Transforming growth factor-β: an important mediator in Helicobacter pylori-associated pathogenesis.

Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is a Gram-negative, microaerophilic, helical bacillus that specifically colonizes the gastric mucosa. The interaction of virulence factors, host genetic factors, and environmental factors contributes to the pathogenesis of H.

Lung microenvironment promotes the metastasis of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells to the lungs.

Cancer metastasis is a highly tissue-specific and organ-selective process. It has been shown that the affected tissues and/or organs play a major role in this complex process. The lung is the most common target organ of extrahepatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) metastasis, but the precise molecular mechanism underlying this organ-specific metastasis remains unclear.

A new source of structural autograft for ACDF surgery: cervical laminae.

Study Design: A prospective study and a technical note.

Background: Autograft is considered to be the gold standard in achieving optimal fusion in anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). In patients with combined postero-anterior cervical procedure, whether the cervical laminae harvested from laminectomy can be used as astructural bone graft in ACDF? Few studies have reported about this.

Lutein prevents alcohol-induced liver disease in rats by modulating oxidative stress and inflammation.

Objective: Oxidative stress and inflammation play an important role in pathogenesis of alcohol-induced liver injury. The present study was designed to investigate the protective role of Lutein against alcohol-induced liver injury.

Treatment: Wistar rats weighing 150-200 g were divided into 3 groups, control, EtOH treatment, Lutein followed by EtOH treatment.

TRIM29 functions as an oncogene in gastric cancer and is regulated by miR-185.

Tripartite motif-containing 29 (TRIM29) belongs to TRIM family of transcription factors and may function as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor depending on the tumor types. Overexpression of TRIM29 is frequently observed in gastric cancer but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. In the present study, we investigated the function of TRIM29 in gastric cancer-derived cell line MGC803.

Altered expression of connexin43 and phosphorylation connexin43 in glioma tumors.

In this study, we aim to evaluate the connexin (Cx43) and phosphorylation Cx43 (p-Cx43) expression of human glioma tumors and correlate their expression with degrees of malignancy and proliferation, apoptosis, and migration activity of tumors. Cx43 and p-Cx43 expression were examined by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining. The U251 cell viability was measured by MTT analysis.

Association of vitamin d receptor-a gene polymorphisms with coronary heart disease in Han Chinese.

Objective: To assess the association between coronary heart disease (CHD) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms in Han Chinese adults.

Methods: A total of 215 CHD patients and 67 controls were recruited. In both groups, the VDR gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of Tru9I (rs757343), ApaI (rs7975232), TaqI (rs731236) and FokI (rs2228570) were detected, and the frequencies of VDR genotypes were compared between patients and controls.

A novel method to identify and isolate proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA) clusters and to extract high-quality PIA RNA.

Epidemiological and histopathological studies have indicated that proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA) of the prostate is closely associated with the onset and development of prostate cancer (PCa). However, accurate isolation of PIA still remains a difficult matter, as well as high-quality RNA extraction from isolated PIA. These issues generated a lack of molecular evidence to support the mechanistic explanation proposed for the progression of PIA to PCa.

Target radiofrequency combined with collagenase chemonucleolysis in the treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation.

Both target radiofrequency thermocoagulation and collagenase chemonucleolysis are effective micro-invasive therapy means for lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. In order to analyze the clinical effects of target radiofrequency thermocoagulation combined with collagenase chemonucleolysis on lumbar intervertebral disc herniation, the contents of hydroxyproline and glycosaminoglycan were measured and the histological changes of nucleus pulposus was detected in the vitro experiments. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation reduced the hydrolyzation of herniated nucleus pulposus caused by collagenase, as well as the content of hydroxyproline and glycosaminoglycan.

miR-451 inhibits invasion and proliferation of bladder cancer by regulating EMT.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have recently been reported play a crucial role in some tumors. In order to investigate the association of miR-451 with bladder cancer, we investigate the expression of miR-451 in bladder cancer tissues and its role in biological behavior of T24, 5637 and J28 bladder cancer cell lines. Quantitative RT-PCR results showed miR-451 was significantly down-regulated in bladder cancer tissues and paracancerous tissues compared with normal bladder tissues.

Efficacy of glucocorticoids in rodents of severe acute pancreatitis: a meta-analysis.

Background: The use of corticosteroid in the management of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) remains contentious and is still being debated despite many pre-clinical studies demonstrating benefits. The limitations of clinical research on corticosteroid in SAP are disparities with regard to benefit, a lack of adequate safety data and insufficient understanding of its mechanisms of action. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the effectiveness of corticosteroid in experimental SAP and take a closer look at the relation between the animal studies and prospective trials.