Matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression and survival of patients with osteosarcoma: a meta-analysis.

Several studies have evaluated the effect of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression on the overall survival of patients with osteosarcoma, but the results remain conflicting. To examine the prognostic significance of MMP-9 expression in osteosarcoma risk, we conducted this meta-analysis to systematically review the published studies. We searched the commonly used electronic databases updated to September 2013 for relevant studies which evaluated the correction between MMP-9 expression and survival of patients with osteosarcoma.

TRAF4 promotes the growth and invasion of colon cancer through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

The tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 4 (TRAF4) has been linked to carcinogenesis. However, the role of TRAF4 in colon cancer is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated the role of TRAF4 in colon cancer and the underlying mechanism.

MiR-27a modulates radiosensitivity of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells by targeting CDC27.

Background: MiR-27a is significantly overexpressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the exact biological function of MiR-27a in TNBC is not fully understood. In this study, we verified miR-27a expression in TNBC cells and explored how its overexpression modulates radiosensitivity of the cells.

Effects of intensive insulin therapy upon pancreatic β cell function in patients newly diagnosed with type II diabetes.

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the clinical efficacy of intensive insulin therapy for patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 219 patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned into insulin group (n = 55), gliclazide group (n = 52), metformin group (n = 55) and pioglitazone group (n = 57). On the basis of diet and physical interventions, patients in the insulin group received intensive insulin therapy.

Reduction behavior induced by HL010183, a metformin derivative against the growth of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

Metformin is a biguanide widely prescribed as a first-line antidiabetic drug in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. Animal and cellular studies support that metformin has a strong anti-proliferative effect on various cancers. Herein, we report that metformin derivative, HL010183 significantly inhibited human epidermoid A431 tumor xenograft growth in nu/nu mice, which in turn is associated with a significant reduction in proliferative biomarkers PCNA and cyclins D1/B1.

Concerns of and coping strategies by parents of pediatric liver transplant recipients: a qualitative study from China.

Parents of liver transplant recipient children have to face complicated health issues of their children. Coping strategies of parents as major care providers not only impacts on their handling of stresses on themselves but also on the recipients' quality of life. In this study, we sought to investigate the coping strategies of parents of Chinese pediatric liver transplant recipients at a single tertiary care institution in China.

Transient Sp8+ handlebar-like interneuron structure traversing the corpus callosum during the second postnatal week.

Although previous studies have implied that interneurons continue to migrate into the corpus callosum (CC) during the postnatal period, little is known about the details of the migration pattern. In this study, we analyzed the entire postnatal CC every other day and showed the presence of a transient handlebar-like structure traversing the CC during the second postnatal week. Using immunostaining and two strains of transgenic mice, we showed that this handlebar-like structure consisted of GABAergic interneurons derived from the caudal ganglionic eminence, which expressed the transcription factor Sp8.

Humanin attenuates Alzheimer-like cognitive deficits and pathological changes induced by amyloid β-peptide in rats.

Amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) has been implicated as a key molecule in the neurodegenerative cascades of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Humanin (HN) is a secretory peptide that inhibits the neurotoxicity of Aβ. However, the mechanism(s) by which HN exerts its neuroprotection against Aβ-induced AD-like pathological changes and memory deficits are yet to be completely defined.

Human and monkey striatal interneurons are derived from the medial ganglionic eminence but not from the adult subventricular zone.

In adult rodent and monkey brains, newly born neurons in the subventricular zone (SVZ) in the wall of the lateral ventricle migrate into the olfactory bulb (OB) via the rostral migratory stream (RMS). A recent study reported that interneurons are constantly generating in the adult human striatum from the SVZ. In contrast, by taking advantage of the continuous expression of Sp8 from the neuroblast stage through differentiation into mature interneurons, we found that the adult human SVZ does not generate new interneurons for the striatum.

Aberrant promoter methylation of the cadherin 13 gene in serum and its relationship with clinicopathological features of prostate cancer.

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of cadherin 13 (CDH13) gene promoter methylation in the serum of patients with prostate cancer.

Methods: This prospective study examined the methylation status of CDH13 in serum samples obtained from patients with primary prostate cancer and age-matched control subjects, using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Associations between methylation status of CDH13 and various clinicopathological features and patient survival were evaluated.

DRP-1, ezrin and E-cadherin expression and the association with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

It has been shown that death-associated protein kinase (DAPK) family and E-cadherin play significant roles in the promotion of apoptosis and the suppression of cell adhesion and migration, and are involved in tumor metastasis. Ezrin, a cytoplasmic peripheral membrane protein, has been shown to interact with E-cadherin to participate in the metastasis of tumor cells. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of DRP-1 (a member of the DAPK family), ezrin and E-cadherin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and to analyze their association with clinicopathological factors in order to explore their potential in ESCC diagnosis.

Effect of the LPA-mediated CXCL12-CXCR4 axis in the tumor proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cell lines.

Ovarian cancer is the most fatal gynecological cancer, with a 5-year survival rate of only 30%. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which possesses growth factor-like functions, is a major regulatory factor in the peritoneal metastasis of ovarian cancer. LPA stimulates the expression of numerous genes that are associated with angiogenesis and metastasis.

Effect of VEGF, P53 and telomerase on angiogenesis of gastric carcinoma tissue.

Objective: To investigate the effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), P53 and telomerase on angiogenesis in gastric carcinoma tissue.

Methods: A total of 95 surgical resection samples of gastric cancer tissue after pathological diagnosis are collected to observe the VEGF, P53 and telomerase expression using immunohistochemical methods. Relationship between their expression and its influence on angiogenesis in gastric carcinoma tissue were analyzed.

Anti-viral effects of urosolic acid on guinea pig cytomegalovirus in vitro.

This study examined the anti-viral effect of ursolic acid on guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV) and explored the steps of viral replication targeted by ursolic acid. Cytopathic effect assay and MTT method were employed to determine the 50% cellular cytotoxicity (CC(50)), 50% effective concentration (EC(50)) and therapeutic index (TI) with GPCMV. To investigate the specific anti-viral effect of ursolic acid at different temperatures and time points, two other medicines, ganciclovir and Jinyebaidu (JYBD), serving as controls, were studied for comparison.

Expression and clinical significance of Ezrin and E-cadherin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

Background And Objective: It has been proven that Ezrin protein may interact with E-cadherin protein and take part in metastasis of tumor cells. This study was to investigate the expressions of Ezrin and E-cadherin in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and their relationship with the clinicopathologic factors, and analyze their diagnostic values for ESCC.

Methods: The expression of Ezrin and E-cadherin in 72 specimen of ESCC and the paracancer normal squamous epithelium was detected using tissue array with SP immunohistochemistry.

[Changes of sperm chromatin in oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia syndrome patients after treated by integrated Chinese and Western medicine].

Objective: To observe the changes of sperm chromatin in patients with oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) syndrome after treated by integrated Chinese and Western medicine.

Methods: Sixty patients with OAT syndrome were treated by integrated Chinese and Western medicine for 3 months. Their sperm samples were collected before and after the treatment, subjected to acridine orange staining and analyzed by fluorescent microscopy, flow cytometry and sperm routine detection.