Skinny people serum factors promote the differentiation of multipotent stem cells into brown adipose tissue.

The original study by Alessio reported that skinny people (SP) serum can promote the formation of brown adipocytes, but not the differentiation of white adipocytes. This finding may explain why SP do not often become obese, despite consuming more calories than the body needs. More importantly, they demonstrated that circulating factors in SP serum can promote the expression of UCP-1 protein, thereby reducing fat accumulation.

Gluconokinase IDNK Promotes Cell Proliferation and Inhibits Apoptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers globally with a poor prognosis. Breakthroughs in the treatment of HCC are urgently needed. This study explored the role of IDNK in the development and progression of HCC.

micorRNA-101 silences DNA-PKcs and sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine.

Gemcitabine sensitization is important for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. We have previously shown that DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs) over-expression causes Akt activation and gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells. Here, we aim to downregulate DNA-PKcs via introduction of micorRNA-101 ("miR-101").

Over-expression of ASIC1a promotes proliferation via activation of the β-catenin/LEF-TCF axis and is associated with disease outcome in liver cancer.

Acid-sensing ion channels 1a (ASIC1a) has been reported to promote migration and invasion in liver cancer. However, the clinical significance and molecular mechanism of ASIC1a in liver cancer remain unknown. In the study, we found that ASIC1a is frequently up-regulated in liver cancer tissues.

Increased number of forkhead box P3+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes correlates with high preoperative albumin level and better survival in patients with stage II or III colorectal cancer.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) that test positive for forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) and elevated preoperative serum albumin levels have been positively associated with survival in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to investigate correlations among FOXP3+ TILs, preoperative serum albumin, overall survival, and other clinicopathological features of CRC patients. Surgical specimens from 340 stage II-III CRC patients were stained immunohistochemically for the presence of FOXP3+ TILs.

Involvement of acid-sensing ion channel 1α in hepatic carcinoma cell migration and invasion.

An acidic microenvironment promotes carcinoma cell proliferation and migration. Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are H(+), Ca(2+), and Na(+)-gated cation channels that are activated by changes in the extracellular pH, and ASIC1α may be associated with tumor proliferation and migration. Here, we investigated the role of ASIC1α in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) migration and invasion.

Immunosuppression and the infection caused by gut mucosal barrier dysfunction in patients with early severe acute pancreatitis.

Few data are available on the relationship between immune response and the infection caused by gut mucosal barrier dysfunction in patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP). The aim of this study was to investigate the immune response to gut mucosal barrier dysfunction in patients with early SAP. The results showed that the levels of endotoxin, the lactulose/mannitol (L/M) ratio, the D(-)-lactate concentration, the proportion of HLA-DR-positive monocytes, and the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 all decreased from a high level while the frequency of Tregs increased during the first 14 days.

Overexpression of GOLPH3 is associated with poor clinical outcome in gastric cancer.

This study aims to investigate the expression and significance of GOLPH3 in human gastric cancer progression and prognosis. Using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay, we identified abnormally elevated expression of GOLPH3 in gastric cancer tissues compared to paired normal stomach mucosa tissues in 40 patients. In addition, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify serum GOLPH3 concentrations in the same 40 gastric cancer patients and 40 healthy individuals.

Lack of association of SULT1A1 R213H polymorphism with colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.

Background: A number of case-control studies were conducted to investigate the association of SULT1A1 R213H polymorphisms with colorectal cancer (CRC) in humans. But the results were not always consistent. We performed a meta-analysis to examine the association between the SULT1A1 R213H polymorphism and CRC.

Protective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharide on liver ischemia-reperfusion injury and its possible mechanism in rats.

Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharide (AMP), a traditional Chinese medicine, is thought to have protective effects against liver injury. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the effects of AMP on hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and elucidate the possible mechanisms. Ninety-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups with 24 rats per group: a normal control group, an IRI group, an AMP-treated group (0.

Functional polymorphisms in CD166/ALCAM gene associated with increased risk for breast cancer in a Chinese population.

Activated Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecules (ALCAM, also called CD166, MEMD) are cell surface immunoglobulins that are considered to be prognostic markers for breast cancer. CD166/ALCAM has gained increasing attention because of its significant association with tumor progression and the metastatic spread of breast cancer. Two polymorphisms have been identified in the CD166/ALCAM gene: 5'UTR C/T (rs6437585) and 3'UTR A/G (rs11559013).

Current evidence on the relationship between HRAS1 polymorphism and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

Rare alleles at the HRAS1 variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) locus have been implicated in breast cancer risk. Although many studies have showed that rare HRAS1 alleles may be associated with breast cancer risk, this relationship remains controversial. A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the potential association between rare HRAS1 alleles and breast cancer risk.

Current evidence on the relationship between four polymorphisms in the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) gene and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) can degrade various components of the extracellular matrix and its functional genetic polymorphisms may be associated with breast cancer risk. However, this relationship remains controversial. A meta-analysis was conducted in order to investigate the potential association between four polymorphisms in the MMP gene and breast cancer risk.

Association of NOD1 (CARD4) insertion/deletion polymorphism with susceptibility to IBD: a meta-analysis.

Aim: To find evidences about whether NOD1/CARD4 insertion/deletion polymorphism is associated with inflammatory bowel disease by meta-analysis.

Methods: We surveyed the studies on the association of NOD1/CARD4 insertion/deletion polymorphism with inflammatory bowel disease in PubMed. Meta-analysis was performed for genotypes GG/T vs T/T, GG/GG vs T/T, GG/T + GG/GG vs T/T, GG/GG vs T/T + GG/T, and GG allele vs T allele in a fixed/random effect model.