MicroRNA-27a functions as a tumor suppressor in renal cell carcinoma by targeting epidermal growth factor receptor.

Numerous studies have suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) are vital in the development of various types of human cancers, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and the regulation of tumor progression and invasion. However, the effect of miRNA-27a (miR-27a) on the tumorigenesis of RCC is unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the function of miR-27a and identify its possible target genes in RCC cells.

Increased RUNX1 expression in patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease, characterized by dysregulation of cellular immunity. Th17 and associated IL-17 were involved in the pathogenesis of ITP. Runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1), a member of the runt domain-containing family of transcription factors, is required for Th17 differentiation.

Silencing of HMGA2 promotes apoptosis and inhibits migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells.

The high mobility group protein A2 (HMGA2) has been demonstrated as an architectural transcription factor that is associated with pathogenesis of many malignant cancers; however, its role in prostate cancer cells remains largely unknown. To explore whether HMGA2 participates in the development and progression of prostate cancer, small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted on human HMGA2 was transfected to suppress the HMGA2 expression in prostate cancer PC3 and DU145 cells, and then the cellular biology changes after decreased the expression of HMGA2 was examined. Our results showed that knockdown of HMGA2 markedly inhibited cell proliferation; this reduced cell proliferation was due to the promotion of cell apoptosis as the Bcl-xl was decreased, whereas Bax was up-regulated.

SOCS1 regulates neuropathic pain by inhibiting neuronal sensitization and glial activation in mouse spinal cord.

Neuropathic pain is still a basic science and clinical challenge now, the neuronal sensitization and glial activation in the spinal cord (SC) level are more far-reaching for contributing to pain hypersensitivity following chronic constriction injury (CCI). Accumulating evidence indicates that astrocytes and microglia are activated in the spinal cord dorsal horn (SCDH) after CCI. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) plays an important role in regulating of neuronal inflammation.

The heterogeneity of islet autoantibodies and the progression of islet failure in type 1 diabetic patients.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is heterogeneous in many facets. The patients suffered from type 1 diabetes present several levels of islet function as well as variable number and type of islet-specific autoantibodies. This study was to investigate prevalence and heterogeneity of the islet autoantibodies and clinical phenotypes of type 1 diabetes mellitus; and also discussed the process of islet failure and its risk factors in Chinese type 1 diabetic patients.

A novel mutation of α-galactosidase A gene causes Fabry disease mimicking primary erythromelalgia in a Chinese family.

Purpose: Fabry disease is an X-linked genetic disorder caused by the mutations of α-galactosidase A (GLA, MIM 300644) gene presenting with various clinical symptoms including small-fiber peripheral neuropathy and limb burning pain. Here, we reported a Chinese pedigree with the initial diagnosis of primary erythromelalgia in an autosomal dominant (AD)-inherited pattern.

Methods: Mutation analysis of SCN9A and GLA genes by direct sequencing and functional analysis of a novel mutation of GLA in cells were performed.

Thoracic Pedicle Screw Placement Guide Plate Produced by Three-Dimensional (3-D) Laser Printing.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy and feasibility of an individualized thoracic pedicle screw placement guide plate produced by 3-D laser printing. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thoracic pedicle samples of 3 adult cadavers were randomly assigned for 3-D CT scans. The 3-D thoracic models were established by using medical Mimics software, and a screw path was designed with scanned data.

Up-regulation of Tight-Junction Proteins by p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase/p53 Inhibition Leads to a Reduction of Injury to the Intestinal Mucosal Barrier in Severe Acute Pancreatitis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore the role of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK)/p53 signaling pathway in injury to the intestinal mucosal barrier during severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).

Methods: Both sham operation and SAP groups had 3 subgroups analyzed 3, 6, or 12 hours after the SAP induction. The concentrations of amylase, endotoxin, diamine oxidase, tumor necrosis factor α, and phospho-p38MAPK, p53, and caspase-3 and the messenger RNA levels of zonula occludens protein-1 and occludin in the intestine were measured.

Rap2B promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion in prostate cancer.

Rap2B, a member of the Ras family of small GTP-binding proteins, reportedly presents a high level of expression in various human tumors and plays a significant role in the development of tumor. However, the function of Rap2B in prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. We elucidated the stimulative role of Rap2B in PCa cell proliferation, migration and invasion by means of the CCK-8 cell proliferation assay, cell cycle analysis and transwell migration assay.

Intrathecally Transplanting Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) Activates ERK1/2 in Spinal Cords of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Rats and Improves Nerve Function.

BACKGROUND We investigated whether an intrathecal transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) activates extracellular adjusting protein kinase1 and 2(ERK1/2) in the spinal cords of rats following an ischemia-reperfusion injury, resulting in improved spinal cord function and inhibition of apoptosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS We observed the relationship between the activation of ERK1/2 in the rat spinal cord and intrathecal transplantation of MSCs, as well as the effect of U0126, a MEK1/2 (upstream protein of ERK1/2) inhibitor, on a spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury model in rats using Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) scoring, somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis. RESULTS After transplantation of MSCs, the lower limb motor function score increased, and the incubation period of SSEPs and amplitude were improved.

Haploidentical transplant for myelodysplastic syndrome: registry-based comparison with identical sibling transplant.

Encouraging results from a small sample of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) undergoing haploidentical donor (HID) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) must be extended. Furthermore, an algorithm derived from a comparison of the outcomes of HID and identical-sibling donor (ISD) HSCT must be established. Therefore, the outcomes of 454 MDS patients who underwent HSCT from HIDs (n=226) or ISDs (n=228) between 2003 and 2013 that were reported to the Chinese Bone Marrow Transplantation Registry were analyzed.

Statin use and risk of Parkinson's disease: A meta-analysis.

Background And Aim: Recent studies have suggested that use of statins was associated with risk of Parkinson's disease (PD), however, conclusions were inconsistent.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and Cochrane Library was performed through March 2015. Studies that evaluated the association between statin use and risk of PD were included in this meta-analysis.

Accelerating and increasing nano-scaled pore formation on electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) fibers.

Porous fibers are advantageous for filtration systems, drug delivery systems, and in the field of tissue engineering, in comparison to their non-porous counterparts. In this study, we developed a facile technique including two steps to generate poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3- hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) porous fibers with a controllable pore size. An electrospinning technique was employed to obtain five types of PHBV/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-blended fibers (PHBV:PEO = 9:1, 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5) with PEO as the porogen.

Imaging features of soft tissue epithelioid angiosarcoma in the lower extremity: A case report.

Epithelioid angiosarcomas are extremely rare malignant tumors formed from endothelial cells. The majority of studies reporting these tumors have been concerned with the clinical and pathological aspects, with limited reporting of radiological diagnosis. The aim of the present study was to provide a reference to improve understanding of diagnosis, treatment choice and prognosis assessment of epithelioid angiosarcoma.

5-hydroxymethylcytosine is detected in RNA from mouse brain tissues.

5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is considered as a novel DNA modification and plays an important role in cancer, stem cells, and developmental diseases. In this study, we demonstrated the existence of RNA 5hmC modification in mouse brain RNA by using a dot blot analysis method. Our data indicated that 5hmC modification in RNA samples was less than that in DNA samples.

Cochlear Spiral Ganglion Neuron Apoptosis in Neonatal Mice with Murine Cytomegalovirus-Induced Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Background: Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is the most common consequence of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, and could result in neurological abnormalities and intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Purpose: To explore the mechanism of murine CMV (MCMV)-induced SNHL in neonatal mice model.

Research Design: A repeated measures design was used.

Interaction of Depression and Nicotine Addiction on the Severity of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Depression and smoking decrease health status in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), but the combined effect of the two factors is unknown. This study aimed to assess the interactive effects of depression and smoking on the severity of patients with COPD.

Methods: A prospective cohort study including 2,268 patients with COPD was conducted in seven rural communities from May 2008 to May 2012.

Severe pathological fractures caused by vertebral hemangiomas with posterior decompression, bone cement augmentation and internal fixation.

Aim: To evaluate the treatment strategy for pathological fractures caused by vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) using large case series.

Methods: From January 2008 to January 2014, 28 patients suffering from severe pathological fractures (more than 2/3 loss of original vertebral height) due to thoracic or lumbar VHs were randomized to an experimental (the posterior decompression, bone cement augmentation and internal fixation, n=14) or control (only the posterior decompression combined with internal fixation, n=14) group. The anterior, middle vertebral body height, kyphosis angle and the cement leakage were measured on radiography.

Positive feedback loop between cancer stem cells and angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Anti-angiogenesis-related therapies have become the standard care for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as HCC is a highly vascularized solid tumor. Unfortunately, only modest and limited efficacies are observed. Emerging evidence have attributed to the limited efficacy to the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the tumor.

Structure, functional regulation and signaling properties of Rap2B.

The Ras family small guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein Rap2B is is a member of the Ras oncogene family and a novel target of p53 that regulates the p53-mediated pro-survival function of cells. The Rap2B protein shares ~90% homology with Rap2A, and its sequence is 70% identical to other members of the Rap family such as RaplA and RaplB. As a result, Rap2B has been theorized to have similar signaling effectors to the GTPase-binding protein Rap, which mediates various biological functions, including the regulation of sterile 20/mitogen-activated proteins.

Therapy Effects of Bone Marrow Stromal Cells on Ischemic Stroke.

Stroke is the second most common cause of death and major cause of disability worldwide. Recently, bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) have been shown to improve functional outcome after stroke. In this review, we will focus on the protective effects of BMSCs on ischemic brain and the relative molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of BMSCs on stroke.

Procaspase-9 induces its cleavage by transnitrosylating XIAP via the Thioredoxin system during cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

Transnitrosylation is an important mechanism by which nitric oxide (NO) modulates cell signaling pathways. For instance, SNO-caspase-3 can transnitrosylate the X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) to enhance apoptosis. XIAP is a potent antagonist of caspase apoptotic activity.

Transcatheter arterial chemical infusion for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: long-term outcome and predictor of survival.

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term outcome and the predictor of survival in patients treated with transcatheter arterial chemical infusion for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Materials And Methods: From May 2008 to August 2014, a total of 40 consecutive patients with advanced NSCLC who underwent transcatheter arterial chemical infusion were enrolled in this retrospective study. Data on patients' characteristics, treatment response and follow-up were collected and analyzed.

Safety of optical coherence tomography in daily practice: a comparison with intravascular ultrasound.

Aims: Previous studies have reported the safety and feasibility of both time-domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) and Fourier-domain OCT (FD-OCT) in highly selected patients and clinical settings. However, the generalizability of these data is limited, and data in unselected patient populations reflecting a routine cathlab practice are lacking. We compared safety of intracoronary FD-OCT imaging to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) imaging in a large real-world series of consecutive patients who underwent invasive imaging during coronary catheterization in our centre.

shRNA-armed conditionally replicative adenoviruses: a promising approach for cancer therapy.

The small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have been employed to knockdown the expression of cancer-associated genes and shown some promise in cancer therapy. However, synthetic siRNA duplexes or plasmid mediated delivery of siRNAs have several problems, such as short half-life, low transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity associated with transfection. Conditionally replicating adenovirus (CRAds) as the delivery vector for short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) could overcome these limitations and have shown augmented anti-tumor effects in experimental studies and preclinical trials.