Expression and aberrant promoter methylation of Wnt inhibitory factor-1 in human astrocytomas

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Wnt inhibitory factor-1(WIF-1) acts as a Wnt-antagonists and tumor suppressor, but hypermethylation of WIF-1 gene promoter and low expression activate Wnt signaling aberrantly and induce the development of various human tumors. With this work we intended to investigate the expression and promoter methylation status of WIF-1 gene in human astrocytomas.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The tissue samples consisted of 53 astrocytomas and 6 normal brain tissues. The expression levels of WIF-1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative RT-PCR. The results were analyzed in correlation with clinicopathological data. Methylation status of WIF-1 gene promoter was investigated using methylation specific PCR. The relationship between methylation and expression of the genes was analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The average expression levels of WIF-1 protein and mRNA in astrocytomas were decreased significantly compared with normal control tissues. The protein and mRNA expression of WIF-1 gene in astrocytomas was decreased with the increase of pathological grade. Furthermore, WIF-1 promoter methylation was observed by MS-PCR in astrocytomas which showed significant reduction of WIF-1 expression. The WIF-1 promoter hypermethylation was associated with reduced expression of WIF-1 expression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results demonstrate that the WIF-1 gene is frequently down-regulated or silenced in astrocytomas by aberrant promoter methylation. This may be an important mechanism in astrocytoma carcinogenesis.</p

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Capecitabine Plus Oxaliplatin Versus Gemcitabine Plus Oxaliplatin as First-Line Therapy for Advanced Biliary Tract Cancers

Background: In the first-line treatment of biliary tract cancers (BTCs), XELOX (capecitabine plus oxaliplatin) showed comparable clinical efficacy and safety to gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (GEMOX), with fewer visits and better treatment management. Our study aims to investigate the cost-effectiveness of XELOX and GEMOX as the first-line therapy for BTCs from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare systems and to provide valuable suggestions for clinical decision-making.Methods: A Markov model was developed using the phase 3 randomized clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01470443) to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of XELOX and GEMOX. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were used as the primary outcomes of the model. Uncertainty was assessed using univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analysis.Results: The QALYs for the XELOX and GEMOX groups were 0.66 and 0.54, respectively. In China, the total cost of XELOX treatment is US $12,275.51, which is lower than that of the GEMOX regimen. In addition, XELOX is more effective than GEMOX, making it the preferred regimen. A sensitivity analysis determined that XELOX therapy has a stable economic advantage in China.Conclusion: Compared to GEMOX, XELOX is a more cost-effective treatment as a first-line treatment for advanced BTC from the perspective of the Chinese health service system

Giant Merkel cell carcinoma of the eyelid: a case report and review of the literature

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous tumor and cases located in the eyelid have been described, but still its rarity may lead to difficulty in diagnosis and delay in treatment. A 51-year-old female patient that presented with large lesions in the eyelid underwent surgery after the diagnosis of acute chalazion. Following respiratory distress secondary to pulmonary metastasis, the patient's condition deteriorated and was not fit for complete excision treatment. Histopathological investigation of the biopsies, taken from the tumor, revealed that it was undifferentiated small cell carcinoma. Our aim with this paper is to point out that more cases should be reported for more effective diagnosis, histopathological study, clinical investigation, treatment and prognosis of this specific neoplasm

Az Európai Unió és Kína közötti kereskedelem fejlődésének elemzése: lehetőségek és kihívásokL

this thesis aims to analyze the trend of trade development between China and The EU and what both parties can get through bilateral trade. the important point is opportunities and challenges that bilateral trade brought. I will draw a conclusion by adopting economic methods I learned during study periods. It is that China is neither the problem of nor the solution to European competitiveness difficulties. More trade communications should be sought in order to arrive at a better mutual understanding. And then both parties can get win-win.BSc/BABA in Business Administration and Managemen

Anti-oncogenic mechanism of KLF17 in colon cancer by repressing cell migration and invasion via FHL1 upregulation

Colon cancer is a disease with high prevalence worldwide. This study sought to investigate Kruppel-like factor 17 (KLF17) mechanism in the development of colon cancer through four-and-a-half-LIM domain protein 1 (FHL1). In colon cancer cells, KLF17 and FHL1 expression was detected by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot. After gain- and loss-of-function experiments in colon cancer cells, cell proliferative, invasive, and migrating abilities were tested by cell counting kit-8, transwell, and scratch assays, respectively. The expression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Vimentin, was measured by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to detect the binding of KLF17 and the FHL1 promoter. Finally, a transplantation tumor model in nude mice was established for in vivo validation. Mechanistically, KLF17 facilitated FHL1 transcription by binding to the FHL1 promoter. KLF17 or FHL1 upregulation suppressed the colon cancer cell proliferative, invasive, and migrating capacities, accompanied by elevated E-cadherin expression and diminished N-cadherin and Vimentin expression. Furthermore, FHL1 silencing abrogated the repressive impacts of KLF17 upregulation on colon cancer cell EMT, proliferative, invasive, and migrating capabilities. Furthermore, KLF17 augmented FHL1 expression and curtailed the growth of transplanted tumors in nude mice. Conclusively, KLF17 promoted FHL1 transcription, thereby impeding the invasion, migration, and EMT of colon cancer cells

A systematic review of opioid overdose interventions delivered within emergency departments

Background People with opioid use disorders are at higher risk of fatal opioid overdose and attend emergency departments (ED) more frequently compared to the general population. This review aimed to synthesise evidence on the ED-based delivery of opioid overdose prevention interventions. Methods Using the PRISMA guidelines, four databases (Medline; Embase; Scopus; PsycINFO) were searched for peer-reviewed articles on ED based interventions to prevent opioid overdose, published January 1998 to October 2018. Results The 13 identified studies were grouped into four main intervention types. Seven focused on provision of take-home naloxone (THN) and overdose education. These described the successful delivery of THN by ED staff; in collaboration with community partners; and barriers to delivery. Three studies examined medication safety interventions. These generally delivered positive outcomes on overdose-risk knowledge, but not consistently on behaviour change. One study examined buprenorphine-naloxone treatment initiation within the ED, finding positive outcomes on reported illicit drug use and treatment engagement compared to those randomised to brief intervention and referral, or referral only. Two studies explored psychosocial interventions, including motivational interviewing, which demonstrated lower non-medical prescription opioid use at follow up compared to control. Conclusions ED provision of a range of opioid overdose prevention interventions is feasible, acceptable to patients and ED personnel. Interventions require adequate staffing/role responsibility for sustainable implementation. Most evidence was for THN, with an emerging evidence base for other intervention types reducing opioid-overdose risks in ED settings. Further research on implementation and sustainability may assist in translation of effective interventions into the ED setting

Strong solutions to the incompressible magnetohydrodynamic equations

China-NSAF [10976026]; NSF [10531020]In this paper, we are concerned with strong solutions to the Cauchy problem for the incompressible Magnetohydrodynamic equations. By the Galerkin method, energy method and the domain expansion technique, we prove the local existence of unique strong solutions for general initial data, develop a blow-up criterion for local strong solutions and prove the global existence of strong solutions under the smallness assumption of initial data. The initial data are assumed to satisfy a natural compatibility condition and allow vacuum to exist. Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd