The validation in in vivo xenograft model.

<p>(A) Representative images of tumor size in different groups of nude mice on the 60th day after treatment. (B) Growth curves in different groups of nude mice. *<i>P</i><0.05 vs control group, ^#<i>P</i><0.05 vs HGF group.</p

Immunofluorescent analysis of the MET/PI3K/AKT activation and GRP78 expression on the microfluidic chip.

<p>A549 cells were cultured in triplicate in the maintenance medium alone, mixed with the CAF matrix in the presence or absence of anti-HGF or containing 40 ng/ml of human HGF in the 3D chambers for 48h. The cells were stained with the indicated FITC-conjugated antibodies, and examined under a fluorescent microscope. Furthermore, the cells were cultured in the mixture of maintenance medium and CAF matrix in the presence or absence of an inhibitor for c-Met, PI3K or GRP78 for 48h and stained as described above. Data are representative images (magnification x 200) from three separate experiments. (A)The CAF matrix or HGF enhances the c-Met/PI3K/AKT activation and GRP78 expression in A549 cells. (B)The effect of an inhibitor of c-Met, PI3K or GRP78 on the CAF-enhanced c-Met/PI3K/AKT activation and GRP78 expression in A549 cells.</p

The design and validation of a 3D culture microfluidic chip.

<p>(a)The schematic design of the microfluidic chip with CGG and downstream cell chambers (the upper panel) and the fabricated chip with pumping machine (the lower panel). (b)The diffused Rh-123 in the 3D chamber within 30 min and >95% cells were viable (green). Magnification ×100. (c) The morphological features of A549 cells in the 3D chamber without or with CAF matrix. The white arrows indicate apoptotic cells. (d)The α-SMA immunofluorescence assay of HFL1 cells. HFL1 cells induced by A549 medium showed a positive α-SMA staining (right) compared to the untreated HFL1 (left). Magnification ×400. (e) Immunohistochemistry assay for lung cancer tissues. The expression of α-SMA protein in the lung cancer tissues is higher than that in adjacent tissues. Magnification ×200.</p

Western blot analysis of the c-Met/PI3K/AKT activation and GRP78 expression in A549 cells.

<p>A549 cells were cultured in the condition as described above and the relative levels of phosphorylated Met, PI3Kp85, AKT and GRP78 expression in the different groups of cells were characterized by Western blot assays and quantified. Data are representative images and expressed as the means ± SD of each protein in individual groups of cells from three separate experiments. *<i>P</i><0.05; **<i>P</i><0.01 vs. the controls.</p

Diagnostic accuracy of linked colour imaging versus white light imaging for early gastric cancers: a prospective, multicentre, randomized controlled trial study

Linked colour imaging (LCI) is a novel new image-enhanced endoscopy (IEE) technology that produces bright and vivid images. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of LCI to improve the diagnostic accuracy of early gastric cancer (EGC) relative to white light imaging (WLI). We performed this study on patients undergoing screening endoscopy from 12 medical institutions in China. Patients were randomly assigned to receive WLI followed by LCI or LCI followed by WLI. The primary outcome was to compared the diagnostic accuracy between LCI and WLI for EGC/high-grade intraepithelial neoplasms. Secondary outcomes included the numbers of suspicious lesions, neoplastic lesions and examination time by using LCI detected versus using WLI. A total of 1924 patients were randomly selected, and 1828 were included in the analysis. The diagnostic accuracy for EGC, which was 78.8% by using LCI and 68.4% by using WLI (p n = 1235 vs. 1036, p = .031), especially among differentiated EGC (p = .013). LCI greatly shortened the examination time compared with WLI (p = .019). LCI has better accuracy and shorter examination time in diagnosing EGC than WLI (Clinical trial registration: NCT03092414).Key messagesCompared with white light imaging (WLI), the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity increased by using LCI.More lesions were detected by LCI alone than by WLI alone, especially among differentiated EGC.LCI may be used as a screening tool for routine clinical observation. Compared with white light imaging (WLI), the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity increased by using LCI. More lesions were detected by LCI alone than by WLI alone, especially among differentiated EGC. LCI may be used as a screening tool for routine clinical observation.</p