Streptamer versus tetramer-based selection of functional cytomegalovirus-specific T cells.

Background/purpose: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease constitutes a serious complication after stem cell transplantation and has been treated by adoptive transfer of donor-derived CMV-specific CD8(+) T cells. CMV-specific CD8(+) T cells were selected by multimers, and the technologies may alter the function of these T cells. Therefore, here we evaluated the impact of multimer reagents on the function of CD8(+) T lymphocytes.

microRNA-146a targets the L1 cell adhesion molecule and suppresses the metastatic potential of gastric cancer.

Recent studies have shown that microRNA-146a (miR-146a) is associated with cancer metastasis. However, the mechanisms underlying this process remain poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential role of miR-146a in gastric cancer metastasis.

Plasma adiponectin as an independent predictor of early death after acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

Background: Hyperadiponectinemia or hypoadiponectinemia is associated with different diseases. There is a paucity of data on circulating plasma adiponectin concentrations in human intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). We investigated the plasma adiponectin concentrations in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, and analyzed the correlation of adiponectin with the severity of brain injury and early mortality after ICH.

FGFR4 Gly388Arg polymorphism contributes to prostate cancer development and progression: a meta-analysis of 2618 cases and 2305 controls.

Background: Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) displays multiple biological activities, including mitogenic and angiogenic activity, and plays important roles in the etiology and progression of prostate cancer. Gly388Arg polymorphism in FGFR4 gene has been reported to be involved in prostate cancer incidence and aggressiveness in several studies. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed.

[Application and advancement of magnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles in tumor-targeted therapy].

Recently, nanometer-sized magnetic particles have been intensively concerned and investigated due to their particularly large surface-to-volume ratio, quantum-size effect, magnetic character as well as their potential application in the area of bioscience and medicine. The most promising nanoparticles are magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles with appropriate surface modification, which have been widely used experimentally for numerous in vivo applications such as magnetic resonance imaging contrast enhancement, tissue repair, immunoassay, detoxification of biological fluids, drug delivery, hyperthermia and cell separation. To focus on one of the most important and fascinating subjects in nanobiotechnology, this review describes the current situation and development of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles and their applications in drug delivery and hyperthermia in tumor-targeted therapy.

Association study of four variants in KCNQ1 with type 2 diabetes mellitus and premature coronary artery disease in a Chinese population.

Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, rs2237892, rs2237895, rs2237897, rs2283228) in KCNQ1 are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in different ancestral groups. We investigated whether these 4 genetic markers are determinants of type 2 diabetes and premature coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Chinese population. We studied 398 consecutive patients, including 180 with coronary stenosis >or=50% or previous myocardial infarction (male <55 years, female <65 years) and 218 controls without documented CAD.

The reversal effect of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles loaded with cisplatin on SKOV3/DDP ovarian carcinoma cells.

To explore whether the magnetic nanoparticles of Fe3O4 (MNPs-Fe3O4) loaded with cisplatin can reverse the diaminedichloro platinum (DDP) resistance to multidrug resistance of ovarian carcinoma cells and to investigate its mechanisms. The SKOV3/DDP cells were divided into DDP treatment (DDP group), MNPs-Fe3O4 treatment (MNPs-Fe3O4 group), DDP + MNPs-Fe3O4 treatment (DDP + MNPs-Fe3O4 group), and control group. After incubation with those conjugates for 48 h, the cytotoxic effects were measured by MTT assay.

Myeloperoxidase gene-463G > A polymorphism and premature coronary artery disease.

We investigated the association between myeloperoxidase gene -463G > A polymorphism and premature coronary artery disease (CAD) in two Chinese population samples: 229 patients and 230 controls. Genotypes were determined by ligase detection reaction-polymerase chain reaction sequencing and the grouping technique. We found lower frequencies of both the A/A genotype and the A allele in patients (p < 0.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1-2518 G/A polymorphism, plasma levels, and premature stable coronary artery disease.

Background: We examined the -2518G/A polymorphism of the MCP-1 gene, its plasma levels, and premature stable CAD in a Chinese population.

Methods: The study comprised 132 patients with premature stable CAD (cases) and 153 controls. Genotypes were determined by ligase detection reaction-polymerase chain reaction sequencing and grouping.

Coumestrol promotes proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation in rat bone marrow stromal cells.

Although the effects of coumestrol on osteoblasts and osteoclasts can be summarized as increasing the bone density and preventing bone resorption, direct and detailed effects of coumestrol on bone marrow stromal cells remain obscure. In the present study, the effects of coumestrol on proliferation and osteoblastic differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have been investigated; the regulative effect of coumestrol on BMSCs and skeletal system has also been discussed. The results showed that treatment with coumestrol increased cellular activities (analyzed by MTT assay), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), type I collagen and osteocalcin (OCN) activity as well as the protein and gene expression of OPG, gene expression ratio of OPG/RANKL and gene expression of estrogen receptor alpha(ERalpha).

Synergistic effect of the combination of nanoparticulate Fe3O4 and Au with daunomycin on K562/A02 cells.

In this study, we have explored the possibility of the combination of the high reactivity of nano Fe3O4 or Au nanoparticles and daunomycin, one of the most important antitumor drugs in the treatment of acute leukemia clinically, to inhibit MDR of K562/A02 cells. Initially, to determine whether the magnetic nanoparticle Fe3O4 and Au can facilitate the anticancer drug to reverse the resistance of cancer cells, we have explored the cytotoxic effect of daunomycin (DNR) with and without the magnetic nano-Fe3O4 or nano-Au on K562 and K562/A02 cells by MTT assay. Besides, the intracellular DNR concentration and apoptosis of the K562/A02 cells was further investigated by flow cytometry and confocal fluorescence microscopic studies.

Toll-like receptor 8 polymorphism and coronary artery disease.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play roles in innate and adaptive immune responses. Some TLRs are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Coronary artery disease (CAD) has an inflammatory and immunological basis.

A common variant on chromosome 9p21 affects the risk of early-onset coronary artery disease.

Background Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, rs10757278 and rs2383207) on chromosome 9p21 have been proved to be associated with myocardial infarction. We investigated whether these two genetic markers are determinants of early-onset coronary artery disease. Methods and results A total of 444 consecutive patients were studied including 212 cases with coronary stenosis >or=50% or previous myocardial infarction and 232 controls without documented coronary artery disease.

[Quantitative microarray-based DNA methylation analysis of E-cadherin gene promoter in acute leukemia].

Objective: To quantitatively detect the methylation of E-cadherin gene 5'-CpG islands in acute leukemia by microarray-based DNA analysis and to briefly discuss the role of microarry for detection of methylation in tumors.

Methods: Bisulfite-modified DNA was used as a template for PCR amplification, resulting in conversion of unmethylated cytosine, but not methylated cytosine, into thymine within CpG islands of interest. Five sets of oligonucleotide probes were designed to fabricate a DNA microarray to detect the methylation changes of E-cadherin gene CpG islands in acute leukemia.

[Effect of dendritic cells co-cultured with cytokine induced killer cells on cytotoxicity against drug resistant K562 cells].

Objective: To study the effect of dendritic cells (DC) co-cultured with cytokine induced killer (CIK) cells on cytotoxicity against K562 and K562 drug-resistant (K562/ADM) cells.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) isolated from healthy adult donors were induced to obtain CIK cells and DC respectively and then these two kinds of cells were co-cultured. The cytotoxicity of the co-cultured cells against K562 and K562/ADM cells was measured with MTT assay.

[Advance of research on survivin in hematological malignancies--review].

Survivin a novel member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, is overexpressed in most types of cancer but not in normal differentiated adult tissues. Its mRNA expression levels among hematogical malignancies are characteristic in each type, subtype and distinctive in different phases of disease, making it a reliable diagnostic marker for clinical stages. Recently, researches indicate that high levels of survivin expression are associated with a poor prognosis and may be involved in tumor resistance to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs.