Endothelin-1 enhances proliferation of lung cancer cells by increasing intracellular free Ca2+.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1), the most potent vasoconstrictor, has been shown to be mitogenic in many tumor cells as well as in vascular cells. It was previously reported that the mRNA of ET-1 and endothelin receptors (ETRs) are expressed in lung cancer cells. However, their biological role in lung cancer remains to be explored.

Coexistence and upregulation of three types of opioid receptors, mu, delta and kappa, in human hypertrophic scars.

Background: Pruritus or nociceptive pain is a significant clinical problem of hypertrophic scars. Recently emerging evidence has indicated the possible involvement of opioid receptors (ORs) in abnormal cutaneous sensation; however, little is known about the pathophysiological role of ORs in local cacaesthesia in hypertrophic scars.

Objectives: To study the expression profile of ORs in normal human skin and hypertrophic scars with cacaesthesia.

Comparison of the expression profile of apoptosis-associated genes in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The purpose of this study was to employ microarray analysis to evaluate differential gene expression in synovial tissue samples obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA) to study the expression profile of apoptosis-associated genes in these tissues. Four samples were obtained from RA-affected patients and three from osteoarthritis patients. After total RNA was extracted from synovial tissue, the RNA was processed using two-cycle target labeling, followed by hybridization and scanning procedure.

Morphological observation of nuclear sub-localization of human angiogenin in HUVECs.

Angiogenin, a potent angiogenic factor, was cloned and expressed by Escherichia coli and then purified with gel filtration chromatography. Approximately 90% pure angiogenin was obtained to generate a monoclonal antibody. Using western immunoblotting and ELISA, we confirmed that monoclonal antibody C46 secreted from hybridoma cells stably and specifically binds to angiogenin.

The sensitivity of neurons with non-periodic activity to sympathetic stimulation in rat injured dorsal root ganglion.

Objective The relationship between firing pattern and sensitivity of neurons was studied in chronically compressed dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and the Hindmarsh-Rose (HR) neuronal model. Methods Spontaneous activities from single fibers of chronically compressed DRG neurons in rats were recorded, and divided into periodic and non-periodic firing patterns. The sensitivity of the two kinds of firing pattern neuron to sympathetic stimulation (SS) was compared.

Two approaches to construct mammalian expression vector of shRNA to reduce expression and replication of HBV in vitro.

Two approaches have been developed to construct plasmids that mediate RNA interference to inhibit the replication and expression of HBV in 2.2.15 cell.

Recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor enhanced dermal wound healing by a pathway involving ERK and c-fos in diabetic rats.

Background: Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) has been shown to promote dermal wound healing, however, the molecular mechanisms responsible for are not fully understood.

Objective: The present study was undertaken to investigate the possible signaling mechanisms by which PDGF improved healing of cutaneous wound in diabetic rats.

Methods: Four full-thickness skin wounds were created on the dorsum of Wistar diabetic rats.

A preliminary report of penile transplantation.

A 44-year-old male recipient with traumatic penile defect that occurred 8 mo earlier was matched with a 22-year-old, male, brain-dead donor. Transplantation included anastomosis of urethra corpus spongiosum and corpus cavernosum, and sutures of deep dorsal vein, dorsal artery, dorsal nerve, and superficial dorsal vein. Systemic broad-spectrum antibiotics, anticoagulation, antispasm agents, and immunosuppressants were given postoperatively.

Angiotensin II regulates phosphoinositide 3 kinase/Akt cascade via a negative crosstalk between AT1 and AT2 receptors in skin fibroblasts of human hypertrophic scars.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulation has been shown to regulate proliferation of skin fibroblasts and production of extracellular matrix, which are very important process in skin wound healing and scarring; however, the signaling pathways involved in this process, especially in humans, are less explored. In the present study, we used skin fibroblasts of human hypertrophic scar, which expressed both AT1 and AT2 receptors, and observed that Ang II increased Akt phosphorylation and phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI 3-K) activity. In addition, the Ang II-induced Akt phosphorylation was blocked by wortmannin, a PI 3-K inhibitor.

Anatomic considerations for the pedicle screw placement in the first cervical vertebra.

Study Design: Anatomic bony measurements were manually performed on 50 dry atlantoaxial vertebral complexes with an electronic digital caliper, and a reliable landmark for insertion of a pedicle screw in C1 vertebra was described and evaluated.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of placing a screw in the C1 pedicle and evaluate the reliability of the C2 lateral mass as a landmark for determining the optimal site of screw entry.

Summary Of Background Data: The use of C1-C2 pedicle screws with the additional rods or plates has been an alternative method of stabilization for patients who are unsuitable for C1-C2 transarticular screw stabilization.

[The strategies of gene prolong expression in mammals].

Gene therapy holds great promises to a variety of inherited diseases. However, the limitations on extended and consistent foreign gene expression has severely hampered the development of applicable gene therapy approaches. Technologies are reviewed here including transponson integration, biolistic measures that pulse the naked plasmid into living organs, or the integration of eukaryotic cis elements into introns, 3' untranslated regions, or the integration of the EBV sequences, which could assist in the prolonged gene expression of the introduced foreign genes.