Prognostic impact of cytological fluid tumor markers in non-small cell lung cancer

Tumor Biology - The serum tumor markers CYFRA 21–1, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCA) are useful in diagnosis and prognosis of non-small cell lung...     

Is preoperative staging enough to guide lymph node dissection in clinically early gastric cancer?

Gastric Cancer - Limited by the accuracy of preoperative staging, some cases of gastric cancer invading the muscularis propria (pT2) are underestimated as early gastric cancer (EGC) in the...     

The detectability of brain metastases using contrast-enhanced spin-echo or gradient-echo images: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This study aimed to compare the detectability of brain metastases using contrast-enhanced spin-echo (SE) and gradient-echo (GRE) T1-weighted images. The Ovid-MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for studies on the detectability of brain metastases using contrast-enhanced SE or GRE images. The pooled proportions for the detectability of brain metastases were assessed using random-effects modeling. Heterogeneity among studies was determined using χ² statistics for the pooled estimates and the inconsistency index, I². To overcome heterogeneity, subgroup analyses according to slice thickness and lesion size were performed. A total of eight eligible studies, which included a sample size of 252 patients and 1413 brain metastases, were included. The detectability of brain metastases using SE images (89.2?%) was higher than using GRE images (81.6?%; adjusted 84.0?%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p?=?0.2385). In subgroup analysis of studies with 1-mm-thick slices and small metastases (<5 mm in diameter), 3-dimensional (3D) SE images demonstrated a higher detectability in comparison to 3D GRE images (93.7?% vs 73.1?% in 1-mm-thick slices; 89.5?% vs 59.4?% for small metastases) (p?相似文献   

The infinite sites model of genome evolution

We formalize the problem of recovering the evolutionary history of a set of genomes that are related to an unseen common ancestor genome by operations of speciation, deletion, insertion, duplication, and rearrangement of segments of bases. The problem is examined in the limit as the number of bases in each genome goes to infinity. In this limit, the chromosomes are represented by continuous circles or line segments. For such an infinite-sites model, we present a polynomial-time algorithm to find the most parsimonious evolutionary history of any set of related present-day genomes.     

Bilateral coronary artery fistula and communication between two fistulas identified on multidetector computed tomography in patient with coronary artery disease

In this case report, we describe a 59-year-old man with stentotic lesion of mid LAD and connection of bilateral coronary artery to pulmonary artery with some communications between two fistulas identified on multidetector computed tomography.     

Susceptibility to type 1 autoimmune hepatitis is associated with shared amino acid sequences at positions 70-74 of the HLA-DRB1 molecule

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The risk of developing autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has been suggested to be associated with the presence of HLA-DRB1 alleles encoding the 'shared epitope' at amino acid positions 67-72 in the third hypervariable region (HVR3) of DRbeta. We aimed to identify the specific HLA alleles that are susceptible to type 1 AIH in Koreans, and to validate the shared epitope hypothesis in this single ethnic group. METHODS: Sixty-two adult patients with definite type 1 AIH and 154 healthy controls were enrolled. Alleles of HLA class I and II genes were genotyped using sequence-based typing. RESULTS: By high-resolution analysis, the frequencies of DRB1 *0405 and DQB1 *0401 were significantly increased in patients with AIH (P = 0.0001, OR = 3.74; P = 0.00006, OR = 3.95, respectively). The six amino acid motif represented by the single letter code LLEQRR or LLEQKR at positions 67-72 of the DRbeta polypeptide was not sufficient to show an increased risk for the disease. Interestingly, the QRRAA motif at positions 70-74 was significantly increased in Korean patients (P=0.04, OR=1.84). CONCLUSIONS: The shared epitope hypothesis may be extended to the amino acid motif at positions 70-74 of HLA-DRbeta in order to better predict the susceptibility to type 1 AIH.     

Genistein inhibits rat aortic smooth muscle cell proliferation through the induction of p27kip1

Diet is one of the most important factors that influence the risks for cardiovascular diseases. Genistein, an isoflavone found in soy, may benefit the cardiovascular system. Here, we investigated the effect of genistein on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced proliferation of primary cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). Genistein significantly inhibited 25 ng/ml PDGF-BB-induced RASMC proliferation and [3H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA at 10, 20, and 40 microM. In accordance with these findings, genistein blocked the PDGF-BB-inducible progression through G0/G1 to S phase of the cell cycle in synchronized cells. Western blot analysis showed that genistein not only inhibited phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (pRb) and expression of cyclin E, cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 2, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein, but also inhibited downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CKI) p27kip1. However, genistein did not affect p21cip1, CDK4, and cyclin D1 expression or early signal transduction through PDGF beta-receptor, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), Akt, and phospholipase C (PLC) gamma1 phosphorylation. These results suggest that genistein inhibits PDGF-BB-induced RASMC proliferation via G0/G1 arrest in association with induction of p27kip1, which may contribute to the beneficial effects of genistein on the cardiovascular system.     

Propolis induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human leukemic U937 cells through Bcl-2/Bax regulation

We investigated mechanism(s) where propolis induces apoptosis in human leukemic U937 cells. Propolis inhibited the proliferation of U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis and blocking cell cycle progression in the G2/M phase. Western blot analysis showed that propolis increases the expression of p21 and p27 proteins, and decreases the levels of cyclin B1, cyclin A, Cdk2 and Cdc2, thereby contributing to cell cycle arrest. DAPI staining assay revealed typical morphology features of apoptotic cells. Propolis-induced apoptosis was also confirmed by assays with annexin V-FITC, PI-labeling and DNA fragmentation assay. The increase in apoptosis level induced by propolis was associated with down-regulation of Bcl-2 and activation of caspase-3, but not with Bax. These results suggests that propolis-induced apoptosis is related to the selective activation of caspase-3 and induction of Bcl-2/Bax regulation.     

Regulation of lysophosphatidic acid-induced COX-2 expression by ERK1/2 activation in cultured feline esophageal epithelial Cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a potent bioactive phospholipid, mediates diverse cellular responses by binding to specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). We investigated the signaling mechanisms underlying LPA-induced COX-2 expression in primary cultures of feline esophageal epithelial cells. The identity of the cultures was confirmed by immunocytochemistry using a cytokeratin antibody. Western blot analysis revealed a concentration-and time-dependent induction of COX-2 in response to LPA. Of the three major MAPKs, only ERK1/2 was activated by LPA in a time-dependent manner. LPA-induced COX-2 expression was significantly attenuated by the MEK inhibitor, PD98059, but not by the JNK inhibitor, SP600125, or the p38 MAPK inhibitor, SB212090. LPA-induced COX-2 expression was repressed by pertussis toxin, GF109204X, and Ki16425, indicating the involvements of PTX-sensitive G_i/o protein, PKC, and the LPA_1/3 receptor, respectively. Our data suggest that in esophageal epithelial cells, LPA-induced COX-2 expression requires activation of PKC and ERK1/2 downstream of the LPA_1/3 receptor, Understanding the regulation of COX-2 expression induced by LPA in esophageal epithelial cells might provide a new therapeutic strategy for esophageal inflammatory diseases.     

Novel cationic cholesterol derivative-based liposomes for serum-enhanced delivery of siRNA

Most cationic liposomes used for gene delivery suffer from reduced transfection efficiency in the presence of serum. In this study, we report serum-enhanced delivery efficiency of siRNA via the use of newly synthesized liposomes that contain cationic lipids. Two cholesterol derivatives, cholesteryloxypropan-1-amine (COPA) and cholesteryl-2-aminoethylcarbamate (CAEC), were synthesized. A fluorescein label was then used to visualize cellular uptake of small interfering RNA (siRNA) via COPA or CAEC-based liposomes. The presence of serum had different effects on the cellular delivery of siRNA when siRNA was complexed to different cationic liposomes. CAEC-based liposomes showed significantly reduced cellular delivery of siRNA in serum-containing media as compared to serum-free media. Conversely, COPA-based liposomes (COPA-L) provided serum-enhanced delivery of siRNA in Hepa1-6, A549, and Hela cell lines. Following delivery of the oncogene survivin-specific siRNA, COPA-L reduced the mRNA expression levels of the target gene more efficiently than did Lipofectamine 2000. The delivery of green fluorescent protein-specific siRNA with COPA-L reduced the expression of green fluorescent protein in 293T stable cell lines. The apoptosis of Hepa1-6 significantly increased by delivery of survivin-specific siRNA by COPA-L. Additionally, Hepa1-6, A549, and Hela cells were >80% viable after treatment with COPA-L. These results suggest that the newly synthesized cholesterol derivative, COPA-L, could be further developed as a serum-enhanced delivery system of siRNA.