Endonuclease IV recognizes single base mismatch on the eighth base 3' to the abasic site in DNA strands for ultra-selective and sensitive mutant-type DNA detection.

Since single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is related with many diseases and drug metabolic polymorphous and SNP genotyping is rising rapidly in many biological and medical areas, various methods of discriminating SNPs have been developed, one of which is an enzyme-based method. We uncovered a unique property of endonuclease IV due to which it can discriminate single base mismatches in different positions of DNA strands containing an abasic site, and we also discovered a new property: a mismatch in the +8 position could inhibit the cleavage of endonuclease IV. Then, we coupled +8 mismatch with other mismatches along with the discrimination effect of melting temperature to develop a new ultra-selective and sensitive genotyping system, which showed high discrimination factors.

Clinicopathological significance of Sox2 expression in patients with breast cancer: a meta-analysis.

Sex-determining region Y-box protein 2 (Sox2), an embryonic transcription factor located at chromosome 3q26.33, has been frequently demonstrated to be an important prognostic marker for various tumors, including breast cancer. However, its clinicopathological role in breast cancer has not been fully elucidated.

FibroScan, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis index based on the 4 factor (FIB-4), and their combinations in the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of FibroScan, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR), aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), fibrosis index based on the 4 factor (FIB-4) and their combinations on liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B.

Methods: 406 hospitalized patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and cirrhosis in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively and collected patients clinical indicators, including liver stiffness (LS), AAR, APRI and FIB-4, and then compared the differences of these indicators between CHB group and hepatitis B with cirrhosis group. Receiver operating curve (ROC) was used to evaluate the differentiating capacity of these indicators on CHB and liver cirrhosis.

Impact of chemokine receptor CXCR3 on tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte recruitment associated with favorable prognosis in advanced gastric cancer.

Chemokine receptor CXCR3 has been proved to play an important role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression in many malignancies, but its precise efficacy on gastric cancer (GC) has not been evaluated yet. The present study was aimed to explore the correlation of chemokine receptor CXCR3 with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and prognosis in advanced gastric cancer (GC). Expression of CXCR3 and CD4+, CD8+ TILs was conducted in 192 advanced GC specimens and 48 corresponding paracancerous tissues by immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis.

Lack of associations between rs2910164 and rs11614913 polymorphisms and the risk of ischemic stroke.

Emerging evidence suggests that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNA genes may play a role in the development of cerebrovascular diseases including ischemic stroke through functionally modulating the expression of microRNA target genes. However, the current studies regarding the associations of the common microRNA polymorphisms with susceptibility to ischemic stroke have obtained discrepant results, which prompted us to perform a meta-analysis for a more precise estimation of the concerned associations. Relevant studies evaluating the associations between two common polymorphisms (miR-146a rs2910164 and miR-196a2 rs11614913) and the risk of ischemic stroke were retrieved from the PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Chinese Wanfang, Chinese Biomedical Database, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases.

Association of interleukin-17 gene polymorphisms and Helicobacter pylori infection with gastric cancer susceptibility: a cumulative and comprehensive meta-analysis.

Background: The association between Interleukin-17(IL-17) gene polymorphisms and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and gastric cancer susceptibility were inconsistent. We therefore performed a comprehensive meta-analysis about all three genetic polymorphisms of IL-17 to derive a more precise estimation.

Effects of Rosa laevigata Michx. extract on reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial membrane potential in lens epithelial cells cultured under high glucose.

This study was to investigate the effects of Rosa laevigata Michx. (RLM) extract on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in lens epithelial cells (LECs) cultured under high glucose. SRA01/04 cell models of diabetic cataract were established by high glucose culture, and these cells were administrated with RLM extract.

Association of hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism with susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Since, the relationship between hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and HCC was inconsistent in the recent literatures. The present meta-analysis based on previous studies was to obtain precise estimation on the issue.

Methods: A computer search was carried out from PubMed, CBM and EMBASE databases.

Relationship between the expression of MDR1 in hepatocellular cancer and its biological behaviors.

Objective: By the detection of HBV infection, AFP and AST, the targets of biological behavior and the gene expression of multi-drug resistance gene 1 (MDR1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we investigate characteristics of the expression of MDR1 in HCC and its relationship with HCC biological behavior.

Methods: Using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) to detect the expressions of MDR1 in 102 samples of HCC tissue and 20 samples of non-cancerous tissue, we analyze the relationship between expressions of MDR1 and biological characteristics of HCC.

Results: The expression of MDR1 in HCC is 0.

Myocardial apoptosis and injury of donor hearts kept in completely beating status with normothermic blood perfusion for transplants.

Objective: Normothermic blood perfusion is the developing trend of donor heart preservation. Theoretically, donor hearts preserved in a beating status may be the perfect method to reduce time-dependent ischemic injury, resuscitate marginal hearts expanding the donor pool and potentially improve the function of isolated hearts. In this study, to investigate the protective effect of normothermic blood perfusion, we maintained the donor hearts in a beating status and compared the changes of myocardial apoptosis and injury with standard hypothermic and static storage.

Hepatitis B virus infection in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues upregulates expression of DNA methyltransferases.

Purpose: Our previous research identified that Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection results in the increased methylation of p16; however, the mechanism(s) of the methylation changes observed following HBV infection are yet to be deduced. DNA methylation is governed by the interaction of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT). To investigate the expression of DNMT in cancerous tissue, cirrhotic tissues and non-cancerous tissue, we examined the relationship between HBV infection and DNMT expression.

Cyclooxygenase-2 polymorphisms and bladder cancer risk: a meta-analysis based on case-control studies.

The current meta-analysis incorporating 15 case-control studies involving 4,138 cases and 4,269 controls was performed on the basis of a systematical search in electronic databases for a more precise estimation on the associations of three common polymorphisms -765 G>C (rs20417), -1195G>A (rs689466) and +8473 C>T (rs5275) in Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) gene with the susceptibility to bladder cancer. The results showed that there was a significant association between rs5275 polymorphism and bladder cancer risk (C vs. T; OR=0.

Interleukin-1β rs1143634 polymorphism and aggressive periodontitis susceptibility: a meta-analysis.

Multiple studies had focused on the association between interleukin-1 (IL-1) rs1143634 polymorphism and aggressive periodontitis (AgP) susceptibility, but the results remained inconclusive. Therefore, this meta-analysis was conducted to explore its role in the development of AgP. PubMed and Embase databases were searched up to April 15, 2014.

Can routine oral care with antiseptics prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients receiving mechanical ventilation? An update meta-analysis from 17 randomized controlled trials.

Background: Whether oral antiseptics could reduce the risk of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients receiving mechanical ventilation remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the effect of oral care with antiseptics on the prevalence of ventilator associated pneumonia in adult critically ill patients.

Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were performed to identity relevant studies.

[The effect of curvatures on the accuracy of the electronic apex locator].

Purpose: To investigate the effect of canal curvatures on the accuracy of 3 electronic apex locators (EAL) in vitro.

Methods: Alginate and 123 canals were used to mimic the situation in vitro. Three kinds of electronic apex locators including Raypex5(®), Propex(®) and Rider(®) were applied to determine the length of the canals divided into 3 groups including straight (<5°), middle (>10°,<20°) and severe (>20 °) according to the root canal curvatures.

Preparation of specific anti-Helicobacter pylori yolk antibodies and their antibacterial effects.

Objective: To study immunization procedures and preparation methods of specific IgY antibodies (IgY-Hp, IgY-IB) produced by hens immunized with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) bacterial antigen and recombinant Hp specific antigen IB, detect the inhibition effects on Hp growth and Hp urease activity, and study the effects of oral administration for treating Hp infection.

Methods: By using recombinant cholera toxin subunit B (rCTB) as an adjuvant, hens received intramuscular injection immunization for continuous 7 times at an interval of 14 days. Then, the eggs were collected; IgY was purified.