Triple-negative breast cancer and its association with obesity.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer that lacks expression of the estrogen and progesterone receptor and does not overexpress human epidermal growth factor 2 receptor protein. TNBC is associated with special characteristics, including aggressiveness, poor prognosis and poor response to treatment, and has been attracting increasing attention worldwide. Obesity is a well-documented factor exerting a significant effect on the development of breast cancer, including TNBC.

An association of serum ALT with elevated blood pressure in senior adults: a case-control study.

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in China; hence, identifying good serum markers might provide cost benefits in terms of reducing morbidity rates. In this population-based case-control study, participants were recruited from five districts in Hunan province, and 416 cases were matched with an equal number of controls. Markers related to elevated blood pressure were assessed: Body Mass Index, total cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, and creatinine.

Clinicopathological significance and potential drug target of T-cadherin in NSCLC.

Background: Previous studies demonstrate that T-cadherin is a candidate tumor suppressor in several types of human tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Lack of protein expression of T-cadherin by hypermethylation has been found to play an important role in lung alveolar differentiation regulation and epithelial tumorigenesis. However, the correlation between T-cadherin hypermethylation and clinicopathological characteristics of NSCLC remains unclear.

[The effect of transcription factor KLF2 in expression of gamma-GCS depend on regulation by Nrf2 in lung of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To study the expression of lung Krüppel-like transcription factor (KLF2/LKLF) in lung tissues of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the relationship between KLF2 and NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and make further explore the effects of KLF2 on the expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS).

Methods: Twenty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into a COPD group (n = 10) and a normal control group (n = 11). The rat model of COPD established by cigarette smoking and intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and lung tissues were obtained.

[Expression of mitogen-actived protein kinase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha in pulmonary arteries of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To investigate the expression of mitogen-actived protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) in pulmonary artery of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and therefore to explore the possible roles of MAPK, PI3K and HIF-1alpha in the development of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (HPH).

Methods: Small pulmonary arterial remodeling was observed by morphometric analysis in surgically removed lung tissues from COPD patients and control patients treated for lung tumors. The expression of p-ERK, p-JNK, p-P38, p-PKB and HIF-1alpha in lung tissue was examined by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

[Location and expression of NF-kappaB in lung of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Aim: To elucidate the location and effects of transcription factor-nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in lung tissues of rats with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: Fourteen male Wistar rats were randomly divided into COPD model and control groups equally. The COPD model was established by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharide twice and exposure to cigarette smoke daily.

[Effects of adrenomedullin regulating inducible nitric oxide synthase on proliferation and apoptosis in hypoxic pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells].

Aim: To investigate the effects of hypoxia on the proliferation and apoptosis of PASMC, to evaluate the role of iNOS protein expression and ADM on the hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) pathogenesis.

Methods: To culture rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC), cultured PASMC cells were grouped into: normoxic group; hypoxic group; hypoxia + L-NAME group; hypoxia+ ADM group. Proliferation of PASMC were investigated by MTT and PCNA.

[Changes of the activity and expression of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Objective: To investigate the oxidative/antioxidative status in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to study the expression and location of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) in lung tissues.

Methods: (1) Serum samples of 13 patients with COPD in exacerbation and 9 healthy non-smokers were collected for measurements of the level of reduced glutathione (GSH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), total antioxidative capacity (T-AOC) and gamma-GCS activity. (2) Lung tissues from 22 patients (12 patients with COPD and 10 patients as control) undergoing resection for lung tumor were collected for study of the expression and location of gamma-GCS and gamma-GCS mRNA by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively.

[Hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha regulates vascular endothelial growth factor's roles on pulmonary arteries of rats with hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension].

Objective: To investigate the dynamic expression of hypoxia inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in pulmonary arteries of rats with hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Methods: Forty male adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: a control group (C group) and groups with hypoxia for 3, 7, 14 and 21 days (H(3), H(7), H(14) and H(21) group), eight rats per group. Mean pulmonary pressure (mPAP), vessel morphometry and right ventricle hypertrophy index (RVHI) were measured.