Irinotecan-platinum combination therapy for previously untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients: a meta-analysis.

Background: There is still a debate regarding whether regimens combining irinotecan with platinum could replace regimens combining etoposide with platinum, as first-line chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). We performed a meta-analysis to compare these regimens as first-line chemotherapy for ES-SCLC.

Methods: A literature search for randomized controlled trials was performed using the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase.

Comprehensive Assessment of the Relationship Between MicroRNA-124 and the Prognostic Significance of Cancer.

Background: Numerous studies have demonstrated the presence of microRNA-124 abnormalities involving gene expression, methylation, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in multiple and diverse cancers, but the prognostic value of these abnormalities in cancer remains inconclusive.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prognostic value of miR-124 in cancer.

Methods: We scrutinized the electronic databases and estimate the association between miR-124 expression, methylation and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and prognosis in cancers.

MicroRNA‑29a contributes to intracranial aneurysm by regulating the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway.

Intracranial aneurysm (IA) is an abnormal expansion in the intracranial arteries that weakens the arterial wall by consistently pushing the vascular wall outwards, which leads to a higher risk of aneurysm rupture. A number of reports have demonstrated that apoptosis is associated with the growth and rupture of IA. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) perform vital roles in the regulation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway and signaling proteins.

Parathyroid hormone 1‑34 inhibits senescence in rat nucleus pulposus cells by activating autophagy via the m‑TOR pathway.

Osteoporosis is closely associated with intervertebral disc degeneration. While parathyroid hormone (PTH) 1‑34, which is an established drug used to treatosteoporosis, is thought to inhibit the disc degeneration associated with osteoporosis, the precise mechanism involved remains unclear. In the present study, primary Sprague‑Dawley rat nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) were cultured, phenotyped and then treated with dexamethasone (DXM) for 48 h.

Overexpression of miR-361-5p in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) inhibits migration and invasion by targeting RQCD1 and inhibiting the EGFR/PI3K/Akt pathway.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Previous studies indicated that miR-361-5p was downregulated in breast cancer, however, the exact effect of miR-361-5p on TNBC requires further investigation. In the present study, we investigated whether miR-361-5p can act as a tumor suppressor by targeting required for cell differentiation 1 homolog (RQCD1) and inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway in TNBC.

miR-142-5p in Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Promotes Osteoporosis Involving Targeting Adhesion Molecule VCAM-1 and Inhibiting Cell Migration.

Osteoporosis is a systemic bone metabolic disease that is highly prevalent in the elderly population, particularly in postmenopausal women, which results in enhanced bone fragility and an increased susceptibility to fractures. However, the underlying molecular pathogenesis mechanisms still remain to be further elucidated. In this study, in a rat ovariectomy- (OVX-) induced postmenopausal osteoporosis model, aberrant expression of a microRNA miR-142-5p and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) was found by RNA sequencing analysis and qRT-PCR.

LncRNA MIR22HG negatively regulates miR-141-3p to enhance DAPK1 expression and inhibits endometrial carcinoma cells proliferation.

Emerging evidence has indicated that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in tumor development and progression. Recent studies reported that lncRNA MIR22HG could play important roles in hepatocellular carcinoma and lung cancer progression. However, the expression and underlying mechanism of MIR22HG in endometrial cancer (EC) remain unclear.

Telomerase reverse transcriptase suppression inhibits cell proliferation and promotes cell apoptosis in hepatocellular cancer.

We aimed to investigate the role of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) in hepatocellular cancer (HCC) cells. R software was used for differential expressed gene analysis. Western blot and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), respectively, were used to detect protein expression and mRNA level of TERT in tumor cell lines.

The Sineoculis Homeobox Homolog 1 (SIX1) Gene Regulates Paclitaxel Resistance by Affecting Reactive Oxygen Species and Autophagy in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HepG2.

BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to explore the role of SIX1 in paclitaxel (TAX) resistance of HepG2 cells via reactive oxygen species (ROS) and autophagy pathway. MATERIAL AND METHODS Hepatoma cell line HepG2 was treated with SIX1 knockdown or/and TAX. Cell growth was detected by MTT assay and colony formation assay.

Quantitative Evaluation of Compressed L4-5 and S1 Nerve Roots of Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients by Diffusion Tensor Imaging and Fiber Tractography.

Objective: To delineate fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of compressed nerve roots in patients with lumbar disc herniation by diffusion tensor imaging and fiber bundle tracing and investigate the relationship between FA and ADC values and Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire and visual analog scale scores.

Methods: Twenty patients with lumbar disc herniation and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were assessed using the Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire and visual analog scale. All subjects underwent conventional sagittal T1-weighted and T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging, axial T2-weighted imaging, and diffusion tensor imaging and fiber tractography.

Whole-exome Sequencing Helps the Diagnosis and Treatment in Children with Neurodevelopmental Delay Accompanied Unexplained Dyspnea.

Neurodevelopmental delay accompanied unexplained dyspnea is a highly lethal disease in clinic. This study is to investigate the performance characteristics of trio whole exome sequencing (Trio-WES) in a pediatric setting by presenting our patient cohort and displaying the diagnostic yield. A total of 31 pediatric patients showing neurodevelopmental delay accompanied unexplained dyspnea were admitted to our hospital and referred for molecular genetic testing using Trio-WES.

SREBP2 contributes to cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells.

This study is to investigate transcription factors involved in cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells. The transcriptome of cisplatin resistant and sensitive A2780 epithelial ovarian cancer cells was obtained from GSE15372. Ovarian transcriptome data GSE62944 was downloaded from TCGA and applied for transcription regulatory network analysis.

Effects of PHA-665752 and vemurafenib combination treatment on and murine xenograft growth of human colorectal cancer cells with BRAF mutations.

It remains unknown whether blockade of B-Raf proto-oncogene, serine/threonine kinase (BRAF) signaling and MET proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase (c-Met) signaling is effective in suppressing the growth of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. The present study investigated the effects of the vemurafenib alone and in combination with c-Met inhibitor PHA-665752 on the growth of human CRC cells and in mouse xenografts. HT-29 and RKO CRC cell lines with BRAF mutations and mice bearing HT-29 xenografts were treated with vemurafenib in the absence or presence of PHA-665752.

An investigation of the mechanism of dexmedetomidine in improving postoperative cognitive dysfunction from the perspectives of alleviating neuronal mitochondrial membrane oxidative stress and electrophysiological dysfunction.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of dexmedetomidine in improving postoperative cognitive dysfunction from the perspectives of alleviating neuronal mitochondrial membrane oxidative stress and electrophysiological dysfunction. A total of 120 patients undergoing elective surgery under general anesthesia from June 2013 to May, 2016 were selected as the subjects of the study and randomly divided into the propofol + remifentanil and dexmedetomidine groups. The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were performed at day 1 before operation and at day 1, 3, 5 and 15 after operation.

Pterostilbene inhibits reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis in primary spinal cord neurons by activating autophagy via the mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling pathway.

Autophagy is an important self-adaptive mechanism that is involved in inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) in spinal cord neurons. Pterostilbene, a natural plant extract, has been demonstrated to possess antioxidant effects; however, it has not yet been investigated whether pterostilbene could activate autophagy and protect spinal cord neurons from oxidative stress. In the present study, primary spinal cord neurons of Sprague Dawley rats were cultured.

Puerarin attenuates locomotor and cognitive deficits as well as hippocampal neuronal injury through the PI3K/Akt1/GSK-3β signaling pathway in an model of cerebral ischemia.

Ischemic stroke causes irreversible damage to the brain. The hippocampus is a vulnerable region and plays an important role in cognition and locomotor activity. Puerarin is a phytoestrogen that has beneficial effects in treating neurological disorders.

Expression profile of eukaryotic translation initiation factor and matrix metalloproteinase 9 in endometrial cancer tissue.

The aim of the present study was to provide a novel method for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of endometrial cancer by the determination of the characteristic expression of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) and the enzyme matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in endometrial cancer tissue. Three types of endometrial tissue specimens were selected (including 20 cases of normal endometrial tissue specimens, 15 cases of hyperplastic endometrial tissue specimens and 45 cases of endometrial cancer tissue specimens). The expression of eIF4E and MMP9 in the specimens was examined by immunohistochemistry and their corresponding levels were statistically analyzed.

Expression and clinical significance of ARTN and MMP-9 in endometrial carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to detect the differential expression of Artemin (ARTN) and matrix metallopeptidase protein 9 (MMP-9) in endometrial carcinoma (EC) and to assess their clinical significance in order to provide insight into the pathological mechanism of tumor infiltration and metastasis in EC. A total of 48 patients who had undergone surgery for EC at the School of Medicine and Affiliated Hospital of HeBei University of Engineering between July 2015 and July 2016 were included in the study. The 48 patients were classified into 3 groups according to tumor stage: 27 patients with EC stage I, 12 patients with EC stage II and 9 patients with EC stage III.

Amelioration of Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction by Berberine in the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats.

Objective: To investigate the effect of berberine (BBR) on intestinal barrier function in nonalcoholic fat liver disease (NAFLD) in rats.

Materials And Methods: Rats were divided into three groups: normal diet group (control group [CON group]), high-fat diet feeding group (HFD group), and HFD with BBR group. After 8 weeks of HFD feeding, rats in the BBR group were given BBR intragastrically at a dose of 150 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks.

Evaluating the prognostic value of miR-148/152 family in cancers: based on a systemic review of observational studies.

Background: The prognostic significance of MicroRNA-148/152 (miR-148/152) family expression in various cancers has been investigated by many studies with inconsistent results. To address this issue, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify this relationship.

Materials And Methods: Eligible studies were recruited by a systematic literature search and assessed the quality of included studies based on Quality In Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS).

Prognostic value of the microRNA-214 in multiple human cancers: a meta-analysis of observational studies.

Previous studies showed that microRNA-214 (miR-214) may act as a prognostic biomarker of cancer. However, the available evidence is controversial. This study summarizes evidence and evaluates the prognostic role of miR-214 in various cancers.

MicroRNA-143 shows tumor suppressive effects through inhibition of oncogenic K-Ras in pituitary tumor.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules, about 21-25 nucleotides in length. Accumulating evidence demonstrated that dysregulation or dysfunction of miRNAs are involved in various diseases, including cancer. MiR-143, recently has been reported to function as an important tumor suppressor in prostate cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and other kinds of cancers, but rarely systematically studied in pituitary tumor.

Repair of Osteochondral Defects in a Rabbit Model Using Bilayer Poly(Lactide-co-Glycolide) Scaffolds Loaded with Autologous Platelet-Rich Plasma.

BACKGROUND To examine the effects of the addition of autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into bilayer poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) scaffolds on the reconstruction of osteochondral defects in a rabbit model. MATERIAL AND METHODS Porous PLGA scaffolds were prepared in a bilayered manner to reflect the structure of chondral and subchondral bone. Bone defects, measuring 4 mm in diameter and 4 mm in thickness, were created in both knee joints in 18 healthy New Zealand white rabbits, aged between 120-180 days old.

MiR-145 silencing promotes steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head repair via upregulating VEGF.

Objective: To investigate the role of miR-145 silencing in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), BCL2-Associated X(bax) and caspase-3 in avascular necrosis of femoral head (ANFH).

Materials And Methods: A total of 12 healthy wild-types (the control group) and 12 miR-145 knock-out (miR-145-/-) (the experimental group) adult New Zealand white rabbits were selected to construct ANFH model with a steroid. Four weeks later, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR and Western blot were performed to measure the VEGF, bFGF, Bcl-2, bax, caspase-3, β-catenin as well as c-Myc expression.