Mdig, a lung cancer-associated gene, regulates cell cycle progression through p27(KIP1).

Mineral dust-induced gene (mdig) can accelerate cell proliferation. The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanism by which mdig regulates cell proliferation. A549 cells were transfected with siRNA specifically targeting mdig.

Constitutive PKA activity is essential for maintaining the excitability and contractility in guinea pig urinary bladder smooth muscle: role of the BK channel.

The elevation of protein kinase A (PKA) activity activates the large-conductance voltage- and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK) channels in urinary bladder smooth muscle (UBSM) cells and consequently attenuates spontaneous phasic contractions of UBSM. However, the role of constitutive PKA activity in UBSM function has not been studied. Here, we tested the hypothesis that constitutive PKA activity is essential for controlling the excitability and contractility of UBSM.

Protein expression and promoter methylation of the candidate biomarker TCF21 in gastric cancer.

Purpose: Transcription factor 21 (TCF21) has been identified as a candidate tumor suppressor at 6q23-q24 that is epigenetically inactivated in many types of human cancers. This study aimed to determine the expression of TCF21 mRNA and protein in gastric cancer cell lines and tissue specimens and then investigate the prognostic impact of TCF21 expression in gastric cancer and analyze the relationship between TCF21 expression and methylation level.

Methods: We used real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining to detect the expression of TCF21 and used methylation-specific-PCR to determine the methylation status of TCF21 in gastric cancer samples and gastric cancer cell lines.

Enhanced cellular uptake and anti-proliferating effect of chitosan hydrochlorides modified genistein loaded NLC on human lens epithelial cells.

This study was attempted to increase the cellular uptake of developed genistein loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) into human lens epithelial (HLE) cells by chitosan hydrochlorides coatings when applied in post lens capsule (PCO) treatment, and to provide further understanding of the uptake and anti-proliferation mechanisms inside. NLCs were produced using melt-emulsification method and were subsequently coated with chitosan hydrochlorides by adsorption. The uptake of various particle sizes were evaluated and visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), showing a size-dependent manner.

The effect of MTHFR C677T polymorphism on type 2 diabetes mellitus with vascular complications in Chinese Han population: a meta-analysis.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase plays an important role in folate metabolism. Individuals who are type 2 diabetes mellitus have greatest risk for the development of vascular complications. The results of studies which assessed the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and T2DM with vascular complications were inconsistent in the Chinese Han population.

Pulmonary artery invasion, high-dose radiation, and overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Purpose: To investigate whether high-dose radiation to the pulmonary artery (PA) affects overall survival (OS) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods And Materials: Patients with medically inoperable/unresectable NSCLC treated with definitive radiation therapy in prospective studies were eligible for this study. Pulmonary artery involvement was defined on the basis of pretreatment chest CT and positron emission tomography/CT fusion.

BK channel-mediated relaxation of urinary bladder smooth muscle: a novel paradigm for phosphodiesterase type 4 regulation of bladder function.

Elevation of intracellular cAMP and activation of protein kinase A (PKA) lead to activation of large conductance voltage- and Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK) channels, thus attenuation of detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) contractility. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which pharmacological inhibition of cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) with rolipram or Ro-20-1724 (C(15)H(22)N(2)O(3)) suppresses guinea pig DSM excitability and contractility. We used high-speed line-scanning confocal microscopy, ratiometric fluorescence Ca(2+) imaging, and perforated whole-cell patch-clamp techniques on freshly isolated DSM cells, along with isometric tension recordings of DSM isolated strips.

Imaging evidence of diabetic choroidopathy in vivo: angiographic pathoanatomy and choroidal-enhanced depth imaging.

Purpose: To describe the pathoanatomy of diabetic choroidopathy (DC) in pre-diagnosed diabetic retinopathy (DR) cases and to provide angiographic and optical evidence for DC using indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) and enhanced depth imaging spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (EDI SD-OCT).

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 80 eyes from 40 DR patients was conducted. In Group One, choroidal vascular abnormalities were evaluated by comparing angiographic findings from simultaneous ICGA with those from fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA).

Endoscopic realignment in the management of complete transected ureter.

Purpose: To present experience and feasibility of endoscopic realignment for treatment of delayed recognized iatrogenic complete transected ureteral injuries.

Patients And Methods: Patients suffering from iatrogenic complete transected ureteral injuries were treated by two surgeons. Five women and 3 men with a mean age of 50.

βig-h3 supports gastric cancer cell adhesion, migration and proliferation in peritoneal carcinomatosis.

βig-h3 is an extracellular matrix protein and its expression is highly induced by transforming growth factor (TGF-β). It has also been suggested to play an important role in the growth and invasion of colon and pancreatic cancers. In the present study, we demonstrated that βig-h3 is expressed in mesothelial cells, especially in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

[Greenlight photoselective vaporization prostatectomy versus thulium laser vaporesection of the prostate for aged high-risk BPH patients with the prostate heavier than 80 g].

Objective: To compare the effects of greenlight photoselective vaporization prostatectomy (PVP) and thulium laser vaporesection of the prostate (TmLRP) in the treatment of aged high-risk BPH patients with the prostate weighing > 80 g.

Methods: We included in this study 118 high-risk BPH patients aged 62-96 (mean 76) years with the prostate heavier than 80 g, 82 treated by PVP and the other 36 by TmLRP. Then we compared the operation time, intraoperative bleeding, complications, short-term effectiveness, and surgical cost between the two groups.

Flexible ureteroscopy and holmium laser lithotripsy for treatment of upper urinary tract calculi in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

The objective of the study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of flexible ureteroscopy and holmium laser lithotripsy for the management of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and associated nephrolithiasis. Between 2005 and 2010, flexible ureteroscopic stone treatment was attempted in 13 patients with ADPKD. Two patients had bilateral renal stones.

[The expression and prognostic significance of ERCC1 and GST-pi in lung cancer].

Background And Objective: It has been known that the expression levels of ERCC1 and GST-pi were correlated with tumorigenesis and prognosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between expression levels of ERCC1 and GST-pi, and clinicopathologic parameters and survival in patients with lung cancer.

Methods: The expression levels of ERCC1 and GST-pi were detected by immunohistochemical staining on tissue micro-array sections made of 148 cases of lung cancer and 7 cases of normal lung samples.

Nerve growth factor and substance P: expression in a rat model of diabetic bladder.

Objective: To evaluate the gene and protein expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and substance P (SP) in the bladder 8 weeks after diabetes induction and investigate the pathogenesis of diabetic cystopathy.

Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 10), streptozotocin-induced diabetic group (n = 10) and Pygeum africanum (P. africanum) group (n = 10; diabetic rats were given P.