MicroRNA are endogenous non-coding small RNA composed of approximately 18 - 23 nucleotides, mainly participating in post-transcription gene regulation. More and more data show that miR-21 is over-expressed in many human cancer cells and it was involved in cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis, closely related to tumorigenesis and the development of carcinoma as oncogene. Here, we will make a review about miR-21' s target gene, biosynthesis and regulation and clinical significance in order to provide a valued data for the future study and clinical application.

This study was ai med to observe the taste-masking effects of Neotame on bitter Chinese herbal ingredients. Five kinds of herbal ingredients, which include Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Cortex Phellodendri chinensis, Coptis chinensis Franch, Gentiana scabra Bunge, Andrographis paniculata, were selected to measure the bitterness degree of decoctions with berberine solution as the benchmark. The decreasing of bitterness degree was used as index. Healthy volunteers were recruited to taste and compare the changes of bitterness of decoctions with the taste-masking effects of Neotame. Different concentrations of Neotame were selected in the determination of the influence on changes of bitterness. The results showed that when the concentration of Neotame was at 0.012 5‰-0.4‰, taste-masking effects of Neotame on selected herbal decoctions were in a concentration-dependent fashion. When the concentration of Neotame was 0.4‰, the reduced bitterness of S. baicalensis Georgi and Cortex P. chinensis decoctions were 1.22 and 1.77, by 70.11% and 71.88%, respectively. Three highly-bitter herbal ingredients C. chinensis Franch, G. scabra Bunge and A . paniculata were also reduced in bitter taste by 49.12%, 50.87% and 38.39%, with the bitter reduced value (△I) of 1.78, 2.02 and 1.43, respectively. It was concluded that Neotame exerted taste masking potential on bitter herbal ingredients with different bitter degrees.

Objectives: To study the effect of D-methionine on gastric cancer and its mechanism. Methods: We used a medium with D-methionine to culture six gastric cancer cell lines. The medium with L-methionine acted as control to culture cells. The proliferation of cells was detected by MTT. Apoptotic rates and cell cycle were detected by FMC. Results: Absorbance of all cell lines was significantly lower than control (P0.05). KATO-Ⅲ cells stayed more in G 0 /G 1 phase (P

Objective To investigate the expression characteristics of miR-155 and miR-146a in mice with schistosomiasis and praziquantel(PZQ)treatment. Methods Totally 40 BABL/c mice were divided into 4 groups:a normal group,a 6W infect-ed group that were infected cutaneously with 10 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae for 6 weeks,a 12W infected group that were in-fected cutaneously with 10 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae for 12 weeks,and a praziquantel treated group that were infected cuta-neously with 10 Schistosoma japonicum cercariae and intragastrically administered with PZQ(300 mg/kg/day)for 1 day in 6 weeks post-infection and continuing surviving 6 weeks. The animals were sacrificed in 6 weeks and 12 weeks post-infection respectively. The left front lobe of each liver was stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE)to detect pathological lesions. The levels of mRNA ex-pressions of miR-155,miR-146a and pro-inflammatory cytokines(TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6)in the liver tissue were determined by using quantitative real-time PCR. Results The levels of mRNA expressions of miR-155,miR-146a and pro-inflammatory cyto-kines(TNF-α,IL-1βand IL-6)in the 6W infected mice were significantly higher than those of the normal mice and of the 12W in-fected mice. Compared with the 12W infected mice,the inflammation response of liver egg granuloma in the PZQ-treated mice was ameliorated. Furthermore,there was a marked increase in the levels of mRNA expressions of miR-155,miR-146a and three pro-in-flammatory cytokines in the PZQ-treated mice compared to the 12W infected mice. Conclusion miR-155 and miR-146a may play a role in schistosomiasis liver inflammation response and the inflammation regulation of praziquantel treatment.

Objective:To explore the quality of inventory samples of a biobank stored in a deep freezer from 0 to over 10 years in Shanghai Ruijin Hospital. Methods:We extracted 24 pairs of stocked gastric cancer samples between 2003 and 2014. We used 1%aga-rose gel electrophoresis to analyze DNA and RNA purity and integrity while adding the RNA integrity number (RIN) for precise analysis. Bicinchonininc acid (BCA) assay was used for protein concentration evaluation. Coomassie brilliant blue method was used for protein integrity assay. Results: The samples were divided into four groups according to cryopreservation period (<2 years, 3-5 years, 6-8 years, and>9 years). No significant difference in DNA integrity was found between the groups (P>0.05);however, DNA degradation in normal gastric mucosa was faster than that in gastric cancer tissue (P=0.023). The RIN significantly declined when the storage period was 6 years or longer (P=0.018). No significant difference in protein concentration was observed between different groups. Using Coo-massie brilliant blue method, we found significant differences in preserved proteins with different molecular weights. Proteins with varying molecular weights were detected in the groups with the following cryopreservation periods:>9 years, a small number of low-molecular-weight (average 36.5 KD) proteins;6-8 years, medium-molecular-weight (average 65.63KD) proteins;3-5 years, high-molecu-lar-weight (average 127.5 KD) proteins;<2 years, high-molecular-weight (average 160 KD) proteins. Conclusion:Cryopreservation does not exert an obvious effect on DNA. If the cryopreservation period is more than 5 years, serious degradation of RNA should occur;like-wise, degradation of proteins with higher molecular weight should occur.

Objective To investigate the role of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of SMAD2 and its relationship with clinicopathological parameters of primary gastric carcinoma. Methods Fifty cases of primary gastric carcinoma were monitored by polymerase chain reaction -single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR- SSCP) and silver staining to detect SMAD2 LOH. Results The incidence of LOH was 40.0%(22/45) at D18S450 and 33.3%(16/48)at D18S460 . LOH occurred in SMAD2 was 55.1%(27/49).The rate of SMAD2 LOH was 72.0% (18/25) in primary gastric carcinoma with lymph node metastasis , which was significantly higher than that in without lymph node metastasis (P

Objective To investigate the influence of CO_2-insufflation on the expression of some adhesion molecules.Methods With an artificial pneumoperitoneum model in vitro, SW1116 colon carcinoma cells were exposed to CO_2-insufflation at different pressure (6, 9, 12 and 15 mmHg) for 1 hour. Control groups were exposed to room air. E-cadherin, ICAM-1, E-selectin, CD44 and CD44v6 were measured 0, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after CO_2-insufflation using flowcytometry and the mRNA level of these adhesion molecules were detected by real-time PCR.Results In transcription level the expression of ICAM-1 and CD44v6 on SW1116 cell line increased significantly in 6mmHg CO_2-insufflation group, in 9mmHg and 12mmHg group, E-cadherin,CD44 and CD44v6 increased significantly, and when the pressure was 15mmHg, CD44v6 increased (P

Objective To observe the effect of STK15 gene silencing on the growth of gastric cancer cell line-MKN45 in vitro and vivo. Methods STK15 expression was inhibited by RNAi techenique, STK15 protein level was detected by Western blot, the ability of MKN45 invasion in vitro was assessed by cell migration and invasion assay, the change of cell cycle distribution was detected by flowcytometry, MKN45 proliferation was measured by MTT method, and MKN45 cells treated with STK15 siRNA were transplanted subcutanuously in nude mice and their tumorgenesis ability were observed. Results After treatment with STK15 siRNA, STK15 protein level decreased obviously. Compared with control group, STK15- group showed lower invasion ability in vitro [ mean A value: (182?27 ) vs. (308?38 ), P

Objective To investigate the effect of CO_2-insufflation on mRNA expression of adhesion molecules of colorectal cancer cell lines. Methods With an artificial pneumoperitoneum model in vitro, SW1116 human colon carcinoma cell lines were exposed to CO_2-insufflation of different pressure ( 6mmHg , 9mmHg, 12mmHg and 15mmHg) for 1 hour. The mRNA level of E-cadherin, ICAM-1, CD44 and CD44v6 were measured after 0, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours by real-time RT-PCR. Control cell lines were exposed to room air. ResultsThe mRNA expression of E-cadherin, ICAM-1, CD44 and CD44v6 increased significantly at 0h～48h after the cells were exposed to the continuous CO_2-insufflation for 1 hour(P

Objective To analyze the dosimetric advantages of CT-guided interstitial brachytherapy for recurrent cervical cancer. Methods A total of 16 patients with recurrent cervical cancer after radical surgery and adjuvant external beam radiotherapy received interstitial brachytherapy with CT-guided implantation of metal needles. The high-risk clinical target volume (HR-CTV) was given 36 Gy in 6 fractions.D90for HR-CTV in the brachytherapy and the cumulative D2 cm3values for the bladder,rectum,and sigmoid colon in the previous external beam radiotherapy and the brachytherapy were analyzed.Results The mean D90value for HR-CTV was 52.5±3.3 Gy. The cumulative D2 cm3values for the bladder, rectum, and sigmoid colon were 85.6±5.8 Gy,71.6±6.4 Gy,and 69.6±5.9 Gy,respectively.The mean number of metal needles was 6.1±1.5 in each brachytherapy. The actual 1-year overall survival and local control were 81% and 69%, respectively. Conclusions CT-guided interstitial brachytherapy for recurrent cervical cancer shows good dose-volume histogram parameters and few complications, so it may be clinically feasible. However,its long-term clinical efficacy needs further observation.