FGF4 and HGF promote differentiation of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into hepatocytes via the MAPK pathway.

Our research demonstrated the potential for mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (mBMMSCs) to differentiate into hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. However, the exact mechanism of this process remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cell-signaling pathway in the differentiation of mBMMSCs into hepatocytes.

N,N-Dimethyl-3-phenyl-isoxazole-5-carbox-amide.

In the title compound, C12H12N2O2, synthesized by ammonolysis of 3-phenyl-isoxazole-5-carbonyl chloride in di-chloro-methane, the dihedral angle between the isoxazole ring and the phenyl ring is 14.05 (7)°. In the crystal, centrosym-metrically related mol-ecules are linked into dimers by pairs of C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating rings of graph-set motif R 2 (2)(10).

Isopropyl 3-phenyl-isoxazole-5-carboxyl-ate.

In the title compound, C13H13NO3, the isoxazole ring is approximately coplanar with the phenyl ring, the dihedral angle between their planes being 7.37 (19)°. In the crystal, centrosymmetrically related mol-ecules are linked into dimers by pairs of C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating a ring of graph-set motif R 2 (2)(10).

[Effects of 17β-estrogen on expressions of C-reactive protein and its mRNA of vascular smooth muscle cells in rats].

Objective: To investigate the effects of 17β-estrogen on expressions of C-reactive protein (CRP) and its mRNA in vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMCs).

Methods: Immunocytochemistry was used to detect CRP level in normal VSMCs. The expressions of C-reactive protein and p-ERK1/2 in Ang-II-stimulated VSMCs were evaluated with Western blot.

Incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in Uygur and Han Chinese adults in Urumqi.

Aim: To investigate the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and its related risk factors in Uygur and Han Chinese adult in Urumqi, China.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional survey was undertaken in a total of 972 Uygur (684 male and 288 female) aged from 24 to 61 and 1023 Han Chinese (752 male and 271 female) aged from 23 to 63 years. All participants were recruited from the residents who visited hospital for health examination from November 2011 to May 2012.

Curcumin inhibits LPS-induced EMT through downregulation of NF-κB-Snail signaling in breast cancer cells.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is considered a critical event in cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Emerging evidence has shown that curcumin may prevent or delay the progression of cancer, an effect that may be partially due to its ability to disrupt EMT, yet this has not yet been demonstrated. In this study, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to trigger EMT in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines and showed that curcumin inhibited LPS-induced morphological changes, decreased the expression of LPS-induced markers of EMT such as vimentin, and increased the expression of E-cadherin, resulting in the inhibition of in vitro cell motility and invasiveness.

Anticoagulant, anti-aggregation and antithrombotic effects of a novel hexapeptide.

Objectives: Hexapeptide is a novel synthetic oligopeptide with a structure similar to that of eptifibatide. This study was designed to investigate the anticoagulant, anti-aggregation, disaggregation and anti-thrombogenesis effects of hexapeptide.

Methods: The effects of antiplatelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP), arachidonic acid (AA) and thrombin, and the effect of disaggregation of platelet aggregation induced by ADP were determined.

[The expression of hepatitis B virus X protein and cyclooxygenase-2 in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation with microangiogenesis and metastasis, and what is the possible mechanism].

Objective: To investigate the expression of HBx and COX-2 in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma, and Its correlation with microangiogenesis and metastasis, and possible mechanism.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of hepatitis B virus X, cyclooxygenase-2 and CD34 in hepatitis B virus related hepatic carcinoma and 22 non-HBV related hepatic carcinoma tissues. The expression of hepatitis B virus x protein and cyclooxygenase-2 in hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma correlated with microangiogenesis and metastasis was tested by Spearman correlation analysis.

Anti-osteosarcoma effects and mechanisms of 4-O-amino-phenol-4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin ether.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-osteosarcoma effects and mechanisms of 4-O-amino-phenol-4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin ether (ODE), a new derivative of podophyllotoxin. The results showed that ODE inhibited proliferation of K562, OS-9901, CNE, BGC-823 and Tca-8113 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner as determined by microculture tetrazolium (MTT) assay. OS-9901 and K562 cells treated with ODE for 24 h showed cell cycle arrest at G(2)/M and a parallel decrease in G(0)/G(1) and S phase as detected by flow cytometry (FCM).

[Expressions of hepatitis B virus x protein and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in hepatocellular carcinoma and their possible relationships].

Objective: To investigate the expressions of hepatitis B virus x protein (HBx) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and HepG2 cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of HBx and HIF-1alpha in 78 hepatic carcinoma tissues, and their possible relationships were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 statistical software.