miRNA-708 functions as a tumour suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting SMAD3.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent subtype of primary liver cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. Previous studies have reported that microRNAs (miRNAs) serve key roles in the carcinogenesis and progression of HCC by regulating gene expression. The present study investigated the expression patterns, biological roles and underlying mechanisms of miRNA-708 (miR-708) in HCC.

MicroRNA-195 inhibits the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells by targeting the fatty acid synthase/Wnt signaling pathway.

Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs are critical regulators of cancer development and progression. MicroRNA-195 has been reported as a cancer-related microRNA in many human cancers. However, the role of microRNA-195 in pancreatic cancer remains largely unknown.

Effects of salinomycin and 17‑AAG on proliferation of human gastric cancer cells in vitro.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of 17‑AAG combined with salinomycin treatment on proliferation and apoptosis of the SGC‑7901 gastric cancer cell line. An MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of SGC‑7901 cells. Morphological alterations of cells were observed under inverted phase‑contrast and fluorescence microscopes.

Efficacy and Safety of 3 Nasal Packing Materials Used After Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Comparative Study in China.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of 3 nasal packing products (silicone tube, Beschitin-F, and Aquacel1-Ag) after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients in China. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty-six CRS patients undergoing FESS surgery were randomly divided into 3 groups (22 patients in each group): the silicone tube group, the Beschitin-F group, and the Aquacel1-Ag group. Postoperative headache, nasal pain, nasal bleeding, and swelling of the nasal mucosa were observed at 1 month after FESS surgery.

Generic ledipasvir-sofosbuvir for patients with chronic hepatitis C: A real-life observational study.

Background & Aims: Few patients from developing countries can afford brand name direct-acting antiviral agents for treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and controversy regarding the bioequivalence of generics exists. This study aimed to observe the safety and efficacy of 8 or 12weeks of generic ledipasvir-sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin for Chinese genotype 1b HCV-infected patients.

Methods: In this open-labelled observational study, 63 cirrhotic (group 1) and 65 non-cirrhotic (group 2) patients were administered generic ledipasvir-sofosbuvir plus 1000-1200mg of ribavirin daily for 12 and 8weeks, respectively; and 64 non-cirrhotic patients (group 3) received ledipasvir-sofosbuvir for 8weeks.

Associations between polymorphisms of the ADIPOQ gene and hypertension risk: a systematic and meta-analysis.

ADIPOQ gene polymorphisms have been indicated to be associated with hypertension; however, published studies have reported inconsistent results. Eligible studies were retrieved by searching the PubMed, Embase and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. The case group consisted of patients with hypertension, and the control group consisted of subjects with normal blood pressure.

Characterization of Sox9-overexpressing human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells-based engineered cartilage both in vitro and in vivo.

The source of seed cells is a critical factor for tissue engineering. The goal of this study was to evaluate the chondrogenesis of Sox9-overexpressing human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) seeded onto bone matrix gelatin (BMG)/fibrin hybrid scaffolds both in vitro and in vivo. hUCMSCs were stably transfected with Sox9-expressing plasmid and grown on the three-dimensional BMG/fibrin hybrid scaffold for 8 weeks.

IMPA2 polymorphisms and risk of ischemic stroke in a northwest Han Chinese population.

Genetic association analysis has suggested that IMPA2 is a susceptibility gene for ischemic stroke (IS). To explore the association between IMPA2 polymorphisms and the risk of IS in a Han Chinese population, candidate gene association was performed using data from a case-control study of 488 IS patients and 503 control subjects. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the association, and associations were evaluated under dominant, recessive, and additive genetic models using PLINK software.

Evaluation of bone matrix gelatin/fibrin glue and chitosan/gelatin composite scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering.

This study was designed to evaluate bone matrix gelatin (BMG)/fibrin glue and chitosan/gelatin composite scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering. Chondrocytes were isolated from costal cartilage of Sprague-Dawley rats and seeded on BMG/fibrin glue or chitosan/gelatin composite scaffolds. After different in vitro culture durations, the scaffolds were subjected to hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and toluidine blue staining, anti-collagen II and anti-aggrecan immunohistochemistry, and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) analysis.

Lack of association between cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 gene polymorphisms and lymphoid malignancy risk: evidence from a meta-analysis.

Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) polymorphisms have been associated with susceptibility to lymphoid malignancies. However, results from the published single studies are inconsistent. Therefore, the present meta-analysis was conducted to get a more accurate estimation of the relationship between CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms and the lymphoid malignancy risk.

Comparison of tumor curettage and resection for treatment of giant cell tumor of the bone around the knee joint.

Objective: To analyze the efficacies of tumor curettage and resection for treatment of giant cell tumor of the bone (GCTB) around the knee joint (KJ).

Methods: A total of 126 KJ-GCTB cases were treated at our department from August 2011 to February 2015. These cases were divided into two groups (A and B) according to treatment methods.

Role of NLRP3 inflammasome in Bifidobacterium longum-regulated visceral hypersensitivity of postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome.

We aimed to explore the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in Bifidobacterium longum-regulated visceral hypersensitivity of postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). Fifty NIH mice were divided into five groups (n = 10). The visceral sensitivities of PI-2W and PI-8W groups significantly exceeded than those of normal control groups (P < 0.

Knockdown of Peripheral Myelin Protein 22 Inhibits the Progression of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

We aimed to explore the underlying mechanism of peripheral myelin protein 22 (PMP22) in the development of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The level of PMP22 expression in CD34(+) cells isolated from CML patients' bone marrow samples (BMMCs) and peripheral blood samples (PBMCs) was determined by RT-PCR. In addition, PMP22-siRNA and scrambled control siRNA were transfected into human CML cell line K562 with Lipofectamine 2000 reagent.

Therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells expressing interleukin-12 in mice bearing malignant ascites tumor.

This study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) expressing interleukin (IL)-12 on malignant ascites tumor-bearing mice and the related mechanisms. Malignant ascites tumor mouse model was established by the intraperitoneal inoculation with MethA or H22 tumor cells. Mouse BMSCs were transfected with lentiviral vector containing IL-12, and then transplanted into these mouse models via intraperitoneal injection.

Endocrine MPA enhances the effects of TAC chemotherapy on improvement of prognosis and increase in long-term survival rates for patients with endometrial cancer.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of taxol, adriamycin and carboplatin (TAC) chemotherapy combined with endocrine medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) therapy for the treatment of patients with endometrial cancer. A retrospective analysis of 124 patients with endometrial cancer was performed by dividing the cohort into an experimental and control group. The 64 patients in the experimental group received TAC and MPA chemotherapy, whereas the 60 patients in the control group were treated with TAC chemotherapy only.

Premature rupture of the fetal membrane combined with subclinical chorioamnionitis negatively affects pregnancy outcomes by a mechanism associated with reduced levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2.

The present study aimed to investigate whether premature rupture of the fetal membrane, combined with subclinical chorioamnionitis, affects pregnancy outcomes. In addition, the association between premature rupture of the fetal membrane (PROM) and the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), an inactive proenzyme that can be activated by other factors or signals in humans, was examined. In total, 80 pregnant patients with PROM were classified into the experimental and control groups, according to their final placental pathological diagnosis results.

Clinical Significance of MiR-137 Expression in Patients with Gastric Cancer After Radical Gastrectomy.

The dysregulation of miR-137 plays vital roles in the oncogenesis and progression of various types of cancer, but its role in prognosis of gastric cancer patients remains unknown. This study was designed to investigate the expression and prognostic significance of miR-137 in gastric cancer patients after radical gastrectomy. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to evaluate the expression of miR-137 in human gastric cancer cell lines and tissues in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Elevated Serum Level of Angiopoietin-2 as a Potential Marker for Poor Prognosis in Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a fast-growing cancer with poor prognosis. Patients with extensive-stage SCLC are generally treated with chemotherapy. Thus, it is essential to identify a predictor of efficacy and prognosis for SCLC.

[The value of multi-slice spiral computed tomography portography in assessing severity of liver cirrhosis and predicting episode risks of hepatic encephalopathy].

Objective: To explore the clinical value of multi-slice spiral computed tomography portography (MSCTP) in assessing severity of liver cirrhosis and predicting episode risks of hepatic encephalopathy (HE).

Methods: Eighty-six patients with liver cirrhosis who were hospitalized in the Department of Gastroenterology at the Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University were included in the study.All patients underwent 64-slice MSCTP to grade the portal vein anatomy.

MiRNA-218, a new regulator of HMGB1, suppresses cell migration and invasion in non-small cell lung cancer.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) function as negative regulators of gene expression involved in cancer metastasis. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential roles of miR-218 in non-small cell lung cancer and validate its regulation mechanism. Functional studies showed that miR-218 overexpression inhibited cell migration and invasion, but had no effect on cell viability.

α-Mangostin suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced invasion by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 and increasing E-cadherin expression through extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling in pancreatic cancer cells.

Invasion and metastasis are major factors in the poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer, which remains one of the most aggressive and lethal diseases worldwide. α-mangostin, a major xanthone compound identified in the pericarp of mangosteen (, Linn; GML), possesses unique biological activities, including antioxidant, antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. Whether α-mangostin is able to inhibit the invasive ability of pancreatic cancer cells has not been elucidated.

PBK/TOPK expression during TPA-induced HL-60 leukemic cell differentiation.

Objective: This study concerns expression of PBK/TOPK during differentiation of HL-60 leukemic cells induced by tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA).

Methods: Wright-Giemsa staining was performed to observe morphological changes in the HL-60 cells, and flow cytometry was used to assess the cell cycle and CD11b, CD14, CD13, and CD33 expression. PBK/TOPK levels were determined by Western blot analysis.

[Treatment of postoperative nonunion of fracture of lower limb with bone grafting by intervertebral disc endoscope].

Objective: To explore the effectiveness of bone grafting by intervertebral disc endoscope for postoperative nonunion of fracture of lower limb.

Methods: Between August 2004 and August 2008, 40 patients (23 males and 17 females) with postoperative nonunion of femoral and tibial fracture, aged 20-63 years (mean, 41.5 years) were treated.