A combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram in evaluation of degrees of liver cirrhosis predicts post-hepatectomy liver failure: a multicenter prospective study.

Background: Adequate evaluation of degrees of liver cirrhosis is essential in surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The impact of the degrees of cirrhosis on prediction of post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) remains poorly defined. This study aimed to construct and validate a combined pre- and intra-operative nomogram based on the degrees of cirrhosis in predicting PHLF in HCC patients using prospective multi-center's data.

Unexpected discovery of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma during follow-up in two cases of liver cysts: case report.

Background: The liver cyst is commonly treated by hepatobiliary surgery. Generally, most patients show no apparent symptoms and often get diagnosed accidentally during the imaging examinations. In addition, most patients with liver cysts follow a benign course, with fewer severe complications and rare occurrences of malignant changes.

SV40T reprograms Schwann cells into stem-like cells that can re-differentiate into terminal nerve cells.

Background: The specific effect of SV40T on neurocytes has seldom been investigated by the researchers. We transfected Schwann cells (SCs) that did not have differentiation ability with MPH 86 plasmid containing SV40T, in order to explore the effects of SV40T on Schwann cells.

Methods: SCs were transfected with MPH 86 plasmid carrying the SV40T gene and cultured in different media, and also co-cultured with neural stem cells (NSCs).

BMP9 Can Induce Schwann Cells Expressing Simian Virus 40 T Antigen to Differentiate into Fat and Bone and .

In our previous study, we constructed Schwann cells (SCs) that stably express Simian virus 40 T antigen (SV40T-SCs). SV40T-SCs functions and markers are similar to those of neural crest cells. There we used bone morphogenetic protein 9 (BMP9) to induce SV40T-SCs differentiation and and study possible related mechanism.

Ethylene and salicylic acid synergistically accelerate leaf senescence in Arabidopsis.

The phytohormones ethylene and salicylic acid (SA) have long been known to promote senescence, but their interplay during this process remains elusive. Here we report the synergistic effects of ethylene and SA on promoting leaf senescence in Arabidopsis. EIN3, a key transcription factor of ethylene signaling, physically interacted with the core SA signaling regulator NPR1 in senescing leaves.

Isorhamnetin: A review of pharmacological effects.

Isorhamnetin is one of the most important active ingredients in the fruits of Hippophae rhamnoides L. and the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L., which possesses extensive pharmacological activities.

Effect of CLIC1 gene silencing on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of human gallbladder cancer cells.

This study aimed to explore the effects of CLIC1 gene silencing on proliferation, migration, invasion and apoptosis of human gallbladder cancer (GBC). GBC and normal gallbladder tissues were extracted for the detection of mRNA and protein expressions of CLIC1. GBC-SD and NOZ cells in the logarithmic growth phase were selected to conduct the experiment.

The ERF11 Transcription Factor Promotes Internode Elongation by Activating Gibberellin Biosynthesis and Signaling.

The phytohormone gibberellin (GA) plays a key role in promoting stem elongation in plants. Previous studies show that GA activates its signaling pathway by inducing rapid degradation of DELLA proteins, GA signaling repressors. Using an activation-tagging screen in a reduced-GA mutant ga1-6 background, we identified AtERF11 to be a novel positive regulator of both GA biosynthesis and GA signaling for internode elongation.

Potentially optimal body size to adjust tube current for individualized radiation dose control in retrospective ECG-triggered 256-slice CT coronary angiography.

Introduction: We aimed to determine a potentially optimal body size index for adjusting the tube current in retrospective ECG-triggered helical 256-slice CT coronary angiography (CTCA) for individualized radiation dose control.

Methods: Consecutive patients (n=102) with suspected coronary artery disease underwent retrospective ECG-triggered CTCA with a 256-slice CT scanner. Body mass index (BMI), nipple level (NL) bust and six anthropometric body size indexes, including thoracic anteroposterior diameter at NL, chest circumference (CC) at NL, left main (LM) and right coronary artery (RCA) origin level, chest area (CAr) and chest attenuation (CAt) at RCA origin level were measured, and their correlation with image noise in the aorta was evaluated using linear regression.

Suppression of angiogenesis and tumor growth and using an anti-angiopoietin-2 single-chain antibody.

Hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are tumors with a highly developed vascular architecture. HCC cells require access to blood vessels for growth and metastasis; therefore, the inhibition of angiogenesis represents a potential therapeutic target for HCC that may reduce the mortality and morbidity from HCC. Various attempts to develop an anti-angiogenic therapy have been made in past decades; however, modest results have been achieved in clinical trials and the challenge of HCC treatment remains.

Separation of low concentration of cesium ion from wastewater by electrochemically switched ion exchange method: experimental adsorption kinetics analysis.

A series of experiments were performed to evaluate the continuous separation of cesium based on an electrochemically switched ion exchange (ESIX) process using a diaphragm-isolated reactor with two identical nickel hexacyanoferrate/porous three-dimensional carbon felt (NiHCF/PTCF) electrodes as working electrodes. The effects of applied potential, initial concentrations and pH values of the simulation solutions on the adsorption of cesium ion were investigated. The adsorption rate of cesium ion in the ESIX process was fitted by a pseudo-first-order reaction model.

[CT and MRI features of Castleman's disease of the abdomen and pelvis].

Objective: To analyze the CT/MRI features of Castleman's disease of the abdomen and pelvis.

Methods: CT/MRI images of 6 cases of pathologically confirmed Castleman's disease of the abdomen and pelvis were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients received plain CT scan and dynamic enhanced scan, and one had an additional MR scan.

Scarecrow-like 3 promotes gibberellin signaling by antagonizing master growth repressor DELLA in Arabidopsis.

The diterpenoid phytohormone gibberellin (GA) controls diverse developmental processes throughout the plant life cycle. DELLA proteins are master growth repressors that function immediately downstream of the GA receptor to inhibit GA signaling. By doing so, DELLAs also play pivotal roles as integrators of internal developmental signals from multiple hormone pathways and external cues.

[Clinical study of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization plus radiofrequency ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma by magnetic resonance imaging and functional diffusion-weighted imaging].

Objective: To evaluate the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value features of the lesions after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus radiofrequency ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weight imaging (DWI) and analyze the value of 3.0T DWI in detecting the pathological lesion features of post-TACE plus radiofrequency ablation in HCC.

[Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging features of desmoid-type fibromatosis: comparison with the pathological findings].

Objective: To explore the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of desmoid-type fibromatosis, and improve the diagnostic accuracy and understanding of the disease.

Methods: The CT and MRI features of 18 cases of surgically and pathologically confirmed desmoid-type fibromatosis were reviewed retrospectively. Among the patients, 10 received CT pre- and post-contrast scanning, and 8 patients had MRI pre- and post-contrast scanning.

[Association of vascular endothelial growth factor 936C/T polymorphism and the susceptibility to colorectal adenoma].

Objective: To examine the association between polymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)1498 C/T,936 C/T and colorectal adenoma genetic susceptibility.

Methods: A case-control study of 224 colorectal adenomas and 200 controls was conducted and VEGF genotypes were determined based on TaqMan-probe assay. The epidemiological factors were collected through questionnaire.

A negative regulator encoded by a rice WRKY gene represses both abscisic acid and gibberellins signaling in aleurone cells.

Abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GAs) control several developmental processes including seed maturation, dormancy, and germination. The antagonism of these two hormones is well-documented. However, recent data from transcription profiling studies indicate that they can function as agonists in regulating the expression of many genes although the underlying mechanism is unclear.

[Vardenafil significantly alleviates erectile dysfunction in aged men with diabetes].

Objective: To observe the efficacy and safety of vardenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in aged men with diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods: One hundred outpatients with diagnosed ED (40 diabetic and 60 non-diabetic) received vardenafil at the initial dose of 20 mg and sustained dose of 10 mg once a week for 8 weeks, and their erectile functions were evaluated by IIEF and EQS.

Results: The scores on IIEF and EQS in the diabetic ED group were 18.

[Preoperative evaluation of the 64-slice spiral CT three dimensional angiography for vascular invasion in gastric cancer].

Objective: To evaluate the preoperative diagnosis value of 64-slice spiral CT three dimensional angiography (3D CTA) for the vascular invasion in gastric cancer.

Methods: CT images of 40 patients diagnosed as gastric cancer by endoscope,who proceeded to surgical exploration from August 2006 to December 2007,were collected. These images were rebuilt by 3D CTA to judge vascular invasion by gastric cancer in comparison with the surgical finding as standard reference.

Global analysis of della direct targets in early gibberellin signaling in Arabidopsis.

Bioactive gibberellins (GAs) are phytohormones that regulate growth and development throughout the life cycle of plants. DELLA proteins are conserved growth repressors that modulate all aspects of GA responses. These GA-signaling repressors are nuclear localized and likely function as transcriptional regulators.

Salicylic acid inhibits gibberellin-induced alpha-amylase expression and seed germination via a pathway involving an abscisic-acid-inducible WRKY gene.

It is well known that abscisic acid (ABA) antagonizes gibberellin (GA)-promoted seed germination. Recent circumstantial evidence suggests that salicylic acid (SA) also inhibits seed germination in maize and Arabidopsis. Our study shows that SA blocks barley seed germination in a dosage dependent manner.

Genetic characterization and functional analysis of the GID1 gibberellin receptors in Arabidopsis.

We investigated the physiological function of three Arabidopsis thaliana homologs of the gibberellin (GA) receptor GIBBERELLIN-INSENSITIVE DWARF1 (GID1) by determining the developmental consequences of GID1 inactivation in insertion mutants. Although single mutants developed normally, gid1a gid1c and gid1a gid1b displayed reduced stem height and lower male fertility, respectively, indicating some functional specificity. The triple mutant displayed a dwarf phenotype more severe than that of the extreme GA-deficient mutant ga1-3.

Crohn disease of small bowel: multidetector row CT with CT enteroclysis, dynamic contrast enhancement, CT angiography, and 3D imaging.

Background: CT could be used to evaluate abnormalities in the bowel wall, mesentery, adjacent structures, vasculature, and even the activity of Crohn disease (CD). To our knowledge, few direct comparisons of CD characterization using multidetector row CT with dynamic contrast enhancement, 3D imaging, CT angiography (CTA), and CT-enteroclysis (CT-E) on the same cohort of patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of CD using multidetector helical CT with CT-E, dynamic contrast enhancement, 3D imaging, and CTA.

Expression of angiopoietins, Tie2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in angiogenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the significance of angiopoietins, Tie2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in the angiogenesis and progress of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Fresh surgically resected specimens of HCC and noncancerous liver (NCL) tissue from 38 patients with HCC were obtained, and expression of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), Tie2, and VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) was examined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Expression pattern of each gene in HCC and NCL tissue specimens was compared and the potential role and interaction in angiogenesis of HCC were analyzed.

Interactions of two abscisic-acid induced WRKY genes in repressing gibberellin signaling in aleurone cells.

Gibberellins (GA) promote while abscisic acid (ABA) inhibits seed germination and post-germination growth. To address the cross-talk of GA and ABA signaling, we studied two rice WRKY genes (OsWRKY51 and OsWRKY71) that are ABA-inducible and GA-repressible in embryos and aleurone cells. Over-expression of these two genes in aleurone cells specifically and synergistically represses induction of the ABA-repressible and GA-inducible Amy32b alpha-amylase promoter reporter construct (Amy32b-GUS) by GA or the GA-inducible transcriptional activator, GAMYB.