Constitutive expression of Bcl-2 induces epithelial-Mesenchymal transition in mammary epithelial cells.

Background: Bcl-2 (B cell lymphoma/leukemia gene-2) is the first proto-oncogene recognized to function by inhibiting programmed cell death/apoptosis. Although much is known about the anti-apoptotic ability of Bcl-2, little information is available concerning its function in other cellular processes, such as cell differentiation.

Methods: In this study, stable cell lines from pre-malignant MCF10ATG3B mammary epithelial cells, a cell line derived from a human proliferative breast disease model, to express exogenous Bcl-2 was established.

Targeted gene capture and massively parallel sequencing identify TMC1 as the causative gene in a six-generation Chinese family with autosomal dominant hearing loss.

Hereditary nonsyndromic hearing loss is extremely heterogeneous. Mutations in the transmembrane channel-like gene1 (TMC1) are known to cause autosomal dominant and recessive forms of nonsyndromic hearing loss linked to the loci of DFNA36 and DFNB7/11, respectively. We characterized a six-generation Chinese family (5315) with progressive, postlingual autosomal dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss (ADNSHL).

Haplotypes of RHO polymorphisms and susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration.

Objective: To investigate whether haplotypes of rhodopsin (RHO) polymorphisms including rs7984, rs2855552, rs2855557 and rs2410 were associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) risk in Chinese Han population.

Methods: Genotypes of rs7984, rs2855552, rs2855557 and rs2410 were detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 186 cases and 196 healthy controls. Then, the haplotypes were established with Haploview 4.

Visible Thrombolysis Acceleration of a Nanomachine Powered by Light-Driving F0F1-ATPase Motor.

We report on thrombolysis acceleration of a nanomachine powered by light-driving δ-subunit-free F0F1-ATPase motor. It is composed of a mechanical device, locating device, energy storage device, and propeller. The rotory δ-subunit-free F0F1-ATPase motor acts as a mechanical device, which was obtained by reconstructing an original chromatophore extracted from Rhodospirillum rubrum.

Real-Time Monitoring of Catheter-Related Biofilm Infection in Mice.

This study was done to establish a mouse model for catheter-related biofilm infection suitable to bioluminescence imaging (BLI). Biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) Xen5 grown on catheter disks in vitro and in an implanted mouse model was real-time monitored during a 7-day study period using BLI.

Longitudinal ultra-extensive transverse myelitis as a manifestation of neurosarcoidosis.

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with neurosarcoidosis manifesting as longitudinal transverse myelitis spanning 6 or more spinal segments.

Method: Retrospective analysis of 7 cases from a single institution.

Results: Four males and 5 African-American were included.

Evaluation of the JRecan device for thrombus retrieval: efficacy and safety in a swine model of acute arterial occlusion.

Objective: To evaluate the recanalization efficacy and safety of a novel stent retriever in a swine model of acute arterial occlusion.

Methods: The JRecan thrombectomy device, a stent retriever with a weaving stent design, was evaluated in 18 occluded cervicocerebral vessels of swine. The flow restoration effect immediately upon deployment, the reperfusion rate after retrieval, thromboembolic events, and complications were assessed.

Neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists in preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Newly developed neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) antagonists have been recently tried in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to explore whether NK-1R antagonists were effective in preventing PONV.The PRISMA statement guidelines were followed.

Identification of a novel COL1A1 frameshift mutation, c.700delG, in a Chinese osteogenesis imperfecta family.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a family of genetic disorders associated with bone loss and fragility. Mutations associated with OI have been found in genes encoding the type I collagen chains. People with OI type I often produce insufficient α1-chain type I collagen because of frameshift, nonsense, or splice site mutations in COL1A1 or COL1A2.

Proteomic study of different culture medium serum volume fractions on RANKL-dependent RAW264.7 cells differentiating into osteoclasts.

Background: Cultivation of osteoclasts is a basic tool for investigating osteolytic bone diseases. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is the standard supplement used for in vitro cell culture medium. Typically, the serum volume fraction used for osteoclast cultivation is 10%.

miR-206 inhibits metastasis-relevant traits by degrading MRTF-A in anaplastic thyroid cancer.

Thyroid cancer develops from follicular or parafollicular thyroid cells. A higher proportion of anaplastic thyroid cancer has an adverse prognosis. New drugs are being used in clinical treatment.

[myc-p62 fusion protein suppresses the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase].

Objective: To construct a eukaryotic expression vector of human autophagy maker protein P62 labeled with myc tag, and detect its biological function.

Methods: Human P62 gene was amplified from human breast DNA library by PCR and cloned into pXJ-40-myc vector. HEK293T cells were transfected with the recombinant plasmid myc-p62.

Treatment of patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain in China: a double-blind randomised trial of duloxetine vs. placebo.

Background: Duloxetine has been approved in the United States, European Union and some Asian countries for the treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP). We assessed the efficacy and safety of duloxetine (60 mg once daily) compared with placebo in Chinese patients suffering from DPNP.

Methods: This was a phase 3, multicenter, randomised, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled, 12-week trial of the treatment of DPNP with duloxetine.

MicroRNA-135b exerts oncogenic activity in glioblastoma via the inhibition of glycerol kinase 5 expression.

Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignancy of the adult central nervous system and is associated with a markedly poor prognosis. Elucidating the pathogenesis and molecular changes will assist in further understanding the pathogenesis and progression of the disease and offer novel targets for therapies. The present study demonstrated that the expression level of GK5 was lower in high-grade glioblastoma tissues compared with low-grade ones and it can promote proliferation in glioblastoma cells.

Identification of Two Novel Compound Heterozygous PTPRQ Mutations Associated with Autosomal Recessive Hearing Loss in a Chinese Family.

Mutations in PTPRQ are associated with deafness in humans due to defects of stereocilia in hair cells. Using whole exome sequencing, we identified responsible gene of family 1572 with autosomal recessively non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL). We also used DNA from 74 familial patients with ARNSHL and 656 ethnically matched control chromosomes to perform extended variant analysis.

The clinical activity of arsenic trioxide, ascorbic acid, ifosfamide and prednisone combination therapy in patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

This study aimed to investigate the activity of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) combined with ascorbic acid, ifosfamide, and prednisone chemotherapy in patients with repeatedly relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Here, we retrospectively analyzed medical data of 30 MM patients showing progressive disease after receiving at least two previous lines of treatment including an immunomodulatory agent (thalidomide or lenalidomide) and a proteasome inhibitor. There were 19 men and eleven women, aged 54-73 (median 65) years, in this study.

HPIP is upregulated in colorectal cancer and regulates colorectal cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion.

Hematopoietic pre-B cell leukemia transcription factor (PBX)-interacting protein (HPIP) was shown to play a role in cancer development and progression. However, the role of HPIP in colorectal cancer (CRC) is unknown. Here, we report that HPIP is overexpressed in most of CRC patients and predicts poor clinical outcome in CRC.

miR-150 is a factor of survival in prostate cancer patients.

Purpose: Prostate cancer (PC) is the most common malignant disease in males and the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in men in developed countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether microRNA (miR)-150 is a factor influencing survival in prostate cancer patients.

Methods: miR-150 mRNA and protein expression levels in prostatic cancer cell lines and healthy tissues were determined by quantitative (q) RT-PCR and Western blotting.

Toll-interacting protein contributes to mortality following myocardial infarction through promoting inflammation and apoptosis.

Background And Purpose: Toll-interacting protein (Tollip) is an endogenous inhibitor of toll-like receptors, a superfamily that plays a pivotal role in various pathological conditions, including myocardial infarction (MI). However, the exact role of Tollip in MI remains unknown.

Experimental Approach: MI models were established in Tollip knockout (KO) mice, mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of human Tollip gene and in their Tollip(+/+) and non-transgenic controls respectively.

Recombinant receptor activator of nuclear factor κB exhibits more marked inhibitory effects on osteoclasts compared with recombinant osteoprotegerin in vitro and in vivo.

The aim of the present study was to compare the osteoclast-inhibiting ability of recombinant osteoprotegerin (OPG) protein (rhOPG-Fc) and recombinant receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (rhRANK) in vitro and in vivo. Osteoclasts were cultured with either rhOPG-Fc or rhRANK for 9 days. The number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells and resorption pits in bone slices were then counted.

Association of vitamin C with the risk of age-related cataract: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: Whether vitamin C is a protective factor for age-related cataract remains unclear. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to summarize the evidence from epidemiological studies of vitamin C and the risk of age-related cataract.

Methods: Pertinent studies were identified by searching in PubMed and in Webscience.

Cardioprotective role of growth/differentiation factor 1 in post-infarction left ventricular remodelling and dysfunction.

Growth/differentiation factor 1 (GDF1) is a secreted glycoprotein of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily that mediates cell differentiation events during embryonic development. GDF1 is expressed in several tissues, including the heart. However, the functional role of GDF1 in myocardial infarction (MI)-induced cardiac remodelling and dysfunction is not known.

miR-181c promotes proliferation via suppressing PTEN expression in inflammatory breast cancer.

Primary inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) accounts for ~6% of new breast cancer cases. Even with multimodality treatment, the 5-year disease-free survival is <45%, thus making IBC the most deadly form of locally advanced breast cancer. Better understanding of the pathogenesis of IBC is essential to the design of effective therapy.