Inhibition of miR-182 represses growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by targeting SOX11

Purpose: To investigate the effect of microRNA-182 (miR-182) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its mechanisms of action.Methods: Sixty-five HCC tissues and matched adjacent tissues were obtained, and miR-182 and sexdetermining region on the Y Chromosome (SRY)-related HMG box 11 (SOX11) expression were quantified using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). SOX11-positive cells were identified by immunohistochemistry and the correlation between SOX11 and miR-182 expression was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. Huh-7 cells were transfected with the miR-182 mimic, the miR-182 inhibitor, and/or si-SOX11, and cell proliferation was measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. Luciferase reporter assay was used to investigate the putative target gene of miR-182. A xenograft nude mouse model was established by transfection  with miR-182 antagomir, while tumor volume and weight were calculated. SOX11, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax) protein levels were analyzed by western blot.Results: MiR-182 expression increased and SOX11 expression was decreased in HCC tissues (p < 0.05). Luciferase reporter assay data confirmed that miR-182 directly targets SOX11. Inhibition of miR-182 repressed proliferation and Bcl-2 expression, but increased protein expression of cleaved caspase-3, cleaved RAPP, and Bax in Huh-7 cells (p < 0.05). In addition, suppression of SOX11 reversed the effects of miR-182 on cell proliferation and apoptosis. The miR-182 antagomir decreased tumor growth and miR-182 expression but increased SOX11 expression in vivo (p < 0.05).Conclusion: MiR-182 and SOX11 may be novel therapeutic targets for HCC patients

Endoscopic Treatment of Vesicoureteral Reflux in Children with Dextranomer/Hyaluronic Acid—A Single Surgeon's 6-Year Experience

Endoscopic treatment for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) has become an established alternative to long-term antibiotic prophylaxis and ureteral reimplantation. We present the outcome of endoscopic treatment with dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (Deflux) for VUR in children by a single surgeon at our institute from October 2003 to October 2009. We reviewed the cases of 150 patients (total 239 ureters), 56 girls (37%) and 94 boys (63%), with a mean age of 2.2 years and a median followup of 2.5 years (range 3–68 months). Among the 239 ureters treated, 67.4% (161/239) were cured with a single injection, and a second and third injection raised the cure rate to 86.6% (207/239) and 88.3% (211/239), respectively. None had postoperative ureteral obstruction

2-(2-Hy­droxy-3-meth­oxy­phen­yl)-1H-benzimidazol-3-ium perchlorate

In the title mol­ecular salt, C14H13N2O2 +·ClO4 −, the ring systems in the cation are almost coplanar [dihedral angle = 5.53 (13)°]. Intra­molecular N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds generate S(6) and S(5) rings, respectively. In the crystal, the two H atoms involved in the intra­molecular hydrogen bonds also participate in inter­molecular links to acceptor O atoms of the perchlorate anions. A simple inter­molecular N—H⋯O bond also occurs. Together, these form a double-chain structure along [101]

Refrigerant- Lubricant Mixture Properties Influencing Bubble Dynamic Parameters and Heat Transfer Coefficient in Nucleate Pool Boiling

We have been successfully developed a model regarding lubricant effect on individual processes of bubble nucleation, growth and departure period for nucleate pool boiling heat transfer. In this study, three type POE refrigeration lubricants with different refrigerant miscibility (POEA/POEB/POEC), two viscosity grades (ISO68 & 170), three kind of refrigerants (R-134a/R-1234ze/R-134yf), and three different saturated temperatures (10℃/0℃/10℃) are taken into calculation under different heat flux ranging from 10 KW/m2 to 80 KW/m2. Based on this model, a knowledge of chemical structures and physical properties of lubricant and refrigerant is sufficient to get bubble dynamic parameters and predict the boiling performance near metal surface. According to calculating results, several key factors play an important role in pool boiling heat transfer and show drastic influence on bubble parameters and HTC, such as refrigerant type, saturated temperature, heat flux and lubricant concentration. Regarding lubricant chemical structure effect on heat transfer performance, it will be direct related to OCR and following influence on HTC in real evaporator environment. But if keeping same lubricant concentration, different results will appear. Various lubricant structures may provide different volume size, adsorption energy on metal surface and interaction force between refrigerant and lubricant, but these factors sometimes offset each other and lead to only a slight difference in bubble size, contact angle, surface coverage concentration, and HTC. The calculation indicates that the presence of lubricant imposes a negative effect on HTC during waiting period of bubble formation and departure period, but a positive effect on HTC may prevail in bubble growth period. Such two effects compete during the boiling process and could lead increase or impair heat transfer performance at a low lubricant concentration

Results of one-stage urethroplasty for hypospadias in pediatrics – single surgeon’s experience

Introduction: Hypospadias repair is a challenging technique in pediatric urology with a long learning curve. This study presents the results of urethroplasty performed by a single surgeon to repair hypospadias in children and compares the surgical outcomes at different periods. Materials and Methods: From January 2009 to February 2016, patients who were less than 18 years old and were operated for hypospadias were retrospectively reviewed and divided into two groups: group I (from January 2009 to February 2012) and group II (from March 2012 to February 2016). All operations were performed by the same pediatric surgeon, andsurgical outcomes of the two periods were compared. Results: This study considered150 patients (69 in group I/81 in group II). The Mean operative age was 30.4±32.7 months in group I and 33.6±43.3 months in group II(p=0.309). The selected procedures mainly depended on the subjective anatomical analysis in the operating room and the surgeon’s preference. The mean follow-up duration was 21.7±28.31 months in group I and 13.6±16.6 months in group II (p=0.033).The overall complication rate was 44.9% in group Iand 35.8% in group II (p=0.316). The incidence of glanular disruption significantly decreased from 21.7% to 6.2% (p=0.007) because of the wide dissection of the glanular wings and the deep incision of the urethral plate, which led to tension-free sutures for glanular reconstruction. Conclusions: One-stage repair of hypospadias may achieve satisfactory outcomes in cosmetic appearance and voiding function. Surgical outcomes could be improved by increasing practice

Focal Nodular Hyperplasia of the Liver in a 5-year-old Girl

Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver is a benign tumor that usually affects young women. Traditionally, its treatment in children has been conservative. As a result of its rarity in childhood, its differential diagnosis with other liver tumors is challenging. We present the case of a 5-year-old girl with a 1-week history of fever and abdominal pain. No definite diagnosis could be obtained after serial imaging and liver biopsy. As a result of uncertainty in the imaging and needle biopsy results, the patient underwent complete tumor resection. Pathology showed focal nodular hyperplasia that affected the right lobe of the liver. After surgery, the child was doing well at 24 months of follow-up

The Effect of Refrigeration Lubricant Properties on Nucleate Pool Boiling Heat Transfer Performance

Refrigeration lubricant plays a key role in lubricating and sealing during vapor compression processes. However, it may migrate to the evaporator to influence the heat transfer characteristics, either enhancement or degradation. The aim of this study is to fundamentally understand the effect of lubricant properties and bubble parameters on heat transfer performance. To clarify parameters affecting the heat transfer coefficient, several experiments were conducted on a horizontal flat surface, and pool-boiling phenomenon was recording by high-speed camera. Comparisons of heat transfer measurements for different refrigerant/lubricant mixtures were made, including two different refrigerants (R-134a & R-1234ze) and eight POE lubricants with different miscibility, ISO68 to ISO170 viscosity range. This study shows that improvements over pure refrigerant heat transfer can be obtained for refrigerant /lubricant mixtures with small lubricant mass fraction, high lubricant viscosity, and a low critical solution temperature (CST). The presence of lubricant will decrease the departure bubble diameter and may deteriorate heat transfer performance when the lubricant mass fraction is higher than 3%. A mechanistic explanation was provided for the observed refrigerant/lubricant boiling phenomenon, and we were successfully in creating a new model to quantify the effect of lubricant properties on the heat transfer performance. This model was developed based on cavity boiling theory, interfacial energy calculation between metal-liquid surface, and liquid-bubble interface. According to the model, the presence of lubricant layer on metal surface and surrounding the bubble will significantly alter waiting time of boiling, bubble departure time, activity site density of boiling incipience and superheat on heating surface