The complete mitochondrial genome of golden yellow snakehead fish, .

We sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial genome of golden yellow snakehead fish, The mitogenomes contained the typical complement of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and a non-coding control region. They share the same gene arrangement pattern that was identical with most vertebrates. The entire mitochondrial DNA molecule of golden yellow snakehead fish was 16,558 bp long.

The complete mitochondrial genome of two different colour (Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae).

We sequenced and characterized the complete mitochondrial genome from normal colour (grey black) and mutant colour (orangey red) of . Both mitogenomes contained the typical complement of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), and a non-coding control region. They share the same gene arrangement pattern that was identical with most vertebrates.

Musashi-2 promotes hepatitis Bvirus related hepatocellular carcinoma progression via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Our recent study observed that the expression of Musashi-2 (MSI2), a member of the Musashi family, was up-regulated in hepatitis B virus (HBV) related hepatocellular carcinoma parenchymal cells. Using quantitative PCR, tissue microarray (TMA) and immunohistochemical staining, we evaluated MSI2 mRNA and protein levels in tumor tissues from patients with different stages of hepatocellular carcinoma with paired adjacent noncancerous sample sets. The following techniques were used to further investigate MSI2 function and its potential molecular mechanism: RNAi, wound healing assay, Transwell assay, quantitative PCR and western blot analysis.

Prognostic significance of SERPINE2 in gastric cancer and its biological function in SGC7901 cells.

Purpose: Altered expression of serine protease inhibitor peptidase inhibitor clade E member 2 (SERPINE2) associates with human cancer development and progression; thus, this study investigated SERPINE2 expression in gastric cancer tissues for association with clinicopathological and survival data from the patients and then investigated the role of SERPINE2 in gastric cancer cells in vitro.

Methods: The levels of SERPINE2 mRNA in 243 gastric cancer tissues and paired non-cancerous mucosa were determined using quantitative PCR. Inhibition of SERPINE2 expression by small interfering RNA (siRNA) was detected by Western blotting.

Ciz1 is a novel predictor of survival in human colon cancer.

Cip1-interacting zinc-finger protein1 (Ciz1) is a nuclear matrix protein associated DNA replication factor which has been implicated in breast and lung cancer progression. However, the clinical significance of Ciz1 expression in colon cancer has not been determined. This study aimed to examine Ciz1 expression pattern and its potential as a biomarker of prognosis in colon cancer.

Construction of leaky strains and extracellular production of exogenous proteins in recombinant Escherichia coli.

In this study, a strategy of the construction of leaky strains for the extracellular production of target proteins was exploited, in which the genes mrcA, mrcB, pal and lpp (as a control) from Escherichia coli were knocked out by using single- and/or double-gene deletion methods. Then the recombinant strains for the expression of exogenous target proteins including Trx-hPTH (human parathyroid hormone 1-84 coupled with thioredoxin as a fusion partner) and reteplase were reconstructed to test the secretory efficiency of the leaky strains. Finally, the fermentation experiments of the target proteins from these recombinant leaky strains were carried out in basic media (Modified R media) and complex media (Terrific Broth media) in flasks or fermenters.

[Ecological niche breadth and niche overlap of dominant species of fish assemblage in Yangtze river estuary and its adjacent waters].

Based on the fishery resources data from the bottom trawl surveys conducted on the R/V Beidou in the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent waters in June, August and October of 2006, the index of relative importance (IRI) was measured to determine the dominant species of fish assemblage, and the niche indicators and their seasonal variations of the dominant species were analyzed. A total of 10 dominant species in the 3 survey cruises were recorded, which were divided into two groups by the Bray-curtis similarity clustering and non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS) analysis, with a significant seasonal variation of niche breadth and niche overlap. One group included Engraulis japonicus, Champsodon capensis, and Acropoma japonicum, whose niche breadth and niche overlap were larger in summer than in autumn, with a migration from the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent waters to outer deeper waters, while the other group included Trichiurus haumela, Chaeturichthys stigmatias, Apogon lineatus, Larimichthys polyactis, Psenopsis anomala, Argyrosomus argentatus, and Benthosema pterotum, whose niche breadth and niche overlap were larger in autumn than in summer, with a reverse migration from southern Yellow Sea and northern East China Sea to the Yangtze River estuary and its adjacent waters.

PPAR-γ and tollip are associated with toll-like receptors in colitis rats.

To elucidate the significance of Toll-like receptors and their negative regulating factors PPAR-γ and Tollip on the pathogenesis of colitis. Colitis model was induced by TNBS in rat. The expression of TLR2, TLR4, NF-κBp65, PPAR-γ and Tollip was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Downregulation of metallothionein 1F, a putative oncosuppressor, by loss of heterozygosity in colon cancer tissue.

Purpose: Downregulation of metallothionein (MT) genes has been reported in several tumors with discrepant results. This study is to investigate molecular mechanism of MT gene regulation in colon cancer which is characterized by tumor suppressor gene alterations.

Experimental Design: Integral analysis of microarray data with loss of heterozygosity (LOH) information was employed.

Biglycan expression correlates with aggressiveness and poor prognosis of gastric cancer.

Biglycan, a member of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family, has been implicated in the development and progression of human cancers. However, the clinical significance of biglycan expression in gastric cancer has not been determined. In the present study, biglycan mRNA and protein concentrations were analyzed using quantitative realtime reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot in 69 gastric cancer and adjacent non-tumorous tissues, respectively.

Expression of Toll-like receptor 4, CD14, and NF-κB in Chinese patients with ulcerative colitis.

This study elucidates the significance of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), CD14, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB on the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). Colonic biopsy specimens were collected from active UC and controls. The expression of TLR4, CD14, and NF-κBp 65 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

[The expression of toll-like receptor4 and NF-kappaB in ulcerative colitis].

Aim: To investigate the expression of TLR4 and NF-kappaB in ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Colonic biopsy specimens were collected from active UC and controls. The expression of TLR4 and NF-kappaBp 65 were analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and RT-PCR.

[The relation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptorbeta and Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma].

Aim: To explore the possible relationship between expression of PPAR(pevoxisome prodiferator adivated receptor) beta and clinical pathological features of epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC).

Methods: PPARbeta expressions in normal ovaries (n=10), ovarian bordline tumors (n=10), and ovarian serous cystadenocarcinomas (n=46) were investigated by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.

Results: PPARbeta protein was expressed in normal ovaries and ovarian cancer.

[Differential expression of USP2, USP14 and UBE4A between ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and adjacent normal tissues].

Aim: The differential expression of USP2, USP14 and UBE4A between ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and adjacent normal tissues was investigated.

Methods: Restriction fragment differential display polymerase chain reaction (RFDD-PCR), semi-quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining were applied to analyze the differentially expressed genes and proteins of ubiquitin specific proteases (USPs), USP2 and USP14, and ubiquitin factor E4A (UBE4A) between ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma and adjacent normal tissues obtained from 40 patients aged from 29 to 72 years old, collected in 2005 year at excision of surgical operation with ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma.

Results: USP2, USP14 and UBE4A were over-expressed (>3 folds) in ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma tissues compared to normal tissues.

Role of beta-catenin in hepatocarcinogenesis of rats.

Background: Beta-catenin has two distinct roles in E-cadherin mediated cell adhesion and carcinogenesis by activating the wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway. One occurs at the cell-adhesion site, where cadherins are linked to the actin-based cytoskeleton. The other takes place in the cytoplasm and nuclei and is thought to regulate cell transformation.

Combined devascularization and proximal splenorenal shunt: is this a better option than either procedure alone?

Background/purpose: We aimed to determine the rationality of pericardial devascularization (PCDV) plus proximal splenorenal shunt (PSRS) for cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension with variceal bleeding, using a duplex sonography study of the effects of the different surgical procedures (PCDV, PSRS, and PCDV + PSRS) on the hemodynamics of the portal system.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension and a history of bleeding esophageal varices were studied. These patients were divided into three groups (PSRS group, PCDV group, and PCDV + PSRS group).