Diagnostic and prognostic implications of microRNAs in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important gene regulators, which are often deregulated in cancers. In this study, the authors analyzed the microRNAs profiles of 78 matched cancer/noncanerous liver tissues from HCC patients and 10 normal liver tissues and found that 69 miRNAs were differentially expressed between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and corresponding noncancerous liver tissues (N). Then the expressions of 8 differentially expressed miRNAs were validated by real time RT PCR.

Upregulation of miR-23a approximately 27a approximately 24 decreases transforming growth factor-beta-induced tumor-suppressive activities in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays a dual and complex role in human cancer. In this report, we observe a specific set of MicroRNAs (miRNAs) changed in response to TGF-beta in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by miRNA microarray screening. A cluster of miRNA, miR-23a approximately 27a approximately 24, is induced in an early stage by TGF-beta in Huh-7 cells.

[Low-dose spiral CT versus standard dose CT in detection of pulmonary metastasis from gestational trophoblastic tumor].

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether low-dose spiral chest CT scan can replace standard-dose CT scan in detecting pulmonary metastases for patients with gestational trophoblastic tumor (GTT).

Methods: Totally, 34 GTT patients underwent 56 chest CT scans for the assessment of pulmonary metastasis. All patients received CT examination both at standard-dose (120 KV, 150 mAs, pitch 1, and a standard reconstruction algorithm) and low-dose CT (120 KV, 40 mAs, pitch 2, and a bone reconstruction algorithm) simultaneously each time.

Large-scale cDNA transfection screening for genes related to cancer development and progression.

A large-scale assay was performed by transfecting 29,910 individual cDNA clones derived from human placenta, fetus, and normal liver tissues into human hepatoma cells and 22,926 cDNA clones into mouse NIH 3T3 cells. Based on the results of colony formation in hepatoma cells and foci formation in NIH 3T3 cells, 3,806 cDNA species (8,237 clones) were found to possess the ability of either stimulating or inhibiting cell growth. Among them, 2,836 (6,958 clones) were known genes, 372 (384 clones) were previously unrecognized genes, and 598 (895 clones) were unigenes of uncharacterized structure and function.