An optimized RNA amplification method for prokaryotic expression profiling analysis.

DNA microarray technology has been extensively used for gene expression analysis of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. For eukaryotic gene expression profiling, the poly(A)-based reverse transcription of messenger RNA (mRNA) followed by T7 RNA polymerase-based in vitro transcription is generally required to produce enough RNA targets for hybridization with the microarray chips. However, the same method cannot be directly applied to prokaryotic mRNAs due to the lack of poly(A) sequences at the 3' ends.

TGF-beta1 reverses inhibition of COX-2 with NS398 and increases invasion in prostate cancer cells.

Bone-derived transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 leads to tumor growth, osteoblastic lesions and more invasion. Degradation of basement membranes caused by cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 is known as a distinctive feature of invasive cells. We investigated inhibition of COX-2 with NS398 in PC-3 and LNCaP cell lines.

Relationship between down-regulation of HIC1 and PTEN genes and dysfunction of pancreatic islet cells in diabetic rats.

The aim of the study was to investigate the protein expression of hypermethylated in cancer 1 (HIC1 ) and phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) genes and to study their mRNA expressions in normal and diabetic pancreatic islet cells in rats in order to try and identify the functions of these genes in the development and advancement of diabetes. We further aimed to analyze the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which is regulated by PTEN and to investigate the possible mechanism of PTEN affecting the function of diabetic islet cells. The expressions of HIC1, PTEN and mTOR genes were examined in the pancreatic islets of 20 normal male Wistar rats and 47 diabetic male Wistar rats by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR.

The S100 protein family and its application in cardiac diseases.

The S100 protein family is the largest group of EF-hand signaling proteins in humans. The members of the S100 protein family are expressed in many tissues and play different functions. Many diseases are related to S100 proteins, which function as new biochemical markers especially in cardiac diseases.

[Study on anticancer effect of dihydroartemisinin on pancreatic cancer].

Objective: To investigate the anti-tumor activity of dihydroartemisinin in pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo.

Methods: For cultured cells, cell growth was determined by the MTT assay and apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis stained with Annexin V-FITC/PI. The protein expression in BxPC-3 cells was analyzed by Western blot assay.

The relationship between plasma level of adiponectin and coronary lesion complexity in the population of north-east China.

The relationship between plasma adiponectin and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in 683 cases of suspected CAD from north-east China was determined. Cases were divided into four groups, as follows: group 1, no stenosis; group 2, > 50% stenosis of one vessel; group 3, > 50% stenosis of two vessels; group 4, > 50% stenosis of three or more vessels. Group 1 was classified as a non-CAD group (control) and groups 2, 3 and 4 were classified as CAD groups.

Therapeutic effect of photodynamic therapy using hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) on human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939.

Unlabelled: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an effective local cancer treatment when aphotosensitizer is administered and the tumor is irradiated with light. We examined the effect of PDT using HMME as the photosensitizer, and the 630nm diode laser on human cholangiocarcinoma cell line QBC939. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay.

Axonal regeneration of optic nerve after crush in Nogo66 receptor knockout mice.

Mature retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) cannot regenerate injured axons because some neurite growth inhibitors, including the C-terminal of Nogo-A (Nogo66), myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and Omgp, exert their effects on neuron regeneration through the Nogo receptor (NgR). In this study, the axonal regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) after optic nerve (ON) crush was investigated both in vivo and in vitro in NgR knockout mice. We used NgR knockout mice as the experimental group, and C57BL/6 mice as the control group.

Cement oscillation increases interlock strength at the cement-bone interface, with commentary.

Modern cementing techniques aim to improve the interlock between bone and cement and to establish a durable interface. Cement penetration is generally believed to influence interface failure, but current methods for improving the cement-bone interface are inadequate. Oscillation is the reciprocated movement of an object through its balanced position, or the quantum physics of systematic fluctuation back and forth near an average value (or trimmed value).

A novel combination therapy with arsenic trioxide and parthenolide against pancreatic cancer cells.

Objectives: To investigate the anticancer effect and potential mechanism of combination treatment with arsenic trioxide (ATO) and parthenolide (PTL) in human pancreatic cancer cells.

Methods: The effects of PTL/ATO on 2 pancreatic carcinoma cell lines, PANC-1 and BxPC-3, were determined by trypan blue exclusion, annexin V/propidium iodide, 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole HCl, terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated nick-end labeling, flow cytometry, Western blot, and clonogenic assay. In vivo study was performed in PANC-1 tumor xenografts in nude mice.

Downregulation of developmentally regulated endothelial cell locus-1 inhibits the growth of colon cancer.

Developmentally regulated endothelial cell locus-1 (Del1) is an embryonic angiogenic factor expressed in early embryonic endothelial cells, but recently has been found to be expressed in some forms of cancers including colon and breast cancers, and melanoma, and human cancer cell lines. Overexpression of Del1 accelerates tumor growth by enhancing vascular formation, implying Del1 may be a potential target for anti-angiogenic cancer therapy. The study aims to investigate whether downregulation of Del1 could inhibit the growth of tumors established in nude Balb/c mice by subcutaneous implantation of human LS-174T colon cancer cells.

The strategy of combined ischemia preconditioning and salvianolic acid-B pretreatment to prevent hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Background: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a serious complication of liver surgery, especially for extended hepatectomy and liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of combined ischemic preconditioning (IPC) and salvianolic acid-B (Sal-B) pretreatment against IRI-induced hepatocellular injury.

Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats weighing around 200 g were randomized into five groups (n=12): sham group: only anesthesia and laparotomy; IR group: 90 min sustained ischemia by blocking the left ortal vessels; IPC group: 10 min ischemia and 10 min reperfusion prior to the sustained ischemia; Sal-B group: 10 mg/kg injection of Sal-B intravenously 10 min prior to the sustained ischemia; IPC+Sal-B group: same IPC procedure as in IPC group, but proceeded by intravenous administration of Sal-B 10 min prior to sustained ischemia.

[Effects of chronic trimetazidine treatment on atrial energy metabolism in a canine model of chronic atrial fibrillation].

Objective: Aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chronic trimetazidine treatment on atrial energy metabolism and endothelial function in a canine model of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Eighteen canines were randomly divided into sham-operated group (n = 6), atrial pacing group (n = 6), and trimetazidine group (n = 6). In atrial pacing group and trimetazidine group, dogs were atrial paced at 400 beats per minutes for 6 weeks.

[Clinical study of the method of hepatic vascular occlusion during resection of liver carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the optimal method for hepatic vascular occlusion during resection of liver carcinoma.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-four patients with liver carcinoma were divided into four groups of hepatectomy with total hepatic inflow occlusion (group A, 51 cases), selective hepatic inflow occlusion (group B, 38 cases), selective exclusion of hepatic inflow and outflow (group C, 24 cases) and total hemi-hepatic vascular exclusion (group D, 11 cases). The time of operation and hepatic vascular occlusion, intraoperative blood loss and transfusion, postoperative liver function, complications and mortality were compared among the four groups.

Analysis of donor- and isolation-related variables from non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) using the Kyoto islet isolation method.

Recently, we demonstrated that islet transplantation from non-heart-beating donors (NHBDs) using the Kyoto islet isolation method (KIIM) successfully reversed patients' diabetes state. In this study, we evaluated the effects of donor- and isolation-related variables on islet isolation results from NHBDs by KIIM. Twenty-one islet preparations from the pancreata of NHBDs were isolated by KIIM.

[Study on the effect of bone-cement interface with bone cement oscillator].

Objective: To evaluate the effect on increasing bone cement-bone interface micro-gomphosis intensity with bone cement oscillator.

Methods: One hundred femoral bones of adult pig were randomly divided into 6 groups: oscillating group (A1) and control group (A2) of anti-tensile force, oscillating group (B1) and control group (B2) of anti-pressure (n = 20 in each group), oscillating group (C1) and control group (C2) of imaging (n = 10 in each group). Mechanics and CT test was performed, micro-gomphosis intensity of bone cement-bone interface between oscillating group and control group was compared.

Expression of renin-angiotensin system and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in alcoholic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (ACM) develops in response to chronic alcohol intake and it is hypothesized that activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and disorders in energy metabolism may play important roles in its onset. Given that the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARalpha and PPARgamma) changes with alterations in cardiac metabolism and myocardial remodeling, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that protein expression of PPARalpha and PPARgamma is correlated with RAS activation in ACM.

Methods: For the first experiment, rats were divided into 3 groups: 30 received alcohol (intragastric administration with ad libitum drinking), 30 received alcohol and irbesartan (5 mg/kg/d, p.

[Inhibitory effect of recombinant anti-angiogenic peptide of tumstatin on growth and metastasis of human ovarian cancer transplanted in nude mice].

Objective: To evaluate the anti-angiogenic activity of peptide 21 obtained by modification of tumstatin, and its inhibitory effect on the growth and metastasis of human ovarian cancer transplanted in nude mice.

Methods: The peptide 21 was purified by affinity chromatography. Human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells were inoculated in nude mice and the transplanted tumor was treated with the peptide 21 to observe the tumor growth and metastasis.

[Relationships between the expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in lung tissues of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between the expressions of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in lung tissues of patients with COPD.

Methods: Lung tissues from patients with COPD (COPD group, n = 19) and those without COPD (smokers and nonsmokers with normal lung function, n = 11 and 9, respectively) were obtained from surgical excisions of lung cancer patients. The mRNA expression of ICAM-1, TIMP-1 and MMP-9 was detected using semi-quantitative RT-PCR.

[Experimental study on electroacupuncture for strengthening gastrointestinal motility in the rat with acute pancreatitis].

Objective: To explore the mechanism of EA in treatment of acute pancreatitis.

Methods: Twenty-four healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, a control group, a model group and an EA group. In the model group, rat acute pancreatitis model was prearpared by intraperitoneal injection of Caerulein, and in the EA group, EA was given at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Tianshu" (ST 25) of the model rat.

gamma-Tocotrienol induces mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in human gastric adenocarcinoma SGC-7901 cells.

Tocotrienols are naturally occurring isoprenoid compounds highly enriched in palm oil, rice bran, oat, wheat germ, barley and rye. Tocotrienols have antioxidant properties as well as potent anticancer properties. In this study, the mechanisms underlying the apoptosis of gamma-tocotrienol on human gastric adenocarcinoma SGC-7901 cells were further studied, especially in correlation with the involvement of the apoptotic pathway.

Protective effect of puerarin on diabetic retinopathy in rats.

Puerarin is a major active ingredient extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Ge-gen. The purpose of this study is to investigate the protective effect of puerarin on diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its mechanisms in rats. Seventy-two male Wistar rats were selected and divided at random into three main groups: control group, streptozotocin (STZ) group and puerarin + STZ group.

[Effects of different delivery routes of CD34+ stem cells on cardiac function in the ischemic cardiomyopathy of rats].

Objective: To compare the effects of CD34-positive stem cells delivered by different routes on cardiac function in rats with ischemic cardiomyopathy, and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of stem cell transplantation.

Methods: Sixty-four male Wistar rats were randomized into cell infusion group (n=30), acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model group (n=20) and sham operation group (n=14). AMI model was reproduced by ligation of left anterior descending coronary artery.

Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine in isoproterenol-induced myocardium injury in rats.

Isoproterenol (ISO) has been found to cause severe injury in the myocardium. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on ISO-induced myocardial injury in rats and its underlying mechanisms. Fouty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, ISO, NAC, and ISO + NAC group.