The resistin-like molecules(RELMs)are a novel protein family with tissue-specific distribution.Recent evidences suggest their important roles in type II diabetes mellitus,inflammation,immunological reactions and cell proliferation,which provoked many interests for the researchers.This overview summarizes the structure,tissue distribution,biological functions,regulatory pathways,and their relationship with diseases of these family members.

Objective To explore the correlation between the psychological resilience levelwith the emotional regulation modeand personality characteristicin the patientwith gastricarcinomto provide the theoretical reference fothe intervention measure.MethodOne hundred and forty-seven patientwith gastricancewere selected athe research subject(gastricancegroup) and contemporaneou150 individualwith healthy physical examination in the outpatiendepartmenwere selected athe control group .The Connoand Davidson Resilience Scale(CD-RISC) ,Eysenck Personality Questionnaire(EPQ) and Emotion Regu-lation Scale were adopted to perform the investigation .The correlation between the psychological resilience levelwith the emotional regulation modeand personality characteristicwaanalyzed .ResultThe overall CD-RISscore in the gastricancegroup wa(59 .12 ± 9 .19) point,which belonged to the poorescope ;the personality characteristic,emotional regulation modeand psycho-logical resilience had statistical differencebetween the gastricancegroup and the control group (P＜0 .05);the multivariate Lo-gistiregression analysiresultshowed thathe introversion ,extroversion ,neuroticism ,catharsiregulation and depression regula-tion had largeinfluence on the lowepsychological resilience level in the patientwith gastricance(P＜0 .05);the psychological resilience in the patientwith gastricancewapositively correlated with the catharsiregulation and the depression regulation (r=0 .287 ,0 .136 ,P＜0 .05) and negatively correlated with the introversion ,extroversion and neuroticism (r= -0 .232 ,-0 .789 , P＜0 .05) .Conclusion The introversion ,extroversion ,neuroticism ,catharsiregulation and depression regulation are the importanfactorinfluencing the psychological resilience level .The multi-angle interventional measureshould be taken to improve the psy-chological resilience level in the patientwith gastricance.

The enhancing effects of Smac gene on the mitomycin C-induced apoptosis of the bladder cancer cell line T24 were investigated. The Smac gene was transfected into bladder cancer cell line T24 under the induction of liposome. The intrinsic Smac level was detected by using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. The in vitro cellular growth activities were assayed by MTT colorimetry. Apoptosis was assayed by the flow cytometry. The results showed that as compared with the control cells, the apoptosis rate of T24 cells induced by mitomycin C was enhanced by transfected Smac gene. Flow cytometry revealed that, the apoptosis rate was 18.84% and 33.52%, and 10.72% and 26.24% respectively in blank and transfected cells treated with 0.05 or 0.005 mg/mL mitomycin C (P < 0.05). It was concluded that Smac could enhance the apoptosis of T24 by mitomycin C, which could provide a useful experimental evidence for bladder cancer therapy.

The expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) gene and its effect on chemotherapeutic sensitivity in bladder carcinoma was explored. By using immunohistochemistry, the expression of XIAP was detected in 47 bladder carcinomas and 5 normal bladder tissues. The XIAP gene was transfected into bladder cancer cell line T24 by liposome and the positive clone was screened by G418. Cellular XIAP mRNA level was detected by RT-PCR. Low-dose mitomycin C was administered to induce the apoptosis of T24 cells. The in vitro growth of bladder carcinoma cells was analyzed by MTT colorimetry, and the apoptosis rate was assayed by TUNEL methods. It was found XIAP was moderately expressed in bladder carcinomas with the the positive rate being 78.73% (37/47), but the positive rate was not correlated with carcinoma stages and grades (P<0.05). XIAP mRNA level in transfected T24 cells was significantly increased by 3.8 times as compared with that in the cells not transfected with XIAP. After treatment with low-dose mitomycin C (0.005 and 0.05 mg/mL), the growth rate in XIAP no-transfected control group was increased by (11.60+/-0.25)% and (16.51+/-0.87)% (P<0.05), and the apoptosis rate was decreased by (10.1+/-0.2)% and (11.9+/-0.2%) (P<0.05) respectively as compared with XIAP transfected group. It was concluded that XIAP was expressed in most of bladder carcinoma samples. Overexpression of XIAP in T24 could significantly reduce the MMC-induced apoptosis of bladder carcinoma, suggesting its effect on the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of T24 cells.

Objective To analyze and explore the clinical features,pathological characters,treatment and prognosis of rectum carcinoid.Methods From January 1997 to January 2010,69 pathologically diagnosed rectum carcinoid cases were collected from Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College,Huazhong University of Science and Technology and other 7 hospitals.The clinical features,pathological characters,treatment and prognosis were analyzed. Results Of 69 rectum carconid cases,there were 36 males and 33 females.The average age was (49.3±12.9) years.The common symptom were hemotochezia,abdominal pain,constipation,diarrhoea and abdominal distension.There were 55 cases with lesions from the anus less than 8 cm and in other patients,lesions from the anus were all more than 8 cm.66 cases were typical carcinoid,3 cases were atypical carcinoid.40 cases underwent the immunohistochemical staining.The common markers for immunohistochemical staining were Syn,CgA and NSE,the positive percentage were 90％ (36/40),75％ (30/40) and 82.5％(33/40) respectively.A total of 24 patients received endoscopic therapy,44 patients had surgery,1 patient who refused surgery received only life support and symptomatic treatment.Conclusion No specific clinical symptoms of rectum carcinoid,and most were typical carcinoid.Lesions confined to mucosa and submucosa could be considered the endoscopic therapy.

The curcumin prodrugs, which could be selectively activated in tumor cells, were prepared to establish a basis for the targeted chemotherapy for cancer. On the basis of the molecular structure of curcumin, the N-maleoyl-L-valine-curcumin (NVC), N-maleoyl- glycine-curcumin (NGC) were chemically synthesized and identified by IR and NMR spectroscopy. After treatment with these two prodrugs for 6 - 24 h, the rates of growth inhibition on human bladder cancer EJ cells and renal tubular epithelial (HKC) cells were detected by MTT colorimetry. Our results showed that after the treatment with 20 micromol/L - 40 micromol/L NVC and NGC for 6 - 24 h, the growth inhibitory effects on EJ cells were 6.71% - 65.13% (P < 0.05), 10.96% - 73.01% (P < 0.05), respectively, in both dose- and time-dependent manners. When compared with the curcumin of same concentrations, the growth inhibitory effects of these two prodrugs on HKC cells were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). It is concluded that activation of curcumin prodrugs via hydrolysis functions of cellular esterase could inhibit the growth activities of tumor cells, and reduce the side effects on normal diploid cells. This provided a novel strategy for further exploration of tumor-targeted chemotherapeutic drugs.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/*pharmacology ; Curcumin/*pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Prodrugs/*chemical synthesis ; Prodrugs/*pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/*pathology

In our previous study, we identified a novel testis-specific expressed gene 2 (TSEG-2) from mouse testis. To further investigate its functions, 35 male Balb/c mice (8 weeks old) were divided into cryptorchidism group (n=20), sham group (n=10), and control group (n=5). In cryptorchidism group, the right testes were anchored to the inner lateral abdominal wall. In situ hybridization (ISH) was applied to measure the localization of TSEG-2 in mouse testis. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to detect the expression of TSEG-2 gene. Meanwhile, under the mediation of polyethylenimine (PEI), the recombinant vector pEGFP-TSEG-2 (n=5) or empty vector (mock, n=5) was transfected into the testis of male mice. The transfection efficiencies were measured under a fluorescence microscope. The apoptosis of spermatogenic cells was detected by terminal deoxynuleotidyl-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL). The results showed that TSEG-2 was expressed in convoluted seminiferous tubules, more precisely, in spermatogonia and spermatocytes. As compared with sham and control groups, the TSEG-2 transcription was significantly enhanced (P<0.05) and was correlated with apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in cryptorchid testes (P<0.05). PEI was efficient in mediating transfection of TSEG-2 into seminiferous tubules of testis. One week post-transfection, intratesticular injection of TSEG-2 resulted in increased apoptosis of spermatogenic cells in vivo (P<0.05). These results indicate that TSEG-2 may participate in the apoptosis of spermatogenic cells and the pathogenesis of cryptorchidism.

Background:Gastrointestinal carcinoids are prone to be neglected in clinical practice because of the poor specific symptoms in early stage. Aims:To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics,treatment modalities and prognosis of a series of cases of gastrointestinal carcinoids for strengthening the understanding of the disease. Methods:A total of 116 patients diagnosed as gastrointestinal carcinoids by pathology from Jan. 1997 to Jan. 2010 in 8 hospitals at Wuhan were enrolled in this retrospective study. Data on sex,age,major symptoms,diagnostic approaches,treatment modalities, pathological features and prognosis, etc. were collected and analyzed. Results:The most common sites of the gastrointestinal carcinoids were rectum(59. 5%)and stomach(19. 8%);the most common symptoms were abdominal pain,abdominal distention and hematochezia. The positivity rates of immunohistochemical marker NSE,Syn and CgA were 92. 7%,87. 5% and 62. 5%,respectively. The proportion of stomach carcinoids with diameter larger than 2 cm was 73. 9%, and that of rectal carcinoids was only 13. 0%(P <0. 001). Most of the gastric carcinoids(81. 8%)infiltrated into or breakthrough the serosa;the rate of lymph node involvement in gastric carcinoids was significantly higher than that in rectal carcinoids(72. 7% vs. 17. 1%,P<0. 001),while typical carcinoids were less common in stomach than in rectum(60. 9%vs. 95. 7%,P<0. 001). Only one(4. 3%)gastric carcinoid patient underwent endoscopic therapy,while that for rectal carcinoids was 24 cases(34. 8%,P=0. 003). Surgical operation was the main therapeutic method for both gastric and rectal carcinoids. The 3-and 5-year survival rates for rectal carcinoids were 92. 8% and 62. 3%,respectively,and those for gastric carcinoids were 62. 6% and 49. 2%,respectively;there were no significant differences between the two groups(P>0. 05). Conclusions:Gastrointestinal carcinoids enrolled in this study distributed mainly in rectum and stomach. As compared with rectal carcinoids,gastric carcinoids were more advanced in disease stage with poorer prognosis. Regular health checks, strengthening the understanding of the disease,and grasping the specificities of carcinoids distributed at different sites might be helpful for the early diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal carcinoids,thus improving the survival rate.

The effect of Smac gene on the TRAIL-induced apoptosis of the prostate cancer cell line PC-3 and the molecular mechanism were investigated. The Smac gene was transfected into PC-3 cells under the induction of liposome. The intrinsic Smac gene expression was detected by Western blotting. After treatment with TRAIL as an apoptosis inducer, in vitro cell growth activity was assayed by MTT colorimetry. The apoptosis rate of PC-3 cells was determined by annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide staining flow cytometry. The expression of cellular XIAP and caspase-3 genes was examined by Western blotting. Smac-transfected cells (PC-3/Smac group) had significantly increased Smac protein level as compared with PC-3 controls (P<0.01). After induction with 100-200 ng/mL TRAIL for 12-36 h, cellular proliferation rate in PC-3/Smac group was significantly lower than in PC-3 controls (P<0.05). After induction with 100 ng/mL TRAIL for 24 h, the apoptosis rate in PC-3/Smac group was significantly enhanced as compared with that of PC-3 controls (P<0.05). Accordingly, the XIAP expression level was down-regulated significantly (P<0.05) and caspase-3 subunit P20 was up-regulated significantly (P<0.05). It is suggested that the over-expression of cellular Smac can inhibit inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), enhance caspases activity and the apoptosis rate of PC-3 cells induced by TRAIL, which may provide a useful experimental basis for prostate cancer therapy.

The expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) gene and its effect on chemotherapeutic sensitivity in bladder carcinoma was explored. By using immunohistochemistry,the expression of XIAP was detected in 47 bladder carcinomas and 5 normal bladder tissues. The XIAP gene was transfected into bladder cancer cell line T24 by liposome and the positive clone was screened by G418. Cellular XIAP mRNA level was detected by RT-PCR. Low-dose mitocycin C was administered to induce the apoptosis of T24 cells. The in vitro growth of bladder carcinoma cells was analyzed by MTT colorimetry, and the apoptosis rate was assayed by TUNEL methods. It was found XIAP was moderately expressed in bladder carcinomas with the the positive rate being 78.73% (37/47), but the positive rate was not correlated with carcinoma stages and grades (P＜0.05). XIAP mRNA level in transfected T24 cells was significantly increased by 3.8 times as compared with that in the cells not transfected with XIAP. After treatment with low-dose mitomycin C (0.005 and 0.05 mg/mL), the growth rate in XIAP no-transfected control group was increased by (11.60±0.25)% and (16.51±0.87)% (P＜0.05), and the apoptosis rate was decreased by (10.1±0.2)% and (11.9±0.2%) (P＜0.05) respectively as compared with XIAP transfected group. It was concluded that XIAP was expressed in most of bladder carcimoma samples. Overexpression of XIAP in T24 could significantly reduce the MMC-induced apoptosis of bladder carcinoma, suggesting its effect on the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of T24 cells.