ALDH1A1 overexpression is associated with the progression and prognosis in gastric cancer.

Background: Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1 (ALDH1A1) is a cancer stem cell marker, and its expression correlates with prognosis in a number of malignancies. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship of ALDH1A1 expression with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in gastric cancer.

Methods: ALDH1A1 and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 216 gastric carcinoma samples.

Heat shock protein 60 overexpression is associated with the progression and prognosis in gastric cancer.

Background: Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) is a chaperonin with essential functions for cell physiology and survival, and its expression correlates with prognosis in a number of malignancies. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship of HSP60 status with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in gastric cancer.

Methods: The levels of HSP60 and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) antigen was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 223 gastric carcinoma samples.

Heat shock protein 22 overexpression is associated with the progression and prognosis in gastric cancer.

Purpose: The heat shock protein 22 (HSP22) is associated with tumor proliferation and protects tumor cell from apoptosis in many malignancies. However, the role of HSP22 in gastric cancer has not been thoroughly elucidated. The aim was to determine the relationship of HSP22 expression with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in gastric cancer and estimate the alteration of HSP22 expression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Clinical effect of erlotinib as first-line treatment for Asian elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicities of erlotinib as first-line treatment for Asian elderly patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Untreated patients with advanced NSCLC were included in this study; erlotinib was orally administered at a dose of 150 mg daily until disease progression or intolerable toxicity or for other reasons.

Results: A total of 35 patients were enrolled.

Extracellular accumulation of recombinant protein by Escherichia coli in a defined medium.

Extracellular accumulation of recombinant proteins in the culture medium of Escherichia coli is desirable but difficult to obtain. The inner or cytoplasmic membrane and the outer membrane of E. coli are two barriers for releasing recombinant proteins expressed in the cytoplasm into the culture medium.

Extracellular production of human parathyroid hormone as a thioredoxin fusion form in Escherichia coli by chemical permeabilization combined with heat treatment.

A pET system encoding the fusion protein gene of thioredoxin (Trx) and human parathyroid hormone (hPTH) was introduced into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Recombinant Trx-hPTH fusion protein was expressed in soluble form in the cytoplasm of the E. coli transformant.

[Effects of aging and hypoxia on the proliferation of cultured rat pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells].

Objective: To study the effects of aging and hypoxia on the proliferative behavior of cultured pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs).

Methods: PASMCs isolated from aged (18-24 months) and young (3-4 months) rats were divided, according to the different treatments the cells were subjected to, into young and aged normoxic groups (groups A and B) and young and aged hypoxic groups (groups C and D) respectively. MTT cell proliferation assay, 3H-TdR incorporation assay, flow cytometriy and immunocytochemical analysis were respectively employed to observe the proliferative behavior.

Changes in cardiac function reserve after percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty: a longterm follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term effect of percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV) by observing the changes in mitral valve reserve after PBMV and during the long-term follow-up and by exploring the relations of these changes with stress echocardiographic scores. METHODS: Stress echocardiogaphy was performed in patients receiving PBMV for mitral stenosis both after surgery and during the long-term follow-up study, and Wilkins scores of the patients were obtained pre-operatively. Intravenous isoproterenol was administered before test to increase the heart rate to simulate mild, moderate and heavy exercises, and the indices for cardiac function were recorded.

Endothelial NO synthase gene expression in experimental vasospasm in rabbits.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) gene expression and experimental vasospasm.

Methods: Sixteen rabbits were randomly divided into 2 groups, which were subjected to balloon endothelial denudation with normal diet (n=8) or with hypercholesterol diet group (n=8). Angiography was performed to detect the vasospasm induced by ergonovine before and after denudation and 8 weeks after hypercholesterol feeding.