Assessing whether serum ceruloplasmin promotes non-alcoholic steatohepatitis via regulating iron metabolism.

Background: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a progressive form of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The diagnostic gold standard for detecting NASH still relies upon an invasive pathological biopsy. There is, therefore, a need to identify non-invasive diagnostic markers.

Effects of dyslipidemia on E antigen seroconversion of patients with chronic hepatitis B treated by nucleoside (acid) analogs.

Background: The prevalence of dyslipidemia in China is increasing annually. Current studies suggest that dyslipidemia affects the antiviral efficacy of hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapies, while recent studies suggest that serum lipids influence the response rates of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients receiving PEGylated interferon-alpha (Peg IFN-α) treatment. However, the role of dyslipidemia in the efficacy of nucleoside (acid) analogues (NAs) in CHB patients remains unclear.

A poor prognosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with low expression of DPP4.

This study aimed to explore the prognostic role of dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). DPP4 expression was measured in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens that were gathered from 327 HCC patients. Immunohistochemistry analyses were utilized to examine DPP4 expression characteristics and prognostic values (overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence) of DDP4 in HCC tissues.

Alginate Suppresses Liver Fibrosis Through the Inhibition of Nuclear Factor-κB Signaling.

Purpose: Liver fibrosis (or liver scarring) is a causative factor for hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Alginate (Agn) isolated from brown algae is known to slow the proliferation of fibroblasts, through the mechanisms of these effects remain undefined. This study explored the benefits of Agn on hepatic health and its associated mechanism(s) of action in hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6s).

LRP6-CRISPR prevents activation of hepatic stellate cells and liver fibrogenesis in rats.

This study elaborated on the function of Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), a critical component of Wnt signaling, in liver fibrosis. This study enrolled sixty-eight patients with liver fibrosis, with ten healthy liver tissue samples, served as the controls. A lentiviral vector expressing LRP6-CRISPR was constructed.

[Bone-edge electroacupuncture relieves pain by regulating expression of GRK5, β-arrestin 2 and PKCα proteins in locus coeruleus in bone cancer pain rats with morphine tolerance].

Objective: To observe the effect of bone-edge electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on mechanical pain threshold (PT) and expression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK5), β-arrestin 2, total and phosphorylated PKC alpha (p-PKCα) proteins in the locus coeruleus (LC) of rats with bone cancer pain induced morphine tolerance, so as to reveal its partial central mechanisms underlying pain relief.

Methods: Forty SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, namely sham bone cancer, bone cancer pain, morphine tolerance, bone-edge EA, and sham EA (＝ 8 rats in each group). The bone cancer with morphine tolerance model was established by intramedullary injection of MRMT-1 cells into the tibial cavity, and then intraperitoneal injection of morphine hydrochloride injection.

Correlation between acromiohumeral distance and the severity of supraspinatus tendon tear by ultrasound imaging in a Chinese population.

Background: The aim of this study was twofold: (i) to investigate the intrarater reliability of acromiohumeral distance measurement; (ii) to assess the level of association between acromiohumeral distance measured by ultrasonography, and the degree of supraspinatus tendon tear, in patients suffering from chronic shoulder pain.

Methods: A cross-sectional, case-control study was carried out. A convenience sample comprising 59 patients with a unilateral supraspinatus tendon tear was assessed.

Incidence, aetiology, and serotype spectrum analysis of adult hand, foot, and mouth disease patients: A retrospective observational cohort study in northern Zhejiang, China.

Background: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in adults has rarely been reported in the literature, although its clinical significance is underestimated. This study was performed to systematically elucidate the epidemiological characteristics of adult HFMD.

Methods: A total of 266 adult patients with HFMD were recruited.

Inflammatory profiles revealed the dysregulation of cytokines in adult patients of HFMD.

Background: Adult patients of HFMD might act as potential enterovirus reservoirs. As enterovirus infection will cause acute inflammatory response, identifying the association between the dysregulation of cytokines and the development and prognosis of HFMD in adult patients has vital clinical significance.

Methods: 60 patients from 266 laboratory-confirmed adult HFMD cases were included in this study, with 40 healthy adult subjects serving as the controls.

Royleanone diterpenoid exhibits potent anticancer effects in LNCaP human prostate carcinoma cells by inducing mitochondrial mediated apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, suppression of cell migration and downregulation of mTOR/PI3K/AKT signalling pathway.

Purpose: Prostate cancer is a deadly malignancy and is responsible for significant cancer-related mortality in men. The incidence of prostate cancer is continuously increasing across the globe and the existing treatment options for this disease are limited and associated with a lot of side effects. Therefore there is an urgent need to identify novel and efficient therapeutic agents for the management of prostate cancer.

Phase I study of gemcitabine-cisplatin versus pemetrexed cisplatin for patients with advanced or metastatic bladder cancer.

Purpose: The present study aimed to compare the chemotherapeutic regimens of gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) vs pemetrexed plus cisplatin (PC) in bladder cancer (BC) with vascular invasion and/or distant metastasis.

Methods: From January 2010 to January 2017, 53 patients with advanced or metastatic BC were included and randomly divided into two groups. Patients in the GC group were administered 1,000 mg/m gemcitabine on day 1 and 15 and 70 mg/m cisplatin on day 1 as an IV infusion.

Suppression of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Growth and Metastasis by a Novel Small Molecular Activator of RECK.

Background/aims: Reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK) is a novel tumor suppressor gene that is critical for regulating tumor cell invasion and metastasis. The expression of RECK is dramatically down-regulated in human cancers. Harmine, a tricyclic compound from Peganum harmala, has been shown to have potential anti-cancer activity.

R-spondin 2 promotes proliferation and migration via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of malignant disease-associated mortality, particularly in China. The RSPO2 (R-spondin 2) gene is evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates and is involved in developmental and physiological processes. Importantly, RSPO2 has been reported to be associated with colon cancer and potentiate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Magnolol Inhibits the Growth of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Inhibiting Microtubule Polymerization.

Background: The tubulin/microtubule system, which is an integral component of the cytoskeleton, plays an essential role in mitosis. Targeting mitotic progression by disturbing microtubule dynamics is a rational strategy for cancer treatment.

Methods: Microtubule polymerization assay was performed to examine the effect of Magnolol (a novel natural phenolic compound isolated from Magnolia obovata) on cellular microtubule polymerization in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells.

RSPOs facilitated HSC activation and promoted hepatic fibrogenesis.

Roof plate-specific spondin (RSPO) proteins are potent Wnt pathway agonists and involve in a broad range of developmental and physiological processes. This study investigated the activities and mechanisms of RSPOs in liver fibrogenesis, especially in hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. HSC activation was assessed by fibrosis biomarker (α-smooth muscle actin and Collagen-I), phenotypic change (accumulation of lipid droplets), and increased proliferation.

[Role of R-Spondin1 in the activation of hepatic stellate cells].

Objective: To investigate the role of R-Spondinl in the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).

Methods: Twenty-four healthy male Kunming mice were randomly divided into the following two groups:fibrosis model group (n=16) and control group (n=8). Hepatic fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injections of CC14 (20% in olive oil) at a dose of 5 ml/kg twice per week.

R-spondin1 arguments hepatic fibrogenesis in vivo and in vitro.

Background: The development of liver fibrosis is the key stage toward a number of mortal complications of liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Canonical Wnt pathway is crucial in diverse biological processes and mediates the progression and regression of liver fibrosis. As a potent Wnt pathway agonist, roof plate-specific spondin-1 (R-spondin1) protein's role in the hepatic fibrosis has not been well elucidated.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of adult hand, foot, and mouth disease in northern Zhejiang, China, May 2008-November 2013.

Background: Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is an infectious disease typically caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) and Coxsackievirus A16. The incidence of HFMD appears to be increasing across the Asia Pacific region, with deaths occurring predominantly among children. Therefore, most HFMD reports focus on children and few have studied HFMD in adults.

R-spondin2 activates hepatic stellate cells and promotes liver fibrosis.

Background: The development of liver fibrosis is the fundamental stage toward a number of mortal complications of liver diseases, including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Canonical Wnt pathway is crucial in diverse biological processes and mediates the progression and regression of liver fibrosis. As a potent Wnt pathway agonist, the role of roof plate-specific spondin-2 (R-Spondin2) in the hepatic fibrosis has not been well elucidated.

[Latent membrane protein-1 of EB virus and the phenotype of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cervical lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the relation of EB virus latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) and the phenotype of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cervical lymph node metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Method: Based on histopathology and MRI imaging, nasopharyngeal biopsy tissues from 88 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma were divided into 3 groups: pathologic metastasis (18), MRI metastasis(40) and without metastasis (30). The expressions of LMP-1, STAT3, Twist, E-Cadherin and Vimentin were examined immunohistochemically in biopsy tissues.

[Clinicopathologic characteristics of breast cancer with basal-like immunophenotype].

Objective: To study the clinicopathologic characteristics of basal-like immunophenotype breast cancer (BLBC).

Methods: 458 cases of female infiltrative breast cancer were studied using immunohistochemical staining with an antibody panel of ER, PR, HER2, Ki-67, CK5/6, CK14 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and were classified basing on the immunophenotypes. The clinicopathologic characteristics were compared with other immunophenotypes of breast cancer.