Discovering Innate Driver Variants for Risk Assessment of Early Colorectal Cancer Metastasis.

Metastasis is the main fatal cause of colorectal cancer (CRC). Although enormous efforts have been made to date to identify biomarkers associated with metastasis, there is still a huge gap to translate these efforts into effective clinical applications due to the poor consistency of biomarkers in dealing with the genetic heterogeneity of CRCs. In this study, a small cohort of eight CRC patients was recruited, from whom we collected cancer, paracancer, and normal tissues simultaneously and performed whole-exome sequencing.

Homocysteine, hypertension, and risks of cardiovascular events and all-cause death in the Chinese elderly population: a prospective study.

Background: Increased homocysteine levels are associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death. However, their prevention has not been effective in decreasing CVD risk. This study investigated the individual and combined associations of hyperhomocysteinemia and hypertension with incident CVD events and all-cause death in the Chinese elderly population without a history of CVD.

bacteremia in a centenarian and pathogen traceability: A case report.

Background: Early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment are important to survival of () bacteremia. Penicillin tends to be the most commonly used antibiotic. However, there are limited data on antibiotic use in elderly patients with serious complications.

Silencing of DHX32 increases the proliferation of liver cancer cells.

Background: Liver cancer ranks fifth in malignancy incidence globally and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in China. Chronic hepatitis B or C infection and alcohol abuse have been identified to be the major risk factors for liver cancer development. Some evidence implicates DHX32 as being critically involved in tumor progression.

Performance Evaluation of a Newly Developed Chemiluminescent Assay Kit for Detection of Neuron-Specific Eno.

Background: To evaluate the performance of a chemiluminescence detection reagent for Neuron-specific enolase (NSE).

Methods: Based on the "Guiding principles on performance analysis of diagnostic, reagents in vitro" and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Guidelines, performance of the CLIA NSE kit was evaluated, including the detection limit, linear range, reportable range, accuracy, precision, cross reactivity, interference factors, Hook effect, and method comparison.

Results: The detection limit of the reagent was 0.

Performance evaluation of a chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay for CK-MB.

Background: To verify and evaluate the performance characteristics of a creatine kinase phosphokinase isoenzymes MB (CK-MB) assay kit, which produced by Xiamen Innodx Biotech Co. Ltd.

Methods: Evaluation was carried out according to "Guidelines for principle of analysis performance evaluation of in vitro diagnostic reagent.

Identification of two novel genes SLC15A2 and SLCO1B3 associated with maintenance dose variability of warfarin in a Chinese population.

Warfarin is a commonly prescribed and effective oral anticoagulant. Genetic polymorphisms associated with warfarin metabolism and sensitivity have been implicated in the wide inter-individual dose variation that is observed. Several algorithms integrating patients' clinical characteristics and genetic polymorphism information have been explored to predict warfarin dose.

Evaluation of a newly developed chemiluminescence immunoassay for detecting cardiac troponin T.

Background: To evaluate the performance of a chemiluminescence detection kit for cardiac troponin T (cTnT).

Methods: According to the "Guiding principles on performance analysis of diagnostic reagents in vitro" and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Guidelines, we assessed the detection limit, linear range, reportable range, accuracy, precision, cross reactivity, interference factors, and matrix effect of the kit, and compared these parameters with that of the commercial electrochemiluminescence detection kit for cTnT (Roche).

Results: The minimum detection limit of the kit was 0.

Plasma microRNA-19a as a potential biomarker for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma diagnosis and prognosis.

Aim: To investigate whether plasma miR-19a can serve as a biomarker for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) diagnosis and prognosis.

Materials & Methods: Plasma samples from 89 ESCC, 45 benign lesion patients and 80 healthy controls were subjected to RT-qPCR analyses for miR-19a. In addition, plasma samples from 30 patients were collected before and after surgery for the same analyses.

DHX32 Promotes Angiogenesis in Colorectal Cancer Through Augmenting β-catenin Signaling to Induce Expression of VEGFA.

We previously reported that overexpression of DHX32 contributes to the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the underlying mechanism is not largely characterized. Herein, we reported that DHX32 in CRC cells upregulated expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) at the transcription level through interacting with and stabilizing β-catenin.

Depletion of Cks1 and Cks2 expression compromises cell proliferation and enhance chemotherapy-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

The present study explored the oncogenic roles of overexpressed Cks1 and Cks2 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Gene expression of Cks1 and Cks2 in HepG2 cells was disrupted by siRNA or increased by cDNA transfection. Cell proliferation was assayed by CCK-8 analysis and cell counting.

Plasma levels of microRNA-24, microRNA-320a, and microRNA-423-5p are potential biomarkers for colorectal carcinoma.

Background: MicroRNAs are stable and easy to detect in plasma. The plasma levels of microRNAs are often changed in disease conditions, including cancer. This makes circulating microRNAs a novel class of biomarkers for cancer diagnosis.

Overexpression of DHX32 contributes to the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer.

Our previous work demonstrates that DHX32 is upregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to its adjacent normal tissues. However, how overexpressed DHX32 contributes to CRC remains largely unknown. In this study, we reported that DHX32 was overexpressed in human colon cancer cells.

Overexpression of DEK gene is correlated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The oncogene DEK was originally identified as one of the parts of the DEK‑CAN fusion gene, arising from the translocation (6;9) in a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia. Since then, DEK has been shown to promote tumorigenesis in a variety of cancer cell types through its roles in inhibiting cell differentiation, senescence and apoptosis. Certain studies have established that DEK is dysregulated in several types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Clinical significance of combined testing of YKL-40 with CEA in Chinese colorectal cancer patients.

Background: To investigate the practical value of individual and combined testing of plasma levels of YKL-40, CEA, and CA199 for auxiliary diagnosis and detection of recurrence of colorectal cancer.

Methods: ELISA and ECLIA were used to evaluate levels of YKL-40, CEA, and CA199 in 120 colorectal cancer patients (56 initial-diagnosis, 42 post-operative, and 22 recurrent cases). Forty-three patients with benign colorectal disease and 36 healthy patients were enrolled as controls.

Characteristics of patients suffering from cow milk allergy.

The most frequent symptoms among the manifestations of cow milk allergy (CMA) are gastrointestinal. CMA pathogenesis involves immunological mechanisms with participation of immunocompetent cells, production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and immunoglobulin G (IgG). We aim to determine whether cow milk-specific IgE antibodies coexist with cow milk-specific IgG antibodies in CMA patients with diarrhea symptom, and if there is any relationship between both antibody types.

Effects of silencing cyclooxygenase-2 expression via RNA interference on the tumorigenicity of the SMMC-7721 human hepatocarcinoma cell line.

We constructed a vector carrying a shRNA sequence against cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) that was subsequently transfected into the human hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC‑7721. Furthermore, we established a COX-2-deficient stable cell line and a model of tumor-shRNA transplantation in nude mice. Negative shRNA was used as the control.

[Regional disparity on life expectancy, active life expectancy in the elderly from Beijing].

Objective: To explore the regional disparity in life expectancy (LE), active life expectancy (ALE), active life expectancy/life expectancy (ALE/LE) of the elderly in Beijing and to express the impact of hypertension upon those indices.

Methods: The sample was derived from a "Beijing multidimensional longitudinal study on aging", including those from urban district (Xuanwu), rural district (Daxing and Huairou) by well-established statistical sampling techniques. Baseline survey comprised 1847 people aged 60 years or over, living in the communities in Beijing in 2004.

Expression of inflammatory and apoptosis factors following coronary stent implantation in coronary heart disease patients.

We investigated the changes in characteristics of neutrophil CD11b, monocyte CD11b, platelet CD62P, endothelin (ET), and neutrophil CD178 in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) before and after primary coronary stenting. A total of 41 patients with CHD who underwent coronary stenting and 40 control subjects were enrolled in the study. In CHD patients, peripheral blood samples were taken 24 h before and 30 min, 24 h, and 72 h after successful coronary stenting.

Optimization of conditions for transfection with the Sofast gene vector.

We previously reported the synthesis and characterization of a novel cationic polymer gene vector. The present article further explored and optimized the working conditions of the Sofast gene vector both in vitro and in vivo, and improved its performance. The transfection conditions of Sofast, such as cell type, cell density, transfection time, N/P values and analysis time after transfection, were further explored.

Evaluation of a colloidal gold immunochromatography assay in the detection of Treponema pallidum specific IgM antibody in syphilis serofast reaction patients: a serologic marker for the relapse and infection of syphilis.

Syphilis remains as a worldwide public health problem; hence, it is necessary to develop a new diagnostic approach that is easier and faster than conventional tests. A new testing method to detect Treponema pallidum IgM (TP-IgM), named colloidal gold immunochromatography assay (GICA), is presented in place of fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-Abs). TP-IgM was detected using GICA developed on syphilis-specific recombinant proteins TPN17 and TPN47.

Further evaluation of a novel nano-scale gene vector for in vivo transfection of siRNA.

In this research, a lipid-cationic polymer (LCP) containing the side-chain branching of brassidic acid was synthesized using chemical methods. As a gene vector for small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) transfection, the efficiency and biosafety of LCP were preliminarily evaluated to investigate its possible application on tumor gene therapy. The toxicity, side-effects, and biosafety of LCP were investigated in animals based on the results of in vitro experiments.

Lower prevalence of circulating invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary coronary stenting.

Invariant natural killer T cells are a unique lymphocyte subtype that can recognize lipid antigens presented by CD1d and release pro-atherogenic cytokines such as interferon-gamma. We studied the importance of iNKT cells, other lymphocyte cell types and CD11b in the peripheral blood of patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) before and after primary coronary stenting. Lymphocyte population profiles and CD11b were compared between patients with AMI and healthy control subjects using flow cytometry.

[The impact of hypertension on active life expectancy among senior citizens of Beijing].

Objective: The aim of the study is to explore the influence of hypertension on life expectancy (LE), active life expectancy (ALE) and active life expectancy/life expectancy (ALE/LE) among senior citizens in Beijin.

Methods: The sample derived from Beijing multidimensional longitudinal study on aging, baseline survey consisted of 1847 elderly people aged 60 years and over dwelling in the communities from one urban district (Xuanwu), one suburban country (Daxing) and one mountainous country (Huairou) in Beijing, 2004. Cluster, stratified and randomly selected sampling technique was used and a follow-up program was carried out in 2007.

Development of a colloidal gold-immunochromatography assay to detect immunoglobulin G antibodies to Treponema pallidum with TPN17 and TPN47.

Syphilis remains a worldwide public health problem; it is necessary to develop a new diagnostic approach that is easier and faster than conventional tests. Here, we report a new testing method named colloidal gold-immunochromatography assay (GICA) to detect syphilis instead of fluorescent treponemal antibody-absorption (FTA-Abs). Syphilis-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was detected with GICA established on syphilis-specific recombinant proteins, TPN17 and TPN47.