Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major type of primary liver cancer and also one of the most malignant tumors in human beings. The mechanism of HCC development has not been clarified. Epigenetic mechanism may play a key role in the development and progression of cancer. The research on the regulation of miRNAs (microRNAs) and the methylation of DNA belongs to the scope of epigenetics. Studies have shown that DNA methylation and miRNA may play a crucial role during the hepatocarcinogenesis respectively or synergistically. MiRNAs comprise many species of short non-coding RNA which regulate the gene expression post-transcriptionally. Studies have demonstrated that DNA methylation and histone modification not only regulate the expression of protein-encoding genes, but also regulate the expression of miRNAs. Some miRNAs such as miR-125b, miR-1-1, miR-124, miR-203 and miR-191 aberrantly expressed in HCC were regulated by epigenetic mechanism. Furthermore, another subset of miRNAs controls the expressions of key molecules in epigenetic pathways, and sequentially alters the epigenetic status of the whole genome. This review summarizes the advances in the research of reciprocal interconnections between DNA methylation and microRNA regulation in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. © 2012 by Tumor.

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of IL-6 on invasion and metastasis of human pancreatic cancer cells. Methods IL-6 was added into the culture media of human pancreatic cancer cells Capan-2 and SW1990. Cell growth was measured by MTT assay. Western blot and immunocytochemistry were performed to detect Phosphorylated STAT3 (P-STAT3) protein. VEGF and MMP-2 mRNA and protein expression were examined using fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. The invasion ability of SW1990 and Capan2 cells was determined by cell invasion assay in vitro. Results 100 ng/mL IL-6 significantly promoted growth and invasion ability of Capan-2 and SW1990 cells (P＜0.05). The use of IL-6 not only markedly increased the protein expression of P-STAT3, VEGF and MMP-2, but also greatly increased the mRNA expression of MMP-2 and VEGF. Conclusions STAT3 signal transducer pathway activation with IL-6 can promote the invasion ability of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro through up-regulation of MMP-2 and VEGF expression. STAT3 signal transducer may provide a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Aim To investigate the protective effects of YXETNZ injection on SH-SY5 Y cells damaged by oxygen-glucose deprivation ( OGD ) , and explore its functional mechanisms. Methods After 4 h of OGD, the cells were treated with 25 mg·L-1 drugs for 1 h. Subsequently, cell viabilities were measured by cell counting kit-8 ( CCK-8 kit ) and cell apoptosis was measured by caspase-3/7 assay kit according to manu-facturer’ s instructions. Furthermore, cell death was also detected by ELISA. The levels of phospho-Akt, phospho-PKA,phospho-Bad were evaluated by western blot. Results Oxygen-glucose deprivation significant-ly decreased the cell viabilities of SH-SY5Y cells, while YXETNZ injection significantly increased cell vi-abilities, phospho-Akt, phospho-PKA and phospho-Bad. Furthermore, YXETNZ injection also reduced the activities of caspase-3/7 and cytoplasmic histone-asso-ciated-DNA-fragments contents. Conclusion Our re-searches demonstrat that YXETNZ injection shows good neuroprotective effects on SH-SY5 Y cells after oxygen-glucose deprivation. The underlying mechanisms may be associated with activation of PI3 K/Akt/Bad/caspase-3/7 , cAMP/PKA/Bad/caspase-3/7 signaling pathway.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the efficacy and safety of bicyclol combined with thymosin in treatment of chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSA total of 135 patients with CHB were randomized into experimental group and control group. The patients in the experimental group received bicyclol orally 75 mg daily and thymosin 20 mg intramuscular injection once every 2 days for 24 weeks and those in control group received bicyclol orally 75 mg daily alone for 24 weeks. The levels of serum aminotransferase (ALT/AST), HBV-DNA, HBeAg /antiHBe were observed.

RESULTSCompared with pre-treatment levels, the serum aminotransferase levels decreased significantly in both groups, but there were no statistically significant differences between them. HBeAg negative conversion rate was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (35.3 percent vs.19.4 percent, P less than 0.05). HBV DNA negative conversion rate was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (36.7 percent vs. 20.9 percent, P less than 0.05). No obvious adverse events which were probably related to the drugs were observed in this study.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of bicyclol with thymosin had better effect in treatment of chronic hepatitis B ias compared with bicyvlol alone.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biphenyl Compounds ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Thymosin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate clinical effects of pedicle fixation without bone fusion in treating thoracolumbar fractures through paraspinal approach.

METHODSFrom January 2006 to January 2009, 25 patients (15 males and 10 females) with thoracolumbar fractures were treated. The average age was 39.3 years,ranged from 17 to 49 years. According to classification, flexion fracture in 7 cases, brust fracture in 18 cases. There were no nervous injury, and radiology information showed the angle of sagittal vertebral body >20 degrees or collapse of vertebral body >40%,without vertebral injury. The operation were performed at 3 to 7 days after injury (mean 5 day). Internal fixation implants were removed at 8 to 12 months after operation. The height, kyphosis angle were measured before operation, 1 week and 24 months after operation,and Oswestry disability index (ODI) were compared before and after operation.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up for 24 months. Among them, 1 case was followed up at 30 months after operation. The operation time ranged from 70 to 110 (mean 90) minutes, the blood loss was 120 to 280 (mean 200) ml. The height of vertebral body and kyphosis angle were obviously corrected, and had significant differences between postoperation immediately and at the final follow-up (P<0.05). There were no differences after remove of internal fixation (P>0.05). The final ODI was (5.36 +/- 1.21)%, had statistical differences compared with preoperation (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONFor flexion and burst thoracolumbar fractures without nervous injury, pedicle fixation without bone fusion is a good method,which has advantages of minimally invasive, rapid recovery, and maintain spinal motion segment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Spinal Fusion ; methods ; Thoracic Vertebrae ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical results of treatment of midshaft tibial fracture with expandable intramedullary nails compared with interlocking intramedullary nails.

METHODSFrom June 2003 to August 2005, 46 patients (27 males and 19 females, aged 20-74 years, mean=38.4 years) with midshaft tibial fracture were treated surgically in our department. The causes of fractures were traffic injury in 21 patients, fall injury in 6, tumbling injury in 11 and crushing injury in 8. According to AO/ASIF classification, Type A fracture was found in 16 patients, Type B in 11, Type C(1) in 5, and Type C(2) in 2. Open fractures were found in 12 patients, according to Gustilo classification, Type I in 9 patients and Type II in 3 patients. Based on the patients'consent, 24 patients were treated with expandable intramedullary nails (Group A) and 22 with interlocking intramedullary nails (Group B). The operation time, blood loss during operation, X-ray fluoroscopic times, hospitalization time, weight bearing time after operation, healing time of fracture and complications of all the patients were recorded. The clinical effects of all the cases were evaluated according to the criteria of Johner-Wruhs.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 12-34 months (mean equal to 16.2 months). The time of operation, the blood loss, X-ray fluoroscopic times, hospitalization time and healing time of fracture of Group A significantly decreased (P less than 0.05) compared with those of Group B, but the time for weight bearing after operation, the Johner-Wruhs degree of clinical effects and complications had no significant difference between Group A and Group B (P larger than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSExpandable intramedullary nail can shorten operation time, decrease blood loss and reduce invasion, which is a safe and effective treatment method for tibial midshaft fracture.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Nails ; Equipment Design ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; instrumentation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tibial Fractures ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prognostic predictors of nasal NK/T cell lymphoma.

METHODSThe clinicopathologic feature data of 61 patients with nasal NK/T cell lymphoma proven by pathological examination from Jan. 1997 to Jan. 2005 were collected. Expression of survivin, CD44, nm23, p53, Ki-67, MDR-1 and CD95 was detected by immunohistochemical staining in 30 patients with available histologic specimens. The correlation between these factors and prognosis were analyzed.

RESULTSIn univariate analysis, performance status, LDH level, clinical stage, initial treatment response, CD56, Ki-67 and CD95 were found to be the prognostic factors associated with time to progression (TTP) in nasal NK/T cell lymphoma, while the performance status, B symptoms, LDH level, initial treatment response, Ki-67 and CD95 were demonstrated as prognostic factors related to overall survival. In multivariate analysis, clinical stage, initial treatment response and performance status were independent prognostic factors for TTP, while the latter two factors were independent prognostic factors of overall survival.

CONCLUSIONClinical stage and initial treatment response, and performance status are found to be independent prognostic factors for TTP, whereas the latter two factors are demonstrated as independent prognostic factors of the overall survival. Overexpression of Ki-67 may be an unfavorable prognostic factor, but overexpression of CD95 may be a favorable one.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Analysis of Variance ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; analysis ; Immunohistochemistry ; statistics & numerical data ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Ki-67 Antigen ; analysis ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, T-Cell ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; analysis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nose Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use ; fas Receptor ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo compare clinical outcomes of superior labrum from anterior to posterior (SLAP) repair and biceps tenodesis in treating type I SLAP injury.

METHODSFrom March 2009 to March 2012, 38 patients with type II SLAP injury were treated with SLAP repair and biceps tenodesis, and all patients were unilateral SLAP injury. Sixteen patients treated with biceps tenodesis included 8 males and 7 females with an average age of (49.3±3.7) years old (ranged, 45 to 54); 10 cases were on the left side and 6 cases on the right side; 10 cases were caused by falling down, 2 cases were caused by throwing damage and 4 cases were caused by daily life damage; the time from injury to operation were from 3 to 8 weeks. Twenty-two patients treated with SLAP repair included 14 males and 8 females with an average age of (49.0±2.8) years old (ranged, 44 to 56); 13 cases were on the left side and 9 cases were on the right side; 14 cases were caused by falling down, 5 cases were caused by throwing damage and 3 cases were caused by daily life damage; the time from injury to operation were from 3 to 7 weeks. Preoperative, postoperative at 6 months, 1 year and 2 years' UCLA and SST score were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThere was no significant differences in UCLA and SST score between two groups before operation. At 6 months after operation, UCLA and SST score in biceps tenodesis group was higher than SLAP group, and action,range of anteflexion, strength of anteflexion, degree of satisfaction in biceps tenodesis group was higher than SLAP group. There was no significant meaning in SST and UCLA score between two groups at 1 and 2 years after operation.

CONCLUSIONShort-term efficacy of biceps tenodesis for SLAP injury is better than SLAP repair, but long-term efficacy is fairly.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder Joint ; injuries ; surgery ; Tendon Injuries ; surgery ; Tenodesis

BACKGROUNDLittle is known about neuronal death mechanisms following spinal cord ischemia. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effect of pentoxifylline (PTX) against spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

METHODSRabbits sustained spinal cord ischemia following 45 minutes cross-clamping of the infrarenal aorta. Experimental groups were as follows: the first group of animals (sham, n = 8) underwent laparotomy alone and served as the sham group; the second group (I/R, n = 20) received carrier (3 ml saline solution) and served as the control group; the third group (PTX-A, n = 20) received PTX intravenously 10 minutes prior to ischemia; and the fourth group (PTX-B, n = 20) received PTX intravenously at the onset of reperfusion. Rabbits were evaluated for hind-limb motor function with the Tarlov scoring system at 48 hours. Serum was assayed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and spinal cords were harvested for myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, histopathological analysis, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling staining, platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry, and the number of necrotic and apoptotic neuron were counted and data analyzed at 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours of reperfusion. Spinal cords were studied by electron microscopy.

RESULTSImproved Tarlov scores were seen in PTX-treated rabbits as compared with ischemic control rabbits at 48 hours. A significant reduction was found in TNF-alpha in serum, activity of MPO and immunoreactivity of the PECAM-1 and caspase-3 in PTX-treated rabbits. There were fewer apoptotic neurons than necrotic neurons (P < 0.05). A significant decrease in both necrotic and apoptotic neurons was observed in the PTX-treated groups (PTX-A and PTX-B) compared with the I/R group (P < 0.05). Both necrotic and apoptotic neurons were found with the electron microscope.

CONCLUSIONSPTX may induce protection against ischemia injury in the spinal cord, thereby preventing both necrosis and apoptosis. A major mode of cell death in spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury is necrosis while apoptosis is not dominant.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Necrosis ; Pentoxifylline ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Rabbits ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Spinal Cord ; blood supply ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Spinal Cord Ischemia ; prevention & control ; Vasodilator Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antiviral activity and safety of entecavir in patients with chronic HBV infection as a preliminarily step in selecting 0.1 mg or 0.5 mg as a better dosage for a further large scale clinical trial.

METHODSThis was a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled and dose-ranging trial of entecavir usage in 212 patients with chronic HBV infection. The patients were randomly assigned to 3 groups: 0.1 mg entecavir (69), 0.5 mg entecavir (72) and, placebo (71) groups and treated for 28 days. The patients were then followed for 56 days without treatment.

RESULTSThe proportion of subjects who achieved the primary endpoint at day 28, with their HBV DNA level decreased >2 log or undetectable, was significantly greater in the entecavir 0.1 mg and 0.5 mg dose groups compared with the placebo group (P < 0.01 for both comparisons). The mean change from baseline in HBV DNA levels at day 28 was greater for entecavir 0.1mg and 0.5 mg groups compared with the placebo group (both P < 0.01). The mean change from baseline in HBV DNA levels at day 28 for entecavir 0.5 mg group was greater than that of the entecavir 0.1 mg group (P < 0.01). During the 56-day post-dosing follow-up phase, the entecavir 0.5 mg group was associated with greater and more sustained suppression of viral replication than the entecavir 0.1 mg group (P < 0.01). There were no clinically meaningful differences in the incidence of any adverse events between the entecavir dosing and the placebo groups.

CONCLUSIONEntecavir at both 0.1 mg and 0.5 mg doses demonstrated superior antiviral activity compared with a placebo. Since the entecavir 0.5 mg dose appears to have greater antiviral activity than the 0.1 mg dose and with a comparable safety and tolerability profile, the 0.5 mg entecavir dose could be used in further trials.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Guanine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Treatment Outcome