].

Objective: To analysis the risk factors of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods: A retrospective clinical study had been done in 97 patients who underwent PD between June 2001 and June 2006. The two groups were first compared by the univariate analysis;logistic regression was then used to determine the effect of multiple factors on pancreatic fistula.

[Surgical treatment of asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism].

Objective: To discuss the diagnosis and management of asymptomatic primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).

Methods: Clinical data of 46 cases of primary hyperparathyroidism from January 1990 to December 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 cases of asymptomatic PHPT.

Application of retrograde distal pancreatectomy.

Background: Since conventional methods are difficult to deal with pancreatic tumors close to the portal veins, we investigated the feasibility and norms for retrograde distal pancreatectomy by cutting the neck of the pancreas first.

Method: The clinical data and surgical procedures of retrograde distal pancreatectomy given to 11 patients from July 2001 to June 2007 were analyzed.

Results: All 11 operations were completed successfully.

[Diagnosis and surgical treatment of 98 cases with adult primary retroperitoneal malignant tumor].

Objective: To investigate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of adult primary retroperitoneal malignant tumor (APRMT).

Methods: The clinical data of 98 cases with APRMT underwent resection from January 1990 to April 2003 were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Among the 98 cases, complete excision were performed in 79 cases (80.

Surgical management of 143 patients with adult primary retroperitoneal tumor.

Aim: To analyze the surgical management of adult primary retroperitoneal tumors (APRT) and the factors influencing the outcome after operation.

Methods: Data of 143 cases of APRT from 1990 to 2003 in the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University were evaluated retrospectively.

Results: A total of 143 cases of APRT were treated surgically.

Giant mucinous biliary cystadenoma: a case report.

Background: Biliary cystadenoma is a very rare cystic neoplasm of the liver. Its clinical features, diagnosis, pathologic characteristics, and optimal surgical management have not been defined clearly. In this article we describe the details of this rare disease.

[Expressions of p53 and Gadd45a proteins in human pancreatic cancer and their clinicopathological significance].

Objective: To study the expressions of p53 and Gadd45a proteins and their clinicopathological significance in human pancreatic cancer.

Methods: The expression of p53 and Gadd45a proteins was detected with immunohistochemistry in a series of 59 pancreatic cancers. Their relationships with the clinicopathological parameters including gender, tumor site, TNM stage, histological differentiation, and the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients were analyzed.

Clinicopathological significance of Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression in human pancreatic cancer.

Aim: To assess the clinicopathological significance of the expression of the apoptosis-inhibitory Bcl-2 protein (pBcl-2) and the apoptosis-promoting Bax protein (pBax) in human invasive ductal carcinomas (IDCs) of the pancreas.

Methods: Fifty-nine surgical specimens of IDCs of the pancreas were stained immunohistochemically to detect pBcl-2 and pBax expressions whose correlation to tumor classification, staging, and prognosis was analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results: The expression of pBcl-2 and pBax was detected in 21 of 59 (35.

Clinicopathological significance of p53 and mdm2 protein expression in human pancreatic cancer.

Aim: To study the clinicopathological significance of p53 and mdm2 protein expression in human pancreatic cancer.

Methods: To investigate the expression of p53 and mdm2 in pancreatic cancer by immunohistochemistry, and the relationships between the p53 and mdm2 protein expression and clinicopathological parameters in pancreatic cancer.

Results: The positive expression of p53 protein was found in 40 of 59 patients (67.

Surgical treatment of nonfunctioning islet cell tumor: report of 41 cases.

Background: Nonfunctioning islet cell tumor (NIT) as a rare pancreatic endocrine neoplasm is characterized by unspecific clinical symptoms and is hard to diagnose. In China, NIT accounts for 15%-41% in pancreatic endocrine neoplasms just next to insulinoma. In this study, we evaluated the surgical modalities of NIT.